Homeward Bound professional dog walking service

13/02/2026

Disgusting 😡

This is just one of the trainers kennels that we have personally visited.

If you say this does not happen generally around the Greyhound Racing world then you are lying or delusional.

Commercial racing encourages trainers to have large numbers of dogs and there is no requirement to have an ample number of staff to exercise and care for the amount of dogs.

When we say greyhounds are generally locked up for 23hrs per day, we are being generous.

Here's a little breakdown especially for those who deny it.

100 dogs
4 staff
25 dogs/kennels per staff member.
10 minutes to muck each kennel equals
4hrs and 10 minutes. Lunch and breaks equals 5hrs 10 mins leaving each member of staff just 3hrs to exercise 25 dogs each at 2 dogs in one paddock per time.
Giving each dog approximately 10 minutes per day in a paddock.
This is based on the better commercial racing kennel.
Anymore than 2 dogs per paddock would require muzzling and would still be risky while
commercial racing cannot afford unnecessary injuries! When dogs are isolated all day long in a filthy kennel they will have lots of frustration and pent up energy.
As we say these are the better of the commercial racing kennels.
This photo was taken at a top trainers kennel by ourselves.

17/12/2025

16/10/2025

💉 Titre Testing Before Boosters – What Every Dog Owner Should Know
Many vets now agree that most core vaccines (like parvo, rabies, distemper, and adenovirus) protect dogs for many years after proper initial immunisation.
Research by Dr. Ronald Schultz, one of the world’s leading veterinary immunologists, and guidelines from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) show that immunity from modern modified live vaccines can last 7–15 years or more.
That’s why it’s best to titre test first — this simple blood test checks your dog’s antibody levels. If your dog still has protective antibodies, an extra booster may not be necessary and won’t provide any added benefit. Unnecessary vaccination can sometimes increase the risk (even if small) of adverse reactions.
So before automatically re-vaccinating on a schedule, ask your vet about a titre test. It’s a science-based way to keep your dog protected without over-vaccinating.

13/10/2025

COPIED BECAUSE IT’S TOO BRILLIANT NOT TO!
The other day I was at the local public park (not a dog park, but dogs are allowed there). We were walking along in a high movement area so I had my dog on a leash. Another dog, off leash, sees us and starts approaching.
My dog needs her space so we start moving away, but the dog got to us before we could leave. My dog was stressing a little so I politely said to the woman, sorry my dog doesn't want to play and ushered her dog away.
Her dog gets the message and moves on.
Quite good, right? Here comes the juicy part:
As I’m leaving the owner comes to me with a speech more or less like this:
Hey, if your dog is nervous and doesn’t even want to play with other dogs, go somewhere else! Don’t come to the park and ruin other dogs fun.
I heard this and a wave of fury started taking over, but suddenly I think I had a lightbulb moment and switched gears completely.
With the biggest, friendliest smile, I opened my arms as wide as I could and said Ohhhhh! Come here... I want to give you a BIG hug!
With panic in her eyes, she backs up, speechless and quickly starts walking away.
I said "Hey, don’t run, I’m so friendly, come on, I only want to give you a hug! I’m friendly I promise... I just want to Hug You!"
Still speechless and backing away with terror now, I said "Wait, You don’t want my friendly hug?"
She yelled No!
I said "Well neither does my dog! Have a nice day.!!!"
As I walked away, I saw her just standing there, speechless and she was leashing her dog! 😅
I think I’ll try this approach more often 🤣

15/08/2025

This is exactly why I refuse to take dogs out in extreme heat.

Mandy Lawrie was left heartbroken when she returned home to her beloved pet dead

19/06/2025

19/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1F3JbZpzve/

19/06/2025

Think dog!🐕🐾

Thinking of walking your dog in the day? Think again!

The advise is to walk your dog before 11am and after 6pm to help avoid any high temperature that are on many roads and pavements.

Temperature on the roads and pavements are much higher than any air temperature.

🐕🐾

30/04/2025

Warning! We're seeing heatstroke cases in our Pet Hospitals and, tragically, some could not be saved ⚠️

Heatstroke is a very serious condition that can cause severe dehydration, organ damage and even death. If your pet is showing symptoms of heatstroke, start cooling them down immediately and contact your vet.

It’s important for pet owners to be aware of the signs of heatstroke. The quicker they’re cooled down, the better their chance of recovery.

See the full guide: https://pdsa.me/2M3r

*Please note that ice cubes are perfectly safe to use as a treat to cool down on a hot day. If your pet is suffering from heatstroke they should not be used as treatment.

[Visual description: An infographic that outlines the signs of heatstroke in dogs that owners should look out for, and what to do if you’re worried. This includes: Vomiting, excessive panting, foaming at the mouth, bright red or pale gums, drooling, confusion, weakness, collapsing, shaking, seizures and diarrhoea.]

30/04/2025

We are starting to see the rapeseed warnings shared on social media again ⚠️

And in a way, they're right, you shouldn't let your dog run in the field, but it's not for the reason you think.

This time of year you can see fields with a beautiful golden carpet, these are full of rapeseed flowers. Rapeseed is beginning to flower - the fields look absolutely beautiful and it can be tempting to allow your dogs to run through the sunshine yellow crop.

➡️However, it would be best advised to stick to designated footpaths and not allow your dogs to stray.

➡️Why? Because these are farmers crops and livelihoods! Dogs and people should always stick to the designated paths to avoid any unnecessary disruption of crops.

⚠️Issues with dogs developing issues after coming into contact is thankfully rare.

Dogs can develop gastrointestinal issues if they ingest some of the plant. There have also been reports of skin reactions which resemble burns that can cause pain and discomfort and require treatment. Thankfully both of these outcomes are rare!

Veterinary Poisons Information Service and Animal PoisonLine released a helpful press release following some misinformation surrounding rapeseed dangers.

See the link in our blog below 👇

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/rapeseed-warning

30/04/2025

Hot Forecast Due 🌅

Is it true that if we use cold water on heat stroke pets they will go into shock?

One of the most common things we still hear is that we can only use tepid water on a pet with heat stroke, incase they get some complications like hypothermic overshoot, peripheral vasoconstriction hindering a cooling response, and cardiogenic shock...

We have heard not to use cold water in case it causes shock... this rarely happens!

But guess what? In a recent study over 26% of dogs presented with heat stroke died, with flat faced breeds making up nearly half of heat stroke cases seen in the study.

You should:

💧Get someone to call the local veterinary practice and tell them you're going to travel down with a heat stroke patient
💧Pour, hose or if possible immerse the pet in very cold water (this should obviously be done under constant supervision, ensuring the head is fully above water and immersion should not be attempted if the animal is too large, or you are unable to do so without hurting yourself)
💧NB: If using a hose pipe, make sure it has run through until cold, as they can often contain water that is extremely hot in the tubing initially
💧Do not drape in towels and leave them in situ. Keep the cold water flowing.
💧Move to a cool, shaded area
💧Prepare to transport to vets in a cold, air conditioned car

In studies they found that:

🌅International consensus from sports medicine organisations supports treating EHS with early rapid cooling by immersing the casualty in cold water.
🌅Ice-water immersion has been shown to be highly effective in exertional heat stroke, with a zero fatality rate in large case series of younger, fit patients.
🌅Hyperthermic individuals were cooled twice as fast by Cold Water Immersion as by passive recovery.
🌅No complications occurred during the treatment of three older patients with severe heat stroke were treated with cold‐water immersion.
🌅Cold water immersion (CWI) is the preferred cooling modality in EHS guidelines and the optimal method applicable to UK Service Personnel
🌅Studies suggest using either ice-water or cold-water immersion

The best intervention is PREVENTION, but if you find yourself with an animal with heat stroke, using cold water either by pouring, hosing or ideally (if safe) immersion then this may help reduce their temperature to safe levels while you transport to a veterinary practice.

Read more below:

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/cool-icy-cold-or-tepid