Vanity Fur Magazine - Autumn 2022

Vanity Fur Magazine

Every dog owner’s best friend

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SOPHIE ALLPORT

TALKS DOGS AND DESIGNS

TONY SCHUMACHER

(WRITER OF BBC’S THE RESPONDER) TELLS HOW HIS DOG SAVED HIS LIFE HERTFORDSHIRE BREAK WITH WEEKEND CANDY

FOCUS ON DOG FRIENDLY KINGHAM , COTSWOLDS OUR DOG BEHAVIOURALIST TALKS FIREWORKS GIVEAWAYS AND SO MUCH MORE

AUTUMN 2022 | £6

www.vanityfurmagazine.co.uk

These noble hunting dogs have been replicated from lead designs after the antique. The originals were sculpted by Henri Alfred Marie Jacquemart, a noted Parisian sculptor and one of the leading animaliers of his time.

Animal sculptures were popular in the nineteenth century and continue to be so today. These hunting dogs are ideal for use as a pair either side of a house entrance or garden gateway.

www.haddonstone.com

barbour.com/uk

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editor...

Autumn is here all too soon but I am happy to say it is one of my favourite seasons. Not too hot or too cold (hopefully) and plenty of long walks with your furry friends.

Editor Diane Tremarco

We have a packed edition for you this month and you may have noticed the barcode on the cover?

Yes, we have gone National! You can now find your favourite dog magazine in WH Smiths and good newsagents across the country as well as at selected dog shows - check social media for details.

We have a lovely interview with Sophie Allport who talks about her dogs, her business and how the two work together. Sophie has kindly put together a beautiful prize package for one lucky reader to win.

Entries via our website: vanityfurmagazine.com/sa

CONTRIBUTORS Police Dog Files Steph Alinson Dog Walker Vanessa Jones Practicing Vet Dr Vetty McVetface Dog friendly breaks Claire Robinson Patricia McGrady Dog behaviouralist

We have two new contributors joining us; Claire Robinson and Patricia McGrady. Claire runs weekendcandy.com and will be introducing us to luxury dog breaks contrywide. We begin with a visit to Hertfordshire, enjoy!

Assistant Editor Gina Tremarco

Vanity Fur Magazine

Every dog owner’s best friend

£1

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Patricia is a dog behaviouralist and will not only be talking us through well known problems but will also give advice on any of your problems. Drop her a line at hello@vanityfurmagazine.co.uk We hope to see some of you at the Mowgli Dog Show on the 10th and 11th September, or at another sometime soon.

Diane

SOPHIE ALLPORT

TALKS DOGS AND DESIGNS

TONY SCHUMACHER

(WRITER OF BBC’S THE RESPONDER) TELLS HOW HIS DOG SAVED HIS LIFE HERTFORDSHIRE BREAK WITH WEEKEND CANDY

FOCUS ON DOG FRIENDLY KINGHAM , COTSWOLDS OUR DOG BEHAVIOURALIST TALKS FIREWORKS GIVEAWAYS AND SO MUCH MORE

AUTUMN 2022 | £6

www.vanityfurmagazine.co.uk

FRONT COVER Photograph of Murphy courtesy of Nigel Wallace. nigelwallacephotography.com

£1 FROM THE SALE OF THIS AND EVERY MAGAZINE WILL BE DONATED TO A RESCUE CENTRE OR DOG CHARITY

Zebra Design Services Ltd trading as Vanity Fur Magazine Registered in England and Wales Reg. No. 13219843 | hello@vanityfurmagazine.co.uk | 0151 558 1979 Instagram: @vanityfurmag | Facebook: Vanity Fur Magazine

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contents...

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26 6. DOGS DISHES AND DESIGN Sophie Allport talks dogs and career 10. SOPHIE ALLPORT GIVEAWAY Win a fabulous package of goodies 14. IN THE DOGHOUSE Doggie inspired household items 16. PERFECTLY IMPERFECT The heart-warming story of a rescue with Cerebellar Hypoplasia 20. POLICE DOG FILES More tales from Steph the police dog handler and her charge Jax 24. YOU LEAD AND I WILL FOLLOW How to stop your dog pulling on their lead 26. DOG FRIENDLY UK BREAKS weekendcandy.com - dog friendly holiday homes

32. DOGGIE SUPERGROUP Sarah Ewer and her ‘singing’ dogs 38. STUFFS VETS LIKE Our redident vet explains Cerebellar Hypoplasia 42. MUG SHOTS A selection of doggie mugs 43. BOO SAVED MY LIFE Tony Schumacher, writer of the BBC hit series The Responder tells us how his beloved dog, Boo, saved his life 44. CHARLIE GIRL Comedienne Pauline Daniels tells us all about her rescue Charlie Girl 47. A REAL TREAT A selection of takeaway toys for your bestie 48. VILLAGE LIFE A dog friendly village - best in show

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67 53 52. BARKING BAD Why does your dog bark at other dogs?

53. VANITY FUR ONLINE SHOP Check out our new online shop full of cute doggie products 54. KAT THE DOG Alyson Sheldrake tells us the ‘tail’ of her Spanish Water Dog rescue 58. WALKIES Our resident dog walker goes to Moel Famau 61. AERO THE HERO Autism for Dogs tell us about when Harry met Aero 63. MIKKI GIVEAWAY Win one of three lovely dog beds 64. OFF WITH A BANG Our resident dog behaviouralist talks us through firework night

66. PAWTRAIT GALLERY Beautiful pictures of our reader’s dogs 67. FOR PAWSTERITY Amazing 3D dog sculptures from Susie Hartley.

96 SOPHIEALLPORT.COM

DOGS, DISHES & DESIGN SUCCESSFUL BRITISH HOMEWARES DESIGNER, SOPHIE ALLPORT, LIVES NEAR STAMFORD IN LINCOLNSHIRE WITH HER HUSBAND, THREE BOYS AND THREE DOGS. WE WERE DELIGHTED TO CATCH UP WITH HER RECENTLY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HER LOVE OF OUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS. Are you from a family of dog lovers?

Did you have dogs as a child?

Sadly, I didn’t have dogs as a child, but I was always allowed a cat! I have always been a huge animal lover. Our next-door neighbours were dog breeders, they would show their dogs at Crufts. I was intrigued. When they had a litter, I remember being round there all the time and fell for one particular puppy. When he was old enough, I would take him for a walk after school secretly hoping I would show how responsible I was, and he would be able to come home with me. Sadly, that didn’t happen, but I was smitten and always knew as soon as I had a place of my own I’d have at least one dog!

Could you introduce your three dogs?

Which is the naughtiest, the most energetic and the cuddliest?

I have 3 boys so to balance things out a little at home and to help with my TV voting rights we have female dogs!

Florrie is our eldest she is a fox red

Labrador and has become rather sneaky of late! She’ll do anything for a ball, but as soon as our back is turned i.e. gone to bed or gone out, she is on that sofa!

Mabel our black lab is a classic middle dog! She is so eager to please and whenever we come home, she always disappears first to find a present which she brings to us in her mouth. She is a good girl at home, as soon as you walk near her, she is rolling over and loves a cuddle! But on a walk, she can turn into a little bit of a nutter. She has taken on the role of protector.

Margot, our border terrier, is the baby of the pack! She is full of life and love! Give her an inch and she will take a mile. She loves kisses and squeaks and jumps with joy when we arrive home. She’s actually rather good at walking on her back legs!

Open the kitchen door in the morning and forget to close it and she is gone… two flights of stairs later and she is jumping on all of the teenagers beds for lots of kisses and cuddles!

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Sophie walking with her dogs Florrie and Mabel

8 Where do you most like to walk?

Our day-to-day walks usually consist of the Lincolnshire countryside, I love seeing all the nature and wildlife. I also love taking the dogs to North Norfolk, where we can walk along the vast open beaches, they love playing fetch there!

Russells and Fox Red Labradors! We’re very much dog lovers, and between us all at Sophie Allport, we probably own most dog breeds, and this was a mix of some of our favourites we’ve met over the years. You’ll spot Mabel modelling on our woof dog mattresses though!

Do you have a favourite time of day to walk?

An after-work walk as the sun is setting is probably one of my favourites. The dogs can get out any excess energy they have before bed, and it’s also a great time for me to switch off from work.

Do you take photographs for inspiration, or do you design from memory?

A mixture of both really, I use inspiration from my dogs and those of friends and family, and it’s always good to have a reference for body shape and composition. It’s always fun to be creative too though, whether it’s a rosy cheek, a little smile or a cute button nose. I’ve always loved creating designs that make people smile, and it’s nice to add those little quirks to the designs that make them unique.

Do you take the dogs with you to work?

I actually work from home a lot of the time and have always done so. I tend to work best from the kitchen table, and most of the time my dogs are at my feet.

They have made quite a few appearances on our photoshoots though, and they are always very well behaved.

Do you design on paper or are you digital?

I’m quite traditional and have always loved working in pen and watercolour, so it usually starts off on paper and then we take it from there.

Have you ever drawn or painted your pooches?

Yes! Our Fab Labs collection is based on my love for Labradors and was inspired by Florrie and Mabel. We also launched a new Terrier collection earlier this year, which was inspired by Margot, she’s our newest addition to the family.

There are three dogs pictured on the Woof collection, are they your dogs and if not, what was the inspiration behind it?

Our Woof design features lots of lovely dogs including Wire-Haired Dachshunds, Springer Spaniels, Cocker Ppaniels, Black Labradors, Pugs, Jack

What is your best-selling dog product?

Our Woof Dog Walking Bag has always been popular. It’s super practical, and every dog owner needs somewhere to store all the essentials when walking.

It’s small and compact but has plenty of room for treats and a collapsible bowl, and it even has a poo bag holder and dispenser.

Do the dogs get to test your products? Is the dog’s toy box overrun with Sophie Allport toys?

Yes, their toy box is overrun! They are lucky and get to play with all the samples first and try them all out. From pet beds for cosying up on to treat tins and new water bowls.

Have any failed the test and not made it to the manufacturing process?

Oh yes, quite a few in-fact. Whether it’s a toy that’s not quite the right shape, or it doesn’t have long enough rope legs for them to play with. It’s really important for us to get it right and make them super fun or practical for our furry friends.

The delightful Margot having a cuppa with Sophie

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Sophie and Florrie ready for a walk

10 WIN PAWFECT TREATS FOR YOU & YOUR DOG FROM SOPHIE ALLPORT

Head over to our website www.vanityfurmagazine.co.uk/sa and pop in your name and email to enter our prize draw. One lucky reader will win all of these goodies. Closing date is 2 November 2022 and winner will be announced via social media. There is only one prize with no cash alternative.

Sophie Allport Woof Pet Bed Extra Large Inspired by man’s best friend, our Woof collection has a lovely range of homewares and accessories for everyone who loves dogs!

Sophie’s illustrations of Wire-Haired Dachshunds, Springer Spaniels, Cocker Ppaniels, Black Labradors, Pugs, Jack Russells and Fox Red Labradors cover the wheat beige Winner can select size.

Sophie Allport Dachshund Double Oven Glove The double oven glove is covered in this charming breed featuring the Longhaired Dachshund and the Wirehaired Dachshund on a teal background.

The reverse of the glove and inside each hand pocket there is a special heat resistant fabric. There is also a handy ‘loop’ in the middle of the glove so you can hang it up in your kitchen.

Winner can select pattern

Sophie Allport Dalmatian Adult Apron A beautiful apron which is part of Sophie’s wonderful Dalmatian collection, featuring these beautiful dogs on a navy teal background. An excellent gift idea for Dalmatian owners and adds a beautiful splash of colour to any kitchen. There is a handy front pocket for keeping your utensils while cooking and there is also an adjustable neck strap.

Winner can select pattern

Sophie Allport Spaniels Tea Towel Well known for their faithful temperament and beautiful silky coats, Sophie’s Spaniel design features the affectionate and gentle Cocker Spaniel, agile and sociable springer and the charmingly refined King Charles on a pale moss coloured background.

Winner can select pattern

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Mabel loving life and ice cream!

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Margot in her comfy Terriers Pet Bed

dog house...

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14 19 1. Personalised Breed of Dog Key Holder and Letter Rack £35 betsybenn.com | 2. Dog Person Mug and Bowl Set by FRED £23.35 thedesigngiftshop.com | 3. Balloon Dog Light £28 redcandy.co.uk | 4. Unisex Adult Red Nose Day – Albert T- Shirt £9.99 tkmaxx. com | 5. Wooden Pull Toy - Charlie the Sausage Dog - Rex London £12.95 rexlondon.com | 6. Sausage Dog Rustic Planter £59.99 auburnfox.co.uk | 7. Holly Fabric Pet Bed with Studs, £395 furniturevillage.co.uk | 8. Dog Lover’s Jigsaw £19.95 annabeljames.co.uk 9. Battersea Dog Tote Bag £6 marksandspencer.com | 10. The Dog Walkers Scarf Lightweight Polyester Twill £18.95 athomeinthecountry.co.uk | 11. Weathervane in Labrador Design £59.95 cuckooland.com | 12. Cast iron dog tail hooks on slate £20 nationaltrust.org.uk | 13. Coir Long Sausage Dog Entrance Doormat £15.95 kukoonrugs.com | 14. Grey Dog Ornament £12.99 homesense.com | 16. Drinks Coaster - “Hair of the dog” £3.95 athomeinthecountry.co.uk | 17. Doggy Friends Organic Tea Towel in blue £12.99 elliegood.co.uk | 18. ‘Time for a walk’ Linen Mix Draught Excluder £23.95 athomeinthecountry.co.uk | 19. Dog Lover’s Playing Cards £9.95 annabeljames.co.uk | 20. Wagging Tail Dog Clock in Spaniel £40 cuckooland.com

16 RALPHIE ROO

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT I WAS BORN IN DUBAI AND FOUND ON THE STREETS WITH MY TWO SIBLINGS; WE WERE ONLY A FEW WEEKS OLD AND SO TINY. IT’S THOUGHT I’M A SALUKI CROSSED WITH A LABRADOR. FROM THE START IT WAS CLEAR I WAS DIFFERENT AS I COULDN’T GET UP OR WALK. I am Ralphie Roo! I’m a little differently abled and perfectly imperfect!

I was born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia If you would like to know more about this condition, Dr Vetty McVetface explains on page 38.

The vets in Dubai wanted to do the unthinkable thing, the most humane thing they thought but luckily others had different ideas!

Katie, the founder of an amazing UK Charity, @angelsforanimalsfoundation made arrangements with a charity in Dubai to have me brought to the UK so that she could foster me herself. At about 6 months old I took the long trip over land arriving safely in August 2020.

My Foster mum Katie, did an amazing job of looking after me; I took my first assisted steps with her, my first set of quad wheels arrived and she helped me to find my Furever Family.

In October/November 2020 my Mummas saw my picture, fell in love (they say before they knew anything about me at all) and made contact with Katie.

Our first meet-and-greet with Roo was for a walk where he also met his fursister-tobe, Lottie. It was amazing!

Ralphie is extremely wary of strangers and other dogs but we were extremely lucky to be able to help him walk. We feed him chicken and even have a cuddle with nose nibbles after Katie showed us how to assist and support him.

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Ralphie Roo

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Ralphie Roo

Ralphie Roo

Gemma and Ralphie Roo

After another wonderful visit, Roo came for a weekend sleepover which cemented our love for him. Lottie loved him and we knew he loved her too; he was already part of our family and came home to be with us forever a week later in January 2021.

so we know. However, he’s now getting to his feet on his own if he can lean against us or the back of the sofa! He’s also ‘wobble standing’ for around 30 seconds with us hovering over the top of him ready to hold his harness - this is AMAZING!!

Roo and Lottie have an amazing bond and she’s adapted to his wobbles so well and is extremely caring; she knows he can’t just get up and walk. She’ll pull him in his bed closer to hers, brings him tugs and balls so that he can play too.

She really looks out for him.

We support him with eating / drinking too either by holding the bowl and Roo or by helping him to use the wooden stand we have had made to his height. He has now learned to eat / drink from a bamboo bowl with lower sides instead of the Tupperware bowl with high sides for support.

WE ARE HIS MUMMA SERVICE HUMANS AND HE NEEDS OUR HELP WITH MOST THINGS

Ralphie’s set of quad wheels, have kindly been loaned to us by another wonderful UK charity called @winstons_wheels_charity. These enables Ralphie to have the freedom to go where he wants and he loves to follow Lottie. We’ve also designed a lead to be attached to them so that we can direct him and keep him on track whilst he still has his independence in them.

We have a specialised dog rucksack from @k9sportsack so when we adventure on longer walks Ralphie can do a bit of walking and then have a rest. He lets us know when he’s tired by doing a little dance at our feet, it’s so cute! He loves his rucksack and is really nosey about what is going on around him.

Roo’s balance board and peanut ball help with his balance and co-ordination and he’s getting stronger. He is a determined little fella and there is nothing he won’t keep trying to do. He feels, thinks, and understands exactly the same as any other dog.

Roo is truly a little warrior living his fullest and happiest life. He never lets his CH stop him and always tries everything even if his legs won’t always let him.

Caring for Ralphie We are his Mumma service humans and he needs our help with most things.

He cannot get up and walk whenever / wherever he wants unaided so he wears a @ruffwear harness with a chest plate to give him the support he needs and we hold the handle on his back. He can toilet himself we just support him standing. Just as Lottie tells us when she wants to go out, Roo ‘talks’ to us

We cannot imagine our lives without Roo in it. He’s the piece of the jigsaw that we didn’t know was missing!

He’s our special addition, differently abled, perfectly imperfect, little Roo.

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Ralphie Roo, Lisa, Gemma, Lottie

20 STEPH ALLINSON

POLICE DOG FILES STEPH WORKS FOR CHESHIRE AND NORTH WALES DOG HANDLING SECTION. EACH EDITION WE ARE TREATED TO A LOOK AT HER WORKING LIFE AND THAT OF HER TWO BEST FRIENDS, JAX AND OTIS.

Well Jax has blown me away; she’s been a superstar so far. I was hoping we would be licensed by now but the weather has really set us back. Having so many hot days has meant less time training and even during the heat wave training was understandably cancelled completely.

That’s okay though,we are so close to finishing initial training.

which is holding recent human scent, she indicates by lying down with the item in between her paws. She gets a ball reward for this.

Jax is tracking 800 meters in multi surface terrain, woods, fields, industrial estates and handling it all well. She locates the suspect at the end of the track with confidence and ease.

We’ve taught her to focus on a fleeing subject and once committed to the chase call her back, this is the emergency recall,which is vital for safe practice.

We’ve come along way from laying hotdogs in footsteps.

We’ve taught her to identify items of property which have recently been discarded. Once she locates the item

Her obidence and agility is of a good standard, which is important because we need her to be able to jump obstacles for real life crime fighting.

She can locate and hold suspects in buildings and open areas. She is taught to sit and bark at their feet unless they offer violence or try and run away. Then she is allowed to chase and detain with a bite.

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Jax with Steph

Bran

April

Jax

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She loves to work. She’s committed and gets out of the van for each exercise with energy and focus. She is such an easy dog to love and train and I have really enjoyed the process of training her from scratch. I have been able to really mould her into what I want her to be as my Police dog.

I’ve been blown away by how clever she is, we show her the exercise a handful of times and she gets it and learns quickly.

Tracking was the hardest task to teach as we rely on moisture on the ground to hold the human scent and as we all know, it’s been so warm that the conditions haven’t been great. I am hoping we will soon be able to drop the trainee part from her title.

PD Otis has also been busy recently. We assisted officers in Ellesmere Port where a car full of suspects had dropped off a large amount of drugs at an address. When Police attempted to stop the car, the suspects ran away but were quickly located by officers. PD Otis searched the route they had taken and located the suspects mobile phone which had been thrown into the bushes and couldn’t be seen.

I was amazed. Otis isn’t trained to detect mobile phones, but this phone had obviously been held close to the drugs and dropped off, still smelling of them. I was thrilled and

Jax and Otis

the officers described the phone as the missing piece of the jigsaw. Mobile phones hold so much vital information, contacts of dealings, names, location history, cell site information. The list goes on. I was so happy with him.

I’m left gobsmacked. Aren’t dogs amazing?

Myself and Otis have also been involved in searching the Creamfields site this month, before the festival goes live.

In other news our Police force is really moving with the times. We have a Labrador puppy started in our section called Bran, once trained he will be our first victim recovery dog.

We also have our first trainee seminal detection dog going on a course next month, also a Labrador named April.

I have also been busy without my dogs as last month I attended the National Police Bravery awards after I was nominated, having saved a female from a suicide attempt on the M53, off duty in November 2021. Never off duty hey?

Sadly dogs weren’t invited to the ceremony, but it was a lovely event including a visit to Downing Street and the House of Commons.

Can’t wait to keep you all updated on my dogs and their antics next time.

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YOU LEAD AND I WILL FOLLOW...

We all know how excited your pooch becomes when they hear the word ‘walkies’ or you retrieve their harness/lead for a walk. It’s this excitement that drives them to pull on their lead, after all, they just want to get to where they are going quicker, much like children pulling you along, when they are excited.

They want to achieve their ultimate goal of playing ball in the park or going to the woods or beach for a run and by pulling, and you allowing them to pull, they are moving forwards and therefore closer to their goal. This gives them a clear signal that pulling works.

The first thing you need to do is ensure your pooch is comfortable, a collar and lead or harness and lead are both viable options however, do not use equipment that can cause restricted movement in their shoulders as this can have a serious impact on their gait, always do your research beforehand.

The next step is to start training, we highly recommend familiar, quiet surroundings, if you have a garden, this is the perfect place to start. There is no need for a lead at this point, just use a tasty treat to encourage them to walk towards you, wait for them to sit next to you and then reward them. This may take a while but most dogs will realise if they follow you and sit next to you, they are rewarded.

Try not to say anything, just let your dog figure out when they follow you and sit, they receive a treat.

As your pooch becomes accustomed to following you and sitting when you stop you can ease off on the treats but remember to praise and encourage them or use their favourite toy as a reward. This kind of training needs time and patience but eventually your dog will understand what is needed of them; you will be able to change directions and still they will follw.

Once this stage has been mastered you can introduce the lead. The aim is to have your dog walk by your side with no tension at all. If they do start to pull, just stop, no words, just stand still. If training has worked, they too will stop and sit by your side, if they don’t, simply walk a few steps in the opposite direction, the objective is to have them follow you. When they do, give them plenty of praise to encourage this behaviour.

The next step is to put into practice on your walks, remember you are looking to achieve your pup walking beside you without tension on the lead, just take your time and if they are struggling, take the training back to a point they were comfortable with and build on this until you are both happy. Never pull your dog back or scold for pulling.

Your pooch will soon learn that pulling on the lead will not get them there quicker, in fact it has the opposite effect!

You will need to be consistent for this to work, which will involve teaching anyone who takes your dog out for a walk to do exactly as you do, encouraging your dog to be well behaved and not be confused.

Of course, not all dogs can be easily trained, some can have behavioural problems, especially if they have been mistreated or abandoned. We would suggest you seek advice from a professional dog trainer, who will have more of an insight into your pooches’ mindset.

As with all dog training, patience and positive affirmation are the key to a successful relationship with your dog, training should be fun to encourage your pooch to behave.

Never work them too hard or cause unnecessary stress as this can have a detrimental effect after all, the training is to benefit you both.

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Award Winning On Location Dog Photography

by Nigel Wallace, as featured on BBC and ITV Would you love images like these of your dog?

If yes contact me on T: 07720 834868 E: wallacenigel@ymail.com www.nigelwallacephotography.co.uk

26 WEEKENDCANDY.COM

DOG FRIENDLY UK BREAKS FOUNDED BY AWARD-WINNING WRITER, CLAIRE ROBINSON, WEEKEND CANDY SHOWCASES INCREDIBLE PLACES TO STAY, EPIC EXPERIENCES AND FABULOUS WEEKEND DESTINATIONS, HAND-PICKED BY THE SMALL, DISCERNING TEAM. AND ONE OF THE TEAM’S FAVOURITE DOGFRIENDLY WEEKEND STAYS IS THE BRILLIANT BETHNAL & BEC IN HERTFORDSHIRE. Pumped with personality, these dogfriendly self-catering retreats in Hertfordshire have taken the rulebook – and torn it up. Here, you get countryside rest and relaxation, loaded with boredomquashing extras. Just the tonic for those who want more than a hot tub break and stars.

Bethnal & Bec are three self-catering studio cabins in Hertfordshire that look like they’ve just sashayed out of a trendy Soho club together. Two of the retreats are named after Tooting Bec and Bethnal Green (where the owners used to live).

The third cabin, The Foaling Box, is the biggest of the three – but all the cabins boast a city-slick vibe that is as edgy as any cool urban hotel. Think retro throwbacks, kitsch artwork, and polished industrial-chic units. Moreover, all three studios have a wealth of personal touches to help you create unforgettable memories.

Bethnal: A dog-friendly self-catering retreat for two adults with a roll-top bath at the end of your bed Bec: Perfect luxury break for two adults and their pooch with a quirky bath and cinema projector The Foaling Box: The biggest of the three with three huge Velux windows and an outdoor whirlpool bath. And, impressively, beautifully finished using 90% recycled pieces and furniture that were destined for landfill.

Despite the Capital vibe, Bethnal & Bec are not in London. These self-catering stays are rooted in rural Hertfordshire on the edge of the village of Cottered. Here, the air swims with birdsong and you can reach the big smoke in a mere 25 minutes on the train.

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The team behind Bethnal & Bec are husband and wife, Vicky and Chris – two ex-Londoners who relocated to this patch of Hertfordshire in 2015. On doing so, they renovated the two dilapidated stables behind their family home. But instead of following the country code for interiors, they mixed the vibrancy of London into the cement, timbers and new paintwork.

Then, for added ‘wow’, they pimped the experience with dine-in hampers, bolt-on local extras, and creative classes and workshops – meaning, when you come and stay, you can have whatever type of weekend you crave. Hot tub, stars and cocktail masterclass? No problem. Pasta-making, seafood supper and sun-soaking? Consider it done.

Inside the luxury retreats All three luxury self-catering cabins are laid out like studios with open-plan sleeping, living and kitchen areas. You reach Bethnal & Bec via a quirky chipboard hallway, that glows with a neon sign letting you know that you are ‘home’.

Behind their respective front doors, Bethnal & Bec are a rhumba of colourful textiles, statement prints and unique artwork. They both boast modern-style log burners, NEST heating, sun-trap private patios, traditional fire pits, and large hot tubs (carefully placed so you can look out over the Hertfordshire paddocks and fields without interruption).

Both Bethnal & Bec come with a deep sink-and-stay king-sized bed (freshlydressed in crisp white linen) and a sleek stainless-steel kitchen, which lights up like a spaceship. The Foaling Box – the largest of the three studios and set adjacent to Bethnal & Bec – has a superking bed, a drop-down projector screen (perfect for a movie night in bed) and a Chaise in the corner. Ding dong.

The bathrooms in all three stays are equally impressive: Bec boasts its own large bath (complete with a post-box window) and walk-in shower. Whilst

Bethnal goes one step further with a double walk-in rainforest shower and – wait for it – a roll top bath at the end of the bed. Splashdown.

The Foaling Box has an antique rolltop bath and walk-in shower with complimentary Aromatherapy Associates products. Towels, waffle robes and slippers are also provided. Heaven.

The Extras Beyond the living spaces, Bethnal, Bec and The Foaling Box are filled with unique extras that prove the owners think ‘outside the box’ and want your romantic weekend stay to be properly bespoke. There’s an Honesty Larder offering artisan treats, such as locally-made gin and self-care goodies.

Vicky and Chris have also created a fully-stocked pantry, Staples, for you to shop from. No need to pack teabags. There’s also a vintage record player that connects to speakers both inside and outside the cabins, and a drinks’ cabinet for sundowners.

If you want to give cooking a miss, just order one of the Dine In Boxes. We love the ‘Popcorn Partaaaaaay’ box that guests can enjoy whilst watching movies on the projector screen (at the end of the bed in Bec and The Foaling Box).

Breakfast is provided too: both cabins come with a whopper breakfast hamper – with fresh bread, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans and local bacon (vegetarian and vegan options are also available).

Then there are the curated experiences on offer at Bethnal & Bec to pre-book, such as floristry, cooking classes, wellbeing experiences, foraging and even belly dancing. Along with the pre-order treats, such as cakes, cheeseboards, beer and grazing platters.

It all adds up to an utterly joyful place to stay in Hertfordshire – and one that, quiet simply, blows the lid off most other self-catering options.

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Essential Info * Weekends are from Friday until 11am on Mon and are priced at a flat £535 * HUGE range of curated experiences to book for your stay, including beauty treatments, cooking, yoga, cocktail making, crafting and floristry * On-site Honesty Larder and Staples Pantry – so you don’t need to shop beforehand! * Private gardens so you can enjoy a romantic break undisturbed * Vicky and Chris are on-hand, if you need them, to ensure your stay is perfect * Sustainability is at the heart of everything – and are passionate about being carbon neutral by end of 2022

* 15% discount for anyone working for the NHS (includes social workers), care homes and hospices, cancer charity volunteers, and anyone directly affected by cancer within the last 3 years, or with a stage 4 diagnosis (please use code: NHSLOVE) * Lazy Sunday checkout policy for weekend stays (ie: there is no Sunday checkout time) * Free SuperFast Broadband; 43” Smart TVs, Netflix preloaded * Surrounded by walks and cycle tracks; near independent pubs and restaurants * Cambridge is a 30 minute drive away and London is just 25 minutes by train * Dog-friendly and family-run

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1. Dachshund Cushion – Mustard £55 sweetpeaandwillow.com 2. Fetch £55 sophieallport.com 3. Her Ladyship Black Labrador £16.95 athomeinthecountry.co.uk

4. Christmas Dogs £56.50 sophieallport.com 5 Dalmatian Bed £55 sophieallport.com 6. Sausage Dog Cushion Cover £6 marksandspencer.com

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7. His Lordship! Black Labrador £16.95 athomeinthecountry.co.uk 8. Dog Cushion £14.99 homesense.com 9. Dachshund Knitted Cushion £56.50 sophieallport.com 10. Dog Black Cushion £41 jjtextile.co.uk

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11. ‘Hello Sailor’ Cushion £16.95 athomeinthecountry.co.uk

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32 EWER-ROBERTSFLOWERS.CO.UK

DOGGIE SUPERGROUP SARAH EWER ALONG WITH BUSINESS PARTNER ABIGAIL ROBERTS OWN THE MOST WONDERFUL FLOWER SHOP IN THE HEART OF OXTON VILLAGE; EWER ROBERTS. SARAH HAS ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR DOGS & TELLS US HOW SHE CAME TO AQUIRE HER OWN DOGGIE SUPERGROUP! Dogs have always featured in Sarah’s life.

Growing up there was Sandy, the Jack Russell, Goldie and Whisper, both yellow Labradors and she loved them all.

Born and raised in Sussex, the daughter to a policeman, Sarah moved to London aged 19 to work for a major interior design company, where she stayed until she married Mark who was in the air force. This is when her love of floristry began, she was asked to help to do flowers for the ladies’ guest night in the officer’s mess. Persuaded by the offer of free fizz she decided to give it a whirl and quickly became obsessed by flowers and was often approached to do weddings.

Sarah went back to college when her children were babies to study the finer techniques of wiring and bridal work, simultaneously she took a job at Daisies Florist in Oxford.

“This was when we introduced our

dogs into our own home,” Sarah tells us “Sampson the black lab was the love of my life. He was one of nine puppies’ bread by my dearest friend. My children were just at the right age to appreciate the love of a dog at three and four years old.

Kate and Joe’s own passion for our fourlegged friends developed early.”

In 1996 Sarah and her family moved to the Wirral and she quickly realised that the ’southern’ look of handtied, relaxed flowers hadn’t hit the streets up here and decided to open Sarah Ewer Flowers in West Kirby in l997.

The shop grew very large, very quickly completing over 80 weddings a year and with a corporate client list to include: Wade Smith, Boodles, Mercedes Benz, The Grosvenor, Crowne Plaza, Grand National and Martell Cognac.

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Percy

Lady Gaga (Kennel Club: Dame Peggy Lee)

Eric (Kennel Club : Eric Stratocaster)

Zeppelin

34 However, the demands of running a business took Sarah away from the flowers, her true love coupled with a growing family, so she took a small break. She started to take wedding work again and freelancing working on her own or with friends.

After the breakdown of her first marriage Sarah met and married Les and moved to Cheshire, where she started to grow her wedding flower business again. It became busy very quickly so when her friend Abi said she was moving back to the Wirral, she employed her immediately.

Sarah had trained Abi whist doing a freelance stint at Fishlocks in Liverpool.

They had been friends for 18 years but Abi had moved to Oxford to be with her partner. They soon realised how much fun it was to work together so they decided to form Ewer Roberts, a flower shop in Oxton, Prenton and have been successfully running it for six years.

Sarah with Eric aged 8 weeks

Sarah tells us about her dogs….

“My dogs are all singers!! We currently live with four gorgeous pooches, Zeppelin, our beautiful nine year old, chocolate Labrador is the eldest, we named him after Led Zeppelin, although he does love to go to bed early!

Then we have Eric (as in Clapton) he is a seven year old wire-haired Dachshund who just adores children, also goes by the name Derek.

Next there is Percy (Sledge) he is my little Pissky, a five year old smooth Dachshund, always on patrol and notoriously difficult to house train!

Finally, there’s my little Lady Gaga or Shadow as I like to call her, as she follows me everywhere, a three year old wire-haired mini Dachshund

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One of the fabulous floral installation by Ewer Roberts

36 My daughter has a Pug called Dolly, and a Dachshund called Wally and my son has a Cocker Bassett called Hendrix - The Super group continues!

The Dachshunds love to bury themselves under blankets even in the heat wave. Percy is our gate patroller who paces up and down. Lady is my shadow; Zep could have been signed for Liverpool as a defender - he loves to play with tennis balls as well as full sized footballs. His biggest ‘thing’ is asking to, or should I say nags us to go to bed at 9pm - you can set your watch by it - he will sit in front of you even if you’re watching TV. Eric is our loner - he prefers his own company or the company of children. He adores George - my grandson who is 20 months. As a typical lab he begs with his paw and he likes walking between men’s legs, just to leave a few hairs on the trousers.

I think he’s leaving his scent!

We rise at 5.30am and they all greet me, the noisiest being Percy who shrieks with joy. They are all fed breakfast in the morning. Zeppelin is like me constantly watching his weight but is constantly hungry! I walk them before work either at Roydon Park, Thurstaton Common, or Caldy Woods as they are all within a short distance and offer a variety of great walks.

Their favourite visitor is Jo my dog walker, I think they love her more than me! It’s all the treats! I recently had my left foot rebuilt so couldn’t walk every day, I couldn’t walk at all for 16 weeks so between my husband and Jo, the dogs got their exercise. She’s so amazing I’ve kept her! During my bed ridden days, the Dachshunds could be found under the covers with Zep on top! They have four giant wicker beds around the house, one in every room including my office.

They came to work with me when I was at the barn but only Lady comes with me now and that’s only occasionally as even though we have a small courtyard at the back of the shop, the road is so busy I worry about the traffic.

My days off are spent with Les and the dogs.

We are very keen walkers so much so that Les is currently only 50 off completing the 282 listed mountains in Munro Bagging , Scotland. Apart from my beautiful dogs, I love to cook and I’m a passionate gardener and I love my grandchildren very much and try and see them as often as I can.

Sarah with Percy and Lady Gaga

50 Christchurch Road, Oxton, Wirral, CH43 5SF | Tel: 0151 652 8452 | www.drawingroom-oxton.co.uk

38 WHEN WE MAKE OUR OWN PETS FEEL BETTER

STUFF VETS LIKE FROM DR.VETTY MCVETFACE (A PRACTICING VET)

As a vet who has a pet, it’s safe to say that we make both the worst owners and the best owners. My own cat has had fleas twice, worms once and I still regularly forget her parasite prevention treatment. Of course, as soon as I saw the parasites, I used a good product that got rid of them straight away but we do always say prevention is better than cure! If she’s ever remotely ill; not eating her wet food, lethargic or down in the dumps, I spring into panic mode. This is because we know all the bad things that this could be a sign of.

We would never forgive ourselves if we didn’t take a blood test or X-ray when it’s so easy for us to do. Obviously, the majority of the time this is completely unnecessary. Once we’ve established that lethargy in the winter doesn’t actually mean they’ve eaten anti-freeze and are going into kidney failure (yes, I’ve definitely thought this before and I don’t actually own anti-freeze), we can relax and treat ourselves like we would any other owner. If you’d brought your

pet to see me for such vague symptoms and it had only been 12-24 hours, although I may offer you a blood test, I certainly wouldn’t say it was necessary.

Sometimes, our pets genuinely are poorly and are in need of some good treatment.

One of the nurses adopted a young cat that soon started to act very strangely.

She would tilt her head to one side, walk in a very odd way like she was stepping on hot coals and would sometimes have a tremor of her head or body. There were several diagnoses on the list. One of these is something called cerebellar hypoplasia (like Roo, mentioned previously in this magazine issue!) This is due to the coordination centre in the brain (cerebellum) not developing properly when the kitten or puppy is in the uterus of the mother. In cats, it is most commonly caused by infection by panleucopenia virus (something we vaccinate against now) but can also be from trauma or malnutrition.

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Elwood

40 In dogs, it can be from herpes virus infection, malnutrition, toxin ingestion whilst pregnant or trauma to the puppy when very young.

Due to the issue being in the cerebellum, it means anything that involves coordination and movement is affected. This is why it tends to really only become apparent at 6-8 weeks of age when pets start to move around more and try to run or play. The ‘intention’ tremors are usually more pronounced when the pet is ‘intending’ to do something like eating or catching a ball and they easily fall over. There is no treatment and animals range in the severity of their clinical signs.

However, Nova was about 18 months of age when she started to show the signs, which would be a bit more unusual. The symptoms could also be caused by a middle ear infection, meningitis, some viral infections or a parasite called toxoplasma. This parasite can go to the brain, form cysts and cause signs like Nova’s. X-rays under anaesthetic showed that a middle ear infection was less likely though we couldn’t rule it out without more specialist imaging. As the next easiest thing to test for, we checked for toxoplasma rather than referral to a neurologist for an MRI scan and spinal fluid tap to test for the rest of the conditions. The blood test for this came back as ‘strongly suspicious of current infection’ so we treated her with a 4-week course of a particular antibiotic. Our nurse and her family had to be very careful to wash their hands and disinfect the room that Nova was kept in whilst undergoing treatment as toxoplasma can transmit to humans too! Luckily for Nova, her symptoms went away and she’s now a completely ‘normal’ cat. Even if she had been left with some quirky neurological signs (like Roo), she would still have led a happy life, just kept indoors so as not to damage herself falling off high fences!

Occasionally, our paranoia over mild symptoms in our pets can be very advantageous. One of my vet colleagues was constantly mocked by the rest of us for being hypersensitive to the smallest issue with her dog, Elwood. If he limped for a day, she’d think he had a bone tumour. If he didn’t eat his breakfast, she’d be convinced he was going to die of a twisted stomach. It was nearly a case of ‘the boy who cried wolf’ because when she told us his gums were a bit pale, we all laughed at her and said she was probably seeing things. This time though, she was right and her paranoia pretty much saved her dog’s life. Turns out, he had a condition called Immune-mediated Haemolytic Anaemia (IMHA). This meant he was destroying his own red blood cells within his blood stream. His initial red blood cell level was only just below normal but she did the test for IMHA anyway.

In the 24 hours it took for the results to come back, his red blood cell level dropped dramatically. When we got the positive result, she started him on treatment straight away but unlike most dogs, he didn’t respond very well at all. Knowing he needed a blood transfusion, she referred him to a specialist hospital where he stayed for 5 days.

She was beside herself, not sleeping and barely able to come to work from the worry (you see we are just as bad, if not worse, than normal owners!) Performing euthanasias when you know your own dog is on the verge of dying takes a lot of strength and we all tried to help as much as we could by taking these cases from her and doing extra ops and consults when she needed to be on the phone to the specialist.

It didn’t help that we had recently had another case of IMHA in the practice who had been sadly diagnosed with a tumour as the cause.

Some IMHA cases are ‘secondary’ to something like a tumour, drug ingestion or a bone marrow issue but the majority of cases are ‘idiopathic’, meaning there is no cause except the body’s own immune system doing something stupid. The immune system likes to do this

quite a lot; ‘dry eye’ is due to the immune system attacking the tear gland and stopping the production of tears; lots of allergies or skin diseases are caused by an over-active immune system; inflammatory bowel disease can be caused by an inappropriate amount of immune cells lining the wall of the gut; the body can also destroy its own platelets thus stopping the blood from clotting; the list goes on. We then have to give them drugs to suppress the immune system. Once Elwood was on the right cocktail of these drugs, his condition started to improve. Even 18 months later, he is still on a low dose of one of the drugs. With most immune-mediated conditions, you should be able to wean them off all the drugs eventually but occasionally, they are on them for life. They do make them more susceptible to infections so you have to keep a look-out for any signs of a high temperature. They can get many other side effects too such as diarrhoea, increased or decreased appetite and lethargy so it’s not an easy ride.

My own cat, Lily, only came to me because she’d been run over and left on our doorstep at the vets. She had a broken pelvis and needed to be kept in a cage for a few weeks on painkillers whilst she healed herself. Yes, confined solely to a crate and not allowed out at all.

Surprisingly, pets do not listen to us when we tell them they’re on bed rest so we have to enforce it. Vets like it when we’ve made our own pets better because we can speak from first-hand experience when talking to owners. Whenever any dog or cat needs crate rest, we tend to get some pushback from owners saying that it seems cruel or impossible. Being able to say that I also found it very difficult when I had to do it to my own cat but it was for her own good, rather helps me win the owners over! I also know that I will start her on joint supplements in a couple of years to try to slow down the development of arthritis as I see this condition a lot in older cats, especially those with previous injuries. I’ve already tried her on a few to see which ones are going to be less of a battle to get into her. When we give owners these options, we really do do them ourselves too! Giving our own pets the best care we can, and making them feel better when they are poorly does make us feel just as good as it does when your own perseverance with tablets, diets and all aspects of care for your own pets pays off. Just don’t beat yourself up if they get fleas occasionally.. it’s happens to the best of us!

Lily

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MUG SHOTS!

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BOO SAVED MY LIFE TONY SCHUMACHER, WRITER OF BBC’S THE RESPONDER, TALKS ABOUT HIS TWO LOVELY DOGS; BOO AND STAN. Tony Schumacher author, screenwriter and broadcaster was born in Huyton, Liverpool in 1967. Writer of the highly acclaimed BBC drama The Responder, starring Martin Freeman, he drew on his own experiences as a police officer when writing the script.

Schumacher, after 12 years in the force, had to leave because he was suffering from PTSD. He spiralled into a deep depression, he lost his marriage and his home, but credits his beloved dog Boo with saving his life as he couldn’t bare the thought of him, a short haired Weimaraner going into care.

Schumacher took the time out of his busy schedule to speak to us about his love for dogs. Although Boo is no longer with us, he now has a beautiful long haired Weimaraner called Stan.

He currently lives on the outskirts of Liverpool with his partner, his 11-month-old baby, a cat and Stan. Just a few minutes away is a wooded area that they visit often for walks, although he loves to go out in the early hours of the morning when he’s unable to sleep, Stan doesn’t mind at all he tells us.

He originally got Boo for the exercise as he had high blood pressure, but the pair became inseparable and formed a unique bond. If it wasn’t for Boo, he said he would have taken his own life whilst living in his car with nothing but dark thoughts. As Schumacher got his life back together, he decided to embark on his lifelong dream of writing with his first book The Darkest Hour; a powerful, reimagined thriller set in Germanoccupied London at the end of WW2 which has received high praise from reviewers and readers alike.

He went on to write numerous books and the tv script for The Responder, which he penned with his good friend Martin Freeman in mind, a talented actor with a great scouse accent, Schumacher tells us.

He loves his job especially as he can work from home, spending more time with his family and Stan. Tony has a fabulous sense of humour and when we ask what Stan’s favourite toy is, he tells us we really should be asking Stan! He starts by saying Kong toys but then remembers Dickie Duck. He was out gardening recently with Stan at his side all day, Schumacher was woken by Stan whining to be let out in the middle of the night, which was out of character, so he let him out in the garden, 30 seconds later he came back in with Dickie Duck, got straight in his basket and promptly fell asleep, he was still with Stan when he woke up the next day.

A natural wet dog food is Stan’s meal choice; primarily Forthglade.

Schumacher had tried several other brands but none were as yummy as this. Stan also loves bones and gravy, and is quite partial to a chicken chew stick - although there’s always a fear he may choke on them.

The best thing about Stan, Schumacher tells us, is his ability to make him smile. He acts as though he’s trying to make us laugh with his goofy ways, he pops his head around the door and tiptoes around like a ballerina; he’s also really sweet and gentle, especially around his baby and cat, and has never curled his lip. He’s a real gentle soul.

We asked if Stan ever sulks and Shchumacher explains that he’s never been told off so he doesn’t sulk much; he’s just a funny, loving dog. He’s not very empathetic so maybe he doesn’t notice if anyone has a “cob-on”.

Tony with Stan

44 PAULINE DANIELS

CHARLIE GIRL LOCKDOWN CHANGED LIFE FOR MOST OF US BUT FOR COMEDIENNE, PAULINE DANIELS AND HUSBAND FRANK AN UNEXPECTED BUNDLE OF JOY ARRIVED IN THE SHAPE OF RESCUE DOG, CHARLIE. DANIELS TELLS US HOW CHARLIE MADE HER HOME COMPLETE.

Born in Birkenhead in 1955, Pauline has been making us laugh for over 40 years both onstage and TV, appearing in shows such as Carla Lane’s Bread, The Comedians, Brookside, and The Street.

favourite with her ability to act a variety of rolls from musical comedy to hard hitting straight parts. She was a firm hit in Calendar Girls the Musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth.

It wasn’t until 1986, when she played Mama Morton in Chicago that she cemented her talent in theatre. She went on to become Willy Russell’s favourite Shirley Valentine and toured the country in the role.

Today you will find her once more touring, with her hilarious show “Get Me Before The Crematorium Does” featuring her unique brand of comedy, singing and chat. It was the late, great Ken Dodd that described her as ‘A joyous performer, this lady belts out a stream of observations about the things in life that make everyone laugh’, a sentiment we heartily agree with.

Daniels has an amazing voice, singing many times with the Philharmonic Orchestra and has become a theatre

Charlie

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Did you have a dog as a child?

Since I was a little girl, I have always had dogs but found myself in an apartment as an adult, so a dog was definitely out of the question.

Does she have a favourite walk?

She normally goes to Everton Park but every now and again we pop her in the car and drive to Sefton Park, she loves both.

What changed your mind?

When I married Frank I moved into a house with a garden and to be honest I never stopped going on and on about why we should have a dog. The thing was, I was always cruising, or touring and so it didn’t seem quite right but after touring with Calendar Girls I decided that I was probably not that keen on being away from home anymore and so Frank relented and we started searching for the right pooch.

What games does she like to play?

Her favourite toy is a ball, well it was a ball but now its egg-shaped and she loves it. She’s got others but this orange deformed one is definitely her prized possession.

How did you go about searching for your new companion?

It was a no brainer really, there were too many dogs looking for homes and so we decided on a rescue dog. I went online found a reputable company and then against all the ideas that I had about what kind of dog I wanted, I fell in love with this lovely pretty little girl from Romania. Lockdown then came bearing down on us and fortunatley we collected her the day before the country battened down the hatches.

That’s so lovely, what breed of dog is she?

She’s a delightful Heinz 57 variety with the curliest tail and her colouring is quite foxy. I wanted to call her Charlie after my dad, I just wanted a Charlie around the house. It confuses everybody of course, as everyone thinks she’s a he, but I don’t care.

What food does Charlie like to eat?

She is spoilt absolutely rotten in every way but she doesn’t like dog food.

Frank, (who didn’t want a dog in the first place), is the biggest culprit when it comes to spoiling her. He decided to feed her chicken, and that’s more or less what she eats apart from a bit of Tuna sometimes. I keep telling him she’s not a cat, but she likes it. Charlie doesn’t eat a great deal so Frank worries and basically would go through the fridge and freezer if I let him. He would give anything to please her!

Is she fussy with treats?

She likes a treat, she loves chicken rolled around the rawhide stuff but she expects one every time she goes into the garden and comes back. That harps back to when we were toilet training her. If she went out and did her business, she got a treat, so she expects one even if she pops her nose out and then just runs back into her basket.

We can relate! Was she easy to train?

When lockdown hit us, Frank and I were in the vulnerable section, so Charlie didn’t get out much and hated the lead. We would walk her round the garden with the lead on to try and get her used to it. The hard work paid off though, the lead now lives in a little storage box with a lid, which she nudges open to tell us that she wants a walk.

Pauline Daniels

Is she good with other people?

She is still very timid with other people but then that’s probably due to Covid and the restrictions as the first 18 months she was with us we couldn’t go out much. She’s great once she gets to know you though.

How about with other dogs?

She’s not so good with other dogs, she barks at them and if they come near her then she runs behind you scared to death!

Are you able to leave her on her own?

Whenever we are going out without her, she sulks. She checks what you’re wearing and instinctively knows if it’s her that’s getting an outing or just us.

If it’s just us she gets in her basket, gives you the side eye and really does have a right cob on. She’s very good though on her own and secretly I think she likes Radio 2 as we always put that on for her when we go out. I know, we’re nutters!!

Where does she sleep at night?

We always said that she would never be allowed on the bed, well that didn’t last long! She comes upstairs with us when we go to bed, she then lies between us for about half an hour whilst we both stroke her. After that she gets down and into her own bed that’s upstairs as well. She also has a bed in the lounge and the kitchen, so she always has a basket wherever we are.

Any annoying traits?

If there was one thing, I would say she does that’s annoying, its barking at dogs on the television. She’s not aggressively barking because her tail is whirring round like a helicopter, but she barks a lot.

When Frank was poorly with Covid he spent a few months in bed and she was great company for me but I couldn’t watch a film that had a dog in it. I tried to watch Marley and Me and she drove me bonkers!

What do you love most about her?

She has been a godsend; she gave us something to focus on during lockdown and she’s such good company. She loves to be stroked and cuddled. She really is the best friend and we are both so glad and grateful that we managed to get her when we did. She’s made our home complete.

Charlie

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A REAL TREAT!

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48 KINGHAM

VILLAGE LIFE JUST 4 MILES FROM THE BUSY TOWN OF CHIPPING NORTON IN THE STUNNING COTSWOLDS, WITH A POPULATION OF JUST OVER 900 IS THE BEAUTIFUL, DOG FRIENDLY VILLAGE OF KINGHAM.

Endless walks in the Cotswold countryside, and dog friendly places to eat & stay make this an idyllic spot for you and your four-legged friend to visit.

At the heart of the village is The Church of Andrew, who’s origins can be traced back to the 14th century. The interior is just wonderful with its stone pew ends and barrelled ceiling. Even if you are not religious, it is worth a look as it is packed with historic artifacts. We chose to go in one at a time and although we wanted to know if it was dog friendly, we didn’t ask out of respect.

The village boasts beautiful limestone buildings many of which have thatched roofs and all are in remarkable condition.

In fact, everything in Kingham is well maintained and beautifully preserved.

Each year Blur bassist, Alex James, hosts the Big Feastival at his 200-acre farm in Kingham. You can expect the very best live bands, local food, and beers as well as sampling his award-winning cheeses such as Blue Monday, Farleigh Wallop and Goddess.

If you get chance, we recommend you visit both the local, dog friendly, farm shops. Daylesford Farm, situated in Daylesford near Kingham, is an awardwinning organic farm with an incredible array of organic produce, although you may need to re-mortgage your house to shop there. Celebrities such as the Beckham’s are regulars giving you an idea of the prices to expect. There is no denying the quality though and we would encourage you to go even if it is only once.

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3 photographs - The Plough, Kingham

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Beautiful cottage in Kingham

51 There are two dog friendly eateries, the Legbar café and Old Spot.

The Legbar also has outdoor courtyards. They certainly nod to gluten free customers but there isn’t an extensive range on offer.

We only mention this as our Editor is coeliac. The surroundings are extremely pleasant and the staff are very helpful.

Diddly Squat is the second farm shop opened in 2020 by Jeremy Clarkson and Lisa Hogan. It boasts a small barn full of delicious local food, grown either on Diddly Squat Farm, or nearby Cotswold Farms. They have an outdoor restaurant with “literally the best hamburgers in the world”, (we will take their word for it as we didn’t get chance to sample their delights). Everything cooked is local and seasonal and with a fully licensed bar including Jeremy’s very own Hawstone Beer. As mentioned, we didn’t stop on our visit as the queue was so long it would probably taken us nearer to dinner time than lunch time but hey, it proves just how popular this place is!

Church of St. Andrew

If you are looking for a place to stay, we can personally recommend two places to rest your head. The first is a little cottage, just big enough for two plus one dog. It is the Old Smithy, just across form the village green. A beautifully presented dwelling as clean as could be with the most comfortable bed bar none. The original features are wonderful and well preserved and even though it is small, it has everything you need, plus it is perfectly placed for everything you want to do. The only drawback is finding a vacant week as it is generally booked well in advance.

The second place we would encourage you to visit is the Kingham Plough, a pub just around the corner from the Old Smithy (how very convenient!) We have never stayed there but ate there every night for our 7-night holiday. It has dog-friendly rooms and allows dogs into their restaurant, although we ate outside through choice all but one eveninng. They all seem to love dogs and ours was certainly fussed. The food is excellent, cooked to perfection and they cater for all dietary requirements, even your dog with a jar full of treats on tap. The gluten free choice was brilliant, only two items weren’t available to the editor on the menu – a first me thinks! This eatery is so good, we spotted Prue Leith there with her friends. A fab endorsement if another was needed.

The Old Smithy

The Wild Rabbit is another pub in Kingham. We only ate there once but wouldn’t rush back as it didn’t quite meet the standard of the afore mentioned Plough. It does, however, offer seasonal food and dogs are welcome on the front and back terrace as well as in the bar and garden rooms. They also have dog friendly cottages that provide a dog bed, bowl and treats for your beloved pooch.

A short walk from Kingham brings you to another pretty village of Bledlington, where you can pick up the Oxfordshire Way, a longdistance trail that guides you to Foxholes Nature Reserve, a serene and peaceful wooded area, teaming with birds, butterflies and many plants and flowers, perfect for you and your dog.

All in all, if you are heading to the Cotswolds, check out Kingham and grab a bite to eat in the Plough. You won’t be disappointed even if you are a little lighter in your wallet.

Daylesford Farm Shop You can travel to Kingham by train with four legged friend, it is just 90 minutes from London with direct lines from Oxford and Reading. Or travel by car via the M54 or the A424.

Spread your wings a little further and visit Chipping Norton, Stowon-the-Wold or Moreton-in-Marsh, all beautiful in their own right.

A personal favourite is Broadway - The most dog freindly village of all. There are plenty of good quality shops and a great selection of eateries. We found a little gem off the main street called Hunters and yes, they did a lovely gluten free seection! More importantly, we were able to eat outside and in the shade!

52

WHY DOGS BARK AT EACH OTHER?

Most dogs bark but excessive barking can be frustrating especially when directed at other dogs. There are many reasons why they do and learning to identify the reason is the key to helping you come up with a training plan. Some breeds bark more than others, such as working dogs and guard dogs, so check with the Kennel Club to see if your breed is naturally more vocal and remember, all dogs are individual and may not respond to training We explore some of the reasons and give tips to help combat the problem.

Barking is a natural way for dogs to communicate with or attract another dogs attention. A friendly bark with a wagging tail and an excitable, relaxed posture is most likely just a greeting. They are sociable animals and like humans, as long as there’s no aggression, they will respond well.

When the barking is non-stop and relentless, it becomes a bigger problem. Couple this with lead pulling and it can be distressing not just for you, but for your pooch as well.

Aggressive barking usually stems from a previous bad experience or trauma as a pup, or anxiety. We recommend taking your dog to a fully qualified dog behavioural therapist.

Dogs barking at other dogs walking by the garden, or barking from inside looking out of the window, is usually territorial. Try to keep your dog occupied by playing with them or distracting them from the window. A bored or lonely dog is most likely to bark. If you work and leave your pooch at home, consider a certified dog walker who will keep your dog company and walk them through the day.

Whilst on a lead, the sheer frustration of being restrained when they see a dog across the road, can cause them to bark. If it’s not aggressive they probably just want to say hi, our ‘lead pulling’ article ( page 24) explains how to train your pup to stop pulling; this can be a useful tool, as they will become accustomed to sitting on your command.

A sitting, barking dog is less intimidating than a standing, pulling, barking one.

Your dog may have trouble understanding or coping with a new situation, which can cause fear, leading to excessive barking. To combat this on walks, always ensure you have dog treats with you. If your pooch starts barking at another, stand in between both to block their view, and if your dog sits and is quiet, praise your pooch and reward with a treat. They will soon learn that seeing another dog and not reacting means a tasty morsel.

As with all training, this can take time. Be patient and always make a fuss and reward your dog for doing the right thing. Don’t be reactive, pulling your dog back and shouting; remember, a calm human makes for a calm dog.

If all else fails, just walk in the opposite direction, putting space between your dog and the other.

You must be in control, permitting your pooch to constantly stop and dictate the pace. Pulling and sniffing allows your dog to think they are the one directing the walk, encourage them to stay close, without pulling so you are the one commanding the situation.

We would always recommend you consult a professional if these tips aren’t helping. Your vet is a great place to start; they will be able to put you in touch with the right person for the job. We hope this helps and remember, dogs, just like humans are all individuals. What works for one, might not work for another. Allow more time for rescue and mistreated dogs as you don’t want to cause them anymore unnecessary stress.

Vanity Fur

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54 AMAZON BEST SELLER

KAT THE DOG LOCAL BRITISH-BORN ALGARVE RESIDENT, ALYSON SHELDRAKE, IS THE AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK THAT HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON THE PLIGHT OF ABANDONED ANIMALS AND THE TIRELESS WORK UNDERTAKEN BY ANIMAL RESCUE CHARITIES.

In the UK, there are over 1 million homeless pets, with 250,000 animals placed in rescue centres every year. 21 dogs are euthanised every day because they couldn’t be rehomed: https://petkeen. com/animal-homelessness-statistics-uk/ Described by one reader as “Black Beauty for dog lovers” Kat the Dog is a captivating and emotional story of survival and second chances.

Abandoned, starving, and ridden with ticks and fleas, a poor little scrap of a dog staggers along the road. She barely looks up as a car pulls over and the driver gets out, not realising that her life was about to change in that moment. For the driver was an angel, one of many unpaid volunteers who dedicate their life to helping sick and abandoned animals.

Ginie de Weerd was on holiday in rural southern Spain, but that didn’t stop her from rescuing yet another painfully thin and dejected little dog that she saw on her travels.

And the moment author Alyson Sheldrake saw the photographs online of this pitiful, yet regal, little Spanish water dog, she knew she had found her—the dog she had been waiting for.

Alyson is British and lived and worked as both a police officer and Director of Education in the Southwest, before moving to live in the Algarve, Portugal with her husband, Dave, a retired police officer. She had always wanted a dog, but work and travel commitments meant it was not possible. Now living in Portugal, her dream could come true—but which dog would she choose?

The stories and sights of animals tied up all day or beaten, and abandoned puppies thrown away in a plastic bag with the rubbish, ensured that it was always going to be a rescue dog that was given the chance of a new life.

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Alyson had spoken to Ginie, who runs the SOS Algarve Animals rescue charity in the Algarve and asked her advice about a suitable dog. Ginie had promised to find one for her. Little did she realise that day she stopped and picked up this poor mite who was covered in ticks and fleas and severely underweight; that she would be changing not only the dog’s life, but Alyson and Dave’s too. But even after she has been adopted, Kat’s adventures don’t end here, as she gets into scrapes and mischief, and undergoes serious surgery.

The book is a clever blend of fiction and memoir, as Kat the Dog tells her story.

Be warned, you will laugh, and you will cry, as she tells her heartwarming and uplifting tale.

Alyson is donating 15% of the profit from the sale of the book to local animal rescue charities. Rescue charities all over the world do amazing work saving and neutering abandoned animals and taking on the unenviable task of trying to find new homes for their charges. Some animals spend years waiting for someone to come along and adopt them, while the charities constantly trying to balance their books, fundraise, and muck out the kennels each day.

Alyson explains, “This is the book I was always meant to write. The story of our darling Kat the Dog, the little Spanish water dog who has transformed

Kat with Alyson

our lives. My hope is this book will also highlight the brilliant work of rescue charities, and the immense love that is possible between a dog and their owner.

And if this book means that even just one more abandoned dog finds a new forever home, then it will have been worth it.”

Alyson Sheldrake is the editor of Portugal Letter magazine, and a feature writer for the Algarve’s Tomorrow magazine. She is the author of the Algarve Dream series of travel memoirs and the author/curator of the Travel Stories series of anthologies.

Kat the Dog is currently riding high in the Amazon charts, beating Cesar Millan, James Herriot, A Street Cat Named Bob, and Paul O’Grady to the coveted #1 Bestseller spot in several categories both in the UK and US. The eBook, paperback and hardback are available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited and the paperback can be ordered from any bookstore or library.

There is also a free Photo Album to accompany the book.

You can find out more information about this heart-warming and memorable book on Alyson’s website: https://www.alysonsheldrake.com/kat-the-dog/

FACT

FILE

SPANISH WATER DOG FACTS Alyson

What is a Spanish Water Dog? The Spanish Water Dog is both a herder, a retriever and a guard dog.

Where did they originate?

Spain Size 31 cm to 50 cm Weight Female: 14–18 kg, Male: 18–22 kg Coat They have a thick, curly coat, medium in length with minimal shedding.

Body Strong and muscular Colours Black, brown, chocolate, liver, beige, white, a mixture of these colours Life Expectancy 12 – 14 years Exercise They need plenty of exercise and as you might imagine, they love water Loyalty Extremely loyal, they grow an amazing bond with families.

Intelligence Highly intelligent

WIN! A signed copy of Kat the Dog via our website: vanityfurmagazine.co.uk/kat

58

Walkies!

MOEL FAMAU - DOG WALK WITH VANESSA JONES Grade – Moderate Distance – 7.5 KM Time – 2 hour Terrain – Moderate Accent – 554 Meters Parking – Lower Bwlch Penbarras Car Park (£2.00 Cash parking charge) Moel Famau (Mothers Mountain) is an essential North Wales walk due to the stunning views, endless variety of routes and above all else multiple convenient car parks; which makes it a firm favourite with everyone. Moel Famau has been classified as an area of outstanding natural beauty since 1985 and to the visitor it is immediately obvious why from the moment you start your walk. Moel Famau sits proudly as the highest hill in the Clwydian Range covered in a cloak of heather on its eastern flank and mysterious and dense woodland.

I chose to start our walk from the lower car park choosing to take the quieter and longer route through the forestry road. There is a more direct route (Offa’s Dyke Path) and a carpark further up the hill but please be aware that there are free grazing sheep all along this route and dogs should be always kept on lead.

Starting the walk is an easy assent and the path is well maintained for ease underfoot. The route is obvious, so it is a nice carefree stroll for at least 45 minutes to an hour. It’s the perfect opportunity to take in the views as you make your way further uphill snaking through the forest. After 4.6km or around 1hr 10mins you will eventually come to a crossroad with a steep footpath rising on your left where you make your final ascent to the top. This is defiantly the most challenging part of the walk, the stone can be loose underfoot so careful to pay attention to where you’re stepping. It took around 10 minutes to get to the top, where you’re greeted with the remains of the Jubilee tower and the most beautiful views that include parts of Denbighshire, Flintshire, Cheshire, and Merseyside. If you are lucky enough to go on a clear day, Snowdonia may even be visible in the West.

The Jubilee tower was built to commemorate the golden jubilee of George III in 1810 although due to lack of funds the tower was never completed. In 1862 a major storm brought down the remaining upper part of the structure leaving us with just the base that we see today.

There are plenty of places to take a well earnt rest before making your decent and if you’re lucky and it’s not too windy, it is a perfect spot for a picnic.

We decided to go the most direct route down. This way is not for everyone as the start is very steep but if you like the challenge you will really enjoy this path. Our descent down was a lot quicker; we were back at the carpark in under 30 minutes.

If you have children with you and they still have plenty of energy there is a lovely wooden play area designed to look like a hawks’ nest in the car park.

This was Nemo’s first time up Moel Famau and he thoroughly enjoyed himself.

59 MOEL FAMAU NORTH WALES

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60 O7710105273 Enquiries@essextherapydogs.com www.essextherapydogs.co.uk Essex Therapy Dogs are looking for friendly dogs to join their team.

Does your dog like lots of fuss? Can it take treats gently? Does it have a friendly temperament?

If the answers to these questions is yes and your pooch is over 12 months old, and you have an hour to spare each week, why not get in touch with us by filling out the application form on our website www.essextherapydogs.co.uk Membership is £20 for the year for one person / one dog or £25 if more than one person or dogs want to join. This

includes public liability insurance, welcome pack, ID card and dog bandana with our official logo on it Essex Therapy Dogs – Enriching the lives of people with therapy dogs Do you love dogs? Would you like one to come and visit you each week for lots of cuddles and fuss?

Essex Therapy Dogs have dogs that have been assessed to ensure they have the perfect temperament to come and visit people in care homes, schools, day centres, etc to provide, support and comfort to anyone that needs it.

To find out more, fill out our enquiry form on our website or find us on:Instagram: essex_therapy_dogs Facebook: Essex Therapy Dogs

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61 DOGSFORAUTISM.ORG.UK

AERO THE HERO DOGS FOR AUTISM ARE A CHARITY WHO TRAIN AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE DOGS TO ANYONE WITH AUTISM, YOUNG OR OLD TO HELP EMPOWER, ENHANCE AND EXPAND THE INDIVIDUAL’S LIFE.

They have a deep understanding of how it is to be autistic and to live in a family impacted by autism, the unique challenges this can bring and recognise the need for individual support.

They are different in approach as their training involves the family or individual from the start, meaning they can cater for the specific needs required. They train and provide assistance dogs, at no charge, to autistic individuals of any age who will significantly benefit from such a partnership. Their dogs can enable their people to more easily access the world around them and to expand their horizons They are committed to providing a trained dog to everyone who will benefit.

One such pairing is Aero and Harry. Jo Nutkins explains in her own words, the training she is currently undertaking with Aero and Harry.

“Aero is a female chocolate Labrador who is turning one year old in September 2022. She is living with me and my family

while she trains to become an assistance dog for Dogs for Autism charity - we are actually fulfilling two roles as I’m her trainer plus we are her early days family!

Once she is trained, she will move in with her autistic recipient, Harry, and his family.

“Early Day Handlers (sometimes known as ‘Puppy Parents’) play a huge role in an assistance dog’s start in life as we work on a host of socialisation experiences such as walks in lots of different types of places, visiting and travelling on public transport, as well as typical puppy learning such as being comfortable with household appliances being used or the post being delivered.

“Trainers take these foundations and move them along more. We are working on life skills the puppies will use throughout their time with their future family. This helps them feel confident and happy in all situations, including daily activities and events in the home too.

“Ensuring Aero doesn’t jump up at her family, any visitors or anyone on a walk is vital, as is walking calmly on a lead, being toilet trained and settling when the family are eating a meal.

“Alongside the general puppy training we have task work for Aero and her fellow colleagues which includes skills to help in general, as well as skills specifically required for her own autistic recipient.

“Skills include lying flat if the lead is dropped, so she knows to not go anywhere while her family may need to fully focus on Harry. She also needs to be able to tuck herself into smaller spaces if out in public or while family are using public toilets etc. We work on these at home in different rooms, out in the garden and driveway, on walks, in shops and with Aero’s family too so that she can be comfortable with them anywhere and with any distractions.

Aero and Harry water sessions

“Aero now understands that when people sit down to eat she should be on her bed and settled. Once settled she wouldn’t need additional cues to ask her to stay which means focus can stay with Harry and his meal.

“There are also tasks and training that Aero is working on which is tailored more specifically to her own life with Harry. Retrieve to hand is one such task; aside from being handy so Aero learns to bring back something she may have found or have taken a shine to, having a solid cue for Aero to go and pick up something and bring back could potentially prevent Harry swallowing something like a small piece of a toy. Aero can move pretty fast so getting to something on the ground first is more likely with Aero! Aero gives Harry confidence so she will be learning to move while attached to Harry on a waist tether with awareness on Harry’s pace etc. When tethered to Aero Harry will have a constant link to Aero to help not only his confidence for going to places but also to help prevent Harry going too close to something dangerous like the roadside. One of Harry’s parents will also hold a lead attached to Aero’s harness so they are in control at all times; if Harry tries to bolt then Aero will stand still while his parents take control of the situation.

Aero, Merlin and Ripley

Some training that is specific to each dog and their partner is less about tasks and more about them bonding as a team. Games, play and activities they will both enjoy are just as important so Aero has been learning to tidy her toys into a box on cue, which she will be able to do with Harry. She has been learning foundations for Agility, Hoopers and even Parkour so Harry can take Aero around courses in the back garden Harry adores being in the water. Aero is about to visit a Dog Pool in Suffolk that allows dogs and owners to go in for a swim! They run solo sessions so it will just be Aero and her family; we hope that having Aero to focus on will help Harry enjoy the experience of being in a completely new place, and she can even join him in the water!! She’ll even be able to help coax him out at the end of the session.

Merlin, Aero and Harry

While training with Aero I am mindful of what elements in an exercise will be user friendly for her family and especially for Harry. This means considering cue words and checking what words might be preferred by the whole family.

I will consider how a task may be used specifically by her family and work on practising in ways they are more likely to be implemented. For example, Harry loves to see animals, he has a cat and the annual holiday premises has a resident goat, so while I’m working on Aero’s settle, lead walking and other skills, I ensure to include practice with my chickens, ducks and ferrets, to take to events with other animals such as petting zoos or agricultural shows.

Seeing the sheer pride and delight in Harry’s parents’ faces when Harry and Aero do something together is amazing - the first time Harry voluntarily shared a toy was with Aero. It was his favourite and he gave it to her and saying “good girl”. Another memorable moment for me was when Aero and I were outside waiting for Harry’s taxi to bring him home. The door to the taxi opened and Harry’s face lit up when he saw Aero. Harry was out of the taxi in just a few minutes and he came over to see Aero while she sat waiting for him. It turns out usually Harry takes a long time to leave the taxi and this occasion with Aero was the quickest he has ever been.

Aero and Harry

As a dog trainer with additional training in autism, it has been amazing to be part of this process, and I know that Aero will make life so much easier for Harry and his family in years to come.”

Joe with all three dogs

MIKKI PUTS PETS IN THE COMFORT ZONE Incorporating comfort into its product design criteria, Mikki’s new additions to their Calming Bed range are guaranteed to put pets in the ‘comfort zone’.

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cats who like to hide away - £24.99, and a Domed Calm House that’s lined with a soothing faux fur whilst the outer features a classic blue check fabric finish - £24.99. All the beds are machine washable and have a non-slip base making them safe to use on hard flooring surfaces.

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64 WWW.BEMOREDOG.CO.UK

OFF WITH A BANG! PATRICIA MCGRADY IS THE OWNER AND FOUNDER OF BE MORE DOG ESSEX. SHE IS CERTIFIED WITH THE CIDBT, A KIDS AROUND DOGS PROFESSIONAL, AND MEMBER OF THE CFBA. PATRICIA IS ALSO VANITY FUR MAGAZINE’S DOG BEHAVIOURALIST.

Fireworks can cause huge amounts of distress and trauma for dogs and their owners. Collecchio in Italy made the move to ban all loud fireworks since 2018, and some countries have banned fireworks altogether. That’s a great move, and one that I welcome here, but what can we do to help our dogs cope in the UK? My approach to this problem is broad. We can work on desensitisation protocols, but we can also look at our signals, and apply some sensible management options which can make a big difference in not only helping the fear but preventing it from happening in the first place. Sadly, once a dog has decided that something is scary, it can be quite tricky to change the emotion attached to it, so if you have a puppy that hasn’t experienced fireworks yet then these tips can really help your dog too.

Sound desensitisation involves getting the dog used to the sound at very low volume levels and increasing the volume gradually as the dog learns to accept the

noise. YouTube has plenty of firework videos. Find a variety of pops, fizzes, whistles and bangs. Starting with volume barely audible, play the sound while distracting your dog with food, play, or even a walk. An ideal response would be for your dog’s ear to flick towards the noise or maybe turn its head to look in the direction of the noise, but then to quickly carry on interacting with you. This indicates that the dog has heard the sound but is not concerned by it. Do this for a minute or so then take a break. After a couple of repetitions you can increase the volume and duration gradually. If at any point your dog shows signs of distress or fear, go back a step. So you will need to monitor your dog’s body language during the exercise. This exercise should be light and fun, go at your dog’s pace and never force your dog to endure the sound. Over time your dog should be able to accept the sounds at higher volumes, this can really help on 5th November. There is a good tutorial video on Battersea.org.uk showing the desensitisation process.

We are projecting thoughts and emotions to our dogs all the time, so it is important that we project signals of safety and not worry. If we look panicked or are acting out of character ourselves and don’t appear settled, this will confirm to the dog that there is something wrong. Calming signals from you to your dog can really help project all the right messages, to show that there is no real danger, and everything is OK. Relax, act normal, do all your normal routines and behaviours such as hoovering or watching TV. You can also act sleepy, have a slouchy tired posture, yawn, lie down, pretend to sleep; all these moves will present that you are really settled and there is nothing to worry about. We communicate to our dogs with our body language, for me this is a really important part of the therapy. We should try not to look or sound worried. Deep breathing and meditation will lower your own blood pressure and heart rate which in turn will feed to your dog that the noises outside are no threat. It is a joint experience, so the more normal, calm and relaxed you can be, the more you will help your dog.

Management is critical during firework season. Take your dog out for walks and wees during daylight, if you need to go out after dark then keep your dog on a lead even in the garden. Ensure all fences and windows are secure and that your dog has a microchip and that the details are correct (Petlog register).

Close your curtains and put the TV on. Classic FM usually play relaxing music for dogs on 5th November. Avoid walking in parks or near groups of people during the day, sadly there is a risk of people letting off fireworks in open public spaces, even during daylight. Stick to quiet streets, or you could even skip a walk on 5th November. If you have a friend or family member that lives somewhere quieter perhaps you can spend a few days there during the season.

Activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Also known as ‘rest and digest’, the parasympathetic nervous system is switched on when dogs (and all mammals) are relaxed, it is the opposite of the fight or flight response. In the rest and digest state, the body can digest, sleep, the heart rate decreases, and the dog is mentally and physically relaxed. We can activate the PSN by stretching the fascia (soft tissues under the skin) with pressure and massage.

Slow, purposeful, firm pressure strokes on your dog’s body will stimulate PSN and help bring the dog down and out of arousal. It’s a bit like the effect of a weighted blanket, or a thunder coat, or a therapy dog that lays on a person to prevent anxiety. There are video tutorials of this massage technique on my Facebook page.

Chews and toys may help, but don’t force them on your dog. Create a safe ‘den’ area where your dog can retreat, perhaps under the stairs or in between furniture in the front room. This may offer some comfort. Do give them the option to choose where they want to be.

Patricia with Buddy

There are supplements that may offer some help such as YuCalm, Nutracalm, Bach Flower Remedies, Skullcap and Valerian. These are best given a few days before to get into the system. In extreme cases your vet can prescribe something stronger to help your dog relax if you are very concerned.

It is never too early to begin desensitising your dog to fireworks and now is a great time to start.

pawtrait gallery...

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Elsie - Ruby Poland

Erin and Orla Zak Sliwka

Finella Lindsey Quinn

Rockie Carole Careford

Chloe - Laura Williams

Reuben, Elsa and Delilah - Deborah and Guy

Humphrey - Issac Benson

Delilah & Daphnie Tessa Williams

67 SUSIE HARTLEY

FOR PAWSTERITY! SCULPTOR SUSIE HARTLEY SKILFULLY CAPTURES THE CHARACTER OF FAITHFUL FRIENDS WITH HER CHARMING 3D PET PORTRAIT SCULPTURES TO CREATE UNIQUE LASTING TRIBUTES.

Having developed her own signature style of interpreting the human form, Susie has turned her talents to the animal world to produce bespoke commissioned portraits of much-loved pets.

Working from a series of photographs, Susie also has lots of discussions with the client to find out more about the pet and discover any particular characteristics and traits that they would like to capture in the sculpture.

The finished pieces can be either glazed ceramic or bronze but all start off as a clay model which Susie works on over a number of days or even weeks to ensure a true likeness.

Before the sculpture is finished - either by firing in the kiln or casting in bronze Susie liaises with the client to ensure they are entirely happy with their commission.

Figurative sculpture has been Susie’s passion since graduating from Canterbury College of Art 30 years ago. Exploring shape, form and texture she creates sculptures that represent and interpret the human form.

Susie was educated at Cranborne Chase School and on leaving college in the late 1980s continued her figurative work in London taking portrait bust commissions of prominent members of the Houses of Parliament including Sir Hugh Rossi and Viscount Falkland.

On moving to Lewes, East Sussex Susie enjoyed working at Glyndebourne Opera House making props for the productions and in the mid-1990s she began teaching Art and Design.

Susie creates sculptures that depict energy and movement within the human form, sculptures that have a tactile quality that draws you in so that you can experience new qualities and appealing forms from all angles.

Recent ceramic works explore colour through a range of oxides and glazes – designed for both interior and exterior spaces - larger ceramic sculptures are fixed to either oak or marble bases and are fired to high stoneware temperatures to endure external elements.

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Moolie by Susie

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Nelson is a recent private commission capturing the personality of this characterful Norfolk terrier which has a particular way of sitting - with his left leg extended to his side.

Susie referenced lots of photos from a range of angles over to model Nelson in clay over a period of four weeks before the client visited the studio to see the finished piece. The finished ceramic sculpture has a rich oxide patination.

NELSON

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Moolie was created as a surprise birthday present for a client’s husband. Susie worked in clay and modelled the labrador from a wide range of photos (taken secretly) of all angles. The completed fired sculpture has a black oxide patina.

MOOLIE

An alternative to the ‘full’ portrait, Ted is Susie’s family dog - he is a Parsons Russell / Fox Terrier and is a great character. This head portrait of Ted was modelled in clay, hollowed and fired in the kiln before being painted in a bronze effect.

TED

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