A Pleasant Pawfect Property...

Sometimes you can be presented with so much tempting choice of your perfect property for the pooch in your family on http://www.thewoofguide.com/, that your vision can become one big overwhelming blur, where you don't necessarily get the opportunity to admire and appreciate all aspects of the properties you are viewing!

That is why I would like to draw a little attention to Pen y Daith a well presented, dog friendly property located in Pleasant Valley, Wiseman's Bridge...

A high quality, spacious home that is filled with a welcoming aroma and fantastic base for such great exploration and adventure for all the family during your stay with us in Pembrokeshire. Great to know but not necessarily for the furry friend in the party, the owner of Pen y Daith will make you feel like a Princess (or Prince - whatever the case maybe!) by offering a service of beauty excellence to the desire of her visitors to the County. Mind you I suppose in this day and age it wouldn't be inevitable to walk down the street and find 'The Pooch Pampering Parlour of Pembrokeshire' offering two for one! Now there's an interesting thought...

Upon leaving the property you can head for the sand and sea of Wiseman's Bridge Bay, a peaceful warming bay that has been silenced considerably since the beach having been used to stage the practice of the D-Day landings during the Second World War. An enchanting bay which embraces many dogs and their humans all year round and most definitely worthy of your pooches visit. Paddle in the wash, swim for the ball and dig holes enthusiastically in the golden sand. Pawfect...

No long, evening stroll with the sand between your paws and toes would be complete without a stop at the local Inn to soak up the sunshine, admire the coast and breathe in our fresh Pembrokeshire sea air, which is what makes The Wiseman's Bridge Inn the perfect setting for coastal bliss. Relax in the dining room or sit with your feet up in the garden which extends right down to the golden bay...I know, cue warm sunny evening and red skies, you wouldn't want to leave.

Crufting Mania!

So there we have it, another dabble at Crufts has been and gone yet again, but have left all our team feeling so very very pleased with having received such a terrific response and interest towards The Woof Guide which can never ever be a bad thing. I think it may have had something to do with Heidi from Paw Plunger joining the team and offering a help in hand for a little while...!

It did take a few days after the show for Sue, Fran and Sarah W to recover, their poor little feet were throbbing! I am still convinced it was due to having partied hard, drinking a few too many bottles of wine and scoffing too many chocolate digestive biscuits...but I was proved wrong as they religiously followed one jam packed itinerary...

Up at 6.30 (Fran being the only exception) to be showered and down to breakfast by 7, at the show for 8 and chatting madly to all the doggie crazy people until at least 18.00. They did re fuel by whopping down a big juicy steak previous to bed at 9 ish, which unfortunately though meant no Johnathan Ross for Sue on Friday night!

All the same, I would just like to say congrats to the three musketeers and well done for all your hard work over the 5 days which I'm sure bought out the lovely Labrador in you for the majority, but at times revealed the snap of a yappy Jack Russell.

Roll on 2010 hey guys?!

Crufts 2009

Good Morning all. It only seems like yesterday that I had only been with Coastal Cottages for a few months and before I knew it they had me packing my bags to head off to Birmingham to exhibit The Woof Guide and our dog friendly holidays at Crufts 2008. Of this, I could not complain...
Now, I turn around and here we are a year later and it is that time of the year yet again. Just where does the time go?
Sadly, I am unable to attend Crufts this year, but I am delighted to reveal that we have our 3 musketeers, Sarah W, Sue and Fran going along instead to meet you all and enjoy a chat over a nice cup of tea and chocolate biccie.
Fran has packed as though she is off around the world for 80 days and has packed enough snacks and pop to have emptied Tesco, Sarah W has bruised her eye having had an argument with a very angry ironing board this morning and Sue, well Sue is nowhere to be seen just yet. So all in all, the morning of their departure is going as smoothly as ever!
Crufts, the world's largest dog show is proud to 'explore, discover and enjoy the wonderful world of dogs'. Last year I was able to experience it all first hand and witness so many new breeds of dogs that I never knew even existed!
This year is rather exciting for us, as Crufts this year brings the launch of our 'Dog Walks of Pembrokeshire with Bob the Dog' booklet which includes some of our most beautiful dog friendly walks within Pembrokeshire. Our booklet gives a terrific insight and description of each walk which are paired with superb photographs of the varying locations. A handy size to pop into your handbag or rucksack and have a flick through when you have 5 minutes. Well worth the read...
So, If you are planning to take a trip to Crufts this year then do pop along and say 'hello' to the troublesome three (only joking) that are representing our Woof Guide and Coastal Cottages team this year at Crufts. You never know if your lucky, you may even win a dog friendly holiday!

Revealing Rivendell

As we enter the Spring, I get a little excited. I can't help but think of the long Summer evenings ideal for long strolls followed by a refreshing drink at the local. Granted, I may be a little premature in allowing my thought pattern to think that far ahead, but once January has passed that is all I can seem to think about and I know my pooch is thinking the same. We no longer have to run around the block to be in by 16.00 as it turns pitch black or wait until gone 08.00 in the morning to head for a spin down to the beach.

On holiday in Pembrokeshire sounds great without thinking about it too much, but when you are able to bring your best friend on holiday and stay with your friends too, doesn't it make it sound perfect?

All our Woof Guide and Coastal Cottages team live, work and breathe in Pembrokeshire and can advise you on anything that will make your stay more relaxing and your dog's stay as exciting and as adventurous as it possibly can be.


Introduce Rivendell. Located in an idyllic setting in the rural village of St Florence, South Pembrokeshire. A perfect spot for gentle strolls and playing ball in the garden and just when you thought you may not be able to squeeze in a pint or two, cue The Sun Inn. Kick back, relax and enjoy our fresh Pembrokeshire air.

Something a little further afield for a mid morning treat and only a 10 minute drive from St Florence, Carew shall appear. Carew Castle is one of Pembrokeshire's most popular landmarks and is most certainly worth a visit, (with your dog of course)! Whilst you are there take the time to stroll around the mile long walk alongside the Pond making the most of the fantastic photo opportunities and appreciating the outstanding beauty.

For more details on this walk paw here please.

After your walk around Carew Castle head for the Carew Inn across the road for a light lunch and refreshing beverage. Your pooch of course shall be looked after with a bowl or two of cool water as he rests in the beer garden on a sunny day or by the fire in the bar on a not so good day!

Rivendell is an ideal location for your stay with us in Pembrokeshire and has so much to offer the furry friends of the family. Take a look at full details on Rivendell by viewing here.

Snow is Falling...

I have come to the conclusion that my dog loves the white snow more than myself. On Tuesday morning when we had our first snowfall my dog was the first to make his paw prints in the snow whilst Drizzle (my cat) watched reluctantly from the kitchen.
As snow only comes around for us in Pembrokeshire once in a blue moon, we tend to get very excited when we wake up and the white fairies have sparkled their dust over the land, snow looks so pretty when unspoilt. I stress 'when unspoilt' as it can get to look rather dirty once a few cars and lorries have turned it to a horrible dirty brown at the side of the road.
Back to Jed and Drizzle. Jed is a maniac in the snow, dancing around the garden letting out the occasional 'this is so much fun' bark and chasing Drizzle around in circles.
Drizzle has never actually seen snow before and so for her this is proved to be one terrifying experience. You can almost see the clogs working behind her little eyes, 'What the devil is all that white fluffy stuff covering my scratching post?' It was so funny to watch though, as Drizzle was doing her very best to avoid every inch of the white stuff, Jed comes bounding along, Drizzle scarpers and Jed begins tormenting her in the bushes! You would have thought that that would have resolved her fear (or made it ten times worse), but as the snow returns this morning, Drizzle took one look and skips back into the house. I suppose it must feel like walking on water to cats really.
And that's another thing, do your dogs always feel the need to eat snow? Jed is terrible. It is fun throwing snowballs at him though and watching him dive to catch it, but is eating snow really good for our best friend?
After doing a little research this afternoon, there is such a term known as 'snow poisoning'. This is simply when a dog that is dying of thirst, is surrounded by snow. The problem is that eating the snow doesn't equal drinking water, not by a long stretch! When you think about it, snow melts down to very little water and so wouldn't provide our pooch with hardly any liquid at all. I suppose that the moral of that story, is always make sure a nice bowl of water is on hand!
I hope you are all enjoying the snow as much as Jed and I, taking plenty of snaps of the white blanket covering the countryside, as we never knwo when it shall return!

Do you walk your dog when it's raining?

I came into work this morning and what a great surprise. It was gloomy, grey and raining. The clouds looking like they were ready to let rip a massive quantity of rain drops, I suppose you could compare them to a pregnant lady waiting to drop. Oh joy!

The state of the weather then sparked my thoughts to the following topic, 'How many people actually still take their dog for a walk even if it was raining?'

Now I'm not talking drizzle (that's the name of my cat too),or light, misty rain, I mean absolutely tipping it down, soaking wet rain where you only have to step onto your doorstep and your hair look as though you have just jumped out of the shower. My dog, the gorgeous Jed only has to hear it raining and think, 'Great, that's my walk out of the window this morning!'

But when you think about it, your cat is the mostly likely domestic pet to hide inside out of the rain because they don't like water.

Dogs, given half a chance bound out of the door, roll in the grass and shake as the tiptoe back into the kitchen pleased with themselves that you now have to chase them around in circles to wipe their paws so they don't get mud on the cream carpets! You can tell I'm talking from experience can't you?!

But Jed knows the drill. Out he trots for a wee and a breath of fresh air, door opens and in he treads and stands like a very good, well trained boy as I wipe him over with his doggie towel. Not likely! Jed gets as far as the door opening and rockets straight into the living room, where he knows that mum has just that second put the hoover away. Typical , but he does make me giggle. As he has got older his character just gets funnier and funnier. He is one wise fella!

I think he is teaching my little cat a few tricks too...

Enter Drizzle. A fairly small, slight pussycat with patterns of grey, brown and black all over, with a dove white belly and pricked ears. Drizzle, such a pretty, friendly fur ball, gracefully parading around her home ready to spot the next sucker munching on something tasty. Of course, Jed has beaten her to it and has already claimed the prime seat in the house awaiting any falling crumbs for him to lap up. Well, so he believes, until...

Drizzle. This little madam isn't fazed by Jed's presence as she has figured out that as she is so small she can afford to launch herself onto the chair and sit on the lap of her victim, getting closer than the spotty nosed pooch. But somehow Jed's pitiful, sorry eyes always wins the choccie biscuit!

Honestly, in the mornings I am lucky if I get to munch half of my piece of toast because I am surrounded by the zoo! But our home would be lost without them, they carry such a respected presence.

Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire

I always find that taking my pooch for a trip down the beach during the Winter months is so much more enjoyable than battling with the crowds during the height of the Summer season. Of course I have no objection whatsoever with the many people that visit Pembrokeshire in the Summer it's just that you can find your dog will never get any peace.

My dog will always manage to find the man with the camera trying to take a 'beach' shot of his little children in the sea. In swoops Jed ball in mouth, tail wagging, ears pricked and a spring in his step as he bounds into the sea. Cue glare from Dad.

But that just wouldn't happen in the Winter. I know it does sound like I may be stating the obvious here, but the only other people you will come across, are other lovely people wanting some peace and quiet to let their dogs run wild along the sand and splashing in the sea and the occasional surfer dude, but they just please themselves.

I recently took Jed down to his favourite beach, Freshwater West and it was as unspoilt and as refreshing as ever. Freshwater West is a fantastic beach to visit all year round for dogs, as it carries no horrible restrictions and has a long stretch of golden sand, plenty of sand dunes, rock pools and a clean sea for a doggie dip. If you are coming to Pembrokeshire with Coastal, then I would most certainly recommend this beach to visit. For me, having a water-loving dog at home allows me to venture to the beach everyday if I liked and knew that my dog would be absolutely delighted to accompany me.

There is nothing like wrapping up cosy warm as you feel the brisk air manage to catch only your face as you gently stroll across soft sand, splashing your wellies in the sea and watching your four legged friend have the time of his life.