Dogs Today_April_2021 : simplebooklet.com

Inside this month News features 4 Editor s letter pet protection pressure for action builds R E T R A C TA B L E L E A D S 6 MADE IN GERMANY Ant Dec interestingly the little one is the boss of their dogs 8 Pregnant paws fertile minds takes the guesswork out of repro 18 Greyhound retirement scheme they deserve a lap of honour 20 Scent to save us Jodie Forbes thinks nose jobs cheer dogs up 26 Debbie Bridges goes on a manhunt with a sock in her bra 38 Vet suicide quadruple the national average they need empathy too Over to you 16 Great debate should the RSPCA be given more power 32 Postbag what matters to you Training behaviour 48 Victoria Stilwell doggie daycare was torture DogsToday The ethical pet magazine for people who really care about dogs Facebook Dogs Today Editorial beverleycuddy Dogs_Today Editor Beverley Cuddy Art Director Rosie Peace Chief Sub Editor Contributing Editor Claire Horton Bussey Deputy Editor Alessandra Pacelli Illustrator Kevin Brockbank Proof readers Katie Horton Bussey Alys Horton Bussey Advertising sponsorship Advertising Sponsorship Manager Mike McGlynn 01276 402591 Office dogs Betty Old English Golden Retriever ish Madi collie cross Nellie Staffordshire Bull Terrier Isla Lurcher Beth Justine Poison Ivy Newfoundlands Betty s Personal Trainer Kirsten Dillon IMDT A Dip CBM Dogs Today Pet Subjects Ltd The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ 01276 402599 enquiries dogstodaymagazine co uk www dogstodaymagazine co uk Publishers for Cooper 52 Peter Neville s True Case History the rarest dog of all the African Wild Dog Opinion 66 Confessions of a dogaholic quid s in Investigation 36 Q A how to spot a fake RSPCA or SSPCA inspector 42 Dog crush Mini Labradoodles small wonders LIMITED Chief Operations Officer Graham Smith 01276 402598 graham wearebrandshare com Managing Director Beverley Cuddy 01276 402597 beverley dogstodaymagazine co uk Subscriptions For subscription queries call Pet Subjects on 01276 402599 or email subs dogstodaymagazine co uk Initial subscription rates UK BFPO 12 issues 39 50 24 issues 61 EU countries 12 issues 65 20 Rest of the world airmail 12 issues 79 80 Direct Debit offer UK only 9 99 for 3 months with 1 month free trial and a 1 sign up fee Competitions shopping 56 Pop the kettle on and tackle our puzzles and competitions 58 Subscribers GIANT Walk with the Best www flexi de en Mini Labradoodle Photo posed by a model can win a new face mask The editor is always pleased to consider articles and photos from freelancers However there is often a considerable delay before material can be assessed Please include an SAE if you want your work returned While every care will be taken no responsibility for loss or damage can be accepted Competition sponsors and their families are not eligible for any competition Dogs Today incorporating Perfect Pup is published by Brandshare Ltd The Stables Saddler Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ Tel 01276 402599 Brandshare Ltd reg office The Stables Saddler Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ Distributed by Marketforce UK Ltd 2nd Floor 5 Churchill Place Canary Wharf London E14 5HU Tel 020 3148 3333 www marketforce co uk Printed by The Manson Group 2021 Dogs Today The world copyright of the editorial matter both illustrations and text is strictly reserved Registered as a newspaper for transmission in the UK Next issue on sale April 16 To download Dogs Today for iPad go to the App store Android and PC versions are available from Pocket Mags the Kindle edition from www amazon co uk April 2021 Dogs Today 3

Page 3

Page 4

Beverley Cuddy J ust before we went to press we heard the very sad news that Haatchi had passed away I am sure people will make a film about him one day just like they did for his namesake the dog who waited at the train station for his owner to return If you don t already know the story do read Wendy Holden s excellent book Young Haatchi was chained to a railway line when just a pup No one knows why did some sicko do it so they could watch what happened The train cut the chains but also badly injured Haatchi who scurried away to hide This huge Anatolian Shepherd was seen many times in the next few days but couldn t be caught He lost a lot of blood before he was taken to the RSPCA hospital A back leg and his tail couldn t be saved but he still trusted people despite being in unimaginable agony By chance and fate he was to find an unlikely soulmate in Owen a boy who really didn t like being in a wheelchair Owen s rare genetic condition was hard enough without people staring Going outside had become something he really didn t want to do But with an enormous three legged dog at his side it took the focus away and also broke the ice as everyone wanted to hear this dog s life story Owen loved telling people about his loyal brave friend and while doing this his confidence grew and grew We gave Owen and Haatchi a medal and invited them back to present everyone else s medals too We send all our love to Owen Will and Colleen at this very sad time Thank you so much for sharing Haatchi with us Dogs are just remarkable aren t they Even when treated so badly they still have so much love to give We really must protect them Surely the establishment will soon recognise that pets are family and not possessions Today as I write this Ricky Gervais and lots of Beverley Cuddy is Dogs Today s Editor and publisher She shares her life with Betty an Old English Golden Retriever ish dog from Many Tears She grew and grew and grew soon after this photo was taken other celebrities took part in the World s Biggest Dog Zoom Call to make it very clear that dogs are family and the law needs to protect them The latest figures show that during lockdown even more people have become pet owners Dogs have done so much for everyone s mental health this really is the very least we can do for them to make them less vulnerable to theft and exploitation My gorgeous dog Betty means the world to me and I was so honoured that Fran Barnbrook made her an honorary Irish Wolfhound and created this gorgeous Cloucho Next month I will tell you the story of how these extraordinary creatures came about P PS I am not only over Covid but I ve also since been vaccinated which is a relief And Betty s blood test after a long saga that I won t bore you with came back normal so I m not sure why her liver was so wonky I d been very worried about her Illustration by Beverley Cuddy Dear readers NEW IM PROV ED T R E AT R A N G E Natural healthy hypo allergenic Natural Ingredients Award Winning Recipe Top Score 92 in a Which Consumer poll of 24 popular brands Expert nutrition team freephone 0800 083 6696 UK 1800 83 66 96 ROI 4 Dogs Today April 2021 Or Webchat burnspet co uk burnspet burnspetfood

Page 5

Page 6

Words BERNARD BALE The stars meet their Guide Dogs namesakes as part of the charity s Pups to Partnerships appeal Ant and Dec have been Britain s most popular TV presenters for years winning multiple awards and having a huge army of fans Yet they have no bigger fans than their dogs and the feelings are totally mutual Dec with Rocky Fans best friends 6 Dogs Today April 2021 Ant with Hurley W e are not only the best of pals said both Ant and Dec but our dogs are the best of pals too We live just a couple of houses away from each other and the dogs often call to each other It must drive the neighbours crazy but nobody has complained yet Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have been pals since they appeared in CBBC s Byker Grove which ran for six series starting in 1989 That seems a long time ago said Ant We didn t really know each other before then and we were not pals straight away we just sort of grew on each other We ve been doing shows together ever since but we do have our own lives we are not joined at the hip Through the years Ant and Dec became pop stars as PJ Duncan which were their Byker Grove characters and then moved on to being TV presenters for which they have become household names Whether it has been I m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Britain s Got Talent Ant and Dec s Saturday Night Takeaway or any of their other highly rated shows Ant and Dec are constantly in demand and look set to be TV favourites for a long time to come We have had a lot of fun on the many TV shows we ve done and we are very grateful for the support we have had from viewers said Dec You d have thought that they d have seen enough of us by now but we get lots of lovely letters and cards that say how much they enjoy what we do It takes us ages to write them It is that sense of fun that has made Ant and Dec so popular and it certainly rubs off on their dogs The dogs are full of life and always seem to have loads of energy said Ant who has a chocolate Labrador called Hurley and Maltipoos Milo and Bumble I am glad to have a decent sized garden but we still take them out a lot and they never seem to want to just slump around I have a Miniature Dachshund called Rocky Dec revealed He might be small but he is amazingly loud and whenever our dogs meet up he always wants to be the boss and organise everything You can almost hear him saying Let s go there or Let s do this Strangely the others go along with it until they get fed up and then he has to tag along with them When they are all out in our gardens it is almost always Rocky who starts the conversation Rocky and Hurley have known each other for a while and they are good friends even if Rocky is a bit bossy That sounds familiar said Ant Ant and Dec are still close friends after all these years and often watch their beloved Newcastle United together or share a game of golf We really are good mates and yes we do go round to each other s houses for a meal said Ant We respect each other s privacy and time though we don t live in each other s pockets Living nearby is useful for when we are going to gigs want to talk about a show or whatever The truth is that the while we are close friends the dogs are probably closer than we are SPOTLIGHT STEALERS You can t ignore dogs can you said Dec They have a way of getting into you that means they stand in the way and you walk round them they want to go for a walk so you do they want feeding so you feed them even if you haven t had anything yourself yet Even having a small dog like Rocky doesn t mean he will let you overlook him Ant added They are always pleased to see you when you walk in the door too It doesn t matter how your day has gone they are just delighted you are back They don t judge you either You never hear your dog say something like I watched your show the other evening and I thought you were rubbish They are only interested in you not what you do for a living You never have a dog come up and ask for your autograph either said Dec Neither of us refuse an autograph or a photo if we are asked properly always happy to have a chat with people of course If it weren t for them we wouldn t have been to all the places and done all the sort of things we have done Having appeared in the national media the dogs have also become quite well known but they haven t yet shown any ambition to start television careers of their own It would never surprise me said Ant When we go for a walk people come up to you and say What a lovely dog and that is a great leveller too They don t look at you and say Aren t you that bloke from the telly They just want to talk to the dogs I guess we know our place said Dec We are our dogs minders P April 2021 Dogs Today 7

Page 7

Page 8

Words illustrations BEVERLEY CUDDY Sex and the single dog They do WHAT on the table Tech has inseminated the dog breeding world Labradors are using labs to reproduce But we re breeding a nation of instant experts so be very careful who you trust Y ou know when you got that conversation about the birds and the bees Well things are different now at least for some dogs I started a Facebook thread on modern mating habits that proved most surprising Apparently side by side matings are now all the rage This is where two dogs meet each other but don t actually have sex The sperm is harvested checked under a microscope for good swimmers and then inserted And no not with a turkey baster I did ask Apparently they use straws to store semen but not the ones you get with a milkshake Do dogs mind all this human involvement Well they seem to have evolved to accept it On my Facebook page an anecdote was shared about female dog not present situations On arriving at a doggie friend s house for dinner a very excited male dog jumped straight on to the table The owner explained that the dog now associated all guests with his stud work and like Pavlov s dog he was aroused Look at the legs on that and ready to donate some sperm and this was always done on the kitchen table That stud dog had never had sex with a dog this was all he knew I am probably already deeply traumatised by my childhood experiences assisting at natural matings but owners performing frottage I can better understand the man who goes around farms doing the same thing for bulls but he doesn t share a house with them afterwards Back when I was growing up other breeders shared their secrets of how to know when a dog was ready to mate Occasionally you would hear of someone locally who was a specialist in the actual nuts and bolts of the mating game and you could pay them a fee to be a fluffer They d have enough experience to know if it was too early or too late and even help with aim issues At 13 I saw things I d probably later bring up in therapy involving Vaseline telephone directories and even bondage with a pair of tights wrapped around a dog s nose There was a perfect window for dogs to mate a peak of fertility Stray dogs seem to know this Back then we d look for a colour change female dogs usually have two seasons a year and when the blood turns towards a shade of wheat we were told that s the time The bitch s tail would also arc when you rubbed her back HELPING HAND Those ancient signs were often unreliable I remember us driving hundreds of miles to the chosen stud to discover it was too early and going back the two days later to be told it was too late These days cytology much more accurately predicts ovulation Now you can buy lots of gadgets and even go on a course and learn to be a dog breeder all in a day it says so on the course materials You can buy a special bag for collecting the semen I wonder if they have them from Chihuahua to Irish Wolfhound sizes Progesterone testing is done most accurately from a blood test and that s where the DIY brigade run into trouble There are strict rules about who can draw blood Some reproduction vets can do it all for you in house but lots of people have now been on a course and have 8 Dogs Today April 2021 Well not in this house Progesterone testing is done most accurately from a blood test and that s where the DIY brigade run into trouble There are strict rules about who can draw blood bought all their own testing equipment and routinely break the law by taking blood asking owners to sign a disclaimer and even transferring the dog into the tester s ownership while they do the test Back in the dark ages we used to spend ages wondering if the mating had worked there was no pee on a stick pregnancy testing kit for dogs But getting a scan has now become very popular Some dogs get more scans than women do on the NHS But there are words of caution from my Facebook posse Not all pregnancy scans are equal Some people just buy all the kit online and do a quick course April 2021 Dogs Today 9

Page 9

Page 10

A friend of mine is a vet She has a dog reproduction business and said that these people setting themselves up for fertility scanning are unable to diagnose any complications Also when they have said there is a litter and nothing happens they will just claim reabsorption as a get out But scanning done right can be a life saver My mother s favourite dog Winnie had been mated to a top stud dog very many miles away Another of our dogs had missed when mated to the same dog so when she didn t get any larger or start to produce milk we assumed he was either shooting blanks or we d just got the wrong day again I wasn t living at home by this stage and I phoned around the day of the anticipated birth and Mum had seen no sign of her being pregnant she still had a waist and no milk bar However a week or two later my mother was grooming her and noticed a lump A big one The vet was a neighbour so he dropped in and examined her His face revealed he thought it was a bad lump and that it needed to come out and be tested Our lovely dog was in no distress still eating and seemingly well When the vet started the operation he discovered the lump was actually an enormous unborn puppy He sadly handed the body to a vet nurse to dispose of and started closing Winnie up The vet nurse shrieked the dead puppy was alive We called her Cleopatra and it was the last puppy we ever bred It frightened the life out of us that our precious Winnie could have died The C section meant that she never properly bonded with her pup and had no milk so we hand reared Cleo She was so very special that she stayed of course These days a scan would have alerted us to the single pup so tech can at least take some of the risk out of reproduction I am keen to set up a list of brilliant repro vets reliable scanners and mentors who can hold someone s hand during the nervous wait for the first pup to be born If beloved dogs become mums they deserve the very best pregnancy care Here are some more highlights from the modern peternity discussion Matenow absolutely top of the top We wouldn t go anywhere else Not only supplies you with the most accurate progesterone results but her experience and knowledge is second to none something you won t get from these other clinics that are popping up all over the place who have learned all they know on a one day course Blood test AI and scan and very competitive with pricing Many top breeders use Dinu Catilina at Reprovet for progesterone testing and insemination He appears to have a higher success rate than most for identifying the optimum day of ovulation I use Keith Shea of Fit and Fertile We used Angelika Von Heimendahl when we sent semen to New Zealand and again when we imported it from the US We had to have blood tests every two days from our vet which would tell us when the bitch was ready for insemination and we then took her to Angelika for the insemination which was successful There was one hitch on the incoming semen from the US It didn t have the correct paperwork so when it arrived in this country it was returned to the US to get the correct paperwork and then come back to GB This was 13 years ago One interesting point the semen that went to NZ produced two litters and there were two straws left over Someone in the UK wanted to import the semen back here as the dog in question had died by then at 14 They tried for years but had to give up in the end The NZ authorities wanted more than 500 to check the semen before export Bearing in mind that the semen had never left the canister it was ridiculous so it stayed in NZ Insure your pet today with multi award winning Lifetime Pet Cover Free GPS tracking device worth 44 99 with every policy 10 discount for new policies 20 for new multipet policies Up to 10 000 veterinary fees cover Dental treatment and complementary therapy covered as standard scan me www lifetimepetcover co uk 10 Dogs Today April 2021 Lifetime Pet Cover Limited Registered in England Wales no 09138396 Registered address Basepoint Business Centre 1 Winnall Valley Road Winchester SO23 0LD Lifetime Pet Cover Limited act as an Appointed Representative of Trent Services Administration Limited who are directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FCA Trent Services Administration Limited s FCA Firm Reference Number is 315285 Lifetime Pet Cover Limited s FCA Firm Reference Number is 677597

Page 11

Page 12

While I am not agreeing to the taking of blood by just anyone many vets are not in the least bit interested in dog reproduction It would help greatly if they were These so called fertility clinics are popping up everywhere They do the whole works including drawing blood for progesterone testing which is illegal by any layman and must be carried out by a vet or a vet nurse There are still good experienced ultrasound scanners out there you just need to do your homework first Check how long they have been in business and what equipment they are using Some of these people walk out of a twohour course with a certificate in one hand a scan and progesterone machine in the other and the next day have a website and Facebook page and are out scanning with mixed results Vet Image Solutions offer the best courses and back up I ve used progesterone testing to ensure the right timing since stud dogs are always pretty far away I ve also used AI with my Jack Russell Terrier stud as the bitch was taller and he was struggling My preference would be for a natural mating though every time We always used phone directories and now carpet squares to level up the male females Dogs should be able to mate normally and if their temperament is such that they can t perhaps they shouldn t be bred at all I think it s really important to be relaxed and let dog and bitch get to know each other Our last litter was using a totally novice stud dog She mated twice during the week with a few days beforehand together to get to know him We did once use progesterone testing but having been told she was nowhere near ready and to come back in five days I noticed a change in her behaviour and took her to the stud the day after and there was a successful mating and litter I don t bother with that test now Local to us there have recently been two new canine reproduction businesses open it appears to be popular Some even offer illegal drugs to bring bitches into season I think it should only really be used for increasing genetic diversity perhaps the perfect and healthtested dog for a particular bitch lives 2 000 miles away or to freeze sperm for use in future My dog is an AI result now 14 Her dad lived in Sweden so it wasn t practical to take the bitch over there Many years ago I worked for someone who bred Setters She used a JRT to test bitches He was never wrong As he was castrated he didn t mind when girls were taken away a piece of bacon or sausage was all he wanted INSIDE KNOWLEDGE A breeder writes We use our trusted stud dog to see if the girls are ready Big or small he is happy to signal they are ready for mating We also use blood colour and reaction with the other females in the house as a good indicator We use some natural supplements We feed a raw diet which ensures the female has the right amount of calcium and phosphorus but when they come into heat we give wheatgerm oil capsules from Dorwest just to give extra support to mum and the pups if needed We start these when we see the first signs of blood right through to three weeks after mating The wheatgerm oil tablets can be given both to the male and female and make a big difference in the semen produced Then we move on to raspberry leaf tablets which are given from week three until a week after birth We have done with and without the raspberry leaf tablets with girls that are experienced in litters and have found a big difference they really do help mum There are two scientific ways to check fertility and when a female has ovulated One is progesterone testing where blood is drawn from the leg and analysed in a machine to check the hormone levels Every fertility clinic has been trained differently and will give different advice We have used this method and 12 Dogs Today April 2021 have had two successful matings and one unsuccessful mating The other method is cytology where a cotton bud goes up the female and collects a sample Dye is added to the slide and analysed under a microscope With both methods they say to start around day five testing every three days We have used AI artificial insemination but only when absolutely necessary We had both the male and These days cytology much more accurately predicts ovulation Now you can buy lots of gadgets and even go on a course and learn to be a dog breeder all in a day it says so on the course materials female at the fertility clinic You allow the male to sniff the female and then he pops out a bit The collector will have gloves and a bag to pull back the penis out of the sheath and hold it as if the bitch is holding He will then release the semen into the bag Semen comes in two parts the semen itself and then a clear liquid that helps move the semen Once you start to see the clear you no longer need to collect This then gets drawn up using a syringe and a thin plastic pipe is added cut to size for the female which is then pushed into the female s vulva When this is removed the handler places a finger in the female for her to clamp on to the same as she would do in a natural mating This helps her draw the semen to the eggs This is the natural side by side way If you have someone sending the semen to you it will be collected in the same way but cooled down for transport It will arrive within 24 hours of collection to take to a clinic to warm up and check the swimmers are still alive before inserting The lady we use does this as a full time job What is the vocab Do you get a shot of sperm a pint It depends on the amount the dog produces Our small dog only produces 1ml of semen but it is super thick and healthy A large dog can produce 15ml I did a one to one training course with Catherine Stowell who is an amazing scanner She goes through all of the dog s anatomy you will come across while scanning bladder kidney intestines She covers how to spot infections in the female You can either go to someone who has scanned and got a certificate or you can do the course yourself We did it and we can check if our dogs are pregnant and can see what is going on during labour We can also check if there are any puppies left or any birthing placenta still in mum to watch for infections We also scan for the people who use our stud dog Are some scanning machines better than others Yes There are really bad ones that give off harmful rays there are amazing ones that cost 8 000 and ones that are cheaper You pay for quality on the screen and safety We do not shave mum we part the hair and find a spot to check Scanning gel is water based the same as for a human pregnancy scan We personally don t have any tech for birthing We have a baby bottle maker for ensuring the correct temperature if we need to make up bottles but we have never needed it I suppose this goes down to ensuring we are breeding from mums that do a good job rather than forcing a mum to go through it if she doesn t like it How much does it all cost It is area dependent but our local clinic is 25 35 per blood test for progesterone and you could need up to 15 tests Cytology 20 Our lady takes 25 for AI but I have gone for matings elsewhere and it s been 110 April 2021 Dogs Today 13

Page 13

Page 14

Getting a scan has now become very popular Some dogs get more pregnancy scans than women do on the NHS If I were travelling a long way I would generally use a progesterone blood test It gives about a 48 hour window depending on the dog and when you test It costs about 80 a test at my vet This is sent to an outside lab and the results come the next day They do have an in house test called Premate but it is not as accurate As a rule of thumb once levels start to rise they double every 48 hours so if you test on day 10 and the result is four it would most likely would be eight on day 12 16 on day 14 and 32 on day 16 so most likely gone over by day 16 You would try to mate when levels are approved 20 25 So day 15 would be optimal As for scanning I go to the vet at 35 days as it s convenient and they charge 40 It s a similar machine to humans and it does a 3D scan but I am only interested in confirmation of pregnancy I find number predictions largely inaccurate Some people will scan at 21 days but reabsorption is more common before 35 so I tend to wait I have used AI once and there is a lady local to me that runs this She is very good and has professional sterile equipment She does the manual extraction tests sperm under a microscope before insertion and then does the insertion process via a syringe and small catheter She charges 50 for her services There are a few companies nationally that run sperm banks to keep frozen sperm This tends to be a yearly charge With whelping I use a digital thermometer to take the bitch s temperature to estimate when the pups are coming Our buddy dog service can be life changing for children with sight loss We use blood tests to indicate the optimum time to mate We also have ultrasound scanners to check our bitches for pregnancy We have a stud dog and brood bitches and my wife is a very experienced handler She has helped many friends to whelp their bitches and is a valued mentor My girl got progesterone tested which was just as well as she wasn t ready until day 18 After reading up on it I did decide to vaccinate for canine herpes 14 Dogs Today April 2021 I use progesterone testing and side by side AI Someone will draw the sperm in a very basic way haha and it then goes in a bag A straw and syringe is used to suck up the sperm which is then inserted into the bitch It s very basic and simple Benefits of AI mismatch in size not extreme so that it would be a silly mating but enough that the male struggles you can analyse his sperm you know how much is going into the bitch and that it really has gone in and it s safer for maidens mating can cause some dogs and bitches to panic this avoids the issue Friendly well behaved dogs help to develop their self confidence improve relationships and build a greater sense of trust Find out more at www guidedogs org uk buddydogs Or call us on 0800 781 1444 if you have a child with a vision impairment and would like to sign up to one of our discovery webinars I use progesterone testing to pinpoint the correct day for mating I start testing on day eight I sometimes have to do five tests The figures tell you exactly when to mate within a couple of days I have done both fresh side by side AI and I did everything and frozen AI from dogs in the USA and the vet does all the work For fresh I use a special catheter with a balloon in it which works brilliantly For frozen the vet uses an endoscope type thing through the vagina to directly place the sperm past the cervix I have done the collection it s really easy Usually I get a few ml of sperm in a syringe It can be a lot more depending on the dog how long you wait etc I have my bitches scanned at around five weeks I don t take them to the vet as I don t want them shaved Someone comes to my house and it s all very relaxed Some scanning machines are better than others as are the people who use the scanner I don t get a printout but I know some breeders do I get a photo using my phone I don t use any tech for the birth My breed is very natural and doesn t need help like this I have seen people who have businesses offering this kind of help It s something I m really interested in and my friend and I have discussed doing it before We tried a step for the bitch but he still struggled I will always opt for AI if given the choice it s easier and safer P A charity registered in England and Wales 209617 and Scotland SC038979 GD0359 02 21 Sam is my best friend but a dog He helps me do everything Jago a 10 year old boy with Retinitis Pigmentosa

Page 15

Page 16

Photo posed by a model Great Debate If you have an opinion on this subject that is not already covered here email enquiries dogstodaymagazine co uk putting Great Debate in the subject line Please limit your response to 100 words Madeleaine Kelly Owens Whatever power they need give it to them They are the voice for animals Richard Byrnes As the former owner of Claude an elderly cat seized and put to sleep by the RSPCA who apologised after charges against Claude s family were dropped you will not be surprised to hear that I believe this to be a very bad idea indeed The recently announced changes with the Crown Prosecution Service now leading on animal welfare cases will mean those spurious court actions such as the RSPCA brought against us that failed to meet the evidential or public interest tests should now be a thing of the past I am fully supportive of the state fulfilling its role of prosecuting those who abuse animals for profit or sick pleasure But it is the state s role To offer statutory powers to RSPCA personnel would require a whole level of bureaucratic checks and balances to ensure the proper standards of procedure which were sadly lacking in our experience As a taxpayer I think we have more pressing needs for our funds Instead the RSPCA should use every penny of its precious donations to care for the animals in its charge not to fund an army of inspectors to rampage over private property as they did in another infamous case that of Mr Pig The RSPCA currently have no powers of entry to homes gardens land or vehicles unless accompanying police on a court warrant RSPCA CEO Chris Sherwood said that statutory powers would enable the RSPCA inspectors to reach animals in need more quickly allowing them to access private land and outbuildings although crucially not homes if there was a reasonable expectation that an animal was suffering However critics fear that statutory powers may be misused What do you think should the RSPCA be given statutory powers Gill Robinson Most of these comments are from an anti RSPCA page that has directed their followers to comment here It s actually a really good charity in general Yes there s been room for improvement but they are working hard on that Sheila Cooper Definitely not Some not all RSPCA inspectors are power mad and highly unpleasant individuals as it is using bully boy tactics to make animal owners feel guilty before even starting to be proved innocent Giving them statutory rights to stomp all over your property would exacerbate this ignorant big headed jobsworthy attitude 16 Dogs Today April 2021 Matthew Cox Despicable institution picking on vulnerable people who don t have a multi million pound budget to fight them The sooner they lose their investigative powers to the CPS the better Linda Guzman I do have concerns about the way the RSPCA has handled some cases but I think such instances are greatly outnumbered by positive outcomes If I understand correctly they would still need a warrant but they wouldn t have to ask the police to get it for them Warrants are not given lightly It s not as if they d be allowed to barge into people s homes when they feel like it Kathy Bowerman I m shocked at some of the comments on this post which are downright lies The RSPCA does a fantastic job and I am proud to support them However their hands are tied by not having statutory powers I am absolutely in support of this being changed if you care about animals you will be too Angela Hunt I find it the most despicable charity in the UK Granted a few people that work for them care and think they are doing the right thing but the way it is run more money is misappropriated on bully boy tactics than spent on welfare Samantha Bowles These powers will mean that more animals in immediate danger or suffering will receive help sooner and this will also mean that police resources will be used less for something as simple as gaining entry to a back garden to access a collapsed dog for instance I fail to see how this can be a negative thing for animals All too often the RSPCA is lambasted for not acting soon enough these powers will mean they can act quicker meaning they can deal with more cases rather than waiting around for a couple of hours for the police to attend Charlotte Hammond I think that if they hand over prosecution to the CPS and only do the investigation as they said they plan to do it can work It is how it s worked for the Scottish SPCA for a while now Jacquie Owden The RSPCA is badly run and completely inadequate in the majority of cases They need a serious review of their organisation before even considering expanding their powers They need to get back to basics and do what they initially set out to do help all animals being abused or neglected Margaret Layland I m really surprised by many of the responses I thought that we as dog lovers would all want the RSPCA to have statutory powers Puppy farms dog fighting tail docking ear cropping and dog theft are all on the increase Mandi Mac Definitely not They aren t transparent regulated or monitored Mo Knowles Yes they should be given more powers as at the moment they almost have to hide behind the police They should also have some government funding that is currently spent on the police having to accompany them and complete admin Kristin Morris Absolutely not The RSPCA only want a conviction They don t care about animal welfare They put animals to sleep that could be saved they don t care There are plenty of other animal charities that deserve more power but not the RSPCA This month s result 7 45 48 Judy Brooker It s sad to see so many people want to leave animals suffering behind closed doors There are convicted animal abusers commenting on the FB thread and it looks as if they have many friends Caroline Cartwright First they need to get their priorities in order Leaving animals that they can see are in peril because they have a dirty water bowl and the kennel has no roof is not animal welfare and neither is snatching cats and dogs off pensioners when some well diverted use of funds in the form of flea treatment and wormers would suffice RSPCA farm assured standards for the animals in the food chain is a joke Sort yourselves out RSPCA You are not fit for purpose Joan Sheerstone Animals need them no one else holds people to account Annabella Laws They abuse what non power they have at the moment God forbid you give them the same as the police Yes No Maybe Kathy Wright The RSPCA is an animal welfare charity like any other and shouldn t be granted statutory powers No other welfare charity has such powers It is also time RSPCA officers stopped wearing what amounts to a police uniform and giving themselves military ranks Andrea Brady I know they re by no means perfect but in 2019 their centres took in 10 564 dogs 29 432 cats and over 17 500 animals to their wildlife centres they had 786 horses in their care at the end of 2019 and they found new homes for 39 178 animals They carried out 218 939 microchippings neuterings and treatments and they investigated more than 93 362 complaints of alleged cruelty securing 1 425 convictions by private prosecution to protect animals against those who break the law Clare Leigh This must never be allowed The RSPCA has little regard for animal welfare unless it can be used to raise money or their own profile This institution needs to lose powers and its royal charter not gain more power P Next month s topic is Did the Queen set a bad example by buying two Corgi puppies especially one allegedly being from an online website with a very dubious reputation Email editorial dogstodaymagazine co uk with your thoughts putting Great Debate in the subject line or write to Great Debate Dogs Today The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High St Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ April 2021 Dogs Today 17 Ye N M

Page 17

Page 18

Words ALESSANDRA PACELLI For years Greyhounds at the end of their racing careers have depended on rescues to find loving homes Rehoming charities had to foot the bill sometimes picking up after trainers unconcerned with the lives of the dogs beyond the track But a new retirement scheme looks to rectify this contribution is matched by GBGB and given to the rehoming centre to cover expenses they may incur before a forever home is found for the dog GRS co ordinator Paula Beniston has been the driving force behind the scheme and has over two decades of experience working to improve the welfare of Greyhounds I began volunteering with the RSPCA and never looked back Paula recalls I did voluntary work for Greyhound and Lurcher welfare for 18 years before I moved on to the Greyhound Trust as the head of finance PENSION SCHEME Golden pawshake I n November 2018 I visited the site of some former Greyhound racing kennels in Surrey The trainer who owned the kennels had sold them to their neighbour a sighthound rescue before relocating The rescue had hoped to use the kennels to house more rescue dogs after a thorough clean up but that proved impossible there was hardly anything that could be salvaged they said as they invited me to visit the site Upon arrival it was immediately clear what they meant The dogs had been moved away from the premises almost three weeks earlier but the stench was still present The kennels were in a dire state of disrepair with deeply scratched walls and broken wire at the doors None of them seemed to have been cleaned in a very long time to say I 18 Dogs Today April 2021 was unimpressed would be a polite understatement I was told that the trainer had moved the dogs to new kennels he had purchased thanks to a 40 000 grant from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain GBGB which regulates licensed Greyhound racing after they found the old kennels unsatisfactory The owners of the rescue next door were upset that after keeping dogs in squalor the trainer had faced no real consequences and received a grant for new premises Some issues with the kennels could be explained by a lack of money they said but the filth could not After selling to us the trainer had the audacity to say we were hell to live next to one of the rescue s volunteers said As if he wouldn t gladly leave it to us to find homes and care for the dogs once he was through with them or they needed veterinary care The sentiment was not surprising like many others their small rescue worked hard to provide homes for retired racing Greyhounds among others and all without help from the people who had made a profit out of their racing days Now however a retirement scheme is in place to change that REHOMING RACERS In September 2020 GBGB launched the Greyhound Retirement Scheme GRS For the first time the owners of racing Greyhounds are required to pay into each of their dogs retirement fund before the dogs are allowed to race Once the dog retires and goes to an approved homing centre the Paula s extensive experience rehoming Greyhounds is precisely what made her the right fit to spearhead the retirement scheme Paula says This is a groundbreaking initiative to ensure we keep the welfare commitment through retirement It s going to change things going forward so that homing centres are not left looking after retired racing Greyhounds at their expense The dog s owner pays 200 for each individual Greyhound registered with us Once the dog comes to the end of their racing career and they go on to an approved rehoming centre the money is paid to the centre and GBGB matches the owner s contribution This will help with any expenses such as kennelling food and veterinary care There is a specific account set up for the Greyhound bonds to be paid to with each payment matching one specific dog Part of my job is to then send the payment across to the homing centre once it retires This way not only does each Greyhound come into the rehoming centre with 400 to pay towards their care until they find a new home we also have a full history of each Greyhound from day one to retirement We can keep track of them According to Paula there are about 110 GBGB approved rehoming centres across Britain plus a couple in Northern Ireland but more are welcome to apply With some 6 500 7 500 racing Greyhounds retiring each year the more rescues can join the scheme the better I also help vet rehoming centres which need to be up to high standards of welfare It is very important that we cultivate a good relationship with them I realise many homing centres may have reservations about Greyhound racing there have been unfortunate situations and we are keen to make sure they do not happen again I have seen many changes in the past few years and I am honoured to find myself in a position that offers me a huge chance to help improve the industry as a whole The launch of the scheme was a success 700 Greyhounds were registered in the first month alone and the number is up to 4 000 as this goes to print It was heartwarming to see how well received it was Paula says Most trainers really care about their dogs those who do not are a minority we must do our utmost to crack down on There is a lot of mistrust to undo and not without reason An Efra report released in 2016 found that between 1 000 and 3 700 dogs were simpy unaccounted for each year prompting questions about the welfare of dogs that were no longer used for racing Euthanasia figures for dogs with entirely treatable but career ending injuries sustained on the track also prompted backlash As a response a national Injury Recovery Scheme was launched in October 2018 A statement by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Defra released in November 2020 reads GBGB have published injury euthanasia and retirement figures each year since 2018 Publication of the figures which have shown a decline in the number of track fatalities but also an increase in track injuries has been accompanied by the introduction of GBGB s Greyhound Commitment The Commitment sets targets to reduce track injuries as well as continue to reduce track fatalities For example GBGB have committed to halving within three years the number of dogs being put to sleep on humane grounds at the track due to injuries 2019 figures showed a drop in such cases to 207 from 242 in 2018 GBGB continues to work with the Sports Turf Research Institute to make track surfaces as safe as possible to further reduce this figure The Commitment also includes other initiatives that the government has welcomed The Injury Recovery Scheme which provides financial support to trainers to treat careerending injuries to Greyhounds where otherwise they might be put to sleep has enabled the treatment and rehoming of over 500 Greyhounds since its introduction in October 2018 GBGB are also working to secure UKAS accreditation for their trainers kennels This means that from January 2021 all GBGB trainers residential kennels are audited by independent auditors as part of the process of securing UKAS accreditation These independent inspections will be in addition to the current arrangements which include a minimum of two unannounced visits by GBGB officials each year and an annual veterinary inspection GREYT PETS Will this change be enough to prevent more cases such as the one I witnessed racing Greyhounds housed in filthy dilapidated kennels while the photos on the Greyhound Data website showed an entirely different picture Time will tell Paula for one feels they are on the right track if you ll pardon the pun to leave that aspect of Greyhound racing in the dustbin of the past She has a lot on her plate but after two decades spent helping former racers find their forever homes she is not keen to stop doing that She is still promoting Greyhounds as pets working with GBGB to showcase what good companions they make I guess the urge to work in rehoming never really leaves you Paula says Greyhounds do make brilliant pets and I ll always work to dispel the myths that say otherwise P April 2021 Dogs Today 19

Page 19

Page 20

Words JODIE FORBES Heaven scent When lockdown strikes and ordinary training classes are on hold there are still plenty of ways of providing much needed exercise and enrichment D ogs view the world through their noses Their sense of smell is up to 100 000 times more powerful than ours and we have been using this incredible ability for centuries with working dogs Yet it is only very recently that we have begun teaching scentwork activities to our pets At a time when opportunities to train and exercise have been limited there is no better way to keep dogs mentally enriched My name is Jodie Forbes and I run Crazelpup a training club in Dorset I teach a variety of canine activities from agility to assistance dog work I was first introduced to scentwork by a friend who told me about how his tiny French Bulldog searched an aeroplane for gun oil Having previously believed my own dogs were nose blind I was soon proven wrong and realised that it was actually my lack of understanding that was holding them back As I am writing this we are in England s third lockdown and my inbox has been full of students asking me what they can do to keep their dogs occupied A lot of these dogs are used to going for long walks twice a day either with their owners or with dog walkers as well as attending training clubs or classes Now that this has been limited through government guidelines they are bouncing off the walls and interrupting important Zoom meetings or Joe Wicks sessions with their unrelenting pestering These owners want a way to tire their dogs out quickly and effectively with the limited resources they have and I always come back with a resounding cry of Nosework All of my dogs are trained in four formal nosework activities scentwork mantrailing tracking and search and rescue These activities really get dogs thinking and working hard To those who might be sceptical that having a sniff can tire you out remember that going for a run can tire you out but so can reading a challenging book Scentwork compete it might be worth finding an experienced trainer to help guide your training and support you The premise of this activity is building up a positive association to a scent by giving rewards when the dog sniffs it The scent can be anything the dog s favourite ball cheese coins One of my dogs has even been trained to sniff out and retrieve my keys which is incredibly handy Make their target odour highly valuable and then hide it and let them find it for themselves Photo by Renee Claude Firstly let s talk about scentwork All forms of nosework are technically also scentwork but in this context I mean constructed scent training This is where dogs look for a specific target odour For all my dogs this is the smell of cloves which is usually the odour used in competitions However a few of them are also trained to seek out the scent of catnip gun oil and Kong We teach the dogs that this specific scent is the most exciting thing in the whole world and when they find it and perform an indication a behaviour that means Here it is then it s party time This type of scentwork can be taught at home in fact you can even enter online Scentwork UK classes and win rosettes in this which for people who are desperately missing in person competitions is a nice compromise However if you did want to 20 Dogs Today April 2021 April 2021 Dogs Today 21

Page 21

Page 22

Tracking Mantrailing To read more about mantrailing go to page 26 Mantrailing is another brilliantly exhausting activity It is a relatively new sport in the UK and consists of the dog being on a harness and long line a victim dropping an object that smells like them such as a glove or a hat and then running off and hiding The dog then sniffs the object a concept called match to sample and then uses their nose to find their victim getting a huge reward when they do This is such a fun game to play if you are out walking locally with your partner or children On quiet streets your victim can hide behind cars walls or bins which can turn boring road walks into something far more exciting and tiring In our mantrailing classes most dogs are absolutely exhausted after doing just four trails 22 Dogs Today April 2021 Tracking is what you see police dogs do when they are looking for a criminal sniffing a person s footsteps until they find an article that the person has dropped In TV shows that s usually drugs briefcases full of money or a million pound diamond ring but when we teach this to pet dogs it s usually something a little less dramatic namely their favourite toy or some treats to begin with Again tracking is something that can spice up your walks With a harness and long line either pop your dog in a wait or if you are with household members ask them to hold the dog Then walk several metres in a straight line in front of the dog and pop the article on the floor When the track is laid hold the long line and ask your dog to sniff gesturing towards the ground and they will very quickly associate the smell of footprints with the appealing article at the end Normally it only takes a handful of tracks to completely tire a dog out and because it is a more thoughtful and calm activity unlike walks where they are chasing their ball repetitively you don t end up with a fizzy dog who has lots of adrenaline coursing through their veins June 2020 Dogs Today 23

Page 23

Page 24

01206 251 941 info bentleysdogfood co uk www bentleysdogfood co uk KIEZEBRINK UK Ltd FOCUS ON FOOD Exotic Animal Feeds Raw Food Diets TOP QUALITY RAW FOODS Extensive range of raw meat BARF and whole prey diets Single source proteins and elimination diets children running around joyously after the Easter Bunny has been The dogs adore snuffling around to find the tasty morsels of food and on rainy days or when you are unable to take them out it can keep them occupied for hours If you want to up the ante you can even introduce different objects and surfaces for them to interact with and navigate around to get to the treats such as bubble wrap wobble cushions and bath mats Or if like me you are a perennial child at heart hide and seek around the house is another option It may be the lack of outside human DT0320_029 indd contact but somehow playing this game with your dog is even more fun than playing it with other humans Pop them in a room and ask them to wait while you find somewhere to hide behind doors or on top of beds are some of the best hiding places for dogs and when you are ready give them a call and listen to them trying to Search rescue Finally there s search and rescue Most people know what this entails dogs locating a missing person and guiding their owners to them As with the other scentwork activities there are lots of moving elements to this and depending on how far you want to take it there are organisations such as local search teams that you can contact if you want to pursue this seriously However the basic components consist of searching for the victim normally off lead if safe for your dog finding them the dog returning to the owner and performing an indication and then taking the owner back to the victim Operationally trained working search dogs need to complete these tasks with precision but search and rescue can be a fun game to play with your pet dog if you live near a forest or field with lots of places to hide One member of the family can take a handful of tasty treats and run off to hide and your dog can use his incredible nose to sniff them out you ll be surprised at how quickly they can learn the game Aside from these activities there is still a whole world of nose games to explore Something I love doing with my dogs is taking a portion of their breakfast or dinner and hiding it in different locations around the house on cabinets behind the curtains in corners I call it an Easter egg hunt because it reminds me of 24 Dogs Today April 2021 See our full range of products on our website www kiezebrink co uk 69 sniff you out while you stifle your giggles The best thing about nosework is that it is universal My year old foster collie does it my anxious crossbreed loves it and even my 15 year old deaf and blind Border Terrier enjoys snuffling around There really are so many activities we can do with dogs that can satiate that need for enrichment while still complying with government guidelines and being time and energy efficient There aren t many sights as lovely as a happy and completely wornout dog and allowing them to use their brain and perform behaviours they were made to do is one of the best ways of achieving this P Leads to follow Photo by Madeline Eliza Photography Fun games Fast frozen and next day delivery Online ordering facility Jodie Forbes is a qualified trainer based in Bournemouth and has been teaching dogs for 15 years in a variety of activities She has won at Crufts in agility grooming and freestyle to music and trained her own dogs to star in media and stage work www crazelpup com crazelpup hotmail com 07578 486688 Email office kiezebrink co uk 01284 810779 03 02 2020 15 56

Page 25

Page 26

Words DEBBIE BRIDGES Not many activities start with sticking a sock down your bra but mantrailing isn t just about fun and games it can be the matter between life and death Trailblazers I t s a particularly beautiful Sunday morning and a short distance from Exeter the Teign Valley in Devon is looking its pictureperfect best The sun s shining the frost is lingering on the ground and I m standing in a small group of people with an old sock shoved down my bra I ve come to see what goes on at a mantrailing session with qualified trainer and behaviourist Chrissy Beckhurst who has trained her dog Sue as an area search dog Sevenyear old Border Collie Sue is able to work in the separate disciplines of area searching and mantrailing and for those of us who are a little hazy on the distinction Chrissy starts with an explanation Area search dogs are sent in a direction and will search for any 26 Dogs Today April 2021 human she tells us Whereas mantrailing dogs will take scent from an article look for an indication of the direction of that scent and follow the trail to locate a specific individual Hence the sock down the bra which Chrissy rather disconcertingly refers to as my smelly article no men participating today so it s anyone s guess where they stick their socks When it comes to my turn to act as the missing person or misper as they re known in search dog circles the handler will allow their dog to have a sniff of my sock before setting off on the trail and hopefully finding me First out of the car and lining up to have a go is Rey a twoyear old Springer Spaniel This is a new experience for Rey and her handler Linda and Chrissy Above left Debbie retrieving her sock Above mantrailing dogs take scent from an article look for an indication of the direction of that scent and follow the trail to locate a specific individual Right Linda and Scott sort out Rey s long line before they start begins by explaining the need to slip Rey s bandanna on as they prepare for action We put something on the dogs at the start of a search and take it off immediately it s over and they come to associate wearing it with the activity she says It could be a harness but for dogs like Rey who normally wear a harness a bandanna works well Members of the class act as mispers for each other so while Linda is busy wrestling her long line into orderly coils with a bit of help April 2021 Dogs Today 27

Page 27

Page 28

from husband Scott classmate Lisa is getting ready to be their misper A gentle start sees Linda and Rey simply walking around in a relaxed manner before things get decidedly more exciting as Lisa makes a spirited show of dropping her smelly article and legging it round the corner and out of sight Linda then points at the article and incredibly for a first timer Rey gives it a good sniff and sets off with a purposeful stride She finds Lisa who offers a food reward before taking off again and Rey who is rapidly getting the hang of this game is in hot pursuit the moment Linda gives the word After a second run in which Rey shows further promise by ignoring me lurking in the undergrowth as she searches for Lisa it s time for her to rest while Lisa and Gem have a go Life with five year old Border Collie Gem Lisa tells me has had its ups and downs well quite a lot of downs actually I ve had Border Collies all my life and I love them she says But Gem has been a challenge and she s reduced me to tears on many occasions leaving me wondering what more I could do to help her She was hypervigilant and reactive to both people and other dogs and out on a walk she d lunge at them She spent every waking moment worrying about what could harm her and it was impossible to get her to switch off and rest And while Gem remains sensitive mantrailing has increased her confidence so she is now able to cope with life It s been truly amazing for Gem and for me Lisa says In the short time we ve been mantrailing her Top Lisa shows Rey her scent article Left Rey takes Lisa s scent from the dropped article Above And she s off Right Rey finds Lisa and is instantly given a food reward 28 Dogs Today April 2021 reactive behaviour has reduced hugely to the point where she ll now actually approach people On top of that she s able to rest and sleep properly which will have a big impact on her well being It s given her something where she can join in and have fun while her needs as a reactive dog are catered for with only one dog at a time being worked and members of the group being careful not to make her feel threatened by getting too excited and loud or leaning over her HUMAN SHEDDING It s long been understood that having fun together strengthens the bond between people and dogs but Lisa s experience with Gem bears out Chrissy s belief that carefully managed a sport such as mantrailing can also help dogs overcome certain issues such as reactivity When dogs are concentrating on an activity they enjoy in a safe environment they can learn to ignore the sort of things that would normally cause anxiety Chrissy says In time their fears can be overcome leading to altered behaviour in other circumstances such as out on a walk Gem clearly know what s coming and her exuberant enthusiasm is soon being channelled into a speedy but accurate search that takes her through the garden and out into the woods beyond in her quest to find Linda People are continually shedding scent some of which falls on the ground while some is blown away or perhaps lands on nearby vegetation Chrissy explains Following a trail over grass is easiest because dogs can scent where it s been disturbed by feet a trail over hard surfaces is much more difficult FUN AND GAMES Not too difficult for a super sleuth like Gem however She takes a break while Rey successfully seeks out Chrissy s partner Jen and then my big moment as a misper comes and I m asked to cross a disused railway track and hide out on the far side of a large engineering yard so Gem s second run will further stretch her capabilities as she negotiates a variety of tricky surfaces Clutching my pots of food and a small tray to scatter the contents on I crouch down to wait taking care not to remove the lids from the pots which would release the smell of the food Gem s eager barking soon tells me she s on her way and in no time she appears and is only momentarily distracted by Linda who s loitering a few yards away After briefly checking her out and deciding that s not who she s looking for she arrives on target and instantly receives her food reward Following a scent is extremely tiring for the dogs and both Rey and Gem have done enough for one day It s time for Chrissy s own dogs to come out to play and Sue helps us understand the different types of search by giving a consummate performance of an area search Having been rewarded on the way for discovering a few random people she swiftly finds Lisa which is fortunate because Lisa is taking her role as body very seriously and with true dedication is playing dead on the barely thawed ground Top left Gem takes Linda s scent from the dropped article Centre left Gem finds Linda then enjoys her food reward Bottom left Playful dogs like Gem are rewarded with a game as well as food Above Lisa and Gem in action April 2021 Dogs Today 29

Page 29

Page 30

That just leaves Chrissy s youngster Joe an 18 month old Border Collie I m dispatched to hide in the bracken on the opposite side of a large field having left my sock hanging on a twig at the start of the trail Like Gem Joe is soon voicing his enthusiasm for the game and it s only a matter of minutes before he bursts into view and is tucking into his food reward while looking mightily pleased with himself REAL CONNECTION There s no doubt there s huge pleasure for the dogs in using their natural abilities to do something interesting that ends with a highvalue food reward and if toys are their thing a good old play It is of course particularly appealing to working breeds such as those at today s session but Chrissy is keen to point out that any dog can take part and benefit from the pastime For dogs like Gem the gain is even greater and Lisa is convinced mantrailing has played a significant part in changing both their lives for the better It s the key and the tool that has unlocked the complex collie and helped me really connect to Gem she says It s heartwarming to know lives can be transformed in this way and Chrissy is now focusing on using mantrailing classes as a potential means of improving challenging behaviours such as reactivity There are no quick fixes for these sorts of problems Chrissy says But if people are prepared to put in the time and effort the results can be remarkable If Lisa and Gem are anything to go by the long trail to success is definitely worth the time and effort and Lisa feels it s allowed Gem to discover her spirit of freedom which will greatly enrich their future together But the really good news is they ve both had loads of fun along the way P Leads to follow Chrissy Beckhurst 07713 324593 Pet Matters Devon www petmattersdevon co uk petmattersdevon gmail com Mantrailing UK www mantrailinguk com Facebook Mantrailing Dartmoor Southwest Sue mantrailing and leading Chrissy to a misper Dog Insurance with up to 30 off Visit theinsuranceemporium co uk DT99 or call 03300 243 980 today Joe hot on Debbie s trail 30 Dogs Today April 2021 and enjoying his reward after finding her Entertainment Leisure Insurance Services Entertainment Leisure Insurance Services Limited and Lifestyle Policy Limited are appointed representatives of The Equine and Livestock Insurance Company Limited The Insurance Emporium is a trading name of The Equine and Livestock Insurance Company Limited registered in England and Wales no 294940 which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority no 202748 The 30 discount is made up of 20 Introductory Discount plus 10 Multi pet Discount if appropriate The Introductory Discount is available for the rst 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies O er ends 31 12 2021 and is only redeemable on monthly policies and not where premiums are paid annually Our Defaqto 5 Star Rating applies to Lifetime Gold Pet Insurance policies 2021 Dogs Today indd 1 24 11 2020 10 40

Page 31

Page 32

Postbag Your news views LIFESAVING AMBER Amber is a dog I walk as a volunteer We were out ambling in the local wood and as usual Amber was running about in the undergrowth exploring This particular day she spent some time sniffing at something about 150 metres up a slope in the undergrowth I called her with no response She was so intent on what she d found I received barely any acknowledgement I moved up the slope to her thinking it might be something dead that I didn t want her eating It wasn t anything dead It was most definitely alive Amber had found a woman all hunched up on the ground crying In her hands was a blue tow rope in a noose When I called Amber to me this time she did come and I praised her put her lead on and attached her to a nearby tree The woman was sobbing hard I asked if she would mind if I spoke with her for a few minutes We had a conversation where it came to light that she was about to hang herself and she said I could call an ambulance for her I was walking back down to the road with her when we met the crew coming up so I left her in their capable hands Her reasons for being right there right then about to cut short her life were based around religion the fact she is gay and Covid killing her partner There was no one else in her life because she is gay So very sad One up for Amber from finding the litter of kittens last year Good girl Amber Karen Lawe Get in touch We love to hear your news and views and see photos of your dogs Email editorial dogstodaymagazine co uk Write to us at Dogs Today The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ Join the debate Voice your opinions on news stories and other topics on our Dogs Today Magazine Facebook page or through our website www dogstoday magazine co uk PET RENT Our reports on the struggle of renting with pets have struck a chord with several readers The ban on pets in rental accommodation is ridiculous I rent the space why would I need permission to bring in a pet If any damage is done it will be paid out of my deposit It is as simple as that I was charged an extra 35 a month for a pet rent for a guinea pig My child was a fussy toddler and far more destructive but no one thought of charging me a child rent Evie Brown 32 Dogs Today April 2021 Photo posed by a model Any ban on pets should be forbidden unless there are excellent reasons such as the property being unsuitable for the proposed pet The excuse that they can cause damage doesn t hold up so can humans and why do we give up to five weeks rent as a deposit at the start if not to cover damages Keelan Ross Blanket bans on pets should be banned The change in the model tenancy agreement is well and good but it won t make enough difference if it s not mandatory No point in trying to appeal to the landlords conscience I learned the hard way that most of them have none Nicola Lynden

Page 33

Page 34

A mum knows her babies and I have known for a while now that you weren t doing so well but I didn t want to admit it to myself to your daddy to the kids or to you Admitting it makes it real and I don t want it to be real So when I took you to see your vet I told him about the newest additions to your medical history and I asked the very hard question what are we looking at How much longer To which he empathetically replied He is on borrowed time As we headed home tears poured from my eyes I was trying to untangle the mix of emotions and feelings running through my mind Sadness consumed my body My heart ached and I couldn t breathe And just as you have done time and time again you reached your paw over the armrest and placed it gently on mine and stared Read the full letter and follow Buddy s journey on Facebook Instagram buddysborrowedtime From Facebook OUR FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS SHARED THEIR DOGS REACTIONS TO THE CONE OF SHAME Cosmina Varca Waking up to reality Sandra Ives My boy kept forgetting it was there He would focus on something really hard then turn be startled when he noticed the cone out of the corner of his eye and jump a few feet up in the air Carol Hammond Mine also forgot it was there and was startled when he noticed it again He ran into a wall once 34 Dogs Today April 2021 Maj Henry My dog just sat and howled And howled And howled After four hours we gave in and took it off put a shirt on her instead to keep her from licking the wound and it worked Julia Emmett Inka would just sit in a corner with the saddest expression on her face Cassandra Berlian My dog was so offended by it he would pointedly ignore me even if I had treats EEue FcRatalog BUDDY S BORROWED TIME deep into my eyes as if to say Everything is going to be all right I instantly felt a peace and I regained my composure and made a plan I refuse to let your borrowed time be filled with sadness You would definitely not want that You would want to live out your time with cuddles and car rides making memories with the kids and food yes yes yes all the food So my dear that is exactly what we are going to do We are going to make every borrowed day week month and fingers crossed year that we are blessed to have left with you count You will eat steak and ice cream and sleep in the comfiest bed You will go on a road trip and maybe paint a masterpiece You will be cuddled more than you ever knew one pup could be cuddled And when the time finally comes and we have to say goodbye you can rest assured we will be there holding your paw and staring straight into those incredible eyes showing you all of the love that you have shown us time and time again And you can rest easy knowing that you have been are and will always be my best friend Sheena Carach r ou ty es qu Re Postbag continued Showing Grooming Accessories Equipment Supplements etc 25 OFF SHAMPOOS Code POOCH25 Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer Offer expires 15 5 2021 www petcetera co uk ONLINE 01948 668100 CALL US IN STORE BRADELEY GREEN TARPORLEY ROAD WHITCHURCH SY13 4HD

Page 35

Page 36

Quick question Do you have a problem you d like answered by an expert Or do you Email your question to enquiries dogstodaymagazine co uk How can I tell if someone really is from the RSPCA or Scottish SPCA After reports of people posing as RSPCA or Scottish SPCA officers in order to gain access to dogs across England Wales and Scotland both charities are issuing advice on how to make sure any officers at the door are really who they claim to be 36 Dogs Today April 2021 EXPERT ADVICE RSPCA The RSPCA first issued a warning to dog owners after a man posed as a charity worker in an attempt to gain access to a puppy in a concerning incident that took place in London on Wednesday 13 January A man knocked on a resident s door in the New Southgate area of north London at lunchtime claiming to be from the RSPCA and to have received a complaint about a dog barking He then asked to see the resident s Golden Retriever puppy RSPCA chief inspector Clare Dew says We re concerned that this man may have been posing as an RSPCA inspector in order to snatch this puppy and that s extremely worrying We understand that there have been a surge in the number of pet thefts during the past year due to the value of many breeds and the demand for pets during lockdown Thankfully the dog owner was immediately suspicious of the man who was wearing no uniform They secured the door with the security chain and refused to allow the man access to the puppy The man left the address and the puppy s owner contacted the RSPCA who checked to see if they had any officers in the area at the time and they didn t Inspector Dew added We would like to remind and reassure the public that our inspectors and rescue officers all wear branded uniforms and carry ID If one of our officers knocks on your door please ask to see their ID and check their uniform for branding Our staff wear navy blue uniforms with the RSPCA logo as well as white want advice from someone with personal experience of the issue shirts with black ties and black epaulets Most of our officers drive either white vans or fully branded wrapped RSPCA vans All staff vehicles in London feature large branding imagery so are easy to spot RSPCA officers have no powers of entry to homes gardens land or vehicles unless accompanying police on a court warrant although this may change in the future turn to page 16 for our Great Debate on the matter ID CHECK Our staff can only access your property if you give them permission and can only see your pets with your approval inspector Dew said If you are at all concerned that someone isn t who they say they are then you do not need to grant them access and you can call our hotline on 0300 1234 999 to check their credentials She added We d urge people to take extra precautions to protect their pets from thieves by neutering them ensuring they re microchipped with up to date contact details registered and ensuring they wear a collar with an ID tag or embroidered contact details We d advise dog owners never to leave their pets tied up outside shops or alone in cars to ensure their dog has a good recall and doesn t stray too far when being walked off lead and to make sure gardens are secure with locked gates If you are concerned someone may have posed as an RSPCA officer or another agency worker please report the incident to us and to the local police And if you believe your pet has been stolen contact the police as soon as possible EXPERT ADVICE SSPCA After reports of people posing as Scottish SPCA officers in Renfrewshire Falkirk Perthshire Lanarkshire and the Highlands the SSPCA stated It had previously been reported that the fraudsters have been using a white van with black writing We have since received information that the fake agents are also using a black van with white writing very similar to our own fleet Chief superintendent Mike Flynn said We are very concerned for the welfare of the animals who have been taken by people posing as the Scottish SPCA Our thoughts are with the owners as this must be incredibly distressing for them First and foremost we would urge anyone who has experienced this to get directly in touch with us We will then notify Police Scotland who can investigate this fraudulent behaviour We are now asking the public to be aware of anyone coming to the door as the Scottish SPCA We believe these bogus inspectors to be using black vans with white writing which are almost identical to our own vans If someone tells you they are from the RSPCA please report them immediately as they do not operate at all in Scotland Please be vigilant and keep yourselves and your pets safe He added While we can legally seize an animal from a property we will only do so if the welfare of the animal is seriously compromised needs vet treatment or the environment is not safe for the animal to be in Only Police Scotland and the local authority have the same powers Our inspectors will always be in uniform and will be able to provide identification badges with a photo and authorisation Our inspectors will also be happy to provide you with vehicle registration If you are at all unsure about someone who comes to your door as the Scottish SPCA ask them to wait outside and call us immediately Our inspectors will respect your need to do this If anyone can provide any more information on these incidents please contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999 P April 2021 Dogs Today 37

Page 37

Page 38

Words ALESSANDRA PACELLI Vets in crisis M UC KY PUP Studies have revealed elevated rates of suicide in the veterinary profession across several countries including the UK But what are the causes and what help is available for struggling veterinary professionals Photo posed by models O ver a year into a global pandemic many aspects of our lives have been negatively impacted not least our mental health A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry in July 2020 found that by April 2020 mental health in the UK had deteriorated compared with pre Covid 19 trends Things were not to improve in the following months When mental health charity Mind analysed NHS figures in November 2020 they immediately sounded the alarm According to analysis of NHS Digital figures urgent and emergency referrals of people in crisis have shot up since the beginning of the first national lockdown with figures for June and July higher than ever previously recorded a statement from the charity reads Overall there was a 15 per cent increase in these referrals from March until July the most recent figures published A total of 2 276 more urgent and emergency referrals were made in July alone this year compared to the same month last year There was also a 19 per cent increase in people detained for mental health treatment who were admitted to acute beds Veterinary professionals were affected as well Vetlife an independent charity providing free and confidential support to anyone in the UK veterinary community saw the calls to its helpline rising by over 25 per cent in 2020 compared to the previous year when the calls were 3 117 It is a concerning number but sadly not a surprise even before the pandemic the suicide rate in the veterinary 38 Dogs Today April 2021 Among the things veterinary professionals who turn to Vetlife report struggling with are the long hours of work being on call for long stretches of time unexpected outcomes difficult clients ethical issues and lack of support Putting a pet to sleep while supporting a distraught owner also takes a toll profession was found to be significantly higher than many other professions Vet Danny Chambers is a trustee of Vetlife and says there is not one single reason for the higher incidence of suicide compared to the general population but rather several factors adding up When vets call the Vetlife helpline not all their struggles are work related but vets do work under a lot of pressure he says Among the things veterinary professionals who turn to Vetlife report struggling with are the long hours of work being on call for long stretches of time unexpected outcomes difficult clients ethical issues and SHOP G RO O M I N G ESSENTIALS F O R YO U R POOCH

Page 39

Page 40

Illustration by Kevin Brockbank The Emotional Paradox In a Facebook post shared hundreds of times by fellow veterinary professionals Danny Chambers wrote Vets must feel empathy towards their patients We need this empathy to treat both animals and their owners with kindness and compassion However having too much empathy can result in strong emotional turmoil especially when dealing with animals suffering from untreatable diseases or with owners who cannot afford treatment In these difficult situations empathy can lead to feelings of helplessness guilt stress or anxiety which can lead to depression The Emotional Paradox to be a good vet requires emotional involvement with our patients but at the same time we need the ability to remain detached in order to preserve our mental health Vets have a suicide rate of four times the national average There are of course many different factors that contribute towards the state of mental health in our profession including long working hours personal issues personality types who enter the profession client complaints crazy busy days on a very regular basis poor levels of support provided at work level of renumeration and dealing with death and euthanasia on a daily basis But one thing is for sure as a profession we need to get better at prioritising ourselves and looking after our own emotional state We need to be better at looking out for our colleagues We need to be better at asking for help when we need it You cannot provide the care your patients deserve if you don t look after yourself If you work within the veterinary profession and are based in the UK the Vetlife website has contact details of a 24 7 phone line should you need to talk and loads of resources on dealing with stress anxiety loneliness and depression lack of support Putting a pet to sleep while supporting a distraught owner Danny explains also takes a toll The first lockdown was especially difficult for veterinary professionals who had the delicate task of balancing safety measures while also providing the best possible care to their patients as well as support for the owners Most clients have been very understanding during the pandemic but we had a lot of instances in which people were very angry they were not allowed into the practice with their pets we had some really difficult situations Danny says Vets also dealt with guilt when owners couldn t be with their pet when it was put to sleep a difficult choice that kept many awake at night Ours is a relatively small profession nearly everyone knows of someone who has taken their own life Vetlife works to help those in the veterinary community who may be struggling with mental health through its three support services the 24 7 Vetlife Helpline Vetlife Health Support and Vetlife Financial Support The helpline manned by trained volunteers is vital in helping people reach out and talk to someone before the situation reaches a crisis point As well as serving as a trustee of Vetlife Danny has founded Veterinary Voices UK a Facebook group for vets and vet nurses to talk about their issues and exchange advice It is very helpful to see you are not the only one struggling Danny says It is important to remove the stigma around mental health issues It is not unusual or something to be ashamed of Help is available Reach out P TIME FOR A NEW BED Leads to follow If you re a member of the veterinary community in need of confidential support you can contact the Vetlife Helpline on 0303 040 2551 or by anonymous email via https helpline vetlife org uk For more information about Vetlife visit www vetlife org uk The Veterinary Voices discussion group for veterinary professionals can be found on www facebook com groups veterinaryvoicesuk A page accessible to the public is available on www facebook com veterinaryvoicesuk F I N D A WAR M C O S Y B E D T O DAY AT P U R R F E C T LY YAP P Y C O M For more information on Mind visit www mind org uk June 2020 Dogs Today 25 PY_Bed indd 25 p061_DogsMonthlyApr19 indd 1 PY single page indd 1 40 Dogs Today April 2021 06 11 2020 16 32 25 02 2019 26 11 2018 16 16 17 58

Page 41

Page 42

Y My Dog Crush ou probably expect a Labradoodle to be the result of a Labrador crossed with a Standard Poodle but crosses with Toy and Miniature Poodles are also possible Still bouncy still bags of fun but just a little bit smaller Sponsored by For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Our survey of Mini Labradoodle owners revealed Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018 UK Winners 2013 2019 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk Size matters Labradinkydoodle Labradiddlydoodle or Labradiddle are all a bit of a mouthful so these dogs are most commonly known as Mini Labradoodles These crosses tend to be quite a lot larger than either of the small Poodles Only a handful of our owners have a Toy Poodle Labrador cross most have a Miniature cross or an F2 variant from a firstcross Labradoodle bred back to one of the parent breeds The very smallest stand at 24 28cm but the majority are between 32 and 48cm tall M any of us have dog crushes soft spots for breeds or types that we love but know we ll probably never own for lots of terribly sensible reasons Maybe you don t have enough hours in the day for the dog you dream of Perhaps you have a wandering eye and there are just too many dogs to fit into a lifetime Or you already have a house squashed full of adored allsorts that chose you In this feature we go through popular dog crushes and take a fresh look at what it would be like to actually live with them 42 Dogs Today April 2021 Mini Labradoodle Character Just over half of our owners say their dogs are equal parts Labrador and Poodle in personality Quite a few seem to have inherited the Labrador s insatiable appetite for food but you can never be quite sure what you re going to get I have two that are food orientated like Labs said one owner The other two are not interested in food and are fussy and picky like Poodles Training exercise Both Poodles and Labradors rank very high for canine intelligence so you can expect your Mini Doodle to be smart These dogs tend to be active and energetic and our sample get at least an hour s exercise every day They also enjoy playing with their pals and chasing balls They are likely to do well at organised canine activities such as obedience and agility Coat care It s not at all certain that a Poodle Labrador cross will be non shedding only just over half of our sample say their dogs don t shed at all Coat type can vary considerably depending on the genes the dog has inherited Here are some of the words our owners use to describe their dog s coats straight curly wavy soft shaggy scruffy woolly If they do inherit a Poodle coat they will need regular combing to prevent mats Many of our owners also take their dogs to a professional groomer every eight weeks or so If their coats are more like a Labrador s they will need regular combing to manage the shedding Health There isn t much data on the health of these crossbreeds as they haven t been around for long enough They may be prone to any genetic conditions known in the parents breeds Testing for hip and elbow dysplasia plus eye testing for prcd PRA is recommended as both parent breeds can suffer from these conditions The wisdom of crossing a very small dog with a much bigger breed also has to be pondered As one owner warns I would never cross a Toy Poodle with a Labrador as the bone structure is too light in a Toy Poodle You would be asking for trouble For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018 UK Winners 2013 2019 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk April 2021 Dogs Today 43

Page 43

Page 44

Page 45

Page 46

My Dog Crush Love the breed Shop the breed No this doesn t smell of wet dog The soy wax candle from Home and Hound London on www etsy com costs 22 and comes in eight scents including fresh linen and lime basil and mandarin v Best names Teddy Strudel Alfie Willow Margot Clarence Womble Waffles Handmade ceramic mug with a floral watercolour design Microwave and dishwasher safe 9 95 from Doodlecards Boutique on www etsy com Labradoodle tote bag hand illustrated by Lucy Sheeran exclusively for Pear Derbyshire The large organic cotton canvas bag costs 18 from www notonthehighstreet com Mini Labradoodle antics She heard me say she needed a shower after a muddy walk and took herself upstairs and sat in the shower for half an hour while I took an urgent phone call When I returned home from holiday she sat on the path with her back to me and wouldn t look me in the eye I distinctly got the impression I was being told off He talks snuffles howls woofs and growls in his sleep as well as twitching and moving Took someone s glasses off their face in order to play fight with them Personalised Labradoodle word art From 11 99 for a print with the option to have it framed Many sizes and print colours available from Gifted Turtles UK on www etsy com Best Facebook groups Mini Labradoodles Miniature Labradoodles 100 recycled card and envelope 2 50 from Field and Fur Blank greeting card with a quality white envelope 2 80 from Gruff Pawtraits Doodle card 2 85 from Have a Gander UK Personalisation is available All available on www etsy com For Dog People by Dog People For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018 UK Because your dog deserves the BEST NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Winners 2013 2019 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018 UK Winners 2013 2019 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk 46 Dogs Today April 2021 April 2021 Dogs Today 47

Page 47

Page 48

Victoria Stilwell Down time Why did Cooper the Boxer get on well with his canine companions at daycare but attack dogs when out with his owners Appearances aren t always what they seem A passionate advocate for positive dog training methods she is the founder of the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training Behavior www vsdta com and the CEO of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training www vspdt com Visit www positively com for news about Victoria s work and details about her books The Secret Language of Dogs Train Your Dog Positively and It s Me or the Dog 48 Dogs Today April 2021 C ooper the Boxer did not like other dogs at least that is what his owners Dannee and Camille told me Cooper lunged and barked at dogs on walks and had managed to pull away on two separate occasions launching full blown attacks on dogs that were in the line of fire Cooper did not hold back when he made contact and after too many frightening experiences Dannee and Camille were understandably worried Even with these challenges I was surprised to learn that Cooper still attended doggy daycare three times a week but had never attacked any dogs when he was there not even when he was in the communal playroom Dogs can behave very differently on and off the lead but history had shown that Cooper did attack dogs when he was off the lead outside so Dannee and Camille were confused I had my suspicions as to why he had such a seemingly Jekyll and Hyde personality so I asked if I could go along with Dannee and Camille to watch how Cooper coped at daycare I m so glad I did because what I saw confirmed my suspicions Even though the staff were very welcoming and clearly loved Cooper they admitted to me that he was often put in time outs because he would get fresh with certain dogs Time outs happened daily and he would find himself alone in a kennel run chewing on a toy until he had calmed down sufficiently to rejoin the group The staff told me that for the rest of the day Cooper did well in the communal room and was very loving spending most of his time sitting next to whoever was working that day As soon as Cooper walked into the playroom I could see how uncomfortable he was He tolerated greetings from the other dogs when he first entered but when they lost interest in him he started walking around the room s perimeter staying close to the wall as he did so If another dog came up to him he froze but dutifully let them investigate him until they got bored and left him alone Once he had finished his walk he made his way to the closest caregiver and anchored himself there following them wherever they went Dannee and Camille looked at me to say See we told you he s a completely different dog here I explained that although it looked as if Cooper was being calm and tolerant he was actually very uncomfortable sticking to the perimeter when he first entered the room and then anchoring to whatever human was in the room for the rest of the day If the person left the room for a second Cooper looked like a lost worried puppy When Dannee and Camille came to take him home he became himself again greeting them excitedly and immediately lunging at other dogs he met outside EMOTIONAL DISCONNECT That was Cooper s last day at daycare I explained that he was being flooded with the very thing he feared most other dogs and this had caused him to shut down emotionally so that he could just get through the day There were too many dogs in the playroom to pick a fight with so Cooper suppressed that impulse but he was only able to behave normally when he got outside again and felt more comfortable Just the act of removing Cooper from daycare relieved his overall stress considerably and his behaviour on the lead improved I devised a workable behaviour modification plan Photo posed by a model Victoria Stilwell is a world renowned dog trainer best known as the creator and host of the international hit TV series It s Me or the Dog as well as Greatest American Dog on CBS Dogs Might Fly on Sky One and her web series about police K9s and their handlers Guardians of the Night to increase his confidence around other dogs which helped immensely Cooper would never be a social butterfly but he no longer felt the need to lunge at other dogs on walks and he was a lot happier now the pressure was off Recently I wrote about why dogs experience emotional shutdown and learned helplessness and how having no control in overwhelming or scary situations can cause dogs like Cooper to essentially give up These experiences might be intense at the time but are usually not sustained and the dog can eventually find some relief Learned helplessness however occurs when dogs are in traumatic and restrictive situations with no escape and is often seen in dogs that spend their lives tethered on chains with little social interaction or in breeding dogs that live perpetually in confined torment Research has shown that when people have no control over something that is aversive they experience feelings of disempowerment and despair Dogs experience similar feelings Shutdown can happen during the training process Punitive training techniques are often the cause but dogs that are overwhelmed and overworked by well intentioned positive trainers can also switch off often seen in group classes where there are too many intense distractions and or the repetitive nature of the training is overwhelming Dogs can also shut down in busy environments such as in rescue shelters daycares or dog parks Most people reading this will have encountered a dog that shuts down at some point in their life and while that dog might show passive behaviours such as lying down sitting still and refusing to move while on a lead they can also be active moving frenetically and without focus or responding almost robotically to their handlers as if they re going through the motions but with little joy So how can you help a dog that has shut down The answer is simple because it does not require a lot of complex training When dogs that are emotionally disconnected are given time and the space to heal they usually do so pretty quickly If pressure is taken off and dogs are able to make choices such as practising avoidance or trusting that you will remove them from a situation they find overwhelming their confidence increases This means that you must advocate for your dogs by not forcing them into situations that they find scary or uncomfortable and understanding the signals they give out when they want relief Dogs that have experienced continual confinement neglect or abuse will eventually experience learned helplessness I have assisted with many puppy farm busts and worked with dogs from abusive homes and hoarding situations that are almost catatonic with fear and hopelessness when they are finally rescued One of the first things I do with dogs that come from these kinds of situations is to keep them in a small area at first because too much space too soon can be overwhelming Many of these dogs feel safer in a confined area because that is the only thing they have ever known Because dogs from puppy farms and hoarding situations are used to being around other dogs you might find your rescue dog bonds quicker with the existing dog in your home or with another canine friend Social learning becomes a very powerful tool at this point If your rescue dog still does not like being touched or is having a hard time trusting you work with your other dog while your rescue dog watches This allows him to learn without being handled and repeated exposure to these social learning training sessions can be very powerful Using high value food to start the bonding process and being patient with your dog can be really helpful but dogs that have come from traumatic situations will require a lot of time to acclimatize to their new homes Building a safe zone like a crate or gated off area will provide a good bolthole for your dog and can give him a secure place if he needs some alone time Gentle exercise and gradual exposure to new experiences can bring dogs out of their shells and allow them to experience the world around them in a more positive way Predictability also helps dogs that have emotionally disconnected become more confident Making a daily schedule and being consistent with that schedule is very comforting and can make a huge difference in your dog s success While shutdown and learned helplessness are intense emotional states that happen more than we would like time and understanding can really help our dogs overcome the challenges they face P April 2021 Dogs Today 49

Page 49

Page 50

Join our exclusive Sub Club ADVERTISING FEATURE ADVERTISING FEATURE With newsagents and supermarkets reducing their shelf space for magazines it s getting harder to find us Help us by subscribing and reap the rewards Buy Get your first issue for only 1 Then it s 9 99 quarterly by Direct Debit direct and save more than 17 a year UK only Save money enjoy a 17 04 saving over the year Delivered free to your door Subscriber only competitions page 59 15 voucher for PurrfectlyYappy com minimum spend 75 Call us for the special code Chance to win one of 50 Nerf dog toys Get the magazine before it s in the shops Call 01276 402599 lines open weekdays 9am 5 30pm or subscribe online www dogstodaymagazine co uk product dogs today uk subscriptions All new subscriptions will commence with the current issue Overseas prices Europe 65 20 for 12 issues Rest of World 79 80 for 12 issues The first 50 new or renewing subscribers this month will receive a fabulous Nerf dog toy so even your dog can benefit It s a win win win situation Our furry family members deserve the very best And at Horse Groom we believe every bath time should be a soothing and restorative treat for your dog With none other than our finest quality Epsom salt Completely pure just as mother nature intended H orse Groom deliver the finest quality Epsom salt so your beloved canine companions can benefit from them every day Epsom salt has been enjoyed by people for over 400 years so we felt it was about time our four legged friends got to enjoy these healing benefits too Our Epsom salt is only ever the highest quality and free from all anti caking agents artificial colours and additives the perfect natural addition to your dog s grooming regime Simply dissolve our salts in warm water and use as a soak spray exfoliator or rinse to keep your dog looking and feeling their best We re accredited by the Pet Industry Federation to give you the confidence in providing only the best for your dogs because we understand just how important they are to you EPSOM SALT BENEFITS Calms nervousness and anxiety Conditions all coats Relieves aches and pains Soothes arthritis Please remember to include your dog s breed size and age in Dog breed and size during checkout Subscription gifts are only available to the first 50 subscribers each month sorry UK subscribers only 50 Dogs Today April 2021 www horseandgroomepsomsalt co uk April 2021 Dogs Today 51

Page 51

Page 52

by Andrew Rae Rae Safaris Johannesburg Andrew Rae third from left and Peter Neville far right with guests from the 2018 African wild dog health check safari Safari adventures Lycaon pictus painted wolf Cape hunting dog African wild dog There are almost as many names for southern Africa s most endangered large carnivore as there are controversies surrounding the conservation of this misunderstood animal I find it ironic that man s best friend in a domestic setting is considered by some to be his worst enemy when the animal happens to be wild Why is the wild dog despised so much Have we really become that presumptuous as a species that we feel we can dictate the order of life based on our misplaced human sensibilities I have heard more than one so called nature lover revel in the sinuous beauty of a leopard and in the same breath openly criticise in the most indignant fashion the ruthless and blood thirsty wild dog Who gave us the permission to sit in judgement and preside over nature as if our opinion counted for something Is a wild dog really that hateful Let us not forget that natural selection has fine tuned its hunting modus operandi and made it the successful predator it has become Eviscerating one s prey on the run is a sure way of eventually running it down I can t stand the fact that they eat their victims alive gurgled safari adventure across the length and breadth of Africa About five years ago I guided a safari for Professor Peter Neville and some of his veterinary colleagues from Japan We became firm friends and Peter now collaborates with Rae Safaris as our regular specialist ethology animal behaviour guide We have since worked together in Tanzania South Africa Botswana Madagascar and Namibia Upcoming adventures with Peter and me as private guides include Uganda Ethiopia and Antarctica one safari client This from a species who invented the concept of torture the manipulation of bacterial spores for terrorism landmines hollow point bullets and the nuclear bomb Why am I spewing forth such antagonism from atop my soapbox Well dear reader I happen to have feelings on the issue that are a tad strong I admit but who can blame me I spend a lot of time with a free ranging pack of these beautiful canids in central Namibia where research and rehabilitation work are done on a host of threatened and endangered southern African species Here you will find a research team monitoring a free ranging pack of wild dogs using radio tracking technology They are also happy to host those of us who are interested in tracking observing and learning about this most fascinating of social predators We even assist the local vets with the annual health checks on these incredible creatures I have been a safari guide for the last 27 years the last six years offering my own brand of private UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Photo by Michael Rae 52 Dogs Today April 2021 Peter s expertise is dog and catfocused and he has a particular love for the African Wild Dog which prompted us to look for a destination where a specialised hands on one of a kind safari aimed at Lycaon pictus might be hosted We researched several countries but eventually settled on the arid landscapes of central Namibia where vital rehabilitation and reintroduction work is being done by a range of conservation organisations and funds We set about structuring a unique wild dog orientated itinerary starting with six immersive days in central Namibia looking specifically at the species We then spend another 10 days showcasing this most beautiful and evocative desert country Peter s network of dog behaviour professionals and past students responded with gusto and we have hosted several wild dog safaris to date A typical day features morning and afternoon telemetry tracking excursions on open Safari Land Cruisers seeking locating and observing the free ranging resident pack of dogs It is hoped that this pack bonded and formed from various rehabilitated individuals will one day constitute the core of a wild population to be released into Etosha National Park an enormous wild space where they have become locally extinct There are also captive wild dogs here and annual health checks on these animals are prescribed by Namibian wildlife law We have the good fortune of attending and assisting with this incredible series of procedures alongside the resident vets What a day it is There is something truly captivating about touching and working with an immobilised endangered species The first time I lifted one in my arms to move it into the shade was something of a moment for me spiritual perhaps emotional definitely Our guests feel the same way Whether it s Stella from Finland with her gloved fingers extracting the requisite stool samples Tracy from England and Janice from Scotland unable to hide their excitement at the prospect of working on a prone wild dog or Simon and his partner from the Bahamas cleaning a dog s ears it s a different reality from their respective professional worlds of finance and IT I remember watching the awe on the face of Polish veterinary student Natalia as she realised what she was about to experience I recall the precision and focus on Dr Anne s face as she assisted in administering the rabies jabs to the sleeping pack and the total engrossment of her two kids Zoe and Luke These are the real rewards of running a conservation orientated safari company contribution vicarious joy and delight and watching perspectives and lives change Feeling the deep connection and comprehension in a guest as Africa reveals herself A tactile day with this enigmatic species is always a highlight There is also the very real sense of contributing and giving back We believe in wildlife philanthropy in support of the conservation cause A portion of our income always goes toward a related project be it a chase simulation meat delivery system for captive wild dogs as part of a zoo enrichment project or the funding of research and monitoring equipment for scientists in the field We support local communities and partnerships in this regard helping people and the wildlife populations they live with CALL OF THE WILD What is it about this particular species Why do these animals fascinate us so For me it s what the animal represents in an African context Space lots of open unfettered wild countryside It is a quintessential reminder of the old frontier the pristine wilderness that once was Before This social canid once had the run of most of neo tropical Africa historically and the frightening reduction in numbers over the last century or so is underpinned by one key problem shrinking rangeland The last significant wild populations occur in Selous in southern Tanzania Moremi in northern Botswana and the Kruger National Park in South Africa April 2021 Dogs Today 53

Page 53

Page 54

Photo by Michael Rae YOU KNOW THAT LOOK Safari adventures Elsewhere like Namibia the wild numbers are largely unknown Namibia has one interesting asset though space It has one of the smallest and most spread out human populations on earth Much of the country remains open and undeveloped and as such has the potential to provide extensive rangeland for these beleaguered animals MAGICAL MOMENT The open Land Cruiser stops suddenly as a languid breeze begins to cool the sun baked bushlands of the Khomas Hochland With directional antenna in his outstretched hand and the receiver close to his ear the ranger listens intently before briefing the driver We all strain our dusty eyes in the general direction he s indicated searching for movement for anything Suddenly they materialise will o the wisps trotting through thicket and on to the track in front of us Wild dogs doing what they have done here since time immemorial hunting seeking and claiming what is theirs The beauty of the scene is beyond my meagre ability to describe except that it leaves me feeling humbled by the sheer complexity and savagery of a continent that has stolen my heart It is in these moments that Africa speaks to us and all of our insignificant questions and insecurities are forgotten as we marvel at something so much greater than ourselves P I t s the look your dog gives you when it s time to take a break The look that says that email will Peter Neville is an adjunct teaching professor at The Ohio State University USA and a director of Coape International an online education provider of pet behaviour therapy courses www coape org and www facebook com COAPEInternational Peter has presented a behavioural case history from his practice for Dogs Today since the very first issue He now lives in Finland with his partner Stella their Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Spooch and cats Bulldozer and Asla but he frequently disappears to Africa to help guide safaris specialising in tracking and studying African Wild Dogs and other large predators with Rae Safaris www raesafaris co za still be waiting even after you stretch your legs with a quick walkies enjoy a bit of play time or have a cuddle It s the look that says your dog knows how hard you work but that you should relax a little now That s why you feed Celtic Connection Holistic Pet Food Because Celtic Connection not only provides the natural meat based nutrition and functional herbs your dog needs to stay strong and healthy it also includes glucosamine chondroitin and MSM to support their joints to keep them active and comfortable So they can continue to look after you for many years to come Grain and Gluten free Hypoallergenic 100 Human Grade Quality HGQ Ingredients Unique Patent Pending Single Source Protein Philosophy Includes both Fresh and Dehydrated Meat With therapeutic amounts of functional herbs Added glucosamine chondroitin and MSM for comfortable joints Gently steamed kibble Veterinarian Recommended Ideal for dogs with skin or digestion issues Formulated for all Life Stages Proudly Made in the U K Also available as tinned recipes 54 Dogs Today April 2021 PET FOOD MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEIR DOG W W W C E LT I C C O N N E C T I O N P E T F O O D C O U K June 2020 Dogs Today 11

Page 55

Page 56

Put the kettle on and have a go at our competitions Winners of the Breedsearch Cross Question and Caption Competition will receive a bottle of the wonderful shampoo from The Missing Range from Completely Conkers E H I Do you have a funny pic you d like us to feature Please email it to us at the address on the facing page S S R M E G R A P E S C I W K H A J T F S F J C G Y X O E H I Z A D Y W N N Z C X Q E C S N L J U F L B In the ring Can you come up with a witty and amusing caption for this photo Breedsearch I Caption this I O O C I Unscramble the jumbled letters in the circles Can you find the names of three dogs from Russia A B F W O O X C L R A G O I O M SISE RA BI N K S M O A X U T B H E E N F N O C E E F T V D I O I N S H F O C B C N V B T G O C I N N A M O N T E I E U Q C B E P A L N V H I H N C S L L Q T G O E X E O D A C O V A A H K G S T C T I M O M X F K U M M V A O S Y F L D B N I B T T O L L B X Y L I I T L P Y E Find the foods listed below that are dangerous for dogs Search up down forward backward and on the diagonal to find the hidden words ALCOHOL COOKED BONES AVOCADO GARLIC CHOCOLATE GRAPES CINNAMON ONIONS COFFEE RAISINS Eight lucky winners of the Breedsearch picked at random will win a bottle of luxury dog shampoo from The Missing Range from Completely Conkers and the winners of the Cross Question and Caption Competition will each win a bottle too C March Caption Runners up If I can t see her she can t see me I am not doing another day of home schooling Anna Terry If the head s not there the dog ain t listening Tina Lobel Sit crouch or lie on the ground keeping the dog in sight If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs If you can stick your head through a hole in the dog bed and turn it into a cuddly toy Yours is the Earth and everything that s in it And which is more you ll be a dog my pup Ruddy Hard Kipping Don t look directly at the dog avoid eye contact Winning caption Alabama Et Charles Contact owner if you are actively looking for a missing dog Use slow movements show you are not a threat Don t approach head on at speed STOP DROP THINK UA CE TL RRR This bespoke collection of natural dog grooming products is blended using only the finest pure essential oils that smell divine Each shampoo features a very special missing dog The range is dedicated to all missing dogs wherever they may be and is inspired by Conker a much loved Spanish Water Dog who went missing on 22 November 2013 in Oxfordshire and has not yet been found The manufacturer s greatest wish is to reunite the featured long lost dogs by telling their stories on the bottles of Completely Conkers The first lost dogs to appear will be Izzy Megan Chester Lexi Hansum Hugo and of course Conker You can hear each dog s story in their owners own words at https completelyconkers co uk Speak softly don t call whistle or chase CAP HD DOG Cross Question Can you guess which breeds That awkward Fiep s parents are moment when you go to stuff the turkey after one too many Christmas sherries Clare Williams When assembling your flat pack Lurcher take care to follow instructions carefully Alison Binnall Lure with food if possible throwing it away from you but also not directly at the dog How to enter If the dog runs away don t chase Follow from a distance stopping and dropping if the dog turns around March Cross Question Solution Don t attempt to catch or restrain the dog unless you re confident that you will get him or her the first time Holly s parents are a Patterdale and a Poodle The first correct answer came from Ruth Johnson Send your Breedsearch Cross Question Caption Competition entries together with your contact details via email to comps dogstodaymagazine co uk or post to April Competitions Dogs Today The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ to arrive by 16 April 2021 In the ring answer A Siberian Husky B Caucasian Shepherd Dog C Black Russian Terrier 56 Dogs Today April 2021 April 2021 Dogs Today 57 Patterdale Poodle by Tim Rose www timrosephotography co uk What to do if you see a lost dog UH Y B N F C N G Y C A M K E R N L O H C B H L Just for fun Photo submitted by Joep en C cile Voogt Tea break

Page 57

Page 58

Prize crossword Compiled by Gyles Brandreth Quick clues Down Across 1 4 9 10 11 12 1 1 15 17 18 22 23 24 25 Quell 6 Strong gusts of wind 6 hound Swiss variety 7 Natural ability 5 Malamute Arctic sled dog 7 Lowchen s mane and tail plume resemble those of this animal 4 Breed once known as the Hairy Mountain Dog 7 6 And 5 Down A wretched existence 4 4 Operating room in hospital 7 Get away from 5 Dog s teacher 7 Fight wrestle 6 Sesame children s educational TV programme 6 2 1 3 2 3 5 6 7 8 13 14 16 19 20 21 Hungarian sheepdog with long dense coat 4 B DeMille former US film producer and director 5 Warm place for Fido to relax 8 See 17 Across And 7 Down Welsh or English game breed 8 7 See 6 Down Breed of Irish Setter 3 3 5 Description of a well trained dog 8 German farmers breed 8 Hounds of Asian origin 7 Scope extent 5 Order for the dog to stay close to master 4 Gentle running pace 4 4 6 5 7 8 9 4 9 10 11 12 15 17 18 22 23 24 10 25 Calm down if it s lively outside 6 Criticises loud notes on horn 6 Breed of hound cruel characters have no love for one 7 Talent show finding at first an animal s den 5 Malamute unfortunately stuck near Kansas 7 Wild beast from outskirts of Lisbon 4 Cold beer ideal for this dog 7 6 And 5 Down Miserable time producing Lassie s biography 4 4 Building engulfed in great heart recently 7 Escape Adam s wife about now 5 Dog handler s shoe 7 Lets us come out to struggle 6 Way setter runs amok 6 Down 11 1 12 13 15 2 14 16 3 17 5 6 19 18 21 20 23 7 8 13 24 25 Name _________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ____________________________ Postcode _________________ Telephone _____________________________________________ Email address ___________________________________________ Breed type of dog _______________________________________ 58 Dogs Today April 2021 14 We occasionally loan our address list to charities and companies we feel may be of interest to you Please tick if you do not wish to receive this information Q 16 19 20 21 Endlessly lure one dog from Hungary 4 Man hauled up by police constable 5 Northern half of Fiji Live where it s nice and warm 8 See 17 Across And 7 Down Hunting dog mauled real snipe postseason 8 7 See 6 Down Irish Setter has colours of Welsh 6 and 7 Down 3 3 5 Be on diet perhaps like dog of successful 23 Across 8 Dog is very aware mostly in exciting surroundings 8 Dogs displaying curious fang Ah 7 Mountains associated with Rover 5 Command from 23 Across said to make things better 4 How extreme left winger would jog 4 Not yet subscribing Visit www dogstodaymagazine co uk or turn to page 50 to rectify that immediately This month s prize One lucky winner this month will receive a fitted three layer face mask with the warning message Do not make me use my dog training voice The mask has adjustable ear straps with toggle beads and a glasses friendly nose wire for a snug fit Designed by our ever versatile editor Beverley Cuddy there are lots of other products with the same message from socks mugs and bags to drinks bottles bedding clothing and phone cases Check out the beemorebeardie shop on redbubble com for more information Win this The winner of this month s crossword will receive a pack of Soopa Kale and Apple Dental Sticks Find more Soopa dog treats at PurrfectlyYappy com How to enter Complete the crossword grid then post your entry to arrive by 16 April 2021 to April Crossword Dogs Today The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ The first correct entry pulled out of the hat after the closing date will win the prize The judge s decision is final Code Breaker March Solution Across 1 Biting 4 Whelps 9 Bernese 10 Voice 11 Exit 12 Francais 14 Grand Basset 18 American 20 Apso 22 Doggo 23 Lucerne 24 Egress 25 Strays Down 1 Babies 2 Terrier 3 Noel 5 Havanese 6 Laika 7 She Ass 8 Kerry Beagle 13 Incisors 15 Emporia 16 Dandie 17 Boxers 19 Elgar 21 Scot Can you crack the code to find this poor dog joke We ve given you the word DOGS to get you started A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U VWX Y Z 12 14 22 D ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Dandie Dinmont by Tim Rose www timrosephotography co uk 22 Hello subscribers We think it s time for you to get even more perks than just getting the magazine cheaper postage free and before everyone else This area of the magazine is just for you to say thank you for supporting us by buying your magazine direct We really appreciate it and it really helps us Cryptic clues Across Sub Club Dogs Today 3 4 17 16 18 6 24 15 9 O ___ ___ 12 22 D ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 12 20 ___ ___ 16 16 16 10 25 19 D ___ O ___ G ___ 13 12 22 14 D ___ O ___ ___ S ___ 12 22 11 9 ___ ___ ___ ___ 16 17 16 26 11 O ___ O ___ D ___ ___ O ___ ___ ___ D ___ ___ ___ 1 19 22 22 12 17 22 25 15 12 How to enter Email your answers to comps dogstodaymagazine co uk and put April Sub Club in the subject line We will need your full name and address to check you are on our current subscriber list Or post the answer with your name and address to April Sub Club Dogs Today The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ or enter online at www dogstodaymagazine co uk category competitions One winner picked at random after 16 April 2021 will win the prize For full terms and conditions see page 3 April 2021 Dogs Today 59

Page 59

Page 60

Holidays Products Products Classifi ed adverts Classified Adverts Holidays Want to advertise your Want to advertise your business business in ed section inour ourclassifi classified section Contact james petsubjects co uk Contact mike orpetsubjects co uk call now on 01276 858 880 or call now on 01276 402591 Luxury self catering lodges in the Yorkshire Dales Yorkshire Cottage Style Double Storey Lodges two bedrooms sleeps 2 to 4 Set in a peaceful valley just over one mile from Richmond in North Yorkshire are these Self Catering Yorkshire Cottage Style Lodge Accommodations They offer great value Yorkshire Dales self catering holidays all year round 01748 822406 info flowerydell lodges com L U X U RY S E L F C AT E R I N G A C C O M O DAT I O N g Do friendly Now with Hot Tub www yorkshirelogcabins com Dog friendly holiday park in Cornwall theparkcornwall com Three beautifully converted Victorian farm stables ooer elegant luxury and peaceful retreats situated on our working farm surrounded by the beautiful Saltmarshe Delph Nature Reserve and bordered by the River Ouse Comfort really is at the heart of Appletree Cottages spacious single story layouts means weary legs can easily rest after a day exploring before you discover one of our lovely nearby pubs Visit appletree cottages co uk 01430 430 677 vivienne sweeting btinternet com PEAK DISTRICT Family run hotel near Ashbourne Good food real ales Pets welcome veggie choices and special diets catered for Over 15 of our properties are dog friendly with enclosed gardens complimentary dog bowls and even a doggie bag full of goodies will be waiting your arrival There are many pubs and restaurants in the area that welcome dogs with open arms DOG FRIENDLY BREAKS O N T H E P E M B R O K E S H I R E C OA S T 2 PEOPLE 4 NIGHTS Autumn Breaks available FROM ONLY Dog Partridge Country Inn with rooms in the grounds 01335 343183 www dogandpartridge co uk With some great accommodation deals to choose this is the perfect place to stay We are Dog Friendly so feel free to bring your little friends with you 1 Night when you come Midweek B B just 140 to stay Your subsequent nights pets can run free 50 off on our stunning grounds whilst you take in the breathtaking scenery Dog Friendly Accommodation in Wales 01639 731 167 Craig Y Nos Castle www dogfriendlywales com or www craigynoscastle com T C s Apply H o l i d a y s yo u r d o g wo u l d l ove The WooF Guide BY COASTAL COTTAGES Call us on 01437 772 742 Or Visit thewoofguide com Pet Product of the Month The world s first canine bridle anti pull dog headcollar AWARD WINNING HOLIDAY PARK IN DORCHESTER DORSET Luxury stone built self catering holiday cottages deep into Hardy Country near Dorchester in Dorset Almost half of our properties are dog friendly and the grounds include a fully enclosed dog exercise area perfect for a gentle morning stroll before setting out for the day www greenwoodgrange co uk hello greenwoodgrange co uk 01305 268874 Brecon Road Pen y Cae Powys SA9 1GL The K9 Bridle works on a similar principle to a bitless bridle for a horse so if it can stop a horse it can certainly stop a dog When the lead is tightened pressure is applied to the front of the face and tells the dog No so he easily understands this clear and precise command Importantly should the worst happen and your dog manages to get out of the bridle very unlikely there is a safety device that keeps you attached to your dog Also no strength is required making the K9 Bridle ideal for those with disabilities www k9bridle com Pet Product of the Month Dogs Today Today July April2020 2021 60 6 0 Dogs Please do not confuse the K9 Bridle with other training halters You will have seen dogs wearing so called anti pull headcollars that move around the dog s head go into their eyes interfere with their mouth and look like a muzzle The problem with these is that the point of control is under the chin and so twists the dog s head to the side This can cause damage to the vertebrae and the dog soon learns that he can still pull if he tilts his head to the side whereas the K9 Bridle works from the back of the neck exactly where you need control Nature s Greatest Secret We are delighted to be nominated as Pet Product of the Month April 2021 Dogs Today 61

Page 61

Page 62

Classified Adverts adverts Classified The Dog Lovers Registration Club Charities Products Art Charities Art Lintran K9Westie award winning dog UK ReHoming equipment transport systems Registered Charity England Wales 1108659 Scotland SC045329 Estate Cars Dog trailers pick up s vans All 4 x 4 vehicles Register your Pedigree puppies and adult dogs online for beautiful gold bonded pedigree paperwork with same day processing Westie ReHoming is a charity dedicated to the welfare and rehoming of the West Highland White Terrier We take in westies needing a new start in life and place them into a suitable home where they will be Dogloved Gunand System have their needs met T 01673 885959 enquiries lintran co uk www lintran co uk For more information visit www dogregclub co uk or call either 0161 792 2479 or 0161 729 2350 www westierehoming org information westierehoming net 0844 879 Lintran 4260 PO BoxHouse 4204 Swindon SN2 9LA SS Brentwood 30 YEARS Lincoln Road Faldingworth westierehoming4 Westie ReHoming Market Rasen Lincs LN8 3SF missed with the due to retire inspirational speaker John Rogerson Heathway Colton Rugeley Staffs WS15 3LY Tel 01889 577058 www bordercollietrustgb org uk Products Services The Emotional Art of Dog Training not to be by Toast Cartoons produces bespoke caricatures and a range of gifts Visit us online and get in touch for a quote 07970 014 576 toastcartoons gmail com www toastcartoons co uk 2020 Martin Peers Toast Cartoons Charity ofofthe the Month Charityof the Month Charity Month DogsRescue For Good JR Whippet was founded in 1971 by the late Mrs Joanna Russell when she realised there was aofneed to rehome Whippets due to a change in their Dogs for Good needs your help to double the number people with disabilities Dogs for Good needs your help to double the number of people with disabilities owners circumstances Aexploring mentionways in herdogs breed note column in Dog World we can support with dogs We re an innovative charity we can support with dogs We re an innovative charity exploring ways dogs can help resulted in donations being made to help her with task can help people overcome specific challenges and enrich and improve lives people overcome specific challenges andthe enrich and improve lives and communities and communities We are passionate about our future and how we can help We are passionate about our future and how we cancan helpoffer moreapeople with the use of If you would consider giving a home to a rescue Whippet or short term foster more people with the use of our assistance dogs our assistance dogs home for a Whippet in need whilst they are waiting for their permanent loving home Discover all of the ways we help Discover allwith of the ways we help or if you are willing to help transporting the Whippets please contact Beverley Assistance Dog our assistance dogs support adults and children with a rangedogs support adults and children with a range of Assistance Dog our assistance on 01359 259300 or email rehoming whippetrescue org uk of disabilities and also children with autism disabilities and also children with autism Community Dog our community dogs and specialist handlers to To support the their rescue you can become a member of and Thetheir Friends of JRhandlers Whippet Rescue Community Dog our help community dogs specialist help to improve improve their independence andCall skills and you will receive a newsletter wellbeing twice a year Dot Graham on 01505 503238 or email deltamikegolf btinternet com their independence wellbeing and skills Family Dog our Family Dog team gives adviceFamily and support to help families Dog our Family Dog team gives advice and support to help families with an to find out more with an autistic child to get the most out of theirautistic relationship their petout dog child towith get the most of their relationship with their pet dog Dogs For Good For more information please visit our website and see our online shop at www whippetrescue org uk www dogsforgood org 01295 252600 info dogsforgood org www dogsforgood org 01295 252600 info dogsforgood org www dogsmonthly co uk April 2020 2021 62 6 2 Dogs Today July March 2020 81 Pet Service of the Month Heal with Neil July 2020 Dogs Today 63 Toast_Classified indd 1 I am a natural healer who connects telepathically to provide distant healing for cats dogs horses in fact any animal and humans too I cater for illness injury behavioural disorders and preparing animals or people for passing over 07 10 2020 14 33 Energy healing is a non invasive complementary yet very effective therapy that can be used to help improve health and behaviour in both pets and people I work in addition to vets doctors providing healing which can work on four different levels physical mental emotional and spiritual for troubled sick injured or terminally ill animals or people I must stress that all clients tell their vets or doctors that their animals or themselves are receiving healing Neil Grimes Natural Animal People Healer Mobile 07938 193 176 outside UK 0044 7938 193 176 Instagram healwithneil April 2021 Dogs Today July 2020 Dogs Today 663 3

Page 63

Page 64

CharitySpotlight Spotlight Charity We rescue and rehome collies and collie crosses throughout the UK Why not subscribe to our Border Collie World quarterly magazine Only 10 00 pa established 1958 We are a non destruction sanctuary for abandoned unwanted dogs Welcome Welcome to to Charity Charity Spotlight Spotlight a handy reference point for good folk le of folkdoing doinggreat great work work We re We rehelping helpingto toraise raise the the profi profile of this diverse diversegroup group of of people people and and we weencourage encourage you youto to get get involved involved with withthem them be beitit fundraising fundraising or or even even volunteering volunteering PRIORY ROAD ASCOT BERKSHIRE SL5 8RJ Sponsor a puppy from just 1 a week BORDER COLLIE TRUST GB 01344 882689 Please contact us or visit our website for more information Heathway Colton Rugeley Staffs WS15 3LY Tel 0871 560 2282 www bordercollietrustgb org uk Visit guidedogs org uk DogsToday Reg Charity No 1053585 Rescue centre open daily 9 11 am 2 4 pm Registered Charity No 256728 AS SEEN ON EL BCT_0310 4x1 indd CHANN1 A charity registered in England and Wales 209617 and Scotland SC038979 4 1 10 16 55 42 4 Bringing pets and people closer together woodgreen org uk www foreverhoundstrust org Charity of the month Registered Charity No 298348 00526nc0819 WE RESCUE KILL SHELTER AND ABANDONED DOGS FROM ROMANIA AND REHOME THEM IN THE UK AND GERMANY Mayhew Chilterns Dog Recue barkingmaddogrescue Charity of the month We are an animal welfare charity working to improve the lives of dogs cats andChilterns communities in London and CDRS overseas Founded in 1963 Dog Rescue Society has a long Smokey Paws provides pet oxygen masks to the fire service We rescue and rehome 100s of dogs and cats in London every year Please help us to help more www themayhew org 020 8962 8000 But many more masks are needed history of rescue and rehoming and continues to grow thanks to t Mayhew we aim to promote the dedication and enthusiasm of many dog lovers animal welfare A A please call us on 01276 402591 for more details DogsToday TodayApril July 2021 2020 64 64Dogs Registered Charity No 1077588 by delivering a broad range of communitybased veterinary welfare and education services fter many years of hard workWe run unique CDRS is an independent charity It programmes like Pet Refuge CDRS bought its own premises receives no Government funding and offering a fostering service for owners going in Chivery near Tring Herts and relies entirely of the through a short term crisis on andthe wegenerosity raise awareness developed purpose built facilities forthe realities publicand to continue vital rescue about impact ofits animal welfareand dogs with nowhere else to turn rehoming work support would to bring about change to helpYour animals like Cyril The Rescue Centre has 40 pictured kennels above be greatly appreciated Cyril was rescued from a puppy and a small team of highly trained farm and was in a dreadful state traumatised staff who provide outstanding further After information please in and covered For in wounds several months care for dogs of all ages types contact CDRS and then found his ourand care he slowly recovered backgrounds in need of protection Tel 01296 623885 forever home training and rehoming in addition enquiries cdrs org uk Our teams are constantly workingtoto save animals from a life of cruelty and a 5 star licence boarding www chilternsdogrescue org uk neglect support for local people in crisis and find forever homes for animals in need kennels under floor But Large we receive nohave government funding Any amount you can give will help heating plenty of of animals natural light with save hundreds in need indoor and outdoor areas Green technology has been incorporated to reduce running costs Sensitive landscaping has created a woodland walk for adopters tothemayhew org get To potential find out more visit or call us on 020 8962 8000 to knowYou thecan dogs wildlife andour work at themayhew org donate If you d like to see your donate to areas support organisation featured in these two DogZones to provide or grassy by calling 020 8206 5870 pages please call us on 01276 enrichment paddocks for the dogs to If you d like to see your organisation featured in more thesedetails pages 858880 for play socialise and relax bmdrdogs www barkingmaddogrescue co uk The next pet saved could be yours You can donate via www smokeypaws co uk or email info smokeypaws co uk Registered Charity in England and Wales No 1139999 Saving Yorkshire s Dogs Registered Charity No 1167291 To rescue rehabilitate and rehome vulnerable and at risk dogs from Yorkshire Tel 07562 986101 Email savingyorkshiresdogs gmail com Web www sydrescue org uk Find us on Become a Companion Keep Tails Wagging With a Regular Gift As a rescue charity Rushton helps abandoned abused and unwanted dogs on a international scale Rescuing dogs from all over the world especially the meat trade in Asia and China Your chance to win at www aht org uk lottery Call Now 44 0 1823 49 10 52 mail rushtondogrescue co uk Registered Charity Number 209642 Scottish Charity No SC006914 Senior Staffy Club Dogs Today 2018 Charity spotlight lottery23 01 2018 advert v3 indd 14 47 10 1 Our aims are Rescue and rehome sta ordshire bull terriers and sta y cross dogs aged 7yrs Recruit foster carers all over the UK Encourage volunteers at En our kennels in Sta ord and Worcester www seniorsta yclub co uk seniorsta yclub hotmail co uk Rescue and rehoming centre for dogs and cats www leicesteranimalaid org uk Tel 01455 888257 Registered Charity No 242560 Finding the cures for serious pet illnesses helping them live longer healthier lives www petsavers org uk April 2021Dogs DogsToday Today665 July 2020 5

Page 65

Page 66

For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST Confessions of a dogaholic I 66 Dogs Today April 2021 Quid s in all still hoped for a happy ending Was reality about to bite Would he tell us all to go home and stop cluttering up his Windsor office I worked on the figures and started to untangle the mess Nothing made sense The magazine cover price was very low and the overheads were mind blowing I just couldn t see how it all cost so much our contributor budget and staff pay was quite modest But how could I afford to buy the magazine The company car would go at the end of the month How would I pay the rent and keep Sally in her diet of raw liver and organic carrots that kept her well Would Lord R be angry that we hadn t made the magazine the success he d wanted it to be When we arrived at the Mail HQ I gave my name to reception and Sally and I were ushered into the private lift that goes up to the chairman s floor where Cathy Lord R s PA greeted us I must have looked terrified Lord R was famous for his pauses he created tremendous fear in people by saying nothing and just waiting for them to make an idiot of themselves by filling the awkward silence There was none of that today he was very smiley Do sit down my dear I hear that you want to buy my dog magazine I was totally mute holding my breath and unable to speak I ve had a word with my financial advisor and he thinks I should sell Dogs Today to you Would 1 be OK And he tells me I should invest in your new company too if I am allowed I was still frozen totally in shock Would you like to see my financial adviser I nodded and he pulled out a photo of his Japanese Akita Ryu ma P 100 2020 WINNER Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 UK REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Stops dogs pulling on the lead and gives you back control Life Changing products for you and your dog 8 TIMES WINNER OF Product I can t live without NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT AWARgDCoEllDar Best Do 0 21 UK 2 0 2 r re tu c fa Manu tive Dog Most Innova cturers Collar Manufa 2019 Illustration KEVIN BROCKBANK am not sure why I thought I could buy and run the magazine Everyone thought I was nuts I didn t have any money or experience of being a publisher But I wanted to save it I didn t want to let everyone down John was getting tetchy about us still coming into work each day as if nothing had happened I think his next move was to change the entry code I asked to see all the historic paperwork so I could work out how to make the magazine profitable John handed me a huge box of baffling files You re welcome to this Don t have nightmares it s not a good read Why do you want to buy something that loses this much money John wanted to bring this to a conclusion so he told his boss that I wanted to buy the magazine and no one wanted to be the one who said no so it all got passed up and up Everyone who heard what I had asked thought it hysterically funny The managers already thought I was barking I was just living up to their expectations Rosie and Sarah got stuck into producing a very strong Feb March issue We decided to do a bimonthly issue as it gave us more time for a salvage plan There was going to be a gorgeous Shiba Inu on the cover This dog had a very similar expression to another that would cross my path very shortly John gave me a message that was exciting and terrifying in equal measure Lord Rothermere wanted to talk to me in his office on the top floor of the Daily Mail So far no one had stopped us dreaming We Global Also available Collars Non Slip Leads and Gripper Training Leads offering added security and confidence throughout the winter months Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk Winners 2013 2021 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Matching accessories in a selection of colours with high quality workmanship andToday fittings June 2020 Dogs 67

Page 67

Dogs Today_April_2021

Page 1

Page 2