Your Dog November 2020 by Your Dog

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The out siders

The loneliness of living with a ‘problem dog’

A DOG LOVER’S GUIDE TO THE YORKSHIRE DALES Unbreakable

BONDS!

And how to achieve them

problem MY

PUPPY!

A pup’s gotta chew...

HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND

Does your dog shape up?

MAKE IT THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!

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realised (with shock because it seems just five minutes since he was the tiniest, most adorable puppy ever) that he’s beginning to show signs of ageing. Sometimes, when he’s curled up on the watching TV, and I pick sofa with my husband, watc up the lead to take him out, there’s a certain something that was reluctance to leave it, somet unheard of just 12 months aago. I’ve noticed a stiffness in his back leg — could it be the start of arthritis? — and I’m tthinking I must get it checked out. book an appointment to ge And although he’s never been bee the speediest of dogs (he’s more of a sniffeer than a runner), he’s fast earning a reputation as the dog who’s always bringing up the rea rear! So, my plan as the year draws to a close, is to get him a full and thorough health tho check, and then organise all al those things that we’ve been meaning to do together but never t quite got round to — because becau time passes so quickly, and we have to make the most of m things while we can. So, to all our readers and their dogs, we t wish you a very happy Chris Christmas, and hope you’ll enjoy — and make the most of — this special time — and this issue! issu

CONTRIBUTOR CAROLYN MENTEITH “…is to finally get a robust, UK-wide ban on electric shock collars. This is a campaign that has been ongoing for over 15 years and has had many near victories. Wales is the only country in the UK that has a total ban on putting shock collars on dogs, with Scotland having issued guidance based on existing legislation that has yet to be tested. England has said there will be a ban but we are still waiting…” CONTRIBUTOR CAROL PRICE “…is a better world for dogs — no more puppy farms, or dogs both bought and discarded like accessories, or dogs deliberately bred and born with deformities that ruin their lives, simply because owners want a more novel or ‘cuter’ looking pet. To truly love a dog means always putting the interests of that animal, rather than ourselves, first. Santa has already given me the best dogs in the world.”

Editor

WHO’S ON THE COVER THIS MONTH? Our cover star is Lily, a seven-year-old Pomeranian X Papillon.

PAGE

Keeping your dog in good shape is hugely important to his overall well-being. Julie Hill seeks advice from the experts on how to achieve it.

Images: PDSA.

Human food can be far too caloriﬁc for dogs.

The dog body condition score chart helps you to assess whether your dog is overweight.

on the scales,” advised PDSA vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan. “The ideal weight is diﬀerent for every type and breed — but a healthy shape is the same for all dogs. “The veterinary term for this is ‘body condition scoring’, and you can do your own check at home by looking at your dog from the side and above. He should have a neat, tucked-in waist. “Feel under your dog’s tummy. It should go in, not bulge out. Feel along your dog’s back and sides. You should be able to feel his ribs, spine, and hips easily, but they shouldn’t poke out. “Feel the base of your dog’s tail. You shouldn’t be able to feel a build-up of fat where the tail meets the body.” Vicki Cook, who is head nurse and practice manager at a busy vet practice in Manchester, said: “I like to call it an

Your Dog December 2019

Hazel lost weight after her diet changed when she suﬀered from luxating patella.

Images: Jodie Forbes.

e — and our dogs — are in the middle of an obesity crisis. You probably think your dog doesn’t have a weight problem, but are you sure? According to vet charity PDSA, while veterinary professionals consider 46 per cent of dogs they see are overweight or obese, 81 per cent of owners say their dogs are the ideal weight. So how do we know what an ideal weight is? “A dog’s shape is a better way to tell if he’s carrying extra weight rather than relying

hourglass ﬁgure.” If there is too much sand in your dog’s hourglass, Vicki suggests checking his portion sizes. She ﬁnds that clients usually claim their dog only eats the recommended amount of dog food. “Then I spend 10 minutes talking to them, and I’ll get: ‘He has a bit of sausage in the morning;

he has a dental treat every day; he has a bit of the kids’ toast at supper…’” All those forgotten extras mount up, so Vicki recommends writing down everything your dog eats. His food is vital to weight loss or maintenance. RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha

TO GIVE AWAY

SETS OF DOG TOYS

Tonka toys for children have a 70-year history of quality, innovation, and ruggedness, and now Tonka has created a range of toys for dogs. Designed to be tough for chewing, while encouraging exercise through play, the toys are made with real tyre rubber, are great for aggressive chewers, and provide hours of interactive fun for dogs of all shapes and sizes. We have ﬁve sets of toys to give away. O For more information, visit uk.hagen.com

CROSSSTITCH KITS Heritage Crafts is giving away y 10 cross-stitch kits to readers comprising Paw Prints, a lovely design from the Peter Underhill Collection, and Black Labrador by Susan Ryder. These designs, by Susan Ryder and Valerie Pfeiﬀer, TO GIVE from the Little Friends AWAY range, are very appealing and quick to do, making them perfect to give as Christmas presents. O For more information, visit www.hcrafts.com or call 01889 575256.

TO GIVE AWAY

PACKS OF TREATS Thrive’s 100 per cent freeze-dried duck neck treats are hypo-allergenic, include high protein for weight control, and are glutenand grain-free. They contain no sugars or salts, no added fillers or flavourings, and no artificial preservatives or colours. We have 25 packs to give away. O For more information, visit www.thrivepetfoods.com

A YEAR’S SUPPLY OF DOG FOOD

BAGS OF DOG FOOD

Natures Menu, the UK’s TO GIVE number one for natural pet AWAY food, is giving away 30 1.2kg packs of its new Country Hunter Superfood Crunch. Complete, balanced, and deliciously crunchy, these gently baked biscuits are suitable for all dogs and are available in four tasty varieties: turkey with cranberry, duck with plum, chicken with butternut squash, and beef with redcurrant. Made with wholesome fresh cuts of meat, blended with fruits, vegetables, and oats, Superfood Crunch oﬀers an easily digested, complete meal in a convenient format that dogs love. O For more information, visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk/country-hunter or call 0800 018 3770.

Established for almost 50 years, Skinner’s Pet Foods has developed a range of 19 nutritionally complete diets to suit every age, breed, and energy level of dog. Formulated to help keep dogs in peak condition, Skinner’s also oﬀers nine hypo-allergenic diets, which are all free from wheat, maize, dairy, and soya to support dogs with food intolerances or sensitivities. We have a year’s supply of dog food, from Skinner’s popular Field & Trial range, to give away to one lucky reader. O For more information, visit www.skinners petfoods.co.uk or call 01379 384247.

TO GIVE AWAY

HAMPERS OF DOG TOYS

TO GIVE AWAY

This time of year can be incredibly stressful for you and your pet. Kong can help to relieve the stress by giving your dog a mental challenge. Kong dog toys have been enriching the lives of dogs and meeting their instinctual needs to play for over 40 years. We have ﬁve Kong toy hampers to give away, and because every dog is diﬀerent, each hamper will be bespoke, including (at least) a Kong Classic, Kong Snacks, Kong Easy Treat, a toy to cuddle, a toy to play with, and a Kong Signature Ball. O For more information, visit www.kong company.com

Nicola and Jon at their heir wedding with guestt of honour Buddy.

TOOTHBRUSH CHEWS Part of the dental range from TastyBone, TastyBrush is a toothbrush-shaped, long-lasting chew that features grooves and ridges to scrape and cleanse dogs’ teeth, promoting dental hygiene. Available in spearmint and fresh mint ﬂavours, the TastyBrush will help to banish dog breath as well. We have 20 TastyBrushes to give away. O For more information, visit www.tastybone.com

icola Owst admits that the thought of rescuing a seriously neglected Staﬀordshire Bull Terrier couldn’t have been further from her mind a decade ago. Not being a particular fan of the breed at the time, and with her personal life in turmoil, it took a twist of fate for the lives of these two troubled souls to collide. Back in 2009, Nicola was staying with her friend, Sally, in Leicestershire, after emerging from a troubled relationship. One rainy April day, the two women and Sally’s daughter, Charlie, had arranged to drive south down the M1 to collect an unwanted foal. But having loaded the painfully thin colt — along with a pathetic-looking ﬁlly they couldn’t leave behind either — into their trailer, a third animal caught their eye.

Your Dog December 2019

www.yourdog.co.uk

Your Dog December 2019

Squashed into a cat carrier inside a rusty crate was a dog, but he wasn’t moving. Gingerly, they knelt down for a closer look. “We weren’t sure if he was alive at first,” recalled Nicola, who already had a bad feeling about the place. “It looked like he’d been chucked out with the rubbish — the site was a complete wasteland with scrap metal lying around and fly tipping everywhere.” On further inspection, the dog, which appeared to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was only just breathing. Covered in his own faeces and painfully thin, he barely had any fur, his face was swollen, and he was suffering from mange. “His breathing was shallow, his skin was oozing, and the stench was unbelievable — he’d just been left to die and there was

Nicola made special sock boots to protect Buddy’s paws.

no way I was going to leave him,” explained Nicola, who, without a second thought, ran to the car for a towel, removed the pitiful creature from the cage, and held him in her arms. Heading back to the car, the trio drove silently away — instead of one rescued animal on-board, they had three, along with Sally’s Rhodesian Ridgeback, Scamp, and Dobermann, Zeus, in the boot. The Staﬃe sat on Nicola’s lap for the duration of the 86-mile return journey, and although he opened his eyes, he had

Buddy with his friend, Springer Spaniel Susie.

no energy to move. “We rang our vet’s en route and made an appointment, but it was a scary two-hour drive back as I was convinced he was going to die on my knee,” continued the 35-year-old civil servant and expectant mum-of-one. “The stench of rotting flesh combined with his own mess was terrible. Instinctively, I found myself constantly asking him: ‘Are you all right, my little buddy?’ and so the name stuck.” It was getting dark when they pulled into Town & Country Veterinary Centre in Market Harborough, complete with the two young horses in the trailer behind. They used the back door, worried that anyone would think they were responsible for the dog’s condition. “Vet Ian Carpenter was mortified when he saw Buddy,” recalled Nicola, who estimated the dog to be between six and 12 months old. “He said it was the worst case of neglect he’d ever seen, but saw the hope in my eyes. Ian gave a guarded prognosis, preparing me for the worst.” The first priority was to treat Buddy’s skin, which was hugely infected. Tests later confirmed he was suffering from demodectic mange, an inflammatory disease caused by mites. Antibiotics, painkillers, and a gentle medicated wash were prescribed in an attempt to get the terrier’s oozing sores under control. Additionally, Buddy could hardly stand

When Nicola Owst spied a barely alive dog discarded like rubbish on wasteland, she didn’t hesitate to save him. But who was really saving who? Joanne Bednall reports.

TO GIVE AWAY

Who saved who?

BEST BUDDIES

TREAT BUNDLES

The treat pack from Antos includes six new recipe medium-sized Yak Snacks, a natural, organic dog chew that’s long-lasting and great for dental care, eight packs of natural, single-protein Canice treats, ideal for training and dogs with sensitivities, and six packs of new Super Bones treats, in trout and spirulina, rabbit and spinach, and duck and pomegranate varieties. We have three treat bundles to give away. O For more information, visit www.antos.co.uk or call 01292 318 318903.

THERMAL BLANKETS THER Scruffs Thermal Therm Self-Heating Dog Blanket provides warmth for your dog’s muscles on cold, winter nights. It contains a foam layer, backed with reflective foil, which reflects body heat back to your pet and keeps him warm. A quilted, hollow-fibre layer inside the blanket retains warm air around him, providing additional insulation. We have nine blankets to give away. O For more information, TO GIVE visit www.petslovescruffs. AWAY com or call 0161 702 5060.

Me and my dog

TO GIVE AWAY

28 www.yourdog.co.uk

DOG BEDS Trixie’s canvas-look Föhr bed, from its Be Nordic range, has a removable cotton/polyester cover, a non-slip bottom, and a foam flake filling. We have three Föhr beds to give away. All the products in the Be Nordic range have a maritime twist, including collars, leads, cuddly caves, bowls, and toys. O For more information, or to find your nearest Trixie stockist, visit www.trixie.de or call 020 7154 2940.

Image: Andy Biggar Photography.

FREEBIES!

For your chance to win these fabulous enter online by visiting www.yourdprizes, co.uk/freebies, og. quote the code EWR03RWE, and follow the instructions on Alternatively, screen. turn to coupon. Complete page 72 for our entry the coupon and to the address shown. The closing send it online and postal date entries is December for 2019 (UK only). 15, Please note, online from November you can enter 7, 2019. For full competition terms and conditions, visit www.warne rsgroup.co.uk/ competition-terms/

It’s the season of goodwill, so we’ve got a double helping giveaways p g of g y for you. Fingers crossed!

SHOULD WE COUNT CANINE CALORIES? Some dog food now displays calorie information, and on the Vet’s Kitchen website there is advice on working out the caloriﬁc content of those that don’t, plus how many calories your dog needs,

Fe stive

Image: Andy Biggar Photography.

“N “No No N o point p po poin jogging g with wit ith th h brachycephalic a brac brach brachyc brachy rachy rachyc achyc chyc h ephalic ephali ephal epha eph phalic halic Bulldog d ” Bulldog...

Instead of sticking rigidly to a set Gaines said: “It’s important to feed your dog amount of food every day, Jodie gave a healthy, well-balanced diet that’s suitable her dogs more food on the days they’d for his age, size, lifestyle, and health. You had more exercise, and less on days should follow the feeding directions on they hadn’t been so active. She added: the packet, and adjust how much you “I take regular photos of my dogs feed depending on the dog’s weight and from the side and from above so I can body condition. monitor their weight in terms of the “Monitor your dog’s body condition, British veterinary weight scale.” or weigh your dog regularly, and stick to Jodie also believes in approaching recommended measurements for feeding each dog as an individual. “I have and treats. If you notice your dog is gaining three dogs; they’re all a similar or losing weight, if his eating behaviours size, but they get fed a significantly are different, or if he’s drinking more or less different amount, because one’s than normal, then it’s important to speak to geriatric, one’s an active middle-aged your vet.” dog, and one’s an active young dog Diet is only half the equation though; with a really fast metabolism.” how should we be exercising our dogs? As a behaviourist, Jodie wonders if “Do what the dog was bred for!” there is a link between behaviour enthused Vicki. “There’s no point and weight: “A lot of the dogs going jogging with we see for behaviour issues a brachycephalic Bulldog are quite overweight. DID YOU for six miles, because he’s Being overweight in dogs KNOW? probably not going to make can cause behaviour According to the Kennel it, and there’s extra stress problems because they Club, canine obesity is the on his joints. I love tricks, can’t perform natural most common nutritional because exercise isn’t just behaviours. There’s a lot disorder seen in dogs. for weight, it’s for mental to be researched there!” stimulation as well — healthy body, healthy mind.” Samantha advocates an individual approach, considering breed, age, and health. “Some dogs may enjoy lots of regular, short walks while others may benefit from one long, fast walk or run. Don’t forget, exercise not only keeps your dog physically fit, it also provides opportunities to sniff, explore, investigate, play, and interact with other dogs Bramble lost and people.” nearly a third of her body weight. “Worryingly, our PDSA 2019 PAW Report findings show that 99,000 dogs in the UK are never walked,” revealed Olivia. “Daily exercise and play are essential for all dogs. It helps keep them in shape, but is really important for their mental health, too. Exercising with your dog is a great way to bond, but don’t overdo it. Not all dogs can cope with a lot of exercise in one go. Take breaks when you need to, and make sure there’s lots of water available.”

ABOUT JULIE Julie Hill has hosted DogCast Radio, written, and broadcast about dogs for over 10 years. She lives in rural Shropshire with her family — both two- and four-legged.

Jodie Forbes with Hazel and Bramble, from Bournemouth, Dorset. “I changed Hazel’s diet,” recalled Jodie. “She had luxating patella in her back leg, which is a knee problem, and because of that she was getting arthritis in her front legs because she was over-compensating. The heavier she was, the more it aﬀected her, so I changed her diet and it all went from there.” The weight of both Border Terriers went from around 10kg to around 6.5kg. Surprisingly, Jodie lost weight, as well. “Bramble, the younger one, became very good at agility; because she was ﬁt and healthy, she became so much faster. I was miles behind her when we were doing competitions, and I wanted to lose weight to do her justice. “When I look back on photos, I realise they’ve lost a lot of weight, but, at the time, I didn’t even think they were overweight. I think that’s the problem a lot of pet owners have — they have overweight dogs, but they don’t even realise they’re overweight.”

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Being overweight can have an impact on your dog’s behaviour.

Case en study “...at the time, I didn’t even think they were overweight.” ht.”

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HOW TO ENTER FREEBIES

HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND

PAGE

Owst. Image: Nicola Owst

Image: Mark Taylor, Warren Photographic Ltd.

CONTRIBUTOR KAREN BUSH “…is a lazy day doing whatever my Whippet, Angel, feels like doing. I’m a well-trained Whippet servant! (Although if Santa is reading this, a pair of boots that don’t leak would also be nice).”

Image: Nicola Owst.

nother festive season approaches and as we rush around thinking presents, turkeys, and Christmas trees, it’s also a time when a lot of us take stock of what’s happened over the past year, and how we move forward into the next. When it comes to our dogs and the dog world, some of us think big (see right), while for others ottheers rs it it is about more mundane matters. This is the ﬁrst year I have noticed a subtle change in Bertie, my Norfolk Terrier. He is now eight years old and I’ve suddenly

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS…

due to lack of food and burnt pads from standing in his own urine. “I bathed him with the medicated wash in the sink at Sally’s stables, and when I left his side to grab a towel, he started to cry; it made my heart melt,” continued Nicola. “He loved that first bath; it must have given him such relief. His feet were so raw and sore that I padded them with Gamgee [surgical dressing] and bought children’s socks and tape to secure it. “Within a week, Buddy had put on weight and his skin was improving. Before long, there was a spark in his eye.” A month later, the patient was following Nicola around like a shadow. “He became my rock,” continued Nicola, who was fragile herself due to an unhappy childhood and a succession of bad relationships. The white and brindle Staffie even took to Nicola’s new beau Jon, and was guest of honour at their 2013 wedding. However, two years before, Buddy suffered a setback, which had more of an effect on Nicola. “Somehow, he damaged his tail but despite steroids and antibiotics, it wouldn’t heal,” she explained. “The vet said amputation would be the best course of action. I was so upset — Buddy had such a waggy tail that was a big part of his character, and I felt so sad for him.” Four years later, he faced an even bigger trauma. While stroking him, Nicola came across a hard swelling on his rear leg, between his paw and hock. It

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didn’t seem to cause him any discomfort, but it played on Nicola’s mind. After an X-ray and tests, the lump was diagnosed as a mast cell tumour. Buddy underwent surgery at a large veterinary referral hospital in the Midlands, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy at his local vet’s. The worry of losing her constant canine companion, along with the cost of treatment, took its toll, and Nicola suffered three miscarriages. Following the final treatment, Buddy’s blood tests were clear — he had beaten the cancer. “I was terribly worried I’d lose my best friend — the two of us had become one,” said Nicola. Their luck changed the following year, however, when they were invited to represent the breed at Crufts’ Discover Dogs. Nicola had entered Buddy in a fun dog show and the judge, a Staffie breeder, was so impressed with his temperament and story that she thought he would be the perfect advert for the breed. “It was a huge honour and the most amazing experience — Buddy loved all the attention,” said Nicola. The Staffie’s fame has since spread, resulting in a book about his life, 27,000 Facebook followers, and an appearance on TV’s ‘Lorraine’. Now aged 11, Buddy’s days of climbing Snowdon and Scafell Pike may be over, but Nicola is determined to carry on educating people about the breed. “It’s sad that some people cross the road when they see us and don’t want their dogs playing with Buddy — it’s ignorance,” concluded Nicola, who has since rescued Susie, a Springer Spaniel, to keep the Staffie company. “At first I didn’t know much about the breed but Buddy has completely changed my mind. “He’s more like a little person than a dog and has a great sense of humour. I’m the lucky one, but if Buddy could talk he’d probably argue that he is.”

O Published by Mirror Books, ‘Saving Buddy’ is priced at £12.99 in Demy hardback; visit www.mirrorbooks.co.uk Buddy shortly after his rescue.

www.yourdog.co.uk

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Contents 6TALKING DOGS

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, views, and goings-on in the dog world.

40A BREED APART ★ Revealing the secrets behind that bright spark of the dog world — the Border Collie.

BODY, 10HEALTHY 42BEST BUDDIES HEALTHY MIND ★ Expert advice on how to keep your dog in shape.

NASTY 14NO SURPRISES!

Vet Vicky Payne explains how to make the most out of out-of-hours veterinary care.

CHRISTMAS 16BEST EVER! ★

How this year’s festive season with your dog could be the best, and most enjoyable, yet.

UNBREAKABLE BONDS! ★ Three owners reveal how building a bond with their dogs has really strengthened their relationships.

25LETTERS

What are Your Dog readers writing about this month?

28FESTIVE FREEBIES! ★

It’s Christmas — and there are £2,500-worth of giveaways up for grabs as a result, and more than 100 prizes.

30THE OUTSIDERS ★ Living with a so-called problem dog can be a lonely existence. Could other dog owners be more understanding?

AROUND 34BREEDS THE WORLD In the final part of our series, we focus on some of the talented dogs we’ve missed in our trek around the globe.

WHAT 38DOING COMES NATURALLY! The benefits of eating a natural, healthier diet.

Buddy was shut in a tiny cage and left to die, but then along came Nicola Owst. But who saved who?

DOG LOVER’S 45AGUIDE TO THE YORKSHIRE DALES ★

A guide to places to stay, wonderful walks, and tempting places to eat, plus an introduction to two of the area’s iconic breeds.

DOG 54AOWNER’S A–Z

From unwanted, to vibrissae, and wormery — a miscellany of tips, advice, and good ideas.

57CHARLIE’S GIFT

A tribute to golden Cocker Spaniel Charlie, who gave so much to his human family.

LAST GOOD 58AWALK

Sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy Karen Bush’s short story.

PROBLEM 60MY PUPPY! ★

Remember, it’s not ‘to chew or not to chew’ that’s important, but what to chew!

64DOG ANSWERS

Your problems solved and your queries answered — on doggy health, training, behaviour, and general care — by our panel of experts.

70THE GALLERY

Who’s starring in our gallery of canine stars this month — is your dog among them?

74THE LAST WORD Kim Cooling on a life devoted to improving the lot of vulnerable dogs.

Your Dog December 2019

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CHEEKY PUPS!

MAKE IT A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER

— PAGE 60

— PAGE 16

SUBSCRIBE NOW! Never miss out on the chance to get hold of your favourite magazine! Turn to page 52 for our latest subscription oﬀer.

BUILDING A BOND

— PAGE 20

Y OF LY L WIN A YEAR’S SUPPAw w ds YOUR CHANCE TO Yo ct Awar duct du P Produ D g Prod in tthe Your Dog e in te ote When you vote

DOG FOOD

How to buiild ld a bond with your dog

A BREED APART  THE BORDER COLLIE

PRODUCT AWARDS

BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING DOG MAGAZINE November 2019 £4.25 11 9 771355 738139

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GREAT GIVEAWAYS!

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Unbreakable

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And how to achieve them

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BREEDS AROUND THE WORLD

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DORIS DAY

Does your dog shape up? THE DARK IS COMING…

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CHRISSTM TMAS COUNTD NTDOWN...

MAKE IT THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!

Image: Andy Biggar Photography Photography.

— PAGE 34

ME AND MY DOG

— PAGE 42

www.yourdog.co.uk

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Talking dogs

NEWS. CHAT. INTERVIEWS. PICTURES. COMPETITIONS.

Calling all animal welfare heroes... D

Poppet post-op.

Poppet’s 3D jaw.

Jaw breakthrough A

rescue Shih Tzu has received a partial jaw replacement, thanks to pioneering surgery from a Kent-based vet. Dr Ryk Botes, who runs a centre of excellence for orthopaedics at Medivet Faversham, was so touched by eight-year-old Poppet’s plight that he decided to attempt a ground-breaking procedure to repair her broken jaw. Despite her small size proving particularly challenging, Dr Botes worked with specialist firm 3D Metal Printing to design and create a custom-made titanium implant to fit to Poppet’s jaw. The Shih Tzu, whose lower jaw was broken on both sides with one side missing a large

New s

HOUND-UP

PET-FRIENDLY PROPERTIES RISE IN POPULARITY New research reveals that an increasing number of UK tenants rate landlords allowing animals as their biggest priority when searching for a property. The study of 2,000 tenants, by specialist lender Landbay, shows 14 per cent now rank

segment of bone, is now making a good recovery following the successful one-hour operation. It’s thought that Poppet sustained her injury on a puppy farm before she was adopted two years ago by Daphne Harrigan from Pitsea, Essex. Poppet has filled a huge hole in Daphne’s life following the death of her husband 11 years ago. “Before, Poppet’s tongue lolled out of her mouth and she couldn’t eat or clean herself properly,” explained Daphne’s daughter, Debbie Crouch. “Now, it’s as if she has a whole new lease of life and we can’t thank Ryk and his team enough.”

pet-friendliness as their most important requirement. In the North East, this figure jumps to 27 per cent but dips to just three per cent in London, while women are more than twice as likely as men to prioritise a pet-friendly property. NEW CANINE EXERCISE GUIDANCE ISSUED An expert from Hartpury University is urging owners to carefully monitor their dogs’ exercise to avoid future health problems.

o you know someone whose commitment The search is on for animal welfare heroes to animal welfare in the UK or abroad deserves to for the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards 2020. be celebrated? Then ensure they get the recognition they deserve by nominating them for the prestigious Ceva Animal Welfare Awards 2020. Peers, friends, family, and the general public can nominate outstanding farmers, vets, vet nurses, animal welfare professionals, and animal welfare teams for awards. This is the ninth consecutive year the awards have celebrated the achievements of remarkable people, and this year there are nine categories, including vet of the year, vet nurse of the year, charity team of the year, and outstanding contribution to animal welfare, supported by Your Dog and Your Cat magazines. A new award is the outstanding international contribution to animal welfare. Cuneyt Seckin, managing director of Ceva Animal Health UK and Ireland, commented: “The Ceva Animal Welfare Awards are an opportunity to recognise outstanding teams and individuals who contribute to the protection and welfare of animals in their daily lives.” Nominations can be made by visiting www.cevawelfare.com/click-here-tonominate before December 31.

Aisling Carroll, animal science lecturer at the Gloucestershire-based university, examined previously published studies in veterinary journals and undertook her own research before presenting the guidelines. She is keen to highlight the importance of tailoring walks to a dog’s age, size, and breed — enough to provide mental stimulation and prevent weight gain, but avoiding over-exercise to minimise reduced resistance to infection, poor athletic performance, and

increased risk of injury. “Toy breeds, such as Chihuahuas, require up to 30 minutes’ exercise a day as adults, while larger breeds, like Labradors, need more than two hours,” she said. MAN’S BEST FRIEND — PROOF AT LAST! An American study has revealed that men have closer emotional bonds with their dogs than they do with people. Psychologist Dr Chris Blazina analysed a number of US studies and found that in cases

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Pepe’s deteriorating eye. ye..

I t ’s a date

SEEING IS BELIEVING FOR PEPE

WHAT’S ON IN DECEMBER?

Pepe.

procedure to repair his damaged eye. Following the removal of the infected areas of cornea, the graft was secured with the help of microsurgical equipment and an operating microscope. Pepe has since made a good recovery and his eye now has full vision.

Miracle dog Fleur blossoms at Awards A

Romanian rescue dog who was given Special dog Fleur. only a one per cent chance of survival has been honoured in The Mirror’s prestigious Animal Hero Awards. After enduring a botched spay operation and being left to die on the streets, Fleur was saved by Valgrays Border Collie & Animal Rescue. She then contracted and beat distemper before being adopted by UK couple Wendy and Andrew Morris. But just three weeks after arriving in her forever home, Fleur collapsed and her local vet discovered she had rotten, dead

where men had an attachment to an animal, 62 per cent said they almost always felt a secure bond, compared to 10 per cent who labelled their closest human companion in the same way. y Sniffer dogs will be searching for pork products.

intestines. Euthanasia was advised, but, undeterred, Wendy and Andrew turned to the Royal Veterinary College’s Small Animal Hospital in Potters Bar. Three vets undertook five hours of pioneering surgery, and after two weeks in intensive care, the black and white collie-cross pulled through. Fleur has since become a Pets As Therapy Read2dog, as well as visiting nursing and residential homes. “She is a very special dog,” said Vicky Lipscomb, RVC’s professor of small animal surgery, after Fleur was presented with The Mirror’s Battersea Rescue Animal of the Year award.

Dr Blazina, who started looking into the relationship between man and canine after his own dog, Kelsey, died and he experienced intense grief, also discovered that men rely more on their dog for emotional support once they reach middle age. DOGS SNIFF OUT PORK THREAT Sniffer dogs are being employed at the UK border to help curb the threat of African swine fever entering the country.

● December 3: 6pm – 8pm: RSPCA Christmas Concert, The Church of St Andrew, 5 St Andrew Street, Holborn, London EC4A 3AF. RSPCA ambassador and TV presenter Matt Johnson hosts this annual festive concert featuring special celebrity readers, the renowned London International Gospel Choir, spectacular carols and songs, mulled wine, warm mince pies, and the chance to buy Christmas gifts and stocking ﬁllers at the charity’s stall. ● Cost: Adults: £10 – £20; children: £5 – £10. Please leave your dogs at home. ● More info: www.rspca.org.uk/ getinvolved/events/christmasconcert ● December 5 and 13: 7pm: Battersea Christmas Carol Concert, St Luke’s & Christ Church, Sydney Street, Chelsea, London SW3 6NH. Join the charity for its annual Christmas celebrations, carols, mulled wine, mince pies, Pet Pavilion goody bags, and the chance to snap up some last-minute festive gifts from the Battersea retail stand. There will be performances from animal lover and award-winning soprano Katie Marshall and the Collegium Musicum of London Chamber Choir. ● Cost: £20 (upstairs seats); £30 (downstairs seats). Please leave your dogs at home. ● More info: www.battersea.org.uk/ support-us/events/christmas-carolconcert

UK border officials are using sniffer dogs to search freight, passengers, and luggage for illegally imported frozen or cooked pork products, which can harbour the African swine fever virus. Although this highly contagious disease poses no threat to human health, it is fatal to pigs, and has led to the deaths of more than 800,000 pigs and wild boar in Europe, and an estimated four million pigs in Asia, causing global pork prices to rise.

CUTTING EDGE MEMORIAL A monument to police dogs made out of seized knives, decommissioned guns, whistles, canine ID tags, and dog bowls, has been unveiled in Worcestershire. The statue stands outside West Mercia Police headquarters in Hindlip and is dedicated to the loyalty, hard work, and bravery of the force’s canines. It was created for free by sculptor Luke Kite at the British Ironworks Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire.

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Image: The Artful Dog Studio.

A newly developed type of graft from a pig’s eye has been used to save a Chihuahua’s sight. Ophthalmology experts at Hertfordshire-based Davies Veterinary Specialists (Davies) successfully used a corneal xenograft from a pig to restore the vision in Pepe’s left eye. The little dog was initially diagnosed with a shallow corneal ulcer, but, after it became infected with bacteria, it deteriorated rapidly into a deep ‘melting’ corneal ulcer, which risked rupturing his eye. “Pepe needed immediate treatment in order to try to save his eye and vision,” explained David Gould, who carried out the surgery with Ioannis Tzouganakis. After the infection was brought under control, Pepe underwent the novel surgical

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Talking dogs …these tasty, nutritious, low calorie, and human-tested treats and toppings from Halifax-based healthy dog food specialists Pure Pet Food. Perfect for fussy eaters and dogs with sensitive stomachs — and owners who refuse to feed their dogs anything they wouldn’t eat themselves — the Meaty Treats, Sweeties, and Toppings have been developed alongside nutritionists and vets and contain no grains or nasty ingredients. Delivered in dehydrated and freeze-dried form, simply add warm water, stir, and serve. Choose from duck, apple and coconut; freeze-dried fish; chicken and coconut oil; and chicken and veg superfood boost. ● INSIDE INFO: Priced at £3.99 – £5.99. Visit www. purepetfood.com … these special his and hers ers Billy + Margot bauble dog treats, which are bound to put all other Christmas decorations in the shade. These elegant baubles come in the shape of a black diamond with an attractive blue or pink snowflake design, and d contain a packet of healthy y grain-free air-dried pheasant or air-dried venison treats. ● INSIDE INFO: Priced at £4.99 (venison); £5.99 (pheasant). Visit www.Fetch.co.uk, email orders@ billyandmargot.com or call 01892 770188. … the Kennel Club’s 2020 breed rescue calendar, which features 12 touching stories and professional ‘pawtraits’ of dogs who have overcome adversity to secure loving new homes. Coverstar Tyler was born blind with hip dysplasia and ear problems, but was adopted from Collie Rescue (Rough and Smooth) by p Derbyshire couple Pauline and Steve Bradbury. A perfect Christmas stocking filler, sales of the calendar will benefit the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, one of the largest charities dedicated to canine health and welfare in the UK. ● INSIDE INFO: Priced at £5, the calendar is available through the Kennel Club online shop at www. thekennelclub.org.uk

MORE HAPPY ENDINGS NEEDED

WE LOVE

Durham-based charity, which is working hard to tackle the tide of unwanted dogs in the North East, is appealing for help with fundraising and rehoming. Stray Aid, which aims to rescue, reunite, or rehome the many lost, abused, or abandoned dogs found on the streets of Durham, Middlesbrough, and Hartlepool, is run by founder and director Sue Bielby and her husband, John. Set up in 2006 to help local councils reduce the number of strays being put to sleep, the renting charity has expanded d from f

a run-down 10-kennel boarding establishment taking in two dogs a week, to a rescue centre accepting over 1,000 a year. The on-site veterinary clinic vaccinates, neuters, microchips, and treats strays for fleas and worms. “Rehoming is slow at the moment — more dogs are staying for longer,” explained Sue, a vet, whose charity has a strict non-destruct policy. “The little, cute, fluffy dogs are rehomed very quickly, but we are struggling with the older ones and currently have a regional problem with Lurchers.” Sprocket now.

Lurcher Sprocket before finding his forever home.

● To b browse the h d dogs available il bl for f rehoming, h i donate, d or help to raise funds, visit www.strayaid.org.uk

● More than 25 dogs have died and over 100 have fallen ill from a mysterious bowel disease in Norway. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, and fatigue, and while salmonella and rat poison have been ruled out as likely causes, theories include bacteria, viruses, parasites, and wild mushrooms. The Norwegian authorities are unsure how the disease is spreading, whether it is contagious, or if cases are connected, but owners are being advised to keep their dogs on a lead to avoid contact with other canines.

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NEW ON THE MARKET AND CATCHING THE EYE OF THE YOUR DOG TEAM…

NEWS. CHAT. INTERVIEWS. PICTURES. COMPETITIONS.

World

pupdates

● An American dog survived more than a month in the wilderness after being hit by a vehicle in Vancouver, Washington. Niko was camping with his owners, the Alt family, in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest when he wandered onto a road and collided with a car before sprinting off into the woods. His family spent the next 31 days looking for him but Niko was finally found by two men who were alerted to his plight on Facebook. Despite being 15 pounds lighter and suffering from an injured eye, the Shiba Inu is now back home recovering.

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Chri stma s s pecial WHAT’S N E W ? CHECK OUT SOME OF THE LATEST DOGGY PRODUCTS.

PETDREAMHOUSE PAW SLOW FEEDER ● Key features: The PAW Slow Feeder is part of UK-based PetDreamHouse’s Interactive ractiv Feeding System (IFS), aimed at making mealtimes fun, interactive, aand healthy by naturally slowing down the which dogs eat. This clever product provides speed at w multiple feeding options to prevent dogs from mult bolting bolt their food, which can cause digestive issues issue and upset stomachs. Its unique uniq paw design features three feeding areas — two standard bowls, two gulp-stoppers, and a mini-meal area — which separate food into smaller compartments. The PAW Slow Feeder is suitable for both dry and wet food; it’s freezer-friendly, and dishwasher safe. ● Price: £9.95, available in orange, blue, and green.. ● Available from: Major pet retail stores and www. petdreamhouse.co.uk AURORA ICE SMART TAGS ● Key features: If your dog is involved in an accident or becomes lost, this clever tag uses NFC (near ﬁeld communication — a method of wireless data transfer used ed in passports, hotel room keys, car keys, and contactless

payment cards) technology to ﬂag up important details to rescuers. In case of emergency (ICE), your pet’s smart tag with NFC chip can be scanned by iPhones (7 and upwards) and most android mobiles to reveal vital information, such as your contact numbers, and whether your dog has any allergies or is on medication, enabling you to be reunited quickly, safely, and easily. These easy to use and quick to set up tags have no subscription costs, no apps, and no batteries to charge, plus it’s straightforward to register and update information. ● Price: £10, available in black or blue. ● Available from: www.icesmartbands.com AUTARKY FESTIVE TURKEY & POTATO ● Key features: Specialist dog food brand Autarky is getting into the Christmas spirit with the launch of its limited-edition Festive Turkey & Potato recipe. This hypo-allergenic turkey dinner features a sprinkling of Christmassy cranberries to ensure that all dogs — both pet and working — don’t miss out on their festive feast. Specially formulated and cereal-free, this seasonal meal features a unique joint-care package comprising olive extract, green-lipped mussels, marine algae and glucosamine, with prebiotics, zinc, B vitamins, natural antioxidants, and herbs. ● Price: £3.75 per 2kg bag. ● Available from: Selected stores and online retailers including Amazon. Visit www.autarkyfoods.com for more information.

SHARP ON LOOKS — AND PERFORMANCE…

Does your dog have stiff joints? Fast acting joint support – see the benefit in 7 days Natural fast acting joint support to aid & soothe stiff joints Fast acting (4-7 days) Soothes stiff joints Aids mobility & flexibility Supports joint structure Helps to maintain your pet’s quality of life by maintaining optimum joint health Supports the natural systems that control inflammation

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Tested by Your Dog contributor Joanne Bednall

● Product: Shark Anti Hair Wrap Upright Vacuum Cleaner Plus with Powered Lift-Away and TruePet AZ910UKT. ● Description: Leading home appliances brand Shark is revolutionising the vacuum cleaner market with its new anti-hair-wrap technology, which actively separates and nd removes hair from its bristle brush as you clean, helping to leave ve the brushroll tangle-free. Part of Shark’s new range, this upright pright model comes complete with a pet hair removal tool. ● Joanne says: “Housework has never been near the he top of my priority list, but the AZ910UKT instantly instilled d in me an unfamiliar enthusiasm for cleaning. A super-modell among vacuums — it’s sleek, beautifully designed, and well made. “Would the AZ910UKT be up to the challenge posed ed by two of the world’s hairiest Golden Retrievers losing their coats oats at the same time, plus a nine-week-old puppy — not to mention three types of flooring: tile, wood, and carpet? “This powerful vacuum blew me away with its The stylish clever DuoClean floorhead, boasting two brushrolls Shark. that sucked up dirt, dog hairs, and stuck-on dust left behind by my previous cleaner, which will now be consigned to a cupboard forever. “It glided effortlessly from carpets to oak flooring, and was lighter to handle and much quieter than expected. Housework has never been so simple, easy,, and thorough. ● Price: £349.99 (comes with a five-year guarantee). ● Available from: Currys and www. sharkclean.eu/uk/ Could the Shark cope with two hairy Golden Retrievers and a nine-week-old puppy?

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HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND Being overweight can have an impact on your dog’s behaviour.

ABOUT JULIE Julie Hill has hosted DogCast Radio, written, and broadcast about dogs for over 10 years. She lives in rural Shropshire with her family — both two- and four-legged.

Keeping your dog in good shape is hugely important to his overall well-being. Julie Hill seeks advice from the experts on how to achieve it.

Images: PDSA.

Human food can be far too calorific for dogs.

The dog body condition score chart helps you to assess whether your dog is overweight.

on the scales,” advised PDSA vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan. “The ideal weight is different for every type and breed — but a healthy shape is the same for all dogs. “The veterinary term for this is ‘body condition scoring’, and you can do your own check at home by looking at your dog from the side and above. He should have a neat, tucked-in waist. “Feel under your dog’s tummy. It should go in, not bulge out. Feel along your dog’s back and sides. You should be able to feel his ribs, spine, and hips easily, but they shouldn’t poke out. “Feel the base of your dog’s tail. You shouldn’t be able to feel a build-up of fat where the tail meets the body.” Vicki Cook, who is head nurse and practice manager at a busy vet practice in Manchester, said: “I like to call it an

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Case study “...at the time, I didn’t even think they were overweight.”

Images: Jodie Forbes.

Hazel lost weight after her diet changed when she suffered from luxating patella.

hourglass figure.” If there is too much sand in your dog’s hourglass, Vicki suggests checking his portion sizes. She finds that clients usually claim their dog only eats the recommended amount of dog food. “Then I spend 10 minutes talking to them, and I’ll get: ‘He has a bit of sausage in the morning;

Instead of sticking rigidly to a set Gaines said: “It’s important to feed your dog amount of food every day, Jodie gave a healthy, well-balanced diet that’s suitable her dogs more food on the days they’d for his age, size, lifestyle, and health. You had more exercise, and less on days should follow the feeding directions on they hadn’t been so active. She added: the packet, and adjust how much you “I take regular photos of my dogs feed depending on the dog’s weight and from the side and from above so I can body condition. monitor their weight in terms of the “Monitor your dog’s body condition, British veterinary weight scale.” or weigh your dog regularly, and stick to Jodie also believes in approaching recommended measurements for feeding each dog as an individual. “I have and treats. If you notice your dog is gaining three dogs; they’re all a similar or losing weight, if his eating behaviours size, but they get fed a significantly are different, or if he’s drinking more or less different amount, because one’s than normal, then it’s important to speak to geriatric, one’s an active middle-aged your vet.” dog, and one’s an active young dog Diet is only half the equation though; with a really fast metabolism.” how should we be exercising our dogs? As a behaviourist, Jodie wonders if “Do what the dog was bred for!” there is a link between behaviour enthused Vicki. “There’s no point and weight: “A lot of the dogs going jogging with we see for behaviour issues a brachycephalic Bulldog are quite overweight. DID YOU for six miles, because he’s Being overweight in dogs KNOW? probably not going to make can cause behaviour According to the Kennel it, and there’s extra stress problems because they Club, canine obesity is the on his joints. I love tricks, can’t perform natural most common nutritional because exercise isn’t just behaviours. There’s a lot disorder seen in dogs. for weight, it’s for mental to be researched there!” stimulation as well — healthy body, healthy mind.” Samantha advocates an individual approach, considering breed, age, and health. “Some dogs may enjoy lots of regular, short walks while others may benefit from one long, fast walk or run. Don’t forget, exercise not only keeps your dog physically fit, it also provides opportunities to sniff, explore, investigate, play, and interact with other dogs Bramble lost and people.” nearly a third of her body weight. “Worryingly, our PDSA 2019 PAW Report findings show that 99,000 dogs in the UK are never walked,” revealed Olivia. “Daily exercise and play are essential for all dogs. It helps keep them in shape, but is really important for their mental health, too. Exercising with your dog is a great way to bond, but don’t overdo it. Not all dogs can cope with a lot of exercise in one go. Take breaks when you need to, and make sure there’s lots of water available.” he has a dental treat every day; he has a bit of the kids’ toast at supper…’” All those forgotten extras mount up, so Vicki recommends writing down everything your dog eats. His food is vital to weight loss or maintenance. RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha

SHOULD WE COUNT CANINE CALORIES? Some dog food now displays calorie information, and on the Vet’s Kitchen website there is advice on working out the calorific content of those that don’t, plus how many calories your dog needs, www.yourdog.co.uk

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Jodie Forbes with Hazel and Bramble, from Bournemouth, Dorset. “I changed Hazel’s diet,” recalled Jodie. “She had luxating patella in her back leg, which is a knee problem, and because of that she was getting arthritis in her front legs because she was over-compensating. The heavier she was, the more it affected her, so I changed her diet and it all went from there.” The weight of both Border Terriers went from around 10kg to around 6.5kg. Surprisingly, Jodie lost weight, as well. “Bramble, the younger one, became very good at agility; because she was fit and healthy, she became so much faster. I was miles behind her when we were doing competitions, and I wanted to lose weight to do her justice. “When I look back on photos, I realise they’ve lost a lot of weight, but, at the time, I didn’t even think they were overweight. I think that’s the problem a lot of pet owners have — they have overweight dogs, but they don’t even realise they’re overweight.”

“No point jogging with a brachycephalic Bulldog...”

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Dr Samantha Gaines knows how important it is to keep a dog in shape.

including a handy calorie calculator. Most dogs adapt happily to a weight-loss regime, but Olivia’s tip is to split your dog’s daily food into two equal-sized meals. This leaves a shorter time between feeds meaning the dog will be less hungry, and less likely to gobble the food too quickly. Dogs on two meals a day are usually fed fewer treats and titbits. “If you are concerned about your dog’s calorie intake, it’s worth keeping a food diaryy for a week, and take it with you when you go to see your vet,” said

Image: RSPCA.

“It’s worth keeping a food diary for a week...” Olivia. “This can help you spot where your dog is getting the extra calories, and makes it easier to cut them out without a special diet.” Even with food and exercise perfectly tailored to your dog’s needs, you still need to be careful how you treat your dog. Vicki often suggests to owners that they try baking liver cake. She also approves of beef trachea, which is a raw food and good for the teeth. Treats that don’t add many calories and provide mental stimulation include stag bars and buffalo horns. You can also experiment to see if your dog enjoys vegetables, like broccoli, frozen bananas, or frozen Kong toys stuffed with natural yoghurt. Samantha cautioned: “While it’s nice to give your pet a treat or something special from time to time, it’s important to ensure

Case “Twice a day, without fail, she study gets the walks...” Alan and Lorraine Shambrook with Tara, from Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway. Alan and Lorraine are determined to make sure their rescue dog, Tara, stays at a healthy weight via a combination of food and exercise. Tara was originally rescued by the RSPCA in January 2018 and rehomed in May. Sadly, her weight steadily increased, right up to 27kg. Tara had to be returned to the charity, who helped her diet down to 18.3kg. Alan and Lorraine adopted Tara in April 2019. “She’d be quite a lazy dog if she was left, but Lorraine has a strict exercise regime for her,” explained Alan. Lorraine walks Tara for at least three

miles, split over two walks. “Twice a day, without fail, she gets the walks come rain, snow, or whatever. “When we first got her, she begged a little bit for food — not excessively — but she’d come up to you and lovingly look you in the eye. She’s learned that she’s not going to get anything, so she doesn’t cause any fuss when we’re eating. She doesn’t seem to crave it any more.” Tara’s now at her ideal weight of 17kg, and Alan is resolute she’ll stay that way. “It’s keeping it off now. If she does start begging for human food again, she’s not going to get it. You’ve got to be committed to making sure they don’t eat the wrong foods.”

you subtract this from your dog’s daily ration.” All our experts emphasised that genuinely unexpected or unexplained weight gain may be due to an underlying health problem, and recommended seeking veterinary advice. They all also agreed that keeping our dogs at the correct weight is essential for their health and well-being.

EXERCISING BODY

AND MIND Plenty of exercise can help you to keep your dog at his optimum weight. With an overweight/obese dog, seek your vet’s advice first and start very gradually. ● On-lead walks. ● Hiking. ● Jogging. ● Rally. ● Agility. ● Dog parkour. ● Hydrotherapy/swimming. ● Scent work. ● Hoopers. ● Playing. ● Introducing challenges, such as training your dog to jump through a hula-hoop, or making him work to find his food. Check out the Vet’s Kitchen calorie calculator at www.vetknowhow.co.uk /calorie-calculator

Tara was rescued by the RSPCA because she put on too much weight.

Images: RSPCA.

Lorraine makes sure Tara gets lots of exercise.

A slimline Tara.

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I t ’s a vet ’s life!

ABOUT VICKY Holistic vet Vicky Payne BVetMed MRCVS is based in East Sussex, and qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 2001. She uses a range of complementary therapies alongside conventional medicine and surgery.

No nasty surprises! The key to getting the best out-of-hours veterinary care is making sure you know what’s on offer from the start, says Vicky Payne.

ets probably shouldn’t follow dog groups on Facebook or read dog magazines (even Your Dog!) because there is always someone venting their unhappiness about their vet. A recurring theme is dissatisfaction with treatment options outside normal clinic opening hours. Out-of-hours care also came up at a recent practice meeting; is our current arrangement good enough, or should we change? When I qualified many moons ago, almost all practices did their own out-of-hours work. Within a month of starting work, I was given a pager and a practice mobile phone one night a week and every fourth weekend, and had to deal with any emergency that came in. This sounds scary, but I was working in a very supportive practice where I knew I could call a senior vet if there was anything I couldn’t deal with, and I was working with great nurses who had my back. If we had to perform a surgery in the night or at the weekend, the patient would stay in our kennels to recover and I, or the nurse on call, would make

Nowadays, owners expect a vet or nurse to be on-site with their sick pet at all times.

regular visits to check on their progress. Owners were charged an out-of-hours surcharge, and for hospitalisation, but otherwise fees were the same as in the daytime. The vets didn’t get paid any overtime for out-of-hours work. In my first jobs, it was relatively quiet, and with the support of my colleagues I gained experience of caesarean sections, wound repairs, medical emergencies, and abdominal disasters, which could have taken many more years to gain in daytime cases alone. I honestly think being on-call has made me the all-rounder that I am today. But on-call work did have its downsides; there were times when I would work from 9am to 7pm, then have a busy night on call, before working again from 9am to 5pm. I am still haunted by the thought that maybe some patients got less than ideal treatment because I was so tired.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED Today, veterinary practice is very different. Owners expect a vet or nurse to be on-site with their sick pet at all times, but fewer practices have a flat where on-call staff can stay to monitor in-patients. Practices are adopting longer opening hours, including late evenings, weekends, and bank holidays, but vets and nurses are looking for a better work-life balance. Owners also expect a high level of expertise and equipment to be available for emergencies. Meeting these demands became hard for small practices, so specialist out-of-hours clinics began

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to emerge. These have staff who are on duty and awake all night, and who often have additional emergency medicine qualifications. This should be an everybody wins situation, with both day and night vets fresh at the start of a shift, and pets getting the best treatment and post-op care. Unfortunately, there are downsides to specialist out-of-hours clinics. The first, and most complained about, is cost. Out-of-hours clinics are expensive to run; staff working anti-social hours need to be properly paid, and income is unpredictable without the routine health checks, vaccinations, neutering, and parasite control sales, which are the bedrock of daytime practice.

MEDICAL RECORDS The out-of-hours clinic may be further away than the daytime clinic and won’t have access to your pet’s medical records. This means that the emergency vet is more likely to want to run blood tests or repeat X-rays. Lastly, although a vet and nurse work all night, there is no team to monitor patients on weekdays, so they must be transported back to their day-time practice, which some owners find difficult to do. Out-of-hours clinics are usually unable to offer house visits as leaving the practice would leave patients unattended. Back to our practice meeting — our current arrangement for out-of-hours care is with a larger veterinary hospital in the next town. They can provide better monitoring of patients, can keep hospitalised patients for several days if required, and provide a level of care that we are happy with. But some clients find the journey too long, and there isn’t always a vet on-site. There is now a dedicated out-of-hours clinic in our town, and we are thinking of switching our overnight service to them. Whichever decision we take, it will not be popular with everyone! We will need to ensure we have a nurse available to transfer patients to and from the clinic

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in our ambulance, and clients will need to understand that costs might rise. Offering the best service to pets as well as ensuring work-life balance for staff will always be a challenge for the veterinary profession. When choosing a practice always ask about their out-of-hours service; is it in-house or at another location, and are there staff on-site 24/7? Different arrangements will suit different owners, but understanding what is offered in advance can prevent nasty surprises.

You may have to wait longer at an out-of-hours clinic.

Dealing with out-of-hours emergencies honed Vicky’s all-round skills.

11/10/2019 12:53

Get ready for a fabulous festive season!

Best

Christmas

ever! In the second part of our mini series series, we look at how you and your dog can make this festive season the th best yet.

eople often say that Christmas is for children, but we think that if you are sharing the day with your favourite dog it can still be the most magical time of the year! Follow our festive tips to help ensure your dog stays safe and happy throughout the 12 days of Christmas.

Keep Santa’s sherry and mince pies behind closed doors!

FESTIVE TIP Tidy away any small items that fall out of crackers — plastic rings, spinning tops, or hair clips can all be chewed by your dog, causing potentially dangerous gastric problems.

quite so perfect on Christmas morning if your dog decides to help himself to what’s on offer. Keep presents safely out of harm’s way, particularly any that may contain chocolates or alcohol.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS…

TOXIC TIPPLES

Christmas Eve is always a very magical time, but make sure you close the door before going to bed to ensure your dog doesn’t gobble up any mince pies or sherry that might have been left out for Santa! Perfectly wrapped presents, complete with bows and festive name tags, may not look

Alcohol is not good for dogs and can make them ill. Some dogs cannot resist temptation, but nobody wants to be clearing up after a stomach upset on Christmas Day, so keep your eye on any half-full glasses that are within licking distance of your dog!

Your Dog December 2019

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FESTIVE TIP Keep Christmas lights away from pets.

CHRISTMAS WALKS DECK THE HALLS Decorating the house and tree to make it look festive is a fun thing to do, but always hang Christmas lights, baubles, and tinsel well away from curious dogs. Chewed tinsel can cause gastric blockages, so avoid hanging temptations on lower tree branches. It goes without saying that hanging candy canes and other edible treats on trees is not advised!

WARM GLOW Scented candles can adversely affect your dog’s respiration, so stock up on non-scented versions made from natural ingredients such as bees’ wax, soy, or vegetable-based wax. Place candles on surfaces high enough to avoid a dog’s wagging tail, and consider investing in safe battery, electric, or solar alternatives.

CHRISTMAS JUMPERS Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a Christmas jumper; dress yourself and your dog for the occasion! There are many fantastic designs available to buy, or you can try crocheting or knitting your dog his very own creation in your favourite Christmas colour combinations.

If you’ve got lots of family and visitors coming over on Christmas Day, or you are planning to visit relatives, try to fit in a good, long dog walk in the morning. Your dog can burn off some energy and you can burn off some calories, so that you both feel more relaxed and ready to face the festivities later on. If you are on your own this year, why not hop into your car and drive to the coast for a bracing seaside walk? Many beaches will have lifted summer restrictions, and any dogs you meet are likely to be accompanied by owners who will be more than happy to meet and greet you on this extra special day!

to help provide the mental stimulation he needs to keep him entertained and relaxed. You can also play ‘hide the treat’, scattering some treats around the house for him to find, or involve children in a game of hide-and-seek, where they hide with a handful of treats and you accompany your dog around the house and garden as he tries to find them.

TIME OUT

▼

Dogs can become a little overwhelmed at Christmas so make sure yours has a quiet room or crate to escape to. You can cover the crate with a blanket, dim the lights, FUN AND GAMES and offer him a frozen Kong, licking Getting out the board games can be fun mat, or snuffle rug to keep with family and friends, but you him occupied before can also enjoy playing some he settles down for games with your dog. Invest in FESTIVE TIP a little nap. some activity puzzle games, Prevent fallen pine needles sticking into CHRISTMAS your dog’s paws by PINES AND CRACKERS! vacuuming regularly Christmas crackers or NEEDLES over the Christmas party poppers can be Pine needles can be toxic period. very worrying for dogs, to dogs if ingested, and and the sound of sharp needles can easily get a champagne cork being stuck into pads. If you prefer popped can be mistaken for a real Christmas tree, make sure fireworks. Consider putting your dog your dog doesn’t have unsupervised into his quiet room with the radio on access to it. Consider putting the throughout the noisiest festivities. pot onto a table to raise it up from the floor, or surround it with Crackers may a puppy guard to keep out curious frighten your dog. canines! This will also prevent your dog from drinking stagnant Christmas tree water, as the sap can cause digestive upsets. g p

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Even though it’s Christmas, try to keep your dog’s eating and exercise routines as close to normal as possible.

Your dog will appreciate a Christmas morning walk before the socialising begins.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH! Manufacturers often produce special, safe, festive versions of pet food, with turkey dinners and all the trimmings. However, if you want to give your dog his very own special Christmas meal, you could provide a small portion of turkey and veg, but avoid roast vegetables, bacon, pigs in blankets, turkey or chicken skin, cheese sauce, and, of course, any human desserts such as Christmas pudding! The Blue Cross recommends the following leftover foods as safe for dogs, providing your pet is healthy and has no allergies. For more information, visit www. bluecross.org.uk ● Turkey meat (no skin or bones). ● Salmon (fillets cooked in spring water are preferable to smoked salmon). ● Lamb meat (no bones). ● Scrambled egg. ● Green beans. ● Brussel sprouts. ● Parsnips. ● Carrots. ● Peas. ● Swede. ● Mashed potato (preferably made without any additional butter). A full-on turkey dinner is best ● New potatoes. avoided. ● Sweet potatoes. ● Yoghurt (check the ingredients, and don’t feed if xylitol is listed, as this is toxic to dogs).

21/10/2019 11:04

Festive Facebook

Smile please!

PERFECT POSERS So, after making the dogs pose for Christmas e-cards, I take them to the beach for a picnic of mince pies (for me) and Bonios (for them).

Giving your dog a suitable chew toy can help to settle him during all the excitement.

Mary Ann Nester.

CHRISTMAS NIGHT IT’S XMAS

One of the best moments of Christmas probably comes after the food has all been eaten, the lights on the tree are lit, the fire is on, and you can curl up on the sofa with your dog, watching some lovely festive films. Your dog will love the extra attention, and you can relax, knowing you don’t have to make conversation if you don’t feel like it — and he’ll never get drunk and start an argument!

Gemma Louise’s crew.

All my dogs are fully involved with Christmas! They even have their own stockings full of toys. Gemma Louise.

PLAN AHEAD Rachel Hawley, from Stamford, Lincolnshire, says her tip for a perfect Christmas is to be realistic about what is manageable, especially when staying with family and changing routines. “In the past, my sister and I have gone to my mum’s house and stayed for the entire period between Christmas and New Year,” she said. “But last Christmas, Bollie, my crazy red-head Cocker Spaniel, was about seven months old, and I also had my other two Cockers, Hattie and Willis. “My mum has two young Boxer dogs, Rachel’s dogs: Bollie (below) and Hattie (above right) at Christmas.

Etta and Fizz.

“It’s important to be realistic” and unfortunately her dogs and mine don’t always get on with each other, so the period between Christmas and New Year was actually quite stressful, which is not very fair on the dogs. “I think it’s important to be realistic. Everybody wants Christmas to be magical, but the reality can be far removed! This year, instead of staying for the entire holiday, we will go to my mum’s on Christmas Eve, and stay for Christmas Day, then head home on Boxing Day morning, with Mum coming to us on Boxing Day evening. This means we all enjoy a stress-free Christmas, and the dogs can get back to their normal routines quicker, which makes life easier.”

WHERE’S SANTA? Boxing Day is prezzie day for all our dogs — they get them one at a time to unwrap and enjoy. This pic is of Etta and Fizz tracking Santa. Lynn Frances Cook.

WE LOVE IT ALL! We love celebrating Christmas with the dogs in our house!

Very festive!

Gill Gillybean Nott.

Your Dog November 2019

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21/10/2019 11:05

YOUR DOG’S MUST-HAVE

CHRISTMAS GIFTS Treat your dog or yourself with these great festive products! HANDMADE CHRISTMAS TREATS FOR YOUR DOG

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Embarrassed by your pulling dog?

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Our wide range of Freshly Baked and unique hand decorated treats make the ideal Christmas gift. Visit: www.barkersofsuffolk.co.uk

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Dogmatic makes dog walking more enjoyable and gives you back control. Six times Winner of the ‘Product I can’t live without’ category of the Your Dog Product Awards. Call 01952 245330 or Visit: www.dogmatic.org.uk

Essential gift for all dog owners!

Backdoorshoes are lightweight, durable and ideal for slipping on/off when you need to go out for a dog walk. Available in sizes 3-14, from £26.95 T: 01202 232357

www.backdoorshoes.co.uk

ANGELS ON A SCHOOL BUS

A TRUE STORY THAT WILL LEAVE PAW PRINTS ON YOUR HEART

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Buffalo dental chew infused with salmon oil which is good for skin and coat and joint mobility. Long lasting and designed to help reduce tartar and plaque for healthy teeth and gums to support good oral health.

Our unique double thickness cotton towelling dog drying coats dry wet dogs in minutes!

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Animo behaviour and activity monitor: The Christmas present for your dog that lasts all year round.

A large school bus crammed with over one hundred German shepherds and huskies-half of which are pregnant-is heading for Alaska as winter approaches. When the bus breaks down in Montana, volunteers battle disease and extreme cold to save these unique dogs and their puppies.

Available from Amazon.co.uk All royalties donated to dog rescues

The perfect gift for Christmas

Animo learns your dog’s unique patterns, from a good nights’ sleep to whether ethher e you yourr bbest est friend frien ien endd is is barking, barkkingg bark scratching or shaking more than normal. Used with the Sure Petcare app, Animo helps you see changes which can be caused by distress, or illness. Plus you can see how much exercise they get too!

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xx “My love of dogs went from strength to strength, and I have my own dog-walking business.”

Pauline and Luther enjoy their training.

Unbreakable

BONDS!

We meet three readers and their dogs who have overcome challenges and strengthened their relationships.

“LUTHER IS MY SOULMATE”

Luther goes everywhere with Pauline.

Images: Tony Cruse.

auline King, from Great Baddow, Essex, owns a Miniature Schnauzer called Luther, who has helped her cope with chronic illness. “Nine years ago I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis,” said Pauline. “I found it hard to walk far because of the pain, and was very weak. After a couple of years of struggling, I took voluntary redundancy. I now had no reason to get out of bed, and was in pain and depressed. My daughter suggested that I get a puppy to give me a purpose again. My husband ﬁnally agreed, and I did a lot of research into breeds and breeders before deciding on a Miniature Schnauzer, which

I thought would be manageable for me. “I found a wonderful breeder who let me visit the puppies several times. Each time the biggest puppy would come up to me, and go to sleep on my lap. It was pure love from the beginning. “I’d had rescue dogs before — mostly German Shepherd-crosses, but Luther was my ﬁrst puppy, so it was a bit of shock and a lot of hard work. However, toilet training was an absolute breeze, and he never really chewed. Together we built up our conﬁdence and stamina, going on short walks, and meeting new people and dogs. Nothing really fazed Luther and everyone said how wonderful he was, until I took him

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21/10/2019 12:50

Claire and Pippa.

Images: Tony Cruse.

The pair’s understanding of each other has grown.

“SHE’D BECOME MY BEST FRIEND” You can be a part of your dog’s life by hand-feeding him. Fill his bowl and gently pass each piece of kibble to him, piece by piece.

to training classes, where he was labelled stubborn and noisy. “I was told that ‘sit’ means ‘sit’ and if he is stubborn and doesn’t obey, then push his bum down and yank his collar. When he barked, I was to squirt him under his tail with a water pistol to shock him! After three classes, Luther was like a different dog, attacking my ankles, running away when I got his harness out, and barking at and chasing people away. I actually felt quite frightened of him, and like I was the only person in the world who had a puppy with problems. “Thankfully, I spotted dog trainer Tony Cruse’s card in a pet shop and we had a one-to-one in the park. Tony put Luther on a long line, and told me if I relaxed, so would Luther. We did an exercise to find out what Luther’s trigger point was. How far away did Luther have to be from people before he reacted? Once we found this out, we could give Luther things to do to help him to cope. Tony made it sound so logical. “Afterwards I had the training bug, and

we joined Tony’s classes, which are all about the bond between people and their dogs. Once you are both having fun together, learning comes easy. “That was nearly six years ago; we are still attending Tony’s classes and have made some wonderful friends. I even assist Tony on a Tuesday! My love of dogs went from strength to strength, and I have my own dog-walking business. “Luther is my soulmate, who goes everywhere with me. I can’t imagine life without him.” TONY SAYS: “Luther really did change Pauline’s life. It’s fair to say that even back then they had a strong bond. However, it could have gone the other way after some unfortunate experiences at various training classes. “Punishment sometimes appears to ‘fix’ behaviour, but often to the detriment of the human/dog bond. “Fortunately, Pauline joined my classes where positive and reward-based techniques are used. She soon realised training could be effective AND fun! Using the knowledge gained, Pauline and Luther’s understanding of each other has significantly improved. Pauline’s even gone on to run a successful dog-walking and sitting company, as well as regularly assisting me in my classes.”

laire Lowe, from Chelmsford, Essex, is the proud owner of eight-year-old terrier Pippa, who had such a poor start in life that she was a very problematic puppy. “Pippa was my first dog, and I bought her after seeing an advert online, which I now know was not a good idea,” said Claire. “I was told she was eight weeks old and needed vaccinations. Pippa was tiny — smaller than my guinea pigs! The vet said she was probably only four or five weeks old, had really bad fleas, worms, and an upset stomach, and so they couldn’t vaccinate her. “For the first week I thought puppies were easy, but then Pippa became like a Tasmanian devil, tearing around, stealing things, running off with stuff, and barking. I don’t think she slept in the day until she was a year old. I’d hoped owning a dog would be a lovely experience, but it was hideous. I admit there were times when I wanted to give her away. “A couple of behaviourists came out to see Pippa. The first was when she was about six months old, and pretty much out of control. This behaviourist was pretty good and I did some of the things she suggested, but then one day I met another lady whose dogs were really well behaved. Pippa was about eight months old, and this lady said I needed to be more dominant. Pippa was sitting on the windowsill barking and this lady suddenly grabbed her by the collar and dragged her to the floor. Pippa lost trust in everyone after that, and even now there are only three or four people who can touch her. “I was shocked that this lady was rough

www.yourdog.co.uk

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▼

BUILD YOUR BOND

23/10/2019 09:24

These two have an incredible bond.

“Pippa’s not doing things to give you a hard time, she’s doing things because she’s having a hard time...” Bella and Henry with Jenny.

with Pippa, but I thought she must know what she was doing. I was encouraged to be quite rough too, and when I think about it I can’t believe it, although I really regret it now. “Thankfully, I met a lady with a Westie, and our dogs, who are about the same age, started playing together. We exchanged numbers and have walked together several times a week ever since. This lady recommended Tony Cruse, and I was so grateful, as I desperately needed help. “Tony did a one-to-one session and reassured me that Pippa was OK. He said firstly I needed to calm down, and secondly I needed to be kind to her. He also said something I’ve always remembered: ‘Pippa’s not doing things to give you a hard time, she’s doing things because she’s having a hard time.’ That really made me stop and think. “We started going to classes and have attended every week for six years! It’s great to be able to talk about any problems I’m having with Pippa, and receive emotional support, as well as practical advice. “Although I loved Pippa from day one, she was about four years old when I realised that she’d become my best friend. Now, I don’t really care that she’s difficult sometimes. With Tony’s help, I’ve learned to manage situations that Pippa might find difficult, and I’ve accepted that she just doesn’t want to be everyone’s friend, which is absolutely fine. We have an incredibly strong bond, and she’s very intuitive about my feelings. We are together for life!”

TONY SAYS: “Claire called me out in 2012 after an unfortunate experience with a ‘dog behaviourist’. Pippa is a little terrier who was worried about people and other dogs. She would bark and lunge, threatening to bite. With help, Claire realised this was a fear-based behaviour and started working to make Pippa feel great around people and dogs. Pippa also joined my classes, which she still attends. She is a happy little dog, and they both enjoy the training activities so much. Since Claire has understood Pippa better, she has studied canine behaviour to a high level, and is one of my training assistants. It’s fair to say Pippa has helped Claire as much as Claire has helped Pippa… a true bond.”

BUILD YOUR BOND Join a training class. Research your local clubs where you can have fun training with other owners and their dogs.

“WE’VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH TOGETHER”

enny Lomas, from Little Baddow, Essex, has two young Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers called Bella and Henry, who are five and four years old. “Unfortunately, when I got Bella as a puppy our last dog had to be put to sleep, so she was by herself,” said Jenny. “I wanted another puppy to keep her company, but with just a year between Bella and Henry, training them was quite draining! “In the past I’d had Retrievers and Labradors, but I wanted something a bit smaller, and thought this breed looked

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Jenny has addressed the dogs’ need to hunt and chase.

quickly the dogs were coming back to me when asked. “I feel very close to the dogs because of all we’ve been through. Last year Bella was bitten by an adder and in about six minutes her whole body was shutting down. It was terrifying, but I remembered a vet telling me that carrying a dog can help to stop the venom getting into the system as quickly, so I carried Bella half a mile back to our car, and luckily she was treated quickly and made a full recovery. “The whole family adores the dogs. When my daughter went to university, Bella insisted on sitting in her suitcase while she was trying to pack! Henry loves everyone, but he’s funny with my son and will ‘talk’ to him, which he doesn’t do with anyone else. “This year we are all home for Christmas and Henry will enjoy opening all the presents, while Bella sits on the sofa watching. I will have to watch that Henry doesn’t try to help himself to the Christmas turkey — only recently he grabbed a box of curry powder and took it into the garden! We all love Bella and Henry to bits; they are very much part of the family.”

“Within 20 minutes my lovely Henry had turned into a snarling dog...”

TONY SAYS: “Tollers can be quite ‘driven’ when it comes to birds and critters, and when Jenny struggled to call Henry back, she did the right thing and booked a dog trainer. Unfortunately, the trainer used an electronic collar, which didn’t help the recall and created further problems. Devices that punish, such as remote collars, seriously damage the human/ dog relationship. Jenny felt this method was wrong and called me out to help. We began teaching a reliable, rewarding recall using a whistle, and also addressed why the dogs frequently ran off. I showed Jenny some management methods to prevent the running off, as well as techniques that addressed the dogs’ need to hunt and chase. Also, by providing more enrichment, they had less need to go out and find their own mischief. The dogs have a fabulous relationship with each other, but now they trust and respond to Jenny far more.”

BUILD YOUR BOND Find something that you both enjoy doing — walking on the beach, visiting dog-friendly pubs, or agility.

Images: Tony Cruse.

perfect. They are lovely family pets, but quite different in character. Bella is very independent; although when she wants a hug she comes to you. Henry was very poorly when he was younger, and is more of a baby. “Henry developed meningitis at seven months old, and was rushed to Newmarket for a big operation. Ever since then, he has had a very bad stomach, although he’s eaten a lot of things he shouldn’t, including a fish hook, and a pound of butter! I could only give him his normal food as treats, and although his recall was not too bad, if he saw another dog, or spotted a pheasant or squirrel he thought was more interesting, he wouldn’t come back. “I asked for help from a behaviourist, although I didn’t know what he was going to do. The trainer said he had a remote, and put an electric collar on Henry, and zapped him. Within 20 minutes my lovely Henry had turned into a snarling dog, curled up into a ball and petrified. I was beside myself and said this is not what I wanted. Luckily, I found Tony, who visited a couple of times and was really helpful. He advised me not to take the dogs into the woods, which was too stressful, but instead to walk them in the park or by the river. I could then practise recall training using a whistle, and very

Both dogs are very much part of the family.

www.yourdog.co.uk

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23/10/2019 09:30

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STAR LETTER

Six years, 73 walks, 214 mountain tops!

his is Holly, our nine-year-old blue merle collie. She came from Ireland, and we were told that the farmer threw her out because she was too soft (how do they know this?); we got her when she was six months old. She is very small for a collie (not much bigger than our Westie), but she definitely has working dog in her, as she will run and run and run if you let her. She also has the rounding up characteristic, although she is afraid of sheep! For the past few years, Holly and I have been completing the 214 Wainright mountain tops in the Lake District. Holly is always great company, has been a pleasure to walk with, and breaks hearts wherever she goes. I have been going to the Lake District for Holly takes in the spectacular view.

Holly with her medal.

Holly and Martin walked in all weathers.

years, but always did the same walks. I wanted Holly to do them from scratch atch and in memory of a friend of mine who walked the hills in 44 days about 25 years ago. We’ve had a lot of fun, seen a lot of new places, and she’s known in pretty much every pub, as a pint is always needed after a walk. We have walked in rain, snow, mist, hail, and on scorching hot days. We live in Sussex, so it’s quite a jaunt up to the Lakes, and it took six years and 73 walks. I’m sure she would happily do it all again. Holly is one of those dogs who is loved by all, even non-dog people. As such, I’m never lonely up there, as somebody always wants to talk about her! On completion of the Wainrights, Holly was presented with a medal in the Brittania Inn, Elterwater, along with a little speech, which caused much amusement.

BRIEFLY... BRIEFLY Reading the tips about snow in ‘Let the countdown begin…’ (November issue), I really wanted to share my dogs’ idea of fun. I build a snowman and hide treats in it for the dogs to dig out. They absolutely love this game! We always hope for a bit of snow these warmer winters. Heather Shute, Oxfordshire.

The writer of our ‘star letter’ this issue receives an Orvis Field Collection Folding Dog Travel Crate. The writers of the other letters featured will each receive a PATs (Pets As Therapy) donation of £15 from Orvis.

Martin Arnold, email address.

BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING DOG MAGAZINE November 2019 £4.25 R45

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How do I make my dog happy? We’ve got some advice! WINTER’S ON ITS WAY MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY!

THE DARK IS COMING…

Mind your manners!

WHAT A STAR!

It was lovely to see a real cross-breed on the cover of my issue of Your Dog last month, and what a lovely, open, friendly expression he had. Then, when I opened up my magazine and looked at the ‘Editor’s letter’, it all clicked. I remembered Kratu from his memorable performance during the rescue dog agility at

Crufts. How we were charmed by this happy-go-lucky, engaging character. He is a great ambassador for rescue dogs, and for dogs in general, and long may he continue, so thanks Your Dog and Kratu for really cheering up my day when the magazine dropped through the letterbox! Stephanie Green, Pembrokeshire.

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How to build a bond with your dog

Our November cover. www.yourdog.co.uk

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN...

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SPONSORED BY

LETTERS sit s on. My elderly Yorkie was w given a blanket to sit s on next to me on the sofa; fresh water bowls s are a also oﬀered along with w doggy biscuits. It’s a pleasure to be able a to enjoy a mug of hot h chocolate in comfort with w your dog without having to sit outside in h the t cold. Patricia Burman, East Yorkshire.

JJOIN THE C CLUB! Pandora photo-bombs an unsuspecting Phoebe during a previous festive photoshoot!

GETTING INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT! I thought you might be interested to see the design I have drawn for my Christmas card this year; it’s of Phoebe, my 15-year-old Jack Russell, and Pandora, her two-year-old Devon Rex ‘friend’! I usually attempt photos with tinsel and Christmas accessories, but Phoebe does not enjoy the performance, so this year I thought I would save them the ‘trauma’ and draw them! I am 83 and do ﬁnd drawing more diﬃcult now because of a painful hand. Jan Stevenson, Gloucestershire.

SCRAGGS

Jan’s lovely Christmas card.

A WARM WELCOME If any readers are visiting Bridlington on the east coast, I’d advise they also visit Victoria Mill on Manor Road, where there’s a very dog-friendly cafe that sells reasonably priced snacks, home-made cakes, drinks, also plants and other items. The cafe is run by a lovely couple and their beautiful dog. There are comfortable sofas to

I’ a new subscriber I’m tto Your Dog Magazine, aand I love it. One of the best things is being b able bl to share other people’s dog-owning experiences, and realising that you are not alone when — particularly as a first-time dog owner — things go wrong! I have a five-month-old Cockerpoo. She’s my first dog and I never realised just how time-consuming, but wonderful, dog ownership could be — not to mention how challenging. Copper is a lovely girl, but she has had some of the usual doggy problems (such as chewing, and forgetting her house-training) and she is now moving into the adolescent phase so work will be required on the recall, I think! A friend of mine recommended Your Dog

Magazine when Copper was about 14 weeks old, and it has been such a source of support and advice ever since. What I like most is that through the magazine, you never feel that you are on your own; there’s always someone who has had the same, or a similar experience, to you. All the advice is presented in a way that makes it understandable and relevant to ordinary dog owners, and there’s a feeling of being in one, big dog owners’ club. I’m hoping to compete once Copper’s a bit older. She is very lively and full of energy, and I suspect there will be lots of doggy sports that she will enjoy. I look forward to enjoying the years ahead with Copper and Your Dog Magazine. Lesley Joplin, Cumbria.

Abo ut

At Orvis, we love our canines with the same passion as you do, that’s why we specialise in supplying dog products of the highest quality, most notable of which are our dog beds. Our choice of colours, ﬁlls, and personalisation mean your dogs’ beds will be as unique and special as they are. We also have road-ready products for the adventurous, including crates, travel hammocks, and collapsible bowls. When it comes to dogs, trust us, we know them. Visit Orvis.co.uk to shop, or Orvis.co.uk/stores to ﬁnd your nearest store.

by Richard Duszczak

Your Dog December 2019

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We promise we’ll never put down a healthy dog.

Please promise to help us with a gift in your Will. Every year, Dogs Trust cares for over 15,000 dogs in our 20 rehoming centres across the UK. We never put down a healthy dog. By leaving a gift in your Will, your love of dogs can live on and help us make the world a better place for them.

020 7837 0006 or email: infopack@dogstrust.org.uk For more information call:

Please quote “334311” or complete this coupon:

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From time to time we would like to send you exciting updates about our work, products, services and how you can support us, including fundraising activities and research by post. If you’d rather not receive these mailings, please tick here In order to communicate with you more effectively, better understand your preferences and ability to support our work, we may analyse your data. We do share your information within the Dogs Trust Group; currently Dogs Trust Worldwide, Dogs Trust Ireland and Dogs Trust Promotions. To read our full privacy policy visit dogstrust.org.uk/privacy

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www.dogstrust.org.uk Registered Charity Numbers: 227523 & SC037843

22/10/2019 12:36

HOW TO EN ER FREEBIET S

s Fe tive

FREEBIES!

For your chan ce to win thes e fabulous pr enter online by izes, visiting www .yourdog. co.uk/freebies , quote the co de EWR03RW and follow th E, e instructions on screen. Alternatively , turn to page 72 for our entr coupon. Com y plete the coup on and send it to the addres s shown. The closing date fo online and po r stal entries is December 15 2019 (UK only , ). Please note , you can ente online from N r ovember 7, 20 For full compe 19. tition terms an d conditions, visit www.war nersgroup.co .uk/ competition-t erms/

It’s the season of goodwill, so we’ve got a double helping p g of g giveaways y for you. Fingers crossed! SETS OF DOG TOYS Tonka toys for children have a 70-year history of quality, innovation, and ruggedness, and now Tonka has created a range of toys for dogs. Designed to be tough for chewing, while encouraging exercise through play, the toys are made with real tyre rubber, are great for aggressive chewers, and provide hours of interactive fun for dogs of all shapes TO GIVE and sizes. We have ﬁve sets of toys to AWAY give away. ● For more information, visit uk.hagen.com

THERMAL THER R BLANKETS

TO GIVE AWAY

PACKS OF TREATS Thrive’s 100 per cent freeze-dried duck neck treats are hypo-allergenic, include high protein for weight control, and are glutenand grain-free. They contain no sugars or salts, no added fillers or flavourings, and no artificial preservatives or colours. We have 25 packs to give away. ● For more information, visit www.thrivepetfoods.com

Scruffs Therm Thermal m Self-Heating Dog Blanket provides warmth for your dog’s muscles on cold, winter nights. It contains a foam layer, backed with reflective foil, which reflects body heat back to your pet and keeps him warm. A quilted, hollow-fibre layer inside the blanket retains warm air around him, providing additional insulation. We have nine blankets to give away. ● For more information, TO GIVE visit www.petslovescruffs. AWAY com or call 0161 702 5060.

BAGS OF DOG FOOD

Natures Menu, the UK’s TO GIVE number one for natural pet AWAY food, is giving away 30 1.2kg packs of its new Country Hunter Superfood Crunch. Complete, balanced, and deliciously crunchy, these gently baked biscuits are suitable for all dogs and are available in four tasty varieties: turkey with cranberry, duck with plum, chicken with butternut squash, and beef with redcurrant. Made with wholesome fresh cuts of meat, blended with fruits, vegetables, and oats, Superfood Crunch oﬀers an easily digested, complete meal in a convenient format that dogs love. ● For more information, visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk/country-hunter or call 0800 018 3770.

Your Dog December 2019

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DOG BEDS Trixie’s canvas-look Föhr bed, from its Be Nordic range, has a removable cotton/polyester cover, a non-slip bottom, and a foam flake filling. We have three Föhr beds to give away. All the products in the Be Nordic range have a maritime twist, including collars, leads, cuddly caves, bowls, and toys. ● For more information, or to find your nearest Trixie stockist, visit www.trixie.de or call 020 7154 2940.

TO GIVE AWAY

CROSS-STITCH KITS Heritage Crafts is giving away 10 cross-stitch kits to readers comprising Paw Prints, a lovely design from the Peter Underhill Collection, and Black Labrador by Susan Ryder. These designs, by Susan Ryder and Valerie Pfeiffer, TO GIVE from the Little Friends AWAY range, are very appealing and quick to do, making them perfect to give as Christmas presents. ● For more information, visit www.hcrafts.com or call 01889 575256.

TREAT BUNDLES

The treat pack from Antos includes six new recipe medium-sized Yak Snacks, a natural, organic dog chew that’s long-lasting and great for dental care, eight TO GIVE packs of natural, single-protein Canice treats, ideal for AWAY training and dogs with sensitivities, and six packs of new Super Bones treats, in trout and spirulina, rabbit and spinach, and duck and pomegranate varieties. We have three treat bundles to give away. ● For more information, visit www.antos.co.uk or call 01292 318903. 318

A YEAR’S SUPPLY OF DOG FOOD Established for almost 50 years, Skinner’s Pet Foods has developed a range of 19 nutritionally complete diets to suit every age, breed, and energy level of dog. Formulated to help keep dogs in peak condition, Skinner’s also offers nine hypo-allergenic diets, which are all free from wheat, maize, dairy, and soya to support dogs with food intolerances or sensitivities. We have a year’s supply of dog food, from Skinner’s popular Field & Trial range, to give away to one lucky reader. ● For more information, visit www.skinners petfoods.co.uk or call 01379 384247.

TO GIVE AWAY

HAMPERS OF DOG TOYS

TO GIVE AWAY

This time of year can be incredibly stressful for you and your pet. Kong can help to relieve the stress by giving your dog a mental challenge. Kong dog toys have been enriching the lives of dogs and meeting their instinctual needs to play for over 40 years. We have five Kong toy hampers to give away, and because every dog is different, each hamper will be bespoke, including (at least) a Kong Classic, Kong Snacks, Kong Easy Treat, a toy to cuddle, a toy to play with, and a Kong Signature Ball. ● For more information, visit www.kong company.com

TOOTHBRUSH CHEWS Part of the dental range from TastyBone, TastyBrush is a toothbrush-shaped, long-lasting chew that features grooves and ridges to scrape and cleanse dogs’ teeth, promoting dental hygiene. Available in spearmint and fresh mint flavours, the TastyBrush will help to banish dog breath as well. We have 20 TastyBrushes to give away. ● For more information, visit www.tastybone.com

www.yourdog.co.uk

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The

outsiders Trainer and behaviourist Carol Price takes a look at the loneliness of living with a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;problem dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

ABOUT CAROL Carol Price is a leading canine behaviourist, trainer, and writer, and a world-recognised specialist in the Border Collie breed. She is an official ambassador for The Border Collie Trust GB, the largest collie welfare/rehoming organisation in the UK.

Your Dog December 2019

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“...no one chooses to have a dog who becomes a social liability...” Try to be kinder and more understanding of owners with reactive dogs.

SOCIALLY DIFFERENT If there is one message I would like to get across in this feature, it is that no one chooses to have a dog who becomes a social liability, or, worse, a danger. It can often severely limit the quality of their own lives, as well as that of their dogs. Sometimes it really is just better or worse luck that gives us the dogs we own, but also a lower understanding of why any dog is more likely to develop social problems than others. One of the biggest misconceptions in the canine world is that all dogs possess, inherently, the same level of social ability or capacity, when they most certainly do not. And it is only because people believe

It can be lonely with a dog with social issues.

With the right help, you can work through a dog’s problems.

An estimated 30 to 60 per cent of dogs in the UK aren’t regularly taken out on walks, often because of some kind of behaviour or training issue.

that it is more ‘normal’ for dogs to always be socially friendly and outgoing that anything that falls short of this behaviour gets judged so harshly, or must mean that his owner has either mucked up his rearing or training or that he is just an innately ‘nastier’ character. What gets less considered is that maybe — just maybe — his whole mental wiring is diﬀerent. He has far lower levels of social awareness, ability, and adaptability than other dogs. Or his need to protect and control his personal space and environment may be a far stronger urge and priority than that to socially engage or ‘play’. He genuinely may not know how to play with other dogs. He may have a much shorter fuse, aggression-wise, whenever he feels under threat. In general, he may struggle to understand diﬀerent social signals and cues, in terms of what is threatening or benign. He may come to see other dogs and/or other people as the enemy. All these factors can cause immense mental pressure and anxiety in dogs, as soon as they leave the relative safety of the home environment, or when the outside social environment — in terms of visitors to the home — puts this safety under threat. It also greatly explains their subsequent behaviour.

BEING KINDER People who own dogs with these types of social issue will often feel their situation is made a lot harder not just by the unkinder or more condemnatory reactions of others, but also by their own sense of failure. And it is the latter, particularly, that often stops them pursuing the right help, for fear they will be told, once again, that their dog’s behaviour is all their fault. This is sad, not least because sometimes what might seem a major issue in a dog is easily resolvable with the www.yourdog.co.uk

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s a behaviourist, you learn that the dog world can comprise two distinctly diﬀerent canine cultures. There are the dogs you regularly see out with their owners, happily meeting other people and playing with other dogs, and the ones who clearly have bigger social problems or issues. These are usually displayed by a combination of aggression and anxiety, either lunging, barking, and snapping frantically on the lead at anyone who passes, or cowering and shivering like jellies between their owners’ legs, refusing to interact with anyone or anything. People can often be quick to judge owners with dogs like these for their less sociable behaviour. But what they might consider less is what it is actually like to live with them 24/7, because I can assure you that it is usually pretty hard. Being constantly viewed as the ‘failing owner’, with the ‘problem dog’ everyone pities or wants to avoid, can not only be stressful and demoralising, it can also be very, very lonely.

DID YOU KNOW?

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“I am just so glad I never gave up on her...” WHY DOGS GO WRONG The reasons why dogs develop social issues — in terms of anxiety and aggression — can be complex and varied but commonly include these factors: ● Coming from a more stressful, disadvantaged, or socially isolated rearing background, particularly puppy farms. ● Coming from a breed in which greater social aloofness, as well as aggression towards less familiar people or dogs, is more common, for example guarding breeds. ● Coming from a family or line of dogs in which poorer social behaviour, for example nervousness or aggression, has already been seen. ● Dogs being more persistently inbred, which can have a deteriorating eﬀect on temperament as well as health. ● Also, be aware that extreme nervousness, and unwillingness to socially engage, is always a worrying sign in any young puppy, in terms of his future social behaviour.

DID YOU KNOW? Studies show that owners who walk regularly with their dogs have stronger bonds with them. Fear is at the root of many socially troubled dogs’ behaviour.

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Owners may miss out if they can’t interact with other pet owners.

WHEN FEAR TAKES OVER Fear is the emotion that not only mentally imprisons dogs, but also their owners. Socially troubled dogs constantly fear what might happen to them in the outside world, and owners constantly fear what impact this will then have on their behaviour. For this reason, many owners will adopt policies of ‘avoidance and containment’, where they keep avoiding scenarios likely to ‘set their dogs off ’. While understandable, the end result is a dog whose levels of social tolerance get ever lower or more limited. With the right professional help, many dogs could be living far more socially successful lives, so never assume your dog is a lost cause until you have sought this. You may also need to try several different trainers or behaviourists until you finally find the person who makes the difference.

Image: Carol Price.

right level of professional insight. I have worked with many dogs with bigger social issues, in terms of aggression and anxiety, and it often saddens me to see how inconsiderate other owners can be towards them, either allowing their own dogs to charge up totally uninvited to a socially nervous, or reactive, dog, making their problems a whole lot worse, or taking a massive detour round the frightened, little yapping dog as if his condition was somehow contagious. Sometimes all dogs like these need is more help in knowing how to make other canine friends. Others may need their whole social repertoire of behaviour built from scratch or, at the very least, be taken to the limit of what their minds can socially tolerate or achieve. But either way, at the end of the day, we could all still just be a bit kinder to each other as dog owners, when it comes to better understanding as to why other dogs and owners may be struggling more than we are. For while you may not have the socially problematic dog today, you might have one sometime in the future. And only then may the whole situation start to look very diﬀerent.

Case history

“I WAS ALWAYS,, ALWAYS DREADING EVERY WALK...” PROBLEM: EXTREME SOCIAL ANXIETY AND AGGRESSION When I ﬁrst came across German Shepherd Maggie, at nine months old, she had one of the worst cases of social anxiety I had ever seen. The anxiety began building the moment a collar and lead was brought out — which dogs soon learn to associate with leaving the home environment — and she would struggle desperately to avoid having them put on. The moment she went out of the front door, she would then rear and spin and whine and bark hysterically, jumping and clawing up and down her owner Jennifer’s back and arms, to the point where she was black and blue. Worse then came whenever she saw another dog or person approach, and she would lunge furiously to snap at them. Without a muzzle on, I am also pretty sure she would have bitten them. Jennifer recalled: “I really thought at this stage that Maggie was destined to be an indoor dog forever, who never went out because of her issues. I was stressed out, desperate, and exhausted, and so tired of everyone looking at me as if I was a rubbish dog owner. I was always, always dreading every walk and what she might do next. It also got very lonely not being able to walk with other dog-owning friends.” Yet what I saw in Maggie was an intrinsically lovely dog whose life was just taken over by terror the moment she left home. Because she had such poor social ability and adaptability, everything new she encountered was viewed as a threat. It was like the dog equivalent of riding a perpetual ghost train. What she desperately needed was not just better social guidance, in terms of rules of how she should behave when

Your Your Do D Dog g December 2019

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Image: Carol Price.

Maggie — the dog whose social anxiety and aggression were cured with the help of other dogs.

Jake — who seemed too afraid to leave the home.

Case history people or dogs approached (more calmly and quietly), but also to have her social tolerance progressively more stretched, for social tolerance in dogs is like a muscle — the more you use it, the stronger it gets. She began by making friends with my own dogs, who then acted as social mentors for her. She went out for even more walks, not less, making new social connections with other dogs and people, and being heavily rewarded for greater confidence and calmness. It took a lot of patience and a lot of time, but today Maggie is a completely different dog. “Never in my life,” said Jennifer, “did I imagine I would one day be happily walking her everywhere off a lead, with no problems with anything or anyone. I am just so glad I never gave up on her, as our lives could have been so different.”

“I NEVER THOUGHT THE ANSWER WOULD BE THAT SIMPLE...” PROBLEM: AGORAPHOBIA

I got a phone call one day from a retired couple (Jane and Martin) whose rescue collie would not leave the home. “We only got him fairly recently,” said Jane, “and he won’t budge from the top of the stairs whenever we want to take him out. It is so upsetting, as we are both very sociable people and the main reason we got a dog was for us to all go out on lovely walks together.” When I saw Jake, I immediately put a slip lead on him and very quickly and matter-of-factly walked him down the stairs before he had too much time to think about it, and then out of the front door. The most resistance to going out was at this point, but then the further we walked away from home, the more relaxed he became. This is the opposite to most agoraphobic dogs who get more stressed the further from home they go, and only ever want to get back there again. When I returned with Jake, the same thing happened — there was noticeable nervousness/resistance around the front

drive/front door area. Then it suddenly occurred to me that it was the car parked there that was the main problem. Sad to say, many rescue dogs get dumped from cars or otherwise build up highly negative associations with them. So, I asked Martin to move the car on the front drive, whereafter Jake was far happier about going in and out of the front door. I then gave Jane and Martin daily exercises to do with Jake that would give him far more positive associations with cars, using really tasty treats. Today he has no problem going out on walks. “I would never have thought the answer would be that simple,” said Martin. “I do wonder sometimes how long he’d have stayed on those stairs if we hadn’t worked it out.”

DID YOU KNOW? The less dogs go out, the more socially intolerant, or anxious, they tend to become.

Not all dogs are friendly and outgoing.

www.yourdog.co.uk

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Breeds around ABOUT CAROLYN Carolyn Menteith DipCABT, KCAI, is a dog trainer, writer, and broadcaster. She is a member of INTO Dogs, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), and an accredited animal behaviourist (ICAN).

the world

In the ﬁnal part of our breeds series, Carolyn Menteith highlights some very talented dogs.

s we’ve travelled around the world, looking at diﬀerent breeds, there are some we have missed. These dogs have very special jobs; they are specialists, who have taken advantage of an environmental niche. This is something dogs are extraordinarily good at, and it explains why we have developed such a close relationship with them through the centuries.

Your Dog December 2019

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INTERESTING FACTS

DALMATIAN D ( (UNKNOWN) SPECIALIST JOB: SPEC Carriage dog.

SIZE: Large (56cm – 61cm). COLOUR: Pure white with dense black or liver spots.

DESCRIPTION: This may well be the most famous breed in the world, and everyone recognises this tall, elegant, short-haired, spotted dog immediately, due to both his film appearances and the fact that he is the only truly spotted dog in the canine world.

GOOD HOUSEMATE OR NIGHTMARE LODGER: The Dalmatian was bred to run alongside carriages, either to protect the contents and travellers (originally from highwaymen), or to show the high status of his owners. This is a breed that was, quite literally, born to run, needing almost endless exercise, and an active owner is vital to keep him happy and content. If these dogs get enough exercise, they make quiet, affectionate, friendly, house dogs who will be devoted to the whole family (if raised with sensible children from puppyhood). If they don’t get enough exercise, they will be escapologists who don’t come back when they are called, and who hurtle around the house like a whirlwind! Recall training is especially important for this breed as they can forget everything in the joy of running.

Thanks to their unique spotted appearance, there is no shortage of interesting facts about Dalmatians. The first is that despite their name, Dalmatians have no connection with the Dalmatian coast and the first Dalmatians were imported into Dalmatia from the UK. The next is that these dogs have a natural affinity with horses, which seems to still exist (from their history as carriage dogs) and that they were well-known for running alongside, behind, or even underneath, horse-drawn fire engines. Not only did they protect the engine from being stolen while the firemen were fighting the fire, they also seemed to give the horses comfort. Later, they went far more upmarket, and became elegant status dogs, running with the carriages of the nobility. Dalmatian puppies are born white and the spots develop as the puppies do.

he is kept untrimmed and has a well-feathered tail, which is put to good, and almost constant, use.

GOOD HOUSEMATE OR NIGHTMARE LODGER: For an active owner or family, who can give this energetic dog the exercise he needs, this might be the ideal companion. Not surprisingly, however, this curious, active, intelligent dog thrives with a job to do — or at least plenty of mental as well as physical exercise.

INTERESTING FACTS

SPECIALIST JOB: Decoy. SIZE: Small/medium (35cm – 42cm). COLOUR: Patches of clear orange-red on white, with orange-red predominating on the body. DESCRIPTION: This is an extremely attractive, friendly, good-natured, alert dog with deep brown, almond-shaped eyes, a square body, and high head carriage;

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KOOIKERHONDJE (THE NETHERLANDS)

The Kooikerhondje (‘kooiker’ is a Dutch name for a kind of duck) is a decoy dog who helps hunters of wildfowl in a fairly unique way. Decoy dogs don’t send the birds into the air in the way that many gundogs do, but instead attract the birds towards them and into nets, or into a position close to hunters where they can be shot more easily. The Kooikerhondje does this by behaving in a way that doesn’t scare the birds, but arouses their curiosity, thanks to his enticingly waving, heavily-fringed, long, white tail! In recent times, the breed has also worked with conservationists on Dutch nature reserves to attract rare breeds into nets to be identified, ringed, and released. www.yourdog.co.uk

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SCHIPPERKE (BELGIUM) SPECIALIST JOB: Barge alarm system.

SIZE: Small (the breed standard gives a weight, but not a height: 5.5kg – 7.5kg). COLOUR: Black, although other whole colours are permissible.

DESCRIPTION:

INTERESTING FACTS

The Schipperke is a small, cobby, active, lively dog with a foxy expression, and if he has a tail (some are born tailless) it is held tightly curled over his back. He has a dense, abundant coat with an impressive mane and there is something rather cat-like about his stance.

The breed’s name originates from the Flemish, but it is not certain which interpretation is correct. It either translates as ‘the little boatman’ or ‘the little skipper’. The breed has always been closely related to the canals of Belgium. The Schipperke has the unique claim of being the very first show dog! Flemish craftsmen of the 17th century held what they called Sunday Beauty Contests with their dogs; one of these was even held in the Grand Palace of Brussels in 1690. The breed was very much a working barge dog until 1885, when the Belgian queen acquired one as a pet, and the Schipperke then became ‘the breed to be seen with at court’! By the end of the 19th century, it was the most popular companion dog in Belgium.

GOOD HOUSEMATE OR NIGHTMARE LODGER: This is a small, intelligent dog who is devoted to his owners and is a fun and active member of the household. A mischievous, curious breed, the Schipperke will want to be involved in everything you do, and can make his own entertainment if not kept occupied. As an early warning system, he can have a lot to say for himself and will alert you to… almost everything, especially if he is bored! These dogs can also be somewhat suspicious of strangers. The breed worked to keep the barges free of vermin, so may not be safe with small furries.

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INCA DOG (PERU) SPECIALIST JOB: Llama herder. SIZE: Medium. COLOUR: Pale yellow with darker patches. Any colour is presumably permissible however as there is no breed standard (they’ve never — as far as anyone knows — left Peru!). DESCRIPTION: Described as looking like a heavily built collie, the Inca Dog is

the largest of the Peruvian breeds and has a sharp, pointed face, shortish legs, and a tail that curls over his back. For some reason, this was the only one of the indigenous people’s tribal dogs to historically have his ears cropped, although there doesn’t seem to be any reported reasons for why this was done.

GOOD HOUSEMATE OR NIGHTMARE LODGER: If you live in the Andes in Peru and want your llamas kept in line, this is very probably the perfect breed for you!

INTERESTING FACTS Herds llamas… what else do you want?! In the 19th century the breed was popular and every Peruvian shepherd had one to herd llamas and alpaca, as well as to help with tracking, hunting, and guarding. They were so highly valued that they were often mummified after their deaths. Now, they are almost extinct, and the remaining ones are usually seen either as backstreet strays or as family pets in obscure, remote villages.

ST BERNARD (SWITZERLAND) INTERESTING FACTS SPECIALIST JOB: Rescue dog.

SIZE: Giant (70cm – 75cm). COLOUR: Orange, mahogany-brindle, white, with patches on the body of those colours. White markings on muzzle, face, collar, chest, forelegs, feet, and end of tail. Black shading on face and ears.

DESCRIPTION: The St Bernard is a true giant of the dog world, and everybody recognises this legendary life-saving dog with his massive, jowled head, gentle eyes, and short, thick, orange and white coat.

GOOD HOUSEMATE OR NIGHTMARE LODGER:

The St Bernard breed was developed in the 18th century by monks at a hospice offering This is a dog who needs a huge house to live in aid and shelter to travellers in — and one that isn’t too hot. The St Bernard is the Swiss Alps. It was recorded a challenge to train, and needs to be handled in 1774 that these dogs were with kind understanding and not force — mostly being used as rescue dogs to because you can’t force a dog this size to do locate travellers in need of anything, and he is an interesting combination help. Their fame grew and for of sensitive and what is often described as a while they were called Good stubborn (although it is probably more Samaritan Dogs. It is thought laid-back than stubborn!). Having said that, he that over 2,000 travellers have is a kind, affectionate companion who takes life been saved by St Bernards. pretty much as it comes. These dogs are loyal to It isn’t just mountain rescue their owners and families, and some (especially at which St Bernards excel. males) can be protective and territorial. One St Bernard called Bamse, A real giant of the dog world, with the right ship’s dog of a Norwegian owner, socialisation, training, and plenty of minesweeper in the Second space, he makes a good companion who is World War, won a PDSA award happy to join in with everything from pulling for courage in action. He a cart to just hanging out. was stationed in Montrose, Scotland, and one of his duties was to collect his shipmates from the pubs at closing time! He became so well known in the town that upon his death, in 1944, local schools closed to allow hundreds of children to attend his funeral. Today, his grave is still honoured in Montrose. Despite the romantic image of the St Bernard with DID YOU KNOW? a barrel of brandy The most famous around his St Bernard was a mountain neck, it is now rescue dog called Barry. It known that is believed that he rescued giving victims more than 40 people during of hyperthermia his time at the Great alcohol is more St Bernard Hospice. likely to kill than cure!

www.yourdog.co.uk

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21/10/2019 10:05

SPONSORED BY

Doing what

s come

naturally! Eating a more natural natural, healthier diet can beneﬁt us all — and that includes our four-legged friends, says Edward Creaser, company director of The Natural Dog Food Company.

ur dogs’ forebears were omnivores, who spent their time foraging and hunting for their food. Those instincts are still strong; whenever you take your dog for a walk, you’ll notice that he still forages and hunts, given the opportunity. In the past, dogs hunted herbivorous prey, which meant that, as well as the prey itself, the dog consumed whatever the prey had just eaten, in the form of its stomach contents. So, a dog’s diet included all the nutritional variety of the meadow, which 100 years ago would have contained over 200 species of plant, compared to a fraction of that today. Food manufacturers try to recreate

Wholesome ingredients of the highest quality are part of The Natural Dog Food Company’s food philosophy.

that mix of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that the dog derived from his pasture-fed prey, but it is not the same process in a laboratory. Dogs’ digestive systems have evolved to recognise certain compounds. Take a carrot for example; it contains lots of vitamin C alongside many other vitamins and minerals. The dog’s digestive system has the correct tools to break the carrot down and metabolise just what he needs. Those lab-made vitamins are just that — individual vitamins A, B, or C — which the dog’s system doesn’t really know what to do with, so much is wasted. That’s why vitamins are included in very large quantities in the food. We believe there is a better way. By combining a high proportion of fresh, human-grade meat with our unique range DID YOU KNOW? of nutritional herbs, The bags used by The fruits, vegetables, Natural Dog Food Company and high-quality are biodegradable, carbohydrates, we recyclable, fully have been able to compostable, and made create a truly special, with organic paper. complete food, which contains every nutrient a dog needs without any artiﬁcial vitamin or mineral supplementation whatsoever — just high-quality, hypo-allergenic natural ingredients. These are the kind of ingredients that dogs have evolved to eat.

Your Dog December 2019

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“There are lots of things to consider when looking at a brand.”

What happens when you feed a more natural diet? A

Enjoy the health benefits of a more natural diet.

What should I look for in a dog food? A

There are lots of things to consider when looking at a brand. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to get the information you need. The best place to start is the ingredients list; if you can’t pronounce it, then move on! You’ll find the list on the back of the bag (not the front, where brands are not obliged to give all information). Avoid ‘meat and animal derivatives’, ‘extracts of vegetable origin’ and other vague terms. Look for clear labelling with ingredients you would recognise on your plate. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! All brands should have experts available who can answer your queries, either by email, via social media, or telephone. If you don’t like the answer, or don’t get the information you need, then move on; there should be no secrets. Don’t be swayed by another person’s opinion, as what is right for them and their pet isn’t necessarily right for you and your dog. There are many different diets available and everyone has their own opinion. Make a list of the things that are important to you, such as green credentials, how natural a product is, price per day, delivery service available, and so on. All this is helpful in narrowing down the choices. In the long run, we want our dogs to be with us for as long as possible, and to be as healthy as they can be. It’s up to us, as responsible owners, to ensure that we know what we put down for them to eat every day. A more natural and healthy diet with high-quality raw ingredients and plenty of fresh meat sounds like a winning combination.

There are lots of potential health benefits to feeding a more natural diet. Improved digestion is the first thing you’ll notice. A more natural diet tends to have fewer ingredients (certainly a shorter list of chemical additives), so the dog is less likely to have an intolerance to one of them. With no bulking agents or fillers, the food tends to be more easily digested in the first place, and there is less waste to pick up (great if you live in a built-up area). For dogs who suffer from skin or coat issues, a more natural diet can help alleviate symptoms, improve overall condition, and often eliminate the old issues altogether.

The Natural Dog Food Company is a family-run business based in the small Lincolnshire village of Heckington. It was started around 15 years ago, with the simple philosophy that with the best raw ingredients, and state-of-the-art cooking equipment, a wholesome, hypo-allergenic, and 100 per cent natural dry kibble for dogs could be made as an alternative to modern, mass-produced dog foods. The Natural Dog Food Company is still producing foods rich in fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and high-quality carbohydrates, perfectly suited to keeping dogs as fit as nature intended. Whether it’s our free-range British chicken, meadow-reared Welsh lamb, or free-range, woodland-reared turkey, every ingredient used in Natural Dog Food is as good as it can be: no bulking agents, by-products, or fillers; just 100 per cent natural, high quality, human-grade ingredients.

FIND OUT MORE AT ● www.naturaldogfoodcompany.com ● email info@naturaldogfoodcompany.com ● call 0800 848 8049.

www.yourdog.co.uk

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24/10/2019 10:09

A breed apart Carol Price’s e’s new book reveals eals the secrets of the brightest, yet most complex, dog mind on Earth.

Collies have a strong working instinct.

COMMON COLLIE BEHAVIOUR ISSUES

Beautiful and brilliant — the Border Collie.

have loved Border Collies for the greater part of my life, while accepting that they can have some more testing characteristics as a breed. When a recent pet insurance company survey named Border Collies as the breed most likely to need therapy for some kind of psychological or behavioural issue, I was not that surprised. People so often focus on the outward glamour of these dogs, in terms of their beauty, speed, agility, and intelligence, but less on their deeper complexities, sensitivities, and compulsions, which drive their wider character and behaviour. Sometimes, these breed quirks baﬄe owners, and, at other times, exasperate them. But, either way, unless they are suﬃciently understood and managed, the greater the chance that these dogs will drive you nuts at some point, or certainly make you feel more of a failure as an owner — a situation I have seen many times as a breed specialist. The main reason I began writing my books

on Border Collies, including the best-selling ‘Collie Psychology’, was out of a desire to help owners understand the breed better, and to assure them that they were not alone in any of the problems they might be experiencing with their own dogs. The same is true of my more recent trilogy of books, ‘Border Collies: A Breed Apart’, which I hope will give any collie owner, or would-be collie owner, the greatest insight yet into the breed.

ALL IN THE MIND In my view, we’ve gone wrong with collies in seeing their behaviour problems as individual issues in individual dogs as opposed to being consistent with a particular kind of genetic mind, shared by the breed as a whole. And I believe this is a mind — as my past books have already highlighted — that is potentially more autistic in both nature and design. So many of the traits and behaviours seen in autistic people are mirrored in Border

● Inappropriate chase and herd behaviour — see ‘When working instinct goes wrong’. ● Sensory phobias — typically related to louder or more unusual noises. ● Patterns of more reactive or controlling aggression towards other people or dogs. ● Social anxieties — particularly fear of stranger things or experiences. ● Obsessively repetitive rituals of behaviour. ● Hyper dogs who struggle to settle or wind down easily. Collies, from higher sensory awareness and responsiveness, and poorer social functioning, to a wider range of phobias, neuroses, and obsessional behaviours and a craving for ‘sameness’ and routine, to name just some. And the longer you live and work with

Your Dog December 2019

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Image: Carol Price.

“...collies’ lives tend to be driven by a mind that fuses mental brilliance with vulnerability... ”

WHEN WORKING INSTINCT GOES WRONG Collies can readily switch livestock working instinctss (such as eyeing, chasing, herding, and nipping) on to virtually any other moving target, from traffic, You can begin focus training collies cyclists, birds, or runners to household objects like on to toys from a very young age. vacuum cleaners or brooms, unless you focus these instincts more exclusively on to toys instead, as early y as possible in your dog’s life, and with the right training. Failure to do this may see these instincts progressively spiralling out of your control.

Image: Carol Price.

these dogs, the more obvious the CONTROLLING THE CONTROL FREAK parallels become. Collies can be the control freaks of the dog world, with an obsessive desire to Once you realise that collies’ lives tend maintain control of their personal space, resources, or even the movements of to be driven by a mind that fuses mental anything or anyone around them. Once again, this is a trait stemming back to brilliance with vulnerability in this way, their working pasts. Some dogs are not only more naturally controlling than so much of their baffling or disturbing others, but they may be hardwired to lash out more aggressively whenever this behaviour begins to make more sense to you. sense of control feels threatened — if approached suddenly or unexpectedly by The question remains, however, as to others entering their personal space, particularly when they have more prized why some collies are still able to function resources like toys or food, or if they are trapped in a smaller space like a car. quite happily and successfully as This is a defensive instinct and impulse for which dogs will often be judged social companions, and others harshly, but over which they usually have very little conscious control. develop far more severe However, like so many problems in collies, the earlier you can spot DID YOU psychological issues or this type of tendency in your dog, and get the right retraining KNOW? behaviour problems. therapy to address it, the higher your chances of resolving it. According to a popular The answer, I believe, canine website, the Border lies in the reality that Collie was the 12th most collies have their own popular dog breed in the autistic spectrum, with far UK in 2018. higher functioning dogs at one end of the scale, in terms of levels of sociability and mental stability, and dogs with more severe autistic symptoms at the other. So much of this is down to individual genetics, something I pay particular attention to when acquiring or breeding dogs myself, as different breeding lines will definitely produce different types of character or temperament in Border Collies. Collies can feel threatened if their personal However, how well you are able to space is invaded. assess and manage your own collie’s more innate personality, or particular mental THE COLLIE SPECTRUM vulnerabilities, can also be critical when That is why, in my latest book, I have come up p it comes to preventing or minimising any with the special collie spectrum assessment future issues he might develop. process, where you can see where your own dog falls with regard to a dozen key mental and behavioural traits, ranging from levels of working instinct, sociability, and sensory ABOUT THE BOOK sensitivity to a stronger desire for control, or ‘Border Collies — A Breed Apart, a greater resistance to being trained. Behaviour: Insights, issues and solutions’ Once you have assessed your dog in this focuses on why Border Collies do what way, you will understand why he behaves they do, and is the last in a trilogy of the way he does much better, and also what books that began with ‘Book One: different types of handling, training, or other Secrets of the working mind’, on the support he may need to ensure you have the whole origin of the Border Collie best possible life together. breed and the evolution of its unique Ultimately, Border Collies are not only psychology, followed by ‘Book Two: different to other dogs, they can also be Essential life skills and learning’, on the very different to each other, and only by optimum way to raise and train any recognising this reality can we give these collie. All books are £29.95 each and remarkable dogs the lives they deserve. available from Performancedog.co.uk The Border Collie is a complex, sensitive breed. www.yourdog.co.uk

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21/10/2019 09:15

Image: Andy Biggar Photography.

Me and my dog Who saved who?

BEST BUDDIES N

icola Owst admits that the thought of rescuing a seriously neglected Staffordshire Bull Terrier couldn’t have been further from her mind a decade ago. Not being a particular fan of the breed at the time, and with her personal life in turmoil, it took a twist of fate for the lives of these two troubled souls to collide. Back in 2009, Nicola was staying with her friend, Sally, in Leicestershire, after emerging from a troubled relationship. One rainy April day, the two women and Sally’s daughter, Charlie, had arranged to drive south down the M1 to collect an unwanted foal. But having loaded the painfully thin colt — along with a pathetic-looking filly they couldn’t leave behind either — into their trailer, a third animal caught their eye.

Squashed into a cat carrier inside a rusty crate was a dog, but he wasn’t moving. Gingerly, they knelt down for a closer look. “We weren’t sure if he was alive at first,” recalled Nicola, who already had a bad feeling about the place. “It looked like he’d been chucked out with the rubbish — the site was a complete wasteland with scrap metal lying around and fly tipping everywhere.” On further inspection, the dog, which appeared to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was only just breathing. Covered in his own faeces and painfully thin, he barely had any fur, his face was swollen, and he was suffering from mange. “His breathing was shallow, his skin was oozing, and the stench was unbelievable — he’d just been left to die and there was

Nicola made special sock boots to protect Buddy’s paws.

Image: Nicola Owst Owst.

When Nicola Owst spied a barely alive dog discarded like rubbish on wasteland, she didn’t hesitate to save him. But who was really saving who? Joanne Bednall reports.

no way I was going to leave him,” explained Nicola, who, without a second thought, ran to the car for a towel, removed the pitiful creature from the cage, and held him in her arms. Heading back to the car, the trio drove silently away — instead of one rescued animal on-board, they had three, along with Sally’s Rhodesian Ridgeback, Scamp, and Dobermann, Zeus, in the boot. The Staffie sat on Nicola’s lap for the duration of the 86-mile return journey, and although he opened his eyes, he had

Your Dog December 2019

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24/10/2019 11:18

Nicola and Jon at their wedding with guest of honour Buddy.

e: ag Im

Image: Andy Biggar Photography.

Ni ge

Buddy with his friend, Springer Spaniel Susie.

Image: Nicola Owst.

no energy to move. “We rang our vet’s en route and made an appointment, but it was a scary two-hour drive back as I was convinced he was going to die on my knee,” continued the 35-year-old civil servant and expectant mum-of-one. “The stench of rotting flesh combined with his own mess was terrible. Instinctively, I found myself constantly asking him: ‘Are you all right, my little buddy?’ and so the name stuck.” It was getting dark when they pulled into Town & Country Veterinary Centre in Market Harborough, complete with the two young horses in the trailer behind. They used the back door, worried that anyone would think they were responsible for the dog’s condition. “Vet Ian Carpenter was mortified when he saw Buddy,” recalled Nicola, who estimated the dog to be between six and 12 months old. “He said it was the worst case of neglect he’d ever seen, but saw the hope in my eyes. Ian gave a guarded prognosis, preparing me for the worst.” The first priority was to treat Buddy’s skin, which was hugely infected. Tests later confirmed he was suffering from demodectic mange, an inflammatory disease caused by mites. Antibiotics, painkillers, and a gentle medicated wash were prescribed in an attempt to get the terrier’s oozing sores under control. Additionally, Buddy could hardly stand

due to lack of food and burnt pads from standing in his own urine. “I bathed him with the medicated wash in the sink at Sally’s stables, and when I left his side to grab a towel, he started to cry; it made my heart melt,” continued Nicola. “He loved that first bath; it must have given him such relief. His feet were so raw and sore that I padded them with Gamgee [surgical dressing] and bought children’s socks and tape to secure it. “Within a week, Buddy had put on weight and his skin was improving. Before long, there was a spark in his eye.” A month later, the patient was following Nicola around like a shadow. “He became my rock,” continued Nicola, who was fragile herself due to an unhappy childhood and a succession of bad relationships. The white and brindle Staffie even took to Nicola’s new beau Jon, and was guest of honour at their 2013 wedding. However, two years before, Buddy suffered a setback, which had more of an effect on Nicola. “Somehow, he damaged his tail but despite steroids and antibiotics, it wouldn’t heal,” she explained. “The vet said amputation would be the best course of action. I was so upset — Buddy had such a waggy tail that was a big part of his character, and I felt so sad for him.” Four years later, he faced an even bigger trauma. While stroking him, Nicola came across a hard swelling on his rear leg, between his paw and hock. It

rd -Sm ith .

didn’t seem to cause him any discomfort, but it played on Nicola’s mind. After an X-ray and tests, the lump was diagnosed as a mast cell tumour. Buddy underwent surgery at a large veterinary referral hospital in the Midlands, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy at his local vet’s. The worry of losing her constant canine companion, along with the cost of treatment, took its toll, and Nicola suffered three miscarriages. Following the final treatment, Buddy’s blood tests were clear — he had beaten the cancer. “I was terribly worried I’d lose my best friend — the two of us had become one,” said Nicola. Their luck changed the following year, however, when they were invited to represent the breed at Crufts’ Discover Dogs. Nicola had entered Buddy in a fun dog show and the judge, a Staffie breeder, was so impressed with his temperament and story that she thought he would be the perfect advert for the breed. “It was a huge honour and the most amazing experience — Buddy loved all the attention,” said Nicola. The Staffie’s fame has since spread, resulting in a book about his life, 27,000 Facebook followers, and an appearance on TV’s ‘Lorraine’. Now aged 11, Buddy’s days of climbing Snowdon and Scafell Pike may be over, but Nicola is determined to carry on educating people about the breed. “It’s sad that some people cross the road when they see us and don’t want their dogs playing with Buddy — it’s ignorance,” concluded Nicola, who has since rescued Susie, a Springer Spaniel, to keep the Staffie company. “At first I didn’t know much about the breed but Buddy has completely changed my mind. “He’s more like a little person than a dog and has a great sense of humour. I’m the lucky one, but if Buddy could talk he’d probably argue that he is.”

● Published by Mirror Books, ‘Saving Buddy’ is priced at £12.99 in Demy hardback; visit www.mirrorbooks.co.uk Buddy shortly after his rescue.

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www.yourdog.co.uk

24/10/2019 11:23

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22/10/2019 12:51

A dog lover’s guide to the: s ire York h s Dale

Yorkshire Dales i

The Yorkshire Dales straddle the Pennines in the counties of North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

DID YOU KNOW? Some of the finest long-distance walks pass through the Dales, including the Pennine Way, Coast to Coast Walk, the Dales Way, and the Ribble Way.

Explore the Dales with your dog.

hey say: ‘You can always tell a Yorkshireman, but you can never tell him much!’ Some people might see this as a slight, but as a Yorkshireman by birth I take it as a compliment. We’ll never refrain from telling you what makes this ‘God’s Own Country’, although its beauty is all too plain to see in the Dales. The Dales landscape you see today owes a lot to dogs, in particular the Border Collie, as without this sure-footed, loyal, and tireless worker, visitors would not have this ﬁne-farmed landscape with its evocative dry stone walls to enjoy today. Testimony to the role Border Collies still play in the area’s heritage and economy are

the regular sales of trained sheep dogs at Skipton Auction Mart; www.ccmauctions. com, where this year the top bitch sold for over £14,000. You can watch the bidding take place as the dogs show oﬀ their skills online: YouTube — Skipton Sheepdog Sale. Of course, that also means that there are plenty of sheep in the Dales, but this need not be a problem if you always have a lead with you and follow the Dog Walking Code (www.dogwalkingcode.org.uk). Do remember that some lambing does take place in winter here, and even if the lambs aren’t born yet, most female sheep will be carrying a lamb by Christmas. So just clip on the lead around farm animals, but always

Stephen Jenkinson.

release your dog if threatened by cattle so you can get to safety separately. Apart from walking on the river valleys, there’s also a lot of moorland to explore. While there can be some restrictions on access due to shooting, they do not apply to people or their dogs walking along public rights of way (ﬁnd these on Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps and signposted at the roadside), as they have to remain open all the time. In any case the grouse shooting season ends on December 10. The Yorkshire Dales are a fantastic place to enjoy this winter. What could be better than a content, tired dog snoozing at your feet in a cosy pub, after a crisp winter walk? Enjoy! www.yourdog.co.uk

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▼

For access adviser Stephen Jenkinson, it’s hard to ﬁnd a lovelier spot than his birthplace — the Dales.

23/10/2019 09:35

A dog lover’s guide to the: Yorkshire

Dales

The stunning Settle to Carlisle line.

Most, although not all, of the dales are named after their river or stream. The best known exception is Wensleydale, named after the former market town of Wensley, rather than the River Ure, although a much older name for the dale is Yoredale.

DID YOU KNOW?

FIVE THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT THE YORKSHIRE DALES James Herriot country: Any dog lover raised on the books and films of the late Alf Wight, aka James Herriot, will love the scenery of the Yorkshire Dales, home to the ‘creatures great and small’ he cared for. Visit the Thirsk museum in his former home and surgery: www.worldofjamesherriot.com Settle to Carlisle Railway: Once scheduled for closure, this 73-mile dog-friendly railway is now a steaming success, running through the heart of the Dales. Download walks from station to station at www.settle-carlisle.co.uk Wharfedale: This beautiful valley is full of dog-friendly pubs with open fires; just the thing after

a brisk winter walk along the first part of the Dales Way linking Ilkley to the Lake District: www.dalesway.org Nidderdale: There are far fewer people in this more remote, stunning valley, well-served for home comforts by Pateley Bridge. Check out the walk around Scar House and Angram Reservoirs; it feels like you’ve been transported to the Highlands! Visit www.nidderdale.co.uk Skipton: This traditional market town is truly the gateway to the Dales. It’s worth a day visit in itself for walks along the Leeds to Liverpool canal, and its dog-friendly castle. Visit www.welcometoskipton.com

4 5

Each year in mid-August, the Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival takes place; hundreds of quirky scarecrows pop up in the little Wharfedale village. Challenge yourself to find them all, solving clues and puzzles along the way. Well-behaved dogs used to crowds and on a lead are welcome, and there are dog waste bins in the village. Find out more at www. kettlewellscarecrowfestival.co.uk

Yorkshire Dales

Ravenstondale Thwaite Gunnerside

The breathtaking Yorkshire Dales scenery forms the backdrop to an area steeped in history and legend, with plenty of attractions to visit with your dog.

The Yorkshire Dales. Bainbridge

DAYS OUT Bolton Abbey.

BOLTON ABBEY, NEAR SKIPTON Kirkby Lonsdale

Three Peaks

Ingleton

Settle

Overlooking the banks of the River Wharfe, here you can enjoy a stroll with your dog while taking in some Dales history. Considered a ‘jewel in the crown’ of Yorkshire’s landscapes, the impressive ruins, riverside walks, woodland routes, and tea rooms Grassington make for a glorious day out. ● Visit boltonabbey.com Hebden Appletreewick

Skipton

Your Dog December 2019

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Bolton Abbey

23/10/2019 09:36

My favourite walk March to the end of September, and is a popular place to stop off and refuel. Don’t just stop for grub though, but take time to visit the gardens, which are a real treasure. Originally designed by the dog-loving Sir William Milner, they have been restored to their former glory and have appeared on TV’s ‘Gardener’s World’. Dogs on a lead are welcome. ● Find out more at www. parcevallhallgardens.co.uk

FASCINATING FACT Be sure to sample some of the famous locally made Wensleydale cheese. One Wen and Gromit’s of Wallace W favourites, around 4,000 tonnes favouri made each year at the are m Wensleydale Creamery. Visit Wens www.wensleydale.co.uk ww

Emma loves walking with Rocky.

‘Wolfie’ — available from Amazon.

FOUNTAINS ABBEY, NEAR RIPON

ALL ABOARD!

One of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England, in its heyday it was also the wealthiest in England until its dissolution by Henry VIII. Now recognised as a World Heritage Site, dogs on a lead are welcome to visit the atmospheric ruins with you. ● Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

MIDDLEHAM CASTLE, MIDDLEHAM, WENSLEYDALE No visit to the Dales would be complete without a visit to the childhood home of Richard III. A modern statue of the controversial king stands within the magnificent and extensive ruins. ● Visit www.english-heritage.org.uk

If you venture into the atmospheric Troller’s Gill, be sure to keep an eye out for the fearsome Barghest, a spectral hound said to haunt its nooks and crannies. Possessing huge eyes and a shaggy coat, it drags a noisily clanking chain along behind it, so you will at least be able to hear its approach. According to tradition, trolls also inhabit the area; some apparently like to hurl rocks down on passers-by, so watch your head!

▼

Emma Barnes is the author of ‘Wolfie’, a book for seven-year-olds and upwards, but a great read for any age. It’s about Lucy, who is given a pet dog, only to discover it is a magic wolf. Emma lives in Leeds, and spends the weekends exploring the nearby countryside in the company of her rescue dog, Rocky. “I’ve spent many happy hours walking in the Yorkshire Dales: Malham Cove is gorgeous, and I’ve seen people carrying their dogs up nearby Gorsdale Scar, which is impressive (though probably not to be recommended). I’ve taken my dog up one of the Three Peaks, Pen-y-ghent, which is a bit of a scramble but doable; and most dogs will manage Ingleborough or Whernside, the other two peaks. There are plenty of easier walks, too. “My favourite is probably the circuit from Burnsall by way of Troller’s Gill, a limestone gorge, stopping off at Parcevall Hall tea room, which has a lovely garden where you can sit and dogs are allowed. After some refreshments, carry on round the bottom of Simon’s Seat (a prominent outcrop of millstone grit) and back along the river past Appletreewick. Dogs aren’t allowed up Simon’s Seat due to game birds, but it’s a lovely walk with a nice pub in Appletreewick, bluebells in spring, and lots of tea rooms in Burnsall, including a good one in the car park. “There are plenty of chances for you or your dog to have a paddle in the river, too.” ● The tea room at Parcevall Hall Gardens, Skyreholme, opens daily from the end of

BEWARE THE BARGHEST!

Soldiers on the platform at the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway during a 1940s weekend.

Give yourself a break from walking with a trip aboard one of the vintage steam locomotives of the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. As it chugs and puﬀs its way along, settle back and enjoy the picturesque views from the restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages. One of Britain’s Heritage Railways, it has made appearances in TV productions including ‘Jericho’, ‘Emmerdale’ (of course!) and Michael Portillo’s ‘Great British Railway Journeys’. Regular steam services are run throughout the year, and well-behaved dogs are welcome on the trains and in the cafe areas. ● Find out more at www. embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk

www.yourdog.co.uk

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A dog lover’s guide to the: Yorkshire

Dales

There are nearly 5,000 miles (8,000km) of dry stone walling in the Yorkshire Dales.

PLACES TO

EAT & STAY

YORKSHIRE DALES ● DEVONSHIRE ARMS HOTEL AND SPA, Bolton Abbey Estate, near Skipton: A warm welcome awaits all guests, both two and four-legged. After a day out exploring acres of off-road walks, which can be accessed directly from the hotel, return to scrumptious food in the four AA rosette restaurant or the brasserie, and some indulgent pampering in the spa. Facilities for your dog include towels, treats, washing areas, a pet-sitting service, and even a four-poster bed of his own, as well as being allowed in the lounges. Find out more at www. thedevonshirearms.co.uk ● BECK HALL, Malham: A truly dog-friendly hotel — wherever you go, your pet can too, whether it’s relaxing in front of the fire in the snug or sharing a sausage with you at breakfast. Dogs stay free, with up to three being welcome in all 21 of the en-suite rooms; dog biscuits are available on tap, and should you find you’ve forgotten to pack a canine essential, the resident dog will be happy to share his supplies. Surrounded by rolling hills and magnificent landscapes, amazing walks open up straight from the doorstep, with Malham Cove just a 10-minute stroll away. Find out more at www.beckhall malham.com

Beck Hall.

● THE CROWN INN, Hawes: Centrally located in the middle of the town and describing itself as ‘a great pub with rooms’, dogs are welcome anywhere in the pub, and offered a sausage breakfast treat in the morning. There are plenty of walks, with the Pennine Way passing through the area, or shorter routes to explore. When you return with a hearty appetite, you’ll find fresh food and local ales, as well as the pub’s own

The Devonshire Arms Hotel.

A typically Yorkshire view — note the dry stone walls.

Stank House sleeps up to six.

Your dog gets his own four-poster.

specialty gin, vodka, and rum to sample. Find out more at www.crownhawes. co.uk ● THE STONE HOUSE HOTEL, Sedbusk, Hawes: A peaceful rural escape in a classic country house set amid beautiful gardens with stunning views over Wensleydale. Take a packed lunch and head for the hills to enjoy the glorious fell walking! Find out more at www.stonehouse hotel.co.uk ● HELME PASTURE LODGES, near Pately Bridge: Pets are welcome at these spacious, self-catering, Scandinavian lodges set in 29 acres of woodland overlooking the Nidderdale valley. Being all on one level, from the car park, through the lodges, to the outdoor decked area, they are perfect for those (human or canine) with mobility issues. Find out more at www.helmepasture. co.uk

Dogs feeling at home at Helme Pasture.

● STANK HOUSE FARM HOLIDAY COTTAGE, Bolton Abbey Estate: A traditional stone-built farmhouse, Stank House can sleep up to six guests in three en-suite bedrooms. Outside, landscaped gardens stretch all around the property and after a day out exploring with your dog, while he sleeps off his exertions, you can relax in the hot tub on the stone flagged terrace, enjoying spectacular views of Bolton Abbey. Find out more at www.devonshirearms cottages.co.uk

FIND DOG-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY COTTAGES IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES AT: ● ● ● ●

www.dales-holiday-cottages.com www.cottage-choice.co.uk www.dogfriendlycottages.co.uk www.caninecottages.co.uk

TREAT YOURSELF Try a deliciously indulgent afternoon tea at dog-friendly Beck Hall. As well as sandwiches and home-made scones, specialities include mini strawberry gin and tonic trifles, triple choc brownies, retro sweets jar, and cake of the day. Find out more at www.beckhall malham.com ● Find dog-friendly pubs online at www.doggiepubs.org.uk; also on Facebook as DoggiePub.

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23/10/2019 09:39

The beautiful Dales.

FASCINATING FACT

The dancing bear at Brimham Rocks.

As well as exhibits relating to Dales life, the Craven Museum in Skipton has a rare Shakespeare First Folio dating back to 1623. Only 230 copies exist, and it is one of only four First Folios on permanent display in the world; www.cravenmuseum.org

LET’S GO WALKIES STUNNING LANDSCAPES The major attraction of this part of the country for most people is the richly varied landscape — from rolling hills and sweeping dales, to tumbling waterfalls, rivers, and streams, there is something to please everyone. Walking is one of the best ways to appreciate all that the Yorkshire Dales has to oﬀer, whether you opt for a gentle stroll or something a little more taxing. Malham Cove: This well-known and popular beauty spot is well worth a visit. The towering 70-metre-high curved limestone cliﬀs were

formed at the end of the last Ice Age more than 12,000 years ago, and have since become a home for peregrine falcons, house martins, and jackdaws. Harry Potter fans will also enjoy its associations with the ﬁlm ‘Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows’; Harry and Hermione set up camp on the large limestone pavement above the cove. Brimham Rocks: The dramatic moorland scenery and fascinating rock formations make this another not-to-be-missed place to visit. The rocks have been shaped by hundreds of thousands of years of ice and weather erosion,

and many of the formations have been named. Examples include the Dancing Bear, the Camel, the Idol, the Druid’s Writing Desk, and (of course) the Watchdog. Ingleborough Cave: A picturesque woodland walk along the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail leads to the cave, ﬁrst entered in 1837, and still yielding up its secrets. A kilometre of passages take you past discreetly lit huge stalactites, stalagmites, and ﬂowstones. Find out more at ingleboroughcave.co.uk

Popular beauty spot Malham Cove.

DID YOU KNOW?

▼

The Famous Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge aims to take in the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough within a target time of 12 hours. The circular route is 24 miles (38.6km) long and includes 5,200ft (1,585m) of ascent. Dogs are allowed to accompany competitors, but must be on leads. Visit www.threepeakschallenge.uk

www.yourdog.co.uk

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A dog lover’s guide to the: Yorkshire WATERFALLS The Dales are blessed with many spectacular waterfalls including Aysgarth Falls — a triple flight of waterfalls that movie buffs may recognise from the film ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’. They’ve been a tourist attraction for over 200 years, visited by the Romantic poet William Wordsworth and his sister while waiting for their coach horses to be changed, and by artist JMW Turner, who spent some time sketching them. The great man also immortalised Hardraw Force, England’s largest single-drop waterfall. The ravine was once crossed by tightrope walker Blondin, probably most famous for his crossing of Niagara Falls. THE YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK ● The concept of National Parks was an idea first put forward by William Wordsworth. The

Dales

Yorkshire Dales National Park was the eighth to be created in the UK, in 1954. ● The third largest National Park in the UK, it covers an area of 841 square miles (2,179 square km). ● Not all of it lies in North Yorkshire — 28 per cent is in Cumbria, and one per cent in Lancashire. ● There are 2,622km of rights of way, with two of the National Trails — the Pennine Way and Pennine Bridleway — passing through the Park. ● For further information on the Yorkshire Dales National Park, visit www. yorkshiredales.org.uk PENNINE WAY Running for 268 miles and passing through the Yorkshire Dales, the Pennine Way is Britain’s oldest National Trail, and

Hardraw Force.

one of the most popular. Walking the whole path is quite a challenge, but there are plenty of shorter sections you can explore during a day out. Visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ pennine-way You can, of course, always enjoy the experience from the comfort of your armchair instead: try ‘Pennine Walkies’ by Mark Wallington in which he recounts the ups and downs, accompanied by his reluctant walking companion, Boogie the dog.

FASCINATING FACT Although the Yorkshire Dales are often nicknamed ‘Herriot country’, they could as easily be called ‘Ruskin’ or ‘Turner’ country, as both men fell in love with the breathtaking scenery. The beauty of the hills and dales moved famous landscape painter JMW Turner to tears, and drew him back time and time again. Discover the Turner Trails at turner.yorkshire.com Aysgarth Falls.

Yorkshire bred Yorkshire is the home of two famous breeds of dog: the Yorkshire Terrier and the Airedale Terrier. First seen in the 1850s, and coming from the same area as the Airedale, Yorkies were originally used as ratters. According to tradition, they would accompany mill workers to work, where oil often got wiped on their long coats, thereby helping to create the colour and texture. In the 1860s, Yorkshire woman Mary Ann Foster helped to popularise the terriers, and her Yorkie, Huddersfield Ben, is acknowledged as the father of the breed. His portrait was painted by George Earl and one eminent authority wrote that he was: “the best stud dog of his breed during his lifetime, and one of the most remarkable dogs of any pet breed that ever lived.” Lively, intelligent, busy, and feisty, Yorkies

The lively and intelligent Yorkshire Terrier.

remain popular companion dogs. Surprisingly perhaps, only one Yorkie has ever received the accolade of Best in Show at Crufts. The Airedale is traditionally called the ‘King of Terriers’ because he is the largest of the terrier breeds. Developed in the 19th century, these dogs are renowned for their courage, alertness, and loyalty (as well as an impressive moustache!), which combined with great intelligence and limitless energy have led to a wide variety of jobs in the past. Originally used for hunting activities, during the First World War they were extensively used as message carriers, and by the Red Cross to

The ‘King of Terriers’ — the Airedale.

locate wounded soldiers. They have also served as demolition dogs, guard dogs, tracker, and police dogs. Two Airedales were among the casualties on the Titanic.

Your Dog December 2019

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23/10/2019 09:46

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24/10/2019 10:34

A DOG OWNER’S

A–Z

A miscellany of tips, advice, and good ideas, compiled for dog lovers by Karen Bush.

UNDERSTAND YOUR DOG

Renaissance philosopher Michel de Montaigne broke new ground in trying to see things from the point of view of his cat, and it’s still good advice today. Understanding your dog’s perspective of the world will help you in bonding, training, and how you interact with him each day, and can make your relationship a more complete, enjoyable, and satisfying one. With diﬀerent priorities to humans and some senses far superior to ours, try looking at him afresh; a little reading may be helpful. Try: ● ‘Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know’ by Alexandra Horowitz. ● ‘If Dogs Could Talk: Exploring the Canine Mind’ by Vilmos Csányi.

VIBRISSAE

This is the posh name for whiskers; these stiﬀ hairs found on the head, the eyebrows, chin, muzzle, and sides of the face are twice as thick as other hairs, and embedded three times more deeply. Never trim them oﬀ as they are part of the sensory system, acting as ‘feelers’.

● ‘Through A Dog’s Eyes: Understanding Our Dogs by Understanding How They See The World’ by Jennifer Arnold.

UNWANTED Don’t bin any unwanted Christmas gifts; many canine charities will be glad to have them for bric-a-brac stalls, or maybe you could offer them in a charity online auction. ● Throughout the year, put spent ink cartridges to good use, too. Wetnose Animal Aid gives financial aid to smaller, often overlooked charities; you can donate your old, used ink cartridges to help raise funds using the quick link on their webpage, where you can also find out more about their work. Visit www. wetnoseanimalaid.com; on Facebook as Wetnose Animal Aid.

VET HELP DIRECT

A handy symptom checker, to advise the most appropriate first-aid action to take, and help you decide if — and how urgently — you need professional veterinary attention; visit www.vethelpdirect. com There is also a useful ‘Find a vet’ resource. Alternatively, you can find more comprehensive details of vets in your area at https://findavet.rcvs.org. uk/home/

VACUUMING

Illustrations: Emma Thrussell.

Thorough vacuuming is still reckoned to be the most effective chemical-free way of keeping fleas in check. What’s more important is that it deals with all life stages, with experiments showing an average 96 per cent success rate in killing adult fleas, and 100 per cent destruction of younger ones.

Your Dog December 2019

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17/10/2019 14:03

W WHAT’S MY DOG?

It can be fun guessing the ancestry of your mixed breed dog – but if you’d like a more accurate take on his heritage, you can always get a DNA test. These are simple to do at home using a kit: follow the instructions, return the samples, and await the results. As well as learning what’s in the mix, breed-wise (which can be helpful in understanding behaviours your dog may exhibit), some companies also

WORMERY No idea what Christmas gift to give the dog owner who has everything? How about a wormery, which offers an eco-friendly solution to disposing of dog poo, with the resulting vermicompost and liquid fertiliser produced ultimately benefiting your garden, too. Wormeries are available online in sizes and colours to suit all tastes; make sure you buy one that is suitable for pet waste.

WILLS Don’t forget to make provision in your will for the care of your dog in case you should pre-decease him. It’s a good idea to use the term ‘any pets I own at the time of my death’ rather than naming specific pets, to save having to make future alterations. You can ensure your pet will be well cared for in various ways; you might perhaps gift him to someone (remember to ask before nominating them in your will and designate second and third guardians, as circumstances can change), along with a cash bequest to help cover his expenses.

offer additional screening for genetic health h conditions and drug sensitivity. If you search online you will find lots of companies; for the best results, look for those ose with larger databases of breeds with which h to compare your dog’s DNA. ● If you prefer to stick with the guessing game, ame, ‘The Dog Decoder’ by David Alderton (Thunder nder Bay Press) can help you to identify your dog’s g’s origins based on his physical characteristics. characteristicss.

Alternatively, don’t have a close Alt ti l if you d ’t h l ffriend i d or relative who would be able to take on the care of your pet, some charities will be able to do this instead; Dogs Trust, for example, operates a free Canine Care Card scheme. You can find out more about this, and advice on making wills that include your pet, at www.dogstrust.org.uk/ get-involved/wills-legacies ● American heiress Ella Wendell is generally credited with starting the trend in 1931 when she left her Standard Poodle, Toby, a sum which nowadays would be around $75 million. ● When Maltese Terrier Trouble inherited $12 million from his billionaire owner Leona Helmsley, in 2007, he needed a full-time security guard after receiving death and kidnapping threats. ● In the UK, approximately one fifth of owners leave pets half their estate, with an estimated eight per cent of pets being left more than friends and family of the deceased. ● Bequests in wills can be a major source of support for many charities. Around a third of Dogs Trust’s income comes from people’s wills.

WHISTLES It’s worth taking the time to train a whistle recall — the noise carries further than your voice, especially in windy weather, and a whistle never, ever sounds cross! If your verbal recall has failed, you’ll also find it easier to retrain using a whistle. Whether looking for a ‘silent’ or noisy whistle, it’s worth checking out the website of whistle specialists Acme; they produce a wide range of whistles, which are weather-proof, offer consistent sound quality (so if you lose one you can replace it with another that makes an identical sound), and are tested and guaranteed. Some dogs may respond to certain frequencies better than others, so if you aren’t sure which dog whistle to select, you can even ‘try before you buy’ as there is a facility to listen to each of them online! Find the website at www. acmewhistles.co.uk where you can also find advice on choosing dog whistles. ● The ‘silent’ dog whistle has been around since 1876, when it was tested first on humans. Also known as Galton’s whistle after its inventor, the sound it makes is in the ultrasonic range, so high-pitched that humans can’t hear it although dogs, cats, and some other animals can. ● If you are struggling with recall training it’s well worth hunting down a copy of the DVD ‘Really Reliable Recall’ by Leslie Nelson. ● Prefer a book? Try ‘Total Recall’ by Pippa Mattinson (Quiller Publishing).

www.yourdog.co.uk

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21/10/2019 10:19

Dog-related legal problems? Cooper & Co Solicitors are experts in the law on dogs, acting in both civil and criminal cases throughout England & Wales. For certain cases, such as ownership or custody disputes and claims between breeders and buyers, we can offer a reduced cost fixed fee telephone call for only £36 for up to 20 minutes.

Call us on 01304 755 557 to book an appointment today! Visit www.doglaw.co.uk to find out more. Cooper & Co Solicitors are regulated and authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. SRA 258139

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24/10/2019 09:40

Charlie helps out Emily in the Your Dog office.

Charlie’s gift Former Your Dog features editor Emily Wardle pays tribute to her constant childhood companion, who gave so much to her and her family.

very night, when my mum tucked me into bed, I’d plead: ‘Ple-e-e-ease, can we have a puppy?’ Mum’s reply was never a straight ‘no’ — usually, there was a woolly response such as: ‘The time isn’t right’ or ‘Stop asking me every day!’, but I persisted. At 10 years old, I couldn’t think of anything more exciting than a cute puppy who I could take for walks and teach to play fetch in the park. My parents had always had dogs, so they didn’t need convincing of the joys of dog ownership; it was more a case of me and my brother, James, being old enough for Mum to have the time for a third ‘baby’ in her life. Eventually, the time was right, and our parents explained that they had decided to get a Cocker Spaniel. ‘A Cocker Spaniel — what’s that?’ — James and I were intrigued. After trawling the internet for pictures of Cockers, we were both satisfied that they looked like the perfect dog — size, temperament, and those sweet, floppy ears. Mum and Dad did their research, and we eventually brought home Charlie — an eight-week-old golden Emily and James with Charlie at Christmas.

puppy; we were all instantly smitten. My most vivid memories from those early months include me and James dragging a tug toy for Charlie along the grass, and running around the garden, with Charlie chasing after us. Admittedly, his training was never great. He zigzagged and pulled on the lead, and inconveniently barked in public spaces (earning him the nickname ‘yapper’). Charlie and I even tried our paw at agility once — but the less said about that, the better! The older he got, the more he seemed to turn from pure dog to half-human, half-dog. We ‘Wardle-ised’ him, and he evolved into the cuddliest, most affectionate dog, who would lift his neck for a kiss under his chin. If you gestured: ‘Do you want a cuddle?’ and squatted down with your arms open, he would creep his paws up your body and place his front legs around your neck and quite literally ‘squeeze’ you. We never forced him to enjoy affection; he just loved it, and asked for it. The most unexpected joy that Charlie gave us was his complete delight around

“...he would quite literally ‘squeeze’ you.” Charlie in his senior years.

Christmas. He would pick up on the buzz in the house, and he knew that on Christmas morning there would be wrapped presents waiting for him under the tree. He was like a child; we’d say: ‘I wonder if Santa has been for Charlie?’ as he scratched at the lounge door in anticipation. He’d help rip open presents with his teeth, spitting out shreds of paper as he went. Then, he’d have a Charlie-friendly turkey dinner and an afternoon snooze on top of piles of opened presents, utterly exhausted by the excitement. Our neighbour even sent him a stocking every year. Charlie seemed to be young, fit, and healthy for years — never ageing. Other than going deaf when he was about six, which never seemed to bother him, he was never sick until old age eventually caught up with him. He hadn’t endured much drama or turmoil in his life, and it wasn’t until he was about 14 that he started to show signs of slowing down. Rather than leap up onto the sofa or bed, he’d jump up with his front legs, and then turn his head to look at us to ask for a ‘leg up’. In the end, he went downhill quite quickly. At first it was just a wobbly back end, but, eventually, he struggled to stand, and we all knew that the time had come. Content, curled up on his beanbag, surrounded by his beloved family (me and James, our parents, and our grandmother), we shared his last hour together. Our vet, who’s a friend, came to the house, so Charlie didn’t have to endure the upset of the surgery, and he had a peaceful end. The house has been eerily quiet without the patter of his feet and the jingle of his collar — and now we all eat in peace without two chocolate-button eyes pleading for a bite of our dinner. Despite my best efforts, he never could quite get the hang of fetch — but what he gave us in 15 years was more than any of us could ever have hoped for. And Christmas will never be the same without him. www.yourdog.co.uk

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A la t s

GOOD WALK A short story by Karen Bush.

Your Dog December 2019

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aking a short break seemed a good idea to me, although Jen was less certain. “Do you think he’ll cope?” she asked doubtfully. “He’s terribly frail now.” We both looked at the object of our concern. Jake snored peacefully on, paws twitching occasionally as he dreamed, oblivious of our conversation. As always when I looked at him, I felt the same welling up of love; it had been there from the moment I first set eyes on him, at the rescue centre. Some people will tell you there’s no such thing as love at first sight, but I can assure you there is — one proof of it was lying on the giant memory foam bed at my feet. The other proof was standing next to me. Two years after Jake had captured my heart, we met Jen at a local fete where she had been manning — or womanning — a cake stall. Jake had sneakily wolfed down half a Victoria sponge before either of us noticed; a day later we had our first date (a walk to a dog-friendly pub) and, within a month, Jen had joined us both on the sofa. The years since then had flown past, but it was now becoming horribly apparent that time was running out for one of the two loves of my life. “One last holiday together,” I coaxed. “He’s always adored it on the moors.” The journey was uneventful, with Jake dozing most of the way — as he spent most of his days now — but he was stiff when we arrived at the isolated holiday cottage. I gently massaged him, and gloomily wondered if I’d been selfish and this was for his benefit or mine. The next day soon dispelled any misgivings Jen or I might have had about the wisdom of taking Jake on holiday. His weariness vanished in his delight at his surroundings. His eyes seemed brighter, his old grin was back, and he demolished his breakfast rather than picking listlessly at it. The next few days were perfect. The weather was on our side and Jake seemed to have regained his old zest for life; we kept outings short and gentle, and if he couldn’t walk far or fast, nevertheless relished every moment. Back at the cottage, he basked in the late autumn sun, eyes half-closed as he blissfully sampled the scents wafting down to him from the moors. I began to think that maybe, just maybe, we would have a little more time than we’d expected. It was on the last day of our break that everything went wrong. Jake didn’t want his breakfast, reluctantly went outside for a wee, and struggled so much with the steps back indoors that in the end I picked him up and carried him over the threshold. My eyes met Jen’s. “It’s time, isn’t it?” She bit her lip and looked away. “Well, at least he’s had this one last, brilliant holiday,” I said, trying to keep my voice from wobbling. “We’ll take him home this afternoon and ring the vet.” I reached down and gently ruffled Jake’s shaggy coat. He acknowledged me with a feeble thump of his tail, but made no effort to lift his head. “I wish we could have had just one more last good walk together,” I muttered. Jen overheard. “Go and take it for him,” she suggested. “I’ll pack our stuff and then we’ll be ready to set off when you get back.” I suspected it was for both our sakes; right now we needed to keep it together for Jake, not swamp

him with our misery. This would give us both a little time and privacy in which to get our emotions under control. I kissed them both and set off ; appropriately, the glorious weather seemed to have deserted us. I glanced at the sky; conditions could change frighteningly fast out here and getting caught out unprepared was never a good idea. I patted my pocket, checking for my mobile, and realised I’d left it on charge in the kitchenette. Still, I wasn’t planning on going very far, I reasoned, and moodily trudged on. Twenty minutes later, I realised my folly in not turning back at the first signs of the impending weather change; a freezing mist had rapidly and unexpectedly descended. It was not only very, very cold, but visibility was so bad I could barely see a hand in front of my face. Shivering, I groped my way cautiously along, with no idea if I was heading in the right direction, or had got completely turned around. An hour later, when I should have been back on familiar ground, I knew I was definitely lost. A sudden bark, muffled by the mist, roused me; miraculously, it seemed a search party had already found me. “Hi! I’m over here!” I shouted. There was the sound of noisy panting, and then the feel of a cold, wet nose thrust into the palm of my hand. I gratefully curled my chilled fingers into the warmth of the shaggy, curling neck fur of my rescuer — and then gasped in shock. There, beneath my fingers, was the unmistakeable scar Jake had received as a puppy after an argument with a rusty nail sticking out of a fence post. I ran my hands over him while he huffed warm breath in my ear and licked my face. I didn’t need to see him to know him — this was no search and rescue dog, this was Jake. Somehow he had known of my plight, had rallied, and come to help me. Jen would be frantic with worry at his escaping and running off, I thought. “I hope you know the way better than me,” I whispered to him. Keeping a hand resting on his back, I let him slowly but steadily lead the way. Sooner than I expected, I saw the cottage looming out of the mist. “Good boy, Jake,” I told him and hugged his shaggy neck: “Best boy, Jake”. I straightened up, opened the door, and Jen threw herself into my arms, sobbing. “It’s all right, we’re both safe,” I told her. “Jake came and found me and brought me back.” I looked behind for him. He wasn’t there, but then I spied him curled up peacefully in his bed. He’d obviously slipped in past me while my arms were full of Jen. Except that, as Jen told me through her tears, he hadn’t been anywhere. He’d been fast asleep until half an hour ago when he’d suddenly woken, and given a loud bark. Thinking something was hurting, Jen had hurried over and was cradling his head in her arms as he shut his eyes and breathed his last. “It was so quick,” she said through tears. “But peaceful, too. He pricked his ears as though he’d heard something, and then just… went. Like he’d made up his mind, and wanted to go.” She rubbed at her eyes. “I’m so sorry you weren’t here.” My own eyes prickled with tears. “It’s OK,” I said. Because it looked as though we’d had one last good walk together after all.

“... beneath

my fingers, was the unmistakeable scar...”

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MY problem PUPPY!

Something to get your teeth into... A pup’s gotta chew what a pup’s gotta chew, and, as owners, it’s up to us to manage the situation. Trainer Steve Mann explains.

ABOUT STEVE One of the most high-profile dog trainers in the UK, Steve Mann runs the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (www. imdt.uk.com) and presents courses on canine training and behaviour all over the world. Steve’s new book ‘Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy’ is out now and available from all good book shops.

here’s a lot going on in a puppy’s mouth as they develop through to maturity. From the time of birth to two weeks of age, there’s not much happening externally, as all the energy is dedicated to growing. The senses of taste, smell, and touch are in place so pup can find Mum for warmth, safety, and food, but that’s about it. Pup sleeps for approximately 90 per cent of his time waking up only for a feed. When I retire, that’s the life for me! ● From 2 – 4 weeks of age is when the real action starts. Ears and eyes begin to open, and the pups start moving away from total mother dependence onto their own four feet, looking to explore, to play, and to start getting into mischief! Puppy teeth start to come through at 2 – 3 weeks. ● By 6 – 8 weeks of age puppy will have a full set of puppy teeth, or milk teeth as they’re sometimes called. This is when puppy becomes ‘land-shark’! ● Between 8 – 16 weeks the 42 adult teeth will have successfully erupted and evicted the puppy teeth. There are two reasons why puppies chew: teething and exploration. We need to understand and appreciate both.

Shoes can prove irresistible.

“Accept that puppy has a dog-given right of four hours chewing per day.”

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Remember, it isn’t puppy’s fault.

TEETHING

THE CHEWING REMEDY

Have you seen the torment that human babies go through when they’re teething? The stress and angst that makes babies cry hour upon hour as they try to cope with 20-plus baby teeth erupting in their little mouths? Well, double that torment and you’ll start to appreciate the pressure puppy is under as the 42 adult teeth I mentioned earlier all start to hustle and build the necessary momentum to evict those no-longer-welcome puppy teeth. This part of their young lives is not a pleasant experience. Chewing has two beneﬁts to puppy here: 1. It helps alleviate that pressure. 2. It helps persuade the baby teeth to make good their escape. We call it chewing; a more sympathetic description would be pain relief. Chewing ANYTHING is perfectly normal puppy behaviour; when puppies are chewing,, it releases all those nice endorphins rphins into the brain to help them relax.

Your job here is not to stop chewing. Accept that puppy has a dog-given right of four hours chewing per day. Your decision is not ‘to chew or not to chew’, but ‘to chew — what?’ Your job is to provide as many legal chewing opportunities as possible each day. Adopt a two-pronged attack: control and management, and offering an alternative item to chew. In the context of chewing, control and management simply means not providing opportunities for the puppy to practise the unwanted behaviour. For example, do not leave puppy alone in an area with anything that you do not want chewed. If puppy chews the furniture and you weren’t watching, it’s your fault; if puppy chews a cable and you weren’t watching, it’s your fault; if puppy chews the wall and you were

ILLEGAL CHEWS Cables, carpet, walls, furniture, shoes.

EXPLORATION N

LEGAL CHEWS Appropriate and safe toys and chews.

Keep a watchful eye on what pup’s chewing.

POSITIVE INTERRUPTER Belie it or not, sometimes — just Believe sometimes — you may spot puppy doing som something you wish he wouldn’t! For som example, there’ll be times when you’re exam shattered, you’ve been chasing puppy shat round all day, it’s 8pm and you’ve just sat roun down to watch TV, and have 10 minutes to dow yourself. Puppy is on the floor, checking out you the room, and just as you exhale to relax into the settee, you see him wandering over the dining room table leg, licking his lips! to th Now is not the time to jump to attention and tell puppy off. an It’s not puppy’s fault; it never is. A pup’s gotta chew what a pup’s gotta chew. Now is the time to employ g what dog trainers call a conditioned wha ‘positive interrupter’. From puppy’s perspective, a positive interrupter is a super-special sound; whenever he hears it, he drops whatever he is doing and runs straight to the source of the sound because that’s where the good times are! From the owner’s perspective, a positive interrupter is a friendly noise that he or she

▼

Another motivator for puppy to ‘chomp the chair’ r’ is exploration. All babies need ed to explore as much and as soon oon as possible to become familiar with the big, wide world. Human babies reach out and try to touch everything they can with their hands;; dogs aren’t blessed with such apparatus, so it’s the puppy’s mouth and teeth that need to explore everything. And I mean everything!

watching, what is wrong with you?! In a nutshell, do not let puppy practise, and therefore be reinforced, for chewing anything you don’t want chewed. If there is a time when you cannot watch puppy, then pop him in his den, crate, or playpen with plenty of access to legal chews, and no access to illegal chews! Always have a constant supply of freely available legal chew ‘outlets’. If puppy has the desire (and the right) to chew, your watertight control and management mixed with the right number of legal alternatives will keep your Jimmy Choos from becoming Jimmy Chews.

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MY problem PUPPY! will make whenever they want puppy to stop what he’s doing in order to be directed on to something more constructive and suitable instead. For example: ● Puppy goes to chew the furniture. ● Owner makes positive interrupter sound. ● Puppy immediately forgets what he’s doing and runs to owner. ● Owner treats puppy and gives him a more suitable toy to chew. But why is a positive interrupter better than simply saying: ‘No’ or ‘Stop it’? Well, for starters, ‘No’ will not tell puppy what to do.

MAKING YOUR POSITIVE INTERRUPTER A SUPER-STRONG MUSCLE MEMORY Choose a sound that is short and succinct. Perhaps a ‘kissy-kissy’ sound or a word that is difficult to use in anger, such as ‘Yep!’ or ‘Pip!’ Then pair that sound a number of times to give it a really strong, positive, emotional reaction. So how do you do that? ● Have puppy next to you. ● Say ‘Yep!’ and within one second give puppy an amazing treat. ● Repeat several times, in several locations, over several days. ● With enough correct repetition, puppy will not be able to resist dropping whatever he’s doing and running to you whenever he hears that cherished PI. ● When conditioning the sound, make sure you say the sound first, then produce the treat. You don’t want the treat to be in the picture until the sound has been made. It’s the sound that predicts the treat, not the other way around. When I look at helping owners with puppy problems, sometimes I simply need to address the symptoms,, sometimes I need to dig a little further er and address the cause, sometimes both. The he symptom is what they’re doing, the cause ause is why they’re doing it. If, for example, puppy iss chewing furniture because of good, d, old-fashioned teething issues, sues, then I address the symptom directly rectly — the chewing. I just need to control access to the furniture

and offer plenty of cool alternatives to chew. If, however, after a brief consultation with the owner, I feel puppy is chewing because he simply doesn’t have anything better to do, then I need to address the cause. The cause is most likely boredom or a lack of Organise a puppy physical and mental outlets watching rota for when throughout the day. puppy’s teething. We don’t tackle the chewing head-on, we take a more holistic approach, and build an accessible supply of legal chews, and a lifestyle and daily routine that aims to control the access to any illegal chews. render the cause redundant. That routine If you take your eye off the ball, you’ve will include more regular outlets for puppy always got your positive interrupter to each day, such as games, training, sniffing, fall back on. and other cool puppy pursuits. Remember the deal isn’t to chew or not In summary, make sure there’s always to chew, but rather what to chew!

QA &

KEEP IT LEGAL!

Dear Steve, Q

My 12-week-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier is driving me mad! Don’t get me wrong — I love her to bits — but she is chewing everything in sight. I was warned before I got her that Staffies are big chewers, but I can’t believe the power of her jaws. She got hold of some of the children’s plastic toys and chewed them to bits; then there’s the chair legs; the carpet tiles; and any clothes she can get hold off (she’s even jumped up and pulled some off the line). What do I do? I appreciate that puppies have to chew, but how can I teach her to chew appropriate things? I’m worried that she might chew something

DID YOU KNOW? NOW? Puppies have 28 baby aby teeth; six incisors, two canines, nes, and six premolars, both top p and bottom.

Staffies can be big chewers.

inappropriate and end up at the vet’s. How long will this phase last? And can you recommend any particular toys that are suitable for Staffies? Any advice to help me through this will be great! Samantha Border, Cumbria.

Steve says: Thanks a million for your question. Yep, Staffies can be big chewers; all dogs can be! It’s really important that you give her access to lots of appropriate (legal) chew toys; think different textures, shapes, and sizes. Sometimes she’ll find comfort in chewing something softer and comfortable for her mouth, other times she’ll appreciate a tougher toy to really get stuck into! Rotate the toys to ensure variety and novelty for her. As mentioned above, you really must employ super-tight control and management to ensure no illegal chews accessed. This may well mean that, are acces duration, you make clever use for the d child-gates across doorways, or of child-g family to commit to a rota of get the fa puppy watching! w addition to providing suitable chew In add such as stuffed Kongs, make sure toys, suc that her daily routine offers plenty of outlets to stop ‘idle teeth doing mental o devil’s work’! the devil Consider scatter feeding in the garden or Consid doing a ffew sessions of hide-and-seek with favourite toy or treats in the garden. her favou As far aas: ‘How long will this phase last?’ well, the adult teeth are usually goes, we through by 4 – 5 months. However, throughout their lives, dogs like Howev to chew, so make sure you have plenty of chews available — forever! legal che

Your Dog December 2019

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Got a problem with your dog? Whether it’s about behaviour, training, health, or general care, the Your Dog experts are here to help. Our panel includes some of the top names in the dog world, so you can rest assured that you are getting the best, quality advice. Just email your problem/query to editorial@yourdog.co.uk or, if you prefer, you can post it to ‘Dog Answers’ at our Bourne address (see page 3). You can also post your query on Facebook www.facebook.com/yourdogmagazine.

DOG

Answers HEALTH

It’s unwise to let your dog off the lead around livestock!

When should I neuter my puppy?

My vet has recommended I neuter my male Border Collie at six months old, but I have read a lot of conflicting messages online. Please can you advise me if neutering is safe for my puppy. Jim Stanley, Northamptonshire.

Vicky says: The optimum time for neutering is a topic for debate among vets at the moment. Many now recommend delaying neutering dogs until they have ﬁnished growing, which would be no earlier than 12 months old for your Border Collie. Earlier neutering is just as safe in terms of anaesthetic risk and recovery, but the longer term impacts are less clear. Neutering will reduce the risk of some health problems, including testicular and perianal tumours, and prostate enlargement, but it has been linked to an increased risk of some other cancers, and orthopaedic problems.

OUT & ABOUT

On or off-lead? Q

I have recently joined a dog walking group. On our regular walk, we pass through a sheep field. The sheep are very calm and relaxed when we pass through, and other people in the group have their dogs off the lead. My dog usually goes off the lead on his walks, but I am reluctant to let him through that field. I have heard that if your dog is a threat to the sheep, the farmer has the right to shoot him; is this correct? Of course, I do trust my dog, but you never know when a dog may do something unexpected. David Carol, Leicestershire.

Stephen says: You are absolutely right to keep your dog on a lead in any ﬁeld containing farm animals, as is everyone else, irrespective of how well trained or ‘sheep proof’ they believe their dog to be. Leads aren’t technically required in legal terms, as long as your dog is under ‘close control’ in a ﬁeld

of sheep. But, that’s an imprecise term, and so it’s far better to always use a lead so that the farmer and everyone else knows your dog is not going to cause a problem. Doing so also avoids an upsetting confrontation that could spoil your walk and cause needless worry to farmers, too. Shooting a dog is only lawful as a last resort;

Your Dog December 2019

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Quick-fire questions

THE EXPERT PANEL

KATE ELLAM is professional development canine behaviour officer at Dogs Trust.

TONY CRUSE is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers.

VICKY PAYNE BVetMed, MRCVS is a holistic vet based in East Sussex.

HOLLY MASH BVSc, MRCVS specialises in herbal medicine, acupuncture, and nutrition.

JOANNE ANGUS LCGI is a founder member of the Guild of Master Groomers.

JOHN BURNS BVMS, MRCVS is a vet, and founder of feed company Burns Pet Nutrition.

STEPHEN JENKINSON is access adviser to Your Dog, the Kennel Club, and local councils.

BEHAVIOUR

Toilet training hiccup

Q TOP TIP For more advice, check out the Dog Walking Code for England and Wales; www.dogwalking code.org.uk

a farmer can’t legally shoot a dog just because it might chase sheep or is not on a lead. But, a dog being shot unlawfully is not going to come back to life. To keep you and your dog safe, always remember to release your dog if you are threatened by cattle, so you can both get to safety separately. It’s usually the dog who cows see as a threat, and most dogs can outrun a cow easily.

I have a two-year-old dog Maltishipoo, called Bertie, and recently we added Elsie, a Poochon, to our family; Be consistent when toilet training she is 10 weeks old. Elsie and and persevere — you will get there! Bertie get on well, although play can be robust. Her toileting was going well, but in the last few days she has started to wee and poo near Bertie’s food and water bowls. We have not reacted and have cleaned and sprayed and are now washing his mat. Why is she doing this?

WHAT SORT OF ADOPTION FEES SHOULD I EXPECT TO PAY FOR A RESCUE DOG? The amount varies a lot depending on the organisation, but you should expect it to be between £100 and £200. The adoption fee may seem a lot to some people, but don’t forget to take into account that, while a dog has been living at a rescue centre, he will have been fed, received veterinary treatment — often including neutering, microchipping, and vaccination — a behaviour assessment, training, and more. You may also get an adoption pack from the rescue centre, which may include food, a collar and lead, ID tag, and free insurance.

Carol Buckley, Warwickshire.

Kate says: With any sudden change in behaviour, it’s worth checking with your vet that there isn’t an underlying medical condition causing, or contributing to, the behaviour. It’s important not to tell Elsie oﬀ if you ﬁnd a mess in the area; calmly encourage both dogs out of the room and then, when they are out of sight, clean up using an enzymatic cleaner. This will remove the smell and any potential pheromones (which dogs can detect but we can’t!), reducing the potential attractiveness of the area for Elsie (you can get enzymatic cleaners from most pet stores). Continue with her toilet training as you have been doing, as this could

just be a temporary hiccup! Continue to reward her when she makes the right choice and toilets outside. You could also increase the amount of access she has to the garden so that she might be more likely to toilet outside. If you’ve noticed that the behaviour seems to happen at certain times of the day or after certain events (such as first thing in the morning, before or after Bertie has eaten, after playing with Bertie), then encourage her out into the garden straight away when she’ll be more likely to toilet. If you can, feed Bertie in an area that Elsie cannot access, or lift up his food bowl after he’s eaten and replace the specific water bowl with others in different areas of the house. www.yourdog.co.uk

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DOG

Answers HEALTH

Supporting an epileptic dog Q I have found out that my Springer Spaniel, Lenny, has epilepsy. Soon he will be starting his epilepsy tablets. I want to make him feel settled, and help him to handle the seizures as best he can. Please can you give me some guidance on how I should best manage this condition.

Max Jones, Cambridgeshire.

Vicky says: Most epilepsy medications have some initial side effects, so make sure your vet explains these; commonly you will see some sedation, and maybe some wobbliness. Keep a seizure diary, so you know if the medication is reducing the frequency and severity of fits, and to help you spot any triggers (though most cases occur when a dog is dropping off to sleep).

Make sure your epileptic dog has somewhere quiet to recover.

There is little you can do during a seizure other than keep your dog safe. Move anything he might crash into, and make the room dark and quiet if you are indoors. Don’t try to restrain your dog as you might get bitten or scratched. After a seizure, Lenny might be confused and disorientated; some dogs may even become aggressive, so oﬀer him a comfortable and quiet place to recover.

BEHAVIOUR

She lunges at the traffic Q

I have a very lively, lovely five-month-old Border Collie called Ruby. She is very friendly towards people and dogs, but our problem is traffic! Wherever we go for a walk, we need to negotiate a busy main road, and even before we reach the pavement she goes flat on the ground and lunges at the traffic. We have to cross the road, and even if a vehicle is far off, she twirls round making it hard to hold her. I try to sound positive and reassuring, although it has no effect — in fact it’s horrendous! The vet said to play the sound of traffic indoors. She listens, but isn’t unduly worried.

Sometimes the collie’s herding behaviour can extend to traffic.

Jill Chai, West Yorkshire.

Tony says: It sounds like Ruby is anxious about traffic. Stress (and sometimes excitement) can push a dog over the threshold where they are more likely to display breed-specific behaviours. Ruby is a collie and herding traffic is not a great idea! Your vet’s advice is good and it’s a method called desensitisation. This is about showing a small piece of the problem, so it is not a problem (in this case the sound of traffic). However, you could also employ a technique

called counter-conditioning, which is pairing up the scary thing (traffic) with something pleasant, so that traffic means good things. On a regular basis, take Ruby to a quiet road and find a spot a little way from where the traffic goes by. Every time a vehicle goes past, you have to provide her with the best treat ever! In time, the traffic predicts good things and her fear should decrease. If she is not eating the treats, it often means she is too close to the trigger (traffic). Create more distance, which can be gradually decreased

over time (this is desensitisation again). Another good thing to pair up with the traﬃc may be a tennis ball or her favourite toy. Again, something good appears after the scary traﬃc. Holding the ball in her mouth may also help to appease her. Use a ball on a rope though, as you don’t want it rolling into the road. If vehicles start to predict toys and treats, they soon become less scary! Check out trainers from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and The Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) who can help.

Your Dog December 2019

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24/10/2019 15:40

Access land includes moorland and heathland.

Quick-fire questions WHY, AND WHEN, IS LIMB AMPUTATION RECOMMENDED IN DOGS?

OUT & ABOUT

Some dogs’ noses will change colour over time.

WHAT IS ACCESS LAND?

Q From black HEALTH

to pink

My six-year-old dog’s nose has recently gone from black to a pale pink colour. Is this caused by the sun? It doesn’t seem to be irritating her. However, her nose is quite dry, and I am worried it will become irritated if I leave it. Sally Jarvis, South Yorkshire.

Vicky says: A change from black to pink is unlikely to be caused by sun exposure. Some dogs with brown noses experience fading in the winter or as they get older, but this is less common in black-nosed dogs. Vitiligo is an immune-mediated condition where the colour-producing cells (melanocytes) are destroyed, and areas of skin and hair lose colour. This condition is harmless, but there is no treatment. Other, more serious, diseases can also cause changes to the colour of the nose. These include pemphigus, lupus, cancers, and uveodermatologic syndrome. Usually, these conditions also cause ulcerations and erosions as the disease progresses. I recommend visiting your vet for advice.

I have recently read about access land; can you tell me what it is, and how it differs from privately owned land? Michael Cormack, Norfolk.

Stephen says: Access land or open access land is a legal term for usually privately owned land in England and Wales that walkers have the right to wander across, without sticking to paths. It’s often called the ‘right to roam’ but, in truth, there are lots of conditions and restrictions attached to how you can use access land, especially if you have a dog. Access land is designated not by how useful it would be to walk there, but whether the land is classed as mountain, moorland, heathland, or downland; common land is also usually classed as access land. Some of the rules that apply to using access land with a dog are reasonable, such as having him on a lead around farm animals, and not letting him run about on land where rare birds are nesting on the ground between March 1 and July 31. However, a lack of scrutiny by groups representing dog owners when access land laws were passed in 2000 means that other lawful restrictions seem excessive by today’s standards, and in some places dog walkers became worse oﬀ after the new law was passed. But remember that such restrictions do not apply to you or your dog if you stay on public rights of way that often cross access land. Rights to walk on access land also don’t apply to commercial activities, such as commercial dog walking. Access land is marked on Ordnance Survey Explorer maps, and you can ﬁnd out about local restrictions at www.gov.uk

Limb amputation can be recommended in dogs for a number of reasons. The most common is that the dog has been badly injured and has irreparable damage to the leg — multiple fractures, loss of blood flow to the leg, an excessive tearing of the muscles, and damage to the nerves. Another reason might be advanced bone cancer in the limb, where removing the tumour is too invasive, the cancer too advanced, or it has spread to the surrounding area. Whatever the reason, making the decision to remove a dog’s leg is not taken lightly, although many dogs cope extremely well on three legs.

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DOG

Answers Food can become an obsession.

BEHAVIOUR

My greedy Beagle’s obsessed with food Q

I have a very greedy seven-year-old Beagle. I have been guilty of giving him too many dog chews and treats. Eventually, I saw the error of my ways and Murphy was put on a very strict diet, which reduced his weight from 22kg to 19kg. However, his behaviour at home has become unmanageable; he even snapped at my grandson when he was thwarted from diving into the dishwasher. At mealtimes he barks incessantly and steals off plates; he even fights to get on the table to help himself. It’s become a battleground. We sought advice from a behaviourist, and put him in his cage at mealtimes; now he’s resisting that. We try to distract him with interactive toys, but he is desperate to share our food. How do I get back on track? Pam Cliﬀord, via email.

DID YOU KNOW? It’s definitely worth asking your vet to check whether your dog has any gastrointestinal issues that might be affecting and exacerbating this unwanted behaviour.

as this could make him feel worried about Kate says: This must be stressful your behaviour. If he snatches anything for all of you, Murphy included! edible, just let him have it. This is so you Although, physically, Murphy’s don’t make him panic about having it diet is going well, he seems to removed, so he feels the need to protect it have become worryingly fixated with food, or gulp it down dangerously quickly. human food especially. You could also try introducing As much as possible, try to avoid different kinds of activities for any situations that bring about Murphy to enjoy that don’t this unwanted behaviour. involve food. For example, Rather than using the crate, TOP TIP playing games with new try keeping Murphy in Hide some of your toys of different shapes, a separate room during dog’s agreed daily food sizes, sounds, and textures, family mealtimes, with the allowance for him to sniff or getting him to use his door or a baby gate closed. out and eat. Mealtimes nose, as dogs usually love Make sure you give him will last longer and be this activity. something fun to keep him more exciting. Hide his favourite toy occupied during this time somewhere in a room or the such as a toy he likes, a safe garden while he watches, then chew, or an interactive feeder. continue to pretend to hide it in a few more Alternatively, arrange for someone to places before letting him go. He’ll probably take him out for a walk while the rest of the go to the last place you pretended to hide family eat, and take it in turns. This doesn’t the toy to start with, but then will search have to be forever, just while he learns that for it with his nose and smell it out. This can there’s more to life than fixating on food, be an exciting activity that gives him an and so you can enjoy your own dinner. outlet for some of the energy and focus he is After the family has finished eating, make putting on food. sure any food is removed, plates are cleared Try creating a dig box for Murphy by away, and the dishwasher is closed before ripping up lots of newspaper, placing it into letting Murphy back into the kitchen/ a cardboard box, then hiding his toys inside. dining area. Encourage him to dig them out, then play If Murphy barks or tries to get hold of any with them. food items, it’s important not to tell him off

Your Dog December 2019

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OUT & ABOUT

Walking route confusion Q What is the difference between a bridleway and a footpath?

Molly Barker, Carmarthenshire.

Stephen says: In legal terms in Wales and England, a public footpath is a route across usually privately owned land, where you only have the right to walk and do things that a walker would normally do, such as walk a dog, stop to admire the view, or push a pram. On a public bridleway, in addition to walking, you also have the right to ride a horse or bicycle. That said, the landowner can allow people to ride or drive motor vehicles along all types of public path, so do always stay alert for other people or dangers; it may not just be walkers you encounter on a footpath. There’s no general law requiring dogs to be kept on a lead on public footpaths or bridleways, but you could be breaking other laws if your dog causes a nuisance, danger, or damage to other people, farm animals, or wildlife. It’s still best to clip on the lead when passing other people and in ﬁelds of farm animals, but do always release your dog if you feel threatened by cattle.

Quick-fire questions WHAT IS EHRLICHIOSIS? Ehrlichia is a parasite, and ehrlichiosis is the disease it causes. The ehrlichia parasite is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, an exotic tick found in warm and tropical climates. For dogs who contract this disease, prompt and effective treatment is key. Once considered only a risk to travellers, the tick has been found in Essex, and there is the chance that it may become more widespread in the UK in the future.

HOW VERSATILE ARE MINIATURE SCHNAUZERS?

Horse riders can use bridleways.

HEALTH

A sting in the tail

My Labrador rolled in some mud on a walk, and after I’d bathed her later that night, her tail looked broken. She couldn’t lift it or wag it. Should I take her to the vet or could it just be bruising? It seemed to have improved slightly a few days later.

Miniature Schnauzers are very versatile. They are sociable and friendly dogs, and also intelligent, meaning that house-training isn’t usually an issue. They are often likened to terriers in personality, but they do not have the same urge to hunt. As long as they are well cared for, they are happy to live in a property of any size.

Stephen Mansﬁeld, Norfolk.

Vicky says: Your dog was most likely suﬀering from a complaint that has a number of names — limber tail, dead tail, cold water tail, swimmer’s tail. Some cases appear to be caused by spraining or bruising of the tail; typical examples include dogs who jump repeatedly into water, or have had a busy day wagging their tail more than usual.

Other cases seem to happen when a dog gets wet and cold, suggesting something more like a chilblain. Almost all cases improve after a few days, with rest and perhaps some dog pain medication. I suggest my clients feed ginger to improve circulation, which seems to reduce the risk of recurrence (ask your vet before giving any medication or supplement).

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Gallery The

Give your dog his ďŹ ve minutes of fame.

To be included in our gallery, email your photos to gallery@yourdog.co.uk or post traditional prints to the address on page 3. Include your name, address, and daytime telephone number, plus your dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name and breed. Alternatively, you can share your images on social media at www. facebook.com/yourdogmagazine Twitter @yourdog. Please, no images of dogs playing with sticks or wearing extreme clothing!

Cockerpoo Ronnie, from Lapworth, Warwickshire.

TOP DOG! Springador Lottie, from Amlwch, Isle of Anglesey.

Husky Seb, from Chopwell, Tyne and Wear.

Poodle X Dalmatian Duke, and Dalmatian Nico, from Scawthorpe, South Yorkshire.

Cluanie.

Miniature Schnauzer Gizmo, from Ringwood, Hampshire.

Nala and Ozzie.

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Your Dog December 2019

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Cockerpoo Amber, from Watford, Hertfordshire.

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ABOUT KIM COOL ING

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Former social worker Kim fo unded Animal SOS Sr i Lanka in 2007 purchasing a . Since plot of land an d a small clinic in the south of the island, Kim has taken in thousands of dogs at her sa nctuary, as w as providing ell vaccinations and neuterin many more st g for reet dogs. In O ctober this ye she was presen ar, ted with the In ternational Fund for Anim al Welfare’s In ternational Animal Welfa re Award. ● Find out m ore about Ani mal SOS Sri Lanka, and ho w you can help , at www.animalso s-sl.com/

When Kim fell in love with an emaciated street dog, it was the start of a life devoted to improving the lot of thousands of vulnerable animals.

Where does your love of dogs come from? “From sharing most of my life with dogs and realising just how much they have enriched my life with their unconditional love and loyalty. That’s hard to ﬁnd in humans. The bond is unique.”

Tell us about your first dog. “As a child, my ﬁrst dog was a collie called Trudy. I loved her so much. My ﬁrst rescued street dog was called Rama. I rescued her from Thailand in 1998. She was my shadow and the inspiration for my subsequent work with street dogs.”

Do you own any dogs currently? “I have seven dogs at my home in London; ﬁve are ex-Sri Lankan street dogs, and two are rescued Poodles who were found on the streets of Bangkok.”

Who has been the canine love of your life? “I love them all. The 1,600 rescued street dogs at the sanctuary, my own dogs in London, and the street dogs who suﬀer so much in many countries around the world. If I could save them all and give them a good life, I would.”

“A mixed breed street dog rescued by my charity, as they appreciate being nursed back from the brink of death to full health, and having a second chance of life — that is the greatest joy.”

What do you love most about sharing your life with dogs? “The love they give; their aﬀection, loyalty, and companionship. Dogs are the best company, and our best friends.”

Q Thousands of dogs have benefited from the work of Animal SOS Sri Lanka.

If you were a dog, which breed would you be and why?

Tell us a funny story about one of your dogs. “I have a rescued street dog from Sri Lanka called Wombat. He is one of the funniest looking dogs ever. We took him for a walk shortly after he came over, and he slipped the lead and raced after a cyclist in Epping Forest. He disappeared without a trace. We were distraught and searched into the night for him. Eventually, we called the police and had the funniest conversation with the oﬃcer as he wanted his name and description. There was a long silence

Kim at the presentation of her IFAW award at the House of Lords. Pictured (from the left) are: wildlife presenter Bill Oddie, Kim, host Lord Desai, and IFAW UK director James Sawyer.

when I said the dog responds to the names of Seal, Clanger, and Wombat. There was an even longer silence when I gave his description. After all that stress, Wombat eventually turned up outside our gates, all excited and wagging his tail after his big adventure. He ate a bowl of food, drank some water, and curled up on the sofa to go to sleep. Street dogs are so smart... they always ﬁnd their way home.”

What is the best advice you’ve ever received about dogs? “Give them a chance because they want to live. “The ethos of Animal SOS Sri Lanka is to give the most critical cases a chance. It pays oﬀ as our survival rates are high, and even some of the worst cases imaginable get through. The cases we receive at the sanctuary shock most visiting western vets and vet nurses, but the recoveries speak volumes. Where there is love, there is life.”

Kim in Sri Lanka with some of her rescue dogs.

Your Dog December 2019

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Your Dog November 2020

Articles inside

Best Christmas ever