The UK'S Only West Highland White Terrier Magazine
ISSUE 37, VOL 1
March 2024
ISSN 2634-4130
Q&A ROWAN WILLIAMS
Health
A MINI GUIDE TO YOUR WESTIE’S WELLBEING
ON WHAT YOU NEED TO START YOUR OWN PET BUSINESS
News Speaker Lineup
Announced for The Natural Dog Expo
NUTRITION
TREATS GLORIOUS TREATS
Colleen Kersey on her gift of talking to animals – alive and deceased
LIFESTYLE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PET INSURANCE
HEALTH
Congenital Hydrocephalus: Do You Know ?
CRUFTS 2024!
What to expect at the World’s Greatest Dog Show
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As I’m writing this we’re still in the depths of Winter – it’s raining, cold and windy, and Buffy, Westies & Besties Magazine’s Chief Cuddles Officer, is stretched out by the fire snoring his little head off! Thankfully, we have lots to look forward to (along with a bit of sunshine with any luck!) as we head into Spring 2024.
Kim Latham Editor
Our March edition is packed to the rafters with information to help all you fabulous Westie owners provide the best possible healthcare for your Bestie. Our Nutrition column this issue delves into Tasty Treats and how to make sure you’re giving your dog a truly nutritious snack by understanding the ingredients on product labels. Not all snacks are as healthy as they appear to be, in fact, some are just the opposite so it’s really important to know what you’re looking for when it comes to nasties that should be kept well away from your beloved West Highland White Terrier. To kick off the season of new beginnings, Veterinary Nurse, Rachel Bean has created a fabulous Wellbeing Guide for us this month. We all need a refresher course from time to time on how to improve and kickstart our dog’s (and our own!) routines in the midst of our busy lives. This guide is sure to inspire you and your Bestie to get healthy and happy.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
A SPRING IN MY STEP We recently caught up with Rowan Williams of Pooch & Pineapple Dog Photography. Rowan is an extremely talented pet product photographer who helps those wanting to set up their own pet business – have a read of what she has to say, especially if you’re looking for advice on marketing your products in this highly competitive arena. We also have a fascinating chat to Animal Communicator, Colleen Kersey, who is none other than the modern-day equivalent of Dr. Dolittle! Yes, you heard that correctly – Colleen is an animal psychic who reveals all about why and when she decided to take her gift to the next level by chatting to people’s pets. And finally, it’s already that time of year…for CRUFTS! We’ll be there spreading the word about the importance of Westie Wellbeing, and we look forward to seeing many of you at the World’s Greatest Dog Show!
WIN!
Westies & Besties has two sets of tickets to give away to this year’s Natural Dog Expo in May! See you there! To enter the competition go to https://naturaldogexpo.com/ westiesandbesties/ Photo credit: Buffy, Chief Cuddles Officer Image by Kim Latham
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Publisher Westies & Besties Ltd Ground Floor 13 Cable Court Pittman Way Fulwood Preston PR2 9YW Editor Kim Latham Tel: +44 7496 310169 Email: Info@westiesandbesties.com Commercial Director Alex Griffin Tel: +44 7496 310173 Email: alex@westiesandbesties.com Front Cover Image Image supplied by shutterstock_2336312635 Design Jayden Ali Printing WPG Group Westies & Besties Magazine is published by Westies & Besties Ltd (the Publisher) and printed on behalf of the publisher by WPG Group. Westies & Besties Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Westies & Besties Magazine and the Westies & Besties Masthead/ logo is trademarked and 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/ will not be held accountable for the accuracy of the information here therein, or any consequences arising from it. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited articles or manuscripts in the case of all product reviews. Judgements have been made in the context of the product tested. (All photographs have been supplied unless otherwise mentioned.) Advertisers in this publication must adhere to the rules and regulations of the Advertising Standards Authority. Westies & Besties Ltd is not responsible or liable for a company or individual’s advert. Readers are advised to see a fully qualified veterinarian before attempting to try any of the suggestions made by a contributor.
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22 6 THE NATURAL DOG EXPO
If you’re keen to learn all about the natural and healthy ways to help your Westie, then The Natural Dog Expo, which takes place on May 5th, is the show for you! A MINI GUIDE TO
8 THE WELLBEING OF YOUR
WESTIE Veterinary Nurse, Rachel Bean, talks Top Tips to ensure your dog’s happiness and health. From sleep patterns to natural supplements to the benefits of sniffing, find out how to make your Westie’s life as fulfilling as possible.
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IS IT WORTH IT? From lifetime cover to understanding excess, PDSA Nurse, Nina Downing, explains everything you need to know about your pet insurance.
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WHO’S COMING? Find out what’s in store at this year’s Natural Dog Expo as they announce the list of fantastic speakers due to attend in May.
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ANIMAL MAGIC Animal Communicator, Colleen Kersey, reveals why and when she decided to take her gift of talking to animals – alive and deceased – to the next level.
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PET BUSINESS Thinking about launching your own pet business? Rowan Williams of Pooch & Pineapple reveals everything you need to know before you take the plunge.
14 A RARE CONDITION
Last September, Sandy and Alan Russell lost their beautiful 15-month-old Westie, Jemma, to an extremely rare condition called Congenital Hydrocephalus.
18 FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
Your dog loves a treat just like we do but do you know exactly what is in his or her snacks? Sue Makepeace explores what to look out for on food labels to make sure you’re fully in the know about what your Bestie is eating.
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News
Top Lineup of Speakers Announced for The Natural Dog Expo 2024
Anna Webb and Mr Binks
Anyone that wants to learn more about the healthy options for their dogs is encouraged to attend Stacey
T
he Natural Dog Expo is back for 2024, and with a top line up of speakers and experts it is the perfect place to find out more about your dog and their health.
The one day event, which takes place at the Voco St John’s Hotel, Solihull on May 5, draws together dog guardians with leading natural pet experts including holistic vets and researchers. Speakers at the forthcoming expo include Dr Brendan Clarke, who is clinical director and head veterinary surgeon at one of the leading centres for
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integrative veterinary care in the UK, and pet biome researcher Carol Hughes. Presented by BBC broadcaster and canine expert Anna Webb, the day’s aim is to be a gathering of leading natural health experts, sharing science and advice on how to help your dog live the healthiest life they can. Raw food brand Mersey Raw and antiseptic pet care business Leucillin have been named as lead sponsors of the Natural Dog Expo. Westies & Besties Magazine is proud to support the event as a media partner.
Westies & Besties - March 2024
News
Carol Hughes
Dr Adele Fitzpatrick
A spokesperson for the event, said: “We are proud to partner with Westies & Besties Magazine, Mersey Raw and Leucillin to put together this incredible event. Both brands were at the 2023 event and were impressed, asking if they could sponsor this year. “The Natural Dog Expo really is the go-to event for dog guardians who want to find out more about the science behind the natural choices that they make for the dog in their life. We have put together a strong panel of experts with some wonderful
Caroline
Rita Hogan
information and advice to share.” On the day as well as panel talks and question and answer sessions, there will be a dedicated canine nutrition stand, where visitors can ask experts direct questions about their own dog.
Dr Brendan Clarke
questions and learn.” To find out more about the Natural Dog Expo, and to book your tickets go to www.naturaldogexpo.com
The spokesperson added: “There is a growing move in the wider pet industry towards more natural options. For anyone who is interested in the brands and experts who have been leading this then we look forward to meeting you. The event will be a great opportunity for networking, and a friendly environment to ask
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Cover Story
A MINI GUIDE TO YOUR
Westie’s WELLBEING
From Spring Dangers & Sleep Patterns to Happiness & Health BY RACHEL BEAN, VETERINARY NURSE
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s a Qualified Veterinary Nurse and canine expert, wellness is a topic that I often get asked about. It is safe to say that ‘wellness’ as a buzzword can mean a lot of things, and for some it might even mean including your dog in your own personal health practices and beliefs such as yoga or veganism. Obviously, some of these things are most certainly open for debate, but what should wellness really mean for our dogs? For me it is the following three words that define wellness when it comes to our responsibility as canine guardians, the keys to caring for our pet well, and right but also taking into account them as an individual. Just like us, every animal is different and has their own personality, so enabling that to shine through is so important.
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Westies & Besties - March 2024
Cover Story
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Cover Story
HAPPINESS: There are many ways that we can make our dogs happy. And as a canine behaviourist I have seen so many different dogs, enjoy so many different things. From a snuggly jumper, to being ball obsessed, all of our dogs have their thing, and the key to understanding your dog is getting to know what makes them tick. That thing they love, maybe it’s a treat, or maybe it’s a throw of a frisbee, is an essential tool for your training, and will help you and your dog enjoy your life together even more.
5 Benefits of Playing with your Westie: 1. Energy release - all dogs need to release their energy each day just as we do, so a game of fetch, a good run about or even a mentally stimulating challenge can really help with this. 2. Training - a fun game is a great way to teach your dog essential training, such as ‘leave’ ‘sit’ or ‘come’. This kind of training is fun and mentally challenging for your pup, so they are more likely to pick up the commands, as they want more of that fun! 3. Makes you closer - There is nothing like a good old, shared experience to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. And what better than
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something where both of you are having fun! 4. Improves health - raising the hearty rate, solving a puzzle or learning something new all help improve your dog’s mental and physical health. This could help overcome behavioural problems, or simply just mean they get a great sleep. Either way they are really benefiting from a good old game. 5. Social boost - depending on where you play with your dog, there is a good chance that you are going to meet other dogs and people in a public space. This is great for your social life, but also fantastic for your dog, particularly if they are the only pet at home.
Westies & Besties - March 2024
As well as play, it is also so important that your dog gets enough sleep. Dogs can sleep for up to 18 hours a day, and as the adage goes, let sleeping dogs lie! The benefits of a good sleep are monumental in your dog’s wellbeing and happiness, so try and respect that, they can’t be on the go all the time.
Cover Story
1. Immune boost Getting enough sleep helps your dog stay free of bugs, particularly during the winter when popular walks could be riddled with nasties. 2. Mood boost Dogs who don’t get enough sleep could appear sluggish or moody, just like us! If your dog is getting the kip they need they will be more ready for action! 3. Helps with hypervigilance Does your dog react to every little thing? We all know a terrier or spaniel like that! Well, research shows that getting more sleep can help to reset this urge to be hypervigilant.
Encouraging sleep: 4. Invest in a good bed The dog bed should be bigger than the dog, and placed in an area where there is not a lot of footfall. Like our own bed the dog’s bed should be a comfy safe place of sanctuary. 5. Supplements If you feel like your dog is not able to relax at night, there are several supplements, such as Calming by Pawable, or even catnip that helps them to relax. 6. Avoid playing or loud noises right before bed It goes without saying that anything stimulating that excites your dog is not going to make them want to fall asleep. 7. Consistency is key Dogs love routine, so getting into a good night time pattern will help them to know when it’s time for snuggles and snoozes. www.westiesandbestiesmagazine.com
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Cover Story
HEALTHY Healthy inside and out, that is what you are aiming for, and the key to these things are diet and exercise!
With dog food there are many theories, with lots of competing brands keen to push their product on you as the only option, this can be incredibly confusing. With my dogs Chilli and Wisp, I have always fed a balanced raw diet, with natural treats. Chilli is even sponsored by raw feeding brand Paleo Ridge! I have found that raw feeding has kept my dogs healthy for longer, as they are getting the closest to a natural wild diet that is available. Others swear by home cooked food, and there is nothing wrong with that, but I would avoid a completely vegan diet for your dog, as meat has always been part of a dog’s diet, and is what their bodies are created to process. There are also lots of things that you can supplement your dog’s diet with that they are sure to love, and I believe that natural is always best. For a snack why not try a carrot, which also helps keep worms at bay, or why not include a raw or cooked egg in your pup’s food bowl. Like us, dogs thrive on variety, so switch it around every so often to keep things interesting. This could be as simple as buying a different flavour or including a sprinkle of something crunchy on top of their food. And now to walking… Dogs love it, and it is so important for their wellbeing. Even if your dog isn’t a huge walker, it is important that they get out, as
the chance to sniff is almost as important as the exercise itself. The Top benefits of getting out for a walk
1. Socialisation
Going out to a popular walking location is a great way for your dog to meet other canines. This is great particularly for puppies who may become reactive as adults if they don’t mingle with other dogs in their formative months.
2. Exercise
Who doesn’t feel better after some good old exercise? A dog walk improves your dog’s overall fitness, but also allows them to be close to nature and express themselves naturally boosting their overall wellbeing.
3. Sniffing
Just 20 minutes of sniffing has the same enrichment benefits as an hour’s walk according to research, so don’t forget to let your dog use their nose when they are out and about.
4. Training and bonding
A good walk is the perfect chance to put the training you have been practicing at home into action, don’t forget to take some treats and your dog’s favourite toy out with you so they get a reward for doing well. Walking tips for winter and spring: Here are my top five tips, for those spring and winter walks:
1. Paws:
Be sure to dry and check your dog’s paws after a walk to prevent cracking, and to clean away any foreign bodies.
2. Invest in a warm coat:
Particularly for an older dog, a warm coat is essential for a winter walk.
3. Avoid water:
Water at this time of year can be incredibly cold, and their usual dip could give your dog a life-threatening shock. Avoid waterways and streams.
4. What are they sniffing?
Rachel Bean and her Besties 12
Winter and spring are prime bug seasons for dogs, and if you live in an area with lots of dogs, a bug can travel fast. It may be harder to spot because of leaves on the ground but stay vigilant and keep your dog away from other dog’s poo. Westies & Besties - March 2024
5. Nose care:
Cover Story
Noses get cold too! Consider investing in a nose and paw balm to keep their snout from getting chapped. Much like our lips, the cold plays havoc with extremities in the winter and spring.
Safety:
Keeping our pets safe is such an important responsibility, but it can be easy for us as loving guardians to get paranoid or worried about every little thing. Don’t forget that dogs know when you are anxious, so I would always recommend taking a canine first aid course. This knowledge will enable you to enjoy your dog, safe in the knowledge that you know what to do in an emergency, and can act calmly and safely. With spring coming up, here are a couple of tips, to help you avoid any unnecessary drama as we transition from the winter to the Springtime.
Bulbs:
Tulip, crocus and daffodil bulbs can all be toxic to dogs and cause sickness, an upset stomach or even death. Seeing the first shoots of spring is always a wonderful thing, but many people do not realise that popular bulbs can cause serious harm to our dogs. The toxins in bulbs are more concentrated than in the final plant and flower, so it’s important to watch out if your dog is showing an interest in the bulbs you are planting out. If your dog loves to dig, consider bulbs other than daffodil, crocus and tulip, and for any dog make sure to store bulbs out of harm’s way in the home. If you think that your dog may have eaten a bulb, try and work out what kind of bulb and get them to the vets as quickly as you can.” Though an essential part of a spring garden display, daffodil poisoning can result in serious heart problems and issues with breathing and swallowing.
Symptoms also include inflammation and burn-like marks on your dog’s body. If you have any concerns at all it is always the best thing to get your dog to a vet immediately.
Grass seeds:
Grass seeds are a real hazard, as spring blooms, but with a bit of guidance it is easy to check the right places after every walk, to make sure that your dog can enjoy their walks free from injury.
Face:
This can be an issue in particular for flatter faced breeds, and dogs with folds of skin on their face. Check inside each nostril and also gently part any skin folds and ripples. Also check inside the ears, both on the skin of the outer ear, and inside the ear canal. In most cases seeds that have stuck to the face on ears can be safely removed with water or a brush, but if a seed has become lodged in the skin consult a vet straight away.
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Legs:
Armpits are the perfect place for seeds to lurk and can be a place that owners do not spot as they are not as visible. Also check the paw pads by gently pulling apart the fur, and as before, consult a vet if any seeds have burrowed into the skin.
Bottom:
People don’t always realise that the genitals and anus can harbour grass seeds, particularly if a dog loves to roll and play on their walk! You can check for seeds in these sensitive areas during the bathing process, lifting the back legs to get a closer look. In the spring and summer time it is wonderful to see dogs running and playing in the long grass. And, with a bit of careful checking there is no reason why they shouldn’t do this. To find out more about Rachel Bean go to www.rachelbean.co.uk
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HEALTH
Congenital Hydrocephalus: Do You Know the Signs?
Last September, Sandy and Alan Russell lost their beautiful 15-month-old Westie, Jemma, to an extremely rare condition called Congenital Hydrocephalus. It is not hereditary and very little is known about the condition in dogs. This is their story. BY SANDY & ALAN RUSSELL
B
orn on the 13th of June 2022, one of three in the litter (the other two pups are both fine), she came into our lives at 10 weeks old and we had 393 glorious days with her. She was full of life, everyone loved her, and she loved everyone she met. To begin with we had the usual tummy issues, but they soon settled once we found the right food. Then over the next few months it was one ear infection or another, very occasionally she would yelp if we picked her up and then there was a real hesitancy to walk when we were out. On every walk she would suddenly stop, just for a few seconds or so, and then would walk on.
We learnt later these symptoms were associated with the buildup of pressure around the brain and spinal cord. Effectively she was stopping to ‘refocus’ before carrying on. She still had the usual Westitude in spades and nothing seemed to stop her just being a puppy. 14
Clinical signs can include behavioural changes, slowness in learning, unthriftiness, visual deficits and epileptic seizures. Other physical features in more severe cases can include an enlarged or dome-shaped skull and a squint of the eyes” Richard Lindsay BVMS MRCVS
Westies & Besties - March 2024
HEALTH
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HEALTH
Looking back, we had the most wonderful short time with our beloved Jemma, a first birthday party, a photo shoot, and we even got to take her on to the Discover Dogs West Highland White Terrier stand at Crufts. Just a week before we knew something was seriously wrong, we were on a beach holiday, and she was loving every second. The end of that week saw her start to yelp in pain doing the slightest thing and this just got progressively worse over the following days, moving from the base of her spine up to her head and neck. She was finally referred to a specialist veterinary clinic for diagnosis where they carried out an MRI scan and administered as much pain relief as possible but to no avail. The scan showed the extent of the hydrocephalus and we had to make the heartbreaking decision to have her put to sleep a few days later. As tough as this was, we agreed to an autopsy to help us all understand a little more about how and why this condition manifests. It was hard to read but certainly helped us to put some closure on an incredibly difficult situation. It is that rare, our neurologist had only ever seen it in textbooks. If this report helps just one pup from suffering like Jemma did, it will not have been in vain.
What is Congenital Hydrocephalus? Our vet, Richard Lindsay BVMS MRCVS from the Ark Veterinary Practice in Stratford-upon-Avon very kindly offered to explain the results of the autopsy in plain English and this is his explanation of the condition: “Congenital means it was a condition present from birth and Hydrocephalus literally means water on the brain. The brain and spinal cord are bathed and surrounded by fluid, called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which acts to protect these sensitive structures from movement and infection. Normally, the fluid that is produced in a part of the brain - called the ventricular system - moves into the space around the brain and spinal cord and any excess is then drained back into the circulation to keep the pressure of fluid around the brain constant. In hydrocephalus there is inadequate movement of this fluid around the brain and as a result the pressure of the fluid rises which compresses the brain and spinal cord which leads to changes in the neurological function of the brain. The onset and progression of clinical signs are very variable. Clinical signs can include behavioural changes, slowness in learning, unthriftiness, visual deficits and epileptic seizures. Other physical features in more severe cases can include an enlarged or dome shaped skull and a squint of the eyes. These clinical signs of the disease may follow a waxing and waning course and dramatic hydrocephalus may be present in the brain with very few symptoms evident other than perhaps some learning difficulties. In the worst cases these signs can be very severe and may lead to death or euthanasia on welfare grounds at a very young age. Diagnosis of hydrocephalus can be very challenging and blood tests and urinalysis are done routinely to rule out other conditions which can present like hydrocephalus. An MRI scan is the preferred imaging technique for diagnosis and can help to identify any other abnormalities present. Thankfully this is a rare condition in this breed, but it is important to highlight the signs can be very variable in presentation and intensity and any changes in your dog’s behaviour should always be investigated further,” said Richard Lindsey. Our last westie lived to be 18 years and 7 months and so we were looking forward to the years ahead with this Westie. We now count ourselves lucky we were chosen to look after Jemma.
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Westies & Besties - March 2024
HEALTH
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nutrition
Snacks Glorious Snacks
GIVE YOUR BESTIE THE HEALTHIEST OF TREATS BY SUE MAKEPEACE
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Westies & Besties - March 2024
nutrition Image supplied by shutterstock_1131259484
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nutrition
We all love our Westies, and want to do the best for them, we spoil them, and of course give them tasty treats now and again. The top priority when choosing treats is to find a safe, healthy, and highly nutritious type of treat that your dog is going to benefit from and really enjoy. Not all treats are good or equal, in fact some are very poor. Learn to read the ingredients list so you know exactly what is safe, nutritious, and beneficial for your Westie. Also always check the country or origin of the product too. Some treats can be very poor quality, very expensive and of no benefit at all to your dog. Always read the list of ingredients, if you don’t understand what they are, look them up online.
You are looking to avoid the following; Meat and animal derivatives Glucose fructose syrup Cereals Brewers rice Xylitol/birch sugar Glycerol Added salt Wheat gluten Added oils and fats Vegetable derivatives Milk and milk derivatives Nitrates Preservatives BHA or BHT Wheat Gluten …to name just a few.
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My motto is “if you can’t spell it, recognise it, or pronounce it” then don’t feed it to your dog. There are several exceptionally good quality treats available in independent pet shops or even small companies that make lovely organic treats online. Look for one ingredient treats, for example dried fish skins, tripe sticks, dried liver etc. For example, dried liver treats are not only delicious but are packed full of goodness. They contain iron, vitamins A and B12 along with important minerals such as copper and zinc. They are also very easy and cheap to make. Dried fish skins have many benefits, they are high in omega 3, easily digestible and good for dental health. The laminated type like the fish cubes is great for flossing and helping with gum health and teeth cleaning. Rabbit ears with fur are great too, the fur is indigestible and can help with gut health. The fur has the effect of gently brushing the inside of your dog’s gut removing any eggs and worms. Always worth doing a worm count every three months to double check your dog is clear of any parasites. Rabbit ears with fur are also good
for teeth cleaning, and the gnawing effect can help calm your dog. Quite often you see a little poop wearing a furry coat! Tripe sticks are a perfect addition to your dog’s diet. Tripe is known as a complete protein as it’s packed full of essential amino acids, they are incredibly beneficial and gnawing and chewing a tripe stick is very enjoyable and of course it stimulates that feel good factor. There are plenty of good recipes out there to enable you to make your own treats, you then know exactly what’s in them and where the ingredients were sourced. Dehydrators can be purchased quite cheaply, and a lot of the multi-use air fryers now have a dehydrate setting. Generally dog treats are exactly that, a treat. They should only be used as a reward for training or good behaviour. They are not a substitute for food. 90-95% of a dog’s diet should come from his food not from treats. Just like us too many can lead to obesity and poor health. Of course treats are an important and essential part of a dog’s life, but choose them wisely, and use them wisely and your dog will love you for it.
Westies & Besties - March 2024
Sue Makepeace is the Founder of the Westie Advice Group (WAG) on Facebook. Sue is also a certified raw dog food nutrition specialist.
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LIFESTYLE
Everything You Need to Know about
Insurance From lifetime cover to understanding excess – PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing answers all your insurancerelated questions
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Westies & Besties - March 2024
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LIFESTYLE
P
ets are part of the family – they give unconditional love and are always there for us, through the ups and downs. That’s why the vet charity for pets in need, PDSA, is reminding pet owners the importance of pet insurance should the worst happen. “It’s our responsibility to take care of our furry family members,” explains PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing. “And unless you are fortunate enough to have large savings to fall back on, insurance that covers vet fees is an absolute necessity and even a life saver should your pet get into an accident or become unwell. “While we strongly advise you to insure your pet, it can be hard to understand exactly how pet insurance works – especially with all the unfamiliar terminology. There are a wide range of policies out there to suit your pet’s individual healthcare needs and your budget, so we’ve pulled together an ultimate guide to give you all the information you need.”
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Lifetime cover
• Lifetime policies cover your pet for the cost of treatment for any injuries or illnesses throughout their life, that weren’t present before you started the policy. • The big advantage of these policies is that they reset every year at renewal. You can continue to claim up to the yearly policy limit year after year for the same condition, as long as you renew with no break in cover. • Lifetime cover is generally the most complete type of cover that you can get. It will cover your pet for chronic conditions meaning you’ll be protected from the cost of ongoing vet treatment – unlike with accident-only or time-limited cover. • With lifetime cover, you’ll also be covered for any short- or longterm treatment your pet may need. Meaning they will be covered for a road traffic accident right through to treating chronic conditions like arthritis. • Ultimately, this is the best way to keep your beloved companion covered.
Time limited cover
• Also known as annual cover, time limited cover provides your pet with insurance coverage for accidents and illnesses for a set time period (usually a year) from when the symptoms start as long as the policy continues with the same insurer. • It’s worth mentioning that the time period starts from when the condition is first seen, not when first claimed. • When 12 months have passed or the policy financial limit is reached, you’ll no longer be covered for vet fees for that specific accident or illness. • Time limited cover tends to be lower-priced. However, if your pet develops a longer-term condition such as arthritis, or has recurrent problems with for example skin irritation, after 12 months you will no longer be able to claim for this or any related problems. • Therefore, this type of cover is most useful for short-term illnesses, such as unexpected injuries like a car accident or surgery to treat an infected wound.
Accident only cover
• Your pet might need urgent treatment for hospitalisation, x-rays, or extensive surgery after an accident – which can all add up to a large amount of cost in one go. This is where accident only cover can be of use. • Accident only cover only covers accidental injuries (such as road traffic accidents) not illnesses. It can be helpful if you’re finding paying for the more expensive cover difficult but try to upgrade as soon as you can. • As pets get older, they are more likely to develop illnesses that wouldn’t be covered by accident only policies. However, it could be the right cover if you’re on a tight budget, have a young and healthy pet and would struggle to afford the cost if your pet was badly injured.
Westies & Besties - March 2024
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Maximum benefit cover LIFESTYLE
• Alternatively, there is maximum benefit cover, also known as ‘condition capped’ or ‘money limited’. This cover provides a fixed amount to treat each illness or injury for as long as the policy remains in force. • Unfortunately, if your pet is still unwell after the maximum amount is reached, you’ll have to pay for further treatment yourself. • It’s also worth mentioning that you could reach the limit quickly if your pet needs expensive treatment, such as a major operation. • Again, this cover is ideal if you are on a tight budget and have a younger pet.
“Now you know about the different types of pet insurance, you should have a better idea of what the right policy is for you,” adds Nina. “The most important part of pet insurance is making sure that it fits your individual pet’s needs. There’s nothing worse than taking out pet insurance, only to realise that it doesn’t provide the right coverage for your furry friend at a time when you really need it. “Speak to your vet about the policy that is best for you and your pet if you are still unsure.” Nina’s answered some of PDSA’s most frequently asked insurance questions:
What’s an excess?
• The excess is the amount of money you will have to pay for your pets’ treatment at the vets when they have been unwell. If the cost of your pet’s treatment has gone above the excess amount, the insurance company should pay the remaining balance up to the maximum agreed amount in your policy. • Not all vet practices are able to make direct claims to the insurance company, so you should be prepared to pay your vet practice the full amount of money that is owed to them and then you will need to claim it back afterwards from the insurance company. You will not be refunded the excess amount. • The excess will be an amount that you agreed with your insurance company when taking out your policy. • Paying a higher excess can reduce the cost of your pet insurance – but make sure that it’s still an affordable amount for you.
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Does pet insurance cover long-term illness?
“Just like us, our pets can develop long-term illnesses such as diabetes and arthritis. Sadly, not all pet insurance policies will cover the cost of your pet’s treatment if this happens. This is why it’s important to have the right insurance to make sure your furry friend is covered. “Lifetime cover is the best pet insurance for this, as it will protect your companion for the rest of their life, as long as you renew your policy. However, there are some limits on cover either per condition or per year. Therefore, make sure to read your policy documents carefully to see what the limits are.”
Does pet insurance cover dentistry?
“Most pet insurance for dogs and cats do not include dental work as standard. You’ll normally have to pay extra to include this. Even if dentistry is included, your pet insurance is unlikely to cover routine dental treatments like a scale and polish. Dentistry will typically cover accidents, such as your pet breaking a tooth, and the care of infected teeth and abscesses.
What’s a pre-existing condition?
“A pre-existing condition is a one-off or long-term illness, injury or symptom your pet is suffering or has suffered from before taking out your new policy. This even includes if your pet didn’t receive treatment, or you were told it was nothing serious. Even if you didn’t claim for the condition on a previous insurance policy, it still counts as a preexisting condition. Pet insurance companies need to know about all pre-existing conditions as this could affect a future claim. Whenever you make a claim, your pet insurance provider will review your pet’s medical records to see if there are any preexisting conditions that they cannot cover.
What vet fees does my pet insurance cover?
“When you have chosen the pet insurance policy that’s right for you, you’ll be covered for the vet treatments included in your policy. This is usually accidents, injuries, unexpected illnesses, including emergency and out of hours care. Unfortunately, routine pet health care is not covered. In addition, if your pet is unwell but treatment costs fall within your excess, there will not be the option to claim from your insurer at that time. “Pet insurance can cover vet fees for MRI and CT scans, physiotherapy and even overseas
Westies & Besties - March 2024
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veterinary treatment as long as these treatment costs fall within the policy limit. Some policies may even cover complimentary treatments such as hydrotherapy or behavioural treatment. Be sure to read your policy documents to find out exactly what is covered.
Is there an age limit?
“There isn’t an official age limit for insuring your pet – but it’s worth noting that many pet insurance companies do have age limits in place for taking out new policies. Pet insurance often covers kittens and puppies from eight weeks of age. “For new policies, cats can be insured when older, although there may be less insurance companies willing to provide cover. For those cats being insured for the first time in their senior years, excesses may be higher and policies on offer may be restricted dependent on their breed and health. With ageing dogs, there are providers willing to insure them, however as with cats, excesses may be higher, and breed or health conditions may cause restrictions to the policy. Ultimately, this is
why we recommend finding a reputable pet insurance provider, like PDSA Pet Insurance, and staying with them throughout your beloved companion’s life. “We strongly advise taking out insurance for your pet while they are young. Before they have the chance to develop any illnesses that could be classed as preexisting conditions – as few companies will cover these. This type of insurance is most likely going to be more expensive than standard pet insurance, too.” PDSA is the UK’s largest vet charity providing a vital service for pets across the UK whose owners struggle to afford treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn. The charity’s insurance partner, PDSA Pet Insurance, offers a range of policies to cover cats and dogs for accidents and illness, as well as providing access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline. Every policy sold raises funds for the charity’s life-saving veterinary work.
To find out more visit www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-insurance-pdsa
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Feature
Choose the Healthy Options for your Dog Learn more about your Westie’s needs from the most experienced professionals in the pet industry at the Natural Dog Expo
T
he Natural Dog Expo is just around the corner, and in this special Westies & Besties feature we are here to give you the exclusive lowdown on all that you can expect from the day. The one day event, which takes place at the Voco St John’s Hotel, Solihull on May 5, draws together dog guardians with leading natural pet experts including holistic vets and researchers. It is the perfect place to learn the science behind making the best decisions for your dog, and you can also have fun too, meeting like-minded people from around the country who share our love of all things canine. With a range of stalls and advice stands too, you are able to get hands on and meet the people who are at the cutting edge of natural dog care, including Mersey Raw, Leucillin and many many more.
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A previous delegate, talking about their experience of the event, said: “At the Natural Dog Expo you will absolutely find support, natural choices and help for your dogs care, longevity and ailment healing. “It is a fun event too, and a great place to share your own experiences with new friends and contacts in the world of dogs. “As people interested in natural living we all appreciate the benefits these disciplines have
Westies & Besties - March 2024
had on our lives, and the feelings of wellbeing they bring. “But when it comes to our dogs, many pet owners are now looking to adopt a more natural approach. “There is now some serious science behind the move towards natural, and proponents of raw and fresh feeding, supplements and herbs say that these things have transformed their dogs, much in the way they transform us. This event is the perfect way to discover more in a friendly and fun environment.”
THE HOST: Anna Webb - Event Host
As well as her regular radio slot, you may have seen Anna contributing to the Jeremy Vine show, Radio2, You&Yours, Radio 4, GBNEWS, TalkTV, and more! In her successful podcast, A Dog’s Life, Anna investigates all aspects of modern dog ownership, bringing to life why every dog is extraordinary, talking to scientists and experts who have changed, and are changing, our understanding of dogs. Anna fuses her psychology degree with her study with the College of Integrated Veterinary Studies, is an Ambassador for All Dogs Matter and Wild at Heart Foundation, a member of IAAT and the Dog Registration Council. Anna will be hosting the Expo bringing her fun energy along with her exceptional natural dog care knowledge and experience.
THE ORGANISERS: Caroline Griffith and Stacey Renphrey pet food industry nutrition consultant and PA within the pet food industry. Caroline has been practicing and following natural dog care since the early 1990’s and was the coorganiser of the Natural Dog Conference in 2015, bringing speakers such as Rodney Habib and Dr Karen Becker to UK shores. Watching the growing interest in raw and fresh food from her role as a pet industry nutrition consultant and tutor of the only Ofqual regulated diploma in Canine Nutrition, Caroline felt it was high time another natural dog care conference was arranged to showcase and honour this wonderful way of feeding, and living, with our fantastic dogs. Not to mention the empowerment that all holistic and natural vet care choices give to us as canine guardians too. Stacey is the events powerhouse of the organisation, you’ll be greeted with her huge smile at the door, expect effortless check-in so you can get chatting, to discovering natural dog products, services and meet the speakers as soon as you get there!
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As a broadcaster, nutrition and behaviour expert, Anna contributes regularly across the BBC, including BBC Local every Friday as co-host of Barking at the Moon.
THE SPEAKERS: Dr Brendan Clarke BVetMed VetMFHom MRCVS Clinical Director and Head Veterinary surgeon at one of the leading centres for integrative veterinary care in the UK, Founder of the coveted RawSafe, Director of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society and much loved part of the well-known, global Raw Pet Medics show he is a busy man – with an honourable mission! Dr Brendan will speak on Holistic Vet Medicine & Diet for Puppies. With a lifetime in holistic and integrative veterinary care, Brendan’s knowledge is exceptional. Ask him anything and he will be able to support you and your dog with the natural options. Speaking to Westies & Besties Dr Clarke, said: “In true human fashion we believed through processing foods and using by-products of food manufacture we can produce a more affordable food for all species. This has bitten us badly when we look at spongiform encephalopathies (e.g. mad cow disease) due to the feeding of processed animals into cattle feed to increase protein and even for our own health with processed ready meals leading to a huge rise in obesity and chronic inflammatory disease and even cancer. “Recent years have revealed that the best way to combat these issues are to look back to more whole foods and appropriate feeding of our animals and ourselves.”
Rita Hogan Clinical Herbalist
Rita Hogan is travelling from the USA for the Expo 24. Booked by popular demand, Rita is a clinical canine herbalist with a specialism in herbal energetics. Her clinical practice encompasses the use of diet, herbs, flower essences, homeopathic medicines and phytoembryonic therapies (plant buds). Rita’s talk will focus on choosing herbal remedies that work with your dog’s specific ecosystem; mind, body and spirit. A spokesperson for the event, said: “With our ethos being on learning new aspects of natural dog care, we are very excited, and honoured, to bring knowledge of this fantastic approach to herbalism and herbal supplements, to the Expo.”
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Rita will speak on Herbal Energetics – understanding your dog’s individual herbal energetics. Feature
Growing up with a love of natural farming, wild herbs and whole plant medicine Rita has the depth of spirit that all delegates will benefit from. Rita said: “Growing up in a rural environment, I spent a lot of time in the fields and forests learning what each flower was, where the tadpoles were and wildcrafting for my dad and my best friend’s mother. At the time, I didn’t even know I was wildcrafting, I would pick what my dad wanted or my friend and I would roam around her property looking for her mother’s wish list. “In my early twenties I studied Ayurveda and Buddhism. In my late twenties, I started my formal studies of plant identification, function, energetics, history and lore. In 2003, I began blending those studies with my love for dogs. I have obtained most of my experience through self-study, working with other herbalists, nutritionists and my role as co-director of Music City Holistic Pug Dog Rescue. Together with dog expert Peg Harrington, we operated one of the first holistic dog rescues in the country.” She added: “I now have have a busy clinical practice in Olympia, Washington working with clients from all over the world, I make my own herbal remedies, teach herbalism every week through mentorship and local classes.”
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Dr Adele Fiztpatrick BSc (Hons) MRCVS
Dr Adele is an award winning vet from Scotland offering holistic modalities such as Acupuncture, Biome testing and Herbal Medicine. Driven by a fascination of Brachycephalic breeds and a passion for holistic and natural dog care. She has founded an award winning veterinary practice alongside a natural pet store offering fresh, raw food and holistic supplements. A spokesperson for the event, said: “We look forward to sharing Adele’s story with you all at the Expo, alongside her brilliant talk on the part natural dog care plays in supporting the many maladies Brachycephalic breeds are so often diagnosed with.” Dr Adele said: “I am passionate about helping owners make educated choices about their pet’s diet and medical treatment so they can enjoy a long and healthy life together. “I hope to make herbal vet care and other therapies available to Glasgow and Scotland. I have a special interest in Brachycephalic breeds such as Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs. “A lot of my clinical time is devoted to breed specific conditions and procedures. I am committed to improve the health of these breeds through health testing and education.
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Carol Hughes - Pet Biome Researcher
Their research began in 2014 working with vets and veterinary hospitals to better understand obesity, they have gone on to collate a huge amount of data leading them to notice many patterns and their relation to diets fed and also the effect of the family and environmental biome on dogs. Carol will be sharing some of her most impactful discoveries for at the Expo, enabling visitors to discover the truth on the canine microbiome, and how it relates to diets fed and the healing a variety of ailments. Dr Carol said: “In the last 12 months we have developed and completed over fifty different gut microbiome profiles linking dysbiosis/imbalances with health conditions and diseases, we have achieved this by sequencing thousands of samples from affected and healthy dogs and using collaborative research with leading AI developers in the UK, Australia and Silicon Valley USA. “This new material will be presented for the first time at the Natural Dog Expo conference.”
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Microbiome is one of the hottest topics in natural dog care. For over ten years Carol Hughes and her husband have been researching canine microbiome, with the impact fecal transplants and certain prebiotics have in the balance of the canine gut system.
HOW TO ATTEND: • The Natural Dog Expo takes place on Sunday 05 May from 10am until 6pm at the Voco St Johns Hotel, Solihull, B91 1AT • Tickets can be booked online at www.naturaldogexpo. com and you will receive a confirmation email after securing your tickets. • There is plenty of free parking at the venue. • Two packages are available for the event, the VIP package which costs £249 and the Delegate package which costs £99 • Lunch is included with VIP tickets, for Delegates there are restaurants, cafes and take-aways at the venue or a 5min walk away. • The holistic vets & speakers will be able to sign your books, maybe you will even grab a few selfies!
WIN!
Westies & Besties has two sets of tickets to give away to this year's Natural Dog Expo. To enter the competition go to https://naturaldogexpo.com/ westiesandbesties/
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The Greatest Show on Earth? More than 20,000 dogs will be taking their paws to the NEC in Birmingham for Crufts 2024, which takes place from 7 – 10 March.
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Westies & Besties - March 2024
The family-favourite Scruffts final sees the nation’s pets who earned their place in heats across the country throughout the year - compete for the ‘top dog’ title and on Sunday evening, one of five very special finalists will be crowned as the winner of The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award, as voted by the public. Shortly after, following four days of competition, one canine Crufts competitor will put their paws on the coveted Best in Show trophy, which in 2023 was taken home by Orca, the Lagotto Romagnolo, whose ‘tail never stops wagging’. Each day will conclude with one dog earning their place in the Best in Show final on Sunday evening, beginning with the Utility and Toy groups on Thursday 7 March, Gundog group on Friday 8 March, Working and Pastoral groups on Saturday 9 March and concluding with the Terrier and Hound groups on Sunday 10 March. For the 30th year, the popular Discover Dogs area will be welcoming over 200 different breeds, of all shapes, sizes, and personalities, enabling visitors to learn more about the variety of our four-legged friends from
breed experts and see which canine might be the right companion for them. Feature
Organised by The Kennel Club, Crufts 2024 will run from Thursday and through the weekend with a four-day actionpacked schedule celebrating our four-legged friends and all things dog. The event will showcase over 200 diverse breeds and see dogs from all walks of life put their best paw forward in fast-paced and fun competitions including agility, heelwork to music, flyball and obedience.
From discovering the lesser known ‘underdogs’, like the rare Otterhound, to understanding what the popular familyfavourites, like the Labrador Retriever, really need in a home, Discover Dogs is a unique area of the event. Each breed ‘booth’ can help prospective puppy owners on every step of their journey – from responsible puppy buying tips to day-to-day training and caring requirements. For those hoping to rehome a rescue dog, The Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations will also be on hand to provide visitors with everything they need to know about rehoming. After a successful launch of the Stand Up To Cancer Crufts Walkies Challenge in 2023, which saw dogs and their owners raise an incredible £1.4 million, the challenge will be returning for a second year - encouraging two and fourlegged friends to walk 60 miles in April to support life-saving cancer research. Over 500 stands selling all sorts of doggy delights will cover 25 acres of the NEC at Crufts. The event also showcases a range of dog-focussed charities and organisations, including The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, who will demonstrate how dogs can support us, and how we can support them. Many of these organisations will also showcase their work through displays, like the super sniffing Medical Detection Dogs and the brave West Midlands Police Dogs.
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Feature
Over the four days Crufts welcomes over 20,000 dogs, 150,000 people and sees over 8 million TV viewers tune into the Channel 4, More4 and All4 broadcast. The Young Kennel Club, for 6–24-year-olds, and The Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog Training scheme, will be running displays and demonstrations in dedicated rings throughout the four days. There is also a Dog Activities ring for those interested in learning more about getting started in activities such as agility, heelwork to music and obedience. Catherine Guiver, Head of Events at The Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, said: “We are overjoyed to be rolling out the green carpet once again and welcoming thousands of wagging tails to the Midlands. “It is hard to put into words the unique atmosphere created over four days at Crufts, there really is nothing like the greatest celebration of dogs – the buzz and excitement can be felt the minute you enter the NEC! “The action-packed schedule ensures a great day out for anyone who loves dogs, from first thing Thursday morning the energy just continues to build in anticipation of the Sunday evening as the arena seats are filled with everyone trying to get a glimpse of the famous Best in Show trophy.” Over the four days Crufts welcomes over 20,000 dogs, 150,000 people and sees over 8 million TV viewers tune into the Channel 4, More4 and All4 broadcast. All the action is also live streamed on the official Crufts YouTube channel.
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More information and tickets for the event are available on the Crufts website. Tickets are free for under 8s, and advance tickets start at £14 for children (aged 9-15) and concessions, and £21 for adults. Please note that tickets are only available through our official ticketing partner, The Ticket Factory (fees apply).
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Q&A
THE DOG
WHISPERER… Animal psychic, Colleen Kersey, reveals details about her gift of talking to animals - alive and deceased - including two-way conversations with pets, providing evidence to pet parents to prove she is not a fraud, and the questions most owners want her to ask their beloved dogs
BY KIM LATHAM
I invite the animal to join me there and it is there that I first get a sense of their character, which I describe in the transcript document that I provide for my clients. Then I go about asking the questions that I’ve received from the animal’s parent, recording everything in the document; things I see, feel, smell, hear or sense. At the end, I give the animal a chance to ask their own questions or tell us anything we need to know. My process is the same for both living AND transitioned animals
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Q&A
I understand that it sounds unbelievable, I didn’t believe it myself. However, I now believe in giving what I call ‘verifiable evidence’. In other words, there is always something to prove that I have indeed, connected to the animal” How old were you and when did you realise you had a gift of communicating with animals? 47! As much as I would like to share heart-warming stories about me talking to animals when I was a child, it simply didn’t happen to me like that. Around 5 years ago, I was in the middle of a distance Reiki session with a cat in America (I live in France), and a detailed image of a tall bay window with flowing mustardcoloured curtains hanging down on either side, and a lovely window seat complete with cushion, popped into my head. I got such a fright as I wasn’t expecting it, I thought I’d perhaps nodded off to sleep. I happened to mention it to the cat’s owner when the session was finished and she exclaimed, “Oh my god, Colleen, you’ve described our lounge window, and the window seat is where the cat loves to sleep.” Now considering I’d never seen their house before; I concluded that the image could only have come from the cat. I googled ‘Can animals talk to people’ and was presented with hundreds of results about ‘interspecies communication’. For years, I read as much as my brain would allow and finally, I did a course. I went professional at the end of
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2022 and haven’t looked back since. Are you claiming you’re an animal psychic or are you claiming you know animal behaviour very well? I think the terminology is a very grey area, and many people feel that certain titles have blurred boundaries. In my eyes, an animal behaviourist has studied for years to understand the instinctual behaviour of an animal; psychics ‘pick’ up (or sense) things energetically from people or animals; animal communicators have two-way conversations with animals. My work isn’t dictated by an animal’s behaviour, I don’t need to understand the behaviour in order to work with the animal. I have a conversation WITH the animal to learn what they’re thinking or feeling, when they present a certain behaviour. I often work with behaviourists as I’m able to learn WHY the animal acts the way it does. For instance, I can find out exactly what happened with an animal’s previous owner that made it afraid of the doorbell. I can talk to the animal and help it understand why a doorbell is not to be feared. Sometimes this is enough, but sometimes a behaviourist is still required, but at least we now know why the animal fears the doorbell, and that gives us a springboard.
Westies & Besties - March 2024
Image supplied by Colleen Kersey
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For example, the first paragraph in my written report is always a description of the animal’s character. This is NOT based on the animal’s breed so I’m not going to look at a chihuahua and say “This dog is cheeky” or look at a labrador and say “This dog is loving and faithful.” I will look at the photo and tell you that your animal doesn’t like being touched, prefers walking to chasing their ball, can be very demanding at night time, likes soft blankets, etc. I can also tell you if your animal is shy, proud, confident, energetic, or aged. Then, throughout the reading, I provide evidence of things that will show you that I have connected with your animal. I told a lady once that her dog had a sore ‘behind’ and she confirmed it had just had its anal glands cleaned the day before. I told a pet parent his dog loved to play tug-of-war with him and she confirmed this was his favourite game. I told a lady that her dog loved her shoes and she confirmed he would always sleep on top of her shoes. I told a pet parent, in answer to her question to her animal, “What makes you happy?” that the animal was showing me an image of wind blowing in its face. She laughed and said she always put the air-conditioner on in the car after their walks and the dog loved putting his head in the draft.
I told a lady that her horse didn’t like the loud metallic clanging noise at the stables. She told me there wasn’t anything metallic until a few days later, she contacted me to say she’d realised it was a sign hanging on a lamp post. I don’t just give ‘general’ info like ‘your animal enjoys affection’, I give evidence of things that are specific to that animal, and its relationship with its people. You mention that you can communicate with animals that are living and those that have gone over rainbow bridge by looking at a photograph. How does this work? Explain your process. Much like energy modalities such as Reiki, it works on the premise that everything is made of energy, and therefore everything is connected. It’s the same with animal communication! I do a short mindfulness meditation before I connect with an animal, then I do a visualisation exercise. The photograph gives me something to focus on, to direct my intentional energy. Then I focus on that photo, and state my intention to connect with THAT specific animal. I then ask the animal for permission (I won’t ever force an animal to speak with me), and if I’m given the go-ahead, I visualise an empty white room. (This is to help quieten my busy monkey-mind.) I invite the animal to join me there and it is there that I first get a sense of their character, which I describe in the transcript document that I provide for my clients. Then I go about asking the questions that I’ve received from the animal’s parent, recording everything in the
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document; things I see, feel, smell, hear or sense. At the end, I give the animal a chance to ask their own questions, or tell us anything we need to know. My process is the same for both living AND transitioned animals.
Q&A
What do you say to naysayers who don’t believe in your gift? I understand that it sounds unbelievable, I didn’t believe it myself. However, I now believe in giving what I call ‘verifiable evidence’. In other words, there is always something to prove that I have indeed, connected to the animal.
Tell us some interesting stories about your customers and what they have asked you to do and what answers they have wanted from their dogs that have passed away and from those pets that are still here. The questions asked of dogs that are still living tend to be pretty general. People are mostly interested in if their animals feel safe; if they need anything more to be comfortable in their lives; or how they feel about their lives and environment (including other animals and people). People with rescue dogs often ask about their pasts to help them provide better for the dog now, knowing what they’ve been through. This can be useful in identifying behavioural triggers. People with elderly animals ask if the animals are comfortable or in pain, how they feel about dying, IF they’re close to dying, or if they require ‘help’ with their passing. Questions for animals that have passed are much more emotionally-loaded. Sometimes people aren’t with their animals when they transition and are traumatised by guilt and regret. A communication session gives them a chance to explain themselves to their animal and receive messages of acceptance and love back. Some are desperate to know if their animals are okay, where they are, and what it’s like. Some will ask if their animals will show signs if they’re still around, or if they will reincarnate and how they will come back.
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Q&A
You mention in one of your LinkedIn posts that beloved dogs that have passed away often leave signs for their owners that they are still around. What kind of signs do you think they leave us? I did a reading for a cat that had passed a few weeks earlier. The client wanted to know if the cat would show signs that he was around in spirit form. The cat told me, “I will dance in light.” I had no idea what that meant until I told the lady and she broke down crying. She told me that the cat used to lie in a certain spot in front of the patio doors. A few days earlier, months after their cat had passed, their other cat had sat in that spot transfixed on an odd rainbow of light that
was twinkling through the patio door. She realised that it must have been the transitioned cat! Animals often tell me that their people will smell them, or sometimes hear them. A client confirmed immediately that she’d DEFINITELY heard her dog walking up her stairs the previous night; she could hear the claws on the wooden floor. I have heard countless examples of people seeing their transitioned animals out of the corner of their eye only to turn quickly, but see nothing. I have a client who has a specific memory of her cat with ladybirds and quite often she’ll find ladybirds in places or times that just aren’t right for
ladybirds, and then she knows it’s her cat visiting. I believe the more open we are to signs, the more we’ll see them. And why wouldn’t we want to… Have you ever tried to speak to a pet that has told you they don’t want to talk to you? Or a pet that has said bad things about their owners? As I mentioned earlier, I always ask permission of an animal. I am not there to force anything and if an animal doesn’t want to talk, I simply tell the client, the animal wasn’t up to chatting and I’ll try again tomorrow. Thankfully this hasn’t happened TOO often. I had a horse once tell me it wasn’t interested in talking
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I haven’t come across an animal yet that has said anything bad about its owners. If it experienced cruelty at the hand of previous owners, I feel the emotions that it felt, for example, fear, hunger, pain, but I never feel negativity towards the person. All of the people that come to me for an animal communication session, genuinely and deeply care about their animals, which of course the animal feels and therefore feels happy and content. However, there IS a question that often gets asked which is “What don’t you like?” and here I get answers like: “being touched on the face”, “being fed outside”, “being scratched on the tail”, or even a comical “my blanket being washed.” Yup, I spoke to a dog that specifically requested that his mum NOT wash his blanket! You talk a lot about a pet’s behaviour and why they do or do not want to do something their owners want them to do. Could it be argued that you’re more of
I absolutely do believe in the afterlife yes. An animal hasn’t told me it’s in ‘heaven’, but animals have described to me WHERE they are. a behaviourist than you are an animal psychic? I think I talk about animal behaviour a lot because that’s what people see in the first instance. They see animals acting in a certain way and want to understand it. Behaviour is secondary to me, I first want to understand the EMOTION behind a behaviour, I want to understand (and helps client to understand) WHY their animal is the way it is, what has made them what they are. Animal communication does not exist to change behaviour, it is there to help people understand their animal on a deeper level in order to experience a deeper relationship with it. It isn’t there to change the animal into something that the client wants it to be. It’s the same in human relationships; when you learn to understand someone, you develop a deeper relationship with them. You learn what
makes them tick. If you’re constantly trying to change someone, you’re eventually going to run into problems. Q&A
at that moment and when I reported it back to the client, she apologised profusely and told me that the horse was in the middle of a lesson. Whilst it doesn’t GENERALLY matter what the animal is doing when I talk to it, if it needs to concentrate or is preoccupied, this will make the communication difficult. I won’t be able to get much from a dog that is currently in playgroup, for example.
I HAVE been asked to ‘change’ an animal’s behaviour before and I politely explained that that wasn’t what animal communication is for. Someone asked me to “stop my cat from being an arse”; someone has asked me to ‘tell’ their cat to stop kneading them whenever they were on their lap. Animal communication doesn’t TELL the animal to do anything, it is a two-way conversation geared to understand the animal. There are religious people that could perhaps be offended by your gift. What do you say to them? Do you believe in the afterlife? Has a pet ever told you they are in heaven? I have come across many people who don’t believe that what I do is real. I’m not that bothered, I know it’s real and so do my clients and that’s what’s important to me. Besides, I’m sure Saint Francis of Assisi could talk to animals… I absolutely do believe in the afterlife yes. An animal hasn’t told me it’s in ‘heaven’, but animals have described to me WHERE they are. Some are in green fields with lush grass; one was under a large peach tree (why specifically peach, I don’t know!); one was lounging in sunshine in some grass; one was playing with a young girl near a stream. Each one is different but they’re all the same in that they feel free, always feel ‘light’ (as in not heavy) and, if they were ill when they passed, they feel well again.
Colleen is offering Westies & Besties readers a fantastic competition prize of an email reading for you and your pet. To be in with a chance of winning – sign up for our newsletter which can be found on the home page of www.westiesandbestiesmagazine.com for upcoming details on how to enter. For more information about Colleen’s work, visit www.colleenkersey.com or email her directly at colleen@colleenkersey.com www.westiesandbestiesmagazine.com
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Q&A
Rowan Williams of Pooch & Pineapple talks marketing advice for pet businesses and why you’ll need to put your ‘big girl/boy pants on’ when you’re ready to take the plunge BY KIM LATHAM
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Q&A
Rowan Williams of Pooch & Pineapple www.westiesandbestiesmagazine.com
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What are your top 5 pieces of advice for small pet businesses or for people thinking of opening a small pet business? First piece of advice for anyone thinking about it is to absolutely go for it! It’s a fun and very rewarding (plus friendly!) industry to be part of. Secondly, the next advice is to build a really strong foundation - be really clear what you offer, why it’s great and who it’s for. Knowing that will make things so much easier in the long run (and help you save money!). I’m also a really big fan of knowing what you’re good at, and knowing what you need to invest in to get other people to help with. It’s really tempting (especially at first) to try and do everything yourself, but you really can’t. If budgets are tight, try to prioritise and do less, but do it well. The most valuable asset in any business is always the business owner. So, self-care really is important. Burning out and not being able to run the business is detrimental. So be sure to take time away from the business to relax and recuperate. Finally, the most important thing is to have fun! It’s lot of work running your own business, so you really do have to enjoy it.
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I mainly work with small to medium sized businesses, usually those who are going through a big step change like getting a new website built or investing in their first trade show stand
Westies & Besties - March 2024
The pet industry is highly competitive. What do you believe are essential skills a newbie to the industry should have or learn? I’m not sure that this is a skill as such, but I think one of the most essential things anyone can do in business is to put their big boy/girl pants on and put themselves out there. And that means being brave and just showing up every single day. Ask people what they’re struggling with and tell them how you can help! Really understanding what people struggle with, and how your product/service helps them is probably the single most important thing you can do.
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Tell us about your business and how you help other companies. How long have you been in business and how did it come about? Where are you based and what can you offer small or large businesses? What makes you different to your own competitors? I’m a pet photographer and I work with pet owners and pet brands! Most of my work is taking photos of dogs with pet products for businesses to use, but I still do a few private commissions to take beautiful photos of pets. I’ve been a full-time professional photographer since about 2012, and I’ve toyed with a few different areas of photography. I found it by accident after buying myself a nice camera and wanting to learn how to use it properly. I settled on photographing dogs in 2020 because it was the most accessible way for me to keep working during the restrictions of the pandemic. I had already done quite a lot of photography for the animal charity Mayhew, and absolutely loved that. So, I decided to expand on that and offer it as a service to pet owners and pet businesses. I’m based in Sheffield, and I work all over the UK. I mainly work with small to medium
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sized businesses, usually those who are going through a big step change like getting a new website built or investing in their first trade show stand. I’ve got two different types of photography for businesses, studio photography from my purpose-built garden studio, or lifestyle photography that shows products in action. I think the main thing that makes me different is that I have a lot of experience working in sales and also marketing. I’m also a massive marketing nerd and I really love learning about marketing!
Westies & Besties - March 2024
We hear that you’re passionate about ethical brands. What makes a brand ethical to you? Explain how businesses can ‘sell’ and promote the fact that they are ethical. Do you think it’s important to be an ethical brand in today’s competitive arena to stand out? Do you think pet owners are savvier these days to the products they are buying into? For me an ethical brand is one that is driven by a purpose to help people, that doesn’t do that to the detriment of our environment. Ethical brands are
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www.westiesandbestiesmagazine.com
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driven by being considerate of how the brand is made (where things are sourced from), how it’s delivered to the consumer and what happens with all the waste. There are some amazing companies doing great work to be creative and thoughtful with their products, and one of the best ways I’ve seen businesses communicate is just by being transparent. I love knowing how things are made and I love knowing how problems have been thought about. I realise not all the problems get solved instantly, but it’s the transparency of “we’re trying to do better” that makes a brand stand out for me. I think as the pet industry grows; consumers are becoming savvier. Even the pet food market has changed dramatically in ten years. The products available, how we buy them and how we talk about them, have completely changed. Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? I’d love to add a couple of well-trained Westies to my doggy model database! I’m always looking for new pooches to work with on 50
commercial photoshoots, ideally the pooch needs to be confident (photoshoots can be busy with multiple people and strange equipment and the dog’s happiness is paramount), with a solid stay / wait on cue. Many of the shots I take require the pooch to be still, next to a product. Sometimes clients need additional doggy model skills, like the ability to hold something in their mouth, or touch their paws to something. But I always match the dog to the shot we are trying to get - so dogs are never forced to do something they haven’t done before. I aim for all my photoshoots to be like a fun game for the dog model, where they do a little bit of work, then have plenty of time to sniff, play and wander around.
Lots of the dog models I currently work with have done foundation training in hoopers, agility or gun dog work.
Lots of the dog models I currently work with have done foundation training in hoopers, agility or gun dog work. But ultimately what anything like that does is build a good bond between the owner and the dog, where the dog easily understands what the owner is asking for. That’s probably the most essential part of modelling! Westies & Besties - March 2024
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