Advice for owners

Summer weather advice

• Read our six steps to have a safe summer with your dog and what to do if your dog overheats.

• Dog dental hygiene

  It is important to look after your dog's teeth. Although they are not prone to cavities like humans, they can still develop problems like tartar, plaque buildup and gingivitis. Find out how.

• How to have a happy vet visit

  Visiting the vet is a fact of life for most dog owners, and while some of our four-legged friends may not enjoy it, it certainly doesn't have to be a traumatic trip. Read our guide on how to have a happy vet visit.

• How to find a good dog walker

  At times, your schedule may not give you the time you need to exercise your dog, so you may be thinking about using professional dog walking services. Our advice will help you to find a good dog walker so you can ensure your dog is in safe hands.

• Winter Weather Advice

  With temperatures dropping and wintry weather on the way, our four-legged friends need to be ready for winter too. We have some helpful tips to help you keep your doggy friends safe and warm and avoid potentially hazardous winter walks.

• Fireworks

  If you are among the millions of dogs owners whose dogs cower at Catherine Wheels, are spooked by sparklers or rattled by rockets, Dogs Trust is on hand to help calm those canine quivers!

• Keeping your dog safe this Christmas

  We've put together a useful guide to helping your four-legged friends enjoy the festivities to the full whilst staying healthy and happy.

• What do I do if I've lost my dog?

  The Dog or Animal Warden for your local Council are legally responsible for stray dogs and the most likely to have picked them up! Call surrounding areas too, dogs can travel quite far when they want to! Your local Dog Warden through the Environmental Health Department of your local council. Please note that the Council must legally hold onto a stray dog for only 7 days (5 days in Northern Ireland) before they can rehome him, pass him onto a rehoming organisation, or have him humanely put to sleep.

• What do I do if I've found a stray dog?

  Check to see if the dog is wearing any form of identification that will enable you to return him directly to his owner. Contact the local authority dog warden straight away and arrange for him/her to collect the dog. Please remember that rehoming organisations cannot take strays directly off the street or from well-meaning members of the public except under certain emergency situations.