Dogs Today_361 : simplebooklet.com

2024-03-05_ADSPDCONPSuperDog 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-nutrientsto safeguard the diet of your furriest family member.Proud supporter of Battersea, caring fordogs and cats since 1860From , Amazon, Ocado, and Vitabiotics.com– all the innovation Joints & Bones60 Chewable TabletsHealth & Vitality60 Chewable Tablets*Nielsen GB ScanTrack Total Coverage Value & Unit Retail Sales 52 w/e 27/1/24.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.Inside this month...News & features 6 K999: why are some assistance dogs being denied ambulance access in emergencies? 34 Rethinking rescue: trap, neuter and release programmes to relieve rescue imports 38 OK9: the toy police dog making a huge difference in a force 46 Poldark goes east: Aidan Turner introduces the Norfolk Terrier in his life Training & behaviour28 Muzzle up: the final part of our comprehensive muzzle-training series 40 Don’t get lost in translation: learn how to interpret your dogOver to you!48 Great debate: are you optimistic for animal welfare developments under the new Labour government?52 Postbag: your letters and emails Opinion 66 Confessions of a dogaholic: if you don’t ask...Investigation 16 Q&A: Pet-care advice on TikTok – fact or fiction?; how to keep your pets safe from mould; travelling with dogs: what you need to know; how to find a good canine physical therapist 54 Dog crush: say ciao to the Italian Spinone Competitions & shopping 50 Subscribe and win!60 Pop the kettle on and tackle our puzzles and competitionsItalian Spinone. Photo by Tim Rose (www.timrosephotography.co.uk)DogsTodayEditorialEditor: Beverley CuddyArt Director: Rosie PeaceChief Sub Editor/Contributing Editor: Claire Horton-BusseyDeputy Editor: Alessandra PacelliIllustrator: Kevin BrockbankAdvertising & sponsorship Sales & Marketing Director: Mike McGlynn 01276 402591Office dogsBetty (Old English-Golden Retriever-ish); Honey (Cocker Spaniel); Lennie (Staffie cross); Loki (Border Collie-Kelpie cross); Sophie (Jack Russell); Triss (Jack Russell)Betty’s Personal Trainer: Kirsten Dillon IMDT A.Dip CBMPublishers Chief Operations Officer: Graham Smith01276 402598 (graham@wearebrandshare.com)Managing Director: Beverley Cuddy 01276 402597 (beverley@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk)Dogs Today is published by Brandshare Ltd, The Old Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8AA. 01276 402599enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk www.dogstodaymagazine.co.ukSubscriptionsFor subscription queries call Brandshare on 01276 402599 or email subs@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk. Initial subscription rates:UK & BFPO: 12 issues £46.99, 24 issues £85; Non UK: 12 issues £79.99, 24 issues £145.Direct Debit (UK only): £12.50 for 3 monthsThe editor is always pleased to consider articles and photos from freelancers. However, there is often a considerable delay before material can be assessed. Please include an SAE if you want your work returned. While every care will be taken, no responsibility for loss or damage can be accepted. Competition sponsors and their families are not eligible for any competition.Dogs Today incor porating 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.Distributed by Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 2nd Floor, 5 Churchill Pl, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HU.Tel: 020 3148 3333. www.marketforce.co.ukPrinted by The Manson Group.© 2024 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.The ethical pet magazine for people who really care about dogsFacebook: Dogs Today@beverleycuddy@Dogs_TodayLIMITEDCover dog: Doodie, a Border Collie pup owned by Lynn Finlay-Maxwell Next issue on sale: 12 September 2024To 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© 2024 Dogs Today. The world copyright of the editorial Doodie, a Border Collie pup Issue 361 Dogs Today3

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4 Dogs Today Issue 361 In the 1980s, I worked at the Kennel Club. I spent six years getting to know the organisation from the inside.I became aware of the untapped potential for the KC to prioritise and protect the welfare of dogs. The reports I wrote, urging them to make registration more meaningful, gathered dust and derision. My praise for the innovative Swedish Kennel Club was snorted at. “We are THE Kennel Club; it is they who should learn from us,” said my grumpy KC Chairman.All these years later, we’re still lagging behind the more innovative kennel clubs and this last month we saw the sudden ending of their Assured Breeder Scheme, the ABS. It’s true, it was ﬂawed, but with some work it could have encouraged more ethical breeding. The bar was always set too low and that put off the elite breeders, who didn’t want to rub shoulders with some of the low-welfare mob that were happy to pay for the illusion of prestige that ABS membership gave them. It wasn’t long ago we reported that the KC had pulled out all their essential funding for their own Genetic Centre at Cambridge. We warned then that the KC ﬁnances were looking wobbly.REGISTERING A LOSSIn the last few weeks, the now rather erratic Royal Kennel Club have been making newspaper headlines due to them posting even worse annual accounts than usual.I was quoted in the Telegraph as saying the board were obviously making a complete dog’s dinner of things. The paper reported that almost one in ﬁve of the KC staff had been made redundant. The current board inherited a gold mine. A virtual monopoly on registering pedigree dogs and the world’s biggest dog show where everyone pays – the exhibitors, the public, the trade and the sponsors. How could they lose so many millions of pounds? Dog ownership ﬁgures in Britain are at record levels. This should be their golden age.Part of the problem has been bungling. They installed a disastrous new untested computer system during the pandemic that has since cost millions to try to fudge. But was the KC in decline anyway? Did they miss their chance to evolve and become vital to dog lovers? I am writing something next month that looks at the past and future of the Kennel Club registration system. When they ditched the ABS, the KC announced that they’re planning on bringing in something called their Health Standard, which aims to simplify health tests into Essential, Advisable and Other. I thought it sounded promising. In some ways what I’d been urging them to consider back in the 1980s. But, as ever, the devil is in the detail.Unfortunately, it leaked out they’d chosen not to involve all the breed health co-ordinators until the announcement of the scheme. A lot of people were very upset. It was a shock that something like hip scoring in Labradors had only been put on the ‘advisable’ list. Surely, it was essential, breed experts complained.Also, there is concern that while the Health Standard is going to rely on evidence to trigger if a health issue is signiﬁcant, health tests’ best use is to prevent issues. If there is a DNA test for an emerging defect, why wait for it to be listed as an essential test until a signiﬁcant number of dogs are affected by it?Do take part in our Great Debate on this subject. PBeverley CuddyIllustration by Beverley CuddyDear readersBeverley 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.The key to every dog’s heart… Unlimited Adventure.Own a Salop Caravan holiday home at one of our 5 star Harlech parks and chase adventure with your furry friends anytime.67%of our ownersown a dog• Two dedicated oﬀ lead dog exercise areas (with agility course)• 10 minute walk to dog friendly sandy beach• Dog wash stationWho beer to escape with?Find out moreminydonpark.co.ukFind out morecastleviewpark.co.uk

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6Dogs Today Issue 361K999 emergencyAssistance dogs can be life-changing – and, in some cases, life-saving. But we are hearing worrying reports that some have been refused access to ambulances or even emergency medicine when they most needed it love to see people enabled by their gorgeous assistance dogs, don’t you? And those dogs are usually doing more than they’ve ever been trained to do. Over the years, I’ve had some big tough men cry when telling me how all the docs couldn’t ﬁ nd a pill to ﬁ x their depression; that while their dog was trained to do lots of clever, enabling, practical stuff, by far the biggest gift was their unwavering and unconditional love. So, while the law sees these dogs as an auxiliary aid – like a wheelchair - they’re obviously so much more valuable.If you have a disability as deﬁ ned by the Equalities Act 2010 and your dog mitigates that disability, then no one can reasonably prevent that dog from being by your side. However, not everyone knows that! If you’re in an emergency situation, that ignorance can turn a drama into a crisis.Imagine a serious accident when you’re walking with your assistance dog. Sharon Lawrence had exactly this happen only a few weeks ago. The paramedic took one look at her assistance dog, Frank, and said no, he couldn’t travel with her to hospital. (Maybe if Sharon had been blind with a generic Labrador guide dog, they’d have behaved differently? Who knows.) At this stage, Sharon had blood gushing from her head; her teeth had gone straight through her top lip when she’d fallen. But one of the crew still wanted to quiz her as to whether Frank really was an assistance dog. (He’s an Italian Spinone.)Things got even worse. Sharon said the crew member decided he’d test how well trained Frank was!“He made a loud noise. Frank was startled, but recovered immediately. He then deliberately trod on his paw – he cried, but recovered immediately.”FRANK REFUSALSharon insisted Frank came with her in the ambulance. The crew member still maintained that A&E would refuse the dog access. The hospital had no issue with Frank. As Sharon knew, the paramedic had been wrong. But sadly, this wasn’t an isolated incident. I’ve heard of other very distressing problems with assistance dog and ambulances.We’ll call our next case history Rebecca, as she doesn’t want to be identiﬁ ed.“I was told again last week that it was unsafe for the ambulance to take my assistance dog if they’re blue lighting me to hospital. “My dog is my freedom, and the reason I’m still here. She will alert me to a chemical I’m very allergic to. And bees. I’m reactive to the sting. She will also alert to changes in my blood pressure. If I’m starting to go into shock, she gives me a whack with her head or her butt (the latter was not trained, but hey, it works!), or jump up and, if necessary, put her paws on my shoulder (she’s a Wolfhound) and make eye contact.“I’ve never had her refused at the hospital, just the ambulance.“A reaction can vary in severity, from a cough that develops over the following 20 minutes to half an hour, then needing EpiPens and hospital, or a sudden closing of my throat.“She has changed my life in ways I cannot express. The chemical I’m allergic to is present in so many foods, and in some vape products and cleaning products, as well as drugs, clothing, plastics and so much more. A trip to the supermarket may leave me struggling to breathe; a meal out rarely ended well. My life shrank to my house and garden. Then my dog came into my life; she started to guide me away from danger. “Incidents went from daily, to weekly, to monthly, Issue 361 Dogs Today7Photo posed by modelsWords BEVERLEY CUDDYI

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8 Dogs Today Issue 361and then I realised it had been two years since I’d had an attack.” Currently, Rebecca’s safety and independence are compromised. If she walks past someone vaping and has a reaction, she knows she must always drive her dog home ﬁrst before she can call the ambulance. She once had to use all three of her EpiPens to get her dog home to delay anaphylaxis.“I’m fully conﬁdent that without her, I wouldn’t have made it this far, and I’m not willing to risk her safety for anything. I’m not sure what the solution would be, but I want to live an independent life, and that means that if I go into shock, I need a cast-iron guarantee that my dog will be safe.”I don’t think that’s too much to ask, do you?I decided to ask someone who should know how we can make that happen: the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) assistant director Helen Vine. She surprised me by saying that they are currently looking at assistance dogs in ambulances and they were close to producing a protocol.The AACE agree that it is a legal right to be able to travel with your assistance dog, but they also recognised there were challenges that needed tackling. For example, what to do if a paramedic is terriﬁed of dogs. But the work is progressing well, and they were keen to come back to tell us when they’re nearer to rolling the protocol out. Helen told me that even if all the crews were up to speed, there would still be some work to do to make sure all the hospital trusts were aware of the law and have plans in place to deal with people arriving with their assistance dogs.I asked how they were going to deﬁne assistance dogs and they weren’t yet ready to share that with me.I had remembered seeing an excellent presentation by paramedic Stephen Hines about how assistance dog owners should be treated and I put him in touch with Helen as his work pre-dated their efforts. Helen told me that Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) had been helping AACE and I wanted to be sure they would be aware of all the non-ADUK assistance dogs, too.I had spent a lot of time in a working party at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) about how non-ADUK and owner-trained assistance dogs could get better protected. Many airlines only accept ADUK dogs and that has hugely disadvantaged some disabled people.DENIED FLIGHTSAlison Pendragon (formally Skillin) and her assistance dog Ziva recently had to miss an important Westminster meeting on assistance dogs. She was intending to represent the Assistance Dog Council (ADC), but no airline would allow her to travel with her dog.She told me, “The UK is currently in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities articles 3 and 6, I believe. I’ve been petitioning Parliament for changes without avail. Including the SHRC (Scottish Human Rights Commission) and EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission) about the violation of our human rights.” “Now it’s not just UK airlines but APHA (Animal and Plant Agency) and Defra as well. APHA say their policy stems from the Defra one. Defra have an unlawful policy, stating that assistance dogs need to be trained by ADI (Assistance Dogs International) or IGDF (International Guide Dog Federation) to board a plane. Airlines used to ask for a letter from a professional trainer to allow Frank. Photo © Sharon LawrenceSharon insisted Frank came with her in the ambulance. The crew member still maintained that A&E would refuse the dog access. The hospital had no issue with Frank. As Sharon knew, the paramedic had been wrongIssue 361 Dogs Today 9 non-ADI/IDGF assistance dogs on board. Now they do not even give people that chance. Defra agreed that in-country ﬂights, the Equality Act 2010 should be upheld. They have not offered to help make this happen. It is disgusting that a government agency ignores important human rights laws.”With amazing timing, assistance dog trainer Kirsten Dillon contacted me about a new charity that she, Peter Gorbing, Sandra Fraser and others had formed after the DWP working party ﬁzzled out.The Assistance Dog Assessment Association (ADAA) offers people living with disabilities the opportunity to have their assistance dog independently assessed. ACCESS ASSESSMENTTheir website says: “We appreciate that being an owner-trained partnership or non-ADUK team can make access to services difﬁcult. We are a non-proﬁt organisation created to bridge this gap through our comprehensive public access assessment. Our commitment is rooted in the belief that everyone, regardless of how their assistance dog has been trained, deserves access to support and validation.”I put ADAA in touch with AACE, too. I know ADAA are hoping to get the Civil Aviation Authority accepting their accreditation, which would help many assistance dog owners to get off the no-ﬂy list. I asked on my social media for other people’s experiences and heard from a paramedic who was also the owner of an assistance dog, a very useful perspective.She preferred not to be named, but she told me she personally would prefer not to take her assistance dog with her should she need to go to hospital by ambulance. She said she would personally ﬁnd it really stressful, as she’d be worrying about her dog. She urged others to try to ﬁnd someone to look after their dog until they are on a ward, where it is usually easier to manage.She was very interested in the accreditation charity, Alison Pendragon with Ziva. Photo © Alison Pendragon GUIDE DOG ASSOCIATION ADVICE For unplanned admissions or emergencies, a guide dog owner may be suffering from shock or is unconscious. It is likely their dog will also be showing signs of distress and it is advised to contact Guide Dogs. In certain situations, we will remove the dog to a place of care and safety while the owner is indisposed.A guide dog owner who visits a hospital or medical facility with their guide dog should not be refused because they have their guide dog with them. It is the service provider’s responsibility to provide the same level of care to disabled people that they would provide to other patients, and to make any necessary reasonable adjustments to be able to do so.Where a guide dog owner needs to be transported to hospital by ambulance and there is no one to take care of the dog, the medical staff should take the dog along with the owner, as separation will increase stress on both the dog and owner. On arrival at the hospital, further arrangements can be made to accommodate the dog. If it is impossible to take the dog along, the ambulance staff must contact Guide Dogs for the dog to be catered for.Clive Wood, lead regional policy and campaigns manager, also added: “Many hospital trusts, other medical facilities and ambulance services take different approaches to accommodating assistance dogs when they are accompanying their owners. We have worked with a range of health service providers to ensure they have an inclusive assistance dog policy that outlines the support that will be provided to assistance dog owners, regardless of the route they access medical services when accompanied by their assistance dogs. We would like to see a more consistent approach to give all guide and other assistance dog owners the conﬁdence that they can access any health service independently and with conﬁdence.”The UK is currently in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities articles 3 and 6, I believe

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Issue 361 Dogs Today 11 Siân MurphyI’m a disability access consultant and owner of PAD – Policies for Assistance Dogs. At PAD, we work with businesses, organisations and service providers to develop short- and long-term solutions that promote inclusivity and offer equal access opportunities for assistance dog handlers.There isn’t one protocol, each NHS board or trust will have its own policy. In theory, they should all be the same, as the law applies to everyone, but this isn’t yet the case. This leads to inconsistency of treatment from one area to the next.As a sweeping statement, yes assistance dogs have a right to access transport in an ambulance with their disabled handler. However, the reasonable part of reasonable adjustment still applies and there will be a lot of factors at play here. Is the handler in a state where they can be responsible for the care of their dog? If they can’t be, is someone with them who can be? Is there a way for the dog to be secured in the ambulance (harness and car seatbelt)? Is the dog suffering from trauma and reacting with uncharacteristic behaviour that would put the ambulance crew at risk in any way? When I deliver training, the order for non-life threateningly urgent cases goes: is the handler medically able to maintain responsibility of the dog? If yes, how will the dog be transported safely? If no: is there anyone on the scene who can take the dog to either accompany the handler or keep the dog safe elsewhere? Can someone nearby be called in to help? Is the dog somewhere they can be left alone? Eg the ambulance has been called out to the home, where the dog can safely be left until someone can get to them. Is the dog trained by an organisation or charity who will send someone to take care of the dog?If the answer is no to all of these, I recommend they call the local police or dog warden, who can offer temporary care for the dog. In situations where there isn’t time to work through a checklist, I recommend calling the police immediately, as they can arrive on scene much more quickly than the dog warden or a charity/organisation representative. It is obviously less than ideal having an assistance dog under the care of the dog warden or police, but if it’s the safest option for all parties, it will have to be done.If a handler can be responsible for their dog, or has someone who can be, and is able to securely transport the dog, there is no reason for them to be denied access to treatment. I feel it’s important to really emphasise that. Although I’ve just written a lot about when they can be refused, as a general base rule, access must be granted whenever possible.My advice would be: have an easily accessible plan that you can show medical professionals, including who to contact and how to manage situations with your assistance dog. You can cover arrangements that need to be made when you’re travelling in this. You never know when you may ﬁnd yourself in a situation where communication is difﬁcult.Find a local licensed boarding kennel and discuss situations like this with them. Will they be able to take your dog as an emergency if it comes to it? How will the dog be transported there? Your insurance should cover a certain number of nights in emergencies, to ease any worry about cost.Always carry a dog seatbelt, and harness if your dog doesn’t typically wear one, in your bag to ensure you aren’t denied access for safety reasons.Victoria MorrisMy assistance dog has been with me in A&E multiple times, and blue lighted by ambulance once when I was semi-conscious after passing out at the dentist from an adrenal crisis. I’ve never had an issue and have had multiple admissions where she’s stayed with me on the ward. I’ve never had to have family come in to help look after her – staff have argued over who gets to take her for a toilet break and there’s been no shortage of volunteers.Last week, she accompanied me for a colonoscopy and was with me throughout the prep the night before, as well as the procedure itself. I’ve found Blackburn and Burnley hospitals to be good with my assistance dog and I’ve never had any problems keeping her with me. >She was keen to tell me that ambulance crews very often go more than the extra mile for those with a dog. A colleague had picked up an older lady who was being admitted, who was very distressed about leaving her dog home alone. After dropping her at the hospital, at the end of his shift he picked up the lady’s dog and looked after it for the next week until she was well enough to be discharged.Photo © Victoria Morris10 Dogs Today Issue 361as her dog is not trained by an ADUK charity and access to ferries and other services is problematic. When she was trained as a paramedic, she was told that the only dog you can have in an ambulance is a guide dog, otherwise it’s a sackable offence.I discovered AACE only covers England, so will tackle the devolved nations next and try to get them to sign up to the English protocol when it’s ready. OTHER READERS’ EXPERIENCES...Philippa FosterI recently had to use 999 from home. We discussed what would have happened if I was out in my wheelchair with my assistance dog and needed an ambulance. They said they probably wouldn’t take my wheelchair or my dog (who is quite large), as there wasn’t room in the ambulance. This upset me terribly. It basically means that if I’m out and about, I have no 999 service, as I obviously can’t leave my dog and my wheelchair in the middle of the street. If they must attend children in pushchairs, do they leave the pushchair behind? Do they decide to leave some of the children behind, too? My beautiful dog will squeeze in anywhere.Hetty Brown-GrifﬁnHave been blue lit numerous times with anaphylaxis by both police and ambulance and my dog always came, no questions.Hannah WilsonI have always been permitted in an ambulance with my assistance dog and some of our paramedics have remembered me, which is nice! We’ve also had familiarisation training on a rig and were actively involved with ﬁrst-aid training at my uni, which allowed many NHS placement students to become familiar around assistance dogs. Darren MarajhI have been sent to hospital a handful of times via ambulance and Nifﬂer has always been present. Even when we walk into the hospital, I have only ever had one person challenge me. The last time I was in an ambulance, when we arrived at the hospital, the paramedics took Nifﬂer for a wander around the grounds, meeting other waiting paramedics and even showing him the air ambulance! The NHS in general seems to be great with assistance dogs. Ruby WelsfordAssistance dog owners should ride with their auxiliary aids unless it would be considered unreasonable for them to do so. I would be very interested in talking to this person to get more details surrounding the incidents you’ve highlighted, as I am leading training for such situations for some hospitals and ambulance services in the Midlands. If the person arriving is unconscious and is going to be rushed into resus, they should be looking at any emergency contact or next of kin. If the patient is cognisant and the dog is proofed to loud noises and can tuck into small spaces if needed without interfering with treatment, there is no reason not to let them come with.Kate Rarr Rar HarveyI live in Shetland and have had the best experiences with the ambulance and hospital staff up here. I have a note on my door, explaining my condition and that she’s an assistance dog, I have a lanyard and cards for when in public, and I have a prepacked hospital bag with all her spare equipment in it. We’ve never been turned away from the hospital or from an ambulance; a lot of them are usually happy to have her there and always compliment her. One of the ward doctors in the hospital fears dogs, but that’s never been a reason to kick us out or not be seen; we just work around it where she sits in the opposite corner of room, so the doc is comfortable. Whenever I’ve had to have scans or X-rays, they ask if I want her to go with them out of the room and they watch her for the time being (if I don’t have someone else to come with me).Jane HewisonI’ve never had an issue when attending outpatients at Bristol Royal Inﬁrmary, Southmead Hospital Bristol, or Leicester General Hospital, Leicester Royal Inﬁrmary or Glenﬁeld Hospital Leicester.Jo WoolleyNo personal experience, but the dog must be secure in the ambulance. We have an emergency car harness and seatbelt attachment, which would do the job.Photo © Kate Rarr Rar Harvey

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12 Dogs Today Issue 361 OTHER READERS’ EXPERIENCES...Anastasia Louise LagarezLast year, both myself and my assistance dog were hit by a speeding car. I took most of the damage and my assistance dog had some scrapes. We went in the ambulance to casualty. Anyone who could help me with my dog was ﬁve hours away.Originally, the staff said if people came in shifts to ensure my dogs’ needs were met, I could stay. Then, at 1.30am, they changed this to: unless someone was with me 24/7, my assistance dog would be removed and they would deny me care.I had to discharge myself and go to a hotel. I was in agony, as my leg was broken and they had not given me a cast or pain relief.Luckily, family were now able to reach me, and I was admitted to hospital and my mum took my assistance dog home to be seen by a vet and recover. I spent the next two and a half weeks in hospital without my assistance dog.Eryn FoxI’ve had to go in a few times. A couple of times, there were no issues. My dog was popped on or next to the bed with no restraints on my dog, bar the leash.Multiple other times, I have been refused an ambulance unless I left my dog at home because “they weren’t covered to take a working dog in the ambulance”. This was after making the excuse about needing to secure her when I explained I keep a seatbelt restraint in my hospital bag for her.A paramedic also had my guide dog jump off a roughly 4-5ft drop out the back of the ambulance, jumping off a slippy metal grid, on to the tarmac below rather than getting her to use the stairs to the side of the ambulance. She was out of work for weeks with a damaged back leg as she slid, and her legs splayed when she pushed off.These issues happened with a smaller Cocker and a Lab-Golden. I’ve avoided being hospitalised like the plague ever since.Jax KennedyI live in London and have never been refused access with my assistance dog by the ambulance service. Kingston accompanied me on more than 200 emergency ambulance trips including numerous blue light journeys to hospital. The crews have all insisted he is with us. Then, at hospital, Kingston remains with me in resus until my family can come and collect him.Wendy McIntoshI’d like to see this extended to cover any dog. What happens if you are walking your dog/dogs and have an accident? If you are conscious or unconscious is also an issue. I ﬁnd this really worrying.Bernie CrayI’m honestly surprised that people are shocked that an assistance dog cannot go in an ambulance in an emergency. In the UK, there is a lack of clarity around the legalities of an assistance animal, so there are many “assistance” dogs that have little to no training.It is up to the owner of an assistance dog to have things organised so that if they are taken into hospital, the dog is looked after. It is not up to the paramedics that are dealing with a medical emergency.Hannah PatrickNever had an issue with doctors or hospital, though I don’t take Hex to certain appointments – for anything that involves imaging, sterile environments or very hands-on examination where I cannot be in full control of my dog, I either bring a human to hold Hex or go without him. I went to the dentist without him and they asked that I remember to bring him next time, so he doesn’t have to keep asking me if I am going to faint! PPhoto © Anastasia Louise LagarezPhoto © Hannah PatrickOdorKillOdorKillUse wherever there’s a bad smell, like wet dog smell, dog pee, cooking etc.Mop with it, spray it - indoors, outside, on ﬂ oors, dog beds, on astro turf, patios etc.Dilute just 20ml in a litre of water.A 1lt bottle will make 50 lts.Just 25p for 1lt of air freshener. at is GREAT value.5lt bottle will make 250 litres,making it as little as 14p a litre.EVEN BETTER VALUE.www.animal-health.co.uk01787 476 400USE CODE DOGSTODAYGET 5% DISCOUNT ON ODORKILL Code one use per customer. Valid until 31.07.24 Insurance for your dogs, cats, wedding and more with our wide range of policies.YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY. INSURED.PROTECT THE SPECIAL THINGSVISIT THEINSURANCEEMPORIUM.CO.UK/DT99call 03300 243 980 today!Lifestyle Policy Limited is an appointed representative 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.PROMO CODE: WOOF99Offer ends 31/12/2024 and is not available in conjunction with any other promo code.SPECIAL 5% OFF PET INSURANCECode one use per customer. Valid until 30.09.24

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14 Dogs Today Issue 361A routine injection turned out to be very expensive for a GP practice that decided to separate a man in a wheelchair from his assistance dog. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsmen ruled earlier this year that the Somerset GP practice must pay the man £950 compensation and apologise to him.The man, referred to as Mr U, arrived at the GP practice for his second Covid jab on 7 May 2021. He was in a wheelchair and his assistance dog was at his side.Staff decided to separate him from his assistance dog before allowing him to enter, leaving him feeling humiliated and emotionally distressed.Mr U arrived at the practice for his vaccination with his assistance dog tied to his wheelchair, an ombudsman report said.Mr U said practice staff called for their manager after he said the dog was a qualiﬁed assistance dog that he was going to take in with him, and the manager then “inappropriately” questioned him about how the dog aided him in front of onlooking members of the public.FORCED SEPARATIONMr U said he did not have the opportunity to explain his legal right and felt he had no choice but to give in.Practice staff then removed his dog’s lead from the wheelchair without asking and the manager walked the dog to the door.Mr U said, “I felt my dog was being conﬁscated.”The practice manager said the dog did not have a recognisable assistance dog lead, but Mr U said the dog’s uniform was hooked on his wheelchair and that there was a Canine Partners tag on the lead.The practice said the decision to separate Mr U from his dog was made in the “perceived best interests” for his safety and access, and said it was a “snap decision taken in the midst of an extremely busy Covid vaccination clinic”.The situation left Mr U feeling betrayed and helpless, and he said his mental health got worse.POOR HANDLINGIn its ﬁndings, the ombudsman said, “We accept that the practice says this incident was caused by miscommunication and it did not intentionally discriminate against Mr U.“But, they knew Mr U was a vulnerable, disabled person and once he explained his dog was an assistance dog, he should have been free to access the building like the rest of the patients that day.“We accept that Mr U’s communication may not have been clear, and he may have seemed to hand the dog over without much objection.“But, given he is a vulnerable patient, we think it was the practice manager’s responsibility to understand what was going on in this situation. “They recognised that Mr U would rather keep the dog with him, and we think they missed an opportunity to explore this further and give Mr U a chance to explain himself.”As well as the £950 ﬁne, the ombudsman also ordered the practice to write to Mr U to acknowledge its mistakes and apologise for their impact.It also ordered the clinical commissioning group running GP practices in the area (now the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board) to write to Mr U to apologise for distress caused by its “poor complaint handling”. PWords BEVERLEY CUDDYDiscriminating GP practice ﬁned All health providers need to understand that it is the law for an assistance dog to stay with their disabled owner wherever it is reasonably possible Photo posed by modelsnonstopdogwear.comUnique constructionOur unique SAFE-R buoyancy construction ensures that your dog is kept afloat and stable relative to the waterline.The foam is placed on the side forincreased buoyancy and freedom of movement. The panels are split into sections to allow your dog to turn without being restricted by the vest.BreathableHighly breathable HexiVent material on your dog’s back. Water can flow through, and the ventilated top can help prevent your dog from overheating.ErgonomicThe shape of the vest allows your dog’s front legs to move freely, meaning your dog can move more efficiently in and out of the water.HandleThe life jacket is equipped with a sturdy handle in case you need to lift your dog up on your paddle board, the dock or in the boat.SAFE-T wrap systemBy combining the SAFE-T wrap system and the wide chest straps, the pressure is evenly distributed, making the vestcomfortable and safe for your dog.

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16 Dogs Today Issue 361 EXPERT ADVICETikTok’s #petcare hashtag has more than 15 million views, many of the videos featuring ‘hacks’ for dog care and feeding, with novice owners and experts alike sharing what they think is best for their dogs and yours. Sarah McNamara, nutritionist for vet-approved dog food Barking Heads, shares which TikTok feeding hacks are to be believed, and those that should be avoided at all costs when they pop up on your For You page. Dr Scott Miller, resident vet for Barking Heads and ITV’s This Morning, also explains why some hacks work better than others and the health beneﬁts or risks attached to these nutritional tips and tricks.Eggshells as a food topper give your dog more calcium“As a supplement to your dog’s diet, eggshells are an excellent addition to boost their calcium intake. Calcium is incredibly important for puppies and pregnant dogs in particular, as it helps maintain strong bones and teeth for those need states,” says nutritionist Sarah.Dr Scott continues, “If you are going to give your dog eggshells as a supplement or topper to their meals, prepare them properly to avoid the risk of injury to your dog. I suggest washing the shells thoroughly and boiling them to make sure they are bacteria-free. Let them dry completely by baking them for 10 to 15 minutes before grinding them to a ﬁne powder. Add a teaspoon to your dog or puppy’s food for a calcium boost. “However, a balanced diet will contain all the calcium that your pooch could possibly need, so although I appreciate the sentiment, there really is no need to add eggshells to your dog’s diet if it has been given ‘complete balanced diet’ approval by a nutritionist.”Quick questionPet-care advice on TikTok – fact or ﬁction?Do you have a problem you’d like answered by an expert? Or do you Email your question to enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.ukIssue 361 Dogs Today17Raw eggs will improve your dog’s skin, teeth and bonesSarah McNamara says, “Eggs can be extremely beneﬁ cial for dogs when fed in moderation. A chopped-up boiled egg sprinkled on top of your dog’s kibble or wet food can help with a dog’s skin and coat, as eggs are rich in protein, vitamin B and vitamin A. Some owners on TikTok share clips of them feeding their dogs raw eggs, but like with humans, raw eggs put your dog at risk of salmonella. So, I would recommend you cook them before feeding.”Dr Scott Miller agrees, adding, “Raw eggs can put your pup at risk of salmonella. If you’re going to feed your dog eggs, make sure to do it infrequently and always boil the egg, rather than frying; the oil puts your pup at risk of obesity. Keep their eggs cooked as plainly as possible.”Adding keﬁ r to dog food adds good probiotics and is more hydrating for your dogSarah McNamara explains, “I’m all up for making sure your dog gets probiotics. Many owners will pay a premium for branded probiotic supplements, but you can give your dog a spoonful of plain unsweetened yogurt or keﬁ r mixed into their food to do the same job. One thing to be aware of is whether your dog is lactose intolerant. There are some keﬁ rs made with a coconut milk or water base, which are great alternatives to get those probiotics into your dog’s diet.”Dr Scott Miller says, “Dogs can reap many beneﬁ ts from probiotics. The added bacteria to their gut can aid digestion, help them absorb vitamins more effectively, and boost their immune system. Probiotics are also great if your dog suffers from diarrhoea, but I would always suggest visiting your vet to ﬁ nd out which is best, as dogs need a speciﬁ c species of bacteria that best suits their guts.” >ou want advice from someone with personal experience of the issue? Photos posed by models

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18 Dogs Today Issue 361 Kibble was made for our convenience, not with the pet’s nutritional needs in mind“This claim is just not true,” says Sarah. “When a brand is making kibble, they must follow strict guidelines on what goes into the food in order for it to be a complete meal for a dog and saleable. Every ingredient that goes into your dog’s food has to provide a macro or micronutrient to ensure they get everything they need. Your dog comes ﬁrst during formulation, and most brands’ kibble production is highly sustainable, as all meat ingredients in the food come from the human food chain.”Quick questionHot water added to kibble releases the scent of the meat more and helps fussy-eating dogs enjoy their mealsSarah McNamara says, “If you come across this tip, follow it. Especially if you have a fussy dog. Kibble should always be rehydrated with warm water to help prevent conditions such as bloat in your dog. In doing so, the warm water will release more of a meaty scent as it warms up the fats within the meat. This can entice fussy pups to give their kibble another chance. Remember to leave the kibble mixture to cool for a little while before letting your dog eat it.”Dr Scott Miller explains why fussy eaters might prefer rehydrated kibble. “When it comes to fussy eating, there are a range of issues that may be underlying, like an injury in the mouth, such as a cracked tooth, or gum disease. You may want to take them for an appointment with your doggie dentist (aka the vet) to get their oral cavity and dental health assessed so your dog can get back to enjoying their meals.”Kibble is the dog equivalent to eating at McDonald’s every day — it causes bad skin, allergies, bad digestion and bad teethOn this ﬁnal viral TikTok hack, Sarah says, “Based on the carbohydrate content of the kibble you give your pup, this can be true in some cases, but not all. Carbohydrates aren’t particularly bad for dogs, as they provide a source of slow-release energy in the same way humans need carbs. A low amount of carbohydrates in their diets helps your dog break down glucose.”While carbohydrates can do good for a dog in small doses, Dr Scott Miller explains why they can be detrimental, saying, “You’ll sometimes see that in dogs with high carbohydrate intake that they display more excitable behaviour compared to dogs on a diet with more protein.“Food allergies can be caused by a number of elements of diets, not just carbohydrates, with some proteins, such as beef, milk or even chicken, leading to gastrointestinal upsets and/or skin problems when consumed by some dogs.” PPhoto posed by a modelDOG TRAINER OF THE MONTH

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20 Dogs Today Issue 361 EXPERT ADVICEPets enrich our lives by sharing our hearts, homes and sometimes our beds. But just like us, they can be susceptible to hidden dangers in the home. One such danger is mould exposure, which can pose signiﬁcant health risks to both humans and pets. While some moulds are harmless, others can produce harmful toxins that can make your pet seriously ill. Thermal imaging experts at tester.co.uk have compiled some top tips on spotting the telltale signs of mould in your home, identifying the symptoms to watch out for in your pet, and, most importantly, the steps you can take to keep your pets safe from household mould. Identifying mould growth in the homeMould can be a sneaky adversary and often lurks unseen, silently taking root in damp corners and behind walls. Despite mould’s elusive nature, there are ways to detect its presence and protect your pets from its harmful effects. Visible mould growthAlthough this is the most obvious sign, it is essential to know what to look for when identifying the threat of household mould. Mould can appear in various forms and colours, often manifesting as fuzzy patches on walls, ceilings, ﬂoors, furniture, or your pet’s belongings. Typically, mould is black, green, brown or white. A fuzzy or uneven texture is also a good indicator that you may have a mould problem in the house. Musty odoursIf you notice a persistent damp, earthy smell in your home, particularly in areas with poor ventilation, it’s likely to be a sign of mould growth. Mould spores release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), causing Quick questionHow can we keep our pets safe from mould?Issue 361 Dogs Today 21 this musty odour. While the smell itself is not necessarily harmful, it’s a strong indicator that mould is present in the home and potentially impacting your pet’s health. Water damageMould thrives in damp environments, so any signs of water damage are a deﬁnite red ﬂag. Leaks from pipes, windows, or roofs and areas of the home with condensation buildup, especially in bathrooms and kitchens, can be strong evidence of mould presence. Pay attention to warped or discoloured drywall, peeling wallpaper, or any visible water stains, as even minor water damage can be the perfect breeding ground for mould. Symptoms of mould exposure in pets While some moulds pose minimal threat to humans, our furry companions can be much more sensitive. The most dangerous household mould is black mould, which can cause ﬂu-like symptoms, respiratory problems, and even neurological damage. These moulds thrive in damp areas and often have a musty odour. Here are some of the symptoms that might indicate your pet is being exposed to mould. Respiratory issuesPersistent coughing, frequent sneezing ﬁts, wheezing (indicating airway obstruction – see a vet immediately), or laboured breathing are all signs that your pet might be struggling to breathe due to mould exposure. Skin irritationSkin irritation can be an indicator that your pet has been exposed to mould. Watch out for your pet excessively scratching, licking, or biting itself, as this can lead to redness, inﬂammation, and even hair loss (especially around the face, paws and belly). Lethargy and neurological problemsMould toxins may cause digestive upset, such as vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite. In severe cases of long-term exposure to high levels of mould toxins, some pets may experience seizures, tremors, or difﬁculty walking. These are very serious symptoms and require immediate veterinary attention. Remember, early detection and treatment are crucial. If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, especially if you suspect mould growth in your home, consult your vet immediately. PPREVENT & PROTECTIf you suspect mould growth in your home, then it’s advisable to take some immediate precautions to protect your pets. ■Isolate the threatBlock off areas with visible mould or suspected growth. If necessary, temporarily relocate your pet to a mould-free environment while you tackle the problem. ■Establish a clean and safe environmentTo create a mould-free haven for your pet, establish a cleaning routine for their beds, toys and bowls. Store pet food in airtight containers to prevent moisture and mould growth. Finally, control humidity and ensure good ventilation in your home, especially in damp areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens. Doing so will signiﬁcantly reduce the risk of mould exposure. Barry Atkins, CEO of tester .co.uk, says, “The impact mould exposure can have on pets can be devastating and early detection is crucial. If you notice any signs of respiratory issues, skin irritation, digestive problems, or lethargy in your pet, especially if you suspect mould in your home, consult your vet immediately, as early diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious health complications.“It’s also worth emphasising the importance of professional intervention - certiﬁed mould removal companies have the expertise and equipment to safely remove mould and prevent its return, protecting your pet’s health in the long run.”

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22Dogs Today Issue 361 EXPERT ADVICEWith the announcement of a new dog-friendly airline coming to the UK, Travel Republic has pulled together some guidance for Brits looking to take their canine companions on holiday with them.Are there any health documents or vaccinations required for pet travel?When travelling to an EU country or Northern Ireland, your pet needs:■A microchip■A valid rabies vaccination■An animal health certiﬁ cate, or a valid pet passport that’s accepted in the country you’re travelling to■Tapeworm treatment for dogs if you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or MaltaCan my dog travel in the cabin with me, or will they need to go in the cargo hold?Whether your dog travels in the cabin or the hold depends on the airline’s speciﬁ c policies and regulations. It’s essential to research these policies before booking your ﬂ ight to ensure a smooth journey for your pet.How should I prepare my dog for the ﬂ ight experience?■Make sure your dog has been exercised prior to ﬂ ying, so that they have exerted any excess energy and can relax■Pack their favourite items, such as a blanket, that can be kept with them for comfort whilst ﬂ ying■Plan in toilet breaks from check-in through to boarding, so that your dog has plenty of time to relieve themselves■Try not to feed your dog too close to departure to prevent any motion sicknessCan I bring more than one dog?You cannot take more than ﬁ ve pets to an EU country or Northern Ireland unless you’re attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. You’ll need written evidence of registration for the event when you travel and all your pets must:■Be attending the event or training■Be over six months old■Meet all the other requirements for pet travel to that countryCan I bring food, water and toys for my dog onboard?It’s advisable to bring a small amount of food, a travel water bowl and any toys or blankets for your dog to help them stay calm and comfortable during the ﬂ ight.When going through security, you may need to remove items from your carry-on bag, including your dog’s food and toys, for separate screening. Be prepared to present these items to security if requested.How do airlines handle pet restroom breaks?It is best to research your speciﬁ c airline’s policy regarding toileting. However, some may require you to use absorbent pads or diapers for your pet during the ﬂ ight.What are the potential risks or considerations for my dog’s safety and well-being during air travel?It’s wise to consult your vet before taking your pet on a ﬂ ight and discuss any potential risks speciﬁ c to them. Travelling by plane can pose a health risk to dogs with heart or kidney disease, or if they have other pre-existing medical problems.Dogs with short faces, such as Pekingese, Pugs, Bulldogs and Boston Terriers, can experience respiratory difﬁ culty in conﬁ ned Illustration by Kevin BrockbankTravelling with dogs: what you need to knowQuick questionIssue 361 Dogs Today23carriers or if they are placed in the cargo compartment of the plane, especially during hot or humid weather.Are there any speciﬁ c guidelines for sedation or calming methods for the ﬂ ight?While some dogs may become anxious, it’s often not recommended to use sedatives to calm them during a ﬂ ight. For example, the Heathrow Airport guide states that the sedation of pets is not recommended and in some cases, it’s prohibited. It is best to look at your airport and airline policies, while also consulting with your vet before opting for any kind of sedatives.Getting them comfortable and familiar with their carriers and the travel motion can signiﬁ cantly help reduce their stress levels. You can also look into herbal stress relievers using natural remedies, such as chamomile, to help ease anxiety.To ensure a smooth and stress-free travel experience for both you and your dog, thorough planning and consideration are essential. You can use the government website to ﬁ nd the airlines and airports you can use when travelling with your pets. Remember to research your speciﬁ c airport and airline’s guidance on travelling with dogs and speak to a vet about any concerns you may have before departing. P

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24 Dogs Today Issue 361 EXPERT ADVICEJuniper Connal, a vet physio at Westcountry Vet Physio (www.wcvp.co.uk), has everything pet owners need to know Perhaps you have noticed more grey hairs on your dog’s face and he doesn’t run with the carefree energy he used to. Maybe, at your agility club, people are talking about how to prevent injuries in their dogs. Or the vet has just diagnosed your dog with hip dysplasia and you have heard that swimming might help. All these reasons and many more can lead you to exploring the world of canine physical therapy.Lisa Riley, an animal welfare scientist, and her colleagues reviewed the evidence base for hands-on therapy in dogs and identiﬁed that massage, stretching and mobilisation are proven to help maintain movement and improve comfort. This matches the evidence from human physical therapy. Another common treatment is electrotherapy, which involves using energy such as light, sound and radio frequency to stimulate the body at a cellular level and encourage healing. Professor Tim Watson’s website (www.electrotherapy.org) provides an unbiased review of all the current research on the effectiveness of these treatments within both Quick questionHow do you ﬁnd a good canine physical therapist? Issue 361 Dogs Today 25 human and animal medicine. Hydrotherapy, in the form of swimming and underwater treadmills, is scientiﬁcally proven to maintain mobility and improve ﬁtness through the resistance and buoyancy of water (Cartlidge, 2016).Anyone who has trained for something like couch to 5k will know the beneﬁt of guidance on exercises to develop ﬁtness and muscles, and our dogs are no different. Having a qualiﬁed, experienced rehabilitation therapist means exercises can be prescribed to target a speciﬁc condition. There are other management strategies, such as thermal therapy and kinesiology taping. Although they have a smaller evidence base, these have been used successfully for many years. With so many options out there, knowing what therapy or combination of therapies to use and when to apply them is important, which is why the person delivering any treatment should be appropriately qualiﬁed. ■So, what is a canine physical therapist? There is no protected or deﬁned description. This means that anyone can say they are a veterinary physiotherapist, canine massage therapist or hydrotherapist. Someone could buy a £29 online course, never be assessed handling a dog, and then advertise across social media offering canine rehabilitation. This is the scary reality facing dog owners today.■How do you ﬁnd a good therapist? First, let’s cover the legal requirements in the UK. The Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) says no one except a veterinary surgeon can provide acts of veterinary surgery. There is one exception. The Veterinary Surgeons (Exemptions) Order (2015) says suitable qualiﬁed physiotherapists can treat an animal following diagnosis and prescription for physiotherapy by a veterinary surgeon. Maintenance and performance treatment of a healthy dog is permitted without veterinary consent, but if a therapist ﬁnds a problem during the treatment, they should immediately refer the dog back to the vet. If a practitioner can explain the legal implications and only works within current veterinary legislation, it is a great step towards identifying a safe canine therapist.A number of years ago, Defra identiﬁed the problem of poorly trained people working as animal therapists. They approached the industry, asking therapists to look at self-regulation. In the UK, there are now two voluntary registers, RAMP and AHPR, and numerous professional bodies (NAVP, ACPAT, IRVAP, IAAT to name a few – see links below). If you think that’s confusing, you’re not alone – many vets also struggle to know who is qualiﬁed and who is just claiming to be a canine rehabilitation expert. >Photo posed by models

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26 Dogs Today Issue 361 Quick question■What training should be done? Let’s look deeper into the training and experience an animal therapist should have. To join RAMP — the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners — a therapist must hold a degree (level 6) qualiﬁcation in animal neuromusculoskeletal (NMSK) therapy and have completed 1,000 hours of hands-on practical training. This is the gold standard in the UK. In 2023, Defra recognised RAMP as taking the space of a voluntary industry regulator, as there is currently no statutory regulator for activities undertaken by animal musculoskeletal therapists. If you contact a RAMP registrant, you can be reassured the therapist is highly trained, they will only work within their scope of practice, undertake continued professional development and hold indemnity insurance to practise. There are approximately 600 RAMP members across the country and you can ﬁnd a list of registrants on their website.You might approach a practitioner who is registered with another regulatory or professional body, but any well-qualiﬁed therapist should be willing to explain their qualiﬁcations, experience, registration and who they are insured with. They will have spent many years and thousands of pounds developing and maintaining their skills. Never be concerned about asking for someone’s credentials to practise. If they are genuine, they’ll happily shout it from the rooftops. ■What about insurance? Pet insurance is another way of assessing if a therapist is suitably qualiﬁed. If recommended by your vet, comprehensive policies cover physiotherapy and complementary treatments, including hydrotherapy. Luckily, underwriters are quite savvy in the confusing world of canine therapy and most policies will only cover treatments delivered by a qualiﬁed practitioner. The person down the road who bought a dog swimming pool and is doing group swim sessions is unlikely to be qualiﬁed and registered, and therefore the pet insurance companies won’t cover the costs. Just imagine a dog recovering from surgery thrashing about in water, unsupported. The risk of catastrophic injury is highly likely. Whereas a good hydrotherapist will get a veterinary referral, fully assess your dog and get in the water on a one-to-one basis to deliver a session. Whatever the treatment, as a rule of thumb, if your pet insurance won’t cover a therapist, it's a great way to know you shouldn’t trust that person with your dog. ■Latest gadgets and treatments There are also a plethora of people clambering for your money for the latest go-to gadget. You’ll have seen the adverts for laser, PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic ﬁeld) and hyperbaric oxygen therapies. The person offering it might have done a one-hour online webinar, provided by the manufacturer of the machine that claims to deliver a miracle cure. We know from Tim Watson’s summary of the scientiﬁc evidence base that, in the right hands, electrotherapies are game changers in assisting healing and reducing discomfort, but such therapies need to be administered safely. Electrotherapies used incorrectly can cause deep burns and even death. Before you start letting someone wave a laser over your dog, it is important to check the therapist is well qualiﬁed, registered and insured. Good-quality treatment delivered by highly trained therapists can speed up healing, manage pain, help your dog return to full mobility and improve quality of life. For the safety of your dog, you need to be on the ball regarding who you let treat your furry best friend. If you get it wrong, at best you waste your money and at worst you risk the health and, ultimately, the life of your dog.Linkshttps://www.rampregister.orghttps://www.ahpr.org.ukhttps://www.navp.co.ukhttps://acpat.orghttps://www.irvap.org.ukhttps://iaat.org.ukAbout the author Juniper Connal is a vet physio at Westcountry Vet Physio (www.wcvp.co.uk), trained to postgraduate level and a member of RAMP. Her current clients include the International Freestyle Heelwork to Music Champion, Crufts 2024 and a FMBB Mondioring winner at the World Championships Italy, 2024. She regularly volunteers her professional services at Many Tears Animal Rescue. Juniper has a varied caseload of mainly horses and dogs, but she also treats exotics, birds and farm animals.Premium Quality Dog & Cat Grooming Wipes30% OFF USING CODE:DOGS2DAY. UNTIL XXXGet In Touchinfo@pawgeous.netMade in the UKExtra large and super durablePlastic free and biodegradableMade from natural ingredients, no harmful chemicalsSuper durable, biodegradable, coconut oil and aloe vera infused grooming wipes to eectively clean your pet. No need for water. No wet-dog smell.

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o far in this series, we have looked at the many reasons that some dogs are muzzle trained, as well as how to get started on muzzle training. Now you have worked on the foundations of building a positive association with the muzzle and introduced the early parts of training, we can work on progressing to fastening the muzzle straps and building your dog’s conﬁ dence with wearing the muzzle.Remember, as with all training, it is important not to rush your dog and to always play close attention to your dog’s body language and behaviour to ensure they are happy and comfortable at all stages. If your dog shows signs of worry at any stage, take a little break, go back a step or two and work on those again until your dog’s conﬁ dence builds.By now, your dog should be happy to put their nose in the muzzle and hold it there for several seconds. It is easy to rush the next step of simply doing up the straps, but investing time and effort into breaking this into small stages at this point will ensure that we keep the positive association with the muzzle in the long run. You can begin simply by gently touching the strap for a second or two while your dog has put their nose in the muzzle. If your dog pulls their nose out to look at your hand, try using even more subtle movements to start with, just moving your hand to the side to begin with. Reward your dog with a treat through the muzzle. SLOWLY DOES ITGradually, you will be able to hold the strap for a couple of seconds. You can now start to slightly move the strap, each time rewarding your dog with a treat through the muzzle for keeping their nose in there. Repeat this step several times, each time moving the strap closer to your dog’s head and slowly placing it into position. It may feel tempting to rush this and to do up the 28Dogs Today Issue 361Muzzle upIn the ﬁ nal part of our muzzle-training series, we look at the last steps needed to ensure your dog stays happy and conﬁ dent when wearing one SWords ANNIE DOWELL-CAFFREY TOP TIPIf you ﬁ nd that your dog paws at their muzzle or tries to get it off, make sure to distract them as quickly as possible with movement or a treat. As soon as they stop trying to get the muzzle off, remove it. If your dog cannot be distracted quickly, then remove it straight away so they don’t learn how to get it off. You will need to go back several steps until you ﬁ nd where your dog is comfortable and repeat the process slowly from there.Issue 361 Dogs Today 29 Photos SANDIE POWNER

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30Dogs Today Issue 361buckle/clip, but be patient! Repeat the same process for the strap on the other side too – until your dog is happy to keep their nose in the muzzle while you can move both straps around.CLIP SNAPBefore moving to fastening the muzzle, you may need to get your dog used to the sound of the buckle or side release clip, as sometimes the ‘snap’ as it closes can be worrying for some dogs. It is also important to consider if your dog is comfortable with handling around their ears. Dogs who have a history of ear infections, or have had uncomfortable ear drops, for example, may be more worried by the straps touching their ears. If your dog is fearful or avoidant of their ears being touched, you may need the support of an accredited force-free trainer to help you.Begin to practise holding the muzzle straps fully in place. Using a lick mat with liver paste, squeezy cheese or peanut butter on can be useful to reward your dog while keeping your hands free to hold the straps! Take the muzzle off again straight away and, working at a pace your dog is comfortable with, gradually build up how long you are holding the straps in place for. Eventually you will be able to fasten the muzzle fully and leave it in place for a second. Over several sessions, build up the length of time that your dog wears the muzzle fastened up, building by just a second at a time and giving your dog a reward before removing the muzzle again. Eventually, your dog will be happy and comfortable to wear the muzzle for several seconds.SECOND BY SECONDWe can now work on building the duration of your dog wearing the muzzle. By now, you know that patience is key. You can increase the time your dog is wearing their muzzle by just a few seconds at a time, graduating to a minute, two minutes and so on. Offer your We are The Muzzle Movement. We have a beautiful range ofmuzzles designed by a behaviourist, with dog welfare, comfortand safety in mind. We are passionate about ethical, force-freetraining methods and aim to support dog professionals andguardians with all things muzzle, from appropriate muzzle fit topositive muzzle training.www.themuzzlemovement.com@the.muzzle.movementSecure muzzles which allowdogs to pant and regulatetheir own body temperaturesafely.Expertly designed treat holeto enable easy reward-delivery for training at alltimes.Designed with dogs comfortin mind to ensure they candrink and perform normalbehaviours whilst muzzled.You can now start to slightly move the strap, each time rewarding your dog with a treat through the muzzle for keeping their nose in there. Repeat this step several times, each time moving the strap closer to your dog’s head and slowly placing it into positionWe are The Muzzle Movement. We have a beautiful range ofmuzzles designed by a behaviourist, with dog welfare, comfortand safety in mind. We are passionate about ethical, force-freetraining methods and aim to support dog professionals andguardians with all things muzzle, from appropriate muzzle fit topositive muzzle training.www.themuzzlemovement.com@the.muzzle.movementSecure muzzles which allowdogs to pant and regulatetheir own body temperaturesafely.Expertly designed treat holeto enable easy reward-delivery for training at alltimes.Designed with dogs comfortin mind to ensure they candrink and perform normalbehaviours whilst muzzled.

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32 Dogs Today Issue 361dog plenty of verbal praise and encouragement. When your dog is happy to wear their muzzle for a few minutes, you can begin to reduce the rate of reinforcement (how regularly you are giving your dog a treat) and encourage movement in the muzzle. Remember the movement game we discussed last month? You can play this game, now with the muzzle fastened, to encourage your dog to take some steps in the muzzle, or if there is another person that your dog enjoys spending time with, you can stand a few paces apart and call the dog between you, giving lots of encouragement and keeping it fun and playful.Remember, dogs don’t always generalise very well, so you will need plenty of practice in other areas, such as the garden or on walks, and you may ﬁnd that you need to repeat some of the training stages when in a new environment.HAPPY VET VISITSAnother important thing is to practise wearing the muzzle in the vet’s – and ensure there are lots of positive experiences there while wearing it. Do some ‘happy vet visits’. Most practices are happy for you to do this, but speak with them ﬁrst to make sure. Pop to your vet’s with lots of treats, do some muzzle training in the waiting area, or simply sit with your dog while they practise just wearing their muzzle in another environment, before heading home again. This creates a solid learning history of vet’s + muzzle = lots of treats and positive associations!If you have any difﬁculty with muzzle training, seek the advice of an accredited trainer who uses positive reinforcement training methods. We have an in-depth muzzle training guide available on www.themuzzlemovement.com and we are currently developing a comprehensive online muzzle training course, which will be available soon. PAnnie Dowell-Caffrey MAPDT (01566), IMD and ABTC-ATI is community education and engagement ofﬁcer at the Muzzle Movement. www.themuzzlemovement.comRemember, dogs don’t always generalise very well, so you will need plenty of practice in other areas, such as the garden or on walks, and you may ﬁnd that you need to repeat some of the training stages when in a new environmentTHINGS TO PRACTISE WHEN WEARING A MUZZLE■Known stationary cues, such as sit, down, paw etc■Teaching new cues while wearing the muzzle■Cues with movement, such as send-away and moving hand targets■Walking around the room you are training in, on a lead■Practising wearing the muzzle outside in the garden to start, then on walks and around distractions outside■Travelling in the carYELLOW DOG UK PROMOTES AWARENESS ANDUNDERSTANDING OF DOGS WHO NEED SPACEDogs that may be nervous, in training, recovering from an injury or illness, being rehabilitated or simply dogs that prefer to keep their distance from people and other dogs.We provide resources and information for dog owners, and offer a range of bright yellow ofﬁcial Yellow Dog products to help dog owners signal to others that their dog needs space. By educating dog owners and the public we hope to create a safer and more harmonious environment for dogs and their human companions.Yellow Dog has gained internaonal recognion, with supporters and parcipants from around the world promong the message and educang their communies. We’re here to help so please join us at WWW.YELLOWDOGUK.CO.UKVESTLEAD COVERLEADinfo@yellowdoguk.co.ukSome Dogs Need SpaceSome Dogs Need Space/YellowDogUk/YellowDogUk

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Words NIKI ROEIt has become obvious that the current system of bringing dogs over from other countries to save their lives isn’t the answer and doesn’t work in the long term. We want to save as many dogs as we can, but we need to do it properly. The current situation has many ﬂaws and incorrect procedures, leading to sad situations for dogs and potential adopters.Of course, there are rescues that are doing it well and right. And then there are those that are doing it very, very badly. Some of these so-called rescues are bringing over busloads of dogs, with no rescue back-up for when the situation goes wrong or when the adopter needs support. Some dogs bring over infectious disease that can be so detrimental to our dogs here.People are not getting the dogs they think they are getting, that they’ve never met and have only seen online. There are a number of scenarios, the two most common involving street dogs and puppy farms. Perhaps they get a street dog that doesn’t want to be a pet and doesn’t want to live between four walls. It wants to roam and travel like a street dog with its pack. It’s a little like trying to make a fox a pet! These dogs will display a range of unwanted behaviours, sadly leading to them being put down in some cases.SOFT TOUCHThe other awful situation is that the dog comes from a European puppy farm and they have become wise to the fact that we are a nation of animal lovers. The dogs are suffering awful situations in barbaric kennelling and this is just something you are supporting if you ‘adopt’ a dog from them.As a rescue, we are continuously getting calls for dogs that have been brought over from abroad and things have not quite worked out how they planned and they now need to rehome them. We cannot carry on like this. We don’t have enough good homes left for all the dogs needing them. They are breeding faster than we can rehome!One of the answers to help with the over-population of dogs throughout the world is to run neutering programmes in these countries. This deals with the problem at the root cause. This is what we, at Jack’s Giant Journey, 34 Dogs Today Issue 361Rethinking rescueRehoming strays from overseas isn’t sustainable in the long term and isn’t always in the dogs’ best interests. Dealing with the root cause at source is the strategy of Jack’s Giant Journey, who have recently returned from an eye-opening neutering programme in Bulgariaare all about! To us, the ﬁgures just make sense!Just recently, for around the price of bringing six dogs over to this country to save their lives, we have given over 50 hours each of surgery, from 10 volunteer vets and nurses, to Bulgaria, for neutering rescues, street animals and locals’ cats and dogs that couldn’t afford it, resulting in us saving 2,400,000 lives over a ﬁve-year period! These animals don’t want to be born into these environments and situations, and we don’t have the homes for them.We were able to use a disused building that we spent two days scrubbing clean before the vets arrived. It was a tiny dark room with a sink that leaked, meaning the surgery ﬂoor was soaked – and so were the vets’ and nurses’ feet. One vet couldn’t make the trip, sadly, but at this point we were grateful, as there would not have been room for another operating table in the room. Thinking back, this room was totally impractical. But things are different in Bulgaria; it is one of the poorest countries in Europe. The team were absolutely fantastic and they made good of a very bad situation.Once we moved to the town, we were able to use a proper vet surgery, with much more room and so were able to take in students from a local vet school. This was so rewarding for both us and them.Bulgaria was a good experience Issue 361 Dogs Today 35 One of the answers to help with the over-population of dogs throughout the world is to run neutering programmes in these countries. This deals with the problem at the root cause. This is what we, at Jack’s Giant Journey, are all about! To us, the ﬁgures just make sense!

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36 Dogs Today Issue 361and learning curve for us in so very many ways, from ordering the medication needed for our event, to dealing with their government. The government recently came on board with trap, neuter and release, which is great, as it wasn’t so long ago that their answer to population control was to catch, starve and poison thousands of dogs at a time. Heartbreaking! It was only in 2006 that the ritual of ‘spinning dogs’ was banned. Dog spinning is when a dog is suspended above water on a rope. The dog is turned repeatedly in a given direction to wind the rope, or is inserted into a loop of rope that has been twisted already. The dog is then released so that it spins rapidly in the opposite direction as the rope unwinds, and falls into the water once the rope run out. Absolutely barbaric. We were told that even though it is banned, it still goes on! RESCUERS OR ABUSERS?It was a shock to see some of the rescues thinking they are doing good work but are really contributing to a big problem. In some cases, there really was a thin line as to whether they were rescuing or abusing! One poor dog that was brought in was painfully skinny and deﬂated. She had given up. When we asked her rescuers why, we were told she hadn’t learnt to ﬁght for her food yet. And they wonder why these dogs resource guard when are put into a home! Some of these dogs did not want to go back to their carers when they were ready to leave the surgery. In all my life, I’ve never seen a dog want to stay at the vet’s before. It was just soul destroying. These dogs are thrown into situations with possibly well-meaning people trying to do their best. But they don’t understand dog behaviour. Do you really think this poor dog wants to live like this? Pushed into small kennels, fearful of other dogs and having to ﬁght for food? It would probably be better off free on the streets, but looked after, neutered and vaccinated.Dogs were being brought out of a van who had been pushed into crates together, causing ﬁghts. Many feral cats were being caught and put three or four to a box that should only contain one cat and, of course, they were ﬁghting and were covered in urine and faeces. It felt so depressing at times; we have a long way to go with education and welfare. We tried many times to explain things, but were just told, “This is Bulgaria; things are different That week, we did see many sad things indeed, but the spirit of the team kept going. There were many tears but laughter too. I’m just so bowled over, proud and in awe of all of the 10 wonderful volunteers, vets and nurses, who each gave over 50 hours of surgery timeIssue 361 Dogs Today 37 here!” Some of these people were English. They deﬁnitely knew better! ‘Rescue’ is big business here. People are making large sums from this while the animals suffer. But this is not rescue; it is abuse and torture! Please be very careful which so-called rescues you engage with from other countries that you are not able to go and see.QUALITY NOT QUANTITYTo us, a neutering programme isn’t about how many animals you can rush through in a certain amount of time. It certainly isn’t a ‘spayathon’, as some rescuers are calling it. We have made sure our protocols are correct and ethical by our standards. Scarlett, our head vet, insists upon certain types of drugs and methods to be used for the best care of the animals. We were certainly not going to be rushing anything. It wasn’t a matter of how many numbers we could do in a short amount of time. We knew, before we arrived in Bulgaria, that we were going to be put into situations that probably would not have occurred at home. We were asked what was the latest gestational period that we would spay a bitch. Our answer clearly was, “Bring us nothing that looks pregnant!” Their answer was, “It’s OK. Vets will do them at any age here!”That week, we did see many sad things indeed, but the spirit of the team kept going. There were many tears but laughter too. I’m just so bowled over, proud and in awe of all of the 10 wonderful volunteers, vets and nurses, who each gave over 50 hours of surgery time. It was many hours of organising, travelling and fundraising and so much more, but I think everyone would agree that it was so very worth it. I’m incredibly proud of Jack’s Giant Journey!Moving forward, we will carry on supporting friends in Egypt, Paws Crossed Survivors, where we all sing from the same hymn sheet, with the same views about welfare and behaviour. None of their dogs are shoved into small kennels. None of their dogs have to ﬁght for food. Pack combination is really thought about carefully, as is the mental well-being of every dog in their care. They fully understand that not every dog wants to ﬁnd a home in the UK or somewhere else. We talk often with them on behavioural issues and what’s right for each individual dog. We are really proud to partner up with them, as they are with us. We are looking forward to joining them in October this year.BACK HOMELong term, we are also currently looking into pop-up surgeries for neutering here in the UK. The overpopulation of dogs is worldwide and neutering programmes need to be offered here in the UK too. Rescues are sinking. There are very few places left and people don’t have the money to donate right now. So we need to stop more dogs being born and coming into a system that isn’t currently working. PJack’s Giant Journey is a dog rescue based in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Inspired by Jack, a dog who was left for dead but pulled through when all hope seemed lost, the group believes that rescue is far better for the universe than supporting puppy farms. Its mission is to give every dog a second chance at life and ﬁnd them a loving forever home. They are passionate about rescuing and rehabilitating dogs, and work tirelessly to ensure they receive the love and care they deserve. Find out more at www.jacksgiantjourney.com

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38 Dogs Today Issue 361eet Mutley, Oskar Kilo 9, a police wellbeing dog – the furry bridge to communication in our local constabulary.Mutley is a Maltese-Bichon cross. He's a very small dog with a very big heart. He was given to his handler’s family due to being an impulse purchase. Mutley had been with them 24 hours and they decided he wasn't for them. Luckily, he fell on his paws and was introduced to PC Mat and his family. Mutley is a happy little soul and ﬁtted into family life very well. He adores everyone he meets and has travelled the length and breadth of the UK with his family in their much-loved campervan. Because he was such a hit on his travels and has such a wonderful temperament, proving to be calm in every situation he’s encountered, PC Mat decided to put him forward for his jacket. PC Mat did the training with Mutley, which involved basic obedience, and also learned that there were important checks that had to be done for the wellbeing of Mutley, including giving him his own quiet time. PC Mat and Mutley were duly assessed and passed with ﬂying colours.Police wellbeing and trauma dogs were introduced to the force some years ago, but are now becoming more popular throughout the UK. The dogs who pass the training are all members of the OK9 trauma and support dog network. At present, there are 31 forces with around 170 wellbeing dogs.The OK9 unit was started by police sergeant Garry Botterill in Sussex, who saw the need for ofﬁcers to take time away from their desks and to breathe. The dogs may do a pop-in visit to ofﬁcers within the ofﬁce, be part of mental health ﬁrst aid or even take part in planned mental health awareness events. The dogs and their handlers raise the awareness of the importance of self-care within the police force.PAW PATROLIn the event of a major incident, the OK9 dogs are available to those affected mentally. Police ofﬁcers have to handle very difﬁcult situations, which can leave a lasting effect on their mental health and wellbeing. Mental health is now at the forefront of the news. The cost of living and Covid have added to more pressure in our lives, and the charity Mind says that one in four of us a year will suffer a mental health problem.Dogs are the ideal candidate to bring in for reassurance, a hug and just to be there to take someone’s mind away from whatever has happened that day. Dogs are also a great way to talk to someone without putting pressure on them. They can be present in meetings, helping ofﬁcers to open up and feel more relaxed and talk, helping them process their worries and enabling them to move on.Police ofﬁcers are portrayed as strong enforcers of the law, but they are normal human beings. They encounter so much trauma and they cannot be expected to burden that trauma alone for too long. They too suffer the black dog of depression and they need support to keep their mind in good health.Jo Shiner, the ambassador for Oscar Kilo 9, is pleased that other emergency services are now taking up the idea themselves and she hopes that eventually every force will have an OK9 dog.Mutley is now a very important member of the OK9 team, jacket on and ready to help whoever needs him. He has already carried out duties across a number of departments in his ﬁrst few weeks. I look forward to seeing more Mutleys across the country, supporting the police and raising awareness of mental health. PWords ANNETTE COURTNEYThink ‘police dog’ and a German or Belgian Shepherd are likely to come to mind. Well, think again...Oskar Kilo 9MIssue 361 Dogs Today 39

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Dogs communicate differently to humans, which sometimes makes it difﬁcult for us to understand when our own pets are afraid of something or do not want to make contact, even if, for example, they are pulling towards another dog or person. This happens because body language is the most important element of communication for dogs, and they begin a dialogue with another dog much earlier than it might seem. Such conversation usually starts from a distance of several metres, when dogs notice each other, and sometimes even earlier if, for example, they smell each other. From scent alone, dogs can read information about the other dog’s health, current hormonal arousal and emotional state. A conﬁdent dog who has nothing to hide and does not feel the need to prove anything will allow other dogs to sniff around his tail. In contrast, a dog who fears other dogs will most often not allow another dog to sniff around this area to avoid revealing that he feels insecure. In this situation, the dog blocks or moves away from the other dog.TIME & SPACE Time and space are the key. When a dog notices another dog from a distance, he pays attention to the other dog’s movements – whether the dog is approaching quickly or slowly, whether they are moving directly or in an arc. He observes whether the dog’s body is tense or relaxed, their movements ﬂuid or stiff, if their hair is standing up, and how their tail is moving.In cities, space for communication and the ability to leave the interaction or stop it is often disrupted. Sidewalks are narrow, making it difﬁcult to move aside comfortably to pass others. The distance at which dogs pass each other is very important. Their natural reaction is to avoid conﬂict, but when the distance is too small, they feel compelled to react. Not all dogs have a problem with this, but many do.Additionally, most dogs walk on a leash. They know their options are limited and are often put in uncomfortable situations. For example, suppose our dog does not want to confront an approaching dog and sends us signals that he does not want to do so. If we do not notice and continue walking towards the other dog, our dog feels misunderstood. His signals are not respected, so he learns that he must 40 Dogs Today Issue 361Don’t get lost in translation Learning how dogs communicate and play is vital for keeping your own pet happy and safe, and for ensuring interactions and introductions are positive all round handle it alone. If subtle signals do not work, he starts sending stronger ones, such as growling, barking or lunging.CONTEXT MATTERSEvery behaviour should be considered in a broader context. Just like humans: when we look at a behaviour without any context, such as hugging another person, it can have many meanings. The most common is showing affection, but knowing the broader context of the situation, we might conclude that the hug could mean expressions of sympathy, providing support, encouragement, or even having a sexual context.The same applies when we want to decipher a dog’s behaviour. We must know the context of the situation. Suppose we are walking with our dog, and another dog comes towards us. Stress signals can be very subtle and sometimes last only a fraction of a second. The most common signals we can see are slowing down, turning the head to the side, licking lips, yawning, panting, visible whites of the eyes, pinned ears, lifting a paw, or shifting weight from one foot to the other.HOW TO REACTIt is not about completely avoiding stress and stressful situations, because that is impossible. We humans also experience many stressful situations, and some are necessary for us. Stress mobilises us to act, and elevated cortisol helps us overcome difﬁculties. But what is important is realising what stresses us and why. Secondly, the ‘dose’ is also important — too much stress will have a negative effect.A dog that experiences constant fear and is afraid of other dogs will live in chronic stress. This can result in increased reactivity, difﬁculties in learning new behaviours (including strategies for dealing with these difﬁcult situations), sleep problems, and consequently health issues.Therefore, it is good to be aware of what stresses our dog. If we start observing them, there is a good chance we can help, react and change something in our behaviour Issue 361 Dogs Today 41 Words AGNIESZKA ŚWIĆThe meeting of two dogs on a walk is often perceived as play, but in reality, play occurs very rarely. Dogs play when they feel safe with each other, when they get to know each other better, and when they know what to expect from the other dog. Similarly, humans do not play with a stranger they just passed in the park. The deﬁnition of play is doing things for no reason; it should be enjoyable and consensual for all.Play in dogs is characterised by several features■Relaxed body: dogs move smoothly, their bodies are relaxed and their movements are ﬂuid.■Role reversal: dogs take turns during interactions. One chases, then the other. One pounces, then the other. One lies on the ground, then the other.■Pauses: dogs take breaks during interactions; they stop and can pause the interaction to catch their breath. They pay attention to the other dog and do not immediately restart chasing, for example.■Orientation to environment: dogs pay attention to the environment and what is happening around them. They occasionally glance at their owner and observe their surroundings.■Self-handicapping: dogs may try to make themselves appear less threatening. For example they may lie down, often seen in larger dogs playing with smaller or younger ones.■Short duration: play usually lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes.Not all of these elements need to be present in one interaction to call it play, but at least some should be.What dog play does not look like■Tense bodies: dogs’ bodies are tense and stiff. Movements are quick and nervous.■No exchange: usually, one dog chases the other without giving the other dog a break. The slower/smaller dog is unable to stop the chaser and cannot move away.■Running blindly: there is no space to orient themselves in the environment or check where their owner is. Often, dogs bump into each other or various objects.■Long duration: there is a lack of pauses and breaks. One dog tries to prove his strength to the other and does not allow the interaction to stop. Such running can last for many minutes, exhausting both physically and mentally.Play or interaction can have different purposes and intensities. The fact that dogs do not play does not immediately mean something bad is happening.Competitive playWhat we most often see when two dogs meet is competitive play — testing each other’s boundaries and what they can get away with. This they do with displays of speed, agility or strength. Humans get to know each other in similar ways. We ask questions about what we do, where we live, or what kind of car we drive. We assess someone’s health and well-being based on appearance. These assessments are not always accurate, and the other person may not always feel comfortable with our questions. We do not always want to reveal everything and admit that we just lost our job and are going through a tough time. We are more likely to conﬁde in people close to us, people we trust and feel safe with, not wanting to share this information with every person we meet on a walk.PLAY

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42 Dogs Today Issue 361to show our dog that he can react differently and that there are other ways out of a situation. If we start responding to our dog’s signals, they will notice. They will know they can trust us and we will not get them into trouble.PRACTICAL EXAMPLE Suppose another dog is coming towards us, and our dog turns his head to the right and licks his lips.■What could this mean? Our dog may fear the encounter and would like to move to the right.■What can we do? We can switch routes and try to avoid the other dog.Our dog will see that he is understood and that we respond to his signals, which can lead to greater trust. This, in turn, can make the dog feel more secure with us. Security is a fundamental need for all of us. If this sense of security increases, our dog might feel better in future interactions, knowing we respond to his signals and will help when needed.DISTANCE & RELIEFDogs communicate in space, so maintaining or increasing distance is very important for them. Moving away from a stressful stimulus, such as another dog, a scary person, a garbage truck, or a busy street, will cause a sense of relief, which will be rewarding.Dogs can use agonistic signals to stop or distance another dog or demonstrative signals to show their strengths to another dog. A common sight is a dog starting to pull towards another dog, stalking and staring intensely. At ﬁrst glance, this seems like a sign of friendliness, as if they cannot wait to meet, but often it is quite the opposite.HOW TO INTRODUCE DOGSMany dogs do not want contact with unfamiliar dogs. Such encounters can be stressful, and some dogs do not respect the boundaries of others – for example, insisting on snifﬁng around the rear end. We don’t need to introduce our dog to every dog we meet on a walk. Many dogs are simply afraid of other dogs and do not want random on-leash contact in a narrow space. This would not be a suitable place for free communication.Some dogs may be in the middle of training to calmly pass other dogs, and the owner will not want to ruin what they have worked on. They may be undergoing behavioural therapy and trying to work on something from a greater distance, not ready for a closer encounter.Other dogs may be ill, undergoing treatment, or recovering from an injury. Such a dog may well not feel up to meeting anyone new at all.TIME & PLACE When introducing dogs, the most important things are time and space. Therefore, it is much better to introduce dogs in a park without a leash, doing so at the pace of both dogs. The key here will be observing canine signals. Even if our dog is friendly, we want the other dog to feel comfortable as well. >AGNIESZKA ŚWIĆCoape behaviourist, dog trainer and nosework instructor Agnieszka Świć began her journey working with animals 10 years ago at a shelter in Krakow. Since then, she has continuously developed her skills and passion.Her professional path has taken her from working with sled dogs in the North Pole in Kiruna, caring for dogs in London, to participating in research projects at the Clever Dog Lab in Vienna.Currently, she focuses on supporting dogs and their owners, with a particular emphasis on canine body language. She teaches how to simply improve their comfort, leading to a more harmonious life for both humans and animals.Agnieszka loves dog sports, training and competing in obedience competitions with her dog, Chia.MEET THE PRACTITIONERS...When introducing dogs, the most important things are time and space. 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44 Dogs Today Issue 361< Large spaces will allow dogs to increase the distance, move away, run, or display their speed and agility. When we meet dogs on a narrow sidewalk, we automatically take away their ability to communicate freely, especially on a leash. Dogs know that their options are limited and they may choose to use stronger distancing signals if they do not wish to make contact.KEEP MOVING Movement facilitates the introduction and interaction between dogs. It’s best to arrange a joint walk. This way, it will be easier for the dogs to disengage from an interaction and shift their attention to the environment and other dog-related activities.Don’t stand still.When we stand facing each other, dogs are somewhat forced into interaction. Dogs pay attention to our body orientation, speciﬁcally the direction of our chest and feet. If the dog is walking parallel to us, we signal them to move forward. Therefore, if another dog approaches from the opposite direction and we are walking straight ahead, we are signalling to our dog to approach them.DOG PARKSAre they a good place to spend time? Not necessarily. Caregivers let their dogs off-leash and may stop paying attention to them.Dog parks typically have only a few dozen square metres. This is deﬁnitely not enough space for dogs to communicate freely. There are usually no objects or natural barriers, such as bushes or posts, that dogs could use ‘for conversation’.Abuses can occur in dog parks. When we have a less conﬁdent, more anxious dog, they often need our support. Sometimes another dog can be very intrusive and does not give the less conﬁdent dog a break. He insists on snifﬁng around their tail or trying to push them around. He doesn’t stop at one or a few times, but keeps repeating the behaviour. Less conﬁdent dogs may struggle to set boundaries for such a dog. They run away, which is often misinterpreted as play. The owners might say, “Look how beautifully they play,” while in reality, a drama is unfolding.In a dog meadow, we have more space at our disposal, which might seem to solve the problem. Unfortunately, space alone does not address all issues. If we bring together several dogs at once who are not matched in temperament, the result will be similar to that in a dog park.READING CUESUnderstanding how dogs communicate and play is essential for building a stronger, more trusting relationship with our canine companions. Dogs rely heavily on body language and scent to convey their emotions and intentions, starting their interactions from a distance. By paying attention to their subtle cues, such as changes in posture and facial expressions, we can better comprehend their needs and provide appropriate responses. PLuxury Pet hotel near Banchory, Aberdeenshire goes on the market for just under £500,000. Get in TouchELGIN BRANCH62 High StreetElgin, MorayIV30 1BUt: 01343 610520e: info@cclproperty.comThe three-bedroom, 10-kennel property sits in Lumphanan and is ready for a new owner. Ever imagined yourself running a hotel? How about a pet hotel? Well, this could be just for you.EDINBURGH BRANCH Hudson House8 Albany Street, Edinburgh EH1 3QBt: 0131 473 1192e: info@cclproperty.comLocated 40 minutes outside of Aberdeen in the quiet village of Lumphanan is a charming granite house that, at ﬁrst, seems to contain three bedrooms. Take a closer look, though, and you'll ﬁnd there's another 10 for some furry friends.When families go on holiday, their animal companions need a cosy place to stay.This could be that tranquil abode, for them and for you.Taking care of animal health, naturally.Email: sales@verm-x.comTel: +44 (0) 1984 629125Contact Us:Verm-X have launched their new Organic Dog Food Topper range, the perfect accompaniment to a raw food diet.Formulated with leading holistic vet and raw dog food specialist Dr Nick Thompson MRCVS, each food topper is a targeted blend of herbs, spices and botanicals that has been designed to address speciﬁc canine health concerns.Powerful medicinal plants have been expertly formulated into unique blends that contain the ﬁnest all-natural, certiﬁedorganic ingredients. The blends are easy to add to your dog's food, or even to mix into a keﬁr or bone broth paw mould to give your dog a fun and healthy treat.Visit Verm-X.com and use code Holistic15 at checkout for 15% oﬀ!Verm-XOrganicDog FoodToppersFrom £19.25

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always had a love for – and an admiration of – animals,” said actor Aidan Turner. “I never thought of myself as a dog owner or a horse rider, but life and my work dictated things a little and I am so glad it did. Now I really understand when people say that dogs are a man’s best friend.”Aidan is one of the busiest actors on the planet with constant demands for him to appear in ﬁ lms and TV series. He has never allowed his success to change him as a person and thinks that having a dog in the family is a great leveller.“You can never get ideas above your station if you have a dog around,” he said. “You love them and they love you, but they don’t have time to pander to you. If they need to go out, don’t argue with them, just let them out – or, better still, take them out and spend time with them, even if it is just in the garden on a cold winter’s night when it is raining. It’s very tempting to stay indoors and wait for them to have had enough, but they go quiet and it is dark and they might be several gardens away by now.Norfolk Terrier posed by a model. Photo by Tim Rose (www.timrosephotography.co.uk) Words BERNARD BALEFrom Cornwall to Norfolk“IHe’s known for his acting work, and for being Poldark himself, but Aidan Turner’s most challenging and enjoyable role is as Charlie’s butler 46Dogs Today Issue 361 “There are also advantages to being out there with them. You put your coat and hat or hood on and grit your teeth. Then you stand around while they do what they have to do, as well as snifﬁng every plant, shrub or tree to catch up with all the latest news from any messages left.“Then they decide that enough is enough and it is time to go back in and curl up on their bed. Sounds great, but when you follow them indoors, the pawprints tell you that it was muddier than you realised. When they shake and ﬂing dog-smelling raindrops around the room, you know that you cannot pretend that you haven’t noticed. You have just inherited another job, which actually turns out to be two jobs, since you have forgotten to take off your own boots and coat. WINNING SMILE“The blame is all yours, but that dog has a lot to answer for, especially since it is now grinning at you from its bed in front of the ﬁre, its fur slowly drying and that special damp dog aroma starting to ﬁll the room. You would like to be mad with him, but who can resist those appealing eyes, that soppy grin and that expression that says, ‘I love you’? Your dog has won again – game, set and match.”Charlie is the very special dog at home.“He is a Norfolk Terrier and is actually Caitlin’s dog,” Aidan explained. Caitlin is Caitlin Fitzgerald, Aidan’s wife and an actor in her own right. She is also mum to their child – and to Charlie, of course.“I think I am Charlie’s butler,” said Aidan. “He is very friendly and we are good pals, but he knows that Caitlin is his mum and she gets most of his love.”Aidan has spoken in the past of what it is like to work with animals in ﬁlms and nothing has changed his mind.“It can be very challenging, but also a lot of fun,” he said. “I had some really tough training when I was being coached in riding horses. I was riding all day, every day, for several weeks, but I learned so much, not just about the requirements and techniques of riding, but also about the animals themselves – what they need and what they are prepared to give. I learned about being patient and realising that animals work on a different level to humans, and if they are used to ﬁlm work, they know exactly what is required long before you grasp it yourself.“We had some great horses both in The Hobbit and Poldark and they taught me quite a lot. Some things are just horse language, but others – like patience – are for just about any animal or bird you need to befriend. I don’t think I was ever really on the same wavelength as any animal until I got to work with them in ﬁlms, and then I saw things differently and the animals I worked with responded very much better.”Except for one, of course. There was the notorious Garrick in the Poldark series.“He was a real character and great at his job, I must admit,” said Aidan. “We were never the best of pals, though. He was a nice dog and very popular with the viewers, but he insisted on thinking that he was the star of the show, and unless you were offering him something to eat, he just wandered around and ignored you. His real name was Barley and you would call him sometimes and he would just stop and look at you, or rather, he would look at your hands to see if you had any food. If not, he just carried on and made you feel as if you were way down the credits and he was the great box-ofﬁce star.“In fairness, Barley really was very good at his job and you had to applaud his success. He had gone from being a rescue dog in Battersea Dogs Home to being a ﬁlm star. He had a successful career in ﬁlms and TV and not many dogs can boast of that.”Charlie is quite a contrast.“He is much smaller than most dogs, but he is very, very courageous and loves to be with people as much as possible. He is totally part of the family. I don’t think you know what you are missing if you have never had a dog, but you certainly do miss them when you have. Maybe it’s their cleverness at letting you think that you are the one in charge when in reality...” PIssue 361 Dogs Today 47 I think I am Charlie’s butler. He is very friendly and we are good pals, but he knows that Caitlin is his mum and she gets most of his love”

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48 Dogs Today Issue 361 Maura Rua✗Human welfare is not on their agenda. After the removal of the heating allowance for pensioners, what chance do animals have?Fiona Davies✓I am not expecting great things, but am I expecting it to be better than the party where someone routinely suggested bringing back fox hunting? Yes. I’d really love to see the new government ban trail hunting, too. It’s a clear smokescreen for fox hunting, and the dogs are treated horribly. I’ll never forget the video of a dog being shot in the head and put in a barrel while still alive because it could no longer hunt.Great DebateIf 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 Tamara Cartwright-Loebl✗No, not hopeful at all. I expect them to fret about sport shooting and do nothing about anything else. They may have brought in the Animal Welfare Act, but they also decided against banning prong collars and shock collars in it because, and I quote from the response I got, “They’re not common here”. I mentioned that bestiality and incest aren’t common either, but they’re still illegal. This was after Danny Mills and his team conducted a huge meta-study of all the available data, speciﬁcally at their request. They said they agreed with his ﬁndings, then did nothing.Are you optimistic for animal welfare developments under the new Labour government?Issue 361 Dogs Today49Harriet Thompson✓Yes, I am cautiously optimistic. The new Labour government has promised to prioritise animal welfare and while promising something doesn’t mean delivering it, let’s be honest – it can’t possibly be worse than the Tories’ track record. I will never be over the fact they left the Kept Animals Bill to die.Joanna Lever?I’d like to hope so. Personally, although I know it didn’t stand a chance, I voted Green, in no small part for animal welfare.Simon Brown✗I’m afraid that I’m not optimistic about anything that will happen under the current government, animal welfare or not. Trail hunting — banning it has got bugger all to do with animal welfare. But hey, let’s not worry about the dogs that will need rehoming or culled and the jobs and livelihoods that will be lost. It’s a class thing. The only positive is that the hunt saboteurs will have to ﬁ nd something else to do. They seem hell-bent on going against their stated manifesto objectives — the latest being the scrapping of winter fuel payments for non-beneﬁ t recipients. Looking after their own again.Carol Johnson✗I very much doubt it. Many people on a state pension have lost their £300 fuel payments, so if elderly people don’t matter to them, what hope do our animals have?Dale Dee?As much as I love my pets and other animals, there is far too much to sort out for the country to include animal welfare as a big priority. Hopefully, in two or three years’ time, the country will be in a place where the bare essentials have been addressed so they can actually start to govern and legislate for a proper caring democracy.Sandra Evans✓The new government has made plans to tighten regulations on factory farming and ban cruel practices. Compared to the previous government, which did little more than pay lip service to animal welfare, this is a change. The bar is on the ﬂ oor, so I’m optimistic that things can only improve, even if just a little.Gill Robinson✗The government has done a U-turn on stopping the badger cull. That tells us how much animal welfare means to them. Nothing.Lucy Liddiard?There are mutterings about them closing loopholes in the Hunting with Dogs legislation, I think.Emma Semple✗He wanted to cull all banned breeds, including the exempted ones. How much of a crap do you think he gives about animal welfare? Pe, email enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk o 100 words.Next month’s topic: Is the Kennel Club worth saving?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 8AANo Yes MaybeThis month’s result25%50%25%

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50Dogs Today Issue 361 Dogs Today is only £12.50 quarterly if you pay by Direct Debit* ■Save more than £20 over the year■Delivered free to your door Plus you also get:■A £15 voucher for PurrfectlyYappy.com(minimum spend £75). Call us for the special code!■The chance to win one of 50 Nerf dog toysJoin our exclusive Sub Club! Call 01276 402599 (lines open weekdays 9am-5pm) or subscribe online www.dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/product/dogs-today-uk-subscriptionsAll new subscriptions will commence with the current issueOverseas prices: £79.99 for 12 issues or £145 for 24 issuesWith newsagents and supermarkets reducing their shelf space for magazines, it’s getting harder to ﬁ nd us. Help us by subscribing – and reap the rewards:The ﬁ rst 50 new or renewing subscribers this month will receive a fabulous Nerf dog toy – so even your dog can beneﬁ t. 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 ﬁ rst 50 subscribers each month (sorry, UK subscribers only).Help us by subscribing – and reap the rewards:Buy direct and save more than £20 a year!*UK only. By entering, you conﬁ rm that your details will be passed on to the company providing prizes for distribution & marketing purposes.SUBSCRIBE NOW& start saving today!01432 851111 ron@ronﬁ eldsnutrition.co.ukwww.ronfieldsnutrition.co.ukKeep them moving with Elastin Treats For DogsElastin is a combination of specially selected herbsthat maintains and supports all joints and aids recovery after exercise in dogs of all ages. Created by a scientist in India from ancient Ayurvedic recipes our new Elastin Treat is easy for dog owners to give because the treats are a delicious combination of Elastin and dried meat so dogs love them! And because of their compact size it is simple to ensure your dog is being given the optimum amount – and they can easily be mixed with your dog’s usual meal if you prefer.Elastin composition:Pure plant-based product: several herbal components, without chemical additives. Boswellia serrat gum 5%, Glyocyrrhiza glabra roots 10%, Curcuma Longa roots 10%, Tinapspora cordifolia 10%, Trigoneolla forename seed 10%, Vitex negundo leaves 10%, Withania somnifera 10%, Zinziber ofﬁ cinale roots 25%, Preservati qs embelica ofﬁ ciale 10%.Constituent Levels: 7.3% Crude Protein: 18.3% Crude Fat: 5.9% Crude Fibre: 6.1% Crude AshApplication:Small dogs up to 3 treats a day, Medium dogs 6 treats a day, large dogs 8 treats a day.Can be given as a treat or added to the food.COMINGIN SEPTEMBER

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52Dogs Today Issue 361 Your news & viewsFALLING FLATI realise I am a bit late to respond to your recent Great Debate on whether charities should stop rehoming brachy breeds. I don’t think they should stop, but certainly many of them should rethink how they advertise these dogs for adoption. Many charities and rescuers are rightfully calling out companies who use ﬂ at-faced dogs for advertising, but then describe them as “cute” and “adorable” in their adoption pages! I know there are good intentions and that advertising a dog for adoption is not the same as using it to sell a product, but surely there must be a better way to go about this. Or else their protests against using brachy dogs in advertising fall, if you’ll pardon the pun, quite ﬂ at.Rachel BarrettPhoto posed by a modelPostbagBULLIES AND BILLSIt may be a controversial opinion, but I believe that owners of dogs classed as XL Bullies (whether or not they truly are one, but that’s a different can of worms) should be fully reimbursed for the money spent on spaying and neutering them, and for any expense incurred by complications in the procedures, of which there have been many, as your magazine reported. If the government suddenly makes something a legal requirement, taking away all choice as to whether or not to do it, then that something should be free of charge.John DoyleOLD FRIENDSI remember the ﬁ rst copy of Dogs Today I bought. I was 15 years old and thrilled to ﬁ nd it on the shelves of John Menzies newsagents. It was the second ever issue (I think), and I still remember the front cover had two Labradoodles on it, a black one and a cream one. It was my source of all doggie knowledge back then, before the internet, and I continued to buy it or subscribe for many years, even when I no longer had a dog of my own (much to the amusement of friends and colleagues). I have recently “come back to the fold” after my husband got me a Dogs Today subscription for Christmas, and I still feel that old excitement when each new issue drops on my doormat.Isla HendersonPhoto posed by a modelIssue 361 Dogs Today 53 Get in touchWe love to hear your news and views, and see photos of your dogs! Email editorial@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk Write to us at Dogs Today, The Old Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AA Join the debateVoice your opinions on news stories and other topics on our Dogs Today Magazine Facebook page or through our website www.dogstodaymagazine .co.ukJames ThorneWhen we brought home our ﬁrst dog, Dad was adamant he wouldn’t get attached. Now, two years later, he’s the one who spoils her the most. He’s built her a custom doghouse and insists she sits next to him on the sofa every evening.Sophie ClarkDad always said, “No dogs in this house!” Now not only does he have a dog in the house, but he’s allowed on the sofa, in his bed, in his car whenever he goes out...Sylvie BrownDad didn’t want a dog, but when we adopted a rescue collie, everything changed. They are the best of friends, always out exploring new parks and trails. My father needed to lose quite a bit of weight to get healthy again, and you know what collies are like – he’s now Dad’s exercising mate.Hannah EvansWe were shocked when Dad agreed to get a dog. He was never an animal person. Now they’re inseparable and share breakfast every morning. He even takes her to the pub with him. It’s like they were meant to be best mates.From FacebookIDEALLY, TAKING A DOG HOME SHOULD BE A DECISION THE ENTIRE FAMILY AGREES ON. IT’S NOT ALWAYS THAT WAY THOUGH. DOGS HAVE A WAY OF SNEAKING THEIR WAY INTO EVERY HEART – AND MANY A DAD HAS BECOME BEST FRIENDS WITH THE DOG THEY DID NOT WANT... POLICE KENNELS SCANDALAfter a bout of ill-health, I am back home and reading through the issues of Dogs Today I have missed. I was shocked to read about the horrible conditions of dogs in police kennels. If any dog owner let their dog get in such a state, they’d surely be prosecuted by the RSPCA – and a pet-care service would lose their licence! It’s sickening to see the police can get away with such low standards of care compared to what would be expected from anyone else with dogs in their care. Unfortunately, I don’t ﬁnd it too shocking. They get away with blatant racism and sexism all the time (the recent report on their ‘progress’ on those areas is damning), so who’s going to enforce better behaviour towards dogs?Zoe SmithBear was returned in a pitiful state after just four months in police kennelsPhoto posed by modelsEmily JohnsonMy dad was completely against getting a dog. He thought it would be too much work and only caved when we swore he wouldn’t have to do anything. Fast forward a few months, and now he and our Labrador are inseparable. They go for long walks every morning, and Dad even sneaks him bits of his dinner when Mum’s not looking. They’re the best of friends and partners in crime!

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54 Dogs Today Issue 361 My Dog CrushMany 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.Italian SpinoneIssue 361 Dogs Today55CharacterThe responses to our survey regarding Italian Spinone character were overwhelmingly positive. “They are loveable buffoons,” summed up one survey respondent. “Easy, undemanding dogs that enjoy being around people and are really a family member,” said another. “The Spinone is smart, loving, loyal and will make you smile every day you are with them.”Their loving, gentle gooﬁ ness was repeated over and over in the survey. But before you race to get one, take heed of the advice on the welcome page of the Italian Spinone Club of Great Britain, which says the breed is, “A dog for me, a dog for you, but not a dog for everyone.”If you are house-proud, ﬁ nd another breed. Ditto if you’re put off by slobbery beards that need to be wiped after meals and drinks and other drooly times. Your working arrangements should also be considered. “They are incredibly sociable, but they do not like being left alone.”ExerciseThey might be loving clowns inside the house, but their true purpose comes to the fore when they are outside. Remember, these are hunting dogs at heart. 27% of our survey walk their dogs for more than 90 minutes a day and 33% for 60-90 minutes. “Must allow one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening – it’s a must,” advised one fan. “We walk seven to eight miles daily over three hours,” said another. The dog’s age is important – young dogs and oldies would have less. But for healthy, fully-grown adults, they need a physical outlet for their substantial energy. Mental stimulation is important too. 16% of our survey took part in tracking and scentwork activities, 20% in obedience and around 25% in gundog training. Training & behaviourAll dogs need thorough training and socialisation, but it is especially important in larger dogs. When dealing with a fully grown adult Spin, you’ll be thankful you put in the hours teaching them not to pull on the lead and jump up when they were a pup. “They require a lot of attention to train in the ﬁ rst couple of years, until they’ve settled down,” warned one owner. But the rewards of having a happy, reliable companion you can take everywhere are well worth the initial efforts. HealthThe Kennel Club recommends screening for hip dysplasia and a DNA linkage test for cerebellar ataxia. This neurological disorder affects coordination and balance, and usually becomes evident in the early months. It is progressive, with most affected puppies put to sleep before their ﬁ rst birthday. The Kennel Club explains that, “Most DNA tests identify whether your dog has a speciﬁ c genetic mutation that causes a disease. Linkage tests do not do this, instead they ﬁ nd parts of unrelated DNA that are almost always inherited with the genetic mutation. Linkage tests may not be as precise as other DNA tests, but they can still be highly accurate.”Epilepsy was frequently reported in our survey. There were also cases of cancer, liver shunt and bloat/torsion. Photos by Tim Rose (www.timrosephotography.co.uk)This breed has the best beards and eyebrows in dogdom, with bundles of Italian charm to boot.Our survey of Italian Spinone owners revealed:NO MORE PULLING • NO MORE RIDING UP • NO MORE RUBBING • NO MORE COMING OFF • NO MORE DISCOMFORTREVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLARCall to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www.dogmatic.org.uk Awarded ‘Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 - 2021, UK’11 TIMES WINNER OF ‘Product I can’t live without’For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST Winners 2013-2024WINNER2020Global100Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 – UKEndorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine & Feline Behaviour Association

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My Dog CrushOriginsUnlike British gundogs, developed to have speciﬁ c tasks, the European ones do it all and the Italian Spinone was bred to be an all-round hunt, point and retrieve dog. Similar rough-coated pointers have been in Italy since the Renaissance. It’s thought the Spinone was developed with some input from the Italian Hound, the Segugio, Italian setters, and perhaps even some Mastiff. The breed comes from the Piedmont region of north-west Italy where they hunted the foothills and mountainsides of the Alps for game birds, fox and rabbit, and down in the plains and wetlands for waterfowl.During the Second World War, the Italian Resistance used the Spinone to track enemies and to carry food. Post-war, numbers had fallen considerably and the ﬁ rst breed society was formed in 1949 in an effort to stabilise the breed.The Spinone arrived in the UK in the early 1980s and the Kennel Club formally recognised the breed in 1994. 56Dogs Today Issue 361 ●Loving●Affectionate●Friendly●Stubborn ●Sweet●Goofy●Fun●Devoted●Laid-back●TalkativeTraitsIssue 361 Dogs Today 57 by Chris Guest“Un cane per me, un cane per te, ma non cane per tutti” translates as “a dog for me, a dog for you, but not a dog for everyone” and is how the Italians describe their native gundog, the Italian Spinone. Never was a truer word spoken. If you’re looking for a large, scruffy, loveable mud magnet that can produce copious amounts of slobber and drool, with a beard that can harbour indescribable objects, then a Spinone is the breed for you. However, if you have a RHS-styled garden, cream carpets and are house-proud, then I suggest you look elsewhere, as a Spinone is not! An adult male can weigh as much as 40kg or more and maintaining the coarse, wiry coat can require a lot of work depending on how much coat the dog carries. A heavier-coated dog can take six hours or more to handstrip, whereas a shorter, more Labrador type of coat can be sorted out with a good, stiff brushing. Handstripping is the preferred method of maintaining the Spinone coat and will need doing on a regular basis to keep the coat wiry and waterproof. Clipping, although a quicker option, creates a softer, woolly coat, which is not ideal and, in the long term, is harder to maintain.I acquired my ﬁrst Spinone in 1991. At the time, I had a young family and two Labradors, so ﬁrstly, temperament was very important. Secondly, as a shooting family, I wanted a breed that would ﬁt in comfortably as a family pet and shooting companion. I also wanted something a bit ‘different’ and that drew me to the world of HPRs and ultimately the Italian Spinone, a choice that I’ve never regretted.My ﬁrst, Barney, came in as an older pup and was everything I’d hoped for: a kind, loveable chap, easily trained (others that followed not quite as much!) in basics and biddability. Barney was soon joined by Molly, then Daisy, then Fraggle, then… yep, this breed is addictive and I was warned by many that I wouldn’t stop at just one. How true was that warning. I have now owned nine and currently looking for number 10! Despite being a large breed, they suit my family’s way of life. I live in a rural location with access to acres of farmland, which means all my dogs – Spinone, Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla and Labradors – have plenty of free running. As a large, heavy breed, a Spinone should not be over exercised as a youngster and care should given while the skeleton is developing to prevent joint damage. Spinone can take as much or as little exercise as you care to give and are well equipped to work all day in the shooting ﬁeld. They are relatively easy to train and are naturally biddable, but do not make the mistake that they are a slow, unintelligent breed. Their intelligence lies in the fact that if they pretend to be slow witted, you’ll ask nothing of them when, in fact, the more you ask of them, the more they will give. Teaching a solid recall in their early years is the most important lesson they will ever learn, as they are hunting dogs in their native Italy, and will trot tirelessly all day. FOOD & FAMILYThey are still highly valued as working dogs, but the most important thing in a Spinone’s life is its family! They do not thrive particularly well in kennels and love human company, particularly that of children. Another Spinone favourite is food. They have an excellent nose and are not above stealing food from worktops or from the hands of small children, if it’s within easy reach. A long-gone Spinone of mine helped herself to a large chocolate Swiss roll, biscuits, packets of soup and chocolate, which resulted in her having her stomach pumped on Christmas Eve!In all honesty, there is nothing about owning a Spinone I would change because if I did, they wouldn’t be the breed my family and I fell in love with all those years ago. Remember: un cane per me, un cane per te, ma non cane per tutti... POwner’s viewNO MORE PULLING • NO MORE RIDING UP • NO MORE RUBBING • NO MORE COMING OFF • NO MORE DISCOMFORTREVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLARCall to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www.dogmatic.org.uk Awarded ‘Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 - 2021, UK’11 TIMES WINNER OF ‘Product I can’t live without’For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST Winners 2013-2024WINNER2020Global100Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 – UKEndorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine & Feline Behaviour Association

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My Dog Crush58Dogs Today Issue 361 Best Facebook group●Italian Spinone Dog Lovers ClubGroomingThe dense, coarse coat is medium length (4-6cm), with longer, thicker hair for the eyebrows, beard and moustache. The coat should be brushed regularly and the dead hair handstripped twice a year. Most survey respondents (44%) brushed weekly, monthly (19%) or daily (12%). Some more, some less. “It really depends on their coat, which can vary a lot,” advised one owner. Half used a professional groomer for handstripping; the rest did it themselves. The beards, however, need a lot more attention. “The beards can be a smelly mess. We wipe her beard after meals, walks and food, and wash her beard weekly, and trim when needed.”Regular checks on the ears are also needed.Advice for wannabe owners●“Think long and hard. They can be very stubborn. You can’t be house-proud (or garden-proud), as they cast and can be very slobbery.”●“They are a sociable breed so can’t be left... they need to be the centre of your world.”●“Have a sense of humour and patience.” ●“Be very careful. Too many are dying of cancer between six and eight, quite a few younger; epilepsy is a huge problem too. Research your breeder thoroughly.”●“Get a good vacuum cleaner – and a good tracker.”●“They are ﬁ lthy, but it will be the best thing you’ve ever done.”●“Learn how to handstrip. And be prepared to do the work to properly maintain the coat.”●“Meet the breed and spend time with them to be sure you can cope with the slobber, size etc.”●Marco●Gigi●Gino●Enzo●Artu ●Sophia ●Obi Juan Spinone ●Vito ●Bella ●CocoBest namesNO MORE PULLING • NO MORE RIDING UP • NO MORE RUBBING • NO MORE COMING OFF • NO MORE DISCOMFORTREVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLARCall to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www.dogmatic.org.uk Awarded ‘Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 - 2021, UK’11 TIMES WINNER OF ‘Product I can’t live without’For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST Winners 2013-2024WINNER2020Global100Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 – UKEndorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine & Feline Behaviour AssociationIssue 361 Dogs Today59Love the breed? Shop the breed^ A selection of cards from AmberMariesStudio on etsy.com. From £3.99 for a single card; discounts for multiples.^ This hanging ornament makes a lovely gift for a breed enthusiast, or can be put on the Christmas tree to remember a much-missed friend. £14.99 from Edswatercoloursgifts on etsy.com ^ A 220g soy wax candle with a Madagascan vanilla, jasmine and sugared almond scent. With over 40 hours of burning time, this candle is the perfect gift for a Spinone fan, or to cover the whiff if your own beloved hound has rolled in something icky! £14.99 from makesterofﬁ cial on etsy.com < Ceramic mug – perfect for a cuppa after walking your Spinone. £19.99 from Edswatercoloursgifts on etsy.com This steel Spinone garden decoration can be painted or left to rust, as intended. £33.99 from TheImageIndustry on etsy.com^^ This heat- and stain-resistant coaster with a Spinone head (left) is handmade from natural white and grey marble, and backed with cork, to protect furniture. £6.99 from CoasterCraftGifts on etsy.com. The gloss ﬁ nished dictionary deﬁ nition style coaster is heat-resistant and wipe-clean with a hardboard back. £5.99 from BellaGoesWalkies ^ A 220g soy wax NO MORE PULLING • NO MORE RIDING UP • NO MORE RUBBING • NO MORE COMING OFF • NO MORE DISCOMFORTREVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLARCall to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www.dogmatic.org.uk Awarded ‘Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 - 2021, UK’11 TIMES WINNER OF ‘Product I can’t live without’For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST Winners 2013-2024WINNER2020Global100Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 – UKEndorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine & Feline Behaviour Association

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60Dogs Today Issue 361 Tea breakName: _________________________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Postcode: _________________________Telephone: _____________________________________________________Email address: ___________________________________________________Breed/type of dog: _______________________________________________5912101481715321131618122274196231 1Gyles Brandreth’s Prize Crossword!Complete the crossword grid, then post your entry to arrive by 12 September 2024 to: Crossword 361, Dogs Today, The Old Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8AA. The ﬁ rst correct entry drawn after the closing date will win a Kong Shakers Honkers Flamingo dog toy worth £8.99. Available from PurrfectlyYappy.com The judge’s decision is ﬁ nal in all competitions. How to enterPut the kettle on and have a go at our competitions!Quick Clues Across5 Sausage dog (9)8 Type of spaniel (6)9 ... Russell Terrier (6)10 Scottish island home of terrier (4)11 Don’t give up (7)13 Wrinkly utility bread (4,3)15 Spitz-type originating from China (4)17 Bread leftovers (6)18 Growth on stag’s head (6)19 Puli or Vizsla’s nationality (9)Down1 Equipment (6)2 Neither tall nor long (5)3 Slender Greyhound-like breed (7)4 Growls ferociously (6)6 Northern county, home of terrier (9)7 Battersea etc (4,5)12 Communication (7)14 Indian city, hound’s name (6)15 Forty winks (6)16 Type of Scottish terrier (5) Cryptic Clues Across5 Dad’s hunch - new German breed (9) 8 Spaniel and farmyard bird meeting the Queen (6)9 Jack Russell in church? (6)10 A breed of terrier - heavens! That’s what we’ve heard (4)11 Keep on and on eating into supper, sister (7)13 Hips are replaced for this breed (4,3)15 A half portion of Chinese food for this Oriental dog (4)17 Gosh! Some food for the birds (6)18 Learnt about dear-sounding feature (6)19 Executed a royal Scotsman’s Puli (9)Down 1 Rugby try? (6)2 Like a ‘6 Down’ terrier? A bit dwarfish or tiny? (5)3 Punish favourite racing dog (7)4 Thus dog bares teeth angrily, when lass gets involved with Royal Navy (6)6 The type of terrier to make Roy shriek terribly? (9)7 Persistently follows Sherlock, we hear, in kennels? (4,5)12 Communication destined for the pooper scooper? (7)14 Type of hound brought in by tramp urgently (6)15 Hardly the sort of snooze that a dog would have (6)16 Scottish terrier unsettled in car (5)JULY SOLUTION Across: 7 Smooth; 8 Haired; 10 Lowchen; 11 Scent; 12 Tick; 13 Stone; 17 Billy; 18 Carp; 22 Chien; 23 Alaskan; 24 Digest; 25 Cronin. Down: 1 Isolate; 2 Norwich; 3 Itchy; 4 Parsons; 5 Breed; 6 Edith; 9 Anatolian; 14 Finnish; 15 Barking; 16 Spinone; 19 Acids; 20 Dingo; 21 Cairn.Crossword 361, Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8AA. The ﬁ rst correct entry drawn after the closing date will win a Kong Shakers Honkers Flamingo dog toy worth £8.99. Available from PurrfectlyYappy.com The judge’s decision is ﬁ nal in all competitions. Slender Greyhound-like breed Crossword 361, Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8AA. The ﬁ rst correct entry drawn after the closing date will win a Kong Shakers Honkers Flamingo dog toy worth £8.99. Available from PurrfectlyYappy.com The judge’s decision is ﬁ nal in all competitions. Issue 361 Dogs Today61Andy Murray’s ball dog Andy Murray’s ball dog contemplates an contemplates an uncertain futureuncertain futureWinning captionPhoto submitted by Alice Barnes via email Jack Russell Terrier & Pomeranian by Tim Rose (www.timrosephotography.co.uk)Clare WilliamsJuly Caption Runners-upCross QuestionCan you guess which breeds Esme’s parents are? He neutered me, so I got some replacements and a back-upDebbie AnneI knew it was a mistake to call him CerberusRoxane HobbsMy mum sent me to get Turkey teeth, but it went a bit wrongLynne LandThe winning caption will win a K9 Immortals Octopus dog toy worth £12.99 and the person who sends the ﬁ rst correct answer to the Cross Question will win a Kong Shakers Honkers Duck worth £10.99, both available from www. purrfectlyyappy.comEmail your Caption Competition & Cross Question entries together with your contact details to comps@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk or post to: Competitions 361, Dogs Today, The Old Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AA, to arrive by 12 September 2024Caption this!June Cross Question SolutionLexi’s parents are a Jack Russell Terrier and a Pomeranian The ﬁ rst correct answer came from Jo Knowsley +Amber was very pleased with what she got during all the looting at Pets At Home!Jacqui Stovell Hamsters make it look so easy Maria WatkinsonDo you have a funny pic you’d like us to feature? Please email it to us at comps@dogstodaymagazine.co.ukCan you come up with a witty and amusing caption for this photo? How to enterMonkey, a Chihuahua puppy. Photo submitted by Sue CulmerWinners of the Cross Question and Caption Competition will win a prize from Purrfectly YappyPhoto © Firth Photography

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62Dogs Today Issue 361 www.foreverhoundstrust.orgPRIORY ROAD ASCOT BERKSHIRE SL5 8RJ01344 882689We are a non-destruction sanctuary for abandoned & unwanted dogsRegistered Charity No. 256728established 1958Dogs Today 2018 Charity spotlight lottery advert v3.indd 123/01/2018 14:47:10Charity SpotlightWelcome to Charity Spotlight - a handy reference point for good folk doing great work. We’re helping to raise the proﬁ le of this diverse group and we encourage you to get involved with them, by offering a forever home, fundraising or volunteeringIf you’d like to see your organisation featured in these pages, please call us on 01276 402591 for more detailsNEUTER AND SPAY,NO MORE STRAYSWe neuter and spay thousands of dogs and cats in Romania every yearCharity No: 1172316www.animalsni.ukPayPal email: donations@animalsni.ukCharity No: 1172316www.animalsni.ukEden Animal Rescue is a registered charity which has been caring for animals since 1995. We started with a small number of people who fostered animals in their own homes. We help and care for neglected or unwanted animals and arrange for the provision of good homes for them. The scale of our work is huge; in an average year we home 400+ cats and kittens and 120 dogs – not to mention rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs.Eden Animal Rescue is proud of the fact that we have a non-destruct policy and believe that NO healthy animal should ever be put to sleep. We always seek the opinion of our vets and behaviourist and it would be only on their advice that an animal would be euthanised.For many years our busy rescue centre was located near Shap, Cumbria, but in 2016 we moved to a purpose-built centre at Moorlands Head Farm, Newbiggin, Temple Sowerby, Penrith. Our new home has proved to be a wonderful place for our animals – the space, atmosphere and surroundings contribute massively to their wellbeing. As well as welfare needs and behavioural work, we also pay veterinary bills for vaccinations, neutering, any treatment required and microchipping. While an animal is with us, we provide care, companionship and understanding and do all we can to match them to a great new home and owner.Having only a small team of dedicated staff, we rely heavily on the work of our fantastic volunteers. To be able to do the valuable work we do at EAR, we are continuously fundraising and we rely on your support and donations. We really could not do it without your generosity.If you would like to donate to Eden Animal Rescue so we can continue our work, please contribute via BACS transfer using the reference ‘Donation’: Bank Barclays Bank plc Sort Code 20-66-97 Account Name Eden Animal Rescue Account Number 40558877 Follow us on our website & social media: www.edenanimalrescue.org.ukFacebook: Eden.Animal.Rescue Instagram: edenanimalrescueFor adoption enquiries: Email admin@edenanimalrescue.org.uk Phone 01931 716114THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.Registered Charity Number 1117113Charity of the monthEden Animal Rescue Charity Spotlight_361.indd 62Charity Spotlight_361.indd 62 14/08/2024 22:0514/08/2024 22:05

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Issue 361 Dogs Today63www.foreverhoundstrust.orgPRIORY ROAD ASCOT BERKSHIRE SL5 8RJ01344 882689We are a non-destruction sanctuary for abandoned & unwanted dogsRegistered Charity No. 256728established 1958Dogs Today 2018 Charity spotlight lottery advert v3.indd 123/01/2018 14:47:10As a rescue charity, Rushton helps abandoned, abused and unwanted dogs on a international scale. Rescuing dogs from all over the world. especially the meat trade in Asia and China.Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1139999Call Now:+44 (0) 1823 49 10 52mail@rushtondogrescue.co.ukTo rescue, rehabilitate and rehome vulnerable and at risk dogs from YorkshireSaving Yorkshire’s DogsRegistered Charity No 1167291Tel: 07562 986101Email: savingyorkshiresdogs@gmail.comWeb: www.sydrescue.org.ukFind us onWE RESCUE KILL SHELTER AND ABANDONED DOGS FROM ROMANIA AND REHOME THEM IN THE UK AND GERMANYwww.barkingmaddogrescue.co.uk@barkingmaddogrescue @bmdrdogs www.petsavers.org.ukFinding the cures for serious pet illnesses, helping them live longer, healthier liveswww.leicesteranimalaid.org.ukTel 01455 888257Registered Charity No. 242560Rescue and rehoming centre for dogs and catsBCT_0310.4x1.indd 1 4/1/10 16:55:42Registered Charity No. 1077588Help us to help moreWe rescue and rehome 100s of dogs and cats in London every year themayhew.org020 8962 8000We 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.pennineanimalwelfaresociety.orgGreyhounds make great pets★ Lincolnshire Greyhound Trust has been rehoming Greyhounds since 1988★ We have rehomed over 2,300 retired Greyhounds★ Kennels in Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire & Epping Greyhounds since 1988★ We have rehomed over 2,300 retired Greyhounds★ Kennels in Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire & Eppingwww.lincolnshiregreyhoundtrust.co.uk07941 313025kev@lincolnshiregreyhoundtrust.comRAYSTEDERegistered charity no 237696www.raystede.org01825 840252RAYSTEDERescuing and rehoming animals in SussexCharity Spotlight_361.indd 63Charity Spotlight_361.indd 63 14/08/2024 22:0914/08/2024 22:09

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64Dogs Today Issue 361 Want to advertise your business in our classiﬁ ed adverts section?Call Mike McGlynn now on 01276 402591 or send an email to mike@dogstoday magazine.co.ukwww.dogs-holiday.co.ukDogs stay free!Boturnell Farm CottagesHome 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 ﬁ rst aid kit We make a super chunky range ideal for all dogs. Feeding your dog as nature intended really helps dogs with digestive issues and allergies. Check out our shop online or in person, we stock bones and carcass, lots of natural treats and other ranges of food.Order online for NATIONAL DELIVERY or visit us at: Unit 6a, Building 6, The Depot, Weedon, NN7 4PSMonday-Friday: 9am-5pm, Saturday: 10am-4pmwww.naturalanimalnutrition.co.ukTel: 07398 891622Advertising featureNatural Animal Nutrition - natural food for healthy dogsRaw Food Provider of the MonthFOR 10% DISCOUNT USE CODE DT24Classiﬁ ed advertsHolidays, Charities, Services & ProductsIssue 361 Dogs Today656622JulyWestie ReHoming @westierehoming4www.westierehoming.org information@westierehoming.net 0844 879 4260 PO Box 4204, Swindon SN2 9LA UK Westie ReHomingRegistered Charity England & Wales 1108659 Scotland SC045329Westie 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. DedicDedicatDedicatDediced to the ed to the ated to the atWeWest Higst HigWest HigWeWest Highlhlst Highlst Higst Highland and hland hlhland WWhihiWhiWWhithihie te tTTiTiTiidverts6622JulyCanine Products Supplier of the MonthNon-stop dogwear was founded in Norway, 2009. Today Non-stop dogwear develops, designs, and sells dog equipment worldwide. You can currently ﬁ nd our range of products in over 1,300 stores in 27 countries. Our young team continually reﬁ nes existing products whilst continuing to develop new solutions to problems faced by pet owners worldwide and importantly from a dog’s perspective.Non-stop dogwear caters for all breeds across all activities and settings and produce products of the highest quality.Our purpose is summed up in one sentence: “Release your dog’s potential”. Check out our website and allow us to help you do exactly that!www.nonstopdogwear.com | 0047 62341000Advertising featureNon-stop dogwearEXMOOR COAST & COUNTRYWoodcombe Lodges & CottagesSet in 3 acre gardens on a quiet country lane on the edge of the Exmoor National Park yet within 1 mile of shops, pubs, beach & seafront.South West Coastal Path, Coleridge Way, Two Moors Way.Prepared walks from our door. Dogs welcome, Free Wiﬁ.www.woodcombelodges.co.ukwoodcombelodges@outlook.com | Telephone: 01643 702789

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“If we gave you Earl’s Court for the weekend, what would you do with it?” So said one of the bosses who produced the Ideal Home Show for the Daily Mail. They no longer needed so long to dismantle all the show homes, so they had some days free to trial a new exhibition in the venue that had once been the home to Crufts.Back in the early 1990s, there weren’t yet such things as DogFest or Goodwoof. We’d already worked with the NCDL (now Dogs Trust) on giving their annual fun day some glitz by putting on an event called Top Dog. Our singing dog competition had catapulted the winner to almost X Factor levels of fame. Could we do something even bigger? Of course we could!I soon had many pages of content ideas – the exhibitions man was very impressed. We just needed to attract a headline sponsor. The Mail were happy to gift the venue, but we needed to ﬁ nd a pet company to give a very modest amount of sponsorship, too.MISSED OPPORTUNITYWe went on the road, pitching our idea to all the big players in the pet market. You know the stories of all the record companies that missed out on signing The Beatles? The same happened to us. Back in the early 1990s, no one thought pet dog owners would pay to attend a show that their dog could take part in! The blueprint was destined to sit on my desk, attracting dust, for a few more years. Then I got a call from Clarissa Baldwin, the boss of the NCDL. “We’ve been given Scruffts and we don’t know what to do with it. Do you have any ideas?”Well, of course I did. I sent her the Earl’s Court ideas and she got very excited. She said it was far too big for them to do alone, but perhaps we could get all the dog charities together – should we try?Everyone wanted to play and there were few places with a boardroom big enough to house the bosses of the RSCPA, Battersea, Blue Cross, Wood Green, the PDSA, the Kennel Club and Guide Dogs.EXHIBITIONISTSBy now the exhibitions arm of the Mail had moved on and shortened their contract with Earl’s Court, so we didn’t have the free venue offer on the table. But, being cheeky, I thought it would still be useful to have some Daily Mail help. I wrote to the managing director, Guy Zitter. Could they help us put on the biggest pet dog event in the world? I didn’t even get a reply, so I asked Lord Rothermere if I was writing to the right person. He conﬁ rmed and probably gave him a prod. I was quickly summoned to the Daily Mail head ofﬁ ces in Derry Street. I could tell that Guy was annoyed. He had my letter in his hand, and he pointed to the bottom of it. “What does it say? Read it out!” he barked.It said Beverley Cuddy, editor Dogs Today. “Exactly! Editor of a dog magazine. What on earth makes you imagine you can organise an enormous public event? It takes years for these things to break even.”My heart sank.“Oh, go on then. I’ll help. You can ask the exhibitions arm how to do everything and I’ll sponsor the show with free adverts in the paper. Now clear off. I must be barking mad.” PIllustration KEVIN BROCKBANK66Dogs Today Issue 361 Confessions of a dogaholic“IIf you don’t ask...REVOLUTIONARYHEADCOLLARStops dogs pulling on the lead and gives you back control.Life-Changing products for you and your dog!Also available: Collars, Non Slip Leads and Gripper Training Leads oﬀering added security and conﬁdence throughout the winter months.NO MORE PULLING • NO MORE RIDING UP • NO MORE RUBBINGNO MORE COMING OFF • NO MORE DISCOMFORT‘Matching accessories in a selection of colours’ with high quality workmanship and ﬁttings.Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine & Feline Behaviour AssociationCall to join the ever growing number of people changing toDogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www.dogmatic.org.ukWINNER2020Global100Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020 – UK‘PRODUCT I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT’For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BESTWinners 2013-2024AWARDED ‘Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2020-21 - UK’ and Most Innovative Dog Collar Manufacturers 2019

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