Pets on the go!

July 24, 2018Leave a comment

The summer sun is heating up, and trips to the beaches of Spain and mountains of Switzerland are calling your name. Or maybe just a trip to the farmers market! And no one appreciates a new adventure more than your pet! (Napping in the sun and looking cute all day can be exhausting!)

As you look to pack for your next trip, finding safe pet transportation is very important. Carriers should be sturdy, comfortable, and provide enough ventilation.
At PetLondon, we have four models that we feel are best for taking little dogs or cats on summer adventures. A Sherpa, Sling, backpack, and shoulder bag all guarantee a safe transport of your pet, however, they do have some key differences.

SHERPA: A Sherpa carrier is the original style of travel transport. Its boxy shape gives pets a little more space, and are approved by most major airlines. It can easily fit under most seats when flying. [We always advise checking with your individual airline] The bottom of the carrier includes a fuzzy mat, which can double as a bed. The Sherpa style carrier provides the convenience of two different entry ways- the top and the side. The addition of a side zippered-entry, allows pets to walk right in to the carrier. The top zippered-entry, allows for you to check on your pet during the journey, or let your pet pop their head out to take in the views. Some sherpa carriers can safely hold pets up to 10 kilograms.

mesh sling

SLING: The sling carrier also provides several benefits. A sling provides hands-free transport, which active owners can appreciate, especially on hikes. The shape allows the carrier to comfortably sit against your body. This is helpful if your animal has anxiety, because they can feel close to you, while still having a full view of their surroundings. Some sling models provide full-body mesh, perfect for carrying pets in the heat. The mesh creates lots of ventilation. The sling carriers are best for small dogs, cats, and rabbits.

BACKPACK: Another way to go handsfree is with a backpack carrier. It offers great weather protection on rainy or windy days. Backpacks also allow for more storage over other carriers. If you are on the go, a pet backpack has pockets to store pet food, water, and toys. Pets up to six kilograms can participate in safe and comfortable backpack rides for the pet and owner.

SHOULDER BAG: For many women, a shoulder bag offers the comfort and familiarity of a purse. If you’re riding in the tube, or on a shopping trip, this is a discreet way to protect and carry your pet. Shoulder bags can come in different fabrics to match the season. Linen and cotton bags are the most popular summer materials. Like the backpack, shoulder bags also have built-in storage. This style of carrier is best for shy or relaxed pets that like to be comfortable and close to their owner.
An extra benefit of shoulder bags is that is comes with two strap options- a long adjustable shoulder strap, or short handles. It gives pet owners carrying options when in busy or crowded places.

Each of the four carrier options provide different benefits to different pet lifestyles. If you haven’t invested in a pet carrier, summer might be the perfect time to do so. It keeps paws off the hot payment, and allows owners to get on the move!

Top tips for pooch hygiene – even your pooch can be spring cleaned!

March 28, 2017March 28, 2017Leave a comment

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If there is one thing we know about dogs, its that they love to get messy. Constant exposure to the elements however can leave a build up of dirt on your beloved canine. Here at PetLondon HQ, we have some great tips on how to keep your pooch clean and healthy, even if they insist on playing in dirt every day!

It is important to wash your dog regularly! Ideally, introduce your dog to bathing from as early an age as possible. We suggest that you bathe your pooch at least once a month using a specialized dog shampoo. If you wish to clean your dog more often than this its recommended that you just use water, as using dog shampoo too often might irritate your dogs skin. To make bath-time less of an ordeal for you and your furry friend, its worth trying to make a positive association for your dog. For example, make sure that bath-time involves lots of their favorite treats and affection. A great tip is to practice letting your dog sit in the empty bathtub for a while, giving them a treat so that they associate being in the tub with treat time! You can then gradually add lukewarm water to ensure it is less of a shock to the system! When bathing your pooch, be sure to keep the ears, eyes and mouth dry, therefore its best to wash from the neck downwards. Ideally, a little cotton wool over the ear canal is perfect for keeping water out, but we understand some pooches absolutely won’t stand for that!

Here at PetLondon HQ we have some great recommendations for safe and effective dog shampoos. For example, one of our personal favorites is the Soothing Oatmeal Shampoo, available on our PetLondon website! Oatmeal based pet products are great for sensitive skin, and help to keep your pooch’s coat lovely and soft. When rinsing the dog shampoo or dog soap out, make sure that all of the product has been washed out. For a pooch with longer hair, perhaps opt for the Detangling Apricot Spray, a perfect product for helping to prevent matting of the hair after bath-time. This spray is great as you need only spray it directly on the knot, and then brush it through. It’s a good idea to also brush through your dog’s long hair before the bath to minimize the tangles.

The location of pooch bath-time is completely up to you. Small breeds can be bathed in sinks or purpose bought tubs, whereas larger breeds can be bathed, weather permitting, outdoors or in the bath. Its always good to use as many towels as you can spare when drying off your soggy hound, preferably one for the floor, one for your dog’s body and another to ensure the face and ears are bone dry. Pay special attention to drying your dog’s feet and paws so avoid any slips! After drying is the time to completely brush through your dog’s hair to avoid tangling, this grooming will also help you to bond with your pooch as it shows how much you care! When drying and grooming your pooch after bath-time, be sure to look out for any ticks or fleas.

Don’t forget the paws! Your pooch’s precious paws need taking care of too! Bath-time can be a great opportunity to carefully clip your dog’s nails. Guillotine clippers tend to work best.

When it comes to pooch hygiene, its not just all about the exterior! Your dog’s dental hygiene needs taking care of too! That’s where we, as devoted owners, have to help our furry friends out! The most important way of looking after your dog’s dental hygiene is to brush their teeth. The ideal doggy toothbrushes are those at a 45-degree angle, and with bristles on both sides to brush smaller and larger tooth surfaces, like our Double-Headed Dog Toothbrush.

In addition to brushing regularly, there are a range of products that can be utilized to maintain great canine dental hygiene. For example, Fresh Breath Drops, available on our website, are a wonderful way to keep your pooch’s breath consistently fresh. Suitable for dogs and cats, simply add three drops to your pet‘s water bowl, they’re also made with natural ingredients!

Keeping your pooch clean is all about ensuring that doggy hygiene is part of your routine. Factor in even just an hour a week to give your dog a good pamper session! Bath-time for your pooch may seem like a recipe for disaster, but if you start early and get them used to it, your squeaky clean pooch will thank you in the long run!

Marauding around Marylebone – The Ultimate Doggy Day Out

February 7, 2017November 5, 2019Leave a comment

Nestled in the heart of London, Marylebone’s village-like atmosphere is the perfect place for a day out with your dog. PetLondon has been part of this community for over ten years; our showroom is a true-to-life Aladdin’s cave for all your doggy needs. The area is bursting with a variety of dog friendly activities and we want to share all the hidden gems with you. This is the only guide you will need for the ultimate adventure with your canine companion.

Start off your morning exploring Marylebone High Street, it’s a haven for shopping, food and culture – a perfect blend of individuality and character rarely found in a city centre. This unique vibrant high-street is warm and welcoming, with a plethora of boutiques to explore as you stroll down the pleasantly bustling avenue. Most of the shops are super dog friendly, but the winner all round has to be Lululemon – it hands out dog treats! We love their store, not only for their excellent range of premium quality and chic sports wear but also their ‘amour-propre’ laid back manifesto to life. It’s our guilty pleasure to indulge in some new apparel for the morning run with the dog.

John Lewis on Oxford St is an icon boosting the latest in shopping technology over six different floors. This beloved institution is now dog-friendly and we can highly recommend we give them a visit to shop to your hearts content.

After some well needed retail therapy, we implore you to grab a luscious coffee at Illy Cafe on Regent’s street, where the spacious seating outside is perfect to soak up some sunshine with your canine , and relax as the world goes by. Make sure to order their Cappuccino – it’s to die for! Don’t forget to visit us whilst walking up Wigmore Street. Our showroom is a paradise for dogs; we have a huge range of premium products, from grooming and garments to treats and toys. Just ring the buzzer of No.16, we are on the fourth floor.

With a new harness or lead in hand, head over to Paddington Street Gardens, located just around the corner, it’s a total hidden gem. Opened in 1886 by HRH Princess Louise, these beautiful public gardens are perfect for dogs and owners of varying energy levels to stretch their legs. This lovely secluded spot located between Marylebone and Baker Street is popular with local residents. Park dwellers always seem to be spotted relaxing on the deckchairs which can be hired, and these gardens are the home for the annual Marylebone’s Summer Fayre which takes place in June each year. If you are visiting of a weekend, be sure to explore the nearby Marylebone Farmers’ Market which is filled with scrumptious goods from across the country with both locals and food enthusiasts alike sampling the best the capital has to offer.

Whenever you fancy wander onwards to Il Baretto’s; their upstairs dining area is fully dog friendly. This lesser known spot is our hidden secret gem but we wanted to share this with you. This restaurant is an ideal spot, to rest your feet and enjoy a spot of lunch. We have got to recommend fully their scrumptious Bufala pizza. It’s classically simple and authentic menu takes culinary influences from specialty dishes and regional produce of Italy. We can also recommend 31below the restaurant which offers fabulous small plates and sharers.

Afterwards you must spend the afternoon perusing the five floors of fashion and lifestyle goods at the globally renowned Selfridges, which is known for being extremely dog friendly. Just remember your companion has to be under-arm or alongside you in a carry bag!

With so much to do, you consider staying a few nights in the area. For those visiting from near or far, we highly recommend The Langham. This prestigious and iconic pet-friendly hotel has been praised by many for its excellent customer service for both owners and their pets and is ideally located to explore Marylebone. To top it off, the glamorous Artesian Bar has been dubbed the ‘World’s Best Bar’, winning the coveted Drinks International Best Bar award for four years in a row.

We hope you enjoyed our suggestions for a dog friendly day in our beloved neighbourhood. We are proud to call Marylebone our home, it’s definitely the picture-perfect place to explore all year round, with plenty of fantastic shops and spaces no matter what time of year.

Virgin-Dogs on a Train!

December 11, 2016December 11, 2016Leave a comment

Virgin Trains contacted PetLondon Models with a very exciting job; six dogs and one snake would be taken on a train journey from London to Newark as part of their new advert, promoting Virgin’s pet friendly policy. Customers can bring up to two domestic animals with them on their Virgin Train journeys for no extra cost, so you can enjoy the festive adventures knowing your pets can be part of the fun.

The lucky animals chosen were Eric, the Harlequin Great Dane; Darcey, the Poodle; Quincy, the British Bulldog; Atlas, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog; Dorothy, the Yorkshire Terrier; Maisie, the West Highland Terrier and Cleo the snake.

The team assembled at Kings Cross, ready for their round trip to Newark. There was an wary morning meet and greet so all the animals, large and small could get acquainted and have a good sniff!

The train had a first class carriage reserved for the animals, making sure all the pets and their handlers were comfortable on their journey. PetLondon’s Animal handler Adam made sure the dogs were settled in and let them get used to their new and exciting surroundings before the shoot began.

The photoshoot included lots of fun tasks, including the dogs playing board games, reading the paper and enjoying the view from the train window. Other shots included four dogs sitting in a pod of four and enjoying the journey together. The dogs were even served some special food and beverages and had their tickets checked by a Virgin Trains Inspector.

The dogs all found the carriage very comfortbale. Virgin Trains’ refurbished interiors provides the best possible customer experience whatever your species ahead of the arrival of the Virgin’s Azuma trains in 2018

Darcey watching the world go by

The dogs seemed very relaxed on their journey, particularly Quincy who looked right at home having a well deserved lie down on one of the tables and Darcey who especially ended the view from the window and watching the world go by.

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There was also a non-canine on this shoot! Cleo the snake also did a great job showing that Virgin Train’s pet friendly policy is not just for dogs. Cleo is a Royal Python who is four foot long. She is very calm and enjoyed all the limelight.

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Snakes on a train

All the animals involved did a fantastic job promoting Virgin’s pet friendly policy, and enjoyed their exciting first class adventure. Well done to all those involved!

Hudson and Bertie for River Island

November 12, 2016November 12, 2016Leave a comment

River Island have recently started an exciting new venture into dog clothing and accessories and contacted PetLondon Models for two dogs to promote the new range . They required two friendly, photogenic pooches who matched the specific sizes of the products. Lots of our fabulous dogs were suggested, and after much deliberation, the two lucky pups selected were Bertie the Pug and Hudson the Shih Poo.

Bertie Fernando Morgan

Hudson

Bertie the pug is no stranger to the camera, having previously taken part in a shoot for Mattel. He loves to work with other dogs and is very well socialised, and has an impressive skill set for such a young pooch. Shih Poo Hudson is as equally as friendly and talented, and when he is picked up he will wrap his paws around you and cuddle back! Both dogs are very happy modelling clothes, which comes across in the photos as both pups look very comfortable in the range of stunning garments.

Bertie looking festive in the RI Dog Christmas Jumper

Bang on trend: Hudson in Khaki Green Bomber Jacket

The exclusive River Island Pet Apparel Collection features nine items, including cable knit sweaters, a bomber jacket, collars and matching leads. Hudson and Bertie look fantastic in the clothes, and did a great job of showing off the new range.

Hudson showing off his fabulous dance moves

There has been a lot of media attention surrounding the RI Dog launch, with several articles released from publications including The Independent and The Daily Mail. The images of Bertie and Hudson also appeared on ITV’s Lorraine, promoting the collection and showing off some of the wonderful photos from the shoot. The collection has so far proved incredibly popular, with sizes selling out fast and people taking to social media to share their excitement.

The RI Dog range is available both online and in selected stores, including the flagship branch on Oxford Street. Sizes come in Small, Medium and Large, and are perfect Christmas gifts for your canine friends!

River Island Dog Collection at the Oxford Street branch

Further images from the shoot can be found on River Island’s website under RI Dog.

Great job Bertie and Hudson, you both performed outstandingly!

Dobby for Racecourse

August 27, 2016Leave a comment

The Beverley Racecourse contacted PetLondon Models seeking a very special hound to attend their annual Ladies Day event. They knew exactly which breed they were looking for! A Dachshund who would be wearing a specially fitted ‘Dasch Cam’ during the event. We got to work and sent them details of all our Dachshund models who fit this brief. The job was to take place in East Yorkshire near Hull.

After some contemplation the lucky chosen dog was to be DOBBY. This rather famous little chap is a great personality and loves going on adventures. Still under one years old, Dobby has a great list of special skills and tricks and already has several model jobs with PetLondon under his belt.

There was a lot of press interested in Dobby’s attendance at the event and several articles were published surrounding the story. The public were very excited for the chance to meet Dobby at the races. Normally when Dobby leaves the house he is always being stopped by people wanting to say hello to him and he is somewhat of a celebrity in his local town.

Dobby was looking very handsome on the day of his event and set off from the Midlands with his owner wearing a very dapper bow tie that would be sure to impress the ladies.

Upon arrival he parked up and came onto the grounds where he was introduced to his co-star Rosie and had his special camera pack fitted.

Dobby loved exploring the Westwood course and meeting lots of new people. Dobby’s assignment was to capture all the glamour of the races on his ‘Dasch Cam’. Thousands of attendees had dressed up in their finest attire, hoping to get spotted for the best dressed competition. Dobby made his rounds all the way around the racecourse, sniffing out all the best looks (and shoes!) to be found. All this was captured to create a fantastic social media video that we are delighted to share with you below.

Cooper for FEARLESS

August 16, 2016Leave a comment

A fun job request came in from the University of Northampton. They knew exactly what they were looking for! A Blue/Grey French Bulldog with a white patch on his/her chest to open and close their fashion show and to be the star visitor for the event.

We were provided with a copy of their invitation that featured a French Bulldog that they were trying to match as closely as possible. We had a couple of options for them to choose from that fitted this precise brief. After exchanging several model profile details and checking availability with some of our dogs and handlers the chosen Frenchie was the very lovely Cooper !

This was a great choice. Cooper is extremely friendly with everyone, very well socialized and used to lots of people around him. He accepts cats, very friendly with all dogs and loves children. He is very relaxed in busy environments. He can sit, shake, stay and give paw and learn special requests .

Unlike some of our jobs, this client was very well organised and left of plenty of planning time, so Cooper had quite a while to get ready for his trip and look forward to the event.

On the day of the show, Cooper and his handler travelled up on the train from London. They arrived to find that Cooper was presented with a specially prepared and branded dog coat so that he would match the theme of the evening. The colour really suited him.

Cooper loved his raincoat!

Cooper had a specific schedule and plenty of time to relax, rest and enjoy meeting everyone. Everyone was very excited to meet with him before the show started and lots of people wanted to take pictures with him of course.

Cooper is a very well behaved and boy and was able to roam freely around the venue taking in the sights and showing off his new coat.

Cooper was the star of the event and everyone absolutely loved him. When it was time for the show to start Cooper took pride of place at the front of the show.

The client was very happy with the the models performance and even dropped us a message saying “Just a note to say that Cooper the French Bulldog was a complete success, he did everything and more that we needed him to do. Cooper welcomed our VIP Guests on the steps of the University, then moved to the Art Gallery, then he queued up for an ice cream and then walked to the front of the Marquee and laid down in exactly the spot we wanted him to – PERFECT!”

Well done to Cooper for a very successful assignment and on being able to being smiles to so many faces 🙂

Stella for CIF

August 7, 2016August 7, 2016Leave a comment

Cif are cleaning the roof of the O2! The O2 arena’s roof will take 72 days to complete.The iconic multi-purpose indoor venue in Greenwich, London, is currently midway through a dramatic make-over as part of Cif’s ‘Before & After Project’, which will see the 50 metre building receive a spruce up using the floor cleaning product.

The lengthy project, which aims to turn the building’s roof back to its bright white colour, is being documented on the the brand’s official Facebook page and website. To help promote the project CIF called on PetLondon Models to provide a cat to star in their viral video.

CIF

The chosen kitty was Perla the Persian, a stunning female cat who is almost pure white but with some striking markings. She attended for filming in a location flat specially selected because of its view of the O2 from its living room window.

Perla was given some time to explore the new environment and settle in and she particularly enjoyed chilling on the windowsill. For one of the scenes the female actor was to hold Perla whilst speaking to the camera. Perla was happy to oblige in a cuddle and show off her gorgeous coat to the camera.

PERLA CIF

Perla is a true professional and as usual gave an outstanding performance for the client. You can watch some of the final footage below and this is being aired across CIF’s social media channels and as viral videos.

Arthur for DogBuddy

July 31, 2016Leave a comment

A fun and very hands-on job that came into PetLondon HQ was one requiring a medium sized dog with lots of personality and the ability to do various actions including some active jumping on set. The assignment was for DogBuddy. They are a company that will find Dog sitters, Dog walkers and Dog boarding services near you. Dog Buddy aim to provide a comfortable and caring home from home.

DogBuddy were planning a big campaign shoot for a some promotional images to appear on the London Underground. Their campaign message was all about promoting the fact that you would not spend your holiday in cage so why should your dog?

Once a full brief had come in with all the actions required and that the dog should have a very expressive face, we set to working matching up the perfect PetLondon Model for this unique shoot. Lots of of options went back and forth but it was Arthur who was chosen in the end as the perfect model. Arthur is a three and half year old Labradoodle. He is a happy-go-lucky dog who absolutely love attention and meeting new people.

Arthur arrived at the studio very excited and ready to get his perfect shots. He had a quick prep and got to know everyone on set including the crew and make-up-artist. We do not really use make-up on the animals but this made for a fun picture and Arthur enjoyed being pampered!

Arthur really enjoyed all the attention being on him and could not wait to get started in front of the camera. He knew he was the real star of the day.

Arthur has done several theatre rolls and is very well trained in Agility, he often competes in outdoor shows. He was more than willing to show off how fun it was to jump over his hurdle. In post-production the hurdle could be edited out to show Arthur’s action leaps.

111 There were some real humans at the shoot too and they were the ones who had to sit in a “cage” whilst Arthur was free to roam about and have fun. Here is one of the final shots. The playful message showed some role reversal to promote a cage-free holiday for your dog.

Arthur took everything in his stride and had an excellent time! He loved all the attention on set and had a fabulous adventure.

Look out for his friendly face on the London Underground, he is sure to make you smile.

Dinner With Poppy

June 22, 2016Leave a comment

Feeding your pup is a meaty affair. Supermarket aisles are chockablock with dog food and treats, claiming to do everything from cleaning your pups teeth to teaching an old dog new tricks. A lot of what is on offer is heavily processed, and not as natural or healthy as the packaging would have you believe! A quick Google of dog food ingredients is enough to put you off the tinned stuff for life.

Every dog is different, and there is no perfect answer, but one of the easiest ways to know what your dog is eating is to put it together yourself. If the idea of cooking for your canine gets you into a cold sweat, don’t fear! PetLondon are here to give you a helping hand. It is not as tedious and messy as you might think, so put your nicest pinny on and rustle up a little gourmet feast for your pup tonight.

(Just a quick reminder before we get into the good stuff, PetLondon wouldn’t recommend overhauling your dogs diet overnight, any big changes can make their tummies funny. Take the time to slowly tweak their diet)

Choosing the ingredients for your dogs meal is as easy as 1, 2, 3. You need the energy, the greens and the protein. We’ve jotted down Poppy’s favourites to give you an idea:

The Energy: Brown Rice or Sweet Potato

The Greens (and the orange): Poppy loves kale, green beans, brocolli and spinach. Feel free to pick and mix your veg of choice, just avoid garlic and onions. If in doubt- Google! There are lots of lists of dog friendly fruit and veg, and we’ve got a couple saved to our Pinterest page.

The Protein: Turkey, beef or chicken.

The Extras: Poppy gets an adult multi-vitamin, and Pro-fibre (available from all good veterinarians).

You can rustle up a batch of your energy on a Sunday afternoon, if you have a spare thirty minutes pop a big pot of rice on the stove or throw a couple of sweet potatoes in the oven to bake. Once cooked, let it cool down before storing in your fridge.

Poppy has all her veg steamed, but choose whatever method works for you. You want it soft enough to dice up with the rest of the dinner, whether that means boiling your carrots or sautéing your spinach, do what works for you!

You can cook up your protein in advance too, Sunday afternoons are the perfect time to get busy in the kitchen and will make it easier for the rest of the week. If you’re making a Sunday roast for yourself, cook a little extra meat and put it aside for your pup. (Do make sure you don’t put any seasoning or sauce over the meat you’ll feed your pup though!) Meat won’t last the whole week, but you can prep enough for a couple of days.

Each evening muddle together your energy, greens and protein. Mix it together in the same way you would for a small child, and your pup will never notice they’re chomping down on kale.

Poppy also has an adult dog vitamin and Pro-fibre with her meal, they both go down easily by smashing the vitamin into a fine powder and stirring them both through her dinner.

Have fun getting creative in the kitchen, and if you do decide to cook for your pup take a photo and tag us @PetLondon– Poppy would love to see your doggy dinners!

The PetLondon Penthouse

Thoughts, ideas and inspiration from the hub of PetLondon

Tag: dogs