A day in the life of a travel blogger’s dog*

Name:

Bluebell

Age:

10 years

Breed:

Whippet

Bluebell at Chartwell, Kent. Copyright Gretta Schifano

What’s your morning routine?

I try to remain lying on my bed for as long as possible in the mornings. It’s a very cosy place, and I see no reason to move from it unless absolutely necessary. When I’m ready to get up, I go to the kitchen door and I woof to be let out into the garden. If it’s warm I then find a comfortable spot on the grass to stretch out on. If it’s cold or wet I go straight back inside to lie down again, preferably somewhere warm and soft.

I eat outside, unless it’s raining. I eat tinned dog food, as recommended by our vet. I used to have dried food as well, but I don’t really like eating that food any more. Occasionally if my family are cooking meat they give me a little bit of that as a treat. There are bowls of water for me upstairs, downstairs and in the garden so that I can drink whenever I’m thirsty. My family give me dog dental care chew sticks to try to help keep my teeth clean, but I still have to have my teeth cleaned by the vet sometimes.

Sunbathing in the garden. Copyright Gretta Schifano

How often do you exercise?

There are woods and fields right next to our house, and we go there for walks most days, unless it’s too hot or too cold. I don’t like to get wet or muddy, so I try not to step outside if it’s raining. I have a made-to-measure coat for cold weather, but I really don’t like wearing it. When my coat is put on me I stand completely still and refuse to walk until it’s removed.

How do you spend your days?

I try to lie down as much as I can, preferably next to one of my family members, so that I can keep them company. One of my favourite places to lie in winter is under the writing desk, next to the radiator – but only when someone is sitting and working at the desk. If anyone comes to the front door I go and stand by it and look at them through the window. Sometimes I take part in blogging work by being in photos or helping to check things out – like this backpack.

Reviewing a Booq Daypack. Copyright Sal Schifano

What do you do in the evenings?

I usually eat at around 5pm. If I’ve not eaten my breakfast yet, I have that, otherwise I have a fresh bowl of dog food.

I’m very happy when everyone in the family is back home. I like to have a run around and play with a ball for a while. This is how we play: someone throws a ball for me, I chase it, I pick it up in my mouth and run around with it before dropping it somewhere away from anyone else. I then wait for someone to come and pick up the ball and off we go again. This continues until I need to have a lie down.

While my family eat dinner together in the kitchen, I hang around under the table, waiting for some food to fall on the floor so that I can eat it. Once they’ve finished eating I try to get at least one of them to sit on the sofa in the sitting room so that I can sit with them. I do this by standing by the kitchen door and looking towards the sitting room. This usually does the trick, sooner or later. I love stretching out on the sofa as it’s really soft and comfortable, but I’m not allowed to go on there by myself, and there has to be a blanket on there for me to lie on.

If the weather’s cold I like the wood burner to be lit. I try to get as close as I possibly can to the heat that it gives off. If I feel cold and the wood burner isn’t lit I stand next to it and stare at whoever is nearby until they light it.

Rose Walk, Chartwell, Kent. Copyright Izzy Schifano

Where do you go on your travels?

When my family go on holiday I usually stay at home and a friendly house sitter comes to look after me. Sometimes I go on car journeys with my family to different places. My most recent trip was to Chartwell, the home where Sir Winston Churchill lived with his wife and children in the Kent countryside. Apparently a ginger cat called Jock lives there, but I didn’t spot him. Once I went with my family on a weekend trip to a country house hotel, and I slept in one of their bedrooms. Sometimes I go to the pub with my family, but I never lie down there as the floor is too hard.

*As deduced by Gretta Schifano

Disclosure: This post is a collaboration with PEDIGREE®, but all thoughts, words and images are my own. For additional dental care information you can read this Pedigree Reviews Dog Dental Care article for tips and advice.