WE’RE VERY PROUD TO BE JOINING FORCES WITH THE TEAM AT DOGBUDDY THIS SUMMER TO SHARE SOME TOP TIPS FOR LOOKING AFTER YOUR PET DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

DogBuddy helps you to find the perfect dog sitter in your area and they’ll donate £1 to the RSPCA when you make your first booking.

They’ve been featured by the Daily Mail, the BBC, the Metro and the Telegraph to name but a few and we thought it was about time His & Hers found out what the fuss was all about and asked the DogBuddy team to share some key holiday season advice.

How long can you leave a dog alone?

• In the event that you have to resort to leaving your dog alone, the RSPCA say it should be only for a maximum of four hours at any one time. This is down to our furry pals being highly sociable creatures, in need of stimulation and exercise. This allows them to remain the alert, healthy and happy dogs we adore.

What happens when you leave a puppy alone?

• Leaving a young dog alone without any interactions, human or canine, can have long lasting effects. A dog at 6 months to 9 months left alone could potentially end up being almost impossible to integrate with other future pets, not to mention that they could be going through a lot of stress around other dogs during something like taking them for a walk.

Who can look after my dog while I’m away?

• There are a few options when it comes to looking for dog care, but the main ones are these four:
  • Friends & Family
  • Neighbours
  • Dog Kennels
  • Dog Sitting

How do I decide the best care option for my dog?

• Ask yourself these questions:
  • What sort of temperament does your dog have?
  • Are they sociable dogs or do they require individual, one-on-one care?
  • Are there any medical or dietary requirements that need to be catered for?
  • How relaxed or stressed is your dog likely to be in a new environment?
  • What are they like around new people?
  • Will they need something that reminds them of home?

What do I need to prepare for a dog carer?

• Regardless of your choice of care, you’ll need to make sure that you have everything provided in terms of information, schedules and even a favourite toy so that your beloved canine can relax and enjoy their time away from you as much as possible. There’s no way better to make sure that your dog feels like they’re in a home from home!

• Why not take a look at an example of a sitter kit that you could prepare for your caregiver so that you know they have everything they would need to look after your prized pooch!

What do I need to prepare for my dog when I’m away?

• Before going away it is important that you acclimatise your pet to the walking and eating schedules that you are going to give to your care provider. You can make sure that while your dog may be missing you in its day to day, its mealtimes will be a welcome constant.

• Typically you should integrate the eating and walking schedules into your dog’s daily life up to four weeks before you are due to go away, but to be honest, it will make your life easier to get your dog eating in a routine as soon as possible!

How can I check in on my dog when I’m away?

This is what the DogBuddy App offers you:

• Walkies Tracking:
  • View your dog’s exercise routine and where they have been walked, making sure that your sitter is following the schedule that you have set out!
• Instant Messaging:
  • Contact your sitter immediately (for free) and get updates as and when you want them, meaning that you can ease any worry that pops into your mind, and even get photo updates so that you can get your fix of your beloved canine even when you’re not around. This allows you to also save on any phone bills or overseas text charges!

We’re very proud to bring you these tips in association with DogBuddy.

Related feature: 5 of Liverpool’s best dog-friendly pubs.