Destinations in Crete: Fodele

Hi pawfriends it's me Luna again! Today I would like to bark a little more about one of my favorite destinations in Crete. Fodele Village&beach. It's located on the North side of the island, only a 30 minute drive from the capital Heraklion and 45 minutes from Rethymno city. It's also supaw close to the highway and there are busses passing several times a day. 

Fodele is a little rural Village with a lot of character. It's famous for it's El Greco museum where they display prints of his works, the byzantine style church of Panagia and for the beautiful monastery of Agios Panteleimonas (the monastery even has a mini zoo!)

What makes this place so good for dogs?

In the middle of the village passes a small river which makes this the place even on the hottest summer days cool beside of that there are plenty of trees which provide shade and cool spots to play and hang out. 

How I like to spend my day there:

My pawrents take me during the day in the village, there starts a path that goes next to the river. You will meet some friendly sheep and goats and plots with olive and fruit trees. On a certain point the pavement stops but we like to continue from inside the fresh and clean waters. It's absolutely not deep so I can walk safely there.

After our little walk in the river the humans like to drink and snack something in the traditional taverns. If you prefer to do a pick nick (there is a park next to the river with playground and benches) you can buy food and drinks from the mini market.

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In the afternoon when the sun is not burning anymore we jump in the car and drive to Fodele beach. The distance is 3km or 5min drive. We always go to the beach closest to the gas station. There is plenty of parking space right next to the beach and also a tavern.

The beach is full of small pebbles and not very organized (no sunbeds) which makes it great for me so I can play happily with my squeaky toy without annoying other humans 😎

What do you think furiends? Would you like to spend a day in Fodele?

Happy weekend and paw from me 🐾 

Destinations in Crete: Rethymno

Woof! Welcome to my blog pawfriends, today I would like to show you around a new destination: Rethymno City. Rethymno lies on the North-western side of Crete between Chania and Heraklion.

Old venetian harbour Rethymno

For us Cretans Rethymno is also know as "the student city". There  is a pawfect university (University of Crete) here which attract students from all over Europe and therefore there is also a lot of vibrant nightlife. Beside of that it is also touristically developed.

Must see inside the city:

The old town is beautifully restored dating from the 16th century. The old harbour is Venetian style and inside town you can find buildings with influence from the byzantines. It also has one of the best preserved castles in Crete: "Fortezza of Rethymno". While walking trough the old town you will see the "Porta Guora"(great gate), the "piazza Rimondi" and the "Loggia Veneziana" etc. It's the perfect place to stroll trough the romantic small alley's.

Beach time in Rethymno:

Because of tourism a big part of the beach is occupied with sunbeds however the beach stretches a long end (12km/7.5miles!) which makes it possible for us dog's to find a calm area to play. My pawrents took me next to the watersport area, most people don't like to hang out there because it's a less organized place, it was perfect though to play with my squeaky toy! In the afternoon after 6pm it's also a little calmer and you can have a nice walk at the boulevard right next to the beach without burning your paw pads. 

Food&drinks:

The most popular street to drink and eat something is definitely the one next to the beach. After my swim my pawrents took me to a local gyros place. I was allowed in the outside area and the waiters where so kind to provide me some cool drinking water💧. Because of the touristic taverns it's always best to kindly ask if dog's are allowed to sit in the outside area.

Overall experience as a dog:

Because Rethymno is a small city the local's also take their dog's out in the town which means that the people are used having dog's around, we met some small dogs at our walk in the old town which greeted me very nicely. Locals take their dog's mostly out at the beach (on leash) and in the municipal garden. Walking in the more touristic places is also no problem as long as you keep the streets clean (don't forget poopbags and a bottle of water to wash away pee).  We went in the afternoon for a walk however if you want to walk in the morning keep in mind that the pavements can heat up very quickly. 

Best places to do your poo🚾 inside the city:

- Municipal Garden (Δημοτικός Κήπος/ Igoumenou Gavriil, Rethymno 741 00)

- The area around the Venetian Fortezza Castle 

- Next to the old Venetian harbour (sandy beach part where swimming is not allowed)

I had a lot of fun and would love to go explore more new area's close to Rethymno city! Thank you for joining me in this mini roadtrip. 

Paw from me 🐶🐾

Sandy beach at the old Venetian harbour

Destinations in Crete: Matala

Selfie spot at the entrance

Hi pawfriends! It's me Luna 🐶 Yesterday I went for a day trip to Matala (located 75km south-west of the main city Heraklion). Here is some more info about Matala:

The beach is in an enclosed bay and is sandy with very small pebbles, organized with sunbeds, toilets, showers and life guards. To be honest not the most pawfect beach for us dog's to go in high season but in low season you can definitely find a quiet spot in the shade under the trees! I was welcome at the outside area's of restaurants and cafe's. The village has a lot of touristic shops where you can buy nice souvenirs or cool bandana's 🐾

Matala is know for it's "caves" also referred to as "hippie caves". In the 60's and 70's hippies would residence in this caves and live the "free" lifestyle. On a certain point the area was so popular that it attracted even big celebrities such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Joan Baez. 

The caves in the background

The caves are now day's protected by the Archeological service, you can visit them during the daytime. (it's possible you need to pay a small fee, dog's are not allowed inside)

Each year there is also the Matala street painting where artists can give their creativity a place on the streets of Matala. (For more information and registration you can check the Facebook page @streetpaintingteam)

And last but not least the popular Matala Beach Festival, unfortunately due to the corona virus it's unsure if it will take place in 2021. 

This was the information about Matala, if you have any questions don't hestitate to send me a DM on IG or email. 
Woof you all very much, paw from me 🐾

Veterinarians or veterinary clinics in Crete

Hi furiends! It's me Luna again. 🐾 In case you want to come visit the beautiful island of Crete or if you permanently live here and don't speak very good Greek this list might be helpful.  I will divide the veterinarians information per region to make it easy to search. Crete consist of 4 regions.

The landcode of Greece is +30

Heraklion (The capital of Crete, most airplanes land in this airport also)

Small Animal Clinic Manolis Souranakis: Chandakos 79, 712 01 Tel. 281 024 319

Vet Medica - Veterinary Center Milathianakis: Strimonos 6, Iraklio 713 04 (281 031 8880)

Piperakis George: Leof. 62 Martiron 110, Iraklio 713 03 (281 031 5910)

Tsatsaki Ourania: Thoykydidoy 6, Poros 713 07 (281 022 0540)

Creta VetClinic: Nikolaoi Restivaki 4, Iraklio 713 04 (+30 2810 341 698  or +30 2810 341 690)

Andreas Badouvas: Leof. Andrea Papandreou 49, Gazi 714 14 (281 031 7870)

Veterinary Clinic Daskalakis: Menelaou Parlama 137 Iraklio 714 10 (6947 324234 or 2810 263093)

Savoidaki Vet Clinic: Oulof Palme 76, Iraklio 714 10 (281 023 2730)

Charalampakis Georgios: Leoforos Ikarou 7, 71306 Irakleio (+30 281 022 4611)

Danai Markaki: A. Kalokairinou 1 Voutes Heraklion 71500 (T: +30 2810 545500)

Latinas Dimitris: Leoforos Papanastasiou & Telchinon 128, Iraklio 714 09 (+30 281 023 4420) 

Giamalaki - Nikiforakis: Leof. Knosou 153, Iraklio 714 09 (281 032 2917)

Fragkoulis Nikolaos: Λεωφ. Ανδρέα Παπανδρέου 84, Ηράκλειο 713 05, Ελλάδα (+30 281 021 1483)

Stylianos Pirounakis: Meramvellou 46, Iraklio 712 02 (281 034 2097)

Melidona Sofia: Christomichali Xilouri 72, Iraklio 713 04 (281 031 7737)

Ioannis Filippakis: Leof. Ionias 1, Iraklio 713 06 (281 032 5508)

Τριγνης Κωννος: Asterousion 42, Heraklion (+30 281 025 3303)

Vet clinic Moires: 28is Oktovriou 31, Mires 704 00 

Maliarakis Emmanuel: Machis Kritis 113, Mires 704 00 (+30 2892 025230)

New vet!: Κανδηλιέρη Θαλασσινή: Eth. Antistaseos 45, Arkalochori 703 00 (+30 2891 023045) (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087295232326)

Rethymnon (In between Chania and Heraklion)

Chatzidaki Aliki: Emmanouil Portaliou 25, Rethymno 741 33 (2831 103852)

Vet clinic Christakos Ioannis: VOAK 13, Rethymno 741 00 (693 273 1321)

Alexandraki: Hortatzi 38, Rethymno 741 00 (2831 503303)

Lioudaki Dimitra: Dimitrakaki 6, Rethymno 741 00 (2831 050345)

veterinary centre atsipopoulo: Charal. Liandri, Atsipopoulo 741 00 (2831 033322)

Vlatakis Alexis: Trantalidou 11, Rethymno 741 00 (2831 022522)

Theodorakis / Gerakakis Veterinary Center: Igoumenou Gavriil 16, Rethymno 741 00 (2831 051300)

Small Animal Clinic Vogiatzis Stelios - Paraschoudi Viki: Parren - Siganou 9, Rethymno 741 00 (698 449 3929)

Vet clinic Vet Hersonisos: Spirou Kassaveti 10, Limenas Chersonisou 700 14 (2897 025777)

Lassithi (East Crete)

vetcare merimna kritis Ae: Kon/nou Karamanli 23, Ag. Nikolaos 721 00 (2841 022500)

Veterinary clinic Calliope Pantouli:  El. Agios Nikolaos 72100, Plataki 13, Iraklio 714 09 (2841 100303)

Ioannis M. Sfakianakis: Latous 14, Ag. Nikolaos 721 00 (697 300 4113)

Papanikolaou Sotirios:  Basarmidi 3, Ierapetra 722 00 (2842 025455)

Spyridakis Michail: Kiprou 30, Ierapetra 722 00 ( 2842 089200)

Animal Medical Center: Kiprou 61, Ierapetra 722 00 (2842 026823)

Chania (west Crete)

Saridakis: Zimvrakakidon 41, Chania 731 35 (2821 097183)

Kapsanaki Eirini: Markou Mpotsari ke Kelaidi 45, Chania 731 36 (2821 087136)

Virginia Theodoraglaki: Kissamou 28, Chania 731 00 (693 238 5788)

Xanthoulakis, Haralambos, & Co:  Anagnostou Gogoni 63, Mournies 733 00 (2821 075665)

Mouglali Despina: Chatzimichali Giannari 30, Chania 731 32 (2821 045192)

Animals Corner: Efedron Polemiston 21, Chania 731 35 (2821 079390)

Kambouraki Maria - Valyraki Anna: Igoumenou Gavriil 37, Chania 731 34 (2821 042920)

Animal care clinic: Kritovoulidou 28, Chania 731 34 (2821 050417)

Ioannis Emm. Markantonakis: Perivolion 107, Chania 731 36 (2821 073375)

Terezaki Veterinary Clinic: Κonstantinou Μitsotaki 134, Chania 731 00 (2821 020300)

 Vizyrakis George: Ethnarchou Venizelou 48, Souda 732 00 (2821 023505)

Ignatiadis Panagiotis: Ag. Apostolon 56, Mournies 733 00 (2821 042730)

Veterinary clinic Cesme Alexander: Papanastasiou 80, Chania 731 34 (2821 008241)

Xirouchakis Stavros: Leof. El. Venizelou 44, Kounoupidiana 731 00 (2821 069966)

Hatzidakis Eleftherios: Mark. Mpotsari 57, Chania 731 00 (2821 094213)

Animals planet & HARIS PET VET: Papanastasiou 99 & Vrysson, Chania 731 35 (2821 059399)

Veterinary clinic Mousourakis George: Palea EO Chanion Rethimnou 542, Kalives 730 03 (2825 032186)


In case of emergency or if you want some advice from local volunteers you can check out this Facebook group: Animal lovers on Crete

Visiting Crete with your dog

Hi furiends! It's me Luna again. 😊You might have heard the good news, tourism in Greece started again since 15th of may! Therefore I would like to share some of my personal tips and tricks for the most pawsome holiday's on the beautiful island of Crete. 

First and foremost it is impawtent to decide with which form of transport you want to travel. Since Crete is an Island there are only 2 way's to access. First option is by ferry, second one by airplane. 

General rules for entering Greece: Your pet must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.  Your pet can travel 21 days after the completion of the vaccination protocol. Another obligatory thing is the EU health certificate. Dog's that come from the United states need to carry a health certificate endorsed by a USDA state veterinarian. 

Tips for the ferry: Dog's are only allowed on the deck, the ferry has basic kennels but most of them are noisy and don't have any bedding or comfort inside. If your pawrents have the possibility I would highly recommend booking a pet cabin. You can sleep then together wif the pawrents and just go upstairs for a short walk if necessary. Another rule that applies on most of the ferry's is that all dog's have to wear a muzzle don't forget to practice wearing on before going on holiday's.

Traveling by airplane: The general rule is that dog's up to 8kg (included container/pet carrier) are allowed inside the cabin while dog's above 8kg can only be transported in the baggage hold compartment. The best way to book your ticket is calling to the airline of preference.

When you are boarding don't forget to double check with the cabin staff/pilot that the baggage compartment has the right temperature for your pet.

Public transportation on the island: Big dog's are not allowed in public transportation. You can take a small dog in a transport bag with you. We always do road trips with rented cars, this gives so much freedom which is needed to see the most beautiful and little dislocated places. 

Accommodation: Last year during our road trips we have stayed  in several small apartments or private houses. I would highly recommend checking the area you want to stay online and call straight to the hotel/apartment. This way you get the best price and you can discuss any special needs or wishes you have. Another convenient way is using a booking platform. When you book from there the hotel/apartment sometimes calls you to confirm that you are coming with a dog.

Once you arrived at the most sniffable island ever you want to know where you can go and what you can do, I will answer this in the following FAQ*.

Are dog's allowed in museum or at archeological places?

Unfortunately no, when visiting a monastery you can only walk in the garden outside. 

Can I take my dog to a restaurant or cafe?

The greek law states that dog's are allowed in every outdoor space, for sanitary reasons most restaurants and cafe's don't accept your dog inside. Luckily on Crete we have the Mediterranean climate which makes it possible to sit outside during most the time of the year. When you arrive at a restaurant or cafe mention you have a dog so they can help you out picking the best table. In most of the places we have been they offered water for Luna but in case they forget it you can always kindly ask for a bottle of water. The tap water can have a little salty taste therefore we always give Luna bottled water. In the local supermarket you can find water from the mountains of Crete! 💧

Are dog's allowed at the beach?

Yes! The greek law say's that dog's are welcome at the beach as long as they are leashed and accompanied by their guide. At organized beaches you can ask the cafe/restaurant owner if you are allowed to have your dog next to you under the umbrella. 

What about swimming in the sea?

You can take your dog for a refreshing swim however keep in mind that if other people don't feel comfortable with the dog swimming next to them they might ask you to remove it. From personal experience we know that most people don't mind as long as your dog stay's leashed and doesn't bark. 

What about the insects in Greece? Are there many mosquitos?

Depending on the region you will visit it may vary but generally we all protect our dog's against insect bites. This has a reason, mosquitoes can transmit heartworm while gnats can transfer leishmaniasis. In case you forgot to buy the necessary products before coming to Greece you can always visit a local vet. Especially in the big cities (Heraklion, Rethymnon,Chania,Agios Nikolaos) all the vets speak good English and will be glad to help you out with buying the right products (spray's/collars/etc.)

This was the short explanation furiends, don't forget to clean up after yourself and drink enough water! If it is the first time traveling you can read my blog about heatstroke's to make sure you stay safe and cool in summer. Now it's time to go eat some treatos! 

Paw Luna 🐾

*If you have any specific questions about travelling in Crete don't hesitate to contact my mumanager by email or send me a DM on IG!

EU rules on travelling with pets

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/animal-plant/index_en.htm

International Air Transport Association (IATA) for more information regarding the requirements of each country:

https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/traveling-with-pets/

https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/live-animals/pets/#tab-1

Senior dogs deserve special care

Hi, it's me Luna again! This post has some more information about the elderly canine friends and how to take good care of them. I truly believe dog owners should pay special attention to them, they deserve to have the best senior dog life!

When is a dog considered senior? 

This really depends on each individual. In general giant breeds are considered aging faster then the small ones. Overall speaking small size dogs are considered senior around the age of 9 while medium/large breeds can considered elderly earlier around 7-8 years old. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that emotional maturity doesn't necessarily aligns with physical maturity. For example an 10 month old pup may be socially and sexually active but full maturity isn't achieved until age of 3 to 4 years.

What are the signs of ageing? 

The most physical complaints vets hear are loss of vision, hearing, teeth, immunity, energy and muscle tone. This goes together with gaining weight and arthritis or other joint problems.

Which are the mayor diseases/health concerns?

-cancer

-heart disease

-kidney/urinary tract disease

-liver disease

-diabetes

-joint or bone disease

-senility

-weakness: Difficulty standing up or sitting 

To what can you pay extra attention to improve their lives?

1. Teeth

Generally it is very impawtant to brush all dogs teeth. For elder dogs it is extra important to do more general teeth check ups to prevent dental diseases and decay. If possible the best option is to brush your dogs teeth daily, in case your dog doesn't accept this you can ask your vet to recommend you good 'plaque off products' like treats or chewing bones or powder to add to the food.

2. Keep a daily exercise routine.

You may have to modify the amount or intensity of training routine you have but make sure to keep your dog moving every single day. Not only it is important in order to prevent your dog from becoming obese but also for their mental well being. In case your dog is showing signals of pain visit your vet and discuss alternative training routines. For dogs with arthritis I highly recommend considering hydrotherapy or underwater treadmill therapy. Although this option may be 'more expensive or time consuming' this is the best way to exercise older dogs since buoyancy is used to counteract the painful effects of gravity. Studies have shown that many elderly dogs feel no or less pain while working out in the water. Ofcourse it is necessary to find a professional specialized in rehabilitation/hydrotherapy to guide your dog safely into this new form of exercise.

Exercise not only your dogs body but also their mind! This can be done very effectively with small search games and puzzles. This way you keep your dog senses sharp and you can have a nice time with your furiend. It is recommended to always supervise your dog while playing with puzzles and toys. 

3. Evaluate your dogs diet.

As mentioned before aged dogs are more sensitive for developing obesity, this is caused mainly by the fact that they no longer have the same levels of energy as before and therefore run and play less often. There are several special senior dog diets on the market. The difference is that they are most of the time lower in fat and have fewer calories, sometimes they contain also extra added glucosamine or chondroitin. 

Warning! Always analyze the actual ingredients of your new dog food, it is not the case that when the package states 'senior diet' it is also effectively and suitable for your beloved furiend. In case of doubt give a call to your vet or consult a qualified pet nutritionist.

Beside changes in food you can also consider adding supplements. Such as natural pro- and prebiotics, omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), glucosamine with Chondroitin sulfate and CBD oil. 

4. Adjust the environment.

Especially if our elderly furry friends are having arthritis it can be beneficial to adjust the environment. Most important is to check your dog's habits. Does he likes to jump on the sofa or in the car and is it going more difficult? In this case you could invest in a dog ramp. Another important factor is the bed, Luna has an orthopedic dog bed and we definitely see difference in her sleep. She looks much more comfortable and can stretch out properly. There is also a clinical study* done by Big Barker (dog beds) proving that the choice of your dog's bed can have a tremendous impact on their quality of life.

5. keep a diary for your dog!

This is not only fun and a lovely memory in the long term but also this way you can monitor changes in appetite, weight, behavior. Is your dog having a hard day observe and write down how your animal generally responds etc. In case you need to visit the vet all this little details can help the doctor have a complete image of the causes of pain or disease, when it started and so much more.

Simply said bark to your pawrents every day to take you for a walk, eat healthy and visit a little more often the vet (looking cute at the veterinary hospital will give you possibilities of getting more treats!)

Paw Luna 🐾

*Link to the complete pilot study regarding the Big Barker beds:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0218/1356/files/Pilot_Study_to_Evaluate_the_Big_Barker_Therapeutic_Mattress_in_Dogs_with_Osteoarthritis.pdf?v=1597598958

*Short summary:
https://bigbarker.com/pages/upenn

The importance of responsible breeders

Hi pawfriends it's me Luna again! This time I would like to write a little bit about the impawtance of responsible dog breeding. The current lockdown situation has lead into a tremendous amount of new pup owners. If you are thinking of getting a (second) pup please check out your breeder before you buy!

Currently there are a lot of scam breeders going around because of the puppy popularity it even happened last week to my humans when they where walking wif me in the park. A random person came and told them: "I have pups for 250 euro if you want one call me and come pick it up." As you can imagine mum was super angry.. He didn't cared at all who we where, he didn't showed the parents of the pups etc., the only thing he said is pricing and his phone number if we wanted to have one. This is clearly the kind of breeder you don't want to come from! 

Let's start with the short definition of a responsible breeder in my eyes:

Responsible breeders are people with great love for the pups that have educated themselves with specialized information such as historical research, behavior, bloodlines, heritable defects and temperament of the breed of their choice. They also educate and screen potential buyers and keep providing support if the owner needs this. Breeders that care keep connected and supervise the dogs they bred during their entire lifetime. Last but not least they never breed for making money because they know that with the time and effort they will spend on educating and caring for the pups they will not make profits out of this. 

 A responsible breeder:

• Screens and fully tests the breeding dog's for any heritable diseases
• Avoids at all time inbreeding
• Keeps the pups in a warm and clean family environment with enrichment and place for the pups to play
• Can tell you why she/he choose the mother and father combination and what are the characteristics of both parents
• Bases breeding frequency on health of the mother (max. 1litter/year)
• Complies with all applicable laws and will gladly show you their breeding license and registration papers of the dogs
• Will take back any animal of their breeding in case owners can't take care of the dog anymore (this can be temporarily when the owner is injured for example or permanent when the owner died or any other reason that might apply)
• Never sells puppies to dealer or pet shop
• Let's you visit the pup as many times as necessary before moving permanently to new home
• Asks you a lot of questions and talks with you about the future of the dog (Will the dog be used for sport, herding, does the breed fit with you?) And also gives you the space to ask all questions you have about them
• Provides a clear purchase contract and gives you the time to read it before you sign
• Chips and vaccines the pups and provides all health care needed

Now after reading all this you can maybe understand why mum sterilized me, it was never her plan to get pups from me from the beginning even though I am her favorite dog ever. Even if she would like to breed one day in the future she would have to educate herself so so so so much more and pick up the best pawsible parent combination ever. The mission of breeding should ALWAYS be "breeding to improve the breed" and not just get pups out of your dog.

Big paw from me,
Luna 🐾