The Herby Hound

23/10/2026

I wonder what a year looks like to a dog? 🐾

We tend to remember a year by the big things. Holidays, birthdays, Christmas, things we achieved and things that went spectacularly wrong.

But I wonder what our dogs would put in their version of the year.

Perhaps the first really warm day when they could lie in the garden again. The morning they discovered something particularly disgusting on a walk. The arrival of a new toy that was absolutely wonderful for twenty minutes before being abandoned under the sofa.

Maybe they'd remember the day you took a different route through the park, the squirrel that got away, or the afternoon somebody dropped an entire sausage on the kitchen floor.

I suspect Emmylou's account of the year would be heavily concerned with food, suspicious household activity and whether she'd received her fair share of whatever we were eating.

It's something I've been thinking about while making 𝗔 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗴.

We naturally record the important things from our point of view, but I've been trying to make room for the things that would probably matter to our dogs too. Their favourite places, funny habits, little adventures and all the ordinary things that make up their days.

I rather like the idea that you could look back through a year and see a little bit of life from both sides.

Although if Emmylou were allowed to write her own version, I suspect there would be several complaints about the catering!!

If your dog could write a diary, what do you think they'd put in it? 😂🐾

22/10/2026

Emmylou's bedtime routine is quite an operation, and she's very particular about how it all works.

At 9pm, she has her supper. Just a little something, as she's already eaten twice during the day. Then she goes out for a wee, comes back in and gets a treat.

She did try going out a second time on a couple of occasions, presumably thinking another trip to the garden might earn her another treat. Nice try, Emmylou. I saw that one coming!

Then she waits for us to go upstairs.

Now, this is where things get competitive.

She very politely lets me start climbing the stairs first, then shoots past me at tremendous speed. I'm convinced she likes to give me a sporting chance before making absolutely sure she gets to the bed first.

And she's after 𝗠𝗬 side.

If I've been organised, I've already put a few books along my side of the bed to stop her settling there. It looks ridiculous, but it works.

If I've forgotten, she's on the bed before I get there, looking perfectly comfortable and completely uninterested in moving.

At which point I have to bribe her with another treat to get my own side of the bed back.

So, in summary, Emmylou gets supper, a treat after her wee, a race up the stairs, first choice of sleeping position and, quite often, another treat for allowing me into my own bed.

I'm beginning to think I've been had!

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱?

22/10/2026

When did your dog start doing THAT? 🐾

It's funny how dogs develop little habits without us noticing exactly when they started.

One day they're perfectly happy sleeping in the kitchen, and then suddenly they've claimed a particular corner of the sofa and apparently it's been theirs for years.

Or they start doing a funny little dance before dinner. Perhaps they insist on carrying a toy to bed, refuse to drink from a perfectly respectable water bowl, or develop a very specific routine that the entire household is somehow expected to follow.

Emmylou has always had strong opinions about how things should be done, and that face tells you quite a lot about her. I couldn't tell you when half her little habits started. They've just become part of everyday life. And yet I couldn't tell you when half her little habits started. They've just become part of everyday life.

I've been thinking about this quite a lot while putting together 𝗔 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗴.

There are pages for recording health changes and things you've tried, but I've also made room for the funny habits, favourite things and little moments that make your dog who they are.

Because I think those details are just as interesting to look back on.

I'm still waiting for my printed proof to arrive, and I'm itching to see how everything looks on paper. It's rather strange knowing there's an actual copy of my book out there somewhere, hopefully making its way towards me!

In the meantime, I'd love to know something.

What's one funny little habit your dog has developed, and can you remember when it started?

I'm betting quite a few of us will realise we haven't the faintest idea! 😂🐾

21/10/2026

Dogs have two speeds: Fast asleep and WHERE ARE YOU GOING? 😂🐾

21/10/2026

It's funny how much we learn about our dogs simply by living with them.

Sometimes it's something really simple. Discovering that they'd rather have their muddy paws cleaned with a warm cloth than be marched into the shower. Or that adding a little water to their dinner encourages them to drink more.

Other times, it's something we stumble across completely by accident.

And you find yourself thinking, 'Why on earth didn't I try that sooner?'

Over the years, we all collect these little bits of knowledge about our dogs, and eventually they become such a normal part of everyday life that we barely think about them.

𝗦𝗼, 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿?

I have a feeling we're going to get some brilliant answers! 😂

20/10/2026

Our lake was looking particularly spooky this morning! 👻🎃

I think it's getting into the Halloween spirit a little early!!

19/10/2026

I've finally put everything all in one place!

You know when you visit a website looking for something and end up clicking through seventeen different pages trying to find it?

Well, I've decided to make life a little easier for everyone visiting The Herby Hound!

I've created a brand-new page on my website, rather imaginatively called My Everything Page!

And it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Whether you're looking for a little herbal inspiration, some ideas for making your dog's meals more interesting, help with a particular problem or somewhere to start learning about natural dog care, you can now find everything I offer in one place.

There are free guides, practical resources, herbal recipes, my books and action plans, and of course, the Natural Dog First Aid Academy.

Some things are completely free, others are paid, but they're all there for you to explore without having to rummage through the entire website.

I've also made it easier to find the things that might be most useful for you and your dog, depending on what you're interested in.

So, if you've ever wondered exactly what The Herby Hound has to offer, I've finally made you a handy little map!

Have a nose around My Everything Page and see what takes your fancy. 🌿

I'll pop the link in the comments.

18/10/2026

18/10/2026

You know those walks where you look outside, see the damp grass and muddy paths, and realise before you've even left the house that your dog is going to come home absolutely filthy?

Well, here's a lovely little herbal preparation you can make before you go.

𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗺 & 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝗽𝗲𝘀! 🌿🌹

They're soft, gently fragrant and rather nicer to use than grabbing the nearest old towel when your dog comes bounding through the door looking as though they've been excavating a field!

𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱:

1 tablespoon chopped fresh lemon balm (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1 teaspoon dried, food-grade rose petals
200 ml freshly boiled water
¼ teaspoon vegetable glycerin
3–4 small, clean cotton cloths

Put the herbs into a heatproof jug, pour over the water, cover and leave to steep for 10 minutes. Strain thoroughly, allow to cool completely and stir in the glycerin.

Dip your cloths into the infusion, wring them out so they're damp rather than dripping, and pop them into a clean, covered container in the fridge while you're out.

When you get home, remove the worst of the mud with plain water first, then use your lovely herbal wipes to freshen your dog's coat, working from the shoulders towards the tail. Avoid the face, sensitive areas and any broken or irritated skin.

The lemon balm and rose give the infusion a delicate herbal fragrance, while the little bit of glycerin helps give the coat a conditioned feel.

Because these are homemade and contain no preservatives, they're for use after that walk, not for keeping in the fridge all week. Throw away any unused infusion and wash your cloths ready for next time.

I rather like the thought of coming home from a long autumn walk and having something lovely waiting for the inevitable clean-up.

Is your dog the sort who carefully steps around a puddle, or the sort who launches straight into the middle of it with enormous enthusiasm? 😂

17/10/2026

Pumpkin Seeds: A little autumn boost!!

It's that time of year when pumpkins seem to be everywhere, and while most people are thinking about carving faces into them, I'm thinking about what we can do with the seeds!

Pumpkin seeds are a lovely little addition to your dog's bowl. They contain protein, healthy fats and minerals including magnesium and zinc, although the amounts your dog gets will depend on how much you give them.

And you don't need to do anything particularly complicated with them.

Simply use plain, unsalted pumpkin seeds, either bought shelled or removed from a fresh pumpkin. If you're using fresh ones, wash away the stringy bits and dry them thoroughly. You can lightly toast them without oil, salt or seasoning if you prefer.

For dogs, I like to grind the shelled seeds into a coarse powder and sprinkle a little over their usual food. It's easier to mix in, particularly for smaller dogs, and there's no need to add great big handfuls.

Now, you might have heard that pumpkin seeds are a natural way to get rid of intestinal worms. It's a claim that's been doing the rounds for years, but there's not enough reliable evidence that feeding pumpkin seeds will treat a worm infestation in dogs.

They're a food topper, not a replacement for appropriate parasite prevention.

And that's absolutely fine, because not every useful ingredient needs to perform miracles!

Sometimes it's just nice to add a little variety to your dog's dinner.

Know someone who's currently surrounded by pumpkin innards? Send them this before the seeds end up in the bin! 🎃