Cill Dubh Hounds

We know that sometimes it can be hard to find a walk that both you and your dog will enjoy, so here at Cill Dubh Hounds we're going to tell you about some of our favourite walks. Our walk of the month: Symonds Yat Rock Where: Wye Valley,  GL16 7NZ Parking:  Yes, there's plenty of parking but be sure to read the signs as you will need to pay. Cafe nearby:  Yes! There's a cafe a short walk away from the car park and the toilets. There's plenty of spaces outside, and even a handy place to tie your dog's lead so you can have both hands free for your sandwich and snacks. Difficulty:  This depends on which trail you take. Some aren't great in winter as they get quite muddy, so they might not be  accessible all year round for wheelchair users. Other trails include steep slopes, uneven ground and the Biblins Loop has a suspension bridge which might not be be suitable for dogs. We advise to check the Foresty England website before arriving so you have a good idea o...

  Did you know your dog can be almost invisible in low-light and dark conditions? That's why refelctive gear matters - it can be a life saver. Refelctive gear can reduce accidents involving cyclists by up to 47% - so imagine what reflective coats, vests and accessories could do for your dog. Reflective gear can alert other dog walkers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to your dog's presence and allows them to take action, if required, to avoid your dog. In Estonia, it's actually law that all humans wear a personal reflector in winter.  This law has been around since 1992, and according to the Estonia Transit Authority, reflectors can be seen from up to 300 meters away. Their data shows that fatal pedestrian accidents in unlit areas dropped from 9 in 2011 to just 3 in 2021. That's the power of refelctive accessories. What does refelctive actually mean? Reflective material doesn't actaully produce it's own light, it reflects light back towards the source. This ...

Now that we've waved goodbye to August, it seems to be dark well before 9PM and here at Cill Dubh Hounds HQ that makes us start to think about how it won't be long before morning walks and post-work walkies will be low-light or in the dark. It's hard to think about, what with the weather still being in the high teens and low twenties, but darker dog walks are on the way for many of us. Autumn and winter dog walks can also mean poor visibility from rain, sleet and snow, fog and just generally being overcast. These weather conditions don't just present a challenge for you being able to see your dog, but other dog walkers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists for being able to see them too. We make adjustments to Leo's walking gear as the seasons change, as his post-work walk starts to get a little darker, we'll add his LumiScarf and eventually move onto adding his Blaze Vest . These help him stay visible and seen, even when there is still light in the sky. When is...

We know that sometimes it can be hard to find a walk that both you and your dog will enjoy, so here at Cill Dubh Hounds we're going to tell you about some of our favourite walks. Our walk of the month: Beechenhurst Where: Forest of Dean,  GL16 7EL Parking: Yes, there's plenty of parking but be sure to read the signs as you will need to pay. Cafe nearby: Yes! There's a cafe at the visitors centre and they're dog friendly too! We ordered Leo some  sausage slices from the dog menu. Plus, if it's dry, there's plenty of places to sit outside, and if your dog is nervous of crowds or reactive there are a few picnic tables that are set further back from the main area. Difficulty: This depends on which trail you take. There is a mobility scooter friendly route that you can follow. We followed one of the short cuts on the scultpture trail. There are some steep parts to the trail and uneven ground. The full trail is just under 5 miles, while the smallest short cut tra...

If you've been in the UK all summer, you will have no doubt been trying to beat the heat and helpling your dog try to stay cool too. One the most important thing and basic needs during hot weather, is to make sure that your dog has plenty of drinking water available. But just how much water should your dog drink? It's a great question, as we all want to make sure that our furry friends are getting everything they need to stay healthy and happy. Just like humans, the answer to this question depends on the individual dog themselves: How old are they? How active are they? How big or small are they? What's their diet like? Do they have any medical issues, or are they taking any medication? In order to enocourage your dog to drink, there are a few things to remember, the first is to never force them to take a drink. You can help them to top-up on their hydration by making sure the area they eat and drink is clean and tidy, and they always have fresh water. Leo is a really messy ...

 At Cill Dubh Hounds, we love all dogs - big ones, small ones, fast ones and the ones who want to take it easy. We'll be taking a closer look at all the different breeds that make up our favourite four legged companions. First in our series of breed spotlights, we'll be looking at the inspriation behind Cill Dubh Hounds - the Greyhound! Greyhounds have quite a history, and are the only dog breed mentioned in the bible and at one time, only the royalty of England, Wales and Egypt could own a Greyhound.  As they were built for sprinting after prey, and were popular hunting dogs with the nobility of England. At first they were tasked with hunting deer, but as over hunting took told their masters' attention turned to other animals they could hunt, and they became popular for hunting rabbits and hares due to their speed. Greyhounds are built for sprinting, and can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, which is why you find a lot of Greyhounds on a race track. If a...