Seann Walsh
Oh my Dog podcast
Jack Dee
Oh my Dog podcast
Jack Dee and Seann Walsh of Oh My Dog! podcast share tips for happier and healthier pets.
From daily routines to diet, two pet lovers share simple secrets to exceptional pet care.
What are the most important pet care habits?
JD: Routine seems to be the key to everything that makes a dog happy and secure. If walks and feeding times are followed, they can confidently cope with variation. Humans are basically the same — probably why we have an affinity with dogs
SW: We’ve developed a daily schedule for Mildred’s first and last trip into the garden to do her business. The same applies to her three meals and two walks: the ‘big walk’ and the evening walk — ‘the mini walk.’
What are your tips for keeping pets healthy?
JD: Read up on basic dog care. There are loads of good books. I’d start with the basic ones from Dorling Kindersley. If you have a particular breed, specialised material will be helpful, as your dog may have needs that a general brief won’t cover. The more you know, the better your chances of keeping your pet healthy.
SW: Mildred is a cockapoo, and they tend to have sensitive stomachs, so it’s best to stick to the same foods if you can. I tend to feel guilty because you want to delight your dog with treats and bits of your food. It’s hard to resist, but it’s for their own good. (Sometimes, I’ll let her lick my plate when I’m done.)
If you have a particular breed, specialised material will be helpful, as your dog may have needs that a general brief won’t cover.
How do you choose pet food?
JD: We tend to go on ingredients and whether the food is eaten up or not. Increasingly, we’re cooking chicken for Dolly as our vet suggested for oral health (which she had anise with) — freshly cooked sticks less to their teeth. But home-cooked isn’t always practical, so a good-branded dog food is essential.
SW: We’ve been recommended several times on Oh My Dog to try and feed home-cooked. It can be difficult in the current climate, not just financially but also with time. People can also be exhausted at the end of the day. I think the answer is, always do what you can, what you can afford and your best. There’s lots of good advice online.
What does ‘pet wellness’ mean to you?
JD: I haven’t the foggiest.
SW: Sara is going to let you know what this means to me.
Sara: On Oh My Dog, we’re probably a bit guilty of treating our dogs in a similar way to our children, so often, ‘pet wellness’ means prioritising them in ways which are frankly unnecessary. But at the end of the day, they bring us so much joy, so why not?
