Page 2 - Dog Health & Care

Dog saddle bags are pouches that are fitted to the side of your dog’s harness. They are useful in storing gear and other accessories while out on walks.

What can you put in your dog’s saddle bag?

Many dog owners like to store practical items while they are out for short or long walks like:

• poo bags
• collapsible water bowls
• attachable safety lights
• dog first aid kit if out on longer hikes
• treats
• toys like balls and tugs
• other accessories like keys and wallet if you don’t want to bring your own separate bag

How much weight can you add to bags?

Commonly, dog’s can comfortably carry 10% to 12% of their body weight in saddle bags. This does vary between the size of your dog and their breed, with larger, bulker, breeds able to handle more weight.

However, every dog is different so if you are planning on storing heaver items in the saddle bag then it’s recommended that you talk to your veterinarian. This is especially important for older dogs, dogs with health issues, and breeds more prone to muscle

Having an extra way to control your dog is never a bad thing and harness handles can help prevent your dog getting into trouble. As well as adding another level of security they’re also practical, allowing you to carry your dog when needed or aid them over obstacles.

An important safety feature for any harness

Even calm dogs with an excellent temperament can get spooked. When a dog becomes frightened they can act out of character, either by fleeing or lashing out at other dogs or people. Having an easily accessible handle at the top of the harness allows you to quickly gain a firm but safe grip of them.

Having this level of close control is important for also protecting your dog from other dogs. A harness handle allows far better control than a leash can in keeping them out of harm’s way.

When in busy public places, a dog’s lead can get under people’s feet and potentially cause harm. A handle allows you to keep them close without any risk of a loose leash tripping anyone up. For puppies

Here at JULIUS-K9® UK we’d like to clear up some misinformation regarding no pull harnesses – there is no such thing as a completely no pull dog harness or collar.

What no pull equipment does do is limit a dog’s ability to yank on the leash and allow you to stop their pulling safely. When used correctly they can be an effective training tool and allow you to walk with your dog in a more controlled and disciplined manner.

JULIUS-K9® no pull harnesses

We do not sell no pull harnesses here on the JULIUS-K9® UK website.

No pull harnesses are designed to restrict a dog’s natural movement in order to train them into walking without yanking on the leash and trying to run ahead of you. JULIUS-K9® harnesses do not restrict your dog’s movement.

We take great pride in our harnesses with dog safety and comfort being our number one priority. See our scientific studies for details on how our harnesses are safe and do not affect your dog’s natural movement:

• Scientific Biomechanical Study of Julius K9

Jogging with your dog can be extremely rewarding. It allows your dog to have a variety of exercise and gives you extra motivation to keep to your running routine.

We outlined how to jog with your dog safely and responsibly in our Running With Your Dog article, but we thought we’d go into more detail about how to choose the right equipment before you head off for a run with your pet pal.

It’s important to remember that not all dogs are cut out for high intensity exercise. This is especially true for short-nosed and short legged breeds like bulldogs or corgis. You also shouldn’t just take out more senior dogs out for a run or force more lethargic dogs to go from next to no exercise to trying to get them to keep up with you on a 5k.

It is strongly recommended that you check with your vet to see if your pet is up for the challenge before taking them out running.

Dog Running Leads

It’s a good idea to keep your dog on a lead when you go running. Even if you’re jogging in a quite area and are

Choosing a harness that has the best lead attachment for your dog depends on your walking needs and how well trained your dog is on leash.

Dog harnesses come in three types of lead attachment:

1. Front leash attachment
2. Back leash attachment
3. Duel-clip front and back attachment

Here at Julius K9 all of our leads have back leash attachment, but with our IDC® Control Y Belt With Front D-Ring attachment you can turn any of our IDC® Powerharness products into a Front leash or Duel-clip harness.

Below we breakdown the benefits and potential draw backs of each leash attachment type.

Back Lead Harnesses

Back leash harnesses have the D-ring for leash attachment located at the top of the harness, so leash control is focused on the dog’s back.

This is the most common type of leash attachment as the harness is simple to put on and dogs tend to adapt to this type of leash control quicker.

Pros:

• Harnesses are easier to put on and remove compared to front lead designs.
• Dogs tend to learn leash walking quicker

A well fitted dog collar is important for your dog’s safety and comfort. If the collar is too tight this will cause discomfort which can provoke uncharacteristic behaviour, and can even restrict breathing.

If the collar is too loose then this can be equally dangerous. It can slip into unsuitable positions around the neck and can choke when the leash is pulled. A loose collar can also easily snag on branches or other obstacles if you let your dog off-lead.

Finding The Right Size

Measuring and fitting a collar correctly is easy when you know how. Simply Measure, Add, and think Safety.

1. Measure: Use a cloth measuring tape and measure your dog’s neck circumference. Make sure the tape is snug but not tight to be sure of a correct measurement.
2. Add: Add two inches to the measurement for the best collar size.
3. Safety: This plus-two final measurement makes sure the collar is not too tight or too loose. You should be able to snugly fit two fingers between the collar and your dog.

Buying the

It’s important to remain safe when taking your dog for a walk in the early morning or at night, especially in the darker winter months. Kitting your dog out in suitable warm clothing such as jackets, vests, and even dog boots helps keep your dog comfortable, but you should also be thinking about staying visible.

Even if you’re planning on sticking to pavements and well lit walkways, gearing your dog up to stay seen with light emitting equipment and glow in the dark wear will help you and your dog stand out.

Below is our most popular night time visibility wear for dogs.

A puppy should never be a surprise gift for Christmas, birthdays, or even a lockdown cheer-up present. This is not fair on the gift receiver, the household where the puppy will be living, or the on the puppy itself. Dogs have a lifespan of 10 to 13 years and this is huge responsibility to give to someone who is not expecting it.

This responsibility doesn’t just include the amount of daily care and training a puppy needs, but also the financial commitment. According to the PDSA, even the smallest breeds, like pugs and chihuahuas, are estimated to cost between £4,600 and £8,900 over their lifetime.  

A new dog in someone’s home affects the entire household. Puppies are highly energetic and will cause some form of chaos before they are trained to behave properly. This can a strenuous undertaking for everyone involved.

More than just a cute gift

The Dog’s Trust first introduced their famous slogan ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ over 40 years ago in 1978 and attitudes towards

How To Keep Your Dog Safe & Warm On Winter Walks

With the temperature dropping and the weather worsening, you need to be sure your furry friend is comfortable, safe, and stays warm when you take them out for walks. Below we outline the gear you need and how to keep your pet happy in the cold outdoors.

How to tell if your dog is cold

Some breeds cope better than others in winter and it’s very important to make sure your dog doesn’t get too cold. Smaller breeds like Pugs and Chihuahuas will struggle to keep warm at cooler temperatures, but even larger breeds used to cold climates, like Siberian Husky’s and Saint Bernard’s, you should still be aware of the signs that they are getting too cold.

It’s always worrying when your dog acts out of character. Maybe they become more vocal, maybe they hide, maybe they whimper, maybe they become aggressive. There can be many reasons why your dog starts acting strangely but often we can pinpoint the cause. However, if your dog is stressed it can be a lot harder to find the exact reason or it may be difficult to even figure out if they are anxious or stressed in the first place.

In this article we outline the common signs of dog stress, how to spot the symptoms, and how to relieve their anxieties.