Paws Post October 2025
- lornapawsperfect
- Oct 24
- 6 min read
Welcome to our third Paws Post of 2025! We cant believe how quickly this year has gone so far - and we are nearly ready to start talking about that word that starts with 'C' and ends with 'hristmas'! Things have been ticking over nicely here with no major changes - so we thought we'd focus this addition of Paws Post on being fun and informative! Grab a cup of something warm to beat the cold weather that's slowly creeping in and enjoy!
Breed Focus: Lakeland Terrier
For this months breed focus it was Summer's turn to choose a breed - of course she chose the Lakeland Terrier (as she has her own little fell-type Lakeland Rosie!). Lakeland Terriers are a small type terrier who originate from the Lake District. They were originally bred to run with the packs of hounds over the rocky terrain of the Lake District. Therefore, their key traits are stamina, agility and courage to go to ground or chase down foxes. or badgers. They are now more commonly found as ratters or more commonly as pets.
Lakelands typically have two different types as the breed diverged over time - the fell/working type which are often smaller, leaner, and have a shorter denser coat. This type is more suited to working and were bred with their working ability specifically in mind. The show type on the other hand as a longer finer coat, they typically closely fit the breed standard and are larger with a typically calmer temperament whilst still retaining the key terrier courage and tenacity.
Both types of Lakeland terriers are hardy and energetic, they have high training and exercise needs and require an experienced owner. They are both traditionally hand stripped to maintain the colour and texture of the coat but if not tolerated they can be clipped.
BREED STANDARD INFO:
SIZE: Small (7-9kg)
Exercise Needs: Medium-High (1 hour + per day)
TRAITS: Intelligent, Bold, Independent, Friendly, Confident, Can struggle with living with other dogs.
COAT TYPE: Medium/Long Hair - Wire Hair - Low/Non-Shedding
Lifespan: 12-16 Years
GOOD FOR FIRST TIME DOG OWNERS? No - Lakelands are not typically recommended for first time dog owners due to their independent and stubborn nature, high prey drive and energy levels.
GROOMING NEEDS: Medium - if hand stripped require stripping every 3-4 months, if clipped every 8-12 weeks, require weekly brushing to prevent matting.
ACCEPTED COLOURS
The following colours are those accepted for showing by the British Kennel Club.
Black
Black & Tan
Blue
Blue & Tan
Liver
Red
Red Grizzle
Wheaten
Tips for Enjoying the Spooky Season with your dog!
The cold weather is creeping in and with it we have a long list of fun holidays like Halloween, Bonfire night and more! So here is some of our top tips for enjoying the spooky October season with your dogs!
Keep the treats out of reach!
If you have children, or enjoy providing sweets to the trick or treaters make sure to keep the treats far out of reach. Chocolates and sweets can be very toxic to our four legged friends so keeping them locked away and out of reach of any pesky pooches will ensure no costly vet visits!
Gather up some supplies to help them through the loud noises!
Halloween and Bonfire night often come with some noisy/scary experiences which can often cause our dogs to become stressed or worried from people in costume to the explosions of fireworks its best to make sure you have a plan ahead of time to keep your dog safe. Whether that's keeping them out of the way when trick or treats come to visit or providing them with a safe space to hide away during the fireworks. If you find your dog simply is not able to cope during this time its best to speak to your vets and they may be able to provide you with something to help get them through this period of the year.
Keep an eye out for gritters or toxic things on the ground!
As it starts to get colder and icy, the gritters and antifreeze will start coming out. Please be aware that these things can be toxic to dogs, try to avoid walking in these areas as much as possible and/or cleaning your dogs feet after every walk to avoid them licking their paws and ingesting anything nasty.
Make sure you and your dog are visible on walks!
When the weather gets cold and the evenings get darker quicker, its important to make sure both you and your dog are visible on walks. There are plenty of light up collars, tags and reflective collar attachments and coats for your pooch. But its also worth making sure you wear something reflective to ensure you can be seen by cars whilst walking on or next to the roads.
Grooming Focus: Common skin issues in dogs
There are lots of skin problems that your dogs might experience in their lives. From irritation caused by fleas and ticks (as we spoke about in our previous Paws Post!) to irritation from household products. Its important to keep a close eye on your dogs skin and to alert your vet to any changes or issues as soon as possible. Whilst your dog is with us at Paws Perfect, we can often alert you to any issues we spot whilst grooming - which is another reason to make sure you keep up regular grooming appointments!
Allergies:
One of the more common skin related problems come from allergies. These can be allergies to food, parasites such as fleas or environmental factors such as pollen or household products. A common food allergy for dogs is actually chicken - which is in a lot of dog foods! If you suspect your dog is having an allergic reaction its important to take them to your vets where they can test them for any other causes and advise you on the best next steps.
Skin Cancer:
If you find a lump or growth on your dog its important to get them seen by a vet as soon as possible. When caught early these issues are often very treatable - so timing is everything. There are three types of skin cancers that are most commonly found these include:
Malignant Melanoma: most often found on lips/mouth, nail bed and pads. Appears as a dark or pink spot.
Mast Cell Tumours: commonly found on limbs, chest or lower abdomen and are usually red and itchy.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: grows in lighter-pigmented areas of the body, such as abdomen or around the genitals, but can be found elsewhere. They vary in appearance but most often are crusty raised bumps that resemble warts.
Mange:
Mange is often associated with those dogs you see on dogs trusts adverts or in neglected animals, but its actually a very common skin issue caused by a type of mite. Early signs include severe itchiness, redness and rashes. Sarcoptic Mange first occurs on the ears, and dogs with weakened immune systems or very young or old dogs are often most susceptible to Demodectic Mange. If left untreated Mange can cause the dogs skin to become painful and form thick scabs, widespread hair loss and emaciation. It can be treated by the vets with medication and medicated shampoos.
Ringworm:
Despite its name Ringworm is not actually caused by worms! It is an infection caused by different types of fungi. This is not a serious health issue, but its highly contagious to dogs, cats and people. So a vet visit is key to ensuring it does not spread. Ringworm signs include roughly circular areas of hair loss, red, inflamed or scabby skin that is not usually itchy. In most cases this can be treated at the vets with an oral medications and topical ointment - though thorough environmental cleaning is also crucial as the spores can stay on surfaces and cause repeat infection.
BOOK IN YOUR CHRISTMAS TRIMS SOON!
The weather is getting cold and wet - our December slots are booking up really fast. This time of year is always busy for us and we want to ensure your dogs stay comfortable and mud free in the cooler weather so be sure to book in asap if you haven't already. You can contact us via text/phone, email or via our website!
Comments