Spaniels are renown for their ability to get filthy, in even the most immaculate of places. They're also infamous for pulling, gorging on any food in sight, and finding toys around the house you never even knew you bought. Simba is nothing less than a stereotypical spaniel, who has been known to obliterate collars that are not sturdy enough to stand up to his ridiculous strength, given he barely weights 13kg. The thing that drew me to Salt Dog Studios in the first place, is that I was searching for an attractive, hardwearing, washable collar made in the UK (as I no longer posses the virtue of patience to ship from the USA) that was NOT EzyDog - I was looking for something that would not only suit frolics in the park, but look flashy enough to be worn for special occasions. Made To Last The irresistible mint-green whale design is comical, but is balanced by the sturdy metal buckle to make for a beautiful, multi-purpose collar. The matching lead is equally as robust, and has received comments in the past for being so cute! As we rapidly approach Summer, I feel that this collar is going to become even more of a staple in Simba's 'outdoor wear' wardrobe (alongside his rainbow Devil Doods collar) as the weather warms, and we explore various local lakes and parks. Our SDS set has suffered being subject to almost every type of filth; from sand, to mud, to water, it has survived and is still going strong despite vigorous use. Besides from a small amount of rust on the eyelets, the collar still looks and feels brand new, and the stitching on the lead remains firmly in place although it had been tugged on time and time again. Testing his Salt Dog lead during his first trip to the beach back in late December. He has also worn it do Daycare on more than one occasion, been dragged about by the lead by a cheeky Labrador puppy there, and it is still fully intact. You'll also notice the lovely black brand tag on the lead - one which is also sewn into the collar, and I often struggle to equip the right way up the first time if I fail to check. Comfort The collar and the lead handle feature a soft, velvet layer of fabric that act as a padding, giving these accessories a luxurious feel, as well as providing an essential soft surface for the dog who's wearing the collar, and some protection to the hands of the humans attached to rowdy dogs by the end of the lead. On more than one occasion, I've found myself praising the genius idea that it was to add velvet to the inside of the handle of the lead, when I'd usually be covered in fabric burns from materials that don't feel half as nice as they look. Although this nautical print is no longer available on their website, there are dozens of other designs to choose from, to suit any dog. Overall, I would recommend these accessories to anyone with a similar criteria to us- attractive, resistant, ergonomic and easy to clean. If you've never heard of them before that's because they're not as active on Instagram as they are on Facebook - but they're definitely a company you should start following now! They're the perfect alternative to a brand like EzyDog, for those looking for something just as good but a little more fashionable for their posing pooch.
Milla & Simba
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3/18/2017 2 Comments What's a Birthday without cake?Before I begin, I'll say; HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY PRECIOUS SIMBERONI! Birthdays are a deep-seated tradition in human society, and there's no birthday without a cake and presents. To celebrate Simba's birthday on Tuesday (today), we decided we would make and share a dog-safe cake recipe for you all, as we don't have the time to send out a piece of cake to all 2,200 of my lovely followers! Simba turns the terrible age of two, today, on the 21st March this year, and though I wasn't around to celebrate last year, I am this time, and it's going to be bigger and better than any birthday celebration I've even thrown for my dogs! DOG LIVER PUPCAKES RECIPE Ingredients 110g plain flour (preferably gluten free, coconut, oat flour) 50g liver (beef, pork, lamb) 2 eggs 1/2 Teaspoon baking powder 7tbsp water Methodology 1. Slice the liver into thin strips. Blend the liver with the egg in a blender. 2. Preheat the over to 180 degrees. Use a wooden spoon or electric whisk to combine the flour and the other ingredients, and when a pourable consistency, pour into a greased baking tin or cupcake cases as I have done. 3. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Ensure the center is cooked before removing from the oven. Leave to cool until it is lukewarm or room temperature. 4. If desired, the cake or cakes can be decorated. I topped Simba's with peanut butter, and his natural instict raw meat mince, and hundreds & thousands. Simba thoroughly enjoyed his birthday cake this morning, but nothing beat the pile of presents that waited on the table for when he finished eating. His 2nd birthday presents include: A Kong Wubba, two Chuckit Ultra balls, a Chuckit Ultra Squeaker ball, a pack of Webbox Chicken fillets, a fleece tug toy, and a squirrel rope toy. Simba also recieved a handmade paracord double cobra collar to match his Leashed To My Heart rope leash, which, although he did not technically receive as a present, it arrived so close to his birthday that we are counting it as such. As soon as permission is was granted, Simba got stuck in, nose first, picking his favourite gift of the lot to play with first!
Thanks for reading. Don't forget to check out my brand new Shop, Simba's Station on facebook! Milla and Simba 3/11/2017 0 Comments Crufts 2017Crufts is the most tremendous dog show in the nation - with thousands flocking from all corners of the UK (and some from overseas, too!) to marvel at the wondrous show dogs, and do a touch of shopping for their own beloved pets to compensate for the horrendous betrayal of leaving them to see an huge community of other dogs for the day. It's well established, the first show having been in 1891, held by the namesake and founder, Charles Crufts to celebrate and promote the breeding of the very best pedigree dogs. For the last few years, the infamous four-day show has been held at the colossal, yet extremely organised venue of the NEC in Birmingham. It's a pleasant, traffic-free journey up the motorway for me, but a long one despite a lack of congestion. It is spread across five halls, which are incredibly easy to get lost in. You hardly notice yourself flowing from hall 1 to hall 4 whilst your eyes have been pinned to the sales stands for the last hour and a half, your bank account emptying and your shopping bag somehow filling itself to the brim. If, like me, you aren't interested in the conformation show ring, you'll be pleased to know you aren't restricted to watching groomed dogs prance around the room. There's a variety of other displays and competitions going on throughout the day - including flyball and agility, which are both exhilarating to watch. I'd say I'm well-seasoned when it comes to attending kennel club events, having been to Crufts twice and Discover Dogs twice over the course of the last two years, and I have a few tips for future reference: -Wear comfortable shoes- seriously, you'll regret high heeled boots after 7 hours standing on your feet! -Bring snacks and water (they sell plenty of food, but it is pricey.) -Ensure you save up months in advance of the show. Even if you didn't want six collars, you may well come home with that many anyway. -It's desirable to bring cash as not all stalls accept cards (though many do). -There are cash machines onsite, but they do charge for withdrawals. -Parking is £12, and can be paid online prior to the show or on site. -There are cloakrooms outside the halls at £1 per item (1 bag is considered an item) so you do not have to lug bags around all day. -You can leave/enter the halls as you please as long as your hand is stamped before you exit. -Arrive earlier rather than later if travelling by car - it will cut the time it takes you to park in half! There's no more enjoyable event for a dog lover - and the best thing about Crufts, is that it is an event that occurs annually! I did not manage to take many photos this year, but there were a few I liked that are posted below. I hope you enjoy! Mostly Milla, & Honorary Simba Mini-show, judged by attendants. Staffordshire bull terrier assistance dog. Standard poodle. A lovely German Shorthaired Pointer with unique markings! A Clumber Spaniel, exhibiting the usual spaniel inability to stay still for more than a couple of moments. An attentive Leonberger in the ring. A terrier with a nose for treats. Fox red labrador. A Japanese Akita Inu, moments after crunching on a yummy treat. For those of you who do not yet know, a few weeks ago, Simba became a model for the online dog accessory company, R 'n' D Paws, who hand-make fabulous Scottish Tartan accessories for dogs. It's his first modelling 'job', which is nerve-racking yet simultaneously exciting - more for myself than for him, as I challenge myself to be more creative with my photography than I've ever had to be before. We won our collar, bandana and matching bracelet set in a giveaway hosted by the company to celebrate the arrival of the new year. Ever since it arrived in early February, I've been flaunting their stunning products all over Simba's page - it's hard not to, when the bandana suits him so well, and stands out on his glossy white coat like he was born to wear it. I'm not usually one to pick anything red for my ginger dog - but in this case, I am certainly glad I did! The bandana is thick and incredibly well-made, and has withstood being washed three times in the last month due to Simba recently having developed a habit of coating himself in the natural essence of dead woodland creatures. The collar is strong too - the buckle seems to be holding up thus far which has previously been an issue for us - though the D-ring has not made it to today. The endearing little red heart button is a distinguishing feature for the brand, and I thought it was genius. Simple and distinctive, yet an adorable addition to each accessory. That isn't the best part about my collar and bandana set, however. What I appreciate most in an accessory, is it's ability to be washed, and to be able to survive through Simba's obsession with tearing through the holly bushes which we see on most of our local woodland walks. His R 'n' D paws set passes the 'Simba test', though we are yet to test how one of their bow ties will hold up with him. His set has even survived a dip in the lake, and hours spend at doggy daycare. I highly recommend R'n'D Paws for the stylish pooches who suit tartan and tweed. The quality of their accessories are second to none, the vibrant colours thankfully failing to fade despite multiple washes.
You can even use my code 'SIMBA15' during checkout for a 15% discount on your order! Milla & Simba 3/4/2017 0 Comments I like to walkies, WalkiesI don't know about other dogs, but I sure like running. I especially enjoy sprinting through ponds after ducks, racing over the hills to get to pigeons, and bounding between clusters of long grass, chasing my ball. There are a dozen parks surrounding our home, but not all of them have the space to accommodate me, running after my ultra ball, at full speed, 20 metres away. I make the best of anywhere mum takes me; I am a spaniel after all. My firm favourite is a park called Fairlands Valley Park. It is a brief walk away from my home, but we only go there as a special spaniel treat when we have time to spend the two hours there that I like to occupy chasing squirrels into trees, and generally scaring the wildlife with my instinctual insanity. I'm also partial to a wander at a slow (normal for most other dogs) pace if it means I get snacks out of it. I do love spying on the pigeons in the town center, although they aren't a fan of me. Mum's top tips for walking a spaniel, puppy, or other crazy dogs are: 1. Bring treats -essential for when that sniffer takes you far away into a bush, and you require an incentive to come back. 2. Bring a ball - because they are the best invention EVER!!! 3. Undergo whistle training - sometimes us spaniels have selective hearing. Not even I, King Simba, can ignore the singing of a whistle. 4. LONG LINES! - Mostly for puppies, but these are wonderful for older dogs who have a tendency to get distracted.. like me! 5. Don't wear anything nice! - It will end up covered in mud, regardless of whether you're in the desert or the rain forest. Track suit bottoms and wellies are perfectly suitable when accompanying a spaniel on a trek. I hope you enjoy the photos of me on my favourite walks. That's all from us for tonight!! Simba (and Milla) Fairlands parkThe Woods in generalTown Centre & King George'sExtra... |
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