Essex Mums Blog

Guest Post

Husky dogs are a beautiful breed and many people are tempted to buy them because they look so striking. They bear a closer resemblance to their wolfish ancestors than any other breed and they are sure to attract curious and admiring attention from passers-by when taken for a walk.

They also make very good pets: affectionate and loving and very patient around children. They will get along with pretty much anyone, human or other dogs, and this can sometimes make owners feel as though their dog does not have a special relationship with them.

But this is a breed of dog that requires considerable time and energy from their owners. They are not easy to train and are notoriously quick to run away whenever something catches their attention that is more interesting than the sight of their own garden.

Siberian husky dogs are not content to sit at home all day and need a lot of exercise. They also need plenty of space to run around, so if you lack a large garden then you need to make sure that you can take your husky to a wide open space for exercise at least twice a day. If not, you are likely to find parts of your house in pieces when you return home. If you do have a large garden, it needs to be enclosed like a prison yard or your husky will make a run for it the first chance it gets. It can jump high fences and easily dig beneath them, so either supervise your dog in the garden and play with it, or take it for more structured exercise.

Husky dogs are often found lost or even injured or killed on the roads after running after something interesting and then not being able to find their way home. Even when taking them for their exercise at your local park, fields or woods you need to keep it on a lead to prevent it running away. If sufficiently fascinated by something (like a squirrel, say, or a passing car) it will probably not return when called.

If you already have a dog or dogs in your home, a husky would settle in very well because it is a pack dog, bred to work as a team with other dogs.

They are also large dogs and their coats need careful grooming. If you don’t have the time or the energy to care for a big dog with boundless energy and a thick coat then the husky is not the right breed for you.

If this article sounds as if it is trying to discourage you from getting a husky then perhaps it is – but only because so many huskies end up in the care of animal charities such as the RSPCA after being found lost or injured. Many others are taken by their owners to shelters to be rehomed after their owners discover that they cannot cope with caring for these energetic, Houdini-like dogs. It is very important for anyone thinking of getting a husky that they understand the pros and the cons of caring for a dog of this breed.

If you are prepared to learn how to properly care for a husky or are an experienced dog owner with the patience and skills required to train, socialise, exercise and otherwise care for a husky then please consider adopting one rather than buying from a breeder. There are more huskies in shelters than there are people willing and able to care for them. Breeding huskies to keep up with demand only increases the number of these dogs in the market for finding homes.

 

Guest Post

For those interested in fostering, meeting the relevant criteria for eligibility is the first hurdle to overcome. But of course, there is far more to fostering than this. Here we look at the other qualities needed to enter fostering.

 

Patience is a virtue

Fostering is challenging and requires considerable patience and understanding. Prospective foster parents require resilience and the ability to devote both time and commitment to the child placed within their care. Many of the children requiring a foster home will have faced adversity and insecurity throughout their lives. Some may have been subjected to neglect or abuse and their subsequent behaviours may reflect the depth of their experienced difficulty.

A cared-for child cannot be compartmentalised and prospective foster parents need to be able to meet the specific needs of their child. By responding in an appropriate manner and creating a safe and secure home environment, foster parents can help children develop and thrive.

 

Impartiality

The children placed with foster carers are from an array of diverse families and backgrounds. As such, it’s crucial that potential carers reserve judgement.

Empathy and a positive attitude to difference and diversity are essential skills. Being able to deliver a child’s day-to-day care is a basic necessity. In addition, every potential parent needs to pay particular attention to the specific needs that familial separation can create.

 

Flexibility

Children will feel lost and isolated when removed from the care of their families. Being able to demonstrate flexibility in the face of difficult circumstances is crucial. Potential foster parents may need to work in partnership with birth families, as foster caring also supports children within their own home environments.

 

Approachability

Good communication skills are of the utmost importance for any potential foster parent. Building trust is crucial, as is the ability to praise and encourage in a bid to boost self-esteem. Good channels of communication with your foster child are critical, but so too is the ability to advocate on behalf of that child, whether as a support at school or a mediator at professional meetings.

It’s equally important to seek support and learn from experience and the training opportunities available. Fostering Solutions considers training to be an integral aspect of fostering and provides a comprehensive programme for all its carers. Providing high quality support to children is of the utmost importance and carers always have the potential to increase their skill sets with continued development. Caring for a vulnerable child can be life changing for everyone concerned and fosteringsolutions.com can help you make that difference become a reality.

 

 

Guest Post

There’s a lot of advice out there for handling babies and toddlers, as far as where to go, what to bring, etc. But not as much attention tends to be paid to how to go about handling yourself in these situations. Babies and toddlers are tricky to handle and keep track of, but beyond the obvious concerns – keeping the safe and happy – they can also create a lot of minor inconveniences for parents, and these can add up fairly quickly. So, here’s a quick list of tips on how to better prepare yourself for avoiding these kinds of issues when toting around your young ones!

 
• Carry a change of clothes. Not for your baby – for you! Babies, and even toddlers, tend to spit up, and unfortunately, we’ve all been there. But rather than relying on that hectic trip the mall restroom to clean your shirt, try to have an extra shirt on hand for these occasions. If you already carry a baby bag, this should be easy enough to toss in.

 

• Find cozier shoes. Even if it’s not something you typically go for, some of the more advanced running and training shoes from top athletic brands like Nike offer incredible support, and this helps you to avoid unnecessary stress. Being on-the-go, while carrying the extra weight of a young child, can wear on your feet and make each day just a bit more irksome. The right shoes, or even gel inserts, can make this less of an issue.

 

• Try an earpiece or bluetooth device for your phone. Let’s face facts: these days, most of us walk around on our mobile phones a great deal of the time. But, you simply don’t have the extra hand for it if you’re carrying your kid. With bluetooth in place you can keep up your phone habits without neglecting your baby’s needs.

 

• Switch to contact lenses. If you wear glasses on a daily basis, you may already have thought about this. Babies and toddlers don’t much care if they knock off your glasses, but for you this can be very inconvenient, or even expensive if the glasses are broken. Make things simpler and try consulting Acuvue about contact lenses, eliminating this issue altogether.

 

• Always pack entertainment for your child. Of course, for particularly young kids you never know what will work. But it’s worth a shot. A favourite toy, a shiny object, or even some sort of game can be a lifesaver if you need to occupy your child’s attention while you get something done. These days, even some simple gaming apps on phones and tablets work wonders.

 

This is a guest post by Katie Anderson. Katie is a freelance writer and blog contributor who writes on various parenting topics.