Dog Tips, Advice & Free Tools from Sandra
Practical, honest advice drawn from years of walking and boarding dogs day to day in Peterborough, plus Sandra's Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming, Walking & Training. Every medical or safety fact is checked against reputable sources like PDSA, Blue Cross and the Kennel Club, with full sourcing at the bottom of each guide. New guides are being added here regularly, and a growing set of free tools below.
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Featured
How Often Does Your Dog Need Walking?
The question almost every dog owner asks at some point.
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Free tool
Can My Dog Eat That?
Type in a food, get an instant, sourced answer.
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Free tool
Price Calculator
An instant estimate for walking, day care or boarding.
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Featured
A Day of Home Boarding With Me
What a stay actually looks like, walks, meals, rest and play.
Nothing matches your search — try a different word or phrase!
Walking & Exercise
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How Often Does Your Dog Need Walking?
A breed-by-breed table using the Kennel Club's own exercise bands, why size tells you far less than you'd think, plus puppies, older dogs and why sniffing counts.
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What to Look For in a Dog Walker
Dog walking isn't licensed in England, so nobody checks. What to ask about instead: insurance, group sizes, first aid, keys, and what happens if something goes wrong.
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Best Places to Walk Dogs in Peterborough
Sandra's favourite local spots, from Nine Bridges and Ferry Meadows to Eye Green Nature Reserve.
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Why Dogs Roll in Poo and Dead Things, and What To Do
Why dogs do it, the real health risks (including bird flu and worms), how to clean your dog, and how to stop it happening on walks.
Health & Safety
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Dog First Aid: What To Do Before You Get To the Vet
Choking, serious bleeding, seizures, bloat and suspected poisoning, plus the common mistakes to avoid and what belongs in a first aid kit.
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Keeping Dogs Safe in Hot Weather
How hot is too hot to walk, cooling tips, breed risks, heatstroke signs, and Sandra's own no-walk-if-too-hot policy.
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Dog Laws Every Owner (and Carer) Should Know
A plain-English rundown of the UK laws covering dog ownership, from lead and fouling rules to the Dangerous Dogs Act and the Animal Welfare Act.
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Ticks and Your Dog: What Every UK Owner Should Know
Are ticks a problem in the UK? How to check for, identify and safely remove them, plus prevention tips and signs of tick-borne illness.
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Fleas and Your Dog: Spotting, Treating and Preventing Them
How to tell if your dog has fleas, treat them safely, whether you need to treat your house too, and how to stop them coming back.
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Autumn Hazards for Dogs: Conkers, Acorns & Harvest Mites
What to watch for on autumn walks: toxic conkers, acorns and fungi, itchy harvest mites, seasonal canine illness and darker evenings.
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Car Sickness in Dogs: Why It Happens and How To Help
The signs, why some dogs get car sick, how gradual travel training works, and how to keep your dog safe and legal in the car.
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Worming Your Dog: How Often and Which Worms Matter
Roundworm, tapeworm and lungworm explained, how often to worm puppies and adults, and why a prescription wormer is worth asking your vet for.
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Dogs in Season: What To Expect and How To Manage It
What a season is, how long it lasts, the signs, how to walk and care for a dog in season, and the one warning sign that needs an emergency vet.
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If Your Dog Goes Missing: What To Do, Step by Step
Calm, practical steps for a missing dog in Peterborough: who to call, where to look, and where to share it online.
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Keeping Dogs Safe in Cold Weather
How cold is too cold to walk, paw and ice protection, antifreeze risks, and Sandra's own too-cold-to-walk policy.
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Christmas & Your Dog: Festive Hazards to Watch For
Chocolate, decorations, tinsel and festive plants, plus why the risks last the whole season, not just one day.
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Why Small Dogs Cough More As They Age
Collars, tracheal collapse, and why a harness can help an older small dog's goose-honk cough.
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Water Safety for Dogs: Rivers, Lakes & What to Watch For
Deceptive riverbanks, blue-green algae, Weil's disease, and what to do if your dog gets into trouble in water.
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Treats & Human Food: What's Safe for Dogs and What Isn't
Which human foods are genuinely toxic, which are fine in moderation, and sensible treat habits.
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Making the Most of Your Dog's Final Days
Gentle, practical ideas for a terminally ill or elderly dog, safe treats, bending the rules, and what to expect.
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Caring for a Senior Dog: Signs to Watch For and What Helps
Early signs of ageing, joint pain and arthritis, cognitive decline, and what actually helps.
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Is Your Dog a Healthy Weight?
How to check your dog's body condition score at home, the health risks of extra weight, and what helps.
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Why Does My Dog Eat Grass? Should I Be Worried?
Why it's usually normal, when it's worth a vet visit, and the real risk of weedkiller and garden chemicals.
Behaviour
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Fireworks & Bonfire Night: Keeping Dogs Calm
Preparing weeks ahead, what to do on the night, and a live countdown to the next fireworks night.
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Nervous & Anxious Dogs: What Actually Helps
How to spot anxiety, common triggers, what not to do, and what actually helps a nervous dog feel calmer.
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Picky Eaters: Getting a Fussy Dog to Actually Eat
What to try, and what not to, when a dog turns their nose up at dinner, with a nod to Sandra's own Stanley.
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Separation Anxiety: Helping Dogs Who Struggle Alone
Signs to watch for, how long is too long, and a step-by-step way to build calmer departures.
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Reading Your Dog's Body Language
The quiet early signs of stress, the ladder of communication, and why you should never punish a growl.
Boarding & Day Care
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Home Boarding vs Kennels: Which Is Right for Your Dog?
An honest, side-by-side comparison of cost, exercise, attention and safety, plus the common myths about each busted.
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Kennel Cough: What It Is and What Actually Helps
The signs to look for, how it spreads, whether the vaccine is worth it, and what to do if your dog is coughing before a stay.
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What to Pack for a Home Boarding Stay
Bedding, food, walking gear and paperwork to sort out before your dog's stay, plus a nod to the full checklist every client gets.
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A Day of Home Boarding With Me
What a typical day looks like: walks, meals, rest, training and playtime, and a settled bedtime routine.
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How to Choose the Right Dog Boarding Service
What to actually look for: licensing, real qualifications, a proper meet and greet, home comforts, and fair pricing.
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Why Is Dog Boarding So Expensive?
What actually goes into the price: licensing, home security, insurance, food, fuel and more, without quoting numbers.
Free tools
Quick, practical tools alongside the guides above, no sign-up needed.
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Price Calculator
Get an instant estimate for walking, day care or boarding based on your dates.
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Dog Age Calculator
Your dog's age in human years, based on size, not the old x7 myth.
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Exercise Needs Calculator
Pick a breed for an instant daily exercise band, using the Kennel Club's own guidance.
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Boarding Packing Checklist
The full, interactive checklist every client gets, tick off items and fill in quantities as you pack.
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Home Boarding or Kennels Quiz
Four quick questions for an honest, instant steer on which suits your dog.
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Printable Pet Emergency Card
Key numbers for your vet, the Animal PoisonLine and the council dog warden, ready to print.
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Can My Dog Eat That?
Type in a food to check instantly whether it's safe, fine in moderation, or toxic for dogs.
More guides on the way, or message Sandra on Facebook if you've got a question you'd like answered in the meantime.