THE UK'S ONLY WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER MAGAZINE TM
I SSU E 18, VOL 1
ALL ABOARD!
FE B RUA RY 2 0 2 2
ISSN 2634-4149
I Love You!
The Creative Couple Keeping a Boutique Doggy Shop Afloat
Are we smothering our Westies with too much affection?
COMMUNITY
ACCESSORIES
What’s New in 2022?
NEWS
The Latest Must-Haves for You & Your Westie
SCOOTING?
The latest updates affecting our Westies
How to Solve Anal Gland Issues
HEALTH
FASHION
Are our Dogs Getting the Snip too Young?
Put Your Best Foot Forward This February
Peter Laurie, CEO of Battersea, on Sharing the Wealth with Global Communities
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
Given that it’s the month of love we had to ask the question about whether it’s possible to love our Westies just a little bit too much and according to dog behaviourist Justine Shone, it is! Without us even knowing it, we are in danger, at times, of smothering our Westie companions with too much affection and we’re overstepping boundaries, it’s a fascinating read! Our Health columns this issue look at the consequences of having your canine pal neutered or spayed when they’re too young – check out what Dr Veneta Kozhuharova has to say on this quite controversial issue. Meanwhile, Dr Paul Boland gives us the lowdown on problems with anal glands, what can cause the problems and what can be done to sooth our Westies’ pain. Rachel Bolton teaches us about ‘self-love’ in our Wellbeing column and reminds us to make ourselves a priority every so often while our Gift column provides some ideas for you romantics out there in the way of Valentine’s presents for your loved ones. Grab a cup of tea and read our fascinating conversation with the CEO of Battersea, Peter Laurie who gave us his time to talk about how this famous British Institution shares its wealth with animal-loving communities around the world.
Kim Latham Editor
@WestieBestiesMag
Our Westie, Buffy, Chief Cuddles Officer!
WE LC O M E
EDITOR’S NOTE Publisher – Westies & Besties Ltd Fidlas Road | Cardiff | CF14 5LZ Editor Kim Latham Tel: +44 7496 310169 Email: info@westiesandbesties.com Commercial Director Alex Griffin Tel: +44 7496 310173 Email: alex@westiesandbesties.com Columnists Mark Randell Faye Andrews Rachel Bolton Design Vavoom.co.uk Front Cover Image Supplied by Battersea Printing Cambrian Printers Westies & Besties Magazine is published by Westies & Besties Ltd (the “Publisher) and printed on behalf of the publisher by Cambrian Printers. Westies & Besties Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Westies & Besties Magazine and the Westie & Bestie logo/ masthead are marks of Westies & Besties Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within Westies & Besties magazine are not necessarily those of the Publisher or those of its contributors. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequences arising from it. The Publishers accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or other materials, in the case of all product reviews. Judgements have been made in the context of the product tested. (All pictures have been supplied unless otherwise mentioned.) Advertisers in this publication must adhere to the rules and regulations of the ASA. Westies & Besties Ltd is not responsible or liable for a company or individual’s advert.
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CONTENTS
CONTENTS February 2022
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6-9 NEWS
10-13 HEALTH
14-17 HEALTH
The latest news from the Pet Industry
Dr Veneta Kozhuharova explains the consequences of having your Westie snipped too young
Dr Paul Boland talks anal glands and reveals what to do to help solve the issues
22-27 FEATURE
28-29 GIFTS
30-31 FASHION
Peter Laurie, CEO of Battersea, on sharing the British Institution’s wealth with communities around the world.
Share the love this Valentine’s Day with these special accessories
Step out in style with our selected range of warm & cosy must-haves
Westies & Besties - February 2022
CONTENTS
32-35 Q&A
36-43 COMMUNITY
44-45 BEHAVIOUR
The creative couple keeping their doggy business afloat
What’s new in our Facebook Westie groups for 2022?
Justine Shone explains how it’s possible that we’re smothering our Westies with too much affection
46-47 ACCESSORIES
48-49 WELLBEING
50 BOOK REVIEW
Leap into February and spoil yourself with a few little treats for you and your canine pals
Rachel Bolton reveals the best ways to prioritize ourselves through self-love
We give you our opinion on Dr Karen Becker & Rodney Habib’s first book, The Forever Dog
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS shutterstock_1639318588
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TM
Going Green WESTIES & BESTIES MAGAZINE TAKES FIRST VITAL STEP TO REDUCE CARBON IMPACT
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s a monthly magazine, we’re acutely aware of how much paper we use each month to print our publication. As an important first step, we have made the decision to choose Carbon Balanced Paper which helps reduce our carbon impact and helps protect endangered species. This is just our first step, and we recognise it is a vital one for our beloved animals and our planet.
“The money that is given to the World Land Trust, in my estimation, has more effect on the wild world than almost anything I can think of.” Sir David Attenborough, WLT Patron
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What is Carbon Balanced Paper? Already one of the world’s truly renewable and most-recycled materials, the average carbon impact associated with the production of paper can now be offset through the World Land Trust (WLT). Carbon Balanced Paper is achieved through the preservation of ecologically important standing forests, under real and imminent threat of clearance, locking in carbon that would otherwise be released and securing the continued absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Following the principles of REDD+*, this is recognised as one of the fastest ways to arrest the rise of atmospheric CO2 and global warming effects. (*REDD+ - Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.) Why is this important? Taking positive action with Carbon Balanced Paper helps combat global warming and helps us focus on reducing our environmental impact. About the World Land Trust The World Land Trust is an international conservation charity that protects the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats acre by acre.
Westies & Besties - February 2022
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Since its foundation in 1989, the WLT has funded partner organisations around the world to create reserves and give permanent protection to habitats and wildlife. To date, WLT has helped secure more than 881,000 acres of threatened habitat in 20 countries.
PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_403048336
WLT’s patrons include Sir David Attenborough OM CH FRS, Steve Backshall MBE, David Gower OBE & Chris Packham CBE. “The money that is given to the World Land Trust, in my estimation, has more effect on the wild world than almost anything I can think of.” Sir David Attenborough, WLT Patron Making a real difference Carbon Balanced Paper supports World Land Trust projects in Vietnam, one of the most biologically diverse countries on Earth
and an area of international conservation importance. Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and this is putting immense pressure on its exceptional biodiversity. The World Land Trust is working with Viet Nature Conservation Centre to protect the entire forest of Khe Nuoc Trong, an area covering nearly 50,000 acres. By protecting and aiding the recovery of the forest, approximately 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions will be absorbed each year. Khe Nuoc Trong is home to a number of threatened species listed on the IUCN Red List, including at least four Critically Endangered, six Endangered and 16 Vulnerable species.
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Surgery Resolves Unmanageable Cushing’s
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enkins, a crossbreed, initially presented to the internal medicine team at Davies with a marked increase in thirst and urination, increased appetite, lethargy and severe skin disease. He had been diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Cushing’s disease, shortly prior to referral but his response to medical management had been disappointing. At Davies, Jenkins had comprehensive investigations which included blood and urine tests, blood pressure measurement, ultrasound of the abdomen and dermatological tests to understand his skin changes better. He was diagnosed with adrenal-dependent Cushing’s disease with associated high blood pressure, protein in his urine and severe dermatological changes with secondary infections. “Adrenal-dependent Cushing’s disease is where there is a tumour on one of the adrenal glands that is producing excessive amounts of the stress hormone cortisol,” explained Katherine Clarke, who is an internal medicine vet at Davies. “In Jenkins this tumour was also invading large blood vessels local to the tumour including the caudal vena cava – a major vein carrying blood to the heart.” Jenkins was started on additional medications to manage the protein in his urine, the high blood pressure, and his skin infections. While his response to medical management was reasonable; his skin
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PHOTO CREDIT Supplied by Davies
JENKINS HAS BEEN GIVEN A NEW LEASE OF LIFE AND HIS CUSHING’S DISEASE HAS BEEN RESOLVED
infection resolved, blood pressure improved and his thirst reduced, his disease unfortunately remained imperfectly controlled. “At this stage we made the decision to operate on him to remove the affected adrenal gland,” said Katherine. “This surgery was very high risk given the invasion of the tumour into local blood vessels, but also because Jenkins was at risk of developing blood clots due to the Cushing’s disease and the protein in his urine.” Jenkins was operated on by European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery Carolyn Burton. Given the complexities of this surgery and the associated risks to Jenkins an anaesthetist was with him throughout the entire procedure. “Despite our concerns, surgery went very well, and Jenkins recovered without event and was discharged home a few days after surgery,” said Katherine. “He is now two months down the road and is doing amazingly well – he is no longer on any medications for his Cushing’s disease, his excessive thirst has resolved, the protein content of his urine is now normal, and his blood pressure well controlled with medications. His fur is regrowing, and he looks younger every time we see him! Jenkins’s prognosis is very good, although the tumour was a cancer it is low grade and unlikely to return in the near future.
Westies & Besties - February 2022
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Paleo Ridge Refreshes Paleo Plus Range Packaging
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aleo Ridge is refreshing its Paleo Plus range with brand new packaging across the entire line. The updated design completes a refresh of all Paleo Ridge lines which began 18 months ago with the redesign of the Classic and DIY ranges. Rolling out from last month, the new Paleo Plus packaging features brighter colours and sharp patterns, creating a bold and eye-catching look which enhances the appeal of the range. In line with Paleo Ridge’s commitment to minimising its impact on the environment, the new Paleo Plus packaging is fully recyclable. This follows last year’s achievement which saw Paleo Ridge reach the milestone of 98% of its packaging being recyclable or compostable. The updated Paleo Plus packaging is more compact, reducing the materials used in packaging and makes the products easier to store for customers, retailers and whilst in transit. The reduced size of Paleo Plus packaging has the additional benefit of making this range more energy efficient to store as the products occupy less space in the freezer. The Paleo Plus refresh also aligns the colours of each product with the wider Paleo Ridge portfolio, clearly communicating the main ingredients to shoppers, making the range easier to navigate. Carefully formulated using the latest scientific and
PHOTO CREDIT Paleo Ridge
THE MODERNISED NEW PACKAGING IS FULLY RECYCLABLE AND MORE CONVENIENT TO STORE
nutritional research, the Paleo Plus range is 95% high-welfare meat, offal and bone, and 5% natural superfoods*. The Paleo Plus range includes: • Paleo Plus Berry Good • Paleo Plus Totally Chicken • Paleo Plus Totally Duck • Paleo Plus Lamb & Mint • Paleo Plus Pork & Apple • Paleo Plus Special Diet • Paleo Plus Surf & Turf • Paleo Plus Turkey & Fish *Paleo Plus Berry Good is a Superfood supplement and Paleo Plus Special Diet contains 80% meat and 20% superfoods, including added Carrot and Kale. Commenting on the redesign, Will Green, Head of Sales and Marketing at Paleo Ridge, says, “We are delighted to be reinvigorating the Paleo Plus range with a bold, new packaging update. As the final Paleo Ridge line to undergo redesign following further updates in the last year and a half, Paleo Plus is a great range to boost the health and energy of all dogs. The refresh makes the range more appealing and is crucially more consumerfriendly, saving space and unnecessary packaging in its more compact new form.”
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H E A LT H
Are We Spaying or Neutering Our Westies Too Young?
DR VENETA KOZHUHAROVA EXPLAINS THE CONSEQUENCES
Above: Dr Veneta Kozhuharova
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paying is the term used for the surgical removal of the ovaries and the uterus in a female dog. Neutering is another term for spaying, but more commonly refers to the surgery done to remove the testicles of a male dog. Why is this done to dogs? Both surgeries are done for the prevention of extreme overpopulation and the following reasons: • To decrease hormonally driven aggression • To protect against reproductive (especially mammary and prostate cancers) What are the consequences? Neutering removes the metabolic effects of sex hormones in a dog’s body and leads to a decrease in their metabolism by 20% to 25% when compared with intact animals. The appetite hormone gets increased significantly and put dogs at a higher risk of becoming overweight or obese.
Neutering removes the metabolic effects of sex hormones in a dog’s body and leads to a decrease in their metabolism by 20% to 25% when compared with intact animals
Also, other hormones such as prolactin and insulin-like growth factors get induced which
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_575649859
H E A LT H
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_1495705448
H E A LT H
When is this procedure done? Many Veterinary Surgeons have protocols to perform both surgeries at an early age or before the animal becomes sexually mature. Is early age spaying and neutering minimising the side effects? No! In fact, spaying and neutering dogs at an early age can contribute to even more side effects such as abnormal joint and bone growth, cancer, decreased activity and obesity due to metabolic changes. Larger mixed and purebred dogs are even more prone to side effects. The bone’s structure and function changes and they may develop an irregular body proportion. Joints, cartilage and fibrous tissues get affected too and there the likelihood of ACL injury is greater. Bone cancers are much more common in purebred large breed neutered/spayed dogs at a younger age. Also, these dogs get predisposed to hip dysplasia. Other side effects of early age spaying and neutering include thyroid disfunction, atypical Cushing’s disease and increased risk of cardiac and other tumours and urinary incontinence. How can I help my dogs if spaying and neutering is absolutely necessary? The side effects of both procedures can be reduced by delaying the timing of surgery and performing them between 18 and 24 months of age. Also, hysterectomy or vasectomy instead are procedures which will prevent your dog from reproducing but without removing the sex hormones and therefore removing the negative metabolic effects. My dog is already neutered/spayed. What now? If your dog is already neutered or spayed, it is good practice to keep her out of the kitchen and dinner areas to avoid her begging for food as her appetite may have increased. Food scraps and excessive use of treats should be avoided. To avoid glucose intolerance, it may be helpful to spread the dog’s food into several meals throughout the day. Smaller portions, given frequently help glucose levels in the blood to remain stable and to increase the metabolic rate. An increased metabolic rate can avoid obesity too. Neutered dogs should be fed with low-energy dense foods designed for their life stage and neuter status. The total energy intake should be
about 20% to 30% lower than the total energy intake for the maintenance of intact adults. It is also important to increase your dog’s activity and exercise her more frequently.
H E A LT H
may predispose dogs to diabetes and fat tissue accumulation.
The side effects of both procedures can be reduced by delaying the timing of surgery and performing them between 18 and 24 months of age
I have a growing neared/spayed dog. How do I adapt her diet? Neutered puppies should be fed with low energy dense foods designed for growth until they reach adulthood. If low energy dense food for growth is not available, then it can be replaced with ordinary food for growth but should be fed in limited portions. The fibre content of the food can be increased up to 10%. Monitor the body weight of your dog and perform Body Condition Scoring every two weeks for four to five months after neutering. Dr Veneta Kozhuharova DVM, MRCVS, Cert. CFVHNUT graduated in 2008 from The University of Sofia, Bulgaria, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine with a master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine. She is a Member of The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, The British Veterinary Association and The Raw Feeding Veterinary Society. She is certified in Canine and Feline Veterinary Health Nutrition, Level 4 (RQF). She practices in the United Kingdom and provides first opinion canine nutritional consultations to individuals and pet food companies. She has developed a range of natural nutraceuticals and formulated diets for various British dog food companies. She is the founder of the Doggy’s Cuppa range of herbal dog teas. Visit Dr Kozhuharova’s website: www.drveneta.com
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H E A LT H
Anal Gland Problems in Westies DR PAUL BOLAND PROVIDES THE SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR ALONG WITH PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
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any dog owners have seen their dog scoot along the floor with their back legs in the air and dragging their bum along. This common occurrence in dogs is most often caused by anal gland problems but it can also be caused by inflammation or infection around the anus. Your Vet can quickly diagnose the problem by looking at the perineal area and checking the anal glands. Anal gland problems are quite common with about 12% of dogs having an anal gland problem during their lifetime. What are anal glands? Anal glands are two small, oval-shaped fluid filled sacs within the muscle of the anal sphincter that sit just inside your dog’s rectum on either side of the anus at about the 4 and 8 o’clock positions. Both glands have a tiny opening that isn’t easily visible along the anal mucosal junction. They produce an unpleasant oily substance that people find very offensive! However, it is thought that this normal secretion is for dogs to communicate with each other because it leaves personal biochemical information for other dogs in the faeces and in the environment. This is why dogs tend to smell other dog’s faeces and their bum area. When passing a normal firm motion the anal glands are squeezed and the secretion is expressed into faeces. If dogs do not have normal motions, then the two anal glands are
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Above: Dr Paul Boland
not expressed, and this can lead to anal gland problems such as impaction where the enlarged anal glands cause irritation and need to be manually expressed. Causes of anal gland problems Impaction is the most common cause of anal gland problems. The glands are not expressed and so they become full, swollen, and irritated. This leads to the dog scooting along the floor trying to express their anal glands. Your Vet will manually express the glands, and this leads to a quick resolution of the problem. Infection of the anal glands is quite common and is usually caused by a bacterial infection where the glands become full of pus and blood. Expression and a course of antibiotics will usually cure the infection. However, sometimes the dog will need to be sedated and the anal glands expressed, flushed, and then infused with antibiotics. Abscess formation in the anal glands happens when an anal infection has not been noticed and treated. They can happen fairly quickly with the owner only noticing a problem when their dog scoots and the abscess has ruptured. I treat these cases with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication because the glands tend to be thickened and painful. Most cases respond to this
Westies & Besties - February 2022
PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_173339003
H E A LT H
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PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_548004559
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In my opinion only a Vet or a veterinary nurse should express a dog’s anal glands because they will insert a lubricated gloved finger into the anus to fully express the anal glands
Cancer of the anal glands is rare but when it does occur it is usually a malignant adenocarcinoma. Calcium in the blood rises so when a dog has elevated blood Calcium, Vets also check for cancer. Surgery is the treatment of choice if the cancer has not spread, and it is operable. Other contributing causes to anal gland problems can include obesity where there is insufficient muscle tone and excess fatty tissue, skin allergies, skin infections, food allergies, environmental allergies and diarrhoea.
Clinical signs of anal gland problems include: • • • • • •
Scooting along the floor Licking the anal area Swelling of the anal glands Redness of the anal area A fishy smell from the anus Pus or blood around the anus
How to and when to express your dog’s anal glands In my opinion only a Vet or a veterinary nurse should express a dog’s anal glands because they will insert a lubricated gloved finger into the anus to fully express the anal glands. Lay people expressing anal glands from the outside may well not fully express the glands. Routine anal gland expression without any clinical signs of anal gland disease should not be performed because it may lead to trauma and inflammation of the anal glands. This can interfere with their ability to function naturally making impactions and infections more likely. Preventative measures If there is systemic inflammation that is causing inflammation of the anal glands, then this needs to be identified and treated. I always look for skin and food allergies with dogs that have recurrent anal gland problems. The best way to rule out a food allergy that is causing inflammation of the gut and skin is to feed a raw food diet of a protein source that your dog has not been fed before for two weeks. Then try another one for two weeks. A raw food diet also helps to firm up the motion, thus helping to naturally express the anal glands. Kibble and tinned dog food are very
high in carbohydrates that can lead to systemic inflammation.
H E A LT H
treatment but if they don’t then again, we sedate the dog to express, flush the glands and then infuse antibiotic into the glands.
Supplements that can help prevent anal gland problems include Omega 3 fatty acids because they are anti-inflammatory and they help the skin, fibre that bulks up the motion, slippery elm, bentonite clay that mops up intestinal toxins and absorbs water, thus helping to bulk up the motion.
Obese dogs need to lose weight. Kibble and tinned food are very high in carbohydrates that can lead to obesity and diabetes so, I always advise a raw food species specific diet and increased exercise as a weight loss program for dogs
Chronic diarrhoea can lead to anal gland problems because the loose motion does not naturally express the anal glands. Your Vet will investigate the many causes of chronic diarrhoea in dogs. Finally, obese dogs need to lose weight. Kibble and tinned food are very high in carbohydrates that can lead to obesity and diabetes so, I always advise a raw food species specific diet and increased exercise as a weight loss program for dogs. For more information on Dr Paul Boland BVSC MRCVS visit: JP Holistic Nutrition www.jpholisticnutrition.com
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A DV E RTO RI A L
DR SUE PATERSON MA VETMB DVD DIPECVD FRCVS. RCVS AND EUROPEAN SPECIALIST IN VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY. DIRECTOR VIRTUAL VET DERMS LTD
Whilst there are now numerous excellent symptomatic therapies available to control itching in dogs, it is still important that any cause of itch is identified so that the treatment that is used can be as specific as possible and tailored to the pet’s needs. The most important causes of itching in the dog include infections, parasites, and allergy. Infection can be ruled out by your vet if they take samples from the skin. Your vet may take a swab or a sample of skin with a tape strip which is called taking cytology. If they have facilities in the practice, a vet can then stain the sample with special stains that colour the bacteria and yeast in a particular way, that allows them to be identified underneath the microscope. Malassezia, the most important yeast to cause problems on a dog’s skin is a characteristic blue, peanut shape when viewed microscopically. The most important bacteria, called Staphylococcus, is normally arranged in blue staining groups, often looking like tiny bunches of grapes. Where vets are not able to take samples, they may take a swab and send it off to an external laboratory for them to identify the infection. The advantage of this, is that the laboratory will also perform susceptibility testing, which means that they will identify the best drugs to treat the infection. This is particularly useful if an infection is proving difficult to treat and there is the potential for resistant bacteria to be present. Whilst actually visualising or growing the bacteria or yeast is ideal, this can lead to considerable expense, so many vets will employ an alternative approach which is referred to as empirical therapy. This involves using treatment to eliminate infection without necessarily identifying which infection it is.
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IT IS STILL IMPORTANT THAT ANY CAUSE OF ITCH IS IDENTIFIED SO THAT THE TREATMENT THAT IS USED CAN BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE AND TAILORED TO THE PET’S NEEDS
The presence of skin parasites can be detected in the same way as the identification of infection. This is by either taking samples from the skin to look for the parasite or by using empirical therapy. A vet can identify a skin parasite by taking samples from the skin known as skin scrapings. These are simple and painless to collect, and any vet should be able to undertake these. A small area of skin is gently scraped with a scalpel blade to remove the very top layers where the parasite is found. Samples are not stained in these cases but mounted in clearing agents, so that the parasite can be identified under the microscope. Vets can identify the type of parasite by the size and shape of the parasite’s body, as well as characteristics such as the presence of suckers on their legs or big hooked mouth parts. Where
Westies & Besties - February 2022
PHOTO CREDIT Dr. Sue Paterson
INVESTIGATING SKIN ALLERGIES IN DOGS
PHOTO CREDIT Dr. Sue Paterson
PHOTO CREDITS shutterstock_1945392139
A D V E RTO RI AL
it is not possible to take samples from the skin perhaps due to the expense of sample collection or due to the fact the dog is nervous, or the skin is too sore, empirical therapy can be used. The newest parasite controls available through your vet as a prescription product, are a group of drugs called isoxazolines. These drugs can be given by mouth or applied to the skin. Although no parasiticide is perfect and all will inevitably have some environmental impact, in the author’s opinion, based on the most recent evidence, these drugs produce a significantly lower risk to insect life such as bees, than over the counter drugs such as fipronil and the neonicotinoids. The isoxazolines are very safe, broad-spectrum drugs that will not only provide protection against fleas but also against mites such as cheyletiella, which is a surface mite picked up from young puppies and kittens and rabbits, and of course scabies, which is picked up from other dogs but most notably from foxes. Food allergy is a common cause of itching in pets. Whilst blood samples can be used to try to identify which particular food may be triggering an allergic reaction, most veterinary dermatologists would suggest these are not very accurate in companion animals and would
prefer to use a low allergy diet. The Westie is particularly prone to food allergy, so it is really important that a food allergy is eliminated as a cause of itching at an early stage and certainly before using any anti-itch drugs. Raw diets certainly have some benefits when it comes to using them to investigate food allergy, as they contain no additives or flavouring and constitute a natural food source. However, as we now recognise, both beef and chicken are major causes of food allergy in the dog, and so are often not the best solution. We also recognise marked cross reaction between similar but more unusual proteins. A dog that is allergic to beef may also be allergic to milk, lamb, venison, buffalo, and pork. A dog that is allergic to chicken may also be allergic to turkey, duck, pheasant, and ostrich. The author would try to use a novel protein source which may be a fish-based diet if the dog has never had fish, or a balanced vegetarian diet or one of the newer insect-based diets. Whilst allergy testing for food is not something the author would consider using currently, the use of allergy testing to identify environmental allergens is really useful. This can be done as a routine in dogs after other causes of itch have
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been ruled out. Allergy testing can be performed in one of two ways. Veterinary dermatologists will commonly perform what is referred to as intradermal skin testing, where they inject miniscule amounts of allergen into the skin and monitor the dog’s response. This is the same procedure as that undertaken in people, where an allergic reaction to something is observed as a small, raised wheal. Whilst intradermal skin testing is not painful for a dog, they do need to stay still whilst the test is performed, so most vets will sedate an animal to do this. Interpretation of the test results is best done by an expert, who can decide on the relevance of the different reactions and what the best course of action is. Primary care vets can also allergy test pets, but they tend to do this by taking blood samples. A specialist allergy laboratory can measure and report on the levels of antibodies to particular allergens in a dog’s blood sample. Allergy experts at the laboratory will usually help your vet design ongoing treatment protocols. Dogs can be allergic to a range of different environmental allergens. Those within the home environment include housedust mites, forage mites and indoor moulds. House-dust mites are found in soft furnishings (which of course can include a dog’s bed), while forage mites are usually found in poorly stored foods. Moulds within the home may be
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PHOTO CREDITS pixabay
WHILST THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSULTING YOUR VET CAN NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED, THERE ARE NUMEROUS THINGS YOU CAN DO AT HOME TO HELP CONTROL YOUR PET’S ITCHING
found in the bathroom or on windowsills. These types of allergies usually trigger skin problems in the autumn and wintertime, when dogs are inside the most and where ventilation is reduced, and the central heating is on. External allergens include pollens and outdoor moulds. Pollen problems can be due to tree, grass or weed pollen. Tree pollen can start as early as February, when the first tree pollen such as birch appears. Grass pollen will trigger disease from May to August and weed pollen a little later in June often as late as September or October. Summer mould levels are highest in late summer and correspond to fruit ripening and mushroom growth. Allergy testing provides an owner with the information to avoid specific allergens, institute therapy before the allergy season starts to prevent disease occurring and also to consider special allergy vaccines to try to control the disease. Whilst the importance of consulting your vet can not be underestimated, there are numerous things you can do at home to help control your pet’s itching.
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F E AT U R E
Leader of the Pack BATTERSEA CEO, PETER LAURIE, ON SHARING THE BRITISH INSTITUTION’S WEALTH WITH COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD BY KIM LATHAM
At Battersea, we only have one favourite breed, and that’s rescue. Peter Laurie CEO, Battersea
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
PHOTO CREDIT All photos are supplied by Battersea.
F E AT U R E
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F E AT U R E
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t is nearly one year since you took over the role of Chief Executive. What have you learnt during this year? What positive changes have you made? What are your plans for 2022? I am incredibly proud of everything that Battersea has achieved in the last 12 months. Everyone has worked extremely hard in response to the Covid pandemic. We have innovated and adapted our ways of working to ensure we can continue to bring in and rehome dogs and cats, whilst keeping our staff and customers safe, and we have learnt a lot along the way.
rehoming choices. For example, Greyhounds are often overlooked as people assume that they require a lot of exercise, but actually these dogs are pretty lazy and love nothing more than a snooze on the sofa. Likewise, Staffies have a reputation for being tough, but they’re actually huge lovers, not fighters!
Throughout the last year we have kept our centres open and welcomed thousands of dogs and cats. We have helped the broader animal rescue sector through our Academy and Grants programmes. We have supported existing pet owners through our online advice and training classes. And we have continued to work with Governments to bring about lasting change, for example through our successful campaign for tougher prison sentences for the worst animal cruelty offences.
You’re also a Trustee of the Thailand Elephant Foundation. Please tell us about this Foundation and its work.
As we emerge from the Pandemic, we are beginning to see an increasing number of dogs and cats in need of our help, many with medical and other challenges. A big focus this year is ensuring our three centres and our two Communities are able to help as many animals as possible, and we will be providing further support and advice to existing pet owners to help keep them stay connected with their animals. We also have big ambitions to increase our reach and grow our impact, to help more dogs and cats. This year and into the future we will be expanding our work and delivering new programmes. In a previous role, you were Chief Executive of the Greyhound Trust. Are there challenges working for a charity that cares for numerous breeds? Misconceptions and pre-conceived notions about the traits and behaviours of certain dog and cat breeds can heavily influence people’s
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Breeds with negative stereotypes such as these can stay in our care for longer. We’d encourage everyone to look past a pet’s pedigree and love them for their character instead. At Battersea, we only have one favourite breed, and that’s rescue.
I helped set up the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation in 2017 in response to a clear need to help improve the health and welfare of the many Asian Elephants across the southern regions of Thailand. Our focus so far has been on the construction and operation of an urgently required veterinary hospital near Phuket for these magnificent animals, and an accompanying mobile veterinary clinic that is able to reach and provide first aid to Elephants in surrounding rural areas. Early in the Covid Pandemic, when the economy in Thailand was particularly badly hit, we also ran a successful fundraising appeal and logistical operation to get food supplies to hundreds of hungry and starving Elephants, whose owners simply couldn’t afford to buy feed. To find out more, please visit www.southernthailandelephants.org. Battersea has an amazing list of ambassadors. What criteria do you have when it comes to adding an ambassador to your list? Battersea is lucky enough to have a great group of committed Ambassadors helping to support our work. Our ambassadors all share a true passion for dogs and cats and our work at Battersea. They have supported us for many years and continue to do so much to help us promote our cause and the importance of rescue.
Westies & Besties - February 2022
F E AT U R E PHOTO CREDIT All photos are supplied by Battersea.
None of our work would be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Battersea receives no Government funding for the work we do, and we rely solely on the public’s support to continue helping every dog and cat that needs us.
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F E AT U R E
Battersea welcomed its first stray dog in 1860 and has gone on to help over 3 million animals. Why do you think Battersea has been/ is so successful and so well-loved? Part of the reason why Battersea has been so successful in helping so many animals over the years is thanks to our extremely dedicated workforce. Even throughout the most challenging times, such as World War Two and the more recent Coronavirus pandemic, our staff have always put our animals first. Of course, none of our work would be possible without the generosity of our supporters. Battersea receives no Government funding for the work we do, and we rely solely on the public’s support to continue helping every dog and cat that needs us. If you’d like to find out more about supporting Battersea, please visit www.battersea.org.uk. Battersea Communities has been set up and by 2023 the aim is to establish 10 communities that can help rehome around 2,000 animals. How important are nation-wide community relationships to the work Battersea is doing? Becoming a Community Rehoming Volunteer and temporarily opening your home to a Battersea dog or cat means that you are
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PHOTO CREDIT All photos are supplied by Battersea.
As we emerge from the Pandemic, we are beginning to see an increasing number of dogs and cats in need of our help, many with medical and other challenges.
providing invaluable care for animals who really need that second chance. In order to help more dogs and cats, we’ve set up Battersea Communities to enable us to work with local people in areas where we don’t have rehoming centres - this means we will be able to engage more with areas outside of our regions, and also be able to help more dogs and cats beyond our gates. To find out more about becoming a Community Rehoming Volunteer with Battersea, please visit https://www.battersea.org.uk/about-us/batterseacommunities. Tell us about the Battersea Academy and the aims of the Academy. At Battersea, we strive to improve the lives of every dog and cat. We know that we can achieve more together than we can alone, so we’ve created the Battersea Academy, a centre for professional development that trains animal welfare practitioners from across the UK and around the world. Delivered by Battersea’s experts at our iconic London centre, Academy programmes are designed to equip other rescues with the
Westies & Besties - February 2022
PHOTO CREDIT All photos are supplied by Battersea.
F E AT U R E
knowledge and practical skills needed to operate and rehome animals to the highest possible standard. The Academy is open to any dog and cat rehoming or rescue organisation in any location, from small volunteer-run shelters to established animal rescues. Our aim is to help as many animals from across the world as possible. It’s fair to say that Battersea is a British institution and a generous one at that. Battersea provides grants to animal charities abroad that are in need of help. Can you tell us about this? We recognise that funding can be a significant barrier to change for many organisations, many of whom aren’t as fortunate to have the same reputation and supporter base as Battersea. That’s why Battersea has launched a brand-new funding opportunity for rescues who have taken part in an Academy programme. Our Grants scheme will give smaller rescue centres, who have taken part in our Academy programme, the resources needed to help more vulnerable animals, across the world.
How many West Highland White Terriers have you had at Battersea? How difficult is it for potential owners to adopt a dog from Battersea? We don’t see many Westies come into Battersea - last year we took in just six across all three of our centres! If you are looking to welcome a new dog into your life, I’d encourage everyone to consider a rescue in the first instance. Rescue pets have so much love to give and are just looking for a second chance for someone to show them the love they truly deserve. We rehome to people from all walks of life and living arrangements; not only are Battersea dogs living in the Royal Household with our Patron, the Duchess of Cornwall, but they are also living in campervans and houseboats! If you’re interested in rehoming a Battersea dog, please register your interest at : www.battersea.org.uk.
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GIFTS
Treats for your Sweets WHY NOT SPOIL YOUR LOVED ONE (OR YOURSELF!) AND INDULGE IN A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE AND LUXURY THIS VALENTINE’S DAY?
Lights4fun.co.uk These Pastel Heart Fairy Lights are perfect for setting the mood this Valentine’s Day and they are so pretty you’ll probably want to keep them up all year long! £14.99 www.Lights4fun.co.uk PHOTO CREDIT Lights4fun
Biscuiteers The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach and what better way to prove your love than with a valentine’s love letter biscuit tin! £35 www.biscuiteers.com
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS shutterstock_1639318588
OTHER IMAGES SUPPLIED BY PR Shots
PHOTO CREDIT Biscuiteers
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Abstract House Westie Floral Wreath Art Print Discover beautiful original art and prints at Abstract House. All of the art prints and frames are handmade by Abstract House in the UK using high-quality sustainable FSC materials. They also use real glass for all of the frames. £10.00 www.abstracthouse.com PHOTO CREDIT Abstract House
Westies & Besties - February 2022
GIFTS
Getting Personal Valentine’s Bottle’n’Bar Pink Gin & Chocolate Bar Keep them sweet on you this Valentine’s Day with this pink gin and white chocolate Bottle ‘N’ Bar! Hand crafted with care, this single origin white chocolate comes sprinkled with raspberries and includes pink gin in a heart-shaped bottle. It’s a romantic gift for someone special this Valentine’s Day! £19.99 www.gettingpersonal.co.uk PHOTO CREDIT Getting Personal
Blair & Co This stunning Necklace & Pendant Collection by Blair & Co are sure to get your heart pumping this Valentine’s Day. The beautiful moon and star gold pendants are sublime and could prove to be the ideal gift for the romantics out there! 37€ www.blair.ie/collections/necklacespendants PHOTO CREDIT Heavenly Feet
Hotel Chocolat Valentines 20 Macaron Raspberry Selector Torn between a caramel and raspberry macaron on a trip to Paris, these chocolatiers tried them both together and simply had to recreate the combination in chocolate. The result? A tangy raspberry whip with a nibble of crispy éclat, tamed with caramel-milk chocolate. £9.00 www.hotelchocolat.com PHOTO CREDIT Hotel Chocolat
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FA S H I O N
Put your Best Foot Forward this February
…AND KEEP YOUR TOOTSIES TOASTY
Barbour Peregrine Wax This long winter coat from Barbour will keep you wrapped up warm like an Eskimo. With its furry interior to keep you warm, along with its large hood, you’ll be protected against the winter elements while you go about your daily life. £299 www.barbour.com PHOTO CREDIT Barbour
Joe Browns This Nice and Cosy Cable Hat will keep the heat in when you’re out and about on your travels ensuring you stay warm and comfortable during the winter season. £15 www.jobrowns.co.uk
IMAGES SUPPLIED BY PR Shots
Oliver Bonas
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PHOTO CREDIT Joe Browns
The Alfa Sac Midi PU Backpack from Oliver Bonas is the ideal accessory to brighten up a winter’s day. With its stark orangey colour, this backpack has plenty of storage space for your working day essentials or for a leisurely outing. £49.50 www.oliverbonas.com PHOTO CREDIT Oliver Bonas
Westies & Besties - February 2022
FA S H I O N
Joe Browns My Go To Lace Up Boots These beautiful burgundy boots look great in all weathers and as they’re knee-length they’ll keep you looking stylish and staying warm. These boots have a small heel too, so you’ll be able to show them off with any outfit. £15 www.jobrowns.co.uk PHOTO CREDIT Joe Browns
Heavenly Feet Justina Women’s Heart Print Boot These women’s boots embrace a red and pink heart print upper on a cleated outsole. They feature both a lace up fastening and a side zip for quick fitting, while their padded insole ensures comfort underfoot. The soft warm lining will keep your feet cosy on those chilly days. £59.99 www.heavenlyfeet.co.uk PHOTO CREDIT Heavenly Feet
IMAGES SUPPLIED BY PR Shots
F&F These Taupe Midi Lace Up Boots are the perfect footwear for both outdoor events and indoor gatherings and are the ideal accessory for winter wardrobes. Wear under full-length skirts or over skinny jeans for a stylish, warm look. £30 www.next.co.uk PHOTO CREDIT Next
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Q & A
A Life on the Ocean Wave
PHOTO CREDIT Tim and Tracey Clarke
TIM AND TRACEY CLARKE LIVE AN UNUSUAL LIFESTYLE. THEY RUN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP SELLING HEALTHY DOG TREATS AND ACCESSORIES… OH, AND IT’S ON A BOAT!
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A friend of ours mentioned the lady who was currently running The Doggie Boat was selling up and he asked if we were we buying it. A couple of months later we ended up transferring her stock onto our boat at the end of the Floating Market in Merry Hill – and the Doggie Boat was ours! That was just over three years ago. At the time, though, it was largely doggie-themed items for humans. However, we wanted to add treats, bottles and bowls, dog toys, poo bags, etc. We started off in a very small way, but it was at the Christmas Lights switch-on in Oldbury when we met a local trader selling JR Products that we thought we would give that a go. We bought a very small selection for the forthcoming Birmingham Christmas Floating Market and were taken aback at how quickly they sold! We haven’t looked back since and have increased our range significantly, including taking on more suppliers of healthy dog treats. Very few of the product lines we took over remain now – and even Tim’s jigsaws and calendars have taken a back seat! The Doggie Boat is an independent shop that sells healthy treats for dogs that can be found meandering the inland waterways of England & Wales. How receptive have your customers been to this unusual way of selling dog products? We are generally very well received. We haven’t done as much direct trading as we would have liked yet. First, we had the lockdowns. As an essential retailer, technically we could have traded, but we weren’t in a particularly suitable area and our licence restricts us as to how long we can trade in one location anyway. Since then, we have bought a new boat, which required refitting and took us “out of service” for six months. Tracey then trained with a new Guide Dog, which was another three months. The new boat is now currently being repainted, which has also meant we haven’t traded direct for about three months…
However, when we do arrive in a suitable location, we advertise our presence on social media and this is usually very well received, provoking positive comments and tagging of friends. We try and pick a spot that has a good footfall too – particularly dog walkers! Naturally we end up swapping dog stories with customers and many also ask about living on a boat.
Q & A
How did The Doggie Boat come about and when? This wasn’t something we set out to do and of course it’s a bit of a long story! We had been living on our narrowboat for about five years and had seen other boats trading and thought we could do the same, maybe selling some of Tim’s canalthemed photographs. So, we bought our trading licence, got some jigsaws and calendars made and started selling them along with some brica-brac to raise money for Guide Dogs. Tracey is registered blind and has a Guide Dog, so we have a bit of a vested interest!
“When are you back” is also a common question! But, with 2,000 or so miles to cover – that’s a bit of an unknown. We could choose to cruise on a fixed circuit, but we also want to explore all the waterways we can. Customers are always given a flyer so that they can continue to buy mail order if they wish. How difficult is it to live and work on a boat? We love it. It’s a life choice that we have no regrets about. In many ways it’s no different from working from home – except that it moves! Space is obviously a big issue and of course this does restrict what we can stock. Because we constantly move, we can’t build up regular customers that way, but we do have an expanding number of regulars online. How do your two dogs (Ozzie and Loki) find living on a boat? Tell us about some of your adventures and challenges. They love it! Narrowboat life is a fantastic life for a dog as every day is a new adventure. They have the biggest garden in the world – and we don’t have to maintain it! They have learnt that they can’t just jump off as and when they feel like it. We do now know that they can both swim, although thankfully neither seem to too impressed with the idea! Naturally, it has cost us a lot of training treats in the process. Again, space inside is restricted, but they have lots of fun and adventures outside and it does force us to take them out regularly. They noticeably sulk if we stay in any one place for too long! Generally, the biggest challenge is for Tracey as she has very little eyesight and some of the towpaths are not the best for negotiating with a Guide Dog. But we generally plan ahead and are careful where we moor. Loki has learnt how to guide Tracey around the locks when she’s working them. He can now “find the paddle” and “find the beam” – again at great training treat expense! Both Loki and Ozzie also know “over the bridge” and “walk the plank”. These are useful at some locks for getting to the
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Q & A
PHOTO CREDIT Tim and Tracey Clarke
THE DOGGIE BOAT
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
You are a member of the Pet Industry Federation. Tell us about this. We’ve only recently joined, so are still learning the benefits! They have a code of conduct which will give our customers reassurance of the standards we adhere to. It is also important to keep in touch with what is going on in the industry. They have a help line which is invaluable to us particularly as we are relative newcomers to the trade. Apart from which, it gives us that “sense of belonging”. How important is it to you both that you sell ‘healthy’ natural treats for dogs? How selective are you when it comes to the products you sell? Now, it is absolutely imperative. We certainly wouldn’t sell anything we wouldn’t give to our own dogs. They are our expert product testers! Tim has also just completed a dog nutrition course with Nottingham Trent University as we are still learning! We are now very selective – and we have also learnt that not everything from all suppliers is as healthy as we first thought, although the nutrition course has taught us that “healthy” can be a relative term. Because we are limited on space, we can’t expand, so any new lines have to replace existing lines. Most of our healthy treats are JR Pet Products, backed up by Green & Wild’s. We also have some other products from smaller manufacturers, as we like to support other small businesses. Most recently, we are proud to have become resellers for Dorwest Herbs. A small selection is currently available on our website, with the rest of the range to follow. How can customers find you? Our website (www.doggieboat.co.uk) has a location tab, which always shows our current position through our satellite tracking system. Once we get mobile again, our plan is to advertise both our current location and planned cruising route on our website as well as our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
What kind of festivals and events do you attend and where? The Roving Canal Traders Association (RCTA) Floating Markets and other canal-based events. In the past, we have attended markets in Birmingham and the Black Country as well as Market Drayton and Nantwich. We have been at the Black Country Boating Festival twice. We were also booked into festivals at Norbury and Gnosall – until they were cancelled because of Covid!
Q & A
other side. They both know not to cross unless instructed, because they are not always suitable for Tracey to cross. If this is the case, then Tim has to come up and work the offside of the lock. Loki can also locate bins – and push buttons on pedestrian crossings when they are in town.
Currently we are near Derby and our aim is to explore waterways further north. We have nothing specific planned at the moment, although we will probably explore the Caldon Canal, then aim towards Manchester and head up to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Of course, this is subject to weather and canal closures. How has Covid-19 affected your business? Initially, it did us a favour. We were locked down in Wolverhampton, where we were fortunate enough to have good access to everything we needed – including a brand-new Aldi store just five minutes’ walk away! This gave us the opportunity to work on the new website we were planning, making it much more user-friendly, especially for the vision impaired. It also gave us time to have a sort-out as we moved over to concentrating more on the healthy treats. Obviously, it did stop us cruising and trading direct – as all the markets and festivals were cancelled, which did affect us quite a bit. We find it interesting that despite the reported trend to online shopping, we do far better selling direct. People clearly love to talk and discuss their purchases – and get their paws on them. If there is anything you’d like to tell us, please do so here. We’ve mentioned the RCTA (www.rcta.org.uk). We joined them when we first got our trading licence. As new floating traders, we found it invaluable to link up with others who also trade from their boats. This opens up new opportunities and we can learn about good trading spots around the network. It also shows that we are fully licenced and follow a set of standards.
We are always available for online orders – we do our very best to get them out the same day (although this does depend on where we are and if we are cruising that day).
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COMMUNITY
Are you a Westie Groupie? WE CATCH UP WITH SOME OF THE FABULOUS FACEBOOK WESTIE GROUPS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY’RE UP TO IN 2022.
Above: Kim Latham
COMPILED BY KIM LATHAM
HERE’S WHAT WE ASKED OUR WESTIE GROUPS: WHEN WAS YOUR GROUP ESTABLISHED AND HOW MANY MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE? HOW DID YOUR GROUP COME ABOUT? WHAT IS THE ETHOS OF YOUR GROUP? WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT TO OTHER FB WESTIE GROUPS? WHAT ARE YOUR GROUP GOALS FOR 2022? WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT YOUR MEMBERS? WHAT DO YOU THINK ATTRACTS MEMBERS TO YOUR GROUP? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO TELL US?
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
COMMUNITY
HERE’S WHAT OUR WESTIE GROUPS TOLD US (IN ALPAHBETICAL ORDER):
Our Little World of Westie Love By Tommy Hurst The group was started by my wife just over five years ago and we currently have 29,500 members. It came about as our own Westie, Tam, was continually suffering with ear infections. At the time the whole social media platform was becoming more prominent so the group was set up in the hope that Westie owners would share ideas and experiences of being a Westie owner.
OUR LITTLE WORLD OF WESTIE LOVE
Some groups are precious about the number of members they have but we prefer the quality of the posts and photos along with the reactions they receive. I set the group up for my wife to run initially, it got bigger with hundreds of posts, member requests each day so I became more involved to support her. I remember somebody sending me a private message telling me that they had recently lost their Westie and the photos on the group that people were putting up were helping them cope with their own loss and it helped them smile and think of the good times with their own Westie. For me, if we can help just one person in a similar scenario who may have suffered a loss and it helps them in a small way then the group has a purpose. We love the interactions and support that we see daily. Around 99.9% of the members are so supportive, friendly and show genuine care and consideration for each other, those that don’t generally don’t last that long. Along with my wife
PHOTO CREDIT Tommy and his wife
The ethos of the group is that is remains predominantly Westie related, we don’t allow items to be sold or advertised as we don’t want members to be scammed which is a downside to social media. Any non-agreed posts for items are deleted and the poster blocked as the last thing we want is for an innocent member to be duped in any way. I’m the ‘bad cop’ as it’s generally me who removes these posts and blocks members, I’m also the one who normally re-iterates the group rules regarding the issues! and myself there are two other admins who help with the group and it is probably moderated about 20 hours per day, we try to ensure that it is a safe and friendly group to visit, if people don’t conform then they won’t last long as members do report posts and then we can action appropriately. The sheer volume of Westie photos and videos! Who cannot love that innocent looking face and playful nature? I’d like to think that the members realise that we do try to offer them a safe environment in which we do try and keep rules to a minimum, but we do expect that these basics are adhered to as it is for the benefit for all. I think that some think we are paid by Facebook to run the group at times and can be quite demanding, the group is run and maintained by people who just share the same love of West Highland Terriers that they have! Sharing the joy of our fur babies is what I hope keeps people returning to the group and spreading the message and happiness of the greatest dog breed money can buy as the love they show is infectious!
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PHOTO CREDIT George Buchan of Peace Love and Westies
COMMUNITY
PEACE, LOVE AND WESTIES!
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
We started under another name Terriers Against Terrorism which Rosie had put as a # in another group following one of the attacks. When we were a small number of members I used to have ‘Sgt Barkley’ (my Westie… now just Barkley) do roll calls and everyone would post pictures of their Westies. That was fine as a temporary name, and so a couple of years later we both offered ideas which would give the name a happy, cozy and Westie family type vibe which we had already created anyway. It became Peace, Love and Westies after we put a poll to the group for a name change, and I was happy because the name was my idea. Ha! As with the name change, we want to have a group where everyone feels like they are part of a big Westie family. There is so much to be negative about these days so we wanted to offer a place where people can come online and just see literally just positivity and happiness – somewhere you can go and immediately start smiling. If we can put smiles on people’s faces, then we’re happy. I’m not sure how different we are from other Facebook Westie groups, but we try our best to maintain that big family vibe, and I think people appreciate that on our group specifically. Our group goal is to keep people smiling. We have so many Westies which you can tell are right characters, it’s difficult not to smile or laugh when you see them. Our goal is just to keep spreading that happiness and mostly importantly, spreading some peace, some love, and lots of Westies. We hardly have any issues in the group. Our members are the ones which make the group what it is, and Rosie and I thank every single one of them for it. Our members are also there for each other when some difficult times inevitably come and that’s great to see people who have never met rallying together to help someone else who they’ve never met who really needs it. I love that despite almost all the 4.5k people having never
COMMUNITY
Peace, Love and Westies! By George Buchan I started our group in 2016 with fellow admin Rosie Parker. We currently have about 4.5k members.
met, they talk to each other as is they have. Westie family, folks. Barkley would probably say its him. Sheba (Rosie’s Westie) is also a bit of a model, so she’d likely say the same for her. Honestly, I think it’s the vibe we have in the group which attracts people, or perhaps gets them involved. Our group, on the face of it, shouldn’t seem any different when asking to join, but I think the name makes people want to see what’s inside. Both Rosie and I also make a real effort to make our members feel we are approachable and happy to talk, and I think that helps. We try not to be the admins that only come on to tell people to stop doing stuff. Barkley is my second Westie who’s six and is my awesome little sidekick who I just love to bits. We’re a double-team on the group and we try to make people laugh with each post. Sheba is 13 and a little diva, you’ll see that in her modelling posts. Barkley and Sheba have never met as she’s back in Scotland, and Barkley is here on the French-Swiss border. One day they will though, and with those two characters I don’t even want to attempt to guess who’ll come out top dog.
Our goal is just to keep spreading that happiness and mostly importantly, spreading some peace, some love, and lots of Westies. George Buchan
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COMMUNITY
Team Westie By Lori Baker I established Team Westie a couple of years ago and now it has 631 members. It is a private group and I vet every person who makes a request to become a member.
TEAM WESTIE
I started Team Westie because I love Westies. I wanted to share photos of my Westie Bucky with the Westie lovers of the world! I also love seeing photos of other people’s Westies. I’ve had other dogs in the past, but there is just something so special about a Westie. I can’t explain the connection I have with Bucky, but I can feel it to my very core. I also know that other Westie owners feel the same.
I think what makes my group different is that I am selective in who I allow to become members of Team Westie. I want everyone to feel special and not just a mass group that allows a lot of non-Westie related posts to be on the group. I encourage members to post photos of their Westies. I love to feature member’s photos for my cover photo. I want to continue to grow Team Westie SLOWLY. I don’t want to be the biggest Westie group on Facebook, I want to be the best Westie group on Facebook.
PHOTO CREDIT Lori Baker of Team Westie
The ethos of my group is that we are all a big happy family of Westie lovers. We don’t all have to be the same to know that the Westie is a special breed. I love all the input from the group.
going on in the group. At the same time, I listen to what my members are saying. If I get a notice that a member is not respecting others in the group, I will remove the post and contact the member privately. GO TEAM WESTIE!
I love how the members comment on each other’s photos. It’s a great way to get to know that the love of Westies is universal. With so much negativity on Facebook and in the world in general, it’s nice to see cute photos that show love and compassion. I think the attraction to Team Westie is that I keep things light and easy. I don’t allow prospective members in if I get a bad feeling about them. I do check each person’s profile and I have declined people. My group is small enough that I can keep an eye on posts and can delete a post if it makes other members uncomfortable.
I don’t want to be the biggest Westie group on Facebook, I want to be the best Westie group on Facebook
I am a single administrator of Team Westie. I know that there are a lot of negative feelings (such as people’s inclination to think of scammers) toward single admin groups, but I like knowing what is
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
Lori Baker
COMMUNITY
WESTIES ABERDEEN
Westies Aberdeen By Jenny Gordon We established Westies Aberdeen in 2014 and now have 2.1k members and I decided to set the group up so that my two westies could socialise with other Westies.
PHOTO CREDIT Jenny Gordon’s dogs
We just want to share out westies with other Westie lovers, share the fun and help when support is needed. The ethos is fun, friendly, and supportive. We’ve been restricted recently in walks but hope to develop this further and have more walks throughout the year at different venues. We love our members as they’re all just as Westie crazy as me! It’s a local group and they can meet up and connect with local Westie owners.
Years ago when I saw the health benefits of feeding my dogs a fresh raw diet, I felt I needed to spread the word. We have evolved since the early days of WAG and now there is a huge amount of information out there regarding titre tests, (basically a test which tells you whether it’s necessary to vaccinate your dog or if they have immunity). There is plenty of good and well written material explaining why a dog needs a fresh raw diet. We also promote natural flea and intestinal cleansing remedies. WAG is friendly, supportive and a there’s a huge amount of information and help available for our members. We don’t judge and everyone is welcome, no one is ever made to feel silly when asking a question whatever it might be. We also try to make it fun with the photos and funny threads we post to get everyone involved. Our goals for 2022 are to carry on educating members, to get more dogs healthy that are suffering due to poor quality processed food, pesticides and over vaccination. Our main aim is to get the word out there. Our members are just the best; they are always on hand if another member needs help with
WESTIE ADVICE GROUP
PHOTO CREDIT Sue Makepeace
Westie Advice Group By Sue Makepeace The Westie Advice Group (affectionately known as WAG) was established in 2015 and we have more than 13.5k members.
anything. They love to join in our conversations, everyone is treated with respect, and everyone is empathetic when a Westie passes away. A memorial statue as a gift is always sent. Members are attracted to our group when looking for advice and information. Quite often on another group if they are struggling to find answers they are sent to WAG. When I first started WAG, I honestly didn’t realise how many Westie owners there were that were looking for a resource to find information on the health and well-being of their dog. I didn’t realise how many dogs there were that were struggling with health issues. I’m so glad I took that risk and started the group as I’ve lost count of the number of dogs and owners, we have helped turned their lives around. The WAG Admin are a fantastic bunch of knowledgeable people, always on call to give some support, advice and help, WAG just couldn’t run without them and of course I am eternally grateful.
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COMMUNITY
WESTIE GIGGLES & WIGGLES
PHOTO CREDIT Linda Shelley of Westie Giggles and Wiggles
Our main goal is to offer friendship and support to our members which has been even more important since COVID began. Linda Shelley
Westie Giggles & Wiggles By Linda Shelley The Westie Giggles Group was set up two years ago by me and Erika Luke-Green and Lisa Douglas, and we now have over 2,500 members worldwide, including members from Russia, China, the USA and Canada. We started the group as primarily a friendship group for Westie owners, although all dogs and owners are welcome, we love our honorary Westies as we call them. We are not a rescue group, but we promote rescue and cross post dogs and other rescue groups. Our main goal is to offer friendship and support to our members which has been even more important since COVID began.
We work alongside other Facebook Westie groups and like to think we are all one big online Westie family. Our aims moving forward this year are to offer friendship and support to as many as we can. Our group is a fun friendly light-hearted place to be, we believe the group belongs to the members and everyone is encouraged to share photos, stories etc. We have amazing members, and many true friendships have been made through the group all brought together by our love for our little white dogs.
We hold regular fundraisers that include our very popular auctions, we support our members who are struggling with big vet bills and other issues, we fundraise for many groups and rescues, including Many Tears, Wonky Pets, Animal Friends, Broken Biscuits, and many other smaller groups.
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
COMMUNITY
WILL AND WEE JESS Will and Wee Jess By William McKnight Our group was formed in 2018 and we have 1.4k members. I was a member of another huge Westie group because I had Wee Jess and I liked to take and share photos of her. At one point I was trying to make a short video for the group, and I asked if anyone would like to send me a photo and I would use it on the video. Unfortunately, some people didn’t like it so I Ieft the group and set up my own page and a lot of people followed me there.
We are all just supporting each other through extremely tough times. We allow no political or religious content because these topics can be very contentious, and we feel there are other sites more suited to these subjects. In 2022 I just want my guys to feel supported, cared about and safe. I absolutely LOVE that our members treat each other like family. So many of our members have met in person and are now lifelong friends.
PHOTO CREDIT William McKnight of Will and Wee Jess
We have a basic standard set of rules at Will and Wee Jess. We treat each other with kindness, dignity and respect and failure to do that will result in expulsion from the page. My friends and fellow admin guys police this policy very stringently. One of the reasons I set up the group was to ensure that our members have a place they can come and feel safe and post without fear of nasty comments being made to them.
Firstly, the Wee white dog is a West Highland Terrier although we make it very clear that everyone is welcome no matter what. Perhaps people may have heard what a lovely community spirit we have within the group and perhaps people like the sound of a page where we don’t allow keyboard warriors and we treat each other with kindness, dignity, and respect.
ARE YOU THE FOUNDER OF A WESTIE GROUP? GET IN TOUCH WITH US AT: INFO@WESTIESANDBESTIES.COM WE’D LOVE TO HEAR WESTIE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!
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B E H AV I O U R
Too Much Love… Hurts SHOWING AFFECTION IN THE SAME WAY WE DO WITH A HUMAN CAN BE HARMFUL TO OUR CANINE PALS
Above: Justine Shone
BY JUSTINE SHONE
A
s a dog trainer I see many dog owners treating canine companions as if they were human beings. When this happens, you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s only a matter of time before a dog trainer ends up being called to help with the many behavioural problems that will ensue.
the cuteness of their new friend that training goes straight out the window. This is when things can seriously backfire. Owners must try to remember that when they get a puppy or a dog, you must try not to humanise or treat them like babies. So, here are some examples of what some owners do when they bring their new puppy or dog home.
While it is normal to love a dog so much that they are treated as a family member, it is also possible that showering a dog with constant love and affection can actually result in them feeling smothered.
Giving a puppy or dog too much freedom too soon without any boundaries and training, sleeping on the bed or settee, overindulging, and rewarding them at the wrong times, not crate training their puppy because they think it’s cruel, just letting the puppy have free run of the house without training or boundaries in place, these are all a recipe for disaster for the future wellbeing of the puppy. A lack of training and boundaries is a direct cause of some behavioural disorders and sadly some dogs end up in rescue centres or euthanised because owners have failed them from the beginning, albeit unintentionally.
Owners sometimes forget that dogs are animals and while the dogs themselves become a family member because we love them so much, they’re still animals who can’t say when they’re afraid or angry unless you are good at reading your dog’s body language. If you’re unsure whether or not your dog is appreciating all of the ways you show them love, check their body language. Body language that indicates your dog is unhappy include whale eyes where you can see the whites of their eyes, still tense muscles, growling, or snapping, licking their lips, avoidance like turning their head away. If you do not take note of your dog’s body language the next step could be a bite. Do you understand your dog’s language? One of the main problems is when owners get a new puppy. The family is so overwhelmed with
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As a dog trainer, I am not claiming that we can’t have our dogs on our beds or settees, but owners need to build on the foundations training wise and have boundaries in place, so that dogs are more mentally balanced, and they will have earned these luxuries in your home. Your dog will be much happier, and so will you because there is nothing better than having a well-trained dog that you can take anywhere and everywhere.
Westies & Besties - February 2022
It is easy for dog owners to ignore problematic behaviour from their dog because they are looking at the behaviour as if the dog was a person. A common example is allowing a dog to growl when a spouse is trying to get in the bed or trying to sit on the settee next to their partner or someone in the family. Because the dog is viewed as a little fur baby it is normally laughed off as cute or just being protective because they love you so much, rather than regarding the behaviour as a genuine dangerous issue. The dog is giving clear signals that it is uncomfortable. This is common in lap dogs that are treated like fur babies because owners do not understand or respect what their dog is saying through their body language. Socializing Some owners have a habit of taking their puppy or dog everywhere for the sake of human social events, completely ignoring how the dog is responding to what’s happening by allowing strangers to pet the dog. Perhaps the dog is uncomfortable with this, but you don’t want to be rude to someone? However, this can lead to your dog or puppy being more nervous and result in the animal not feeling safe with you as
You may love your dog and want to take them everywhere, we all know that dogs are very loyal companions, but remember some dogs might not always want to be by your side as some may prefer to have a little alone time in a place to relax. Don’t forget that on average dogs also sleep 12- 14 hours a day to reset and it is perfectly normal, and its sleep shouldn’t be disturbed. As a dog owner of two beautiful Shih tzu’s called Charlie and Chico I understand how their eyes can melt your heart. My two also have luxuries and I love them dearly, but they are trained and have boundaries as it’s an on-going journey to keep them balanced and happy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving your dog, but if you think you may be overdoing it then you need to change the rules of the game. Remember to show your dog the kind of love that increases the bond between you both instead of overwhelming them with constant attention and affection. For more information on the work of Justine Shone please visit: JP Holistic Nutrition: www.jpholisticnutrition.com
PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_47601382
Healthy bonding with your pal So, while they may want those dog treats it is healthier to give your dog what they need by stimulating their brain and making them work a little for it, reward-based training, whether through agility, nose work or enrichment puzzles, which all build a fantastic bond with your dog.
an owner because you keep letting it happen when your dog is displaying clear signals, they are uncomfortable. Pushing your puppy or dog to interact with others at the park because you think your dog or puppy should get on with every dog and socialise it is not the answer. Owners don’t realise forcing social situations on a puppy or dog can cause the animal to become reactive when forced into an uncomfortable situation, your dog may stand up for himself with behaviour that you don’t like.
B E H AV I O U R
So, let’s have a look at some examples of what some owners do with food. Diet is another way some owners will humanise their dogs. It may seem cute to order your dog human food in a cafeteria or give him/her a treat at the coffee shop, but you might be killing your dog with kindness. Allowing your dog to devour scraps from the dinner table, for example, then complaining they’re always around the table when you’re eating your dinner results from what the dog has been taught! Human foods add calories preservatives, fat, starch, which can lead to obesity and nutritional problems, milk-based products like puppuccino cups from dog-friendly cafeterias can cause upset stomachs and diarrhoea, food allergies, and even behavioural problems. Fat from meat can cause pancreatitis, and sugar can lead to dental issues and diabetes. You may think that giving your dog treats all the time for simply looking cute shows you love them, but it is important to remember that one of the ways we love our dogs is to give them what they need and not what they want.
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ACCESSORIES
Share the Love LEAP INTO FEBRUARY WITH A FEW LITTLE TREATS FOR YOURSELF (AND YOUR PAL!)
Cuckooland You’ll never be late again for your Westie walks with this fabulous Westie wagging tail wall clock! This delightful and unique gift is a new addition to the Cuckooland bestselling range of dog clocks and the batteries are included. £40 www.cuckooland.com PHOTO CREDIT Cuckooland
Daisy Park This best in show stainless steel bottle is stylish, convenient, and is great for your winter walks with your pal. All you have to do now is decide who will be using it – you or your dog! £20 www.daisypark.com PHOTO CREDIT Daisy Park
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Westies & Besties - February 2022
ACCESSORIES
TK Maxx Dog Bed Fit for a King or a Queen – show your pup how much you care this Valentines with this plush and cosy dog bed that will see your canine pal snuggled up like royalty this February. £19.99 www.tkmaxx.com PHOTO CREDIT TK Maxx
Very Show your Westie some (more!) love this month with this lovely, knitted heart print jumper. He’ll be the envy of all the dogs in the neighbourhood! £18 www.very.co.uk PHOTO CREDIT Very
River Island This red and black puffer jacket for dogs will ensure your Westie is definitely the leader of the pack when it comes to being warm and dry this winter. N/A www.riverisland.com PHOTO CREDIT River Island
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WE LLB E I N G
Lessons in Love WE CAN ALL LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM OUR WESTIES Above: Rachel Bolton
BY RACHEL BOLTON
I
t is considered a good idea to surround yourself with loving people. I think that’s why so many of us journey with our dog companions, as they continually ooze unconditional love. You are more likely to surround yourself with loving people when you connect into that aspect of yourself first - which always comes back to selflove. It is an important process of life, and when we come to understand how our inner emotional landscape projects outwards to create our world reality, we are in a better position to come to know ourselves.
I think that’s why so many of us journey with our dog companions, as they continually ooze unconditional love
When we say and feel that we love our dog, the meaning could encompass so many things. We respect, honour, and care for them. We notice and respond to their unique gifts and come to
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understand what they love to do and try to offer them opportunities to live a life of joy. We tell them how gorgeous they are and how much we love them. We learn to listen to our animal friends and intuitively respond to their needs. We also support them to become balanced and confident to help them on their journey here on Earth. We also feed them with nurturing foods that support their mind, body, and spirit - right? So, could we flip-flop all of this and ask what it means to walk into self-love? What exactly is self-love? Self-love can be described as self-respect, courage, self-confidence, self-nurture, and a belief in intuitive nudges. Self-love allows us to feed our bodies with what it needs and not necessarily what we desire. As well we come to realise that guilt is not a truth and neither is shame, they are only belief systems - they are not you. We also come to realise that self-judgment is not self-love, and neither is comparing ourselves with anyone else - as we are all unique. Self-love calls out for you to look for your gifts, invest in your confidence, trust your inner wisdom, nurture your intuitive abilities, exercise compassion, and listen and respond to your needs. Take time each day to understand that although life can be tricky, the aim is to remain as balanced as possible, like in the eye of the storm, trusting that all will pass. Don’t hold on too tightly, otherwise, you may break! The wisdom is to feel your way through knowing the journey helps to strengthen the spirit. Look to your dog
Westies & Besties - February 2022
Dance like nobody is watching As you journey along, make this work your focus to attract loving people to yourself and engage in
To work with Rachel individually, or for help with your dog in the areas of mind, body and spirit, visit her website: www.rachelbolton.life
PHOTO CREDIT shutterstock_310796936
WE LLB E I N G
Try to focus on the gold within you and aspects of yourself you can easily celebrate. Try and think about what has made you smile, how you have managed to come through the darkest times in your life with victory of heart and spirit. Think about the times when you let go of the self and surrendered to the bigger picture of love and how things flowed more naturally for you. Focus on the joy in your life by activating the memories of laugher, joy, and love. Think about all you have achieved, from the small instances to massive life events. For example, the first time you sharpened a pencil or the first time you tied your shoelaces. Do you get the picture? The small and mighty milestones have led you to all that you are right now. The more you activate good memories of the past, even if you have to rewrite the past in a way that feels better, you can influence your present and therefore your future.
activities that carry a high vibration. Eat and drink in ways that support your mind, body, and spirit. Laugh a lot, dance, and support each other in the name of love. You do not need to go to a club to dance. You can dance and laugh even when you are doing the dishes. How we do the smallest of things adds up to the whole of our life. Take time to relax and nurture yourself. Take time to breathe and let ‘be’. Meditate daily and make it a priority to stop rushing around. Keep your focus off negative mainstream media that does not have your best interests at heart. If you feel at times there is no one there for you right now, you only have to go out into nature. She will surround you with loving comfort all of the time as you prepare for your world to change as your inner emotional landscape heals. Whenever possible, offer people your time and love and trust the more you heal and love the more love you will receive. I would also like to say that to take time to be by yourself or to let go of what no longer serves you can be just as healing as surrounding yourself with others. It really depends on where you are on your journey at any particular time.
and their abundant stream of never wavering, unconditional love, and keep using that as a nudge to remember to keep moving into self-love all of the time.
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BOOK REVIEW
Book Review The Forever Dog –
by Rodney Habib & Dr Karen Shaw Becker
Above: Kim Latham
THIS IS A MUST-READ FOR DOG OWNERS BY THE EDITOR
5
I
t’s an understatement to say that Rodney Habib and Dr Karen Shaw Becker have outdone themselves on their first book, The Forever Dog. This 411-page book masterfully delves into so many aspects of our dog’s lives (and our own!) and they back up their own statements with evidence. I truly love this book as it’s free from the patronizing boring tone that many authors of dog books have adopted which have left me feeling at times that I’ve wasted a few hours of my life that I’ll never get back. There is plenty to learn from this book and the way they tell their tale resembles a couple of friends having a chat over a cup of tea which makes all the fantastic information easier to digest and remember. It really is a breath of fresh air to have a Vet and a very experienced animal advocate explain things in such an easy way. From the history of dogs to what us humans have in common with our canine pals to what we’re feeding them, you can actually tell whilst reading that they really want to help people to help their dogs. Perhaps the key to this is that Rodney and Dr Becker are ‘people’s people’ and as intelligent as they clearly both are, this book was written from the heart for ordinary dog owners and because they have so much vital information, they want to pass on to us.
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At £16.99 this book is well-worth the money as you’ll find you can dip in and out of it whenever you feel like. The Forever Dog is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, and I highly recommend it for both new puppy owners and experienced dog owners alike. Price:£16.99 Available in all good bookstores and on Amazon.
Westies & Besties - February 2022
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