Great new products for 2014: affordable, sharp & appropriate pet memorials

Where did Christmas 2013 go, exactly? Now, just a week or so on from the 25^th, it's hard to imagine that months of planning went into just a couple of days! And as much as Christmas was surely fun for many of you out there, it was surely also just as much about expense. Which is where we tell you about something special we've been working on for 2014: our value pet memorials, for people on a budget who care deeply about their pets and don't want a sub-standard memorial which won't do their pet justice.

Sadly, when faced with large costs, we've found that some pet owners have decided to have no memorial at all for their much loved pet who has passed on. Our value range has been designed to be simple, bold and very cost-effective. With the value range you won't get the same large amount of choice, of course, but what you will get is a solid product that will last and last.

First up, when we decided to create the value range – starting at just £30 for a full pet memorial – we set a few clear ground rules. The first was to use a quality basic material that was proven to stand the test of time, and the second was to use the same tried-and-trusted techniques which we know are the best and most reliable. No cutting corners! As such, all our value pet memorials are made from high-quality granite. Beautifully crafted and polished black granite, to be precise. With this as a solid foundation, we then get to work with sandblasting the lettering. As with all our memorials, you select the right kind of wording and motifs and we engrave this into the stone in such a way that it will be there for many years to come. This is finished in the way that you'd expect, leaving a carefully painted memorial – the colour, of course, is entirely up to you.

The value range may be more basic than some of our other products, but it is still entirely bespoke. Because when it comes to pet memorials, one size definitely doesn't fit all.

All the prices are available on the page, but to give you a rough idea, a small 6 x 4 inch memorial will cost £30 and a large 8 x 12 inch memorial will set you back £50. VAT is included in these prices, and you may also choose to add a steel ground holder to your order, at the time of purchase.

Rustic slate memorials are now also available. Slate is a wonderful natural material which harmonizes perfectly with the kind of workmanship that Pets at Rest love – there's nothing fussy about slate, and against the neutral grey colour, painted lettering shows up wonderfully.

 

If you would like more information please get in touch

Allow Pets at Rest to take you on a journey into font styles and design...

 For so many of us, when a pet dies, it's about much more than just losing an animal we loved. It may be a cliché to say it, but our pets are friends we share decades with. They are there during our low points and our high points, and they give a love that is as pure as can be.

 It goes without saying, then, that when their time of passing comes, you want their memory to remain exactly as feels right to you. And along with finding the perfect kind of memorial to choose, that means selecting a style of font that embodies the character of the pet you'll never forget.

 So many styles, so how do you choose one?

 

Selecting one font/typeface from literally hundreds isn't easy for anyone. In fact the more you discover, the less easy it can become! That doesn't mean it has to be a headache for weeks, of course.

The first thing to decide is how ornate and elaborate you would like the font to be. Bear in mind that if the font/typeface is too elaborate, it may become unreadable, and that if it is too simple, it may not do your pet's character justice. Fortunately, there are a few popular ones which fit the bill for a great many of us. Times New Roman is one – it's the font this blog post is written in, in fact, and it works so well because it is timeless, classic and with serifs that finish the letters beautifully.

Alternatively, you could go with Tahoma. Tahoma is a nice, bright, clear font that is very readable and simple. A more contemporary font without serifs, it's probably best suited to a more modern-style pet memorial.

Next up, we have Ms Boli. A fun and lively font – as is obvious by now! – this one will work wonders for a pet who was always fun to be around, or maybe a bit mischievous! Then again,  Arial Black is also a very good option. Particularly if your dog or cat was bold and loved being the centre of attention.

For more refined pets, however, you'll want to consider fonts similar to Verdana. Light and simple, Verdana shares many of the qualities of Tahoma and allows for a little more space between words and characters.

Font size is also an important issue, as is a font's ability to print well in numerical form. As numbers will form an important part of your pet memorial, it's vital to make sure that the font you have chosen does numbers or symbols well (not all do!).

And now for one last note on combining fonts: providing you're careful and selective, there's no reason why a memorial can't combine several fonts together. For practical reasons, though, we'd suggest not using more than 2 fonts. If you are going to use several on the same piece, it's probably best they are reasonably similar, too. If there is too much contrast between the styles, you may end up taking away from the memory and creating something which is more of a spectacle.

 

If you would like to have more than one font used simply let us know either when placing your order online or by emailing us or giving us a call.

About our Granite Photo Pet Memorials

Here is a few pics of our very popular XL Supreme Black Granite Photo Pet Memorials created in the finest quality Spanish stone and have a chunky 20mm thickness. These are one of our original memorial creations we started with over 10 years ago! They have loads of room for as much wording as you desire and can include your text in the font style of your choice, motif designs such as hearts or paw prints and can also include a special uv protected photo.

Many people think that the only way to reproduce a photo onto a granite surface like this is to attach a ceramic plaque which are usually expensive to create and as they are quite thick pertrude off the stones surface. We use a state of the art sublimated 1mm thick metal plaque that we fuse your photos onto and after adding a special UV blocking film attach it to the granites surface and finish it off with a beautiful engraved border. You can have either a circular or square crop depending how your photo is and your preference. Sometimes we are not able to create a circular crop due to not having enough room on the photo but we will advice you of this. These like all our pet memorials are all designed to be placed outside and be able to withstand the elements, ageing naturally over time and staying looking great for many years.

A New Pet Memorial Idea

We have just introduced a new product to our range which is designed to go indoors and can fit neatly on any mantle, shelf or even in a plant pot. They are solid glass hearts that we engrave with your desired wording and motifs. They come in a satin lined gift box so are ideal to give as a tolken. If you have any questions about these please contact us.

Pet memorial landscaping – design the perfect area to suit

The word landscaping immediately strikes fear into some people, but it doesn't have to! When we talk about landscaping in the context of pet memorials – or layout – we're actually talking about something very simple: creating an environment where you can make the most of remembering your pet, just the way you want to. The good news is that you don't have to be a landscape gardener, or even have any experience of gardening, to make it work. In the first blog on Pets At Rest in a while, we'll cover the fundamental things that you'll need to consider.

Should you memorial be a busy, quiet or colourful area?

As with everything permanent, the surroundings of a pet memorial – as well as the memorial of course – demand a fair bit of consideration. One way of coming up with a memorial which suits you is to sit down and make a note of all the feelings you would like to have when you see the space, as well as the things you are trying to achieve.

For example, Jackie is remembering a Golden Retriever by the name of Stevey. Now, Stevey was a very colourful character indeed. A fan of mucking about in rivers and getting utterly filthy, he always inspired laughter in his owner. When Stevey died, his owner decided she wanted Stevey's personality to come through with vibrant colours as the centre piece. On the list for things she wanted to achieve were the following things: a space which got plenty of light, with lots of colours, free from getting water-logged. It had to be simple enough not to cost the earth and very fun too, too. With these things in mind, the conclusion for creating the pet memorial was easy to reach: a simple granite memorial would be as classy as Stevey was, and the area would also utilise chippings to drain water easily. Finally, resilient flowers give the area that colourful, fun look she really wanted. Put the memorial in a space free of shadows – a place which gets plenty of light in the afternoon,when she likes to enjoy the space – and you have all the ingredients for the right kind of memorial. One that Stevey would have been proud of, no less.

Using flowers to enhance your memorial area

Not sure where to start with flowers? Well, it's always worth keeping in mind that Bleeding Heart, Baby's Breath and the humble Forget-me-not are firm favourites. Another intriguing idea is to plant flowers that attract wildlife such as bees, butterflies and moths. For the more spiritual of you, you might wish to select flowers which hold a special meaning too. Bellflower, for instance, means thinking of you, while Daisy means innocence (Stevey's owner selected Heliotrope, which means devotion).

It's also worth remembering that in most cases, a concrete base or weed control sheets will be required to use decorative chippings to ensure the area stays looking great. Chippings are a clever way to keep things nice and simple – they come in almost every single colour, from Iced white to black and dark green – and stones can also give a pleasing appearance.

Border Collie Trust GB

Had a lovely conversation with a member of the Border Collie Trust G.B yesterday about their online pet memorials, asking whether they can add us to their pet memorials page. The next day we received an email from the trust saying they have added our text and a link to the side of their pet memorial page! They offer a great service and all they ask is for a small donation! Click here to see their website and make a donation!

Clearing up the misconceptions about pet memorials

Being in the pet memorial business can sometimes be a tricky thing. As a company, we need to cater for so many people who are in such differing circumstances. Some of these are as follows:

1) Grieving pet owners who are, quite understandably, still very upset about the death of their pet(s).

2) Pet owners who have known their pet was unwell for a long time and who are more than happy to discuss the various options of what comes next.

3) Individuals who are looking to replace their old less-than-worthy memorial with a sparkling new one that takes advantage of all the latest techniques which are available.

4) People who, unfortunately, have a tainted view of the industry, after having a bad experience with a firm who didn’t listen to what they asked for and gave them something they did not want.

On top of all this, being a pet memorial company in the new millenium means that it’s not enough to just do the memorials. With social networking occupying such importance in the consciousness of the general public and the media, it’s essential that we also interact with our clients using Twitter, Facebook and all the other mediums that resonate with our clients (we’re on Twitter as @petsatrestuk). Additionally, we also run this blog, so that after browsing our website, pet owners can stay informed about the weekly & monthly happenings of our ever-changing business.
So…as you might have guessed, staying on-top of this isn’t always easy!

One thing we also know people struggle with is the feeling that ordering a memorial will be depressing and upset them. In so many ways, this kind of thinking is logical and fair enough — after all, we have lost pets ourselves, so we understand all too well what it is like to lose a member of the family. Here at PAR, we’re well aware that pets aren’t just animals, they’re an enormous part of our lives for years and sometimes decades, and our number one goal is to make the whole experience that much easier for you.

So, if you’re considering obtaining a memorial for your pet and don’t know where to begin, allow us to help you in any way we can. It’s also worth mentioning that you’re under no obligation to immediately buy a granite, marble, slate or photo-memorial. Here, we’ve always firmly believed in putting the customer first and showing them what we can do. After you have decided that Yes, you would like to go ahead, we’ll ensure that every stage of the process is as simple and uncomplicated as it possibly can be. We’ll show you fonts, different kinds of stone, and advise you on the placement of your memorial. If you would like a photograph on your memorial, we also have a new system capable of doing just that with stunning effect!

Have a suggestion for us or any feedback on what you like/don’t like about our new website? Then please do feel free to get in touch on our Feedback page and let us know what you think. We don’t bite! If PAR was a pet we’d be the kindest most loyal doggy going!

Losing your beloved pet

We know its hard to say goodbye to your beloved pet, we at Pets at Rest understand the grief and upset that comes with losing a pet. We offer a pain free service designing & engraving the perfect pet memorial. From candle holders to granite memorials. All the information you need for your pet memorial lies at www.petsatrest.co.uk

The Technique Behind Much Of What We Do: Sandblasting

Anyone who has witnessed sandblasting first-hand will know that magical feeling... the moment the piece of stone or glass beneath the screen is transformed from a simple, plain object into a detailed work-of-art with real dimension and value. But simple as the process appears to be, there's a lot more to this technique than first meets the eye. With some engineering processes it's all about numbers and levels, but that's never been the case with monumental sandblasting, which is a separate entity in itself and considered by many to be a kind of art-form. Instead, to create the granite, marble and slate memorials sold online through Pets At Rest, company founder Stuart Gebbie uses a combination of hand-eye-coordination, skill and intuition learned over time... and hundreds of pieces transported up and down the country to many happy people!

For those who are unfamiliar with sandblasting, the basic premise behind the idea, when it first appeared, was to accelerate the natural process of erosion. The first machine was developed in 1870 by a now-infamous Benjamin Tilghman, whose objective was to remove paint and rust from the surface of various materials – something which, up until then, had been a virtually impossible task and a thing of laborious manual effort. Later on, some 34 years following this, sandblasting received a new injection of engineering mastery. Thomas Pangborn was the name of the man who forced sandblasting machinery into its crucial next stage of development. By harnessing the power of compressed air and using a specially developed grinder particle, sandblasting quickly became sleeker, easier to control and a viable solution for etching relief designs into all kinds of surfaces which before had proved impenetrable. Another huge reason for sandblasting was obvious, even in its inception: instead of having to carve lettering, a person could apply the nozzle and compressed air and bore into the surface of the object with an even appearance that would take many hours to carve by hand. Hence, monumental masonry was quick to embrace the technique.

Ever since then, sandblasting has proved enormously successful as a means of turning an otherwise bland piece of stone into a much more interesting object. Additionally, technology has made vast improvements on the technique, with everything from quartz and silicon carbide to walnut shells being used as grinder particles.

Nowadays, sandblasting machinery is more advanced than ever before, but despite the huge leaps in progress which the technique has enjoyed – making machinery more affordable and reducing the risks posed by industrial accidents – it's still a medium which requires a large amount of skill to master. Each and every sandblasted memorial produced by Stuart is a masterpiece on its own. Just have a look at some of these great-looking designs and see for yourself!

Questions & Answers

A selection of our finest pet keepsakes, urns and classic products. Click the image to see them all

We get a lot of questions here at Pets At Rest. While we are happy to answer emails and telephone-calls until we are blue in the face, we also have to get on with creating stunning, cutting-edge memorials, urns and other things! So that's where our questions & answers blog post comes in. Read on to see some answers to some of the most common (and not so common) questions we get asked most weeks:

Do you do anything other than pet memorials? I'm not sure that's for me

A pet memorial isn't for everyone, we know that. Lack of space, issues with drainage and simple personal preference can mean a headstone isn't suitable. For those people we have a whole range of other options -- things like coffins, urns for pet ashes and even pet tributes made out of glass (along with pet stands to raise yours off the floor). Better still, if you haven't got a garden then that doesn't mean you have to feel left-out!

Can I have a photo put onto my memorial? If this is possible, can you tell me: are they good quality?

I want the image to really look like my beloved pet

In the past, we've seen some shocking photographs on pet memorials, so don't worry, this is not something we are a part of! In fact, our photo memorials use the latest technology to create an image that really looks like your pet. The quality is also good, allowing it to last for a long time without fading.

In terms of application, company founder Stuart Gebbie has been creating amazing pet memorials for many years. He studied art & design and also trained under the watchful eye of a master craftsman, so you know that he does it because he loves it -- not just because it's his job. The result is that Stuart understands how important attention-to-detail is when it comes to this kind of thing. With every memorial order that arrives on his desk, he spends the required time to make sure that the photo is as well-crafted as it should be.

I have a suggestion for you -- should I leave a comment on your blog, or should I telephone/email?

By all means feel free to telephone or email. Alternatively, we now have a special feedback area set-up for you, so why not drop by and leave your suggestion, comment or thoughts about how we can better our services? The feedback area serves a dual purpose, of course...if you are wondering what people are saying about the work we have done, then that's the place to go to!

Are the memorials easy to install?

They absolutely are. Just get in touch and we'll explain everything.

I'd like to keep in touch with latest updates, news and special offers...how can I do that?

If you view any one of our social network sites you will see all our updates, news and special offers!

Got an idea for a pet memorial? In that case, we'd love to hear it

We don't want to show-off too much (honest!) but here are a few facts about Pets At Rest:

1: we love what we do, but our business is nothing without suggestions and feedback from you.

2: we've been creating the finest pet memorials for years, but we don't only do memorials. We can also offer you a variety of urns and other ways to remember your beloved pet(s).

3: we're really very proud of our new photo memorial service. A black granite model, complete with intricate image, costs in the region of £65 upwards, depending on size and other things. If you'd like a rustic sandstone pet memorial with image then this is available for just under £96. You can see a range of what we do by clicking here.

4: we love challenges. Have an idea which nobody else has been able to help you with? Then give us a call us on 01638 750 066 or email us and we'll see what we can do to make it happen once and for all!

5: we don't like pets dying any more than anyone else does, but sadly it is a fact of life. What we can do, though, is help you through the process. Our system has been designed with your feelings in mind, and our aim is to create a durable, long-lasting memorial for you which you can look at and feel proud of owning.

6: have you found that another company is doing memorials cheaper? Then you can always come to us and ask us to match it. We can't promise we can always do this -- some photo memorials require more work than others -- but we can promise we will listen to you and consider your point of view.

Have some feedback for us about something you feel we could do better? Then please do feel free to leave it with us at our website www.petsatrest.co.uk

We don't just do memorials for cats & dogs!

Everyone knows someone who has lost a pet, and with so many people owning cats and dogs, we're always hearing the sad news of a beloved pet passing.

But what about all the other animals people own? Where do you find a memorial for your horse, for example?

Here of course!  Since the beginning we've been looking after the legacies of all kinds of animals -- and we do mean all kinds. Here are a few things we've done in the past and we guarantee that at least one of them will surprise you.

1: Headstones for reptiles: believe it or not, people have come to us and asked us to create fitting memorials for lizards, snakes, mischievous turtles and thoughtful tortoises.

2: Pets At Rest have also produced headstones for ferrets and rats, as well as chinchillas, too.

3: We've done great-looking urns for Cockatoos also.

In fact, you name it and we have probably done it at some point. Not only that but we also do...

* Photo pet memorials

* Rustic stone pet memorials

* Bespoke text pet memorials

* Pet tribute keepsakes and pet coffins

Feel free to have a look around and if you need us, you know where we are.

Best wishes,

Team Pets At Rest.

Pets At Rest: Circular Images Now Available On Some Memorials!

Click the picture to see more of our products!

10 years ago, if a customer wanted a memorial for their beloved pet then they didn't exactly have much choice. Nowadays, though, things are very different...with the explosion of the internet, more or less anything you can think of has become commonplace (although it's fair to say that some pet memorial services are better than others!).

Since the beginning, we've done our best to add to what's possible by giving you, the customer, products with genuine flair and real creative innovation! And the latest idea we have is something that should interest many of our customers.

In the past, we've only been able to offer square images. While these have been very popular, we recently realised that it'd be even better if we could offer round images too. And so we started researching how this could be done. Now, after testing the system fully, we're proud to offer it, so please do get in touch on this site's Contact page if you'd like to find out more!

As a result of this cool new idea, it's led to the creation of a few new products in our rustic range of headstones and pet memorials. We're currently sorting these out but should be back soon with an update on this, so be sure to return.

Thanks,

Team Pets At Rest

Pets At Rest: We Don't Approve Your Artwork Until You're 100% Happy!

100% Approved Artwork

Here at Pets at Rest, we're well aware that there are other people doing monuments, urns and headstones for cats, dogs and even horses. That's business for you! But while that may be true, we do feel that there are a few unique things we do that not everyone else does. One of those things is approving your artwork first before we start creating your piece, and giving you complete control. There are a few reasons for this, but the top 3 are as follows:

1) By getting your final approval before we go ahead with anything -- even before we polish the stone and prepare it for engraving - you end up with a legend to your pet that's identical to what you first had in mind. And the difference is enormous: some companies will only give you one chance to make changes, whereas here at Pets at Rest we're happy to make changes until you're 100% happy. It just makes sense to us.

2) People tend to change their mind about artwork more than once, and we don't believe they should have to pay for it - after all, when you're doing something that's a little unusual and important, you're bound to find yourself umming and agghing! In other words, our service is designed with real people in mind, so when real people change their mind we're only too happy to go with it rather than against it!

3) By telling you when we're ready to go ahead, you get one last chance to change things - it can be vital...the difference between something you can cherish forever and something which constantly reminds you that you should have intervened. There's more to it than that, of course. Another good reason for us keeping you in the picture is more basic: people have different opinions, and sometimes people change their minds about the photo or font being used. This often means that after seeing the first design, family members will discuss it and come to different conclusions. Our service is designed so that there is time to come to a compromise about the design, instead of rushing it through and ending up with a headstone that could have been so much better.

Any questions? Feel free to ask them on this blog and our team will get back to you!

Thanks
Team PetsAtRest

Pets at Rest: always happy to hear from you!

Here at Pets at Rest, we get a lot of emails and phone calls from people wondering how we can help them. We're always happy to discuss ideas and talk things through, and this includes everything from:

1. the type of stone you'd like
2. message you'd like on your memorial
3. font and design work

...AND we also do urns too! In fact, we have lots of products on offer, so feel free to drop by and peruse our new website.

Website update: the new Pets at rest site now features a cool newfeedback page!

Engraved Pet Memorials

Great new pet memorials: something we do every day, as we try and progress the pet memorial to as high a standard as possible!

Website updates aren't always fun: much of the time it means a lot of technical work and we'd rather be producing pet memorials, urns and the like using cutting-edge technology! (We use fine Italian marble, slate and other great stones which lend themselves to what we like to think of as just as much a fine-art as a job.)

But sometimes it's more fun. Like with the feedback page we recently put up!

Here are a few great reasons why the feedback page can help you:

1. If you have always wondered why you can never find a pet memorial in a certain shape, size or colour then why not go ahead and ask us here?
2. Do you have a comment about the website? Drop it in and we'll have a look and get back to you. This may be about functionality or it may be about something you feel we have missed. In either case, we're constantly striving to do our best, and make it as easy as possible for you to order your pet memorial.
3. Have you bought a pet memorial from us already? Well, if you'd like to let us know what you thought then we would very much appreciate that. It doesn't have to be an enormous message, it might just be a few lines which focus on the things you feel we did right or which could possibly have been done better.
4. Want to know what other people think? A number of comments are already up, so do feel free to have a browse through!

Check back for more blog posts in the near future, including some interesting guest posts!

This week's guest post: iPet Memorial Lite -- an innovative solution tothe online pet memorial

As we've often said here on the Pets at Rest blog, Twitter (please follow us!) and social networking can be a wonderful thing. Not only does it allow us to spread the word about our products, but it means that every single day we connect with more people who do similar things to us; things which we both admire and think are progressing the industry in a new, exciting direction. If you didn't catch our last blog, it was with Julie who runs one of the UKs most popular pet  radio stations: Dog Cast Radio.

This week, though, it's the turn of iPet Memorial Lite -- a great new online way of sharing that special bond we all have with our pets. Using the app, which was designed and created by Bill Gulbrandsen of Harvest Integrity Systems, Inc (US), pet owners can now take the legacy of their pet with them wherever they go. In the words of Bill himself, an established developer: "I am excited about getting iPet Memorial out to people that have experienced the loss of a pet.  I think that it is an awesome way to allow people to share about that special bond between owner and pet, as well as being therapeutic in the grieving process when a pet is lost."

Presently, the app -- approved just last week for the App store -- is only available on Apple devices, although we don't see that causing too many problems (aside from me, everyone seems to be using one or have access to an ipad or iphone, right?). Seeing as I wasn't able to take a look at the app myself, I phoned Stuart Gebbie -- the owner of Pets at Rest and creator of some mighty fine memorials in granite, slate and finest Italian marble -- and asked him to do so for me and give me some feedback on what he thought.

First up, getting hold of the app is really easy. Just go to the App store and search for iPet Memorial Lite (free version). To access the paid version you'll need to purchase it as normal, and then you'll be sent a unique passcode which needs to be entered into the text field of the redeem page (get to this by clicking the Redeem button on the Featured page in the app store).

In terms of functionality, you can think of this app as having all the same qualities of a standard pet memorial. First up, you'll be able to upload a favourite photo of your pet, and secondly you'll be asked to enter all the information which would be present on a physical headstone: the name of your pet, it's birth and death date, and a number of other pieces of key information (such as special thoughts and favourite memories). As you can see by clicking the image above, Bill and co have much more in the works, including more apps for a wide range of pets.

While it's true to say that this isn't the same as having a physical headstone or memorial you can hold and touch, it's also a fact that there are a number of reasons why this should prove popular. For example, as a way of sharing memories between family members who live in different cities or even countries, this app offers benefits which a standard memorial will find difficult to compete with (although we'd love it if you'd have a look at the Pets at Rest site and see what we have to offer customers!).

New guest post now up: Julie from Dog Cast Radio, part 2!

Julie from Dog Cast Radio talks about her experiences with starting her venture. If you missed it, scroll down the page or go here for Part 1

5: Can you say how you got involved with The Dog News Show?

I interviewed Debbie Connolly at Crufts in 2011 and we got on very well and made each other laugh. We stayed in touch and Debbie was a guest on DogCast Radio several times; she’s an expert on dogs and has trained and rescued them for thirty years. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience and a wicked sense of humour, and she’s very down to earth like me. Debbie had been looking for an opportunity to podcast but wanted a partner to co-host, when we met again at Crufts 2012 we had such a good time together, that when the issue of a joint podcast came up, we were both eager to go ahead and create it. The Dog News Show is a weekly podcast where Debbie and I discuss dog related news stories with candour and humour.  We have talked about everything from doggy marriages to very serious dog attacks; dangerous dogs and dog poo seem to come up a lot as well!

6: How does being a co-host differ from running your own show. Do you enjoy the experience more or less, or is it hard to compare?

The two podcasts I do are very different in style, as The Dog News Showis Debbie and me debating, while DogCast Radio is a magazine style show. I enjoy both. DogCast Radio enables me to meet and talk to a wide variety of people and I’ve learned a lot over the years. I write it and host it, do all the editing and decide on content so it’s very much my baby – although Anthony’s technical and IT knowledge makes up at least 50% of the show’s success. The Dog News Show is a collaboration, with Debbie and me choosing our own stories to highlight and talk about. It is lovely having someone I get on with so well and who makes me laugh so much, but who also has such an extensive knowledge of the dog world to work with.

What I love about podcasting is it’s so immediate – you record it, you may edit it, then you upload it and hey presto it’s out with the audience. Nobody interferes or tells you what you can or can’t do so it’s very free and flexible.

7: Lastly, what advice would you give to anyone out there who wants to start their own business venture like this? Are there are mistakes you made which you would urge others to avoid, for example?

One of my favourite inspirational quotes is “If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.” which Walt Disney said. I’m a great believer that you should try and achieve whatever you feel motivated to do; if necessary break it down into manageable steps – what can you go and do today that will take you a step close to your dream – and then get up and get going! It really doesn’t matter if other people think it’s sensible, as long as you believe it’s what you want to do.

I was very lucky that my husband and I had complimentary skills, and I think getting the right person to collaborate with is a big help, and via the Internet finding like-minded people to work with has never been easier.

Don’t be afraid to ask – I’ve been really surprised by the amount people I was braced for a rejection from who said yes. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – I made loads! Once I did a lengthy breed profile with a lady in Australia only to discover I had recorded myself and not her! Luckily she graciously agreed to do the whole thing again. The trick is to learn from mistakes, then forget them and move onwards and upwards.

New guest post now up: Julie from Dog Cast Radio, part 1!

Here at Pets at Rest, we're interested in absolutely everything pet related -- not just celebrating their lives once they are gone. And one of the things we like best is discovering interesting stories we think need to be shared. As a result of this, we recently made the decision to start contacting people out there about doing guest posts, and Julie from Dog Cast Radio stood out as a prime candidate! She was happy to oblige, and the resulting two-part interview should tell you everything you need to know...

1: How did Dog Cast Radio come about? What was the inspiration for it?

I waited until I was in my thirties to get my first dog, Buddy, because that was when the time was right; I was working from home and my daughter was old enough to understand that a dog was not a play thing, and must be respected. Once I got Buddy I would fall into conversation with other dog owners I met out walking their dog, and this would delay me. Eventually my husband got fed up with having to wait for me, and suggested we put my communication skills to good use. Anthony knew podcasting was about to become more popular (this was back in 2005) and so we united his technical knowledge with my ceaseless talking and enthusiasm for dogs, and DogCast Radio was born!

2: Can you fill us in on some of your most unusual stories?

We have had covered some quite unusual stories over the years – like the kick boxing Black Russian terrier. The dog’s owner was a martial arts trainer and noticed the terrier used his paws  on the back door  rather than barking when he wanted to go out to the toilet, so he developed this behaviour into kick boxing.

A listener called Sarah contacted us to say she had taught her Bichon Frise to sneeze on command, and I was so taken with the story that we ended up interviewing her, and putting video online of her dog doing his party piece.

We also had an interview with Sandy Hall who owned Gibson who was at that time the record holding tallest dog in the world. We also met the oldest dog in the world.

3: Would you like to say something to people about what it's like to do something you really love? I'm sure this will seem like a dream job to many of the pet lovers reading this.

I love dogs and I love writing so to me I have the best job I possibly could. And it’s all thanks to my dog Buddy. It’s very rewarding to have a job that is so enjoyable, lets me set my own schedule and allows me to work from home and spend time with my dogs.

Hosting DogCast Radio and writing for dog magazines has enabled me to meet some wonderful people both in the UK and all around the world, that I would never had met otherwise.

I’ve been incredibly lucky, it’s been great fun and my favourite part is getting feedback from listeners and readers.

4: Anything else you'd like to say about your radio station? For example how it has grown and evolved and where you see the future of it going?

When we first started DogCast Radio podcasting was in it’s infancy and we had to explain to people what the term podcast meant. Now it’s more mainstream and also more respected and accepted. We have learned as we’ve gone along and being accepted as part of the wider media has been gratifying. The Internet empowers people and it’s been thrilling to be part of that – for example when there was widespread opposition to an advert that depicted a dog left out in the snow in an open doorless kennel, we made a Facebook page to provide a focus for complaints. The page attracted over 1,000 members in the first 24 hours, and the advert was changed in response. Of course, that campaign was just a part of a whole spectrum of animal welfare issues that we help support, and I’d like us to  support rescue dogs even more in the future.

One of the exciting things about new media is that nobody knows what the future is, but I’ll make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. I love sharing my enthusiasm for dogs with other dogs lovers, and knowing that I am improving life for some dogs. I recently got an email that made me cry from  a lady who said DogCast Radio had made her re-examine the way she treated her dogs, and she gives them far more time and attention now.

I want to continue talking to expert, authors, trainers, and fellow pet dog owners and spreading the word about how truly glorious the love of a dog is.

New guest posts coming soon!

For anyone who doesn't quite buy into the whole Twitter thing -- and we do understand, because we were a bit like this! -- we have this message: Twitter can be amazing! Since we've been using it we've gained numerous new followers and had a lot of interest in both the blog and the Pets at Rest website.

In the coming weeks we'll be featuring several businesses and services which we think our visitors will love, the first of which is Julie over at Dog Cast Radio, who has all kinds of interesting things to say.

So watch this space!