Dogs Today_March_2024 : simplebooklet.com

Inside this month...News & features 6 Testing times: the Kennel Club pulls out of the Canine Genetics Centre 10 The Calgary model: breed-neutral legislation has seen incredible results 26 Strictly faithful: Claudia Winkleman has the Baftas to thank for her new dog34 Road to recovery: hip surgery isn’t the end of one determined pup’s dreams 38 The problem with lockdown puppies: the repercussions of the pandemic 42 Until the day I die: one man’s mission to help victims of dog theft Over to you!46 Great debate: should we have a national dog warden service? 56 Postbag: your letters and emails Training & behaviour28 Shhhhhh! Excessive barking training guide Opinion 66 Confessions of a dogaholic: future predictions Investigation 16 Q&A: what do I need to know about taking out pet insurance?; how will XL Bully legislation affect boarding kennels and dog-care services?; are dogs lactose intolerant?; why do so many dogs of different breeds have the same Kennel Club affix? 48 Dog crush: meet the Miniature Poodle Competitions & shopping 54 Subscribe and win!60 Pop the kettle on and tackle our puzzles and competitions Miniature Poodle. 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 402591Sales Executive - Print & Digital: Tom Jones 01276 402593Office dogsBetty (Old English-Golden Retriever-ish); Honey (Cocker Spaniel); Lennie (Staffie cross); Loki (Border Collie-Kelpie cross); Vicky, Justine & Poison Ivy (Newfoundlands); Sophie (Jack Russell); Triss (Jack Russell)Betty’s Personal Trainer: Kirsten Dillon IMDT A.Dip CBMDogs Today, Brandshare Ltd, The Old Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8AA. 01276 402599enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk www.dogstodaymagazine.co.ukPublishers Chief Operations Officer: Graham Smith01276 402598 (graham@wearebrandshare.com)Managing Director: Beverley Cuddy 01276 402597 (beverley@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk)SubscriptionsFor 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_TodayLIMITEDNext issue on sale: 4 April 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.ukMarch 2024 Dogs Today3

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4 Dogs Today March 2024 By the time you read this, Crufts will probably have been on the telly and we will know for deﬁnite if the Dog Daddy was telling the truth when he said he was going to be there.I really should say ‘one of the Dog Daddies’, as I discovered quite by accident that there were several people using that name – a doggie paternity battle in the making!I got a tip-off from Hannah, a Boxer breeder and journalist, that Dog Daddy had posted on his socials that he was going to have a stand at Crufts and do a demonstration. He showed the list of stand holders and there he was in hall 5. But was it really him? Had he just photoshopped Dog Daddy’s name into the list to mess with his detractors’ heads?I emailed my Kennel Club contact, who instantly said they’d investigate. They’d previously given a very strong statement when it was thought he was planning a UK tour, so he’d probably be made as welcome as a ﬂea on their big green carpet. I looked on the Crufts website and there, on page two of leads and accessories, was indeed Dog Daddy, so he hadn’t faked the screengrab he’d been posting. Could there be another company called Dog Daddy selling leads? I searched online, but all I found was the famous Gucci-wearing one ﬂogging his new lime-green slip-leads.I went on to Facebook to tell the emerging story. Fairly swiftly, Dog Daddy 2 was identiﬁed. They had started an Insta account in September 2023 and while there was no website listed or very many followers, it did say they were launching their business at Crufts. It was just unfortunate they’d picked a name that would raise eyebrows and hackles in equal measure.Around now we’d all assumed Dog Daddy USA had just been playing a trick on everyone, pretending he was Dog Daddy 2. But then, yet another Dog Daddy abruptly appeared on my timeline. This one was called Steven, and he was very angry. Angry Dog Daddy. He said he was the real Dog Daddy, as he’d started using the name 10 years ago. He wanted everyone to stop talking about him on Facebook, especially me, whom he accused of being a “Bully Woman”.Well, this was turning into an old episode of Jeremy Kyle. We now had three people claiming to be Daddy and that’s not including our cravat-wearing friend the Dog Father.And why so patriarchal? Isn’t it about time we had some female trainers adopting very silly names, too? Why no DogMa or Bitch Mothers? I was still brooding about being called a Bully Woman. Could it be a positive – the Marvel superhero previously overlooked? If I were actually Bully Woman, I’d certainly try to use my superpowers to get rid of aversive methods.Was Dog Daddy (not Steve, nor the unlucky couple launching an unfortunately named accessory business at Crufts in hall 5) really planning on attending Crufts, and if so, what was he going to wear?By now, you’ll probably know if USA Dog Daddy made it on to Clare Balding’s couch and whether she gave him the grilling old Alan Titchmarsh did to Cesar Millan when he came to the UK.I wonder which breed won Best in Show. Were there any streakers this year? Perhaps we need to bring back Mystic Mutt (see page 66) – she’d know! 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.2023-11-22_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 1860– all the innovation Joints & Bones60 Chewable TabletsHealth & Vitality60 Chewable Tablets*Nielsen GB ScanTrackTotal Coverage Value & Unit Retail Sales 52 w/e 7/10/23. 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. From , Amazon, Ocado, andVitabiotics.com

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6 Dogs Today March 2024still remember the shock when the Animal Health Trust closed. It had always been such a centre of excellence; so many dogs’ lives had been saved thanks to its brilliant pioneering veterinary work. It was a huge relief when the Kennel Club stepped in and helped the canine genetic research team keep going, ﬁnding what they hoped was a permanent home at Cambridge University.It had seemed a perfect ﬁt. Who better than the Kennel Club to fund the vital research that could keep pedigree dogs as healthy as possible?However, the KC pockets are not as deep as once they might have been. The members had been warned that cuts needed to be made, as the KC’s ﬁnancial losses were becoming as eye-watering as a Shar Pei with entropion.The 2022 ﬁnances were so alarming, the staff had made a cute infographic to help explain the problems visually to the KC elite. It showed the positive ﬁgures in green and the losses in red. It looked like an Irish Setter convention.In one year, more than £5 million had been lost by the shows and events department alone. Flagship event Crufts lost close to half a million pounds. (Having run public events before, I ﬁnd it staggering that such a popular event with a huge paying public footfall and halls full of very expensive trade stands couldn’t at least break even.)Running the ‘gentleman’s club’ side of the KC had lost over a million pounds that year and the print bill was roughly the same – were they using gold leaf?PROFIT AND LOSSThe money spent on dog ‘health and welfare’ was said to be £2.2 million – but that included running the Assured Breeder scheme, which charges breeders a fee to be assessed. The jolly graphic showed a very healthy £6.6 million proﬁt from litter registrations – even after deducting staff costs and overheads. So that side of things seems to be literally a licence to print money. And there was a further £3.8 million proﬁt from partnerships with commercial entities and the ‘Find a Puppy’ service. >ITesting times for ‘KC’ Genetics CentreWhy has the Kennel Club abruptly stopped funding essential genetic health research? Can you help to save the Canine Genetics Centre?Words BEVERLEY CUDDY March 2024 Dogs Today 7 Illustration KEVIN BROCKBANK

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8 Dogs Today March 2024< Petlog – their somewhat problematic microchip database – was said to have 13 million records and to have contributed £1.3 million to the KC funds in 2022 while helping reunite 5,000 dogs and owners.It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to work out that much more money was ﬂowing out of the KC than was ﬂowing in. There was a loss of roughly a million pounds and the KC was forecasting heavy losses for 2023, too.HEALTH SACRIFICEDWhere could they save money? Have we seen prices of the famous G&Ts going up for the KC members? A steep increase in the entry price to compete at Crufts? Well, no. Not so far. What we have seen is the very abrupt abandonment of the jewel in their crown – the Kennel Club Genetics Centre. The heat caused by the groundbreaking documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed violently woke the slumbering and previously inward-facing Victorian institution and it started to aspire to become much more active in the prevention of avoidable health issues in dogs. The centre had been the nod the institution gave to protecting the future health and wellbeing of pedigree dogs.Does this signal a return to the bad old days? Could they not have added a £1 donation on every puppy registration to continue funding health research? Senior research associate at the genetics centre Cathryn Mellersh told me, “You are not alone in being surprised by the situation we ﬁnd ourselves in, especially as we moved to Cambridge with such fanfare. But we are where we are, and I have received such enormous support from across the dog world since the news broke that I remain convinced we have a future.”Since hearing that the KC were pulling all their funding, Cathryn has been tireless in trying to save the centre. She’s applied for every grant available, but there’s still going to be a massive shortfall this year. Cathryn’s now appealing to dog lovers for help.I remember so clearly the impact of the ﬁrst DNA tests and how they had been almost miraculous in helping breeders tackle problems that could have otherwise have wiped out precious breeds. We must not lose this resource.These simple DNA tests enabled breeders to identify ‘carriers’ and ‘clears’ so they could breed more intelligently to both preserve the gene pool and eradicate the suffering of affected dogs being born. Cathryn explained, “The Canine Genetics Centre does the research behind DNA tests – so we ﬁnd the precise mutations that cause inherited diseases. Most of the success stories to date have been for recessive diseases, such as for the early-onset form of PRA that affected Irish Setters. CGC has now identiﬁed 32 different mutations that segregate in 45 different breeds (because some mutations are found in more than one breed). BREED-SAVING TESTS“Once these mutations have been identiﬁed, they can be offered as DNA tests by commercial testing labs, and breeders can use them to identify dogs that carry the mutations. This, in turn, allows them to pick sires and dams that can’t produce affected puppies and, in time, the mutation can be eliminated from the breed. “Recessive mutations are those that do no harm when the dog only carries a single copy – but if the dog inherits the mutations from both parents, it is affected. Dogs with a single copy are called carriers and they are healthy – so DNA tests are useful in helping breeders identify these healthy carriers that can spread disease mutations within a breed. There is good evidence that breeders use DNA tests to successfully reduce the frequency of disease mutations within breeds.”Breeders of popular breeds can now choose between lots of different places to purchase their health screening tests. I wanted to know where the Canine Genetics Centre sits with these commercial outﬁts. Are they ﬁnding the problem genes but not then proﬁting from their discoveries?“The CGC has its own DNA testing service (Canine Genetic Testing www.cagt.co.uk) that offers tests based on the mutations that the CGC has identiﬁed, as well on mutations that other research labs have published. Every penny that CAGT makes in proﬁt is genuinely reinvested in the research that we do. CAGT is ﬁnancially independent The CGC investigates the inherited diseases that are a problem for dogs – in that the main driver for our research is to develop tools with which to prevent painful, blinding or otherwise debilitating diseases in dogs”Cathryn Mellersh with Obi & LibbyMarch 2024 Dogs Today 9 from the CGC and the current appeal for funds is to support the research – but one way for breeders to support the CGC is to use CAGT for their DNA testing needs.”What happens if the Canine Genetics Centre can’t get the funding it needs? What will we lose?“The CGC investigates the inherited diseases that are a problem for dogs – in that the main driver for our research is to develop tools with which to prevent painful, blinding or otherwise debilitating diseases in dogs. We don’t choose diseases based on the type of disease (some research labs study cancer in dogs because they are interested in studying cancer in general) or which breed they affect – we will investigate an inherited disease in a numerically tiny breed if it is a welfare problem for that breed. “We are scientiﬁcally rigorous, so we publish all our ﬁndings in peer-reviewed publications. We are a ‘one-stop-shop’ in that we provide the health-conscious dog breeder with the resources to store DNA samples, to obtain advice on breeding, to investigate novel and emerging inherited diseases and to develop new DNA tests. “We have a collection of more than 40,000 DNA samples, about one in three of which are from dogs affected with an inherited disease. This collection is unique, but for it to beneﬁt dogs in the future, the CGC needs to survive.”RISKY BUSINESSI have talked to some tech start-ups who can see a huge future for genetic testing. Recently, the founder of Embark suggested on a Purina Unleashed talk about possibly working with breeders to enable them to continue line breeding without losing genetic diversity. Another start-up founder was looking at the predictability of future health for every dog and looking for the best genetic match to breed with from across all health issues – looking at the whole canine genome rather than speciﬁc issues. What would the Canine Genetics Centre do in the future to help produce healthier pets?“There is huge scope for using whole genome sequencing to guide dog breeders. It won’t ever replace the ‘art’ of dog breeding, but it will certainly be able to help improve the genetic health of dogs. “Teasing apart the genetics of complex diseases, such as epilepsy and cancer, relies on dedicated research programmes to identify genetic risk factors/variants that increase an individual dog’s risk of developing a disease. “This doesn’t happen overnight, but once genetic risk factors have been identiﬁed, they can easily be incorporated on to genome-wide ‘panel’ tests that enable breeders to obtain genome-wide genetic information about their dogs very cost effectively. “The CGC’s primary role will be in undertaking the research that identiﬁed the variants/mutations that underpin the diseases – and then these can be combined with tests that measure overall diversity of dogs, so breeders can use a combination of diversity and speciﬁc disease variants to inform their breeding choices.“I have an advisory team that is helping me develop a long-term funding strategy, but in the immediate term we need funds to keep the CGC running for the next 12 months. The funding gap at the start of the year was £345,000. We have raised just under £84,000 so far, with this coming from dog breed clubs, societies and individuals.“Your readers could help by visiting our appeal page and donating. The university has set us up with a JustGiving campaign and readers can donate via this page or can link this to their own personal fundraisers (someone is already running two marathons in a week for us).” Pwww.canine-genetics.org.uk/fund-our-futureWe don’t choose diseases based on the type of disease or which breed they affect – we will investigate an inherited disease in a numerically tiny breed if it is a welfare problem for that breed”“The health and welfare of dogs is the main priority for the Kennel Club and it remains committed to investment in canine health research. As announced in February 2023, it is unable to continue to provide general ﬁnancial support for the Kennel Club Genetics Centre going forward from April 2024 and it will instead be focusing on speciﬁc projects, for example BOAS and IVDD research.”Mark Beazley, January 2024Cathryn told us: “Although the KC told us in February 2023 that they didn’t have funds to support us, they did say at the same meeting that the Kennel Club Charitable Trust would continue to support – we only found out in October 2023 that this was no longer the case, and that the KCCT was also ‘not able to provide any ﬁnancial support’ – hence the last-minute nature of all of this.”Just in...

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March 2024 Dogs Today11THE CALGARY MODELIn 1985, the Canadian city of Calgary had over 600,000 people and received 1,938 aggressive dog complaints, including 621 bites. By 2012, Calgary only reported 201 dog bites in a city of 1.1 million humans and more than 12,000 dogs – under half the rate of the UK.■Breed-neutral legislationInstead of stigmatising breeds, emphasis is placed on individual dogs’ behaviour and the owner’s responsibility. This recognises that any dog, regardless of breed, can exhibit aggression if not properly trained and socialised. ■Licensing and identiﬁcationRobust pet licensing ensures that lost pets are quickly returned to their owners, signiﬁcantly reducing the number of animals in shelters. It also provides valuable data on ownership and identiﬁes problem owners. Licensing compliance rates are around 90 per cent for dogs, a testament to the community’s support for the Calgary Model. >10 Dogs Today March 2024The Calgary modelBreed-neutral legislation works; breed-speciﬁc legislation doesn’t. So why are we repeating the same mistakes instead of learning from a proven programme of success?he XL Bully ban has reignited a contentious debate on canine legislation. At the core lies a critical question: is breed-speciﬁc legislation (BSL) the best way to ensure public safety and animal welfare, or could breed-neutral legislation (BNL) be more humane and effective?Decades of academic research and studies of both approaches in practice have produced a clear evidence-led consensus – and it makes uncomfortable reading for the politicians in both Westminster and Holyrood, who are pushing ahead with the ban against expert advice.Campaigners have long been calling for the UK to instead base our approach on what is generally considered the most successful example: the Calgary Model, developed under Bill Bruce, Calgary’s formidable director of Animal Services and Bylaws from 2000 to 2012. TIllustration by Kevin BrockbankWords RODERICK MCMILLAN Illustrations KEVIN BROCKBANK

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12 Dogs Today March 2024■Punish individual behaviourCalgary enforces signiﬁcant ﬁnes for incidents where dogs chase or bite. Punishments range from $350 to $1,500 to – with a court order – euthanising the dog. Ofﬁcers can also declare speciﬁc dogs as ‘dangerous’ based on their behaviour. This means higher licence fees, muzzling rules and age restrictions on the dog’s handlers. ■Animal welfare programmesLicensing and ﬁnes generate nearly six million dollars in revenue annually, which the city uses to fund animal welfare and education programmes. Subsidised neutering programmes and emergency animal medical care contribute to a safer community where pets and owners can ﬂourish, with fewer unwanted litters and strays.■Education and community involvementEducation is at the heart of the Calgary Model. Community events and school programmes educate the public about their responsibilities as pet owners. This better-informed public takes better care of their pets, which in turn reduces the number of animals in shelters, lowers euthanasia rates, and decreases the number and severity of incidents. By one estimate, just two hours of training for dog owners can reduce aggressive incidents by 80 per cent.■Conﬂict resolutionCalgary trains its animal control ofﬁcers in conﬂict resolution. This means problems – such as neighbour disputes – are often de-escalated and resolved quickly within the community. The Calgary Model is a comprehensive, breed-neutral approach to animal control that prioritises education, responsible pet ownership, and community involvement. Its innovative use of licensing fees to fund animal welfare and education programmes and its supportive policies have made Calgary a model city for managing pet populations and promoting a harmonious coexistence between humans and animals.MISSED OPPORTUNITYThe Scottish government insists it has a ‘deed not breed’ approach to dog control, so owners and campaigners were dismayed to hear it would be ‘copy and pasting’ the XL Bully ban from England and Wales.The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Bill introduced by SNP MSP Christine Grahame in 2009 introduced a Scottish Wardens and Dog Control Notices system meant to ensure responsible ownership. Still an active MSP, Christine is a vocal opponent of the XL Bully ban. Rarely for an SNP MSP, she is rebelling against the Scottish government’s decision. Critics of breed-neutral legislation sometimes cite Scotland as evidence of its failure. Such criticism overlooks the real issue. The Scottish system has many good elements on paper, but has been hampered by inadequate resources, funding and enforcement. While the legislation was created in Holyrood, the responsibility for implementation sits with each of the 32 Scottish councils, who have faced a decade of Holyrood tax freezes and budget cuts. The result has been a postcode lottery. A parliamentary committee found Renfrewshire Council, with a population of 175,239, had two full-time dog wardens. In contrast, Glasgow City, with a population of 593,245, only had one, and they were part-time. According to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), there has been little or no training for staff, with several incidents where Scottish dog wardens could not identify different breeds of dog and did not have a basic understanding of canine behaviour. A SSPCA submission to the Scottish parliament said, “In theory, this (the Scottish system) process The current approach is stigmatising tens of thousands of innocent dogs and their owners, causing emotional turmoil to professionals who work with animals and letting off the hook the bad actors and backyard breeders

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14 Dogs Today March 2024could prevent the majority of dog incidents every year, which alone would save the National Health Service a massive amount of money. However, in practice, the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 is not really effective as it is not robustly enforced.”There was a similar damning assessment from the union representing postal workers in Scotland.“Local authority enforcement is virtually non-existent and as a result, the tools provided by the legislation go unused.” Poor decisions are being made with little or no data. In response to questions regarding the XL ban being introduced in Scotland, the Scottish government revealed there had been three deaths from dog attacks between 2004 and 2022, but the breed was not recorded. The number of XL Bully dogs in Scotland is unknown, and they have no available data on the breakdown of dog attacks by breed. Even the data that does exist is wildly inconsistent. Stirling Council reported 198 investigations in 2018/19 but only 1 in 2019/2020.Scotland has missed an opportunity to show how effective legislation improves the lives of dogs, their owners and their communities. Scotland’s approach has stumbled due to a lack of support and funding. However, even if the legislation were effectively enforced, it misses the critical elements of the Calgary Model that make it work – licensing, education and community involvment.THERE IS A BETTER WAYThe current approach across the UK is badly letting down all stakeholders. It does not deal with the root causes of dog aggression. It does not follow expert advice. It is not evidence-led. It will not make our communities safer. It is instead stigmatising tens of thousands of innocent dogs and their owners, causing emotional turmoil to professionals who work with animals and letting off the hook the bad actors and backyard breeders.The Calgary Model presents a proven, humane alternative. Adopting a comprehensive, UK-wide, breed-neutral strategy incorporating licensing, education and animal welfare would ensure a safer, more compassionate environment for dogs, their owners and our communities. PRoderick McMillan is a marketing consultant based in the south of Scotland, where he lives with his wife, dog and other animals. He generally writes about dogs, politics, recruitment and philosophy. According to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), there has been little or no training for staff, with several incidents where Scottish dog wardens could not identify different breeds of dogs and did not have a basic understanding of canine behaviourCRAFTED FORTHE TOUGHEST CHEWERS.MADE FROM ULTRA DURABLEBIONIC RUBBER®.VISIT BIONICDOGTOYS.COMOR SCAN TO LEARN MORENO BPABOUNCES DISHWASHER SAFEAvailable now from good pet retailersFLOATSGet ready to play.

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16 Dogs Today March 2024 EXPERT ADVICEPDSA vet nurse Nina Downing explains...Pets are part of the family – they give unconditional love and are always there for us, through the ups and downs. That’s why the vet charity for pets in need, PDSA, is reminding pet owners of the importance of pet insurance should the worst happen.It’s our responsibility to take care of our furry family members and unless you are fortunate enough to have large savings to fall back on, insurance that covers vet fees is an absolute necessity and even a life saver should your pet get into an accident or become unwell.While we strongly advise that you insure your pet, it can be hard to understand exactly how pet insurance works – especially with all the unfamiliar terminology. There are a wide range of policies out there to suit your pet's individual healthcare needs and your budget, so we’ve pulled together an ultimate guide to give you all the information you need.Lifetime cover■Lifetime policies cover your pet for the cost of treatment for any injuries or illnesses throughout their life that weren’t present before you started the policy.Illustration by Kevin BrockbankQuick questionWhat do I need to know before taking out pet insurance?Do you have a problem you’d like answered by an expert? Or do you Email your question to enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.ukMarch 2024 Dogs Today 17 ■The big advantage of these policies is that they reset every year at renewal. You can continue to claim up to the yearly policy limit year after year for the same condition, as long as you renew with no break in the cover.■Lifetime cover is generally the most complete type of cover that you can get. It will cover your pet for chronic conditions, meaning you’ll be protected from the cost of ongoing vet treatment – unlike with accident-only or time-limited cover.■With lifetime cover, you’ll also be covered for any short- or long-term treatment your pet may need, meaning they will be covered for a road trafﬁc accident right through to treating chronic conditions like arthritis.■Ultimately, this is the best way to keep your beloved companion covered.Time-limited cover■Also known as annual cover, time-limited cover provides your pet with insurance coverage for accidents and illnesses for a set time period (usually a year) from when the symptoms start, as long as the policy continues with the same insurer.■It’s worth mentioning that the time period starts from when the condition is ﬁrst seen, not when ﬁrst claimed.■When 12 months have passed, or the policy ﬁnancial limit is reached, you’ll no longer be covered for vet fees for that speciﬁc accident or illness.■Time-limited cover tends to be lower priced. However, if your pet develops a longer-term condition, such as arthritis, or has recurrent problems with, for example, skin irritation, after 12 months you will no longer be able to claim for this or any related problems.■Therefore, this type of cover is most useful for short-term illnesses, such as unexpected injuries (a car accident or surgery to treat an infected wound, for example).Accident-only cover■Your pet might need urgent treatment for hospitalisation, X-rays or extensive surgery after an accident – which can all add up to a large amount of cost in one go. This is where accident-only cover can be of use.■It only covers accidental injuries (such as road trafﬁc accidents) not illnesses. It can be helpful if you’re ﬁnding paying for the more expensive cover difﬁcult, but try to upgrade as soon as you can.■As pets get older, they are more likely to develop illnesses that wouldn’t be covered by accident-only policies. However, it could be the right cover if you’re on a tight budget, have a young and healthy pet, and would struggle to afford the cost if your pet was badly injured.Maximum-beneﬁt cover■Alternatively, there is maximum-beneﬁt cover, also known as ‘condition-capped’ or ‘money-limited’ cover. This provides a ﬁxed amount to treat each illness or injury for as long as the policy remains in force.■Unfortunately, if your pet is still unwell after the maximum amount is reached, you’ll have to pay for further treatment yourself.■It’s also worth mentioning that you could reach the limit quickly if your pet needs expensive treatment, such as a major operation.■Again, this cover is ideal if you are on a tight budget and have a younger pet.Now you know about the different types of pet insurance, you should have a better idea of what the right policy is for you. The most important part of pet insurance is making sure that it ﬁts your individual pet’s needs. There’s nothing worse than taking out pet insurance, only to realise that it doesn’t provide the right coverage for your furry friend at a time when you really need it. Speak to your vet about the policy that is best for you and your pet if you are still unsure.What’s an excess?■The excess is the amount of money you have to pay for your pet’s treatment at the vet’s when they have been unwell. If the cost of your pet’s treatment has gone above the excess amount, the insurance company should pay the remaining balance up to the maximum agreed amount in your policy.■Not all vet practices are able to make direct claims to the insurance company, so you should be prepared to pay your vet practice the full amount of money that is owed to them and then you will need to claim it back afterwards from the insurance company. You will not be refunded the excess amount.■The excess will be an amount that you agreed with your insurance company when taking out your policy.■Paying a higher excess can reduce the cost of your pet insurance – but make sure that it’s still an affordable amount for you.Does pet insurance cover long-term illness?Just like us, our pets can develop long-term illnesses, such as diabetes and arthritis. Sadly, not all pet insurance policies will cover the cost of your pet’s treatment if this happens. This is why it’s important ou want advice from someone with personal experience of the issue?

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18Dogs Today March 2024 to have the right insurance to make sure your furry friend is covered.Lifetime cover is the best pet insurance for this, as it will protect your companion for the rest of their life, as long as you renew your policy. However, there are some limits on cover, either per condition or per year. Therefore, make sure to read your policy documents carefully to see what the limits are.Does pet insurance cover dentistry?Most pet insurance does not include dental work as standard; you’ll normally have to pay extra to include this. Even if dentistry is included, your pet insurance is unlikely to cover routine dental treatments, like a scale and polish. Dentistry will typically cover accidents, such as your pet breaking a tooth and the care of infected teeth and abscesses.What’s a pre-existing condition?A pre-existing condition is a one-off or long-term illness, injury or symptom your pet is suffering or has suffered from before taking out your new policy. This even includes if your pet didn’t receive treatment, or you were told it was nothing serious. Even if you didn’t claim for the condition on a previous insurance policy, it still counts as a pre-existing condition. Pet insurance companies need to know about all pre-existing conditions, as this could affect a future claim. Whenever you make a claim, your pet insurance provider will review your pet’s medical records to see if there are any pre-existing conditions that they cannot cover.What vet fees does my pet insurance cover?When you have chosen the pet insurance policy that’s right for you, you’ll be covered for the vet treatments included in your policy. This is usually accidents, injuries, unexpected illnesses, including emergency and out-of-hours care. Unfortunately, routine pet health care is not covered. In addition, if your pet is unwell but treatment costs fall within your excess, there will not be the option to claim from your insurer at that time.Pet insurance can cover vet fees for MRI and CT scans, physiotherapy and even overseas veterinary treatment as long as these treatment costs fall within the policy limit. Some policies may even cover complementary treatments, such as hydrotherapy or behavioural treatment. Be sure to read your policy documents to ﬁ nd out exactly what is covered.Is there an age limit?There isn't an ofﬁ cial age limit for insuring your pet, but it’s worth noting that many pet insurance companies do have age limits in place for taking out new policies. Pet insurance often covers kittens and puppies from eight weeks of age.For new policies, cats can be insured when older, although there may be fewer insurance companies willing to provide cover. For those cats being insured for the ﬁ rst time in their senior years, excesses may be higher and policies on offer may be restricted dependent on their breed and health. With ageing dogs, there are providers willing to insure them, but excesses may be higher and breed or health conditions may cause restrictions to the policy. Ultimately, this is why we recommend ﬁ nding a reputable pet insurance provider, like PDSA Pet Insurance, and staying with them throughout your beloved companion’s life.We strongly advise taking out insurance for your pet while they are young, before they have the chance to develop any illnesses that could be classed as pre-existing conditions – as few companies will cover these. This type of insurance is most likely going to be more expensive than standard pet insurance, too. PIllustration by Kevin BrockbankQuick questionEco-Friendly European MadeLuxury Orthopaedic Dog BedsEst. 2014Visit us at Crufts 2024 Hall 5 stand 126www.bakerandbray.comGive your dog the ultimate gift of comfort and luxury only a Baker & Bray award winning, eco-friendly orthopaedic dog bed can provide. It’s the bed they would choose! BEDS • COLLARS • LEADS • HEAT REGULATING BLANKETSwww.bakerandbray.com4.9/5 INDEPENDENT CUSTOMER REVIEWS ON JUDGEME

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20 Dogs Today March 2024 EXPERT ADVICELynne Fisher, associate director of Cliverton, which provides specialist insurance cover to animal-related trades, says…From 1 February, it is a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without a certiﬁcate of exemption. Businesses that handle XL Bully dogs are advised to obtain a copy of the exemption certiﬁcate and the owner’s public liability insurance documents, for their records. They may need to be produced should a claim arise involving the dog.The certiﬁcate is proof that the owner is over the age of 16, has microchipped and neutered the dog, and keeps it in a secure place so it cannot escape. The ruling that the dog is kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public applies to both owners and those providing care for the dog.Boarding kennels will need additional Specially Controlled Dogs cover. This stipulates that the dog must be kept in isolation. Therefore, business owners cannot board or exercise dogs together, even when from the same household, if one of them is on the Dangerous Dogs list.To satisfy the isolation condition, we would recommend a unit built in a row separated by a solid wall, with no access between units so that the dog in isolation is not able to have access to, or see, other dogs in the unit. The Specially Controlled Dogs condition also requires the dog to be on a lead and muzzled from the time it leaves its unit until it enters another private, secured area. As long as there is only one dog being exercised by one handler in a secure area – where it cannot escape, and it is not accessible to the public – the dog can be exercised off the lead and unmuzzled. No other staff members, dogs or members of the public should enter the area.Internal training by the kennel owner, or person experienced in handling this type of dog, is acceptable. Businesses should be able to provide a risk assessment and prove that training has been provided to comply with the Specially Controlled Dogs condition, should a claim arise. PCockapoo & XL Bully. Photo posed by modelsQuick questionHow will XL Bully dog legislation affect boarding kennels and dog-care services?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.VISIT THEINSURANCEEMPORIUM.CO.UK/DT99or call 03300 243 980 today!Offer ends 31/12/2024 and is not available in conjunction with any other promo code.PROMO CODE: WOOF99The maximum available discount is 30% - this is a combination of 20% Introductory Discount, 10% Multi-pet Discount and 5% Dogs Today reader Discount. The Introductory and Promo Code Discounts are available from the start of the policy until its rst review/renewal date.UP TO 30%DISCOUNTDOG INSURANCEProtect your pooch with cover for vet’s fees, loss by theft or straying, and death of pet.Available on Time Limited, Maximum Benet and Lifetime.

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22 Dogs Today March 2024 EXPERT ADVICE“All my dogs love cheese and will have a sneaky slurp of my milky tea if I don’t keep a close eye on them. Could I be giving them a tummy ache?” asks editor Beverley Cuddy…I know the rule is not to give too many fatty foods, as pancreatitis is ghastly, but can dogs process dairy? Experts estimate about 68 per cent of humans have lactose intolerance. But it’s much more common in some parts of the world than in others. In Africa and Asia, for example, most people have lactose malabsorption. Why is that?Professor Mark Thomas from UCL said, “In late pre-history, as our ancestors started living in larger settlements, their health was increasingly impacted by poor sanitation and increased pathogen loads. Under such conditions, even more so during times of famine, consuming milk would have increased death rates, particularly among those unable to digest the lactose in milk. Those who were able to digest lactose were thus more likely to pass on their genes, enabling them to safely drink milk.”His study revealed that most European adults have genetically evolved to be able to drink milk without discomfort. For those unlucky to not have the genetic adaption, they can’t digest lactose – which is a unique sugar, and it causes cramps, diarrhoea and ﬂatulence.Professor George Davey Smith, director of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, and a co-author of the study, said, “A genetic trait called lactase persistence has evolved and spread in various milk-drinking populations in Europe, central and southern Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Today, around one third of adults in the world are lactase persistent.”But what about dogs? Have they been getting more lactose tolerant, too? After all, they are amazingly genetically ﬂexible; look how they have evolved into so many different sizes and shapes.A group of scientists published a paper looking at exactly this in Molecular Biology and Evolution[itals]. They discovered lactase persistence adaption in European dogs.They compared the genomes of 242 European dogs, 38 south-east Asian indigenous (SEAI) dogs, and 41 grey wolves to discover if European dogs had made any adaptions.They found 86 unique positively selected genes in European dogs, among which is LCT, which encodes lactase, which is needed for the digestion of lactose. Now, before we all order your dogs a double puppuccino at Starbucks, not all our dogs will have this gene! Most commercial dog milks are based on goat’s milk, not cow’s milk, as that is much more likely to be tolerated.And before you go sharing your cheese board, you should never give your dog blue cheese. The fungus involved in making blue cheeses such as Stilton can produce a substance called roquefortine C, which dogs can be very sensitive to. If your dog ingests this, they may vomit, suffer from a high temperature or even experience seizures. If your dog pinches blue cheese, contact your vet straight away. PJack Russell Terrier. Photo posed by a modelQuick questionAre dogs lactose intolerant?Welcome to Catch it in the Moment!Pet photography is more than just a job to us, it is a passion and a way of life. Our founder started the studio in 2016 and it has gone from strength to strength, thanks to our valued clientele. Our team takes into account your individual requirements, so whether your pet is outgoing or shy, we can help. We’re here to create a portrait that captures your pet’s personality, so whatever you desire for your pet photo shoot, don’t hesitate to let us know. Contact us today!www.catchitinthemoment.commisscatchitinthemoment97 DOG PHOTOSHOOTSEQUINE PHOTOSHOOTSFAMILY & PET PHOTOSHOOTSPET PHOTOGRAPHY EDITINGcatch it in the momentNestled in the clifftops of North Cornwall, Bedruthan sits a stone’s throw from Mawgan Porth, a perfect spot for dogs. We don’t just accept dogs, we welcome them with open arms, once our team have got you and your furry friend booked in we will make sure your room is outtted with a few extras to make your stay a little easier. Dog bowls, a bed and towels come as standard to help with packing, and hungry dogs are more than welcome to order from our dog menu of homemade, nutritious meals.bedruthan.comcall or email to book 01637 861200 or stay@bedruthan.comcanine venue of the monthKIEZEBRINK UK LtdFOCUS ON FOODExotic Animal Feeds & Raw Food DietsTOP QUALITY RAW FOODSExtensive range of raw meat (BARF)and whole prey diets•Single source proteins andelimination diets•Fast, frozen and next day delivery•Online ordering facility•See our full range of products on ourwebsite: www.kiezebrink.co.ukEmail: ofﬁce@kiezebrink.co.uk01284 810779

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26 Dogs Today March 2024 laudia Winkleman seems hardly to have been off our screens in the past year or so, but she has wisely taken stock of life, and, while continuing to be one of our busiest broadcasters, she’s spending more time with her family and, of course, her dog.“Yes, we decided to add a dog to our family,” she revealed. “I know it is not always possible, but I think every family should have a dog, at least one dog. They add something that only dogs can contribute, whether it is great fun or sheer mayhem.”The busy and popular TV presenter is ﬁrst and foremost a wife and mother, but is also a daughter, a tireless charity worker and a very energetic lover of all things canine.Claudia said, “I value family life very much, so getting a little dog to become part of our family seemed just the right thing to do.”GROUNDED BY MUMClaudia has been on our screens as a star presenter for a number of years, but even before that, her family was in the public eye since her mother is national newspaper editor and popular TV personality Eve Pollard.“I got used to seeing my mum’s name in print and seeing her on television, but she kept grounded and me CWords BERNARD BALEPhotos © Instagram (@claudiawinkle)Strictly faithfulWould the fabulously fringed BBC presenter identify as a traitor? Nah! With her love of dogs, she’s sure to be loyal to the last...March 2024 Dogs Today 27 grounded too, which was great, because away from the TV, I am just a wife and mother and now, I hope, our dog’s best friend.“I think that is so important; there is no point in having a dog in the home and thinking he is like a goldﬁsh that you just feed, clean and look at. Dogs want to be part of the family – part of the pack, if you like – and they want to share as much as possible.“When I was growing up, I was friends with all the local dogs. I had a ‘give and take’ relationship with them all; we were pals and pleased to see each other.STAGE ENTRANCE“I think that whatever you do for a living, if you have a family, you should seriously consider bringing a dog into that family. As well as being a lot of fun, dogs teach us so much about being responsible, being loving, playing games and sharing everything. Dogs are not just toys to be played with when you get bored, they are like bringing in a four-legged little brother or sister.”Claudia is very family aware, which is why she called a halt to her Radio 2 work.“I didn’t want my family growing up and thinking of their mum as some distant aunt they see now and then,” she said. “My own mother was not like that. She still gives me a lot of advice, by the way. We speak on the phone several times a day and we are very close. She’s always been a great mum and I have tried to do things the way she did, as much as you can, because we are not clones and every family has its own issues and personalities. My mum likes dogs too, by the way.”Eve thought that getting a dog was a good idea, but she did not suggest how.“I had been thinking about it for some time,” said Claudia. “Then my husband Kris and I went to a Bafta awards evening at the Royal Festival Hall, and, to my surprise, I actually received an award. So I had to go up on stage and accept the reward and make a little speech. It was such a shock, I didn’t have a clue of what to say except ‘thank you’. That’s what I did, but it didn’t seem quite enough, so I just babbled and from the stage I asked Kris if we could please have a dog. He could hardly refuse, really.”So enter a black and tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.WALKING PALS“We have had pets in the past, but a dog is a different dimension,” said Claudia. “They have to have exercise, which means that you cannot help but get exercise yourself. The exercise is not just about physical health, though; dogs like to see what is going on in the world, so they get mental exercise as well, seeing other dogs, people, smelling different smells – all very interesting to a dog.“I think taking a dog for a walk exercises your own awareness too. I never understand it when I see people walking their dog while texting on their phones, virtually ignoring the fact that they have a pal with them who wants to share the walking experience and have a chat on the way.”Claudia’s success knows no boundaries. Having hosted the incredibly successful Traitors TV show, along with Strictly Come Dancing and numerous other shows that have attracted massive audiences, she is in great demand but manages to keep her feet on the ground.“I don’t wake up in the morning and think about my latest TV show. I am just a regular wife and mum who wonders what to put on the table later that day, what shopping we need and what time we are going for a walk.“We now have an extended family and even more fun than usual. That’s what dogs bring to your home. I am so glad I ran out of things to say at the Bafta awards night.” PMy husband Kris and I went to a Bafta awards evening at the Royal Festival Hall, and, to my surprise, I actually received an award. So I had to go up on stage and accept the reward and make a little speech. It was such a shock, I didn’t have a clue of what to say except ‘thank you’. That’s what I did, but it didn’t seem quite enough, so I just babbled and from the stage I asked Kris if we could please have a dog. He could hardly refuse, really”

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28 Dogs Today March 2024Border Collie. Photo posed by a modelShhhhhh! Unravelling the mystery of excessive barking: a comprehensive guide for dog ownersWHAT’S EXCESSIVE?The deﬁnition of ‘excessive barking’ varies, but it’s essential to consider the impact on neighbours and the dog’s well-being. Continuous barking, with short breaks in between, can indicate underlying emotional conﬂicts. Being a responsible dog owner means recognising the signs and taking proactive steps to address the root causes of excessive barking.STRATEGIES TO TACKLE EXCESSIVE BARKING■Identify the triggerIdentifying the trigger is the ﬁrst step if your dog incessantly barks at external stimuli. If your dog spends the entire day barking at every moving object outside the window, the key lies in eliminating distractions. Manage your dog’s environment by closing blinds or curtains and limiting exposure to potential triggers. Then work on the cause of the problem – your dog is likely reacting because he doesn’t feel safe or because he’s frustrated, so work on habituating him to his environment, promoting a sense of safety and security. This is why early socialisation and habituation is important, so dogs can learn what is relevant and what can be safely ignored.If your dog barks at something, don’t just ignore him. Acknowledge him, look to see if there is a cause and then help him to stop barking by saying, ‘Thank you, all done, I got it’ or by getting him to do something else that draws his attention away from the thing causing the barking. ■Alternative behavioursAlongside managing your space to minimise your dog’s interaction with barking triggers, it’s helpful to teach alternative behaviours that your dog can engage in instead of barking. Excessive barking can be a sign of boredom. Dogs lacking sufﬁcient mental stimulation may resort to destructive habits, including excessive barking. Ensuring your dog receives enough mental enrichment throughout the day is important. Use enrichment tools like lick mats, Kongs, treat balls, scatter feeding and puzzle toys to keep your dog mentally engaged. Encourage suitable sleeping habits, too, so your dog learns about ‘downtime’.■Attention seeking If your dog barks excessively for attention, setting clear boundaries is crucial. Teach your dog that humans have busy times and help them learn to occupy themselves during these periods. Your dog can only do this if you have a) taught him how to do it, b) he gets clear and consistent feedback from you that you are not available, and c) you have made sure that he has other things to do. Don’t send your dog mixed signals – if you’re busy and he barks at you for attention, don’t one day reach out and stroke him absentmindedly, and the next day ignore him. That teaches him to keep barking to see if this is an ‘I get loved’ day. Consistency is key in reinforcing the message that attention-seeking barking is not the desired behaviour.■What’s acceptable?Decide what is acceptable for you and what is not. If you don’t like being barked at, ﬁrst make sure he has stuff to do, and then, if he does bark at you, tell your dog, “Not now, buddy”, guide him to an alternative and then carry on with what you’re doing (or, if he keeps doing it, get up and walk in the garden or make a cup of tea). If you are consistent in your lack of engagement for attention-barking, and he has other things to do, he will learn that this “not now” means exactly that – Mum or Dad is not available. Go do something else. >March 2024 Dogs Today 29 Words TARRYN ROUXCommunication is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship, and for our canine companions, barking is their natural language. While barking is an essential means of expression for dogs, it can become a source of frustration for owners and strain relationships with neighbours. This article will explore the multifaceted world of excessive barking, its potential causes and effective strategies to address this common challenge, fostering understanding between dogs and their human companions.Dogs bark for a myriad of reasons, from calling out to other dogs to expressing emotions or seeking their owner’s attention. Some may bark out of habit or simply because it’s enjoyable for them. Any noise – rustling leaves, a slamming window, thunderstorms, or a doorbell – can trigger a barking response, and it could be argued that while all dogs know how to start barking, not every dog knows how to stop. Excessive barking, however, raises a red ﬂag, indicating potential stress or unmet needs in our furry friends.Addressing the issue of excessive barking requires a deep dive into the root cause rather than resorting to aversive methods such as shock collars. Conducting thorough breed research before bringing a dog home is crucial, as some breeds naturally exhibit more vocal tendencies. While determining the cause of a dog’s excessive barking may not always be straightforward, seeking help from professionals, such as Coape qualiﬁed CABTi behaviourists, can provide invaluable guidance in deciphering and addressing the underlying issues.

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30 Dogs Today March 2024■Alert barkingLearn to tell the difference between attention barking and “There is a dog-eating monster in the house, come help NOW!” barking. Never ignore the alert barking, as your dog may be signalling a genuine concern. Respond appropriately to ensure the safety of both your dog and your surroundings.PITFALLS OF PUNISHMENTDogs do not bark intentionally to annoy you. Instead, they communicate their needs or desires in the only way they know. Resorting to punishment methods, such as yelling or shock collars, fails to address the root cause of excessive barking and can lead to increased stress and anxiety in dogs. Instead, approach the issue with empathy, patience and a commitment to ﬁnding targeted interventions that address the underlying needs of your furry friend.BARK ON CUEIn contrast to punitive measures, teaching your dog to bark on cue can be valuable. By providing constructive outlets for your dog’s natural instincts, you can establish clearer communication and strengthen your bond. Teaching your dog to bark on cue using positive reinforcement is a rewarding and enjoyable process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:■Choose a cue wordSelect a cue word, such as ‘speak’ or ‘talk’, that you will consistently use to signal your dog to bark.■Create a positive environmentChoose a quiet and comfortable space for training where your dog can focus without distractions.■Wait for natural barkingBe patient and wait for a moment when your dog naturally barks. A doorbell, a knock, or some other familiar sound could trigger it.■Mark and rewardAs soon as your dog barks, use a positive marker (like a clicker or a verbal ‘yes’), and immediately reward with a treat. Timing is crucial — mark and reward the behaviour right when it happens.■Introduce the cueJust before your dog is likely to bark again, say the cue word (‘speak’) in a clear and upbeat tone. The idea is to associate the cue with the barking behaviour.■Repeat and reinforceRepeat the process multiple times. Use the cue consistently before your dog barks naturally and reward promptly. This reinforces the connection between the cue, the behaviour and the positive outcome.■Add a hand signalIntroduce a hand signal along with the verbal cue. For example, you might raise your hand or point. Use the hand signal just before – or as you give – the verbal cue.■Practise in short sessionsKeep training sessions short and positive to prevent your dog from getting bored or frustrated. Aim for several short sessions throughout the day.■Generalise the cuePractise the cue in different locations and situations to generalise the behaviour. This helps your dog understand that the cue applies in various contexts.■Randomise rewardsOnce your dog reliably barks on cue, start rewarding intermittently. This helps strengthen the behaviour and prevents your dog from becoming solely dependent on treats.■Be patient and positivePositive reinforcement is all about encouragement, so be patient and remain positive throughout the TARRYN ROUXDipCABT (Coape) OCN, CABTi Practitioner MemberTarryn is a dedicated advocate for animal welfare and thrived in Mozambique, volunteering at the local animal shelter (MAPS) and rehabilitating abused animals. A certiﬁed ThinkingPets Puppy School Instructor and holder of a Coape Diploma in Animal Behaviour, she led the Blantyre SPCA in Malawi, introducing enrichment and ‘train-to-adopt’ programmes.As the Mission Rabies country manager, she made signiﬁcant contributions. In 2017, Tarryn, along with her family and diverse pets, returned to Cape Town. Since April 2018, she’s been an integral part of Coape International, heading up the Learner Management System Department, managing social media and blending her passion for animals with professional expertise.MEET THE PRACTITIONERS...Photo posed by modelsMade from highly digestible goats’ milk.Used by breeders as a healthy, daily treat to complement a dog’s diet.Added vitamins & minerals for a nutritionally beneﬁcial treat.Helps keep your pet hydrated.Easy re-closable screw cap cartons.The Toplife range is free from any artiﬁcial ingredients, colours, ﬂavours or preservativesCome & visit us instand 65Yes your dog can drink Toplife Milk!Available from...and all good pet storesNEW!est. 2004celebrating20years

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32 Dogs Today March 2024training process. If your dog doesn’t bark on cue right away, continue reinforcing the behaviour when it naturally occurs and try again later.■Use play as a rewardIf your dog is motivated by play, incorporate playtime as a reward for barking on cue. Play with a favourite toy or engage in a fun game immediately after your dog successfully responds to the cue.Remember that every dog is different, and some may take longer to learn than others. Adjust your training approach based on your dog’s individual personality and preferences, and always prioritise positive reinforcement over punishment.Dealing with a dog that barks excessively can be challenging, especially when neighbours express concerns. However, it is crucial to approach the issue with a mindset of understanding and patience. By delving into the root causes, implementing targeted interventions, and fostering open communication with your dog, you can work towards resolving excessive barking. In doing so, you promote a harmonious relationship with your furry friend and cultivate good neighbourly manners, creating a win-win situation for everyone involved. PIf you need further assistance or guidance managing your dog’s barking, consider reaching out to a qualiﬁed behaviourist for additional guidance. You can ﬁnd a Coape qualiﬁed CABTi behaviourist in your area by visiting www.coape.org (under the ‘Find a behaviourist’ tab).Photo posed by modelsBamboodles would like to introduce you to the newest way to satisfy your dog’s inherent need to chew. The Bamboodles T-Bone is created using a bamboo and nylon mix. The natural strength of the bamboo ﬁ bre combines with the nylon ﬁ bres to create a longer-lasting, chew toy that is not only satisfying but also durable – for even the most aggressive of chewers.The amazing T design means dogs have the autonomy to use their paws and hold the bone upright, giving them ease and independence to gnaw away to their heart’s content. The raised nubs help to control plaque and tartar build-up, promoting clean teeth and healthy gums. Get a grip!ADVERTISING FEATUREDid you know that chewing is scientiﬁ cally proven to calm your dog down? These T-designed Bamboodles help your dog to hold their own chew while they blissfully gnaw away Designed to make your dog’s tail wag■Occupy your dogDiscourage destructive chewing■Care for their teethRaised nubs help to control plaque and tartar build-up, promoting clean teeth and healthy gums■Easy to useThe ‘T-bone’ shape allows your dog to hold their Bamboodle with their paws and keep it stable while chewing ■Enjoyable realistic textureMimics wood for an authentic and satisfying chew experienceyour dog’s tail wagThese cool T-Bone chews come in three sizes and three flavours (beef, chicken and peanut butter).For more information, visit www.bamboodles.co.ukor check out Bamboodles on Facebook and Instagram

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34 Dogs Today March 2024I’d thought long and hard about keeping a pup from what was likely to be my last litter of Stardell pups. I’d owned, worked and bred this line of dual-registered working collies for over 50 years and although none of them are doing what the breed was originally intended for, they are nearly all working dogs with numerous qualiﬁcations, awards and successes in various disciplines. My own sport of choice is working trials, which is believed to be the oldest of all the canine activities. Working trials was originally set up to test the health, structure and working abilities of the German Shepherd Dog. These tests combine nosework, obedience and agility in formidable and challenging sets of tests. The agility section is a challenge in itself, consisting of a three-foot hurdle, an eight-foot long jump and a ﬁve-foot-six-inch scale, which the dog must climb over and wait on the other side, returning back over on handler’s command. The nosework section is equally difﬁcult with both tracking and searching on any terrain in any weather conditions, which, as many trials take place in the depth of winter, can be extremely testing. In addition to all this is the obedience section, which includes heelwork, recall, retrieve sendaway, redirect and speak.No longer in the ﬁrst ﬂush of youth, at 72 years old I wondered Words WENDY BEASLEYShattering her hip at just ﬁve months old, it looked as if Zola’s destiny to Road to recoveryThis operation removes the ball at the top of the femur, leaving the leg with no connecting joint and only ligaments holding it in place. To be of use, this must be supported by muscle, which is strong enough to replace the role of the joint. This muscle is virtually non-existent after the surgery and must be built up by months of physiotherapy and that’s what we had to look forward to”if I was up to training another pup to do all this, or whether it was time to hang up the harness. And then the litter arrived and, of course, I kept one. How could I not? So, Zola came into my life. To say Zola is a force of nature would be an understatement, and although I have long bred this line to have drive and tenacity, Zola was beyond anything I’d ever bred, owned or trained before. She was born to work and soaked up training like a sponge but, in addition to this, she seemed to have a sort of death wish and threw herself around with no care or fear for her own safety. I remember telling a friend that if she reached maturity in one piece, it would be a miracle – but sadly, she didn’t. At ﬁve months old, she threw a toy into the air in the kitchen on the tiled ﬂoor and jumped to catch it. She slipped and the noise I heard when she hit the ﬂoor was both sickening and unforgettable. Zola had broken her hip – not just broken but shattered it. On the subsequent X-ray, it looked like a smashed windscreen with cracks all over it. My vet couldn’t believe she was still walking on it, but the prognosis was bleak. WRITTEN OFFI had two options: a hip replacement, which in working dogs is not known to be particularly successful long term, or a femoral head ostectomy, which, although drastic, would free her from pain, and, with the right amount of work, would give her some degree of mobility. This operation removes the ball at the top of the femur, leaving the leg with no connecting joint and only ligaments holding it in place. To be of use, this must be supported by muscle that is strong enough to replace the role of the joint. This muscle is virtually non-existent after the surgery and must be built up by months of physiotherapy and that’s what we had to look forward to. However, in the vet’s words, ‘She’ll never do your game.’ The choice was already made. I couldn’t leave her in pain, and if she couldn’t work then she could still lead a relatively good life. I booked her in, but just before the surgery was done, I watched a YouTube video that showed a dog in the USA after the same surgery. Admittedly it was a Pit Bull Terrier, so not much similarity, but I thought I’d see what it could do. Initially, it wasn’t a pleasant watch, with the dog totally disabled, but then I watched the work his dedicated owners put in, and, 12 months later, the dog was out working, doing all the things that our working dogs do. Right, I thought, I could do this, and I would.When Zola came back from surgery, I was devastated. I couldn’t believe this was a good idea; her leg hung uselessly and she had no ability to control it. As she tried to rush about on her remaining three legs, this one dangled and hit things as she turned. It was just horrible. Nevertheless, I stuck to my plan, and, over the next months, we walked miles together. Starting out with six ﬁve-minute walks a day, it went to six 15-minute walks then four 30-minutes – all on the lead and at a snail’s pace initially, the idea being to get her to use the leg by moving too slowly to allow her to carry it. Zola had other ideas and pulled like a train, and, for the ﬁrst time in over 50 years of dog training, I bought every gadget known to man and dog to try to slow her down. Nothing worked and every walk was a battle of wills, but I so much admired her spirit. STEPPING UPIn addition to the walks, we had to carry out manipulation exercises several times a day, encouraging her to stand on the leg, go from sit to stand, and take a biscuit off the stairs so she had to reach up and stand on her back legs. In time, we put out an air bed to walk her across and a friend gave us a treadmill so she would go on this several times a day as well. >March 2024 Dogs Today 35 o train in working trials was over. But the determined pup had other ideas…In addition to the walks, we had to carry out manipulation exercises several times a day, encouraging her to stand on the leg, go from sit to stand, and take a biscuit off the stairs so she had to reach up and stand on her back legs. She learned to put her front paws on a slope or a raised platform, so the weight was transferred to the back legs and her ultimate joy was the weekly hydrotherapy sessions, which she absolutely loved

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36Dogs Today March 2024< She learned to put her front paws on a slope or a raised platform, so the weight was transferred to the back legs and her ultimate joy was the weekly hydrotherapy sessions, which she absolutely loved. RUNNING FREEMonths went by and Zola grew stronger, carried the leg less and used it more until the magical day I could let her off the lead and let her run. Although Zola had never been down or depressed throughout all the months of hard work, her joy when she could ﬁ nally run free brought tears to my eyes. Then I started training her. Knowing she could feel no pain from her injury, I wondered how much she could achieve, and the answer was – everything. She tracks, she searches, she does all the obedience exercises – but amazingly, she jumps! She has achieved full size on all three jumps and going over and back on the scale. She still has to perfect her technique and can make mistakes, but that’s no different to any of my previous dogs at this stage.I have no doubt that in a matter of weeks she will have it perfected and then we can compete. I could never dream this day would come and when I looked at her little broken body at ﬁ ve months old, there seemed no hope she could ever reach this stage and she’s only just two years old. What a dog! Zola, you are by far the strongest, most determined and most committed dog I have ever known, and I am in awe of your spirit. PWhen Wendy is not busy with her dogs, she is an author, writing ﬁ rstly about dogs and training and more recently a children’s fairytale, Charlotte and the Fairies, and two dark women’s ﬁ ctions, Beasts and Butterﬂ ies and Angel. Although the ﬁ rst one is for the tinies and the other two deal with hard-hitting subjects, all three have a dog and one features working trials.Charlotte and the Fairies and Beasts and Butterﬂ ies are both available on Amazon. Angel is available from the publishers www.victorinapress.comShe tracks, she searches, she does all the obedience exercises – but amazingly, she jumps! She has achieved full size on all three jumps and going over and back on the scale.An award winning collection of hospitality venues located across the Ribble Valley, Lune Valley & Yorkshire Dales. Explore our venues atJAMESPLACES.COMMUDDY BOOTS & PAWS alwa welce!Eat, drink, sleep and relax...FOR WHOLESALE TERMS PLEASE CONTACT US NO MINIMUM ORDER www.peakepetcare.com 0800 622 6109OUR PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN TRIED AND TESTED FOR OVER 25 YEARS WITH AMAZING RESULTS!OUR WORLD FAMOUS RANGE OF...SOOTHING PET EAR CLEANERS“After 1 whole year of trying everything from my vet - nothing worked. My poor Arabela was in such discomfort with her ear. Then at Crufts, Tracey Peake from Peake Pet Care recommended this product and within 3 weeks Arabela’s ear healed up and no more infections.Can’t recommend this highly enough!”Anda Clover, Groomer, Stevenage.SIMPLY THE BEST!WORLD FAMOUSUSE OCCASIONALLY OR REGULARLY TO ERADICATE PROBLEMS

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Words ANNETTE COURTNEYThe problem with lockdown puppiesAs a home breeder, I know what’s needed and what should be avoided when breeding a happy, healthy, conﬁ dent litter of puppies. Did the Covid pandemic change that? Or did other factors make the difference? n March 2020, Boris Johnson informed us of the ﬁ rst lockdown. In our household, after the initial shock, it was time to sit and reﬂ ect. We had a litter of puppies lying on the kitchen ﬂ oor with homes to go to. Would they have to stay and grow in front of the Everhot for ever more? Could this virus be transmissible to dogs? They already had their own coronavirus in the list of canine viruses. Questions escalated to a frenzy. Lockdown meant no socialisation, no car rides and no visits from the general public, new owners or our neighbours’ lovely children. What would we have to do? How would puppy owners cope? How would they get out to classes and socialise the pups? How were we going to get them home to their new owners? Thankfully, it transpired we were allowed to walk outside. Out came the battered old pushchair and off we set with a small crate of puppies. Although we couldn’t stop and talk to people, the puppies were still seeing different things and getting used to some sort of motion. DELIVERWOOSlowly, after lots of research, it was announced that it would be possible to have puppies delivered to owners by a licensed transporter. Fantastic charities like Woodgreen and Blue Cross did puppy classes on Zoom. This meant it was still possible to do training classes, albeit from the living room. New puppy owners were able to get some of the support they needed and were also able to carry the puppies out and about, getting some socialisation and experiences ticked off and done. We will discover later if this was enough. And then puppy mania exploded. Suddenly, everyone who had wanted a dog but couldn’t because of work commitments thought lockdown was the perfect time to realise their dream. Rachel Johnson, the prime minister’s sister, even suggested that buying a puppy was the answer to coping with lockdown! Puppies became as sought after as lavatory paper, prices skyrocketed beyond belief and unscrupulous breeders started the conveyor belt of mass production. >I38Dogs Today March 2024meant it was still possible to do training classes, albeit from the living room. New puppy owners were able to get some of the support they needed and were also able to carry the puppies out and about, getting some socialisation and experiences ticked off and done. We will discover later if this was enough. And then puppy mania Photo posed by modelsMarch 2024 Dogs Today39

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40 Dogs Today March 2024< People were desperate to get a puppy. The usual Kennel Club ‘Find a Puppy’ page was no longer full of lists, and breeders were hounded with phone calls. Demand outstripped supply and dogs became massive business. People were even warned by the police not to leave dogs unattended in the garden for fear of being snatched. Unfortunately, this did not bode well for puppies born into the frenzy of lockdown sales. Prices rocketed, there was mass production of pups, and some litters were not socialised at all. To meet the demand, puppies were bred and sold before their paws could touch the ﬂoor. Despite welfare charities warning of the cost and responsibility of lifelong ownership, it was a case of ‘purchase now and think about it later’! New owners, especially ﬁrst-time owners, were left to cope, without realising that there were things they could do to help their puppies develop, hence the term ‘lockdown puppy’ was born! The BBC reported in March 2021 that 3.2 million households had purchased a pet in lockdown. More than a third of new owners said their pet was challenging, while others said it was like having a baby. Five per cent had already rehomed the pet they had purchased. CRACKING PUPSThe next issue arose when people returned to work. A puppy that had been used to company all day, every day was suddenly alone and many were unable to cope. While the horror of all this is disturbing, we must also remember that some people who purchased dogs during lockdown were in need of some company. Pets have been beneﬁcial to mental health and this is well documented. Many people could not have coped with the loneliness of the pandemic without their canine pal. Unfortunately, the cracks are now beginning to surface, and, despite being loved, some of these dogs, who are now young adults, are being rehomed or given to rescue due to behavioural issues. In September 2023, the RSPCA voiced concerns that the problem could get worse; the cost-of-living crisis could make this happen sooner than later. The group who homed the lovely litter we raised in our kitchen – the litter we did our best to socialise – still had cracks. Despite taking them out in the pushchair and relying on the BBC for ﬁlms, noises and football matches, they still developed issues, especially with people visiting the house, and initially being over excited when meeting other dogs. Separation distress has not been an issue with any of them, however. Owners who have purchased dogs from puppy farmers and large breeders have seen more adverse reactions: fear aggression, separation anxiety, general anxiety when being walked and tendencies to bite owners through fear. Some owners are resorting to the dog version of Prozac. In January 2024, ITV News reported that a south-west Labrador rescue was inundated with pedigree Labs. The numbers of dogs increased 73 per cent between 2020 and 2023. Reasons for rehoming were varied; alongside the behaviour issues listed above, the cost-of-living crisis is a deciding factor, plus the adolescence phase is difﬁcult. With people working longer hours, dogs become bored and can be destructive and develop other issues. Barb Turnbull of the Doodle Trust reports that rescue has totally changed since the pandemic. She is seeing dogs that are totally unsocialised and untrained, with severe separation anxiety and aggression issues. Barb reports that they were purchased by people who had no experience with dogs, who thought it would be a great idea to get a puppy during lockdown! Sadly, they didn’t think any further than that and were unsupported by breeders. Now rescue is inundated with fearful dogs, petriﬁed of life. Finding homes is near impossible, as no one really wants a dog with behavioural problems, particularly with a bite history. Dogs are being left in kennels and foster care without any hope of ever ﬁnding a home – or, worse still, having to be put to sleep through lack of a place to go. NEVER AGAINPerhaps now is the time to make sure this never happens again, to enforce breeder licensing and to educate breeders and owners alike in the form of responsible dog ownership. After all, we have to take theory and practical tests to drive a car! To give up now would be a disaster. The dogs that helped us through the pandemic, who gave us the boost to get up in the morning, who wagged their tails and kept us company throughout some very sad times, deserve more. PThe next issue arose when people returned to work. A puppy that had been used to company all day, every day was suddenly alone and many were unable to copePhoto posed by a modelPetsPyjamas has curated over 18,000 dog-welcoming properties where your dog stays free. So whether you fancy a cosy cottage in the Cotswolds, a pub with rooms on the moors, a seaside bolthole in Devon or Cornwall, or a grand country house hotel in Wiltshire, PetsPyjamas has you covered. These properties are handpicked for their pet-welcoming attitudes, ensuring that both you and your dog receive the warmest of welcomes.But what truly sets PetsPyjamas apart is its commitment to ensuring that your dog is truly looked after throughout your journey. With cosy pet beds, complimentary treats, and water bowls provided, you can rest assured that your pet’s comfort is a top priority.Taking your dog on a holiday with PetsPyjamas isn’t just a vacation – it’s an unforgettable experience ﬁ lled with tail-wagging joy and cherished moments. Pwww.petspyjamas.comAdvertorialThe Joy of Dog-Friendly Getaways with PetsPyjamasPicture this: you’re planning your next escape, and the dilemma arises – should you leave your loyal pup behind or bring them along for the journey? With PetsPyjamas, that decision becomes a no-brainer...

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42 Dogs Today March 2024“Criminals followed me home from a dog show and stole my dogs,” says Wayne May remembering the day six of his dogs were taken. “We got home from the dog show and we bathed the dogs and we fed them, and we were sitting down in our living room, having our tea,” says Wayne. “It was later in the year, so it was getting dark early, and the dogs started barking. When I went out to see why the dogs were barking, the criminals were already in the process of stealing my dogs.“I had about 18 dogs at the time. We intervened and they drove the car and ran me over and got away with six. It was because of that incident that I joined DogLost and devoted my time to dog theft.POLICE SUPPORT“Within DogLost itself there’s a really good police liaison team and we get given information via the public. DogLost can’t make arrests or anything. What we do as the police liaison team is digest the information and make sure that the evidence we gather is authentic. I do most of the homework for the police and we give them all the factual stuff and hopefully we get someone’s dog, horse, parrot or whatever animal it is back home to them.”Losing your dog, or having them taken from you, is an unbearable thought. But, sadly, it’s a reality for the families of 2,000 dogs that are stolen each year in the UK.“The most common theft would deﬁnitely be dogs,” says Wayne. “The Words RICHARD HILLAfter experiencing the devastation of dog theft, Wayne May has reunited over 2,000 lost pets and has no plans to stopUntil the day I dieWayne Maytypes of breeds change each year and each month. We get fads. One month, it will be French Bulldogs; that will change to working dogs, terriers and spaniels. And then it will change again to Labradors and then it’ll change again to other breeds. It all depends on what’s commanding the highest price. CASHING IN“The thieves advertise via social media and online selling sites. Very rarely, dogs are stolen to order; the majority are opportunist thefts, March 2024 Dogs Today 43 We were following up an enquiry regarding some stolen working terriers about 10 years ago. We believed we’d seen the dogs in a vehicle and they were being used for hunting, so we followed them back. We needed to ascertain some more information to clarify that we were looking at the right dogs. We were following them about two o’clock in the morning, in a remote part of the country. I got out and got shot in the back of the neck”Photo posed by a model

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44Dogs Today March 2024but in lockdown there were a lot of pre-planned thefts. Some dogs are stolen to order. It is rare, but it happens.”Wayne explains why he and the people he meets get involved in dog theft and rescue. PAY IT FORWARD“Being a victim of dog theft means that strangers helped me – people that I never knew or met in my entire life. The least I can do is repay these strangers and donate my time to get their animals back. Some have become friends and almost family. I suppose people are surprised that I keep on doing it after all these years. I never asked these people to help me; they just helped me because they were such nice people, so the least I can do is repay my community by doing the same.“The most unusual place that I’ve rescued a dog from was on the roof of a block of ﬂ ats where someone had built a kennel on the outskirts of London. A lift company phoned us and said they’d found this dog kept in a kennel and the person that owned it was using a ﬁ re escape to get on the roof because he wasn’t allowed to keep pets in his property.”As well as rooftop rescues, there have been other risks. Wayne has been harmed several times in the course of his work. “I’ve been shot and I’ve been stabbed. I wouldn’t advise anyone else to do it. I know my own limitations, I know what I can and can’t do, and I’m fully aware of the circumstances that I put myself into. I wouldn’t advise anyone else to go to the lengths and measures that I do, but it’s my personal choice.“We were following up an enquiry regarding some stolen working terriers about 10 years ago. We believed we’d seen the dogs in a vehicle and they were being used for hunting, so we followed them back. We needed to ascertain some more information to clarify that we were looking at the right dogs. We were following them about two o’clock in the morning, in a remote part of the country. I got out and got shot in the back of the neck. Another time, I got stabbed right between my shoulder blades.”Wayne plays down the risks.“It is dangerous, but it’s very rare. It’s only happened three times in 34 years. A police ofﬁ cer or an ambulance driver put themselves in that position every time they go to work, so it’s really rare. In my area, Kent, we’re really lucky; we’ve got a really good team of police ofﬁ cers. If I submit intelligence regarding a dog or dog theft, or criminal gangs importing dogs from abroad etc, they do act on that. LIFE OF SERVICE“If we can do all the homework – tracking people, ﬁ nding addresses, police footage, photographs, even drone footage – we pass that over to the police and that’s less work for them. Quite often, we know where the dogs are, so we supply all of that to the police. All they have to do is get a warrant or whatever to retrieve the animal because it’s all been done for them.Wayne has ﬁ ve dogs of his own – dogs that he’s rescued and kept. “I’ve got two collies, a crossbreed and two Lurchers. They’re all rescued – they came to us and ended up staying.”And staying is what Wayne plans to do. “I’m 53 next month and I’ll keep doing this for the rest of my life.” PDogLostwww.doglost.co.ukStolen and Missing Pets Alliance (Sampa)www.stolenandmissingpetsalliance.co.ukLINKSThe Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance (Sampa) Dog Theft Awareness Day is an annual event held on 14 March. According to Sampa, 12 dogs go missing every day in the UK – 52% are stolen from gardens, 19% are stolen in house burglaries, 16% are stolen while on a walk, 7% are stolen while being tied up outside shops and 5% are stolen from cars. To ﬁ nd out more visit:www.stolenandmissingpetsalliance.co.uk/dog-theft-awareness-dayDOG THEFT AWARENESS DAYPhoto posed by modelswww.flexi.de/enXTREMEExtremely Bite Resistant TapeMADE IN GERMANY

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46 Dogs Today March 2024 Angela Phillips✓If it became national, dog wardens could be linked on to one database and communicate nationwide. Dogs get stolen and moved hundreds of miles away from their original place of home.Aileen Smith✗The more removed from local authority, the less they work, I think. As others have said, better funding of existing dog warden services is a must.Buddy Hirst?It depends if it would be better. Replacements of anything made by the current government have wholly been a disaster. I’d rather see a Crisis at Christmas centre for dogs to take the pressure off rescues for the last two months of each year and the ﬁrst four months.Denise Day✓Deﬁnitely! Someone who understands dogs and is a visible presence.Photo posed by modelsGreat 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 Beth Wright✗It would be a lot cheaper and easier to reintroduce dog licences and link these with the dog’s microchip. This would help the existing wardens do their job more effectively. Annie Elizabeth ✓ParkerWhat a good idea. Our dog warden doesn’t put dogs to sleep, but I know some do after seven days. It needs central control and better regulations.Should we have a national dog warden service, away from local authority funding and control?March 2024 Dogs Today47Gillian Swift?Something needs to be done as the situation at the moment is not working for some. We need to move with the times and not live in the past. Dog wardens need to up their game and get people’s respect back.Zoe Rugen✗I can’t see anything national working any better. What we need are better rules and especially much better funding of local authorities for dog warden services.Jenny Bromley✓We used to have a great dog warden service when the funding was transferred from the police to LAs. Gradually, some LAs have diverted funding to other things. I agree they have made their own rules too. We had a professional body, the National Dog Warden Association, which provided great training and standard operating rules. There are still some wonderful dog warden services but, sadly, some leave a lot to be desired. I used to have an email system that spread information far and wide and was supported by surrounding services, Battersea Dogs Home and others. The current situation is not helped by the amateur (don’t inform the dog warden) illegal brigade.Linda McKenzie✗I don’t think a national service would be better funded or administered than a local authority funded service – they’re all civil servants funded by the public purse. What needs to happen is the Local Government Association, the professional body for LAs, needs to set out guidelines that all LAs sign up to. And LAs need to spend their time and money on providing core services instead of applying funding and policing dog PSPOs (public spaces protection orders) and put that money and resources into the dog warden service.Carole Harper✓National approach. Funds donated from the pet food companies’ huge proﬁ ts, please!Trish Macfarlane?It depends on your interpretation of the word ‘national’. Dogs and animal control are devolved issues to the four nations. I would prefer if we brought in licensing and ring-fenced the money raised within the local authorities. Scotland already has Dog Control Notices, which are issued by local authorities; I’m not sure if the same thing happens elsewhere? No point moaning about dog wardens not turning up to incidents if councils are strapped for funding; it’s time to raise some money for a good service.Laura Slade✓Hardly any local authorities seem to have actual dog wardens any more – just outsourced stray collection.e, email enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk o 100 words.Next month’s topic is: “Are ‘Beware of the dog’ signs worth it? It can be courteous to visitors, to warn that a dog is around, but some say it can be an admission that your dog is dangerous, which could be problematic; others point out that it’s a neon sign to dog thieves.”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 result31%46%23%

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48 Dogs Today March 2024 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.Miniature PoodleMarch 2024 Dogs Today49Meet the Miniature that’s larger than life with one of the most versatile, glamorous coats in the dog world. CharacterTwo words were repeated over and over in the survey responses when it came to describing the Miniature Poodle: intelligent and fun. “Incredibly intelligent, intuitive dogs with a clown-like nature,” summed up one devotee. Another was smitten with their “sense of fun, loyalty, love and intelligence.” They are certainly happy chappies (and chappesses). 69% agreed that their dogs are “happy all the time.” This joie de vivre is infectious. “They make my heart sing,” one fan told us. Their love of people extends to all. “They are super sweet with all age groups of people” – and especially if given the chance to sit on you for a cuddle. 72% said their dogs are lapdogs if given the opportunity. Size mattersHaving a breed in three different sizes is a big advantage. Many of our owners had downsized from the Standard or upsized from the Toy, according to their needs and circumstances. “I love Standards, but where I live is a bit small for one, so opted for a Miniature this time,” said one. Another, “I got my Miniature as my Toy was ageing. Was looking for a bigger, higher energy breed that was still small enough to live in the city and not shed.”20% of our survey respondents had Standards as well as Minis, and 25% had Toy Poodles. The middle-sized Miniature is the “perfect size – not too small you might break them and not too big.”Training & behaviourPoodles are smart – they have brains and beauty! Yes, they enjoy training, as they have a great work ethic and love people, but they can also problem solve and think independently. “We have toilet bells at the back door. When the kitchen door was closed, so she couldn’t get to them, she came and rang a wind chime hanging from the mantelpiece.”A good number from our survey took part in agility and obedience. “Poodles are a ‘do anything dog’. They are highly trainable.”ExerciseMiniature Poodles are energetic. 61% agreed that their dogs are in “constant motion – they are either asleep or on the move”. 65% of our survey gave their healthy, adult Minis an hour’s daily exercise, 20% enjoyed 90 minutes daily and 26% had 45 minutes. A lucky 6% had two hours or more. “Poodles are very adaptable will go for however long you want,” explained one enthusiast. Some said their dogs went on 15-mile hikes, but they wouldn’t bounce off the walls if they have to forego a walk. “They have endless energy but they also don’t mind a day on the sofa every now and again.”HealthThe Kennel Club advises eye-screening and DNA tests for the eye condition prcd-PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) and osteochondrodysplasia (a severe form of dwarﬁ sm caused by abnormal bone and cartilage development). From the survey, it seems teeth are an issue, as are warts and slipping patellas. 55% had experienced ear infections and 30% allergies.Our survey of Miniature Poodle owners revealed:Lively Labrador?BUY COLLARS, LEADS & HARNESSES

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My Dog CrushOriginsThe Poodle, known as the ‘Pudel’ in German and the ‘Caniche’ in French, is a water dog with a rich history, dating back to at least the 17th century. It is now widely accepted that the breed originated in Germany, though the FCI (Federation Cynologique International) – the European federation of national kennel clubs and registries – still attributes France as the breed’s country of origin. The Poodle’s unique trim, which is often associated with show dogs, is actually a practical feature from their duck-retrieving days. The trim helps the dog move more efﬁ ciently in water and protects the joints from the cold.The breed is recognised in three sizes by the Kennel Club: Standard, Miniature, and Toy. The smaller varieties were achieved by scaling down the original Standard Poodle.50Dogs Today March 2024 ●Loving ●Intelligent ●Funny ●Playful●Clownish ●Fun ●Happy ●Sassy ●Loyal ●Friendly Traits●Boucle ●Louie●Mimi●Pierre ●Sushi●Audrey ●Fiﬁ ●Teddy ●Coco ●SootyBest namesMarch 2024 Dogs Today51by Jayne Judge Ifell in love with Miniature Poodles when I was 10 years old and my oldest brother turned up with one called Kinky. It was love at ﬁ rst sight – though the feeling wasn’t mutual. She only wanted my mam. Kinky was so devoted that she once escaped through a small top window in a bedroom to ﬁ nd her after mam had gone out to the shops. Luckily, we were in a bungalow at the time!Eight and a half years ago, I fetched home my ﬁ rst KC registered Miniature Poodle – Cherokee. Born on my mam’s birthday, and the same colour as Kinky, it felt like it was meant to be. I had started going to companion shows and decided I would have a go at ‘proper’ showing. I have been fortunate enough to have shown both Cherokee and her daughter, Comanche, at Crufts. We will never win top awards, but to me showing is just for fun and a day out. Though I won’t lie – it does give me a boost if we beat another dog!I never gave a thought to grooming a show Poodle, but thankfully, over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to ﬁ nd good friends to help with that side of things. I enjoy bathing and drying, but scissoring skills avoid me. During Covid, I clipped the coat off into a Miami trim rather than leaving her to look like an overgrown yeti. That’s one of the wonderful things about Poodles – how versatile their trims can be. Depending on what sort of walks we have done, I usually bath once a week. After a walk, I tend to give them a quick going over with my blaster dryer to make sure there are no tangles in the coat.Cherokee has always been quick to learn things, passing her bronze and silver Good Citizen awards quickly. Sadly, gold was not to be. She failed it every time on the out-of-sight stay. One of the downsides to Miniature Poodles is that they are prone to separation anxiety, so it is something I have worked hard on to ensure my two don’t suffer from it.Their favourite thing in the world is running through the woods. We are very lucky to have a country park a 10-minute road walk away from us. Both Poodles have a very high prey drive, so I have had to work hard on their recall. When we meet people on walks, they are always surprised at how full of life the Poodles are, bouncing around through the trees while my other two dogs (Livewire, a Manchester Terrier, and Rebel, an American Bulldog) barely leave my side.CLOWNING AROUNDMiniature Poodles are often described as the clowns of the dog world, and it is so easy to see why. They are so bouncy and full of energy. They go from chilled out on the sofa one minute to 110mph play wrestling with each other the next. Jumping on my belly while doing zoomies is also a favourite hobby. They adapt to who they are around. If they are at their nanny Marlene’s house, they seem to know they have to be careful around her. Cherokee will relax at her feet while Comanche sits on her lap gently pawing at her if she dares to stop stroking. As much as they like exercise, I’ve found that mental stimulation is just as important. I often give my two their food in treat toys rather than just their bowls. They love Kongs, snufﬂ e mats and lick mats. I also scatter food in the grass for them to ﬁ nd. Poodles like to work, so are perfect if you want to try a new sport, such as agility, ﬂ yball, rally or mantrailing. Or go back to their roots and do gundog training. They make good assistance dogs too – two of my pups are hearing dogs.If you want a versatile dog and don’t mind grooming, go for a Miniature Poodle. You can have them in so many different trims, and they come in all solid colours as well as the two-tone phantom and parti. (Note, merle does not exist in Poodles and is not an accepted colour with the Kennel Club). Always buy from breeders who do extensive DNA health testing and who start grooming their pups from a few weeks old. And always see pups with mum. POwner’s viewDirty Dachshund?Dachshund?BUY SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER & SPRAYS

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My Dog Crush52Dogs Today March 2024 Advice for wannabe owners●“They are not the dainty, delicate dogs people think they are; they are intelligent working dogs who require a lot of grooming”●“Make sure you can cope with, or afford to pay for, grooming”●“Book them in with a groomer after their ﬁ rst vaccinations, even if it’s just a wash and dry; grooming will be a major part of their life and it needs to start early”●“Don’t underestimate their drive and intelligence – they need a job”Best Facebook group●Miniature Poodles UKTrendy Terrier?BUY BANDANAS & BOW-TIESGroomingMany are drawn to the breed because of the low/non-shedding coat, either because of allergies or convenience. Not having to deﬂ uff yourself every time you go out, and not constantly vacuuming hair from carpets, beds, sofas and every other surface in the house is a big plus. The Miniature Poodle’s non-shedding might make your housework lower maintenance, but it will make your dog grooming higher maintenance! Because the hair isn’t shed, dead coat will tangle and matt if not removed through grooming. It can be time-consuming to keep on top of the grooming – or costly if you opt for regular professional attention. However, many of you said you enjoyed grooming – or were attracted to the breed because you were professional dog groomers. 44% used a professional groomer, 28% groomed their Poodle themselves and the remaining 28% said they themselves were professional groomers! Your dogs’ grooming regimes were diverse. 23% groomed their dogs daily, 34% more than weekly, 21% once a week, 6% once a fortnight and 17% once a month or less. There was a wide range of clips reported too, with the lamb clip being the most popular (26%). Others included puppy, teddy bear, Continental, Scandinavian, Miami and Asian fusion. “I own nine Poodles and they all have different clips depending in coat type, what they suit and time if year.” One thing many agreed on was the need for a good dog dryer. “Buying a dog blow dryer is the best purchase when you own a Poodle. Human hairdryers dry out their fur, and, if not dried properly, can cause matting.” 55% had a doggie hairdryer and 39% had a towelling suit. 55% had wet-weather coats and boots.March 2024 Dogs Today53Love the breed? Shop the breedPlayful PapillonBUY TOYS, TUGS & TREAT HIDERS< Ceramic candle holders, available in pink and white. £11.50 each from BrownAndGingerUK on www.etsy.comIs your Poodle the light of your life? This light-up Poodle stands at 23cm. There are various bulb and colour options. From £24.99 at PawblesByBear on www.etsy.comv It is dinner time yet? This 3D clock, featuring Poodle ﬁ gures, comes in a wide range of colours including baby pink, bubblegum pink, purple, grey and fawn. £29.99 from PawblesByBear on www.etsy.com^ Balloon Poodle charm, on an adjustable 18-inch chain. £19.76 plus postage fro the US, from LiontariDiamonds on www.etsy.com ^ Know someone who loves Poodle and yarn? This blank greetings card is £2.95 from TwoWoofs on www.etsy.com ^ A blank greetings card featuring black Miniature Poodle ‘Tilly’. £3.94 from AmberMariesStudio on www.etsy.com^ A vibrant scene from a park, inspired by mid-century book covers. £1.95 from Rocket68 on www.etsy.com

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54Dogs Today March 2024 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!A G I L I T YNaylor Agility iscelebrating the 40thAnniversary ofmanufacturing qualitytunnels with thelaunch of their new,NON-SLIP PLUSrangewww.nayloragility.co.uktel: 01226 444378 Textured Non Slip+ Made in the UKYears ofexcellence4A unique dog-friendly Welsh castle, conveniently set within a glorious 40 acre country park, with idyllic shaded woodland paths, lakes and oﬀ -lead dog walksExperience dog-friendly Wales atCraig Y Nos Castle“There’s plenty of space to roam freely oﬀ the lead. I won’t get lost, but if I do, their dog-friendly parkland is all fenced in”“Dogs stay free so I can holiday with my owners, and they’ll save on kennel fees!”“In the evening I can keep my owners company in the dog-friendly Patti Bar“Craig y NosCastle has 25 dog friendly en-suites, so my owner has plenty of rooms to choose from”Join our Dog-Friendly Discount Club for free and receive regular discounted Dinner B&B oﬀ ers and our monthly newslettersCall: 01639 731167 or 01639 730205Email: info@craigynoscastle.comwww.dogfriendlywales.com

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56 Dogs Today March 2024 Your news & viewsGet 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.ukTO NEUTER OR NOT TO NEUTERYour article on the recent change in neutering attitudes (December 23/January 24) sparked a thought in my mind: what if we treated teenage boys the way we treat teenage dogs?Imagine this conversation: “I don’t know what to do, he’s disrespectful to me and has become so aggressive! He’s beating up kids at school and ﬁghting with his older brother at home. And he was such a sweet boy when he was little.”“Well, having two maturing or mature intact men in the house will cause problems. Maybe it’s time to take him to the doctor and give him the old ‘snip-snip’? That should chill him out.”“Um... I wasn’t really considering that as an option. I want him to procreate when he’s older. He would make such cute grandchildren.”“Ah, so you’re pro-breeding then? That’s not very responsible! The world is already over-populated and there are so many children out there who need a home. Why don’t you just adopt some grandchildren instead and get him the surgery? He’ll do better in school and I’ve heard it reduces back-talk quite effectively. Do you really want him to go around being so pent-up and frustrated all the time? It’s not fair on him.”“I really don’t feel comfortable depriving him of the opportunity to procreate forever just because he’s misbehaving now. That’s not fair either. Don’t you have anything else to suggest?”“Well, I guess you could get him a breeding partner. But personally, I’d just get the op, it’s so much less hassle. Another option is to give him more exercise so he can work out that frustration, but he’ll need a lot of it. Are you really going to have time to take him out so often while still working full-time? The neutered ones are just so much less work and they’re more focused and better behaved. Plus you won’t end up with any unwanted pregnancies on your hands this way.”Of course, this is a joke. Neuter your pets and not your children!On a more serious note, we have two entire males at home (father and son). My husband was adamant that we did not neuter our two after his childhood dog’s personality completely changed for the worse after the family neutered Bat as an adult to prevent ﬁghts between him and Tarzan, the male Stafﬁe that was also part of the household. “It stopped the ﬁghting, but it was like all the life went out of him and he was a different, subdued dog,” he said to me, so when we got Sevvie, I was happy to leave him intact.When Smidgeon joined the family, we considered what would happen if they started ﬁghting and wondered if one of them should therefore be castrated. My husband was still very much against it, so we did some research on how we could manage having two unneutered boys living happily. This turned out to be fairly straightforward – by implementing a hierarchy between them (Sevvie gets treats/attention ﬁrst and then Smidgeon), they’ve had no doubt of who fell where in the pecking order, which removed the urge to ﬁght it out. My husband observed that the rivalry between his childhood family dogs was created Rhodesian Ridgeback. Photo posed by a modelbecause he and his brothers preferenced Bat, while his dad and stepmum preferenced Tarzan. This created confusion between the dogs and hence the ﬁghts happened.Of course, dog politics can be more complicated than Brexit and we have had a few occasions of forgetting ourselves, which has led to some minor spats between Sev and Smidgeon. But as long as we do things in the right order between them, it keeps the peace, which impressed our vet. While we’re not advocates of creating hierarchies between dogs and their pet parents, this approach has worked well for us with our intact boys. As Sev has got older, he’s become very noise-sensitive and reading that neutering could exacerbate that trait, I am even happier with the choice we made. It’s not the right decision in all circumstances, but it was deﬁnitely the right one for us.Annabella KrolPostbaggentlecold pressed dog foodgentle by name...gentle by nature...Gentle cold pressed is a complete dogfood and naturally as close to raw feedingas possible, suitable for all breeds andlife stages and can be fed alongside raw.E/ info@gentledogfood.co.uk M/ 01409 251063W/ gentledogfood.co.ukFree from gluten, artificial flavourings, artificial colouring, preservatives, animal experimentationand GM productsFlavours:Original Small Bites Fish GoatMUCKYPUP?SHOP GROOMINGESSENTIALS FOR YOUR POOCH

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58Dogs Today March 2024 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ANIMAL ABUSEI had no idea that most centres and refuges for victims of domestic violence do not allow animals until a dear friend was stuck in a violent household because of it. It’s not one of those things that would occur to you until you ﬁ nd yourself in that position, but once you know, it’s horrifying. My friend had a pet cat she loved with all her heart, and he was the only true bright spot in her life. She wanted to leave the relationship, but she was certain her partner would hurt her cat if she couldn’t take him with her. Knowing him, I have to agree. I could easily picture him killing the cat, and then claiming he had escaped from an open window.This kept my friend stuck in the same ﬂ at as a violent man for months. She reached out, but no centre or refuge would take her cat too, and there seemed to be no fostering options either (mind you, this was years ago; that has since changed, though I don’t imagine what services there are can meet all demand!). In the end, she could get away because I got lucky: I bought my ﬁ rst home, moved out of my strictly no-pets-allowed lease, and was able to keep her cat while she went to a refuge. I think it was just in the nick of time. I truly believe she could have been killed if she didn’t get away. I was glad to read there are now more initiatives to help victims of domestic violence and their pets (February 24), and to see there is more awareness that the two are connected. If someone is cruel to animals, they may very well be cruel to people and vice versa. We, as a society, and, most of all, law enforcement, need to always keep that in mind when approaching domestic violence or animal cruelty. Name withheld Your news & viewsPhoto posed by a modelNat ParkerMy dog has this thing where he curls up and tucks his paws underneath him just like a cat. It’s the funniest sight, especially when he tries to groom himself. I keep telling him he’s a dog, but he’s convinced he’s part feline.Oliver BennettYou should see Star doing her best squirrel impression. We have a tree in the backyard that leans quite heavily, so it’s not too hard to get relatively high up. She’s taken a liking to climbing up it. I caught her perched on a branch more than once, just surveying her kingdom. Penny MitchellMy pup, Bella, has this obsession with hopping around like a rabbit. I’ve never seen a dog bounce like that before. She’ll see a patch of grass and just start leaping around like she’s auditioning for the Easter Bunny role. It’s pure entertainment.Amanda CollinsMy Labrador thinks he’s an otter. Whenever we’re near water, he keeps trying to roll on his back! I’ve never seen a dog trying to do that roll before, like he wants to ﬂ oat on his back as otters do. His tail doesn’t work nearly as well as a paddle, though.Natalie GraceMy niece has this goofy Golden Retriever named Charlie who thinks he’s part kangaroo. Whenever he’s excited, he starts hopping on his hind legs. It’s like he’s trying to catch some imaginary airborne treat.Henry FosterLuna has this uncanny ability to imitate a meerkat. Whenever there’s a noise, she pops up on her hind legs, ears erect, scanning the surroundings. She’s always on alert for any potential threats – which usually turn out to be the Amazon delivery driver.From FacebookSOME OF OUR FOLLOWERS DESCRIBE HOW THEIR DOGS CLEARLY THINK THEY’RE A DIFFERENT ANIMAL…Postbag

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60Dogs Today March 2024 Tea breakName: _________________________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Postcode: _________________________Telephone: _____________________________________________________Email address: ___________________________________________________Breed/type of dog: _______________________________________________FEBRUARY SOLUTION: Across: 1 Blind; 4 Whippet; 8 Charger; 9 Nippy; 10 Overboil; 11 Fido; 13 Pedigrees; 16 Aria; 17 Constant; 20 Bitch; 21 Diorite; 22 Terrier; 23 Slack. Down: 1 Bichon; 2 Irate; 3 Dogsbody; 4 Worming powder; 5 Iona; 6 Puppies; 7 Toy dog; 12 Pet shops; 13 Pointer; 14 Barbet; 15 Streak; 18 Akita; 19 Thai.591210201481715321131618122374196231 122Gyles Brandreth’s Prize Crossword!Complete the crossword grid, then post your entry to arrive by 4 April 2024 to: March Crossword, 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 Wild Knot bird - a squeaky plush toy, with internal knotted rope and minimal stufﬁ ng for minimal mess! Available from PurrfectlyYappy.com The judge’s decision is ﬁ nal. How to enterPut the kettle on and have a go at our competitions!Quick Clues Across1 No thoroughbred (5)4 An affectionate term for a dog (5)8 Former Portuguese monetary unit (7)9 Burrowing creature’s habitat (5)10 Alert canine pricks them up (4)11 The German Shepherd Dog’s other name (8)13 Long-running children’s TV programme (4,5)16 Dog handlers (8)17 Animal historically chased by ‘6 Down’ (4)20 They are needed for walkies (5)21 Doing as one’s master says (7)22 “Sit!” for example (5)23 Find after a long search (5)Quick Clues Down1 Spaniel (6)2 One who used to buy a dog licence (5)3 Stick closed (4)4 Where canine might be given beauty treatment (6,7)5 Performs histrionically (8)6 Hunting dog (7)7 Country of origin of a crested breed (5)12 Having a thick, turned-up snout (3-5)13 Boastful display of courage (7)14 One European Greyhound’s country (5)15 Small hunting breed (6)18 Large Japanese breed (5)19 Food for carnivore (4)Cryptic Clues Across1 Angry mongrel? (5)4 Dog a fictional bear caught going inside (5)8 Vet can get annoyed when offered round foreign coin (7)9 Change of heart where dog might bury bone (5)10 The audience in the dear seats (4)11 A learner takes shiny stuff to wrap round a large dog (8)13 TV programme shows sad dog, maybe, presented to Queen (4,5)16 Shoes worn by Victoria Stilwell and co (8)17 We hear musical hound might pursue it (4)20 Canine equipment from Northern town, do you say? (5)21 Following ‘22 Across’, big one issued round yard (7)22 Arrangement for some Border Collies (5)23 Find cat… er… prowling (5)Cryptic Clues Down 1 Spaniel about to turn up in pursuit of farmyard bird (6)2 One might have a pedigree dog or new mongrel (5)3 Performing animal, half Sealyham (4)4 French beauty salon? (6,7)5 Rover loses head, lands on wild cats, behaves dramatically (8)6 Hawk or dog which hunts ‘17 Across’ (7)7 Part of church in autumn is home for Peke? (5)12 Untrained NUPE dogs with certain nasal feature (3-5)13 One kind of courage shown by Indian, mostly, with fuss (7)14 Where to dig up some old worldly Latin? (5)15 Ask the French to shelter a hunting dog (6)18 A set of equipment placed on a dog (5)19 Here’s some food for Rover, and get me a portion of tart (4)March 2024 Dogs Today61When you sneeze so hard, the When you sneeze so hard, the Met Ofﬁ ce gives it a nameMet Ofﬁ ce gives it a nameWinning captionPhoto submitted by Claire Firth (ﬁ rthphotography.strikingly.comMiniature Poodle (posed by a model) & Whippet (by www.timrosephotography.co.uk)Lynn TullochDecember Caption Runners-upCross QuestionCan you guess which breeds Gizmo’s parents are? Fido’s obsession with lip ﬁ llers was getting out of handGillian MonkAnd ﬁ rst prize for Mick Jagger lookalike goes to…Penny HarrisonHippodogamusThe winning caption will win a Fuzzu A Gorilly Named Billy Dog Toy worth £13.99 from www. purrfectlyyappy.comThe person who sends the ﬁ rst correct answer to the Cross Question will win a pack of SmartBones, a healthy alternative to rawhide, from www. purrfectlyyappy.comWinners of the Cross Question and Caption Competition will win a prize from Purrfectly YappyEmail your Caption Competition & Cross Question entries together with your contact details to comps@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk or post to: March Competitions, Dogs Today, The Old Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AA, to arrive by 4 April 2024How to enterWinners of the Cross Question and Caption Competition will win a prize from Purrfectly YappyWinners of the Cross Question and Winners of the Cross Question and Caption Competition will win a prize from Purrfectly YappyBenji, a Parson Russell Terrier. Photo submitted by Catherine Lewis via emailCaption this!December Cross Question SolutionAlﬁ e’s parents are a Miniature Poodle and a WhippetThe ﬁ rst correct answer came from Sandra Gregory +Linda HarveyYou’re meant to hide my tablet in a hot dog, not a chilli dog!Clare WilliamsThe Bulldog chewing a wasp looked exactly like a Bulldog chewing a waspSue Withyhays BrownDo 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 thisphoto?

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62Dogs Today March 2024 6644Julywww.foreverhoundstrust.orgPRIORY ROAD ASCOT BERKSHIRE SL5 8RJ01344 882689We are a non-destruction sanctuary for abandoned & unwanted dogsRegistered Charity No. 256728established 1958ecueCharity 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.ukwww.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 March 2024 Dogs Today636644JulyJuly6655As 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 52To 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 livesBecome a Companion & Keep Tails WaggingWith a Regular GiftScottish Charity No. SC006914www.seniorsta yclub.co.ukseniorsta yclub@hotmail.co.ukSenior Staffy ClubOur aims are:www.leicesteranimalaid.org.ukTel 01455 888257Registered Charity No. 242560Rescue and rehoming centre for dogs and catsRegistered Charity No. 1077588We rescue and rehome 100s of dogs and cats in London every year Please help us to help more www.themayhew.org020 8962 8000 Sponsor a puppy from just £1 a week. Visit guidedogs.org.uk/DogsToday A charit y registered in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979).Please contact us or visit our website for more information.Heathway, Colton, Rugeley, Staffs WS15 3LY Tel 0871 560 2282www.bordercollietrustgb.org.ukReg Charity No 1053585 Rescue centre open daily 9-11 am 2-4 pm We rescue and rehome collies and collie crosses throughout the UK. Why not subscribe to our ’Border Collie World’ quarterly magazine? Only £10.00 pa.BORDER COLLIE TRUST GBAS SEEN ON CHANNEL 4woodgreen.org.ukBringing pets and people closer togetherRegistered Charity No. 298348 00526nc0819Smokey Paws provides pet oxygen masks to the ﬁre service.But many more masks are needed. You can donate via www.smokeypaws.co.uk or email info@smokeypaws.co.ukThe next pet saved could be yoursRegistered 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 840252Rescuing and rehoming animals in Sussex

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64Dogs Today March 2024 The Insurance Emporium The Insurance Emporium are specialists in insurance for the things in life that are special to you, from pets to horses, caravans to cameras, and more.We know that pet insurance can take away some of the worry that comes with owning a pet. The Insurance Emporium has dog insurance for pets and pockets of all sizes. They offer 5 different types of dog insurance from Public Liability Only or Accident Only to a Lifetime policy.Protect your pooch with up to 30% off dog insurance with The Insurance Emporium. T&Cs apply.Visit: theinsuranceemporium.co.uk/DT99Or call: 03300 243 980Pet Insurance Product of the MonthAdvertising featureWant 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 EXMOOR 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 702789Classiﬁ ed advertsHolidays, Charities, Services & ProductsMarch 2024 Dogs Today65Product of the MonthOur ear cleaner (formerly known as Quistel) is one of the most popular of our pet care products with our customers.Peake Pet Care’s Soothing Ear Cleaner gently loosens and aids the expulsion of the irritating dirt and ear wax while disinfecting the animal’s ear. When applied according to the ’Instructions for Use’, it will penetrate even the smallest mammalian ear canal. Advertising featurePeake Pet Care’s ‘World Famous’ Soothing Ear CleanerVisit: peakepetcare.com, email quisteluk@gmail.com or call 0800 622 61906622JulyI discovered this ear cleaner around 12 years ago when we had a new puppy who kept scratching her ears. It sorted her out within a week. I’ve used this ever since with other dogs when necessary. It really is the best stuff! – SheilaAmazing product used on a setter with a pseudomonas ear infection, his ears cleared up completely and after using regularly as a wash he never had ear trouble again! – DebbieI’ve been in the dog grooming profession for 35 years and this is by far the most impressive, effective ear cleaner I’ve come across in that time. Absolutely superb! – John

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The year 1996 was a fun one for Dogs Today. We already had a doggie horoscope in every issue, but Jack Russell Grant was about to get the boot (he probably already sensed it). Mystic Meg was the most popular psychic and she was busy predicting the winning numbers as Britain got its ﬁ rst ever national lottery.We had to ﬁ nd a Mystic Mutt. Beardie Sally wasn’t keen. The only other ofﬁ ce dog at the time was Chester the Welsh Terrier.I still say Mystic Meg copied my hairstyle; we both had unnaturally black bobs. So I set about creating a comfortable wig for Chester to wear. I had seen a promising stall in Brixton market selling human hair, so went shopping. Luckily, I already had a perfect-sized skullcap from one of my mad New York pet shop shopping sprees.It turns out, I was brilliant at making a convincing wig for a dog – it even had discreet holes for Chester’s ears to poke out. He could shake his head and the bob would stay in place and ﬂ ick like real hair!MYSTERY MACHINEAround this time, our ofﬁ ce neighbour, the artist Kevin of Windlesham (who still illustrates this column) had started doing his amazing illustrations for the magazine. He heard about our Mystic Mutt plans and proposed making a machine for the dog to operate that could randomly predict the lottery numbers. He went to buy some wood and wasn’t seen for several days.We didn’t know what a Muttometer would look like, but what we got was a stunning working piece of steam-punk art.When given the command “predict”, wigged-up Chester would jump on the big red button and the arrow would spin, picking the lucky numbers.We excitedly told our readers that we’d buy them a lottery ticket each week and split any winnings among the current subscribers. Word soon got out and we got a call from ITV London. Could they meet Mystic Mutt and capture her next lottery predictions live on the telly?BLACK BOBOne member of staff thought we’d all lost the plot. Remember ‘X’? (The one who thought a green light at the car wash meant she had to go home.) Well, X had started moaning that new girl Claire was so uber keen, she was beginning to turn into me. Claire thought this hilarious. So, as a joke, the night before the ﬁ lm crew arrived, she used what she thought was a temporary hair dye on her beautiful strawberry blonde bob.X’s face was a picture when she saw Claire’s black bob, the ITV presenter loved it too and that became part of the story – that everyone in the ofﬁ ce was turning into Mystic Meg clones. The presenter really hammed it up. He brought spooky lighting and a smoke machine. No budget spared!It was amazing TV and the last item on the early evening news before the weekend. Mystic Mutt, the Muttometer and Dogs Today was everywhere and people were excited to subscribe.Chester never did correctly predict the winning numbers, but Kevin’s machine was priceless. (Sadly, it got ruined in one of our many ofﬁ ce ﬂ oods.)Claire, who was also the voice of Mystic Mutt, had to wait a very long time for that black hair to grow out, much longer than X’s employment at the magazine. Of course, this is the same Claire who is with us today. I wonder if Mystic Mutt could have predicted that? PIllustration KEVIN BROCKBANKhe year 1996 was a fun one for Dogs We already had a doggie horoscope in every issue, but I still say Mystic Meg copied my hairstyle; we both had unnaturally black bobs. So I set about creating a comfortable wig for Chester to wear. I had seen a promising stall in Brixton market selling human hair, so went shopping. Luckily, I already had a perfect-sized skullcap from one of my mad New York pet shop shopping sprees.Around this time, our ofﬁ ce neighbour, the artist Kevin of Windlesham (who still illustrates this column) had started doing his amazing illustrations for the magazine. He heard about our Mystic Mutt plans and proposed making a machine for the dog to operate that could randomly predict the lottery numbers. He went to buy some wood and wasn’t seen for several days.We didn’t know what a Muttometer would look like, but what we got was a stunning working piece of steam-punk art.Claire thought this hilarious. So, as a joke, the night before the ﬁ lm crew arrived, she used what she thought was a temporary hair dye on her beautiful strawberry blonde bob.picture when she saw Claire’s black bob, the ITV presenter loved it too and that became part of the story – that everyone in the ofﬁ ce was turning into Mystic Meg clones. Confessions of a dogaholic66Dogs Today March 2024 Future predictionsREVOLUTIONARYHEADCOLLARStops 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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