Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2022 i Your Dog

We all want our dogs to be happy (you wouldn’t be reading Your Dog Magazine if that wasn’t the case) — but the trouble is that sometimes our ideas about what makes them happy don’t necessarily match up with their own! But, as top trainer Jackie Drakeford reassures us, often all it takes is a bit of tweaking to put a smile back on your dog’s face; check out how you can ensure your pet is in a happy place on page 10 this issue. The same could be said about children and dogs. Kids Around Dogs (KAD) is a relatively new organisation that aims to help dogs and children stay safe and happy in each other’s company. Not only does KAD help children overcome a fear of dogs, but…

A study has warned of the threat to wildlife by the huge increase in doggy deposits being left in the countryside. The research, by scientists at Ghent University in Belgium, revealed that the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus created by canine urine and faeces are now so high they would be illegal on farms. Although the 18-month study focused on 1,600 dogs walked in four nature reserves on the outskirts of Ghent, researchers concluded a similar situation would apply across Europe, where there are about 87 million dogs. The analysis estimated that dogs leave an annual average of 11kg of nitrogen and 5kg of phosphorus per hectare, which causes over-fertilisation of the ground. This reduces biodiversity as plants like nettles and hogweed are allowed to dominate while other vegetation — and…

TOP TIP! The more children learn about canine body language the more confident they will feel around dogs. “Fear is all in the mind, and the mind can be changed.” When behaviourist Debby Lucken observed the varied and often dramatic reactions of children towards dogs, she knew action was needed to keep everyone safe and happy. “My daughter, Molly, who is now 10, is very dog savvy and has grown up around dogs,” explained Debby, who lives in Poole, Dorset. “After our dog Pixel died, I started a home boarding business. As Molly grew older and her friends began visiting, I noticed how very differently the children reacted to our dogs. They were either super-confident, to the point of wanting to sit or climb on them, or terrified and trying…

HOW TO ENTER FREEBIES For your chance to win these fabulous prizes, enter online by visiting www.yourdog.co.uk/freebies, quote the code RAH04HAR, and follow the instructions on screen. The closing date for entries is May 15, 2022 (uk only). Please note, you can enter online from April 7, 2022. For full competition terms and conditions, visit www.warnersgroup.co.uk/competition-terms FLEA SEASON HAMPERS We’ve teamed up with Bob Martin, one of the UK’s leading pet health-care brands, to offer five lucky readers the chance to win a ‘prep for flea season’ hamper to prepare their dog for the peak flea season. Each hamper contains Bob Martin Clear products for the treatment and prevention of fleas, ticks, and worms, to help keep your dog happy, healthy, and parasite-free. The products are easy to use and have…

GET IN TOUCH… Email your letters to sarah.wright@warnersgroup.co.uk Alternatively, write to: Sarah Wright, Letters, Your Dog Magazine, Warners Group Publications, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH. Please include your full name, home address, and daytime telephone number with your correspondence. The editor reserves the right to abridge and edit letters submitted. You can also pass your comments and views to Sarah through Twitter (@yourdog) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/yourdogmagazine). INSPIRED BY BRUCE! Back in 2009, I welcomed my Kelpie puppy, Bruce, into my life. I’d suffered a nervous breakdown two years earlier, which left me unable to leave my home. Before then, I’d worked in mental health as a nursing assistant, caring for patients with dementia. I’d lost my father to the disease, and my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s…

Few stories can rival that of Nelly the Labrador when it comes to bittersweet endings. Yet despite surviving more than a week without food in freezing overnight temperatures, and sustaining a life-changing injury, Nelly inspired a community, and prompted her 62-year-old owner to declare she would get a tattoo in celebration of her “miracle dog”. The one-year-old dark yellow Labrador disappeared from a field near Liphook, Hampshire, while Jenny was tending to her horses one day in late November. Jenny thinks Nelly became disorientated during Storm Arwen, which brought some of the decade’s most powerful and damaging winter weather, with gusts of nearly 100mph in parts. “Nelly was in the field running around with my other dogs, Labrador Ella and Gracie, a Jack Russell X Dachshund,” recalled Jenny, a pastry…

WHAT IS HAND-STRIPPING? Hand-stripping is the removal of dead top coat and undercoat by hand, without the use of trimming equipment — clippers, scissors, or thinning scissors — on the main part of the dog. The more delicate/sensitive areas, such as the undercarriage and around the anal area, can be trimmed. The purpose of hand-stripping is to maintain the colour and texture of the coat in wire-coated breeds such as the Border Terrier. To find out more about the process and whether it would be appropriate for your dog, visit a reputable, qualified breeder by visiting www.thegroomersspotlight.com IS IT OK FOR MY DOG TO SAY HELLO TO A GUIDE DOG? Don’t allow your dog to sniff or say hello to a working guide dog; they are trained to be passive…

To be included in our gallery, email your photos to gallery@yourdog.co.uk or post traditional prints to the address on page 4. Include your name, address, and daytime telephone number, plus your dog’s name and breed. Alternatively, you can share your images on social media at www.facebook.com/yourdogmagazine Twitter @yourdog. Please, no images of dogs playing with sticks or wearing extreme clothing!…

“When your children are teenagers, it’s important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you.”NORA EPHRON, American journalist, writer, and filmmaker. Cover pic: Pomeranian-cross by Mark Taylor, Warren Photographic Ltd. WHO’S ON THE COVER THIS MONTH? Our cover star this issue is three-year-old Yogi, from Milford, Surrey, a Pomeranian-cross with a bit of Finnish and German Spitz. “I work as a dog walker and Yogi comes with me, which keeps us both fit,” says owner Michelle Field. “He loves all his dog walking pals and can’t wait to go round and pick them all up. Then they go on a lovely country adventure and charge around together. “Yogi is very cheeky and good at getting his own way. We have a strong bond…

DOG IN DRAMATIC DROP ESCAPES UNHARMED A Border Collie not only survived a terrifying 100ft fall down a cliff but managed to escape uninjured. Max plunged into the sea below Hawks Brow at Seaford, East Sussex, before swimming to a narrow stretch of shingle beach, where he became trapped by the incoming tide. A Newhaven Coastguard Search and Rescue team was turned back by the crashing waves, but the lucky dog was eventually rescued by three volunteer crew on an RNLI all-weather lifeboat. CANINE SQUAD TO SNIFF OUT HIGH-RISK ANIMAL IMPORTS A new team of dog detectors has been deployed to airports, ports, and parcel hubs across Scotland to help prevent exotic diseases entering the country. Funded by the Scottish Government, the dogs have been specially trained to sniff out…

Image: Sandy Young/Flick.digital and The Kennel Club. Congratulations to six-year-old Flat Coated Retriever Baxer, on being crowned the 2022 Crufts Best in Show champion. Bred in Sweden by Ragnhild Ulin, the lovely liver dog scooped the coveted title ahead of Greyhound Aya, Siberian Husky Akela, Irish Terrier Donnie, Border Collie Lenor, Yorkshire Terrier Conan, and Toy Poodle Waffle, who judge Stuart Plane chose as Reserve Best in Show. “It’s really a dream come true!” said Baxer’s co-owner and handler, Patrick Oware, from Oslo, Norway. “I’ve been going to Crufts ever since I was young and it’s always been a dream to show my own dog in the main ring — and win! I don’t have any words, it’s just amazing, and I’m really proud of Baxer. He’s a fantastic dog…

Dog groomer Anna Pollard, who owns The Dog House, a luxury dog grooming and canine spa, in Syston, Leicestershire, is the owner of three dogs. However, as a new mum to baby Polly, Anna was really anxious about keeping everyone safe and happy. After meeting Debby and completing a KAD course, Anna has overcome her fears and is now a KAD-approved member, using her skills to ensure that not only her own dogs are safe and happy, but helping other families cope with similar worries. “Polly is now five months old, but when I first brought her home from the hospital, I felt quite overwhelmed about how I would manage to look after her and still give my three dogs all the time and attention they needed,” said Anna. “Despite…

FOR WEEKEND WARRIORS Already a firm favourite among owners who want to #tamethegreatoutdoors with their dogs, the Hurtta Weekend Warrior Harness is now available in four new modern colours and designs. Ergonomic, comfortable, and fully adjustable around the neck and chest, the stylish Weekend Warrior Harness is suitable for active dogs. A snug fit is guaranteed, thanks to Hurtta’s proprietary sizing system, based on the measurement data of more than 4,000 dogs across hundreds of breeds. The harness’s surface material is made of soft polyester with a weatherproof Houndtex lamination and breathable mesh lining, ensuring it doesn’t rub your dog or make him too hot. Clip buckles on the chest strap make it easy to put on and take off. As part of Hurtta’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact,…

One in three British smokers has seen their dog’s health affected by passive smoking, new data has discovered. But despite their pets falling ill, 20 per cent of smokers still refuse to quit, according to Brighton-based vape company MIST. Even more worryingly, one in five smoking owners are oblivious to the suffering second-hand smoke causes their dog. But the good news is that three in five owners said they would give up smoking if they thought it was harming their dog, suggesting more awareness is needed. Dogs exposed to tobacco smoke are at risk of developing serious conditions.…

● SPAIN: In a pioneering ruling, a judge granted a separated couple joint custody of their dog, after they went to court to decide who their pet should live with. The court in Madrid decided that both parties should be ‘jointly responsible’ and ‘co-caretakers’ of Panda the dog. Evidence submitted included Panda’s adoption contract, veterinary bills, and photographs, which showed the three as a family. Panda will now alternate between the two partners for a month at a time. ● ITALY: Covering 30 of the country’s busiest beaches and helping to save 20 lives a year, 300 specially trained dogs work as lifeguards after qualifying at the Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs. The canine lifeguards act as an outboard motor, enabling their human counterparts to conserve energy and be more effective…

“You may have to change your choice over time.” TOP TIP! Dogs of the same breed may prefer a different collar or harness. Tellington TTouch practitioner and dog trainer Alex Wilson, co-founder of East Midlands-based Xtra Dog Training, is clear. “I would never put a dog in anything other than a harness, unless there is a really good medical reason not to,” he said. “I’ve looked into this, and the history of it, and I can see only one reason why we walk dogs in collars, and the simple answer is because we can.” Alex points out that while we sometimes put safety reins on children, we would never restrain them around their necks. He also considers it a myth that harnesses cause dogs to pull, pointing out that although…

Sponsored by Got a problem with your dog? Whether it’s about behaviour, training, health, or general care, the Your Dog experts are here to help. Our panel includes some of the top names in the dog world, so you can rest assured that you are getting the best quality advice. Just email your problem/query to editorial@yourdog.co.uk or, if you prefer, you can post it to ‘Dog Answers’ at our Bourne address (see page 4). You can also post your query on Facebook www.facebook.com/yourdogmagazine. THE EXPERT PANEL TAMSIN DURSTON is a canine behaviour officer in Dogs Trust’s canine behaviour and research team. TONY CRUSE is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers. VICKY PAYNE BVetMed, MRCVS is a holistic vet based in…