Innehållsförteckning för August 2022 från Your Dog

5 PRIZES TO BE WON! UK only We’re offering five readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the All About Dogs Show in Norfolk — the event organised by dog lovers for dog lovers! The All About Dogs Shows are a fantastic celebration of man’s best friend, with an unrivalled programme of events, arena displays, demonstrations, activities, and family entertainment. Fun Dog Show classes and canine talent shows mean your pet can get involved, and there are lots of interactive talks and demonstrations on a range of doggy topics for you to enjoy as well. Add in some special guest star appearances and a huge selection of stands and stalls offering the latest products — many at discounted prices — and you and your dog can enjoy…

Our dogs are four-legged family members — cherished and precious. It’s unthinkable that anyone could steal or kidnap them with malicious intent. Sadly though, for a small percentage of dog owners, that nightmare becomes reality. For Giles and Angela Greenhough the nightmare started on June 24, 2021, when their beloved Norfolk Terriers, Margie and Ruby, went missing from their farm in Cornwall. A devastated Giles said: “The loss of Margie and Ruby has been the most emotionally draining and traumatic event in my life. Are they dead? Are they alive? Are they safe? Are they starving in a cage somewhere? Are they curled up in front of a fire or are they being beaten for being scared? If your dog’s been stolen that’s what you live with every day, every…

All former soldier Kevin Saunders wanted to do was help people. And if that meant combining his skills honed in war zones such as Iraq with his passion for dogs, then all the better. The 40-year-old, whose day job now involves project managing the fitting out of police cars, started volunteering for the charity Hampshire Search & Rescue Dogs (HSRD) in 2007. “Working alongside explosive detection dogs in Iraq first sparked my interest in search and rescue,” explained Kevin, whose family owned a succession of rescue collie-crosses while he was growing up. “It was the start of my love for working dogs — I was impressed by their devotion to duty in all kinds of environments and the partnership between dog and handler.” The following year, after undertaking his initial…

Half of vets subjected to abuse, says survey The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is urging dog owners to consider how their use of the internet may affect veterinary teams, after research revealed one in two vets experienced online abuse last year. As part of their ‘Respect your vet team — end abuse’ campaign, the BVA wants to highlight the impact that harassment, trolling, and unfair reviews can have on the profession. “We’re very aware that a visit to the vet may be an anxious and uncertain time for owners, particularly when the prognosis is poor, or the necessary treatment is costly, but it is absolutely unacceptable to take these frustrations out on veterinary staff,” said BVA president Justine Shotton, who added that a small minority are creating an intolerable environment.…

It seems such a short time ago that we brought home Coco, our gorgeous little cross-breed puppy. It’s unbelievable that we celebrated his 13th birthday in July, and although he remains happy, healthy, and playful, I wanted to know how we can ensure our older friends remain this way for as long as possible. My first stop was to book a veterinary check-up. We visited Avenue Vets in Grantham, Lincolnshire, and were seen by vet Hannah Poddubiuk. Hannah began by asking how Coco was. I explained that he is generally very well, loves to walk with my other dogs, shows no sign of slowing down, and comes along to our weekly heelwork to music class to do the last 10 minutes or so, as he really enjoys training. Hannah checked…

Going for a swim is a terrific low-impact exercise; it gives your dog a whole body workout, and for water-loving canines it is quite simply the best fun. But safety is essential if what should be a pleasurable outing isn’t going to end in tears… PLACES TO SWIM The seaside is probably everyone’s favourite swimming destination but unless you’re familiar with local regulations, check before setting out that dogs are welcome. Make sure you know the tide times too. Lakes are often calm, with safe, shallow places where your dog can take a dip; shallow and slow-moving rivers and streams can be lovely places to visit as well. But dogs can have a significant adverse impact on rivers, streams, and ponds; repeated disturbance as they run in and out can…

“…often an anxious dog can’t cope in busy places…” At times, we all want our dogs to chill out and occupy themselves. But dogs can find this difficult for a variety of reasons, including: ● Their age — adolescence is a particularly tricky time for dogs. Their brains and bodies are still developing and the surge of hormones only adds to the mix. Add in a second fear period (which can occur any time between six and 14 months depending on the breed/size of the dog, and can last around two to three weeks) and situations or places can become overwhelming or arousing. During these challenging periods of life, your dog may well struggle to settle in busy environments, but practising a settle at home can calm his parasympathetic nervous…

English law may have only recently recognised animals as sentient beings, but there have always been those who have considered the needs of animals and helped people in less fortunate circumstances to care for their animals. This year, the Blue Cross charity celebrates its 125th anniversary and we look back on a journey which mirrors that of wider society, reflecting our changing attitudes and a deepening bond with the animals that share our lives. The charity was initially founded as the ‘Our Dumb Friends’ League’ (ODFL) to help working horses in London, who were often underfed, carried heavy loads, and were prone to injury on the slippery asphalt roads. In 1900, it supported dog owners who could not afford to pay a licence fee, which could result in them having…

CHARITY WARNS OF PRESSURES ON PET-OWNING FAMILIES The RSPCA is braced for one of its toughest summers yet, after the number of abandoned animals increased by 30 per cent over the winter, and the cost of living continues to spiral. With rescue centres full and adoptions slowing down, the charity is worried more pets will be given up as families struggle to pay bills and face difficult financial decisions. RSPCA staff are also concerned about the rise in people trying to save money by treating their poorly pets at home rather than going to a vet. Google searches for ‘can I give my dog paracetamol?’ have increased from 5,600 per month in January 2020 to 14,600 in January 2022. SHAMPOO WARNING Dr Sean McCormack, head vet at tails.com, has slammed…

TONI SHELBOURNE has over three decades of experience working with dogs and wild canids. She is an animal behaviourist (full member of INTODogs and ICAN), a Tellington TTouch instructor, real dog yoga instructor, and author. She lives in Oxfordshire. For more information visit www.tonishelbourne.co.uk Extrovert, confident dogs may thrive on the chaos of moving home — seeing it as an adventure with lots of new places and people to interact with. But, if you have a nervous dog, the experience can be quite different. Add to this your dog picking up on your stress, and it turns into a perfect storm. However, much can be done, both in preparation, on the actual day of moving, and to settle your dog into your new home. UPSIDE DOWN Start supporting your dog early.…

ABOUT CAROL Behaviourist and trainer Carol Price is a world-recognised specialist in the Border Collie breed, and an official ambassador for The Border Collie Trust GB. She is also the founder of the leading advice page for collie owners, www.facebook.com/Collieology “It is important to spend as much time as you can playing with any new puppy you get…” Last month we looked at the critical role play has in dogs’ lives, in both preparing them for real life, and in building social bonds. From playing with each other as young puppies, dogs move on to their new ‘human’ homes, and it is then that we can take over their ongoing social development and training, with the use of games and toys. When people first get puppies, playing with them in…

A s a clinical animal behaviourist, I often get called out to see dogs who are described as ‘bad’, ‘aggressive’, ‘naughty’, ‘dominant’, or ‘stubborn’. The first thing to point out is that there is no such thing as bad behaviour! It is so important for owners to know that their dog isn’t ignoring them, barking at the postman, or chasing the cat, because he’s bad; he’s doing it because these are all completely natural responses as far as a dog is concerned. When visiting a client who has a dog with a behaviour issue for the first time, my opening question is: “What is feeding this behaviour?” — literally, what is going into this dog’s body that is fuelling his behaviour. Just as it does for humans, diet plays an…

NATURALLY INNOVATIVE A leading organic food retailer, and one of the UK’s most sustainable farms, has launched a nourishing range of wet and dry dog food. Daylesford Organic’s pet food comes in organic options and complete recipes, providing essential vitamins and minerals for growth, digestion, and good health. Using only the best natural ingredients, the innovative dry food recipes are cold-pressed at low temperatures to retain more nutritional value, flavour, and aroma. ● Key feature: Daylesford’s dog food joins the Cotswolds-based company’s existing range of stylish pet accessories and furnishings. ● Flavours: Chicken and vegetable; beef and vegetable (organic wet food); game and pheasant (wet food); lean venison, sweet potato, and spirulina; grass-fed lamb, brown rice, and peas; salmon, root vegetable, and seaweed (cold-pressed dry food). ● Prices: £1.99 (150g…