Innehållsförteckning för December 2024 från Your Dog

Hello! My favourite time of the year is fast approaching! I love Christmas. It may sound cheesy, but I really enjoy how it brings people together – and not just on the day itself. The whole season sees work Christmas parties, family gatherings, social group get-togethers, and families and friends around the dinner table. That, of course, includes our dogs. You’ll see my joy surrounding the season reflected in this month’s choice of lead feature. I wanted a real feel-good story. It is sad in places – the festive period isn’t always easy – but it is hoped that the magic of the season can lead us all down a better path. I know you’ll enjoy Maggie’s story and want to thank (in print!) Andrea McHugh for finding such a heartwarming tale…

We’re pleased to bring you the Your Dog Tourist Guide, where we go around the UK and across the world to find our favourite dogthemed tourism hotspots. From well-known tourist attractions to hidden gems, we’re giving you great places to visit that have a canine connection… In Aldeburgh, on the Suffolk coastline, a dog statue stands at the heart of the town. Overlooking the boating pond, the memorial to Snooks is popular with residents, who often enjoy dressing the bronze-cast canine, and has a long-standing legacy. The doctors’ companion Snooks was owned by two local doctors, Robin and Nora Acheson, who began practising in the town in the 1930s and were known for caring deeply about their community. The dog would accompany them on their rounds and was often spotted…

1 The Dog Who Saved Christmas – A firm favourite for us! In this movie, a lovable Labrador faces an unexpected challenge when two burglars target his family’s holiday. As the mischievous thieves’ plot to steal Christmas, Zeus springs into action, using his cleverness and bravery to save the day. 2 A Dog Named Christmas – A young man with a developmental disability inspires his family to adopt a dog during Christmas. As they navigate the challenges of training and caring for their new pet, they discover the power of love and compassion. It’s a heartwarming film and really shows to bond between dogs and their owners. 3 Snow Buddies – Five adventurous Golden Retriever puppies embark on a thrilling journey to the snowy mountains of Alaska. When they accidentally…

EAST RUSTON HOLIDAY COTTAGES NORFOLK Sue Allen runs the award-winning East Ruston Holiday Cottages in Norfolk which are all extremely dog-friendly and no extra charges are made for canine guests. Christmas is always a popular time of year, and every care is taken to ensure that dogs and owners have the best time, although there is also appreciation for guests who long for the season to be over and the new year to start. “We have lots of fabulous properties – for example, there is Bristow’s Barn, which is a huge, converted thatched barn that is perfect for a family getaway, as it sleeps eight people in four bedrooms,” says Sue. “Last year, the Christmas tree in Bristow’s Barn was about 12 feet tall, with an amazing garland on the…

MH: What type of dog beds are available and does it actually make a difference what we buy? TC: My rough definition of a dog bed is anything that your dog chooses to sleep on. Anything from a bean bag, a mattress type, oval shapes, donut shapes, and even ones that resemble a pyramid. Dogs like safety and they like something that’s comfortable. It’s really the dog that decides what is comfy. Back in the seventies, I had a dog that slept quite comfortably in an old milk crate. MH: Can a puppy have a dog bed? And what are we looking for when we make that first purchase? TC: There’s a good chance a puppy is going to chew up the bed and lose control of their bowels, so…

NILAQUA WATERLESS PET SHAMPOO RANGE Nilaqua, a leading waterless washing brand, has launched an innovative range of pet-washing products. The products are made ethically in the UK using water-based, biodegradable ingredients that are vegan-friendly and gentle on pets. There’s no need to add any water! The new Nilaqua eco pet range includes: Puppy Shampoo: Gentle and enriched with Vitamin E, perfect for young and sensitive skin. Poo Shampoo: Specially formulated with a blend of fragrances to neutralise the unpleasant odour of fox poo. Muddy Paws Shampoo: Features a foaming burst action that effectively lifts mud from fur. Beach Day Shampoo: Designed to remove sand, with extra conditioners to counteract the effects of sea salt. Critter Shampoo: Contains essential oils that naturally repel ticks and fleas and is pesticide-free. Older Dog…

The term ‘functional food’ has increasingly attracted a lot of attention in human nutrition and recently in canine nutrition, too. You might already have heard and seen the term ‘superfood’ used a lot, particularly in advertising, but the reality is that ‘superfood’ does not really have a clear definition, and indeed, often just represents ingredients that, by virtue of their biology, might have slightly higher levels of certain nutrients than other ingredients. Functional foods, on the other hand, are increasingly recognised to be useful and beneficial, as part of the impact of diet and dietary components on health and overall well-being, and is perhaps a more accurate term than ‘superfood.’ Let’s find out about functional foods – what they are and why they might be useful for our dogs. WHAT IS…

A bark is a communication and is a normal behaviour for dogs. We have bred them for thousands of years to alert us to danger in the environment or to aid us to do a job. However, in this modern age a barking dog can be a nuisance to close neighbours and challenging to live with. The key to helping your dog reduce the frequency or intensity of this communication is to work out what the underlying emotion or cause is. Dogs bark for multiple reasons, including: ■ Fear - alarm barking ■ Loneliness. Does he bark when left alone? ■ To find out where you are He might panic if he feels he is separated from you ■ Over-arousal/excitement. ■ Greeting. This is a normal bonding ritual ■ Responding…

Q How can I help my three-year old Labrador stop guarding his food? He is the only dog in the house. A Dogs guard what is precious to them but what has a high value to them will depend on each dog. For some it may be biscuits, a chew, a toy, or their sofa space. They may have learned over time to be possessive of their items because they were taken away from them in the past. Other dogs are just insecure and guard items as a result of anxiety. What does guarding behaviour look like? ● Standing, leaning, or putting a paw over the item ● Whale eye – showing the whites of their eyes while watching you ● Growling, barking, showing teeth, or snapping ● Taking their…

“Denise is so grateful to Anna and the team at Calweton Vets for the excellent care Lily received” When Lily arrived in the UK from the subtropical Indian Ocean island of Mauritius last summer, her new owners hoped that a comfortable home, good-quality food, endless countryside walks, and being showered with love would mean the end to all her troubles as a stray. Although Lily, now estimated to be about four years old, initially took a while to adapt to her new life on the cooler Cornish coast, she eventually settled with Denise Bond and her husband, Dave, in Looe. But just a couple of months after arriving, Lily started to develop a rather disconcerting habit that very nearly twice proved fatal. Last September, the young dog – which DNA…

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is an impressive-looking, strong, and muscular dog. Originally bred in South Africa as a scent hound, his original job was to track game animals. When the breed was taken to Rhodesia (modern day Zimbabwe), it was used to hunt and track lions, to the extent that the breed has also gone by the name of African Lion Hound. He would work as part of a pack to drive game towards waiting guns or corner his prey until hunters arrived. They’ve even been prized in North America as capable of hunting bears. They’re fast on the scent, athletic, and undoubtedly courageous. While this may be a pretty fearsome hunting dog, they are affectionate as a companion. Focused when working, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is usually calm and gentle while…

SPONSORED BY What’s causing his itchy skin? Q My Beagle, Louis, got a skin infection recently, and the vet prescribed anti-inflammatory corticosteroid cream and some steroids. Although Louis stopped scratching, the fur still hasn’t grown back and he’s since had another bout. The vet has now said this could be due to allergies. Are there any skin conditions Beagles are prone to? A It is impossible to determine what is causing your dog’s itchy skin and patches of hair loss, as a number of diseases could be involved. Consider further investigation into Louis’ problem, as only when you know the cause will you be able to determine the best way to treat it. Consider further investigation into Louis’ problem, as only when you know the cause will you be able…