Dogs Today_March_2023 : simplebooklet.com

OFFICIAL SPONSOR ActivBarrier soft centre Introducing a NEW approach to Dental Care DogsToday Inside this month The ethical pet magazine for people who really care about dogs News features 16 Happy 18th birthday to Oldies Club 18 Scam scum villains target those looking for their Facebook Dogs Today lost dogs 22 Dog Advocacy Ireland fights dog greeders 32 Johnny Depp s Fantastic Beasts from Yorkshire 40 Lizzie s Barn Sanctuary needs sanctuary itself from floods Advertising sponsorship Office dogs into a rug 52 Postbag what matters to you Scienti cally proven ActivBarrier technology not only targets existing plaque and bad breath but tackles the root cause the balance of bacteria in your dog s mouth Betty Old English Golden Retriever ish Honey Cocker Spaniel Lennie Staffie cross Loki Border Collie Kelpie cross Vicky Justine Poison Ivy Newfoundlands Sophie Jack Russell Betty s Personal Trainer Kirsten Dillon IMDT A Dip CBM Training behaviour 24 Enrichment the key to a happy fulfilled dog 34 Sound puppy fountations time and teething Dogs Today Brandshare Ltd The Old Print House 62 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8AA 01276 402599 enquiries dogstodaymagazine co uk www dogstodaymagazine co uk Opinion 66 Confessions of a dogaholic in the dock Flexible spiral outer shell Publishers Investigation 6 Q A pain warning signs puppy s first walk dogs and seasonal affective disorder 42 Dog crush meet the Alaskan Malamute LIMITED Chief Operations Officer Graham Smith 01276 402598 graham wearebrandshare com Managing Director Beverley Cuddy 01276 402597 beverley dogstodaymagazine co uk Competitions shopping 50 Subscribe and win 56 Pop the kettle on and tackle our puzzles and Subscriptions competitions Clean Release Target beverleycuddy Sales Marketing Director Mike McGlynn 01276 402591 Sales Executive Print Digital Tom Jones 01276 402593 Over to you 48 Great debate would you turn your dead dog Discover our new YuMOVE range of Dental Care Sticks containing ActivBarrier developed by veterinary scientists Editorial Dogs_Today Editor Beverley Cuddy Art Director Rosie Peace Chief Sub Editor Contributing Editor Claire Horton Bussey Deputy Editor Alessandra Pacelli Illustrator Kevin Brockbank For subscription queries call Brandshare 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 Freshen 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 Scan me For more information contact us on 01462 416866 or email hello yumove com Terms and conditions apply Discount code valid for one customer use only valid until 31st March 2023 Distributed by Marketforce UK Ltd 2nd Floor 5 Churchill Pl Canary Wharf London E14 5HU Tel 020 3148 3333 www marketforce co uk Printed by The Manson Group 2023 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 Alaskan Malamute posed by a model Scan the QR enter code YOURDOG at checkout to claim 35 off your first Dental pack Want to subscribe and save Sign up to your 10 trial and save 30 on all future orders Dogs Today incorporating Perfect Pup is published by Brandshare Ltd The Old Print House 62 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8AA Tel 01276 402599 Brandshare Ltd reg office The Old Print House 62 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8AA Cover model Gorgeous Dilly a Cocker Spaniel was the winner of this year s Groomer s Spotlight Crufts Competition She is owned by Heidee Edwards Cover photo by Dawn Cotterell Photography Next issue on sale 7 April 2023 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 March 2023 Dogs Today 3

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Dear readers Beverley Cuddy L Gobble up the Goodness CRUFTS EXCLUSIVE Illustration by Beverley Cuddy ong ago I realised that everyone I d ever met would at some point phone up with a dog problem Most would want help buying or rescuing I was aware how baffling our world is and how vulnerable people felt How could we help those who don t have me on speed dial This was well before the Kennel Club had Discover Dogs before anyone had a list of health tests for each breed and in an era where glitzy puppy supermarkets were springing up and fuelling disastrous impulse purchases Our new Dial A Dog section grew so quickly We asked for volunteers that were experts in their own breed to hold the hands of prospective dog owners and gently guide them away from inappropriate choices We created a diverse community of altruistic people who wanted to keep dogs out of rescue The dream was to puncture impulsiveness and to direct towards those who put dog welfare above profit Even sensible people find their brain turns to mush as soon as they look into the eyes of a vulnerable pup Decades of education about the perils of puppy farming unravel when a good soul is faced with a sickly badly reared pup Most will pay evil crooks money to save the little innocent immediately in front of them We need to stop people getting into that impossible position How do we break the cycle of wrong dog from the wrong people How do we reduce the numbers of poorly bred dogs ricocheting from home to home and then ending up in overstretched rescue badly damaged We all hoped legislation would remove the puppy farmer s shop window But the trade continues to prosper Lucy s Law was a massive win but Covid taught these vile people how to hide in plain sight and sell direct on an even greater scale And we ve had an upsurge in pop up rescues that really are retailers of misery How do we reach the public and help keep future dogs safe We re creating the Bark Angel and we need your help again PITCH PERFECT Let s make this generation the one that calls a halt on breeding slavery and the pet theft it encourages Let s make the provenance of their next dog deeply significant Let s build a portal that makes it easy for them to find the good dog people Let s make your local positive dog trainer and qualified dog groomers stand out Let s hunt out the very best ethical rescues and breeders and inspire others to adopt the same higher standards Basically let s curate a meritocracy where being good for dogs is so much more rewarding than being bad Check out more at www the barkangel co uk You are the very first people to hear about this If you like the idea of creating an inviting safe space for future dog owners please do step forward and volunteer I would love to hear from ethical rescues and breeders Please sign up via the website if you do everything possible to ensure dogs live happy healthy loved lives in forever homes There will be very high but fair standards and at the core a pledge to provide a safety net a lifetime of help for every dog Wish me luck I m off to a meeting in Austria organised by Purina It sounds a bit like Dragons Den crossed with speed dating I ll be pitching the Bark Angel concept to investors In time I d like an angel to watch over every newborn puppy in the world Imagine that I m up for trying if you are P 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 and Honey a Cocker Spaniel Wholesome Turkey with Carrots Brown Rice Back by popular demand Burns is reintroducing Christmas Turkey as a permanent member of the wet food family FIND US AT CRUFTS HALL 5 STAND 25 Expert health nutrition team freephone 0800 083 6696 UK 1800 83 66 96 ROI Or Webchat burnspet co uk 4 Dogs Today March 2023

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Crossbreed Photo posed by a model 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 want advice from someone with personal experience of the issue EXPERT ADVICE How to navigate your puppy s first walk Lorna Winter dog trainer and co founder of Zigzag advises T aking your puppy for their first walk is an exciting milestone for both owner and pup While your puppy navigates its first steps and sniffs outside in the unknown owners should start right away with lead training their pup in a fun and engaging way before it is too late However teaching your dog lead manners isn t always a walk in the park and miscommunication between you and your dog can lead to frustration from both parties Train naked the pup not you First start with puppy lead training inside the house and teach them that being by your side is where you d like them to be You can do this by having some treats in your left hand and your pup alongside you Slowly walk forward with your puppy s nose sniffing the treats in your hand As they follow the treats with their nose reward them by dropping them on the floor from time to time We want them to associate walking beside you as good behaviour that will end with something yummy The key is to reward your puppy while you keep moving don t stop to give them treats as this will result in frequent stops on walks Get dressed Assuming you ve mastered the at home work it s time to gear your puppy up As you put the harness and collar on this will feel awkward to them at first so you will want to take time and build this up slowly while using treats to reward them This way they will learn that getting dressed is nothing to be worried about and will result in reward rather than any discomfort 6 Dogs Today March 2023 You can start lead training a puppy indoors but once you feel you are both confident and ready it s time to step outside Attaching the lead Attach the lead to the harness and practise indoors and in your garden rewarding your puppy for walking next to you try doing a few more steps between treats each time Keep your lead smiley when the lead loops down loose it will look like a smile between you and your dog As long as the lead looks smiley you re on the right track Have the lead in the opposite hand to the side you walk your puppy on That way you won t have to perform a contortionist act when handing them a treat Lead training outside Before attempting a walk to the park straight away start with taking your puppy outside for a few short and simple lead walks Outside puppies will want to sniff everything This can be quite distracting and will make it difficult for them to follow lead training Some dog owners will find cheese or liver paste in a tube useful for lead training as you don t have to bend down so far a good tip for tall people and small dogs Placing treats on the ground takes away the puppy s need to always look up and they can focus on walking forward Dogs either like to walk very slowly or quite briskly regular human speed can be difficult for them to get the pace right It s important to go at your pup s pace which may mean speeding up or slowing down your own pace to match Keep it short For the first few walks keep it short and sweet There is so much your puppy is processing from loud traffic sounds to new smells It can be a huge task to complete even a small walk So make sure you keep your walks short to start with and build your dog up for longer strolls Read the signs It s vital that in the early days of walking together you look for the signs of a distressed dog sitting still shaking lead grabbing Be mindful that your puppy may be anxious and don t force them to do anything they don t want to Instead reward them with treats when they walk well and begin to head home when you can sense tiredness frustration or agitation Spice it up It s very likely that you ll want to take your puppy on walks other than to just your local park When discovering new places there are endless distractions that can make it difficult for your puppy to focus To prepare for walking in new places you ll need A puppy who has some idea that walking next to us predicts rewards and has practised that behaviour in easy locations first Some high value treats to teach your puppy that engaging with us instead of everything else around them is worth their while Owners should also avoid any distractions and focus their attention on their pup as they will you Put your phone away except when taking cute pictures and videos March 2023 Dogs Today 7

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Can dogs suffer from seasonal affective disorder EXPERT ADVICE Dr Anna Foreman in house vet for Everypaw Pet Insurance advises T here are no studies that show that dogs can suffer from seasonal affective disorder however like humans dogs have a pineal gland in their brain that produces serotonin and thus melatonin the production of which is affected by light Subjectively owners have reported in surveys PDSA that they felt their pets became more depressed in winter months sleeping more and being less active However this is anecdotal Is this heightened during the dark winter months As above serotonin melatonin production is affected by light However it is more likely that an owner s mood or change in routine during darker winter months affects our animals than they are personally affected by seasonal affective disorder Dogs are very sensitive to their owner s moods and activities If an owner is suffering from seasonal affective disorder or feels down then this may affect a dog s emotional state Equally if an owner is less active during the winter months providing their dog with less mental stimulation and exercise then this is also likely to affect a dog s mood 8 Dogs Today March 2023 What are the signs that your dog may be struggling to cope Dogs may sleep more or be less active but these may be clinical signs of an underlying medical issue rather than an emotional problem If you are worried about your animal they should be seen by the vet rather than dismissing clinical signs as depression Reducing the impact of the winter months dogs active do not forgo daily walks due to bad weather Play games provide puzzle toys to keep an active mind as well as body many behavioural issues occur due to a lack of stimulation both mentally as well as physically in dogs Often destructive or anxious behaviour stems from a lack of mental and physical stimulation Scent or agility work is also a great mental and physical stimulant for dogs especially good for confined spaces or indoors Keep If it is not possible to exercise a dog as much during the winter months for example due to an owner or dog disability then reducing your dog s calorie intake will help prevent weight gain which itself can lead to negative consequences such as earlier onset arthritis and an increased risk under anaesthesia P SuperDog takes our 50 years of award winning nutritional expertise even further all the innovation and careful effective formulation you d expect from Vitabiotics now available for your special companion From vitality to healthy joints and bones SuperDog formulations provide optimum levels of micro nutrients to safeguard the diet of your furriest family member Amazon Ocado Paws com and Vitabiotics com From 2022 11 16_ADSPDCONP Crossbreed Photo posed by models Quick question Nielsen GB ScanTrack Total Coverage Value Unit Retail Sales 52 w e 8 10 22 To verify contact Vitabiotics Ltd 1 Apsley Way London NW2 7HF Vitabiotics Ltd will donate 35p VAT from the sale of each SuperDog product to Battersea Dogs Home Limited which donates its profits to Battersea Dogs Cats Home registered charity number 206394 Stockists may vary Joints Bones Health Vitality 60 Chewable Tablets 60 Chewable Tablets Proud supporter of Battersea caring for dogs and cats since 1860

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Cocker Spaniel Photo posed by a model We Love Pets Changed My Life Quick question Dog care franchise gave me the support and freedom to make my dream of providing welfare first pet care a reality Jayne Walker So who are We Love Pets We Love Pets are the UK s largest pet care service provider We Love Pets is familyowned by the husband and wife team of Ryan and Jo White who have always kept people and their pets at the heart of everything they do For many people getting out from behind a desk to spend more time in the fresh air working with animals working flexible hours and being their own boss is a dream come true This can t be truer for Mike and Jayne who have owned their We Love Pets business in South Oxfordshire for almost eight years Welfare always comes first Mike and Jaynes focus for the business has always been on each individual animal receiving the top level of service They strive to raise the level of professionalism and customer experience and aim to service every pet s exact needs Mike and Jayne make sure all customers trust their company not just an individual and provide consistency for pet owners and their animals Six signs your dog has put on extra winter weight this holiday season EXPERT ADVICE Vet charity PDSA advises E xcessive weight can put our beloved dogs at risk of developing health problems and shorten their life spans Obesity worsens conditions such as arthritis diabetes and breathing difficulties as well as increasing the risk of cancer and urinary tract diseases Keeping a watchful eye on your dog s waistline will help to keep them happier and healthier for longer Knowing how to spot the early signs that your dog is gaining weight and taking action quickly is the best way to help keep your canine companion at a healthy weight says PDSA vet nurse Nina Downing It can also reduce their risk of developing health conditions or making existing ones worse Much like humans weight gain in our dogs doesn t happen 10 Dogs Today March 2023 overnight so it s really important to check them regularly to make sure the extra pounds aren t starting to creep on No visible waist When you look at your dog from above you should be able to see an hourglass shape with an obvious tucked in waist When dogs gain weight this shape will start to disappear as the waist becomes wider and straighter This is one of the earlier signs of weight gain Ribs and backbone It is perfectly normal to feel your dog s ribs and backbone and it s only when you can see them easily that there may be a chance your dog is underweight Run your hands along the sides of their chest and along their back you shouldn t need to dig your fingers in to feel the bones Lack of energy Noticing a lack of interest in going for walks or playing with their toys can be an important sign of weight gain When dogs are overweight resting their paws on the sofa becomes much more appealing If they already have an underlying condition the extra weight can put added pressure on their joints and body systems making them feel sluggish However this can also be a sign of other problems so it s important to speak to your vet if your dog has a lack of energy Stair climbing Carrying extra weight can be exhausting for both humans and dogs alike and climbing the When asked about the pets they care for Mike said Jayne knows every single animal in the business by name They are both truly an inspiration and you only need to have one conversation with them to feel their passion and love for not only the business but for every single pet under their branch s care Jayne and Mike have four dogs a cat and an African grey parrot of their own Their latest addition to the family is a customer s pet from last year that they had been caring for since he was a puppy The owner was going to give the dog up to a rescue centre due to no fault of the dog but Jayne stepped in and offered to take the dog in as her own You become attached and love them all I couldn t let him go into a rescue centre said Jayne How do I find the right pet care provider Mike and Jayne are one example of over 90 We Love Pets franchisees over the UK who are all regulated licensed trained DBS checked and have a true passion for the welfare of your pets Since Covid we have seen a huge rise in the demand for pet care which has increased the amount of unlicensed and untrained daycares and walkers Sadly these unlicensed pet care providers are everywhere keep in mind it is a criminal offence to offer boarding or day care without being licensed by the local authority Choosing the right pet care company for your pet can be a very personal thing While some dog owners like to make sure their dog walkers are reliable and have a love for the pets others also want reassurance that their walkers are aware of laws and are trained in pet first aid Whatever you re looking for here are some things to consider before choosing someone to look after your extra family member s Dependent and reliable What happens if your usual pet carer is poorly Does the company have a contingency plan in place How important is time keeping to them We don t want your dog left for hours on end so it s important your walker carer is there when they say they will be Police checked All We Love Pets franchise owners and staff are police checked It s important to us that we know your home and pets are in safe hands You ll be entrusting your dog walker or sitter with a key to your home so don t think twice about asking to see the results of a DBS check Insurance Never be afraid to ask to see documentation and ask them to confirm that they re covered to transport your pet too Dog walks pack walking Ask how many dogs will be walked at the same time This is important because you want your dog to have the right amount of attention and the walker to be able to manage them all Imagine if a walker had six dogs at once How on earth would they control them all What if a testosterone fuelled fight broke out We Love Pets have a strict no pack walk policy and one walker will never walk any more than four dogs at one time Pet first aid trained Check that your walker is trained to deal with any situations where first aid may be required anything from a grass seed stuck in the paw to a choking situation All We Love Pets franchisees and their staff are pet first aid trained and also have a Vet for support at the We Love Pets head office Being part of a bigger team through franchising only improves welfare for all of the dogs being walked as well as the welfare of the staff walking them As a part of the We Love Pets team I am able to support franchisees in first aid training behaviour advice and give other veterinary advice This ensures that there is always support available when it s needed Dr Eloise Quince BVetMed CertAVP SAM F PgCertVPS MANZCVS Medicine of Cats UK MRCVS Member of the ISFM Academy of Feline Practitioners We Love Pets Vet Find out more about We Love Pets Awardwinning Pet Care welovepets care welovepetsinuk welovepets_uk

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Quick question stairs is no exception If you re used to being followed around the house but no longer hear the pitter patter of your dog going up the stairs behind you then maybe their added weight gain is causing them to avoid unnecessary physical activity Increased panting It s not just heat and running for miles that can cause your dog to pant Weight gain can make everything a struggle if you re finding that even a small amount of exercise causes your dog to pant more than normal check that their weight hasn t ballooned Appearance changes If their weight is making them less healthy this can present itself in other physical outward changes You may notice that Dog Insurance they re getting scaly skin or dandruff their coat is oilier looking and they just don t look like their normal healthy self Up to 30 discount The maximum available discount is 30 this is a combination of 20 Introductory Discount 10 Multi pet Discount and 5 Dogs Today reader Discount The Introductory Discount is available for the first year of premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly or one premium payment on annual policies If you do notice your dog has gained or lost weight unexpectedly they are struggling with exercise or using the stairs they are panting more than normal or any other signs of ill health speak to your vet P PROMO CODE WOOF99 Offer ends 31 12 2023 and is not available in conjunction with any other promo code Visit theinsuranceemporium co uk WOOF99 or call 03300 243 980 today Lifestyle Policy Limited and Entertainment Leisure Insurance Services 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 What are the warning signs that your dog is in pain EXPERT ADVICE I find so many owners are oblivious to the subtle signs dogs give us so that messages get lost in translation Dogs are 12 Dogs Today March 2023 masters at trying to disguise pain so it s about observing your dog and getting to know them over time to recognise when they are trying to tell you something in dog language Discomfort in dogs isn t always physical it can be emotional Dogs can smell our Illustration by Kevin Brockbank Anna Webb a canine nutrition and behaviour expert who hosts the award nominated A Dog s Life podcast explains

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Dobermann Photo posed by models Quick question stress and moods which can influence how they are feeling and their mood can affect any underlying health conditions Subtle signs that your dog may be in pain include Yawning This is a calming signal While the context for all dogs body language is important to consider yawning is rarely a sign that your dog is tired Very often it s your dog communicating that they are uncomfortable They might be overwhelmed by a situation it could be indicating some pain if out walking or it s an indicator of being stressed perhaps in a crowded busy environment Chewing and licking paws This could be a behaviour that s become habitual a bit like humans biting their fingernails Chewing and licking is a compulsive behaviour that can be triggered by stress or anxiety and becomes a learned reaction 14 Dogs Today March 2023 to a trigger such as being left alone It can begin by your dog having itchy feet triggered by environmental stressors such as grasses or floor cleaning products It could be a nagging aching pain from stiff or arthritic joints in their toes or their wrists The nibbling of their paw pads could be caused by small grazes that are sore and can become more sensitive as the dog continues to lick and nibble their paws obsessively Behaviour Out on a walk your dog might have a hunched top line their tail carriage might be low their head down and their ears pinned back Their eyes might be wider than normal This could indicate a tummy upset or just having a bad day But combining these signs with a reluctance to climb stairs or jump in the car could indicate physical pain and mobility issues These could be caused by arthritis a torn muscle soft tissue damage or a graze that s become infected Physical signs Trembling when it s not cold lip licking away from meal times and head turning away from you and not wanting to hold your gaze are signs that something isn t right Sudden panting when it s not hot is a sign of pain and or stress Behaviours can change when your dog isn t feeling well perhaps being uncharacteristically snappy or retreating to their dog bed to be alone They might become picky with their food and less willing to engage or play a game with you They may suddenly become more vocal and sensitive to environmental noise triggers builders traffic other dogs They may want to sleep more in the day and be less attention seeking If your dog is showing any signs of pain or stress do seek prompt veterinary attention P

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Words OLIVE ARMSTRONG 18 years young anxiety are desperately needed We have a robust process in place to ensure that good foster homes are provided to meet the particular needs of each dog but also to ensure that the dog will suit the fosterers Our support for our foster carers is amazing and we urge people to consider fostering one of our oldies If you ve ever considered fostering then please email fosterrecruit oldies org uk There is no commitment in enquiring how it works and you will be given plenty of advice and guidance from our dedicated foster support team Home checking and transporting are also essential volunteer roles We often need urgent transport runs to get an old dog to safety Sadly this year we ve had to use professional companies due to the urgency of the situation and this has been a massive cost Our Getting Involved section of the website outlines what is needed Oldies Club is an inspirational small charity but we need help to continue Whatever support you can offer will be Happy birthday to Oldies Club the charity that helps grey whiskered dogs find loving homes in their twilight years I n March 2005 a group of dog rescuers on an internet forum discussed their love for older dogs They chatted about how there should be something set up for rescuing and rehoming older dogs because they didn t do well in kennels and adoptions were rare who wanted to take on an old dog when so many youngsters were available After much discussion Oldies Club was formed The idea was that homeless and unwanted dogs over the age of seven could be rescued placed into approved foster homes and cared for until adopted with all vet treatment paid by the charity Once a dog is in a loving foster home they are assessed and then promoted for adoption on the Oldies Club website The inspiration behind the whole concept was Ted a 13 year old blind stray collie who was suffering in a kennel After his seven days were up he came into an Oldies Club foster home where he thrived and went on to be adopted He was lucky at that time many old dogs were euthanased purely because kennels were full and older dogs weren t often adopted Two years later and Oldies Club became a registered charity so officially we are 18 years old in March 2023 SAVING LIVES As well as dogs in our own care we decided we could promote older dogs in other rescues We have helped save more than 7 000 dogs so far those we ve rehomed directly as well as through other rescues by carefully crafting descriptions of them and publicising them on our website Many older dogs owe their lives to Oldies Club Dogs with nowhere to go because their owners can no longer care for them or simply because they are unwanted come into Oldies Club We offer a carefully selected foster home we pay for all the vet treatment the dog needs and give the dog the love they crave Isn t that just what all of us need and deserve Times have been often been difficult during our 18 years Dogs in their older years often need a lot of vet treatment and escalating costs mean that sometimes we 16 Dogs Today March 2023 Current dogs awaiting adoption Visit the website for the dogs full profiles and contact details MAX Max is a lovely chatty and friendly boy who loves to be with his people He s very talkative and sings his happy song when he s excited He would love to be in a quiet home with someone around most of the time preferably as the only pet and where any children are older need to close our doors even though the need for our help is great We cannot commit to more dogs if we can t meet the needs of our current dogs It s a heartbreaking situation to be in but we have to be responsible and meet the needs of the dogs already in our care Apart from our dogs in foster homes we also have sponsor dogs These dogs are often in ill health or perhaps have taken a long time to settle and we feel it wouldn t be fair to let them go to another home where they will be stressed again We continue to pay for all vet treatment and it can be very challenging to meet those financial needs We are completely reliant on our volunteers to run the charity We have a committee of volunteers and also volunteers who fundraise transport foster and homecheck These are all people passionate about helping older dogs find loving homes SAVE OLD SOULS Our sweet old souls with their greying faces need our help and we are more than happy to be part of this amazing charity Money is what we need most The cost of vet treatment continues to escalate and we are committed to providing whatever vet treatment is needed Fundraising is paramount to our ability to help more old dogs in need Pet free foster homes with experience of separation ALFIE Alfie is affectionate and playful He s fine with dogs on walks but wants a pet free home for all the love He could live with dog savvy teenagers A secure garden is essential and a comfy sofa is also on his wish list RUFUS Rufus knows he s gorgeous and he s owning it Chatty Rufus is a fabulous boy looking for an adult only home with Staffie experienced people He s good with dogs but would prefer to be your only one GOGO This sweet old lady wants to be near her humans all the time She s great with other dogs and would happily live with a friendly one Older children would be OK for her but she doesn t like cats HOOCH This Dogue de Bordeaux is an affectionate boy who enjoys tummy rubs squeaky toys and walks He would like a quiet home as an only pet where any children are older gratefully received whether it s in the form of donations volunteering or simply sharing our Facebook page and website Everyone can do something to help and there s no better charity to help than Oldies Club Who doesn t want to help save the life of an old dog The reward in knowing you have been part of saving a dog s life and allowing that dog to have a future is immeasurable Old dogs are so special and each and every one of our volunteers is immensely proud to be involved in this wonderful charity We d love more people to join us P For more details on how you can help Oldies Club please look at the following links www oldies org uk www oldies org uk fundraising events sponsor a dog www oldies org uk fostering dogs Sponsor dogs If you would love to offer a home to an oldie but your circumstances aren t suitable perhaps you would be kind enough to sponsor Zara or Minky or one of the other special oldies in the sponsor dog scheme ZARA is a 14 year old German Shepherd who came into Oldies Club care in January 2022 via another rescue associate Due to her anxiety and her feeling safe in her foster home Oldies Club decided to place Zara in our sponsor dog scheme which means she will remain at her lovely foster home where she feels comfortable on a permanent basis with the charity paying her vet bills for the rest of her life Although Zara is afraid of other dogs she is very friendly with the resident cat Daisy MINKY a 14 year old Bichon Frise Jack Russell cross arrived in Oldies Club care with her dad Chilli in October 2020 due to their owners being evicted Both dogs were very disorientated at first but they took comfort in having each other and quickly settled Sadly Chilli had a lot of health problems suffering a couple of strokes and had to be put to sleep a few weeks after he arrived Minky has epilepsy and has had surgery for mammary tumours Due to her cancer risk and unknown time left Oldies Club decided to place Minky in the sponsor dog scheme which means she will remain at her lovely foster home on a permanent basis with the charity paying her vet bills for the rest of her life March 2023 Dogs Today 17

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Words ALESSANDRA PACELLI I 18 Dogs Today March 2023 In our May 2022 issue we talked about owners of missing dogs who were targeted by harassing calls or downright scams Now DogLost is calling for anybody who received a scam call to get in touch through a dedicated email address Scam scum have a few different names and bank accounts as well as different mobile numbers to call from but we figured the police could connect them to the people responsible DogLost got in touch with the police and Action Fraud but it wasn t precisely a great start for a partnership CLOSE TO CLOSURE At first the police said that all the owners have to do to avoid such calls is not to make their phone number public That was their solution Karen recalls It was a bit surreal to be honest the entire point is that you re looking for your missing dog and of course you want to be immediately reachable by anybody who might have found or spotted them Yes scammers may pick up your number but what else can you do Anyone with a missing dog would make their contact details public I know I would At one point Action Fraud and the police actually suggested closing down the DogLost website since it was one of the places where the scammers were picking their victims It s hard to overstate how absolutely counterproductive that would have been as the biggest website to report missing stolen and found dogs DogLost is an invaluable resource for dog owners across the UK As a temporary solution DogLost decided in October to keep phone numbers out of the public profile of missing dogs We took this decision last year seeing how many people were paying out as well as out of concern we may be forced to close Karen says Owners phone numbers are no longer publicly visible on the missing dogs pages Now if anyone has information they can leave a message and a volunteer will then share the information with the owners Some owners still share their number on different fields on the page When that happens we get in touch to alert them to the possibility of scams we also have scam alert messages visible as the owners enter their details to let them know of this risk and they are also sent an email warning as soon as they re registered Of course nothing stops the owners from sharing their contact details elsewhere on social media such as missing dog Facebook pages for example It s what anyone would do while looking for their dog The advice for anybody receiving a call from someone claiming to have their dogs and threatening to hurt them is to not pay them and to ask for proof Ask for a photo with something showing today s date Karen says If they have the dog surely they Photo posed by a model t didn t take long for the volunteers running DogLost the UK s largest service for owners of missing or stolen dogs to realise something was wrong as more and more reports came Someone called and said they have my dog many said He told me he d kill my dog if I don t pay Scammers calling the owners of lost dogs to cash in on their desperation is sadly nothing new The very nature of searching for your dog entails making your phone number public in order to receive any information as quickly as possible and there is no shortage of dog owners willing to pay to have their best friend safely back home People have parted with large sums of money in the hope of seeing their pet again and nearly always the person who called never had the dog in the first place they take the money and disappear leaving their victim with an empty wallet as well as a broken heart This time however something was different Karen Harding a DogLost volunteer told Dogs Today that it was the amount of reports as well as the timing of the blackmailing calls that made them realise many calls were by the same few individuals People would get a call within hours or even minutes of their missing dog s profile going live on DogLost other websites or being posted on social media she recalls We know this because on some occasions if the owner is for example elderly and does not have a mobile phone us volunteers use our own numbers so we could see that almost as soon as a dog was profiled as missing on the page there would be a call I had my own number on the profile of some dogs and this man rang me within minutes It was easy to imagine him at his computer scrolling down the pages I pretended to be the owner said I would pay and took him all the way through his act Yes I said I ll pay give me all the details He gave me bank details they The advice for anybody receiving a call from someone claiming to have their dogs and threatening to hurt them is to not pay them and to ask for a photo as proof In the overwhelming majority of cases they do not have the dog and will be unable to send any photos can send a photo as proof In the overwhelming majority of cases they do not have the dog and will be unable to send any photos One time someone was sent a photo it was simply a picture taken from the dog s very DogLost page not very convincing MAP TRICK In some cases scammers may sound believable because they can name a specific road where they supposedly found your dog a short distance away from the spot where the dog went missing But that is a trick as people will share the postcode of the last location their dog was before going missing they simply use Google Maps to look it up and pick a street nearby as the place where they will claim to have picked up the missing dog Do not part with any money without proof if you feel you re up for it however do let them talk through their act and write down any bank details you re given for the payment as well as the phone number that called you as it may help the police investigation Despite the rocky start there is now an active police investigation on the matter Both Crimestoppers and Action Fraud are involved as well as the Cumbrian Police Force because now we know that is where this particular group of scammers is based Karen says Cumbria Police are investigating and comparing with previous intelligence held on people who have been arrested for this crime before As a matter of fact there already was a big casefile but it then needed to be allocated to a new investigating officer which didn t happen for many months There is a now a new officer looking into this and he has been put in touch with Action Fraud It is not uncommon Karen adds for people who report a similar scam to their local police to feel that they re not being taken seriously tracking missing dogs rarely ranks high among the priorities of any police force CENTRAL CONTACT Karen says The main problem is that local police forces don t have a clear picture of how serious the problem is on a national level All they get are a few reports every once in a while in their area At DogLost we see the size of the problem across the UK this is organised crime bringing in hundreds of thousands of pounds The main issue is we never had a central place for people to go and share their experience until now If your dog is missing and you re targeted by this kind of scam you should report to your local police by calling 101 then email us at stolen doglost co uk with as much info March 2023 Dogs Today 19

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as possible Both reporting to the police and the email are vital We collate details and send them to the Cumbria Police officer investigating These criminals are taking advantage of desperate people Karen adds We know one of the people responsible for this spate of scams bragged about the amount of money he made out of it and we know they are not the only ones operating this kind of scam We hope that by collating all the info we can show the full scale of the problem and make sure it is taken seriously going forward Jayne Hayes founder DogLost said The last few months have been a challenge for our volunteers and co ordinators having taken Lexi s Angels W hen Shih Tzu Lexi went missing in Wigan on 19 December 2022 Nathan immediately did everything he could to find her Lexi is the family dog and we all love her he says She belongs to my parents and she was staying with me while they were on vacation Maybe she was scared by the unfamiliar environment as she had never been in my house before either way she got away and I was trying to find her Nathan listed Lexi 20 Dogs Today March 2023 the phone numbers of owners off our website but we have managed to figure out ways to get all the relevant information out quickly Luckily the public wardens and rescue contacts have mainly understood and worked with us Thank you to all of the authorities and supporters knowing you were all there while we were being threatened with closure was heartwarming we will continue to run a free nationwide lost and found service for many years to come It is so disheartening to hear how much money these scammers are making for terrorising our owners whilst we struggle to raise enough money to still offer this free service and build our new website P as missing everywhere he could including DogLost and Facebook groups Within hours of Lexi going missing he received a chilling call A man told me that he had Lexi and that he wanted me to give him 500 or else he d shoot her he recalls It was a horrible feeling and I am just glad that out of all the phone numbers listed as a contact he chose mine I m glad it wasn t my mum or my sister to get that call and hear those threats We were on the phone for some 40 minutes I took the man s bank details and then said I wanted a photo of Lexi before I sent him the 500 he wanted At that point he told me that the photo would cost me 50 and ended the call Nathan paid 50 to the bank account but no photo of Lexi was sent He called again later one evening while drunk asking for more money Nathan recalls But at that point I was sure he didn t have Lexi and hung up This is now a police matter but I have since tracked down the man who called me I know where he is and I know his wife was part of a DogLost Facebook group She may very well have given him the information about Lexi she has since been banned from the group I ll see what comes out of the investigation I guess SCENT HOME Despite the scam attempt Lexi s story has a happy ending A group of people with sniffer dogs reached out to Nathan offering to help The dogs were able to track Lexi s scent to a different area from the one where she had gone missing While she was not immediately found this shifted the area of focus for the search and it was there that Lexi was finally found right on Christmas morning She is well and back home with my parents Nathan says Fiona Jennie and Mia were wonderful as were their sniffer dogs Diesel and Skye Their canine search dog group on Facebook is now called Lexi s Angels And they really were angels for us

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GH Dogs ad DT 2023 output pdf 1 17 01 2023 15 22 Words ALESSANDRA PACELLI Maisie A voice for dogs in Ireland C my Lotty Y CM MY A new not for profit organisation has launched with the aim to tackle breed for greed operations in the puppy farming capital of Europe I t s no mystery that Ireland has long been struggling to enforce animal welfare standards across its many licensed and unlicensed puppy farms Thousands upon thousands of pups are bred every year in dreadful conditions to be sold for profit under aged under socialised and often sickly while their parents languish in dark cages to be bred to exhaustion A new not for profit organisation Dog Advocacy Ireland DAI is looking to change this situation by bringing animal welfare and responsible ownership centre stage and rid Ireland of the unenviable title of puppy farming capital of Europe Responsibility for dog welfare sits across three government departments resulting in inefficiency and negligence to animal welfare policy a DAI statement reads DAI will influence the glaring need for political and cultural mindset change bringing animal welfare centre stage to influence shape and change ending decades of abhorrent disregard and abdication of statutory responsibility in line with the Control of Dogs Act and the Animal Welfare Act The aim is to introduce an AllParty Parliamentary Dog Advocacy Group within the Oireachtas national parliament informing advising discussing and guiding legislative policy helping government be accountable for animal welfare issues currently diluted across parties and departments 22 Dogs Today March 2023 DAI s proposed changes include the pet ownership s inclusion in the next census as well as the introduction of a dedicated animal welfare unit within every garda district The organisation also aims to challenge bans on pet ownership in rental accommodation recommending the introduction of a Certificate of Responsible Pet Ownership together with pet insurance certification DAI founder and trustee John O Callaghan said I m ashamed that the Republic of Ireland is coined the puppy farming capital of Europe Apart from flying in the face of legislation these dog breeding establishments yield over 200 million euros in dark tax money annually which is arguably misappropriated PUPPY TRAFFICKING He added Too many people are allowed to breed for greed and this is not being addressed at a political level Relevant dog welfare protection authorities are in abdication of their statutory responsibilities under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 dogs are suffering horrific abuse along with illegal puppy trafficking as a direct consequence of government indifference The UK is greatly impacted by Ireland s undeterred puppy farm trafficking It is a fact that a great part of the puppies bred in Ireland are illegally exported to Britain and many slip through the cracks but not all In August last year a man was arrested and 60 dogs including 57 puppies were seized in Belfast Northern Ireland The pups were believed to have been smuggled from the Republic of Ireland to be moved on to England and Scotland Commenting on the operation Detective Inspector Conor Sweeney said at the time The puppies which are of assorted breeds including Golden Retriever Cockapoo Miniature Terrier French Bulldog American Bulldog Cocker Spaniel Dachshund and Roan Spaniel are being kept and cared for and are being examined by a vet We suspect many of the dogs had been illegally imported into Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland for onward sale within England and Scotland Police are absolutely committed to tackling the smuggling of illegal commodities through Northern Ireland s ports Most recent seizures by the Organised Crime Unit have been in relation to illegal drugs However as this operation has shown drugs are not the only items being traded illegally Smuggling is often conducted by sophisticated cross border organised criminal groups Such groups will not discriminate when it comes to the commodity being smuggled should that be drugs cigarettes people or in this case animals P For more information about DAI go to https dogadvocacyireland ie CY CMY K Nellie M Dog Pawtraits Why not treat yourself to a unique special portrait of your favourite pooch or as a gift for a friend Cost depends on size and complexity A4 size painted or pencil from just 195 p p For more details just get in touch I m friendly PET portraits by Graham Henderson GAvA Graham Henderson GAvA Aviation grahamhe hotmail co uk tel 07747 529880 www grahamhendersongava co uk

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Words TAMMY GREGOR The secret to a rich life TAMMY GREGOR While originally from the United States Tammy Gregor now lives in South Africa with her husband and their two dogs After 13 years in the restaurant industry Tammy decided to follow her dream of working with dogs After extensive research she decided to study through Coape International www coape org and after many years has completed not only the the Coape EMRA Diploma but also their Advanced Diploma and most recently the MHERA Course to become a licensed MHERA Practitioner and ICAN Member Tammy s biggest passion is working with dogs in shelters and she now volunteers her services as a behaviourist for the Randburg SPCA in South Africa Here she focuses on dogs that have been surrendered due to behavioural and reactivity challenges working with them closely to help resolve emotional problems and assist in the placement of these dogs in suitable home environments Due to the stress many dogs experience in shelters she has helped develop and implement enrichment activities for the SPCA to lower the stress levels and promote emotional health so needless to say Tammy is a big advocate for enrichment to be a part of all dogs daily lives 24 Dogs Today March 2023 Enrich your dog s life not with diamond collars and four poster beds but with some cardboard boxes newspaper and charity shop teddies I recently had a client whose dog was presenting with unwanted behaviours such as lunging at people chewing and general excitability During our consultation I asked what enrichment her dog was given and she replied Well she has her ball I realised that my client didn t know what enrichment was how to provide it and why it was so important in modern day life She isn t alone Although enrichment is a buzzword now and is increasingly being discussed in the training behavioural world many dog owners don t have a true understanding of what it is The origins of enrichment can be traced back to a laboratory in Connecticut America in the 1920s but it garnered attention through its use in zoos where it would provide

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Illustration by Kevin Brockbank Part of dogs evolving as domesticated animals was by scavenging around our waste dumps for food where they would use their noses to scent and find their next meal This searching for food resulted not only in a dopamine release in their brain but also in a nice meal a double whammy of feeling good Now their food is presented in a bowl with no scenting or seeking opportunities and is consumed by most dogs very quickly Their need for food has been met but not in a way that allows them to practise those innate genetic behaviours that feel so good when performed captive animals with opportunities to engage in behaviours they would naturally do in the wild helping to improve their overall emotional and physical welfare SMALLER WORLD So how does this carry over to our dogs Well essentially they are captives in our homes in the sense that they are not able to do what they want when they want and how they want Their environment is controlled by their humans Of course we love them and they us but dogs had a lot more freedom 30 years ago they could roam the neighbourhood meet up with friends go on scavenger hunts and 26 Dogs Today March 2023 be back for dinner time much like their kid counterparts Today things have changed dramatically Our dogs world has become considerably smaller and they have less agency level of control over their environment and being able to make decisions for themselves that will result in desirable outcomes As owners we control most aspects of our dog s life when and what they eat where they sleep walk and what toys are provided for them This often restricts their opportunities to engage in intrinsic behaviours appropriately When they do engage in these behaviours owners might find them inappropriate A good example of this is giving your dog their meal every day in a food bowl which they consume in 20 seconds This is convenient for humans but not so much for dogs Why Part of dogs evolving as domesticated animals was by scavenging around our waste dumps for food where they would use their noses to scent and find their next meal This searching for food resulted not only in a dopamine release in their brain but also in a nice meal a double whammy of feeling good Now their food is presented in a bowl with no scenting or seeking opportunities and is consumed by most dogs very quickly Their need for food has been met but not in a way that allows them to practise those innate genetic behaviours that feel so good when performed FEED YOUR DOG AS NATURE INTENDED REWARDING INTERACTION When this intrinsic drive is not supported the dog may end up feeling frustrated and then will find a way to relieve the frustration such as counter surfing digging in dustbins or scavenging on walks or around the house The owner is now the one frustrated as they have fed the dog and know they can t be hungry so why are they being a bad dog and stealing food The answer is they are not The dog is finding a way to meet an emotional need and if the owner does not understand the motivation for this behaviour the dog is then punished By not providing our dogs with opportunities to express these behaviours in mutually beneficial ways challenges can easily arise This is where enrichment becomes an owner and dog s best friend Enrichment can be defined as allowing for and providing opportunities for your pet to engage in species typical behaviours in safe and appropriate ways which meet their emotional behavioural and physical needs Enrichment is not just giving your dog a food puzzle or a chew toy Enrichment should be designed to meet a broad spectrum of your dog s needs in a way that the dog chooses to engage with the item or activity After all if the dog doesn t interact with the item then it s not enrichment find us CotswoldRAW or CotswoldRAW COTSWOLDRAW COM Healthy Skin and Coat Care Complete range to support your pet 3 steps to total skin ear and coat health Omnicutis for healthy skin and glossy coats Omniotic for total ear health Omnimatrix for day to day skin healing support Use discount code DT10 for 10 off your order www vitaanimalhealth com info vitaanimalhealth com 44 0 1256 591032 Offer valid until 1st June 2023 190x133 VITA Ad SkinJ an 23 indd 1 12 01 2023 09 32

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A walk can provide sensory and physical enrichment by allowing the dog the opportunity to sniff novel scents engage with different textures such as beach gravel and grass as well as burning physical energy However some dogs aren t big walkers or even good walkers One can then provide alternative stimulation in the home environment by bringing novel scents inside such as a pinecone feathers sticks and grasses a friend s cat s blanket or even by scattering these items around the house or garden for his own private sniffari Got a dog with arthritis or who doesn t like other dogs or walking Not a problem Pop him in the car with the windows down safely with window guards or a car harness so he can t jump out and go for a Interactive food toys can provide cognitive sensory and feeding enrichment And of course enrichment needn t be expensive 28 Dogs Today March 2023 drive changing the areas you visit to provide different opportunities for scents and sights Training such as trick training is fantastic cognitive enrichment for your dog and you and it challenges them to use their minds to complete a task Interactive food toys can provide cognitive sensory and feeding enrichment And of course enrichment needn t be expensive There are so many brilliant DIY enrichment ideas on social media and Pinterest for every budget Coape International s Karin Pienaar has taken the baton from longtime contributor Peter Neville to present training and behaviour features on all aspects of living with dogs BREED SPECIFIC Going back to the evolution of domestic dogs via scavenging around human food dumps one of the best forms of enrichment is scatter feeding Take the bowl away and scatter your dog s food across the lawn or floor and let them use their noses to seek and find their food If you have more than one dog separate them when doing this for safety reasons Just like that mealtime has just become a lot more interesting and is tapping into that inherent need to seek and consume food in an appropriate manner There is a caveat that enrichment while very important in improving your dog s emotional and physical well being is not a guarantee to prevent or resolve behaviour challenges on its own It is an integral part of their daily lives to help offset potential displays of behaviour in an unwanted way I am often told But I gave my dog a Kong and he had no interest in it This statement highlights the importance of determining what type of enrichment your dog needs and what is the best way to deliver that enrichment In defining enrichment we said that it allows for species typical behaviours to be expressed As with humans dogs as a species have common behaviours that they perform such as chewing or digging and some dogs do more of one and less of the other One can look further and consider the breed type of the dog and what desired behaviours were focused on in their breeding A Border Collie is a herder a terrier is a digger However the best way to determine the appropriate enrichment is to look at the dog right KARIN PIENAAR Coape International Partner DipCABT Coape OCN CertCAB CAPBT Practitioner ICAN Member CAB Karin has worked in animal behaviour therapy since 1997 After more than 20 years of consulting with dog and cat owners Karin now focuses mainly on managing Coape International www coape org presenting the Coape Diploma and mentoring students Karin is also responsible for course advancement and developed the industrychanging MHERA concept Her book MHERA Mood Matters will be available in both paperback and e book format from DogWise Publishers soon and is a must read for anyone working in the industry Karin is the behaviour consultant to numerous pet companies such as Eukanuba and Ascendis Animal Health and is a regular contributor to several local and international magazines as well as appearing on television and radio when time allows She is often a guest speaker at behaviour related events and conferences When she has time to spare she consults on particularly challenging cases and as an expert witness in legal cases involving animal behaviour

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in front of you What behaviours does he show that both you and he enjoy and what behaviours does he show that he enjoys but you not so much Those are the behaviours that you can use enrichment to target and change into appropriate behaviour expressions An example would be a Cairn Terrier Considering the terrier genetics they were bred to hunt and kill vermin such as rats and badgers that were bothering humans With their agile bodies and tenacious temperaments they were excellent at their job Now as a pet you have a Cairn Terrier that is at home on his own for large parts of the day with just a tennis ball That tennis ball lying on the ground is not going to tap into those genetics the way dissecting your sofa pillows into fluff balls and chasing and sometimes catching a garden bird will Those activities are exactly what your terrier is going to love doing and you most certainly won t For enrichment activities to be successful they should ideally provide opportunities for the dog Want him to calm down instead of running mad A LickiMat will do the trick to perform those same activities albeit on an appropriate target for example a cardboard box stuffed with newspaper and treats to entice him to seek and shred or a loaded snuffle mat Want him to calm down instead of running mad A LickiMat will do the trick Use Fido s favourite treats to charge the enrichment items and now you are providing an enrichment activity for a speciestypical behaviour in a way that is best suited to your dog and to you Instead of chasing the birds play with your dog with a flirt pole that has a soft toy on the end allowing him to chase it catch it and then rip it to shreds Clients often ask if this is just teaching the dog to rip up the pillows but the truth is that your terrier type dog is going to rip things up no matter what and you are never going to be able to alter a dog s natural proclivity The key is to identify it and use it to your advantage by targeting it with appropriate enrichment to satisfy that need in a way that is suitable for everyone in the family human and dog alike There are so many places where you can find lots of either storebought or homemade enrichment ideas which will allow you to experiment and find what your dog loves to do Have fun with it and you will find that enrichment is rewarding for both you and your dog P Calmness starts in the gut trillions of bacteria manufacture happy chemicals which continually send signals to the brain Some bacteria are better at producing happy chemicals whilst others make chemicals linked to anxiety stress inflammation and aggression The scientists at Petbiome use a genomic sequencing test to identify the gut bacteria associated with imbalances plus highlight any dietary changes needed to increase happy chemical production The test also links biome imbalances to many common diseases including allergies arthritis and colitis Learn more www petbiome org 30 Dogs Today March 2023

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Words BERNARD BALE Actor Johnny Depp loves all dogs but Yorkshire Terriers have a special place in his heart I have always got on well with dogs I think we share many of the same views of life said Johnny I have had dogs as pets but they were not really pets we have always been closer than that 32 Dogs Today March 2023 more like good pals I like the way they understand you It doesn t matter if you are a little kid or a mature grown up Dogs don t just get under your skin they get into your head and know exactly how to control you Photo Instagram johnnydepp Fantastic Beasts As an example you might be watching TV and enjoying a small glass of something relaxing The dog wants your attention so what does it do It stares at you very patiently It is willing you to notice that it is staring and after a while you do You can t help yourself You scratch its ear as if that is what it is asking And he or she keeps staring at you and this can go on for hours Eventually if all else fails your dog will go to plan Z and start coughing That totally gets your attention because you don t know what s wrong and you value your carpet You have to move you have to pick him up unless he is a massive Rottweiler or something like that Whatever he now has your undivided attention and all is well in his world CANINE CO STAR That s Johnny Depp s understanding of dog relations and he genuinely has nothing but admiration for them especially since there have been many canine co stars in his film career I don t have any problem in working with dogs he revealed Most of them are real professionals and you know they are going to steal the scene There is nothing you can do about it so just enjoy the privilege of working with the dog I recall working on Edward Scissorhands which took an age to prepare for in terms of getting the make up put on If you have seen the movie or images you will know exactly what I mean There was a scene in which Edward tried There was a scene in Edward Scissorhands in which Edward tried his hand at dog grooming That was not easy to shoot but it worked well Of course the star of the scene was the dog his hand at dog grooming That was not easy to shoot but it worked well Of course the star of the scene was the dog Those watching the scene were wondering if the dog was going to get damaged or how the dog would look at the end of its grooming Like I said the dog stole the show Johnny also had another wonderful experience when playing Edward Scissorhands Vincent Price was in the movie too and I d always been a huge fan looking forward to meeting him and we were friends instantly We spent a lot of time talking together off the set and I learned so much thrilled that we became good friends That is one of the joys of acting you never know what surprise you are going to get next Playing Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was unexpected especially since when I was a boy I was allergic to chocolate I never set out to be an actor I really wanted to be a rock star I still play guitar and I started doing quite well but it was not happening quickly enough so I became an actor instead I am still into music and big pals with the Oasis guys There was a time though when I wanted to be a stunt performer like Evil Knievel but then again I also wanted to be a basketball star and join the Harlem Globetrotters Yes I know I am white but that made it all the more of an ambition During his career Johnny has played many different characters and often shared the screen with dogs They are great to work with he said Most have their owners and trainers with them but I always like to get to know them and enjoy spending time with them when we are not actually filming Even if it is just a very brief scene I think it is important to have a working relationship with the rest of the cast human or otherwise ACTING PROS Dogs are just great characters they know exactly what is required They are very professional too they don t start demanding that the cameras are capturing their best side or that rather than do something this way as scripted they would rather do it that way as it suits them better Dogs just listen get the idea of what is wanted and then do it often in one take If for instance a dog has to jump and run across the furniture jump down and disappear through the door he or she will do it and then patiently sit and wait off camera until they are told they can move again Like I said they are real professionals Johnny also rates them very highly as companions EASY MEAT One thing is for sure they rarely if ever let you down he said If you are feeling a bit low they will bring you a ball to play with or just push their nose into your arm and give you that very special dog look that says Everything is OK we ll come through this Cats look at you with a kind of judgement in their eyes Dogs are more likely to just want to make you feel good They look at you and kind of say What s the problem Forget it You know that you really are the best Johnny Depp s dogs have included Yorkshire Terriers and others much larger I like big dogs but they are not always practical I wasn t sure I would like having small dogs but Yorkshire Terriers have found a way into my heart and I think they are just remarkable They are intelligent fun noisy energetic in their own way and certainly very very British You cannot argue with them they always win Yorkshire Terriers play on the fact that they are very courageous and big hearted but they will also play on the fact that there are small and cuddly Whatever works I m easy meat for them just one look and I am heading for the food cupboard P March 2023 Dogs Today 33

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Illustration by Kevin Brockbank Sound foundations T his month we continue with helpful information on raising a puppy It s important to get the foundations right so that your pup grows up into a well rounded adult who you can take to pubs cafes your Auntie Nellie s house wherever you like without fear of drama or disgrace These articles will teach you how to entertain your puppy and avoid ripped clothes and the dreaded needle teeth in your hands Dog Training and Behaviour Solutions is now available as an audiobook available from Kobo and Audiobooks at 9 99 and coming soon to Amazon and Google Play The print and e books are available on Amazon Words EMMA JUDSON Puppies and time No you really can t leave your puppy alone not even for a Friday night big shop Photos posed by models F or some reason many people expect that a puppy can be left alone for an hour two hours sometimes significantly longer than that after the first day or so Some people are more realistic They think that it s going to be OK after the first week or two The horrible harsh reality is this at eight weeks old a puppy requires your attention about as much as an eight week old human baby would It may be legal to leave your eight week old puppy for two hours while you 34 Dogs Today March 2023 do your Friday big shop but it is as dangerous and as damaging to him as it would be to the human baby of the same age Your puppy needs his primary caregiver s supervision constantly and since you took him away from Mum that s you 60 MINUTES If you want to raise a dog who is well behaved has a normal temperament is not predisposed to behavioural issues such as separation anxiety ingrained toilet training issues or general anxiety then this is as important as teaching him to sit or lie down or feeding him the right food every day What might happen if you leave a pup for just an hour and he can t handle it He might experience severe distress fear that his world has just ended and believe that he will never be safe and secure again the sort of fear that makes him urinate and defecate uncontrollably That s what is happening when you leave a pup and they are screaming for you to come back messing in the house or their bed or your kitchen floor shredding the doorways or lifting the carpet That s upsetting for you it s expensive as well and will probably get you in trouble with your neighbours or even the environmental health department if the noise is too much BRAIN DAMAGE But what about your puppy What s that doing to his developing brain People will commonly tell you that he ll get over it or he will quiet down eventually or he needs to get used to it He won t He might collapse and sleep through sheer exhaustion or shut down mentally And while yes puppies do need to get used to being left the way to do it is not to just leave them without any warning or preparation The grim reality is that this severe distress is likely to negatively affect a pup s brain development predisposing him to being anxious fearful and sensitive to noises and movement It is likely to negatively affect his ability to communicate well with other dogs his ability to tolerate normal day to day stress and his ability to learn All of which means he is less well equipped and less likely to be that steady companion dog you wanted And if you wanted a bundle of nerves and fear with behaviour problems go ask any rescue for one they will all be able to help you out there What else can happen Well your pup could injure themselves badly I know of one pup who broke his leg so severely at nine weeks when left alone for just 20 minutes that he had to have it amputated before he was 14 weeks old He is also terrified of being left alone now quite understandably I have heard of pups getting stuck caught by collars or just by their jaws and suffocating and pups who have fallen off or pulled furniture over and been severely injured or crushed to death But I want a puppy and I work Well just because you want doesn t mean you should have does it I know that s hard to hear it s not what anyone wants to hear but we are all adults We should know that sometimes what we want is not what we can have Sometimes someone else s needs and welfare will come before our own That said there are ways around it if you are willing to make compromises Hire a dog sitter Find a quality dog daycare Consider taking on an older dog who is OK with being left Change your employment for a job where you work from home Go self employed in a job where your dog can come too Change shift patterns so there is always someone home Take a long six month sabbatical so you can help your puppy settle in Regardless of which option you decide to take factor in at least two weeks to get a pup settled March 2023 Dogs Today 35

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in and ideally a month This may well mean two adults taking all their annual leave as two fortnights one after the other Note this does not mean two weeks before you can leave the puppy for hours on end It means two weeks where you will do nothing but deal with the puppy But but but my friend neighbour relative had a puppy and they left theirs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 hours a day from day one and it was fine Really Was it really fine Do they live somewhere remote or with thick walls so that the neighbours cannot hear the puppy Did they put the puppy outdoors in a kennel to stop it wrecking the house Is that dog a superb well balanced easy going dog that is well trained and can go anywhere and do anything If it is that is lucky and rare I can show you many thousands of dogs handed into rescues at eight or nine months old because their owners tried this and were sick of the stress the mess and the complaints Of course the dog is now adolescent doesn t listen and is so stroppy that they have had enough In most cases if their owners had simply taken the time needed or waited until they had the time before getting a puppy at all then the pups would not have landed in rescue For every dog that it worked for I ll show you a hundred it didn t work for at all That s the truth as unpleasant as it is But my puppy is fine when left Again is he really And how is his housetraining And does he chew on stuff Does he like being crated or shut in the kitchen How s he doing at puppy class or training classes Is he at the same stage as other dogs his age Because all that time a puppy spends without you is time spent not only not learning how to be a nice easy to live with adult dog but also learning all the things you don t want him to do If you aren t supervising housetraining takes longer Basic training takes longer Forming a strong bond of trust takes longer When you are not supervising your puppy is learning to poo and pee where he likes to chew what he wants to bark at sounds he hears to rip up your carpet and sofa cushions shred his bedding inside his crate or chew the crate bars And that is of course even if he is genuinely fine Many dogs are not fine at all they just don t display obvious symptoms like barking crying or destroying things In conclusion I am certain that people reading this will be feeling upset and think that what I am saying is unfair The reality is that this is written so that people do not make mistakes that lead to dogs suffering and end up being sold on or in rescue You presumably want a dog because you love dogs You want to enjoy dog ownership and have a happy friendly dog who has a lovely life Getting a puppy when you do not have the time is not the way forward no matter how badly you want it There are no easy magic fixes to create more time or prevent the problems that will be caused by leaving a puppy unsupervised for prolonged periods We really wish there were P Yes your dog can drink Toplife Milk Com Made from highly digestible goats milk Used by breeders as a healthy daily treat to complement a dog s diet Added vitamins minerals for a nutritionally beneficial treat Helps keep your pet hydrated Easy re closable screw cap cartons www toplifeformula com The Toplife range is free from any artificial ingredients colours flavours or preservatives Available from and all good pet stores Toplife Dogs Today Crufts edition indd 1 Words SALLY BRADBURY e visit us in hall 2 stand 65 16 02 2023 8 43 am Puppy biting and play Puppies bite and it hurts Help them to play and explore the world while keeping your clothes and skin in tact B iting is a normal puppy behaviour Puppies investigate the world through their mouths If it s within reach it will probably be picked up and chewed If it is exciting and moves fast it will definitely get bitten Dogs play by using their mouths because they don t have hands Puppies need to bite and they need to play What he is doing is simply trying to elicit play Play is by far the best way to bond with your pup and is a great way to reward him while learning so you don t really want to tell your puppy you don t want to play with him Don t get cross Don t make noises that may startle or excite him Need care taken of a property under probate including any pets pending sale and administration We offer an excellent reasonable flat monthly rate to provide you with one of our professional handpicked insured sitters with excellent references who will take care of everything for you www houseandhomesitters co uk info houseandhomesitters co uk 36 Dogs Today March 2023 House Home_QP indd 1 22 02 2023 22 28

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Puppy games to play TUG more Don t ignore him or use timeouts as this is time wasted that could be used to teach him how to play appropriately Don t just give him a toy to play with If he s biting you it s because he wants to play with you not with a toy on his own Use tug toys that he can bite old knotted towels or a favourite toy with string attached Unwanted dressing gown cords are ideal You need to encourage him to bite one end of the toy while you hold the other end You can then have a great game together without getting bitten TOY STORIES Ensure your tug toys are long enough and soft enough for your puppy to happily bite Your toy should touch the floor while you are holding the other end This allows you to animate the toy and keep the game low to the ground so as not to encourage your pup to jump up It also puts distance between teeth and hands Keep these interactive toys out of your pup s reach while they are not being played with It will keep them more novel which means the pup is more likely to want to bite and play with them when given the opportunity Plant toys around the house and garden out of puppy s reach so you have them easily accessible As much as possible take the game outdoors Rotate chew items that you 38 Dogs Today March 2023 leave on the floor to also keep them interesting Do not play with your puppy unless you have a toy for him to grab Don t let anyone roughhouse with him or roll about on the floor with him Invest in a puppy pen for young pups so they can be safely confined for short periods especially if you have children This also provides a barrier that you can play through with a long tug toy before puppy has learned to bite toys not body parts Start by animating the toy on the floor and saying get it every time your pup grabs the toy You hold on to the toy and let him grab it and shake it Let go of the toy sometimes so that puppy is encouraged to come back to you to start the game again At some point you can also teach a word for letting go To do this you simply stop the game by putting a finger in pup s collar and keeping hold of the toy Release the pressure on the toy so that it becomes boring As soon as pup lets go say thank you and immediately invite him to grab it again with a get it He will quickly learn to let go when you stop playing for the game to start again Eventually the word thank you or your word of choice will become his cue to let go Once your pup is getting the idea of the game then you can start to add in a sit and an are you ready before the get it Before you know it you have a dog sitting and waiting patiently for the game to start P Play gentle games of tug with your puppy Use a long soft toy rope or fleece is ideal Animate the toy on the floor and encourage the puppy to grab it You just need to hold it and be part of the fun There is no need to pull or shake the toy let puppy do that Playing tug has many advantages not least in giving him an outlet for his play biting By putting it on cue you can teach a puppy what to bite and when to bite which is much better than trying to insist on no biting at all during play After all that s how puppies play They have no hands FETCH Gently roll a soft ball or toy across the ground and encourage the puppy to chase pick it up and bring it back There are 101 uses for a dog that retrieves Perhaps the biggest advantage is that you can completely avoid triggering the guarding behaviour that is often associated with having to take an item from him that he has picked up but shouldn t have Using praise and encouragement just as you would with his toy will see him willingly bringing the forbidden item to you FIND IT Let puppy watch you hide a toy and then encourage him to find it Progress on to hiding it unseen and let puppy do what comes naturally and use his nose to search Every family needs a dog that can find misplaced keys Six of the best Dog care products Percuro Percuro was born out of love for pets and the planet Packed in 100 recyclable packaging Percuro pet food and Snappies treats have been developed to create holistic healthy dog food with a low carbon pawprint Formulated using innovative and sustainable insect protein Percuro is a naturally hypoallergenic pet food packed with carefully selected plant based ingredients Common allergens including chicken beef wheat and corn are excluded to produce a low inflammatory dog food range making it ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies Percuro live better longer https percuro earth collections shop Horse Groom We believe every bath time should be a soothing and restorative treat for your dog using our finest quality Epsom salt Epsom salt benefits Calms nervousness and anxiety Conditions all coats Relieves arthritis aches and pains Soothes atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions Accredited by the Pet Industry Federation our Epsom salt is free from all artificial colours and additives completely pure just as Mother Nature intended Simply dissolve our salts in warm water and use as a therapeutic soak spray exfoliator or rinse to keep your dog looking and feeling their best www horseandgroomepsomsalt co uk European Pet Pharmacy European Pet Pharmacy is Europe s leading brand in joint and health supplements for dogs and cats providing a highly effective range of products for their pets Developed in Sweden by dog sport enthusiasts and breeders our supplements are tailored to provide pets with the most optimal quality and quantity of ingredients Our variety of products focus on mobility and joint health skin and coat condition energy and recovery and general health supporting pets from puppyhood up to their senior years For 10 discount use code SPRING2023 Valid until 30 April 2023 www europeanpetpharmacy co uk Dicky Bag The dog walking revolution is here No more swinging stinky bags just pleasant unburdened walks days out and holidays British made with quality materials and built to last Established in 2008 the Dicky Bag is the number one answer to your dog s number twos Airtight lightweight and machinewashable it attaches to any style of lead running belt bag stroller bike or person Use one and you ll never look back No smells in cars no sideways glances no inconvenience A Dicky Bag is a bag of honour people can trust you always pick up and deal with it appropriately www dickybag com Dog first aid training Would you know what to do if your dog was choking had a seizure or needed life saving CPR Developed by vets our CPD accredited course covers the most common first aid emergencies such as bleeds shock bloat burns and poisoning We have trained thousands of dog owners just like you to act with confidence in an emergency Our half day interactive and fun first aid workshop consistently receives five star reviews Attended the course today I would highly recommend The course was relaxed and fun but I learnt so much information I ll be telling all my clients and friends about you 0800 999 6632 www dog first aid com Dog Box UK offers dog transportation solutions at affordable prices Our products prioritise your dog s safety and comfort during transit but also keep your vehicle clean from those muddy pawprints They are made in Devon using high quality materials and modern techniques ensuring durability and a long lasting product We also offer a variety of drawer units kennels and accessories making us your one stop shop for all your canine transportation needs With a wide range of options to choose from you are sure to find the perfect product for your needs www dogboxuk co uk March 2023 Dogs Today 39

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Words ALESSANDRA PACELLI Flood plight won t be easy to find replacements It also takes a mental toll because whenever it rains we have to be on guard One time the flood warning only came in while we were already surrounded by water I have to raise floors and move dogs in the middle of the night I cannot sleep at night when it rains as I need to go and check on the dogs And when it s not raining I have nightmares about rain If I won the lottery I d move to the middle of a desert for sure STUCK IN THE MUD Fionna Ashman runs Lizzie s Barn Sanctuary in Carmarthenshire Wales where about 40 rescue dogs have found refuge Looking after so many dogs is not easy and flooding has made things worse forcing Fionna and a dog with cancer to reach the vet by boat W hen Doris one of the dogs living at Lizzie s Barn Sanctuary became poorly last November Fionna Ashman was concerned While most of the dogs at Lizzie s Barn remain there for their entire lives Doris a large friendly five year old seemed a likely candidate for rehoming Fionna intended to start looking for a home for Doris in the spring but that plan had to be put on hold when the diagnosis came back Doris had an aggressive lymphoma a type of cancer that starts in the body s lymphatic system As can be the case with dogs the lymphoma first presented itself with bilateral uveitis which permanently damaged Doris s sight This made her adoption far less likely but the most immediate concern for Fionna was getting Doris the care she needed She was not giving up so we wouldn t either she says We made appointments to start her chemotherapy as soon as possible All dog lovers would do anything to get the right care for a sick beloved pet no matter what Come 40 Dogs Today March 2023 hell or high water we often say but for Fionna it s more than just an expression High water is a common occurrence at the sanctuary and with all roads and fields around it flooded getting any dogs to the vet posed a challenge Fionna recalls When we moved here in 1999 we were told that there could be some flooding and it was true but back then there were only about five or six floods a year with water going down within a few hours Now the situation is much much worse and we have been flooded 30 times already since the end of October WASTE WATER It has been progressively getting worse over the past seven years more floods more severe and lasting longer A bridge holds back the water to keep it from flooding the nearby area but as a result it all stays here And it s not clean water either due to sewage being discharged nearby and all the properties cesspits overflowing regularly I do understand you cannot protect everybody but if some are going to be sacrificed for the sake of a majority there should be at least some compensation to protect them we had nothing We are in a situation where heavy rain almost guarantees a flood It means we cannot get a vehicle out and we cannot afford to buy something like a Range Rover or anything more suitable for the conditions which would help a lot of the time The council and Natural Resources Wales are doing absolutely nothing They say they are not responsible to protect us from any damage A neighbour was told quite clearly that the properties on this road are not a priority Our local MP Nia Griffiths inquired on our behalf and was told that there is no plan to do anything at all for us Surrounded by high water Fionna remained determined to take Doris to all her vet appointments and the only way to do so was by boat I can t deny I was concerned I was not sure how she was going to react to being on a boat Fionna says Especially as she s basically blind now She was a little wobbly at first but overall she was really good she sits down and seems to almost like it so at least one of us gets some enjoyment out of it When we go to the vet s I have no guarantee that I will find the boat in the same place I left it and that s an added worry So far I have been lucky but it cannot go on like this FLOOD PAIN We had to cut back on our work because of the floods It s a mess getting supplies in medication and of course the vet visits everything is hard We are not getting any help or support and with the flooding issues we re worried that a moment may come when we re unable to continue This is a sanctuary mostly the majority of the dogs stay with us they are the dogs that are hard to rehome Some are rehomed as I had hoped to do with Doris but many have nowhere else to go While there are about 40 dogs at the sanctuary right now Fionna says that they could take another 10 or 12 more if not for the flooding which brings a lot of extra work ensuring all bedding is clean and dry and makes it difficult for anybody volunteering to help to reach the sanctuary in the first place At the moment it s me and my ex partner Mick who run everything Fionna says We have two regular volunteers who are staying in a mobile home on the property but they can t cope with the flooding I m not sure how we could manage without their help it Moving is hardly a possibility at the moment the area where the sanctuary stands has been declared a floodplain which would make selling the property difficult We cannot just sell we would have to disclose how often it gets flooded Fionna says Even if it was not mandatory I could never omit something like this knowing the consequences I d view it as a moral obligation And who would buy it knowing the truth It s probably too late to help us even if the authorities decided to do something it would be years before anything is actually done I feel they should provide compensation for the blighting of our property That would enable us to either move or decide to stay and purchase equipment that would make the situation more manageable for us Some areas in the country have schemes for compensation but ours does not But not all is bleak at Lizzie s Barn Sanctuary The dogs are happy and cared for Doris is responding well to treatment and rain doesn t last forever The fact the authorities are so uninterested makes life so much worse and when it s cold and damp it s easy to forget that this place can be beautiful Fionna says We have fields for the dogs to enjoy on sunny days Yes it is a beautiful spot most of the time as long as it s dry P For information about Lizzie s Barn Sanctuary and to donate visit www lizziesbarn co uk March 2023 Dogs Today 41

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T My Dog Crush he oldest and largest sled dog the Alaskan Malamute is a strong worker built to pull heavy loads over long distances in harsh weather conditions 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 Alaskan Malamute 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 Character These are big dogs with big characters 72 described their dogs as big softies but they are not too big for a cuddle nearly 60 said they are lap dogs if given the opportunity Unequivocally affectionate lapdogs who have no concept of their size said one owner 76 said their dogs loved people and 44 would lick a burglar to death The love doesn t necessarily extend to other animals though 46 are natural hunters and chase anything that moves 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 March 2023 Alaskan Malamute Exercise Big strong outdoors loving dogs for an active lifestyle is how one owner summed up the breed Once fully grown they can take as much exercise as you can offer and most of our survey had over an hour s daily exercise with almost a third enjoying more than two hours a day Sledding carting bikejoring hiking scootering and canicross featured as popular hobbies in our survey Training behaviour 41 agreed with the statement that their dogs were cleverer than many humans and another 41 said their Malamutes were very clever for a dog And indeed they are But 78 have selective deafness so although they can often perform a good array of exercises they might decide to ignore your requests instead Not surprisingly digging stealing pulling on the lead and howling were the most common unwanted behaviours Grooming The breed has a very thick double coat to protect against the extreme cold Be prepared for fur everywhere from non stop shedding advised one Mal owner Almost half of our survey said the breed sheds a lot and it can be a pain The other half said the shedding could be managed through regular grooming 22 of our respondents groomed their dogs daily 39 groomed several times a week Health Hip and eye screening is important in the breed as is DNA testing for code degeneration which causes day blindness but not night blindness and AMPN Alaskan Malamute polyneuropathy which causes nerve deterioration and eventual muscle wastage The Kennel Club has lists of tested dogs and results on its website so you can check any breeder claims A third of our survey had experienced skin problems in their dogs It was second only to cancer 40 and just above hip dysplasia 31 NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR 9 TIMES WINNER OF Product I can t live without Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 2021 UK For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST Global 100 2020 WINNER Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 UK Winners 2013 2022 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk March 2023 Dogs Today 43

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Stubborn Loyal Loving Loud Funny Independent Origins A n ancient sled dog the Alaskan Malamute s ancestors travelled from Siberia to North America via the Bering Strait The dogs lived and worked with the indigenous Mahlemut tribe after which it takes its name hunting seals coursing polar bears in packs and of course pulling sledges During the Gold Rush at the end of the 19th century there was a great need for sled dogs and many were crossed with other breeds Luckily the Mahlemuts remoteness ensured the breed s survival The Alaskan Malamute was recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1935 Malamutes served in the Second World War most notably as search and rescue dogs in Greenland but by the end of the war the breed like many others was in a very fragile position This and their losses from many Arctic expeditions meant there were only around 30 registered dogs left in 1947 so the studbook reopened 44 Dogs Today March 2023 Photo Simon Cockram My Dog Crush Traits Owner s view by Simon Cockram I ve loved sled dogs from a young age I remember seeing a young girl with a dog on a Saturday morning children s programme in the early 90s The presenter asked the name of the breed and I always remembered Alaskan Malamute Years later after losing the collie I had grown up with I started researching Malamutes when I was ready for another dog I met with breeders and owners who worked their dogs in harness and fell in love with them I got my first in 2000 at 10 weeks old and spent a year getting to really understand the breed before adding a second in 2001 at eight weeks old I then took in a fiveyear old rescue dog in 2005 They all got along well but I stuck with the three It was important that I increased numbers slowly over a period of time as they can be even more of a challenge to keep as a pack I think some people increase their numbers too fast before they really get to understand the breed and then run into problems I love the breed s affectionate loving nature I love their stubbornness their strength of character and of course their beauty They can take any amount of exercise and we do so much together in the great outdoors from walks and hiking to running and working in harness They are so well rounded not the easiest dogs to keep but I like a challenge After many years with multiple dogs I now have the one My current boy Ammo is seven years old and I ve had him since he was eight weeks old He is very loving and affectionate but also quite sensitive a comedian who makes me laugh every day He is very high drive and takes a lot of exercise We are out walking every day rain or shine from village walks to the beach and forest I take him running with me we go hiking and we also bikejor where the dog is harnessed and attached to the front of a mountain bike which we both love TEAM SPORT I have worked and raced Malamutes since my first one was old enough I was lucky to find a breeder who had been doing this for many years which meant I was able to start my dog in harness with other experienced Malamutes which makes it much easier when starting a new dog We run in teams from two to 10 dogs and the dogs love it There is no greater feeling than being in a quiet forest being pulled along by a team of dogs working hard and loving what they are doing Dogs are generally run on rigs three wheeled carts from one dog up to six dogs or you can also use a scooter or bike for one dog Canicross is also an option for one dog Bigger teams over six dogs train with an ATV all terrain vehicle with or without an engine To those thinking of getting a Malamute I d say research thoroughly as they are not for everyone they can take a lot of your time and hard work as they are not easy to train Visit multiple breeders and owners and go to events where they are racing so you can see what they are capable of Good breeders who work their dogs will be happy to show you them working when training Malamutes are not just a family dog they are a way of life so you need to be sure you can commit to them for their entire life which may average 12 years old or more though I ve had a 15 year old and 16 year old I am a firm believer that A dog is for life There are far too many in rescue because people don t thoroughly research them first P NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT Best Facebook group Malamute Matters REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR 9 TIMES WINNER OF Product I can t live without Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 2021 UK For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST Global 100 2020 WINNER Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 UK Winners 2013 2022 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk March 2023 Dogs Today 45

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My Dog Crush Best names Bubbles Nanook Kaioo Echo Ashka Bear Floofy Roo Diesel Storm Love the breed Shop the breed This is a 1997 new unpostmarked postage stamp from Somalia of an Alaskan Malamute It sits on a wooden easel and coaster and the stamp is mounted on a piece of grey wood to match The wood that the stamp is mounted on is 5cm by 4cm 12 25 from OlivesStampArt on www etsy com Whisky tumbler glass single 15 99 or a pair 28 99 supplied in a card gift box From GlypticGlassArt on www etsy com Advice for wannabe owners Buy a big bed and a good vacuum cleaner They need lots of time and training as they can be stubborn and lots of exercise Malamute antics Think very carefully a bored Malamute could wreck your house They are exceptionally strong and can pull a lot it s what they were bred for Consider the hair they shed if you are a tidy person the hair will get on your nerves Have a good breeder mentor to get help and advice from Don t take things personally and never blame the dog Laugh it off Stubborn as hell noisy as hell but most loving Ate my brand new passport when it was posted through our front door instead of into our external mailbox Finn would take my son s sleeve and lead him to bed at night v Alaskan Malamute Max Soul shoes available in a range of colours prints and sizes 46 69 plus shipping from the US from www miumax com collections alaskan malamute Broke into the coal bunker It took three baths to get the worst out of his coat My dog saved my life she woke me up when I was slipping into a severe diabetic hypoglycaemic attack by licking in my mouth I could have done without the Malamute kisses but thank God for her every day Opened an oven door to get my dad s dinner Another time we had a 14 person turkey in the sink on Christmas Eve and she ate a good two thirds of it Woos to make the neighbour s dogs bark so our other Mal will run to the fence so she can nick his unattended bone Loves singing to Christmas carols Head portrait and on the move two varieties of card from AmberMariesStudio 3 99 for a single card multipacks available from www etsy com NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR 9 TIMES WINNER OF Product I can t live without Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 2021 UK 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 9 TIMES WINNER OF Product I can t live without Global 100 2020 WINNER Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 UK Winners 2013 2022 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook 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 March 2023 This 30x20cm wooden chopping board can be personalised Made from sustainable hevea hardwood 16 99 from the Personalised Store shop on www etsy com Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 2021 UK For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST Global 100 2020 WINNER Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 UK Winners 2013 2022 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk March 2023 Dogs Today 47

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Photo chimerataxidermy Instagram Great Debate If you have an opinion on this subject that is not already covered here putting Great Debate in the subject line Please limit your response to Emma Judson I find taxidermy of all kinds quite fascinating and some of it I would own if I had the money but those animals were not known to me in life and that s the difference I could not contemplate having one of my animals preserved It s too weird it s not them it s almost a horrible reminder that they re not here rather than any sort of comfort The animated twinkling eyes and constant movement of my pets shows their personality and without that it s just icky What others do however is entirely up to them If taxidermy makes them feel better great it makes absolutely no odds to the pet in question after all A family recently divided opinion after turning their dead Golden Retriever into a rug for their living room Would you consider this unusual form of remembrance for your own dog Alice Smith As long as it s draped over something and not on the floor for everyone to walk over I think I might consider it I saw the photos and didn t really find them spooky or upsetting I wonder if stroking the fur would feel the same Stroking my dogs brings me so much comfort it s painful to think that one day I will reach out and there will be nothing there Simon Brown People have their dead dog s fur spun woven and knitted into keepsakes this isn t that far removed from that Julie Taylor I m not sure if I would do it but I don t see anything wrong with it either Dogs have no concept of disrespect in life let alone in death It s not like they would care 48 Dogs Today March 2023 Polly King No I would feel sick looking at it every day I prefer to look back on happy memories of time spent with my dog Would they make their granny into a useful household item when she dies Sophie Ide A tiny part of me can understand them wanting to commemorate their dog but personally I think there are better ways to do it I find taxidermy a bit morbid and creepy Not something I would ever consider On a slightly different note I ve had all my recent dogs and cats cremated and have their ashes and talk to them still I think having a physical version of them would be a step too far though especially as a rug Jane Murphy Wood I like to recall the happy times not walk all over memories Olive Armstrong Personally I think it s too far especially a rug which people will walk on I know the dog is deceased but I wouldn t like the idea of people walking on my dog I don t like the idea of taxidermy at all unless it s for a scientific historic reason Marie Vanstone That s a horrid thing to do and so disrespectful Julia Carr I wouldn t turn any members of my family into home furnishings email enquiries dogstodaymagazine co uk 100 words Cindy Dianna Cornelius Not for me and I don t like the idea of taxidermy myself although I have seen the Body Worlds Exhibition which while it s scientific and educational is rather macabre On the other hand I remember being quite fascinated by the Siamese kitten with two heads two tails and eight legs that my old senior school had in a jar in their biology lab Elspeth Cameron Each to their own I wouldn t do it but no judgement on anyone else that does I don t find it distasteful Sally Phillips I told our first collie that I was going to make him into a draught excluder I didn t Shirley Hinchliffe No it would spook me out Steffi Cousins I m not against taxidermy at all and will have some of my reptiles done when they pass but I would never make my dog into a rug to be walked all over Jo Knowsley As readily as I d turn my grandmother into a lampshade Oh hang on Didn t someone do this once Mandy Robinson Absolutely not Apart from anything else I feel it s disrespectful I wouldn t like to keep walking on her Vanessa O Carroll Oh no Definitely not for me I can t even have the clay paw print on display Susan Thompson No because the dog that you loved becomes a doormat that is walked over Then it becomes an item not a loved remembrance Carol Brooks I understand everyone s different but I find the thought quite heartbreaking particularly the idea of a rug Tina Mitchell Walking on your dog er no Tamara Cartwright Loebl Rugs just no never it s disrespectful I can fathom some people drawing comfort from the taxidermy even if it s not for me but a rug No way I have antique taxidermy that I like but I wouldn t be comforted by doing it to a friend and don t see the point it s not them I have a friend with one and I never met the dog in life but have a great relationship with him now it s hard to understand or explain Recently I was eating a sandwich with my friend s two living dogs looking on I absentmindedly broke off three pieces of crust paw treat paw treat p what on earth am I doing This month s result 2 4 Emma Judson I wonder if the pelt people are draping them over chair backs or beds rather than rugs you d walk on I just can t fathom how anyone would want to tread on a pelt Even if it s draped over something still no Nik Oakley That is gross Alyson Taylor Gray As much as Sage meant everything to me I definitely couldn t do that Beardie Brooke I don t see that it is disrespectful as some have said It s not for me but each to their own and it isn t hurting anyone else Some people keep ashes in the cupboard and others find that distasteful so each to their own 94 No Yes Maybe Lisa Stewart Phillips That s a nope from me My last two dogs had their ashes in the sea with my dad s in Wales Gwen Beaden No I don t want anyone walking over my dog Jacqueline Baker My rather eccentric great aunts had their dog and budgie stuffed when they died The budgie is still in a glass case in my outhouse the dog thankfully disintegrated many years ago Angela Valdosta Mitchell No Next it will be humans instead of a burial cremation Margaret Sierakowski Absolutely not I couldn t walk on one of my dogs Just looking at it would upset me too much Joanne Counihan I would not use any member of my family to tread on Candida Gower Tasteless in the extreme Next month s topic is Should basic pet insurance for vet fees be mandatory Email editorial dogstodaymagazine co uk with your thoughts putting Great Debate in the subject line or write to Great Debate Dogs Today The Old Print House 62 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8AA March 2023 Dogs Today 49

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Get your first issue for only 1 then it s 9 99 quarterly by Direct Debit y direct and save almo st 35 a year o r w To G n r a ge e t y L r he 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 Bu Pla Join our exclusive Sub Club Save money enjoy almost a 35 saving over the year Delivered free to your door SUBSCRIBE NOW Prices held for this month but must go up soon 15 voucher for PurrfectlyYappy com minimum spend 75 Call us for the special code Chance to win one of 50 Nerf dog toys Call 01276 402599 lines open weekdays 9am 5pm 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 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 UK only By entering you confirm that your details will be passed on to the company providing prizes for distribution marketing purposes 50 Dogs Today March 2023 Our expertly designed Coachi range was developed by Dr Roger Mugford and his team of training behaviour specialists at the Company of Animals The range is focused on training through positive learning experiences helping to create a loving bond between you and your dog Recall Manners Play Reward Tricks Retrieval Find us To explore our collection visit www companyofanimals com

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Postbag Your news views Obituaries Your tributes Get in touch We love to hear your news and views and see photos of your If you want to pay tribute to a departed pet or have a suggestion for a lost star dog write to us at the address on page 3 or email editorial dogstodaymagazine co uk and put Tribute in the subject line Tally dogs Email editorial dogstodaymagazine co uk Write to us at Dogs Today The Old Print House 62 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8AA NATURAL BEAUTY Jacob my boyfriend and I took these photos of our dog Belle pictured in Snowdonia back in November 2022 It was very much the right place and the right time as we were heading back down from Snowdon after a long tiring hike and our second attempt up to the peak in 24 hours Belle stopped for a moment and the sun shone down Plus there s a photo for your viewing pleasure of a very soggy but happy pup Laura Jacob Belle 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 52 Dogs Today March 2023 Postbag continued From Facebook PEOPLE TELL US ABOUT THE MOMENT THEIR RESCUE DOGS REALISED THEY WERE REALLY FINALLY HOME When our rescue Chihuahua cross Benny watched me get off the armchair and immediately went to curl up in it When I glanced back he looked back at me very smugly He had been so nervous when he first arrived and I was so happy to see him claim his rightful place as king of the household I didn t even mind losing my seat Emily Hall DOGGIE MODELS My name is Kelly I am a professional photographer and my favourite subjects are dogs Here are my two family dogs Bobby and Ruby my at home models They both love to play on the beach paddle in the sea and get up to lots of mischief together They are both very creative making mud pies sand pies and so much more Within both portraits you can see each of their own unique personalities As we all know no dog is the same Kelly Doody Kellydphotography Tywyn 16 Years 5 months 21 August 2006 24 January 2023 It s with great sorrow and sadness we have had to say our final goodbye to our wonderful Tally May she fly across the Rainbow Bridge RIP my princess our Tallykins Our hearts are broken Sy John Ewing Gigi my capuchin monkey 2010 17 May 2022 Gigi came into my life on 15 August 2019 like a ray of sunshine She took it in her stride meeting the pack She was a tiny senior Chihuahua not even three kilos She was ultra special due to her being a meat trade survivor from China I cried at the thought of what they would have done to her had she not been rescued That evening I noticed her heart racing I could literally hear it The vets put her on medication which helped stabilise her thankfully She Gigi had spondylitis and her back was arched from the years of wear and tear She had adapted a gait to compensate for a broken leg and a luxated patella She reminded me of a capuchin monkey with how she sat and moved Nothing stopped her from chasing after the pack in the garden Due to her unknown age of 10 years plus and heart issues we couldn t risk any surgery This obviously was of concern in case she got pyometra which is life threatening She also had to overcome allergies skin problems two eye ulcers When she became unable to walk with the pack I bought a dog pram to ensure she got out in the sun and had stimulation She loved it sitting there barking at passers by She was a massive character in a tiny shell The last few months her front legs fused which brought challenges She was picky with her food I tried everything she would bounce back but she was losing weight My heart sank I feared the time coming closer She taught me how forgiving animals are They don t judge or hold grudges and give themselves to us unconditionally They just get on with survival She was stoic resilient unforgettable Run pain free Gigi till we are reunited Una Clarke When he flopped across my lap for pets Andy Walsh ANGEL S TOY I would love my dog Angel to be featured in your magazine Here she is enjoying her new toy Callam Her first zoomies running like mad across the living room at the end of her first week home Fiona Marsh When our rescue dog came to us she was very shy and very quiet She came from a small rescue and they believed she had been hit by the previous owners each time she made a noise so she was silent all the time she would never bark whine nothing at all We gave her time to get used to us and the house and she seemed to settle in but she stayed very quiet Until one day she saw something outside and barked It caught us all by surprise and she immediately made herself small as if she had realised she had done something she would be punished for Needless to say she was not punished we all cheered and told her she was a very good girl and gave her treats Looking back we probably went overboard and shouldn t really have encouraged barking but we were ecstatic to finally hear her voice It was a turning point for her and I think that from then on she just knew we would never hurt her She hasn t made a habit of barking at things but she s much more confident no longer silent and a very happy girl Tara Miller She made herself at home almost as soon as she stepped in She immediately decided the dog bed wouldn t do and claimed the sofa She was my first ever Greyhound I should have expected the change of ownership of my sofa Cole Walters March 2023 Dogs Today 53

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Criss cross Put the kettle on and have a go at our competitions Just for fun Use the clues to fill in the words below and solve the anagramsof these dog breeds Words can go across or down Letters are shared when the words intersect Caption this Across 2 Rolf belch dung 6 7 1 3 Huh donna fag 6 5 2 5 Pershing slinger 7 8 6 Doreen duh 9 3 Down 1 Adorne culotte 5 2 6 4 4 Jane sib 7 Can you come up with a witty and amusing caption for this photo 5 Do you have a funny pic you d like us to feature Please email it to us at comps dogstoday magazine co uk 6 Winners of the Cross Question and Caption Competition will win a prize from Purrfectly Yappy The winning caption will win a Fuzzu A Gorilly Named Billy Dog Toy worth 13 99 from www purrfectlyyappy com The person who sends the first correct answer to the Cross Question will win a pack of SmartBones a healthy alternative to rawhide from www purrfectlyyappy com How to enter Send your Caption Competition Cross Question entries together with your contact details via email to comps dogstoday magazine co uk or post to March Competitions Dogs Today The Old Print House 62 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8AA to arrive by 7 April 2023 December January Caption Runners up Cross Question Cat What cat I never saw a cat Grace Wright Criss cross answers 1 Coton de Tulear 2 French Bulldog 3 Afghan Hound 4 Basenji 5 English Springer 6 Deerhound Check your chip In the ring Since April 2016 it has been compulsory for all dogs over 8 weeks of age to be microchipped and details registered and kept up to date with an authorised database Have you checked that your dog s chip is working is correctly registered and all contact information is up to date Don t know which database your dog s microchip is registered with Type your chip number into www check a chip co uk TIP Keep a note of your dog s microchip number and database details on your mobile phone Notify the microchip company immediately if your dog goes missing and register on www doglost co uk Just for fun Unscramble the jumbled letters in the circles Can you find these big small and inbetween breeds A I m not potty trained Jenny Lewis B S KIP GE NE DAYM E O LBRR C They said they wanted the soil Lab tested Can you guess which breeds Stella s parents are If you fancy a bath this works at alerting your owner every time Josie Jones December January Cross Question Solution Maisie s parents are a Patterdale Terrier and a Parson Russell Terrier The first correct answer came from Jane Pedder In the ring answers A Pekingese B Samoyed C Leonberger 56 Dogs Today March 2023 March 2023 Dogs Today 57 Patterdale Terrier Parson Russell Terrier by Tim Rose www timrosephotography co uk Once you ve prepared the soil you can plant your lab elias pup tunias and mari goldens Clare Williams Photo submitted by Sally Henwood Winning caption Geraldine Cove Print Scooby Doo a Romanian rescue dog of unknow mix Photo submitted by Debbie Norley Photos by Tim Rose www timrosephotography co uk Tea break

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Prize crossword Quick clues Cryptic clues Across Down Across 1 1 1 Animal 5 Unable to see 5 2 The States 7 4 How much is that one asked the singer 6 4 Scottish border terrier 6 7 9 Nationality of a water spaniel 5 5 It is trained to accompany 10 Small amount of water 4 going for a song 6 confined to Siberia Never 7 6 Spanish island hound s home 5 13 Medium sized breed of sheepdog 7 7 6 canine style 8 someone s house for a start 5 4 Clever ruse 6 11 Type of terrier makes 13 Irish Wolfhound perhaps 3 3 17 Place 4 14 Small cuddly canines 3 4 20 Parts of a game of cricket 5 16 Cosi Fan Tutte for instance 21 Threatening 7 9 One kind of terrier is rushing in 10 Not much water here wimp 12 Worships 8 15 Making threatening noises Canine perhaps is to live on a street 5 8 Catalan sheepdog may be 1 Down person 5 3 11 Northern terrier 8 top class loader maybe 8 13 Kind of dog local breed l d produced with energy 7 6 15 Getting bigger after 5 swallowing a litre Badtempered dog may be 8 22 Type of hound 6 18 Palatable 5 23 Far from housetrained 5 19 Avatar for example 4 17 Notice dog in children s books 4 20 Rover shuns in part some 2 3 4 test 5 6 5 21 Threatening rings us and 7 22 Fred the hound confuses 23 Untidy place for officers next to yard 5 10 Down 11 1 12 2 14 13 17 16 15 17 18 19 3 4 5 21 6 7 22 23 Address ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ____________________________ Postcode _________________ Telephone _____________________________________________ Email address ___________________________________________ Breed type of dog _______________________________________ 58 Dogs Today March 2023 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 13 14 16 18 19 C I O K E W O Z B E J K K G E E R O N R Q U L W I R N G G R N N N H M T P D G I U A D Y Z L M U F M N N P C K T D D O F V J E T U P O A U A C E W C D E L N C F M A N P F G M E N N H C G E J S M A S O G E R M A N P I N S C H E R O N J L A N O X E P O S P F N P P W S O F O R N G B L A T Y G U M A X I Z I T J N D Q E E R D O R L Y V M P Y T B I T A F R U E D U A I I V J R W A Z Z F X F Z K O X R U X D G E J E O M A H M C L Z Z K G Y G E E O V V G L E N O F I M A A L L L R T L L R Z E G V J O A X T R D L P X A E N B L L H R F R F O G I T M B B X U U J I D O D N U O H Y E R G E X N K J G F R K N I B I G M X D B K J L C X N R S E G C A S G O L D E N D O O D L E M Q U T I Q R F C H F X E O T H U X E N A D T A E R G E Can you find these breeds Search up down forward backward and on the diagonal Complete the crossword grid then post your entry to arrive by 7 April 2023 to March Crossword Dogs Today The Old Print House 62 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8AA The first correct entry pulled out of the hat after the closing date will win the prize The judge s decision is final GBGV German Pinscher German Shepherd German Spitz Klein German Spitz Mittel Glen of Imaal Goldador Golden Retriever Goldendoodle Gordon Setter Grand Bleu de Gascogne Great Dane Greenland Dog Greyhound Griffon Bruxellois Griffon Fauve de Bretagne GSP GWP February Solution Across 5 Jumpers 7 Tails 8 Midget 9 Desist 10 Peking 11 Shar 13 Bull 14 Violet 16 Barker 18 Lapdog 19 Lions 20 Brooded Down 1 Pupil 2 Epagneul 3 Paws 4 Alaskan 6 Retriever 9 Dog collar 11 Sheepdog 12 Eurasia 15 Boxer 17 King Gordon Setter posed by a model Name _________________________________________________ 12 Unable to see a windowscreen 5 Strange crime among drivers where Chesapeake Bay Retriever comes from 7 Dog end That s a story we ve been told 4 Dog a flamboyant type say confronts loud noise on French mountain 6 7 Specially trained canine is not scout 5 3 Home of a hound one supporting island business 5 Breathe with difficulty and gag 6 Worships one tailless dog one in less strange surroundings 8 Hardly a miniature breed 3 3 Pets drink then perform near front of garden shed 3 4 Entertainment a long time after treatment in surgery 5 Dishy but not entirely Rita s type 5 Where Lassie could be found reeling 4 How to enter M K G G D C V L N G T S R Q S R V G E G Just for fun Shetland Shhepdog by Tim Rose www timrosephotography co uk 20 Win this The winner of this month s crossword will receive a Kong Wild Knot bird a squeaky plush toy with internal knotted rope and minimal stuffing for minimal mess Available from PurrfectlyYappy com about time 7 more than one 1 Across 6 9 8 B U W H Z G F S C Y V X S D Q E D O E M 4 Unpriced pet in the window 3 Wagger 4 8 Spanish 7 1 Wordsearch Compiled by Gyles Brandreth March 2023 Dogs Today 59

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Classified adverts Holidays Training Services Products Want to advertise your business in our classified adverts section Call Mike McGlynn now on 01276 402591 or send an email to mike dogstoday magazine co uk Boturnell Farm Cottages Dogs stay free Home from home for you and your dogs If they are relaxed then you can relax Every cottage has an enclosed garden for those late night early morning comfort breaks PLUS 8 acres of woods Throws for the furniture Animal rst aid kit www dogs holiday co uk PEAK DISTRICT Very dog friendly family run Country Inn with self contained rooms in the grounds Open e from th l 12th Apri 2021 Dog Partridge We can t wa it to see you Fabulous Beer Garden Terrace serving Dinner Lunch and Drinks Overnight stays short breaks available from 12 4 21 In room dining also available for all meals including breakfast and drinks 01335 343183 www dogandpartridge co uk www kateboats co uk Phone 01926 492968 Email enquiries kateboats co uk 60 Dogs Today March 2023 Canine Food of the Month The benefits of our grain free food A nutritious balanced complete food Bentley s with a high level of quality protein which We are a small UK based family business with a closely matches a dog s ancestral diet passion for dogs We strongly believe that dogs deserve Cereal grain gluten and dairy free to a healthy food that can sustain them for a lifetime so remove possible causes of allergies we took the time to research and understand the Low carbohydrate formulation with less impact that diet plays upon a dog s wellbeing than 20 fruit and vegetables Bentley s is a premium grain free well priced food Suitable for all life stages in a dog s natural Our recipe was born following seven years of extensive habitat there is no such thing as puppy nutritional research with veterinary professionals junior adult senior light or diet food together with our experience of supplying natural Proportionally balanced quality omega 3 6 healthy food treats and supplements www bentleysdogfood co uk info bentleysdogfood co uk 01206 803905 March 2023 Dogs Today 61 Advertising feature We are a family owned business with self drive narrowboats for weekends and short breaks and week long holidays from both bases Stockton or Warwick We also have boats available for longer hire periods when you want to escape and include your canine family member This is not camping on water the boats come equipped with everything you need for a relaxing holiday afloat fully equipped galley including fridge and 4 hob gas cooker a bathroom with a flushing toilet and a shower plenty of hot water central heating and a TV for the days you need to catch up with the real world Don t forget with narrowboat hire the boat is the holiday you don t need to allow for those expensive days out during the week Our quoted prices INCLUDE diesel and damage waiver and linen and car parking if you are comparing prices with other narrowboat holiday firms make sure you compare like for like Star ratings for each narrowboat are displayed on the relevant pages and online availability and reservation is now also a feature but feel free to phone or email if you would like to discuss your canal holiday plans Advertising feature Holiday of the Month

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Classified Adverts adverts Classified Charities Products Art Charities Training Art Lintran K9 award winning dog equipment transport systems UK Westie ReHoming The Dog Lovers Registration Club Registered Charity England Wales 1108659 Scotland SC045329 Register your Pedigree puppies and adult dogs online for beautiful gold bonded pedigree paperwork with same day processing www westierehoming org 0844 879 4260 For more information visit www dogregclub co uk or call either 0161 792 2479 or 0161 729 2350 Estate Cars Dog trailers pick up s vans All 4 x 4 vehicles 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 loved and have their needs met Dog Gun System T 01673 885959 enquiries lintran co uk www lintran co uk information westierehoming net PO Box 4204 Swindon SN2 9LA Westie ReHoming 30 westierehoming4 YEARS The Emotional Art of Dog Training not to be missed with the due to retire inspirational speaker John Rogerson Heathway Colton Rugeley Staffs WS15 3LY Tel 01889 577058 www bordercollietrustgb org uk 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 25 02 2019 26 11 2018 16 16 17 58 help at www lizziesbarn co uk www dogsforgood org 01295 252600 info dogsforgood org March 2023 2020 62 6 2 Dogs Today July www dogsmonthly co uk Dogs For Good Canine Safety Product of the Month Animal Transit Boxes specialists in pick up dog boxes and vehicle conversions We can Dogs for Good needs your help to double the number of people withare disabilities we can support with dogs We re an innovative charity tailor made exploring ways dogs can and help have a proven track record of innovative designs effective provide solutions people overcome specific challenges and enrich and improve lives and problem solving andcommunities attention to detail As one of the UK s market leaders of custom made We are passionate about our future and how we can help moresolutions people withour thegoal use ofis to meet and exceed the expectations of every customer canine transit our assistance dogs We pride ourselves on manufacturing the UK s finest quality bespoke animal transit solutions Discover all of the ways we help dog vehicles dog transit boxes vehicle drawer units double cab pick up systems dog van Assistance Dog our assistance dogs support adults and children with a range ofboxes conversions and dog whelping disabilities and also children with autism Our entire product range is carefully manufactured in the UK by professional plastic and stainless steel fabricators Community Dog community and their specialist and handlers helpour to improve with our over 25 years dogs practical experience should standard product range not meet your requirements we also their independence wellbeing and skills provide a tailor made vehicle conversion service to suit your specific needs Simply contact our friendly team in Telford Family Dog our Family Dog team gives advice and support to help families with an to discuss your requirements autistic child to get the most out of their relationship with their pet dog www animaltransitboxes com Tel 01952 370037 www dogsforgood org 01295 252600 info dogsforgood org March 2020 81 Email info animaltransitboxes com March 2023 Dogs Today 63 Advertising feature Dogs for Good needs your help to double the number of people with disabilities Our dogs are primarily from organisations unable to manage we can support with dogs We re an innovative charity exploringneeds They ways dogs live a wonderful life here with us and their complex can help people overcome specific challenges and enrich and improve lives their compatriots free from the mistakes stresses and traumas and communities We are passionate about our future and how we can help from their former lives A place of sanctuary a safe haven with more people with the use of our assistance dogs essential social experiences where they can relax and become Discover all of the ways we help their best selves Assistance Dog our assistance dogs support adults and children with a range of disabilities and also children with autism Sadly they are the forgotten ones It s a constant struggle for Community Dog our community dogs and theirfispecialist handlersas help nancial support farto too few are aware of the role of improve their independence wellbeing and skills sanctuaries Family Dog our Family Dog team gives advice and support to help families Find outwith more with an autistic child to get the most out of their relationship their about pet dog our work and how you can Advertising feature p061_DogsMonthlyApr19 indd 1 PY single page indd 1 Canineof Sanctuary Month Charity the Monthof the Dogs For Good Charity of the Month Lizzie s Barn Sanctuary Products Services TIME FOR A NEW BED Lintran SS Brentwood House Lincoln Road Faldingworth Market Rasen Lincs LN8 3SF

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CharitySpotlight Spotlight Charity established 1958 We are a non destruction sanctuary for abandoned unwanted dogs PRIORY ROAD ASCOT BERKSHIRE SL5 8RJ 01344 882689 We rescue and rehome 100s of dogs and cats in London every year themayhew org 020 8962 8000 Registered Charity No 256728 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 Sponsor a puppy from just 1 a week BORDER COLLIE TRUST GB Registered Charity No 1077588 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 we encourage you to get you involved them diversegroup group and of people and we encourage to getwith involved be it by offering forever home fundraising or volunteering with them be it afundraising or even volunteering Help us to help more 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 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 Registered Charity No 298348 00526nc0819 WE RESCUE KILL SHELTER AND ABANDONED DOGS FROM ROMANIA AND REHOME THEM IN THE UK AND GERMANY Charity of the month Chilterns Dog Recue barkingmaddogrescue Smokey Paws provides pet oxygen masks to the fire service Founded in 1963 Chilterns Dog Rescue Society CDRS has a long history of rescue and rehoming and continues to grow thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of many dog lovers But many more masks are needed The next pet saved could be yours You can donate via www smokeypaws co uk Leicester Animal Aid A please call us on 01276 402591 for more details 2023 DogsToday TodayMarch July 2020 64 64Dogs 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 Registered Charity No 1077588 A fter many years of hard work CDRS is an independent charity It CDRS bought its own premises receives no Government funding and in Chivery near Tring Herts and relies entirely on the generosity of the of the month developedCharity purpose built facilities for public to continue its vital rescue and dogs with nowhere else to turn rehoming work Your support would Three put out a plea The Rescue Centre has 40 kennels be greatly appreciated and a small team of highly trained staff who provide outstanding information please 300 t Leicester Animal Aid where every yearFor wefurther rescue and rehome around care cats for dogs of allwho ages are types contact CDRS and dogs lost and abandoned neglected or given up because backgrounds in no need of protection Tel 01296 623885 their owners can longer care for them it s rare for us to have a dog for more training and rehoming in addition to enquiries cdrs org uk than a few months a 5However star licence for boarding www chilternsdogrescue org uk loveable Doug the Golden Retriever Fun loving Ernie the British Large kennels haveand under floor Bulldog Handsome Otter the Akita are still all in need of their heating plenty of forever natural light with homes after a combined stay of over two years at the indoor and outdoor centre areas Green in Huncote Leicestershire technology has been incorporated to reduce running costs Sensitive All three of these young playful animals have a lifetime landscaping has created a woodland of love to give to the right owner Could you offer one walk for potential adopters toaget of them happy home More information is available at to know the dogs wildlife areas and like01455 to see888257 your leicesteranimalaid org uk or If byyou d calling organisation featured in these two DogZones to provide grassy 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 or email info smokeypaws co uk We are a small dog and cat rescue that specialises in the rehabilitation of pets who need their second chance at happiness No matter your age location or family status PAWS gives everyone a chance to be a part of the rescue story www pennineanimalwelfare society org rescue and rehome Saving We collies and collie crosses throughout the UK Why not Yorkshire s subscribe to our Border World quarterly Dogs Collie magazine Only 10 00 pa Registered Charity No 1167291 To rescue COLLIE rehabilitateTRUST and rehome BORDER GB vulnerable atour risk dogsforfrom Yorkshire Please contact usand or visit website more information Heathway Colton Rugeley Tel WS15 07562 Staffs 3LY 986101 Tel 0871 560 2282 Email savingyorkshiresdogs gmail com www bordercollietrustgb org uk Web www sydrescue org uk Reg Charity No 1053585 Find uscentre on Rescue open daily 9 11 am 2 4 pm Become a Companion AS Keep Tails Wagging SEEN ON N1EL BCT_0310 4x1 indd H C ANWith a Regular Gift Registered Charity in England and Wales No 1139999 4 As a rescue charity Rushton helps abandoned Bringing pets abused and unwanted dogs on a international and people scale Rescuing dogs from all over the world especially the meat trade in Asia and China closer together NEUTER AND SPAY NO MORE STRAYS We neuter and spay thousands of dogs and cats in Romania every year 4 1 10 16 55 42 woodgreen org uk Charity No 1172316 Your chance to win at www animalsni uk www aht org uk lottery Call Now 44 0 1823 49 10 52 mail rushtondogrescue co uk PayPal email Registereddonations animalsni uk Charity Number 209642 Registered Charity No 298348 00526nc0819 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 barki www petsavers org uk Smokey Paws provides pet oxygen masks to the fire service But many more masks are needed www March 2023Dogs DogsToday Today665 July 2020 5 We r of do

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For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST Confessions of a dogaholic B 66 Dogs Today March 2023 In the dock designed the dogs to look like this and they d look ridiculous with tails I knew this cover was going to get their stumpy backs up but I couldn t have guessed what it would provoke them to do After we d been on sale for a couple of days I got a scary call from the Press Complaints Commission which had some very big teeth back then They were inundated with complaints about our latest issue people were saying our front cover was cruel and that it was an offensive image that would upset children Had I gone too far They were talking about removing the edition from the shelves on the grounds of decency It was potentially even more disastrous to the balance sheet than losing Petplan s advertising I asked if I could see the complaints The complaints all looked very similar and then something else struck me I knew these names They were the same people I d been arguing with on all those docking debates Members of the Council of Docked Breeds had been pretending that the image of a dog having its tail cut off was cruel and shocking I was able to show the PCC that the complaints were vexatious The Sunday Times soon heard about this plot to have our magazine removed from sale They thought it was a very important public information message we were making and they wrote a whole page on the foiled attempt to have our magazine taken off the shelves In hindsight we couldn t have wished for more amplification of our message The Council of Docked Breeds had given us some brilliant PR I was like an undocked dog with two tails There was another time the Sunday Times was less pleased with us it was probably our fault they got a fatwa But that s another story 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 9 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 r 2020 21 UK re tu c fa u n a M tive Dog Most Innova cturers Collar Manufa 2019 Illustration KEVIN BROCKBANK ack in 1995 we were telling hairdressers to give us a Rachel but very few were asking for mutilated pups the public thought dogs were just born without tails Our campaign to ban cosmetic docking had cut short any ad revenue from one major pet insurance advertiser but it had won us the love of very many vets It was a delight to discover that 98 wanted to stop the chop too I decided to put a long tailed Weimaraner pup on the cover with its beautiful tail falling perilously close to the blades of a pair of scissors Well scissors were my second choice I d also brought a meat cleaver but it was thought too shocking Of course I knew docking was performed on much younger pups And some breeders didn t use scissors they preferred a tight elastic band so the blood to the tail would stop and the end would wither and fall off But that imagery didn t really translate to a magazine cover I knew I was making a point I wanted to make the public aware so that when people bought a docked breed they d realise there was a very important bit missing that most dogs were not born this way There was a small but very committed group who were fighting to keep the tradition of docking They formed a strong alliance called the Council of Docked Breeds and they had a huge war chest of money to fight any reforms I d been arguing with them for months on various TV and radio debate shows and knew all their arguments They d say that chopping off tails might save a future tail injury I d ask why we don t chop every dog s tail off They said it stopped hairy dogs getting smelly bottoms very easy to poo poo and my all time favourite that they had 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 2022 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Matching accessories in a selection of colours with high quality workmanship and ttings

Dogs Today_March_2023

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