After much consideration the panel have chosen Leo as the Coastal Dog Walkers Dog of the Month for June.  Well done Leo!!!

We've been walking Leo since August last year and he is a much loved dog.  Graeme, Julie and I all love him to bits and he's always happy to go for a nice long walk and you simply cannot tire him out.  He's a very handsome looking dog and we think he's a Picard, which is a breed of dog I had never heard of before Leo.  Picard's are are believed to be the oldest French Sheepdogs breed and are affectionate, easy to train and have a lot of energy - this describes Leo well as he is all those things and more.

Initially his owner was perhaps a little wary about him around other dogs as he had a tendency to bark at dogs he doesn't know.  However Leo quickly showed us that actually he was a very friendly dog and after an initial bark he would happily accept any dog that we introduced him to.  He regularly walks with Indie, Murphy, Jacob, Lola, Ralph and Delilah but has been out with pretty much every dog on the books in the past 12 months.

Recently Leo alerted me to a thunderstorm in the distance although I didn't realise that until the storm was audible to me.  About 10 minutes before I heard the storm he started barking, jumping up and generally trying to get my attention.  As we were at the end of our walk anyway I took him back home.  A few minutes later I heard the storm and the heavens opened.  Next time Leo warns me of an impending storm hopefully I'll pick up on his message and head for shelter!

We love the Wandering Dog Company because at the heart of this business is a genuine passion for your dog’s health and well being.  As a Cullercoats dog walker we often pass by their store based in the metro station, sometimes we even pop in a buy the dogs a little treat.
 
When they started their business in 2015 they were ahead of the curve in the raw food explosion that a lot pet owners are finally getting turned onto.  We’ve all heard the adage ‘you are what you eat’ right.  Well it stands to reason that this applies to our furry friends too and who wouldn’t want to give their dogs a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet that genuinely meets their needs.
 
From humble beginnings just 5 years ago they recognised that dogs are primarily meat eaters but can survive on plant matter if necessary.  The key word here is survive, not thrive.  For your dog to thrive and meet biological nutritional needs then your dog needs to be fed a fresh food, fresh meat based diet.
 
Grains are often used as a cheap filler in dry commercial foods, causing a number of digestive issues for dogs and creating great big mounds of poo for you to pick up in the process.  Feeding a biologically appropriate, fresh food diet is not only gentler on your dog’s stomach but produces smaller, firmer and less frequent poos – winner!!
 
Based in the North East of England the Wandering Dog Company are the region's largest specialist retailer of frozen raw dog food and complimentary treats.  Visit there stores in Cullercoats or Blyth or check them out online at www.thewanderingdog.co.uk
 
They deliver throughout the region and they also offer a nationwide next day delivery service.

​As a North Shields dog walker I am spoilt for choice with places to explore when I’m out on a pack walk with the dogs.

No matter what the time of year there’s always new places to go and that’s especially true during the summer months as we often stay out a little longer just because the weather is nicer and the dogs and I just love being outside.

If I’m dog walking in Cullercoats one of my favourite routes is the walk from Cullercoats Bay to Whitley Bay.  The route along the coastline past the recently refurbished Spanish City and back to Cullercoats is always lovely and the views over the North Sea are always changing.

We never take the most direct route so the walk takes roughly an hour so it’s perfect for the walking the Cullercoats dogs – We normally start off near Beverley Terrace and cut in behind Cliff House (the stunning 18th Century house next to the Queens Head).  Going this way gets you nearer the sea onto the headland and then the stairs ahead of you take you back up to Norma Crescent which has some stunning views back out over the bay towards Tynemouth.

Once we’re back up to the road level we then head toward the dome but cut down onto the lower promenade sections where possible (there’s a few of these little sections) just to get away from the road noise and enjoy a more peaceful walk towards the dome.

It’s lovely getting to the dome as it’s always busy with people just enjoying being outside in a stunning location.  I have to say the refurbishment has exceeded my expectations and hopefully this will help to Whitley Bay back on the map for day trippers and holiday makers.
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From the Dome we usually head up to past Playhouse theatre and then back to Cullercoats via Whitley Bay Town Centre.  This section cannot compete with the views over the sea but it’s good for the dogs to get used to town centres as well as the quieter sections of the walk.  The whole thing usually takes about an hour.

From time to time I like to throw the spotlight onto a local, doggy related business that I think is great and I would like to share with the group.  Today i thought I would write a few words about the Doggy Delish Deli which is based on Albion Road in North Shields (more or less opposite Christ Church).  I often pass this business when I am dog walking in North Shields and sometimes I even pop in and buy the dogs a few treats which obviously they love!

​The place is packed with all manner of biscuits, cakes, baked goods, doggy pizza and even ice cream - all of which is dog friendly and a lot of which is made fresh on the premises each day by the owner, Della and her team.  I only ever spend a couple of quid but always seems to come away with loads of stuff - Della you need to put your prices up!  

Doggy Delish Deli is of course dog friendly and even though space is at a premium you're never made to feel that you're taking up too much room.  I've been in there before with 3 dogs and each dog always gets spoilt with free biscuits whether I buy anything or not.  We recently bought some of the dog friendly ice cream for our dog Buzz and he loved it!

So if you're passing pop in or if you're looking for something a bit different it's well worth a visit.