Dogs Today_May_2024 : simplebooklet.com

Inside this month...News & features 6 Happy 200th birthday, RSPCA: the past, present and future of the world’s largest and oldest animal welfare charity12 The Muzzle Movement: the accidental global phenomenon transforming the lives of thousands of dogs 28 A vet’s lament: after half a century, the veterinary profession has changed beyond recognition 32 Beam me up: what is laser acupuncture?36 The call of the wild: the Wolfheart project takes animal-assisted therapy to a new level 44 Andrew Parker Bowles on all the Queen’s horses and all the Queen’s dogs... Over to you!46 Great debate: should we reconsider the use of regular preventative flea and worm treatments for the sake of our rivers? 56 Postbag: your letters and emails Training & behaviour38 Virtual benefits: online behaviour consultations have proved a popular leftover from the pandemicOpinion 66 Confessions of a dogaholic: heartbreak at home Investigation 14 Q&A: what harness is best for Atticus?; what is a canine physiotherapist?; what should you do if you find a badly overheated dog?; how can the risk of IVDD be reduced?; why are grapes and dried fruit only sometimes dangerous to dogs?; what breeds have the highest risk of ticks? 48 Dog crush: meet the Tibetan Terrier Competitions & shopping 54 Subscribe and win!60 Pop the kettle on and tackle our puzzles and competitions Tibetan Terrier. 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); Sophie (Jack Russell); Triss (Jack Russell)Betty’s Personal Trainer: Kirsten Dillon IMDT A.Dip CBMDogs Today is published by Brandshare Ltd, The Old Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8AA. 01276 402599enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk www.dogstodaymagazine.co.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_TodayLIMITEDCover image: ‘The Secret’ by Danica Barreau of Pouka Art & Photography. www.pouka.com, danica@pouka.com Next issue on sale: 6 June 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.ukMay 2024 Dogs Today3

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4 Dogs Today May 2024 While all the world’s media is glued to the trial of ex-President Trump, we were much more interested in the Royal Courts of Justice in London.As we go to press, we hear that there will be a judicial review into the decision to ban the XL Bully type dog. The legal challenge by Don’t Ban Me, Licence Me (DBMLM) argued that the ban had been made because of “unreliable” evidence, lacked comprehensive impact analysis, and set “vague” criteria that could inadvertently lead to criminal offences.Mrs Justice Dias ruled there were “arguable” grounds in some aspects of the case.Cathryn McGahey KC, representing DBMLM, said that the ban was a result of a “hasty” announcement by PM Rishi Sunak in September, following a fatal dog attack, which led to legal errors.She claimed Defra had “no material on which to base a rational decision that dogs involved in recent attacks were disproportionately of XL Bully type”.The government had estimated there were about 10,000 XL Bullies, but 57,301 had since been exempted. There was no analysis of the numbers of other dog types involved in fatal attacks: “If ﬁve XL Bullies have been involved in fatal attacks out of a population of 50,000, and one German Shepherd Dog out of a population of 10,000, then XL Bullies are no more dangerous than German Shepherds.”The barrister told the court that restrictions on owners, such as keeping dogs on a lead and muzzled in public, would not prevent attacks, as the “vast majority” occurred in homes or on private property. She added that the government was mistaken to categorise them as dogs bred for ﬁghting, as no one ever had been prosecuted for using an XL Bully as a ﬁghting dog.The barrister stated it was “impossible” for owners to determine if their dog was a banned type due to the “unlawful vagueness” of the government’s XL Bully standard. “For many dog owners, a criminal conviction may be career-ending, leading to the loss of employment and ultimately their home,” Ms McGahey warned.Well done to DBMLM, their legal team and all those who donated. This really has already been a David and Goliath struggle, as the government pretty much has unlimited funds to defend its decision.The ﬁrst battle has been won but the long and expensive war has only just begun.We are also hearing worrying reports about the safety of dogs being seized and taken to ‘secret’ kennels. As this legislation is unusual in that the dogs are guilty until proven innocent, pets can spend an indeterminate length of time locked away from their owners should a neighbour, for example, allege the dog looks ‘dangerous’. We’re investigating why so many dogs have been returned to their owners in a very poor condition; some dogs have very sadly died while in custody. Could the XL Bully ban be our PM’s Stormy Daniels moment? Rishi was deﬁnitely attempting to be presidential when he announced the XL Bully ban without any vote or debate in parliament.It’s unlikely the review will be heard before the next general election, especially as our PM has all the judges and courts on standby to deal with his other political hot potato, sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has safely assisted the resettlement of more than 30,000 refugees from Rwanda since 2010.Sadly, we live in ‘interesting’ times. 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.Eco-Friendly Luxury Orthopaedic Dog Beds Handmade in EuropeEst. 2014 DOGS TODAY READERS ENJOY A 10% DISCOUNT – USE CODE DOGSTODAY10 AT CHECKOUTwww.bakerandbray.com Available in eight stunning contemporary colours. All covers removable, interchangeable, machine washable & tumble dryer safe. TRY RISK FREE FOR 30-DAYS OR YOUR MONEY BACK!BEDS • ACCESSORIES • BLANKETSwww.bakerandbray.com 4.9/5 INDEPENDENT CUSTOMER REVIEWS ON JUDGEMEDog Today ad v2.indd 1Dog Today ad v2.indd 1 27/03/2024 16:4527/03/2024 16:45

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f “What is the RSPCA?” comes up as a Pointless question, 93% of the public would say they knew the answer. Amazing, isn’t it – when only 57 per cent recently named Daniel Craig when asked for James Bond actors. But do the public really know what the RSPCA does? Do I know what they do? Has it changed?These were just some of the questions I was asking myself ahead of interviewing their chief executive, Chris Sherwood. I was doing my prep, thinking we were talking at 4pm, only to discover it was 3.30pm… and I was late.I had already discovered that Chris was previously the boss at Relate, the marriage guidance charity. Now, that’s a difﬁcult job, trying to rebuild fractured relationships. That must have helped him in his work at the RSPCA. I have spoken to quite a few chief execs in my 34 years of being Dogs Today editor and I do think this is by far the hardest job in the charity sector.They’re 200 years old for a start. They haven’t always been on the right side of history. People made efﬁgies of one of their most hated inspectors in the 1990s, who had been a prosecution witness in many of the early Dangerous Dogs Act cases. And there was the seemingly relentless criminalising of little old ladies who took on too many cats. My last interview had been with Gavin Grant, just before he abruptly Words BEVERLEY CUDDY6 Dogs Today May 2024IHappy 200th birthday, RSPCA!At two centuries old, the RSPCA has ironed out some wrinkles and had a facelift. But is the change purely cosmetic? Our editor talks to the charity’s chief executive to ﬁnd out more...RSPCA chief executive Chris SherwoodMay 2024 Dogs Today 7 left. (He got very grumpy with the then PM’s local hunt, which was also very popular with the then News of the World editor, Rebecca Brooks. It was very brave, but it had poked a hornet’s nest.) It had been Gavin’s second time at the RSPCA; he’d been there before when I was at the Kennel Club. He was the one who had come up with the ad campaign showing the mountain of dead dogs in bin bags. Our KC boss, the Major General, had banished the advert and the RSPCA from Crufts on the grounds of decency, and it had caused the media storm that Gavin had obviously hoped for. VICTORIAN BRITAIN“Why was he back?” I asked Gavin. He was back to save the charity. It was true, it had gone from prime-time TV, Teﬂon-coated saint status to being exposed in tabloids for being mean to its whistleblowing staff. Gavin also let slip that he’d been horriﬁed that the charity hadn’t the required three-month cash reserves in the bank when he arrived, so he’d had to make some urgent and unpopular deep cuts to get them out of the red. I should say that PR-savvy Gavin would never have knowingly revealed that to a journalist. I had, by chance, been in a room of loyal RSPCA supporters corralled in Chobham Village Hall. Gavin had only become suspicious when I corrected him after he told the room a very air-brushed version of the history of the charity he wanted to save.But I didn’t drop him, or the charity, in it; I didn’t print my scoop. I desperately wanted him – or anyone, really – to mend the RSPCA.I did tell him some of the things I had uncovered when I wrote my dissertation on the history of cruelty in Victorian Britain. Gavin hadn’t known about the shocking antisemitism that had marred his charity’s early years. The desire of some to be more attractive to polite society and gain a possible royal warrant led to some strange housekeeping and window dressing. They passed a rule that you had to be a Christian to be part of the society. It was the end of the road for their very hard-working Jewish vegan secretary, Lewis Gompertz. They had also objected to his “Pythagorean doctrines”, that the feelings of animals and humans were of equal value.DIFFERENT TIMESAnd there’s the embarrassment of the early legislation success including anti-cruelty legislation that stopped disabled people training dogs to pull themselves along in little carts. (Wheelchairs weren’t yet widely available.)I can’t imagine these things making their way into the RSPCA 200-year celebrations, can you?There was also a worrying long-time delay between the accepting of animal sentience

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8 Dogs Today May 2024and the efforts to stop cruelty to children. It would be quite some time before anyone spotted making children work long hours in dangerous factories was cruel.And of course, it was the poor men’s country pursuits that were swiftly criminalised while the rich men’s were not. But the Victorians were a strange bunch, and it was them that gave us dog shows and breeding dogs into strange shapes. As Napoleon Bonaparte said, “History is the set of lies we agreed upon”.GRAPHIC DETAILS Ahead of my Zoom interview, I got to look at the RSPCA’s most recent ﬁnancial ﬁgures on the Charity Commission website. I’m no ﬁnancial expert, but the graph was – well, graphic.Under Chris’s leadership, they were no longer spending more money than they received. And far from being a new boy, Chris is the longest surviving chief executive since Major Sir Peter Davies.The time mix-up was me, not him, so we were going to be compressed. First thing he mentioned was that he’d been warned about my dissertation. I brieﬂy mentioned the eternal struggle of balancing education and enforcement. He didn’t answer it immediately, but I knew we’d get back to it!I said I’d looked at the RSPCA annual reports and that he seemed to be turning things around. Would they last another 200 years? I admitted there had been times when I’d wondered if it would survive at all.“I think the RSPCA is an incredible organisation. I loved it when I was at school. I did a project on animal welfare when I was a teenager. In a way, I still can’t believe it; it’s my dream job. I’ve been in post six years, and I still think it’s the best job in the charity sector.“And you said you think it’s started to change; I think it has changed. It’s really focused on its purpose, creating a world where all animals are treated with kindness and consideration. In our 200th year, we should celebrate our rich history in changing animals. But we know that the challenges in the future are going to be even greater than those that faced our founders who met in that coffee shop all those years ago. We want to work with communities to build a million-strong movement.”He was strong on the message and was keen to bring up they’ve recently appointed for the ﬁrst time an elected external chair of trustees, Claire Horton. Yes, that Claire – the one who revolutionised things for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.“I think we can say, in the last 200 years, the RSPCA has changed the way people think about animals – and that’s globally too, as the organisation inspired lots of similar organisations all over the world. We’ve got a proud history of changing legislation.“It’s harder today, running a charity – for good reasons, it’s a much more complex environment and there’s also more competition for support. We’re living during an era of public spending restraint. It’s an ice-cold ﬁscal climate out there. We’ve got to work harder to tell our story about why our cause matters. “We know animal welfare resonates with the public. For example, one of our supporters, Marks and Spencer, says its a top three issue for their customers even in this cost-of-living crisis.“We’ve seen a big rise in the numbers of animal abandonments. We’ve seen challenges around rehoming. We’re there on the front line. We always have been. “While people know our name – 93 per cent recognition – they also think we’ve got thousands of inspectors. People think we can be the animal police force, a social work service for animals and an ambulance service – but that sadly isn’t what we are able to do.“Part of our opportunity in this 200th year is to tell our authentic story and that’s why we are relaunching our brand. We have changed, we are here for the future and making a change for animal welfare.“We really want the public to help us be there for every kind of animal. We want more people to get involved and give us their time, their money, and their voice. We’re obviously reliant on the generosity of the public to fund all the work that we do. We’re a campaigning organisation, give us your voice.MILLION-STRONG“We’re trying to get legislation through about illegal puppy smuggling, about ear cropping, to protect brachycephalic dogs from extreme breeding – there are lots of ways people can get involved and write to their MP, sharing our content on social media. And they can volunteer for us as well. We’re also keen for people to help as wildlife volunteers, too – helping us get injured animals to a rehab centre or to a vet. There are lots of ways you can get involved. We want to build a million-strong movement for animal welfare.”That all sounded so positive. > With over 168,000 orders shipped, we understand buying a new dog food can be daunting. 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Pet Protection Reimagined.IMPACT TESTED PET CAR SEATSExpertly EngineeredFROM THE MAKERS OF NUNA®We’ve combined decades of innovative product development, premium craftsmanship, and advanced impact testing to bring you industry-changing pet protection systems that are evaluated against United Nations ECE child restraint safety criteria.TAVOPETS.COM | Available Online And In Halfords Stores10 Dogs Today May 2024< I had to ask, had he managed to sort out some of the grittier issues that had troubled previous bosses? Being very elderly, it had a very odd constitution, and the branch structure was clunky. I remember lots of moaning that all the public donations went to head ofﬁce and the branches struggled to raise money locally. Indeed, centres in real areas of need very often had to close while those in wealthy areas thrived.“That’s the great thing about the RSPCA, everyone really cares about it and animal welfare and it’s also one of the greatest challenges! When you want to change, you can’t just impose change. You must work hard to engage people in why something matters and what it will do for animal welfare. “I suppose what I’ve brought as chief executive is a much more collaborative style. I’m not a Relate counsellor, but I bring my learnings from Relate – and I am a ‘charity’ person. I’ve been in the voluntary sector for pretty much all my career. It’s all about engagement. Engaging people in a vision and why that matters to the cause. I keep bringing it back to the purpose of the organisation.HISTORIC REFORMS“We had a historic AGM in 2019 – after I’d been in post for 18 months. We had the biggest set of reforms since 1974. We reduced the size of our council, and we renamed it a board of trustees. It reduced from 28 to 12, three of whom are co-opted, independent trustees. For example, Claire Horton is a co-opted member of the board. And the nine elected can serve a maximum term of nine years. Most of the board have joined us since 2019. “We also set up a new branch affairs committee and at the last AGM we passed an important reform changing how the branches are governed.“I love the RSPCA, it’s personal to me. I was determined not to see the RSPCA fail on my watch. When I hand the baton on, I want it to be an organisation that’s in a much better place than I found it.“I look at where we are and I am conﬁdent, because it’s not about the RSPCA, it’s about animal welfare and the difference we make to the lives of people and animals. That’s what gets me out of bed in the mornings. Have I enjoyed it every day? No. Am I pleased with where we’ve got to? Absolutely. The UK is better for having an RSPCA – but there’s a lot more work that we need to do.“We didn’t have intensive farms in 1824. No animal was tested in a laboratory in 1824. We didn’t have extreme breeding. There are new challenges.”I had to mention that at some points, the RSCPA has been on the wrong side of history, for example the ﬁrst Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991, but that the charity’s Dr Sam Gaines has often the strongest, most rational voice for reason in parliamentary hearings, desperately trying to dissuade the current government from disastrous knee-jerk legislation.“Sam is an amazing colleague. I have such admiration for her, and I was delighted that we were able to give her our highest honour, the Queen Victoria award, for her work. She’s absolutely recognised and cherished as a source of expertise, and I personally have learned so much from her.”So, back to that balance between education and enforcement. We’d already overrun our allotted time.“We’re three years into our strategy on this. We did say in ‘Together for animal welfare’ that we thought that it was time to transfer our prosecutorial role to the CPS – the crown prosecution service, which was set up in 1986. Given the sentencing act and the potential for ﬁve-year custodial sentences, plus the increasing complexity of these cases involving tax evasion – even gun running in some cases when you’re getting into the puppy trade. We think this is better handled by the CPS.PROSECUTION HANDOVER“We’d remain the main investigatory body for animal cruelty, working with the police who haven’t got the resources to do that, but we’d want to hand over the prosecution element to the CPS, and for our ofﬁcers to be given statutory powers under the Animal Welfare Act.“That’s taken a bit more time than we would have liked. We always say prevention is always going to be more important than prosecution – because we’ll never be able to rescue every animal that’s experiencing cruelty or neglect, we’ll never get ahead of the challenges we face until we change people’s behaviours, attitudes and laws. “In Scotland, the prosecutor ﬁscal does that prosecution – the CPS should do it England and Wales. “That prosecutorial change is historic. We’ve done this since 1824 – but when we look to the future, I don’t think the RSPCA should be the main prosecuting body for animal welfare.”Let’s hope the next 200 years are good ones. P

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Clara Hewson has effectively started a cult – but in a good way! She didn’t ever plan to create an exponentially growing international movement, but that’s just what needed to happen – because Tolly, the dog she loved, showed her an urgent problem that only she could solve. Most pet tech start-ups are all about raising money so they can fund future expensive research and development. The Muzzle Movement breaks that mould. Clara has bootstrapped this and when she needed help, she just told people how they could help make her dreams come true. That’s what is so great about Clara: she listened and made everyone’s life easier – especially the dog’s.As a kid, she showed some early entrepreneurial ﬂair when she set up as a dog groomer in her parents’ garage. There may have been the odd knotty problem dog that led her on the path to study dog behaviour academically – which got her a dream day job. For seven years, she was the Senior Training and Behaviour Advisor at Dogs Trust, overseeing the seven centres in the south-east. So Clara wasn’t looking for a new challenge, but this one still found her. A troubled Pointer called Ptolemy arrived at Dogs Trust and soon Clara was thinking about this dog all the time and bringing her work home with her. So, she adopted him. Tolly had witnessed very harrowing domestic violence and was now reactive to unfamiliar people and dogs. For public safety, Tolly needed to wear a muzzle whenever he went out. But the only muzzles then available weren’t a great ﬁt.Clara had helped countless other new adopters cope in similar situations, but now she experienced ﬁrst-hand the great stigma of walking a dog in a muzzle and the literal irritation of very badly ﬁtting equipment.“I knew that many dog adopters walking muzzled dogs had been subject to hateful words carelessly thrown at them by strangers, both in public and on social media. What I didn’t know was how much it hurt to hear those things said about your 12 Dogs Today May 2024The Muzzle MovementWords BEVERLEY CUDDYSometimes it seems that you don’t choose your fate, but it chooses you. That certainly seems to be the case for Clara Hewson, whose rescue Pointer has been instrumental in transforming the lives of thousands of dogs across the world Cas wearing the TollyClara & TollyMay 2024 Dogs Today 13 own dog – a dog you knew was so perfect and loving and special when he was away from the things that scared him.”Clara shared her feelings on social media and found many other people who empathised. She had started to ﬁnd her tribe and realised that if she were to change the public perception of muzzled dogs, she would need to create a muzzle that looked better, that ﬁtted better and also met the needs of all the dogs. Clara wanted a muzzle that would allow dogs to pant comfortably, drink easily and be reinforced with treats freely. “I started out on Instagram, creating content that helped people understand the magic of muzzles: that the dogs that wear them should be deﬁned by more than their face fence, and the guardians that choose to use them are thoughtful, responsible, caring humans that don’t deserve negative feedback.“Our community grew, and Tolly became an integral part. We all wanted good-looking muzzles with a message. More than just a product, we wanted to breathe new life into the muzzle space! I knew what Tolly needed didn’t yet exist!” In her spare time from the day job, Clara started imagining what the perfect muzzle might look like. She found people to help her create a prototype. All this was freely shared with her new Insta tribe, who suggested possible tweaks. She sourced a UK manufacturer who could produce the very small numbers she needed. “I didn’t have any money to fund this,” said Clara. “I knew we were on to something magical. But there was also something wrong.” Tolly was becoming unsteady on his hind legs. He was reluctant to jump on the sofa, off the bed, or into the car. “I launched the Kickstarter campaign in the car while on the way to the specialist vets. People could invest by buying their muzzle in advance. We raised £10,000 in the ﬁrst 12 hours. Within 30 days, we raised £46,000. But I couldn’t enjoy it.” The MRI showed Tolly had a spinal cord tumour. It was inoperable and causing signiﬁcant pain. He was not going to live long enough to wear one of the muzzles he’d inspired. “We’d loved each other for two years; he had a hard life before he came to live with me. How was this fair? We spent 24 hours together before Tolly fell asleep peacefully forever in my arms.”FAST-GROWINGMost of the people who were ﬁrst to order muzzles were in the USA and France. From day one, Clara had created an international business and the learning curve was steep. Each muzzle had to be hand assembled; it’s a very bespoke service. Dogs’ heads are almost inﬁnite in their variation and the demand for new sizes was heartbreaking. So many people were desperate for a better muzzle for their dog. Emails arrived showing dogs with terrible sores from ill-ﬁtting muzzles. Some dogs were trapped indoors until they could get a muzzle that ﬁtted.Clara, despite the grief, was compelled to scale the business to keep on top of the growing waiting lists. It was time to give up the day job and start employing people.The 11 people she now employs are also on a mission. Many of them are dog behaviourists or former dog charity workers. Part of the Muzzle Movement’s work is education – teaching other people who work with dogs about muzzles and how to introduce them and correctly ﬁt them. It’s also very hands-on work; many of the staff assemble the muzzles, too. The range is growing – luckily, Clara had already been developing ‘the Harry’ before we heard of the XL Bully ban. But the government hadn’t checked that anyone had muzzles to ﬁt the 55,000 plus dogs that were to apply for exemption.THANKS TO TOLLYThe Harry quickly sells out and accounts for a lot of the 50 muzzles that now get posted out by the Muzzle Movement every day.In case you’re wondering, Harry isn’t named after the prince; all the sizes are named after very special dogs. Harry was a massive dog Clara had met while at work. He had to be put to sleep after suffering a painful cruciate ligament injury because there was no muzzle big enough for him to wear while undergoing treatment.There are now ﬁve sizes in production and three new ones about to launch – and so many colours and combinations of colour. Of course, the ﬁrst muzzle is named after an extra special dog.“Tolly wasn’t with me to see me move into my new warehouse, or when I quit my job to do this full-time. But he is, really. He has forever changed the muzzle market; the ﬁrst size of muzzle is named after him and is worn by thousands of dogs all over the world. All those dogs carry a little piece of him with them every time they go on their next big adventure.“Tolly changed the world for other dogs just like him. And now it’s my responsibility to keep going, through the grief and heartbreak, through the ups and downs. I couldn’t be prouder of him.” PThe real HarryMoose wearing the Harry & matching two-tone collar

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14 Dogs Today May 2024 READERS’ ADVICEJoy FlowersPerfect Fit are ace, as they come in different pieces you clip together, making a perfect ﬁt a breeze!Jess IcaI used a Perfect Fit with my Slovak Pointer; worked well for him.Jody KylePerfect Fit harness and Non-stop Dogwear shoulder harness.Leanne WillowPerfect Fit Harness 100%, as the harness comes in three parts, which means you get a ‘perfect ﬁt’ based on measurements for each part of the body, plus, as they grow, you can change individual pieces. The team are brilliant with advice and getting the right ﬁt, too.Gwen BaileyI have Vizslas and the Copenhagen dog harnesses ﬁt them well.Helen DicksPerfect Fit or Xtra Dog may be better, as they’re good for narrow necks and deep chests.Helene PettittRuffwear Webmaster or a Rogz harness – both have handles and adjustable necks. I have a blind dog and having two D-rings plus a handle is so useful. More than happy to help with some blind dog tips too if she needs any.Michelle AllenThe Ruffwear harness that I bought via PurrfectlyYappy ﬁts my long, deep-chested Lurcher well.Hayley WellsPerfect Fit harnesses are great, as they are modular. Also, they’ve got a front and top attachment, which would be helpful if blind for extra feedback to the dog.Selina ClarkeRuffwear Webmaster, as it’s nice and sturdy with a handle, or if she wants a ﬂeece-lined harness, get one custom made with a handle – plenty of people make them. Nikki at HoundStuff makes them to measure with or without handles and non-escape with the extra belly band if needed too in case the dog spooks.Dee DawsonCopenhagen harness is great.Isobel DeeleyWe use the Haqihana for our rescued Greyhounds – also very deep-chested dogs with narrow necks. They are the best in my view (also the only ones endorsed by Norwegian behaviourist Turid Rugaas), fully adjustable in all points and available in various options, including long (for longer-backed dogs). They’re also insured for quality. Still using the ones I bought 10 years ago. I’d use nothing else.Tamara Cartwright-LoeblSeconded. Bought my ﬁrst after a seminar with Turid, still going strong 12 years on and I wouldn’t have a young Saluki on anything other than their 2H.Alyson Taylor GrayAnother vote for Perfect Fit.Chris KentAshcroft Animal Accessories do a great range. We have several Pointers kitted out by them. They donate money to charities too and have a fabulous measuring/advice service.Quick questionCan you suggest a harness that will ﬁt my Pointer?Do you have a problem you’d like answered by an expert? Or do you Email your question to enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.ukAtticus is a very handsome young Pointer who is getting used to losing his sight due to glaucoma. His owner’s most pressing problem was ﬁnding a harness that ﬁtted him properly. Lisa explained that Pointers are quite an unusual shape, having very deep chests but also very slim necks. While his stitches were healing, he was temporarily wearing a cone.Lisa has joined a Facebook group for blind dogs and is getting lots of help and will be trying out an Optivizor to protect his eye sockets. So which harnesses would best ﬁt a deep-chested but elegant dog like Atticus? My friends on Facebook revealed some harnesses I’d never even heard of before!May 2024 Dogs Today 15 Cushla LamenI use the Sledwork walking harness for our Pointer crosses. It ﬁts well and is so adjustable. It has a V-shaped neck and is padded throughout and has a good body length too, so is not too tight behind the front legs.Margaret ParsonsHaving tried many types of harness over the years, I found the type where the strap comes down either side of the neck, it should meet the strap between the front legs at the Y where the neck joins the shoulders. I have only the ones where there is a ring there; I sometimes clip a lead to this ring if I need extra control. The strap round the body is set back from the front legs and doesn’t rub the elbows. These usually ﬁt a large range of dogs, this size was able to go on to a Greyhound/GSD/Labrador. I will only use this type of harness now; ﬁtted correctly it is very difﬁcult for a dog to get out of.Olwen TurnsPerfect Fit harness or a TTouch one.Penny Scott-WilliamsHaqihana always... one of the few harnesses I found that doesn’t rub their armpits. >ou want advice from someone with personal experience of the issue? TTOUCH HARNESSESPrice: £24.95-£32.95Robyn Hood developed the Tellington Method with her sister, Linda Tellington-Jones, and is a senior Tellington TTouch Instructor. The harness has a ring at the front and a ring on the back for attaching the lead, making it both versatile and practical.By clipping a leash to the front of the harness instead of a collar, tension is reduced on the dog’s neck and back, helping to inﬂuence the dog’s balance and centre of gravity (thus improving gait and posture.PERFECT FITPrice: £40.96Modular design with three interchangeable pieces including a Y-shaped front, so there are no straps cutting across the front legs. Adjustable in up to ﬁve different places. Each piece can be replaced as and when needed. Two points of attachment for leashes, front and top. Machine washable at 30 degrees. Harness size calculator on website. Size recommended for Atticus: 20mm width, large top, small girth, large front.

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16Dogs Today May 2024 TRUELOVE THREE STRAP SAFETY HARNESSFrom: Ashcroft Animal Accessories UKPrice: £39.99 (including a £5 charity donation)The Truelove Three Strap Safety Harness is adapted from the original trekking harness that Truelove produced. It’s very strong (all Truelove products are strength tested) and has three comfort pads at the stress points to protect the neck, chest and abdomen. The handle is substantial and can be used to gently guide a dog or give a helping held over unstable ground. Prices are kept very low to make them available for all who need an escape-proof harness. Nicola Ashcroft has nine rescues and fosters, so everything is tried and tested on them. With each safety harness sale, the customer picks which rescue should have the £5 donation.Nicola said, “The dogs feel very secure in these harnesses. I have used them to help my dogs with hip problems and I can see a huge potential for a blind dog to wear one of these to keep him safe, as it’s so easy to grab the handle to encourage him to take a certain direction or to stop. Also, there is a large adjustment in each strap, so they ﬁ t most dogs but are particularly suited to dogs with large chests and small waists. “Attention must be given to where the third strap sits on boys, so I always ask for neck, chest and length of dogs from where their collar sits to start of tail to decide on a size for a male. I encourage customers to message through with their dogs’ measurements.”Truelove Three Strap Safety Harness Small – going up to Medium as Atticus grows.Quick questionNON-STOP DOGWEARPrice: £53.99The Line Harness Grip has a handle that provides extra control. The harness is adjustable around the chest. After the ﬁ rst adjustment, it is easy to put on and take off by opening the buckles on each side of the harness. All seams and edges on the inside of the harness are sewn, so they have their smooth side towards the dog’s body. The harnesses are made from durable, tightly woven nylon and have closed cell foam padding to prevent water soaking in. DOG COPENHAGENComfort Walk Pro £51.95 Comfort Walk Air £48.95There are two models that could ﬁ t Atticus – the Comfort Walk Pro harness (right) and Comfort Walk Air harness (below). The Comfort Walk Pro is wider and softer and more padded with a handle at the back for close control if needed. This model would give Atticus some support because of the width. The Comfort Walk Air is the slim version and has a neck buckle to open for dogs that don’t like the harness pulled over the head. Betina Įrslev says, “I would recommend the size Large although it might be slightly loose around his slender neck. The size M goes up to 68cm at maximum and therefore my recommendation for the size L, as this size starts at 66 cm. The neck scale goes from 44-58cm.”May 2024 Dogs Today 17 HAQIHANAFrom: The Mutty Professor Price: £47They asked for Atticus’s back measurement, too. “We’d suggest a Medium Long. We have the following colours in stock: Pink, Violet, Steel (light grey), Blu (which is a dark blue), Chocolate.”Each Haqihana harness is individually handmade in Italy, which ensures that the positioning of the harness on the dog guarantees maximum comfort in all situations. Pressure is properly distributed on the dog’s sternum and thorax only.The webbing is made from a high-tenacity, spun-dyed nylon. They guarantee colour and resistance for a minimum of ﬁve years.The buckles and adjusters are made of acetal resin, which maintains long-lasting mechanical and shock resistance, even in extreme conditions. Metal components are in stainless steel, which does not release nickel or cause allergic reactions.Haqihana is the only harness and leash endorsed and used by world-renowned author and dog trainer Turid Rugaas.The Mutty Professor stocks these harnesses: “What we love most about Haqihana harnesses are their durability and comfort. They are handmade from high-quality, robust webbing and stitched together securely, using a special stitching that avoids rubbing against the fur. They are lightweight, and use minimal material, so are comfortable for the dog to wear and have little restriction on their movement.“They are also very versatile. They are designed for dogs with more barrelled chests, but can be adjusted to work for almost every shape and size. They come in a longback version as well, which is perfect for longer dogs, as a standard harness will likely sit too close to their armpit.“For this reason, we second that a Haqihana would be perfect for Atticus, as you’ve said he has a deep chest. Also being unable to see means he might feel more vulnerable, so the more comfortable we can make him the better, to help prevent any reactivity from developing.“The only thing is it doesn’t have a handle on the top, but it can be used as though it does. This might be helpful if Atticus’s handler ever needs to guide him away from something.”Atticus wearing his Perfect Fit harnessWHAT DID LISA CHOOSE?“Perfect Fit. We took Atticus out into the very middle of a big empty ﬁeld today and let him off without any head cone or restrictions. He was a very happy boy! It’s hard to believe he is only just seven months old – he’s such a big boy now.“His harness is great. Thank you very much for helping us out. It’s really good to set him up safely and comfortably. Such a good feeling after all the heartache we’ve had over the last weeks.”DRYDOGSPrice: £42.50The Escape Proof harness has a handle for extra guidance and the third strap makes sure the dog can’t back out. They are highly adjustable and available in four sizes. There is also a front ring on this dog harness for extra control.

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18 Dogs Today May 2024 EXPERT ADVICECanine physio Eleanor Garwood says:A physiotherapist is someone who is trained speciﬁcally in the musculoskeletal system with the aim of restoring movement and function after a joint disease diagnosis, injury, surgery or promoting mobility when ageing.A veterinary or animal physiotherapist is someone who has trained in animals and would have specialist knowledge in this ﬁeld also.WHEN WOULD YOU NEED ONE?There are a number of times when a dog could beneﬁt from physiotherapy.■Following a diagnosis of a condition, such as hip or elbow dysplasia. With a diagnosis of either condition, it is best to be proactive in getting physio whether the dog has had surgery or is being managed conservatively, to help decrease the loss of muscle and to prevent an increase in compensatory movement patterns.■Following any type of orthopaedic surgery. Surgery is only one part of the story; to help ensure a full recovery, it is best to start physiotherapy as soon as the orthopaedic vet gives permission. Most orthopaedic vets would recommend physio as standard following surgery.■For any spinal conditions that have or haven’t had surgery. Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a commonly known neurological condition that affects many dogs. Some dogs will have surgery and some will be managed conservatively. In both cases, physio is vital to get back to as near as full function as possible. There are many other neurological conditions where physio would be highly recommended; most neurologists will recommend physio.■For any musculoskeletal injury. Sometimes a dog will pick up an injury from an unknown cause and may go lame or be in pain. Investigations by the vet may not ﬁnd a diagnosis, but physio can still be a beneﬁt, as the practitioner may be able to pick up on subtle changes that are taking place and assist the dog in regaining full balance. Some injuries will be of a known origin and there may be a diagnosis, in which case the vet will likely recommend physio. >Photos © Eleanor GarwoodQuick questionWhat is a canine physiotherapist?2024-03-05_ADSPDCONPSuperDog takes our 50 years of award-winning nutritional expertise even further– all the innovation and careful, effective formulation you’d expect from Vitabiotics, now available for your special companion.From vitality to healthy joints and bones, SuperDog formulations provide optimum levels of micro-nutrientsto safeguard the diet of your furriest family member.Proud supporter of Battersea, caring fordogs and cats since 1860From , Amazon, Ocado, and Vitabiotics.com– all the innovation Joints & Bones60 Chewable TabletsHealth & Vitality60 Chewable Tablets*Nielsen GB ScanTrack Total Coverage Value & Unit Retail Sales 52 w/e 27/1/24.To verify contact Vitabiotics Ltd, 1 Apsley Way, London, NW2 7HF. Vitabiotics Ltd will donate 35p + VAT from the sale of each SuperDog product to Battersea Dogs’ Home Limited which donates its profits to Battersea Dogs’ & Cats’ Home (registered charity number: 206394). Stockists may vary.

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20 Dogs Today May 2024 ■To assist with arthritis. Physio can really enhance an arthritic dog’s quality of life and ability to live life to the full. Signs that a dog may be suffering from arthritis can include: slowing down, not wanting to do things he used to do, not wagging his tail as much, not able to jump in the car/on the sofa, not wanting to go upstairs when previously he did, and a change in posture or behaviour.■Working or sport dogs with no known problems can beneﬁt from physio, to keep them at their best for working or competing. Many dogs compete in sports such as agility and ﬂyball. Being checked by a physio before starting the season each year can be beneﬁcial to pick up any early issues or areas of the body that may be weaker. Exercises can be given to help strengthen these areas. Having a check over now and again could help increase the longevity of a dog’s working career.■As a preventative in particular breeds that are prone to certain conditions or dogs with certain conformation, eg a long back. Physio as a preventative isn’t something that is commonly thought about, but it can be very useful to help prevent or delay certain problems showing up by keeping the dog balanced in muscle and movement.WHAT IS INVOLVED?Some physiotherapists offer a mobile service where they come to your home and treat your animal there. Others work in a clinic setting. The ﬁrst session is generally longer to allow the physio to take down a full history of your dog. It would also involve watching your dog move, palpating the whole of the body and checking the range of movement at the joints. This would be followed by a treatment, which may involve electro therapies, soft tissue work and functional exercises.Most physios will also offer advice on changes that could be made around the home to make the dog’s life easier and also possibly a home programme of things that you could do between physio sessions to help enhance the dog’s recovery.HOW TO FIND ONEThere are different routes to ﬁnding a physio. If your vet recommends you get physio for your dog, they may have a physio in the area that they regularly work with and will recommend to you. If you are looking for a physio yourself, you may ﬁnd other dog owners will recommend people. There are membership bodies that veterinary physiotherapists are part of; anyone who is a member of such bodies will have to meet certain criteria to be a member. ■www.rampregister.org■www.irvap.org.uk■www.acpat.org■www.navp.co.ukAll physiotherapists will require your vet to complete the physio’s veterinary referral form, which will then give the physio permission to treat your dog as required by law.HOW TO BECOME ONEThere are now a number of universities offering a degree in veterinary physiotherapy. There are some private companies also offering veterinary physiotherapy courses. If you already have an animal- or science-based degree, there is the option of studying for a postgraduate master’s in veterinary physiotherapy. PQuick questionPhotos © Eleanor GarwoodExperience our 3-in-1 Shampoo Bar - cleanses, hydrates, and nourishes. Crafted with responsibly sourced ingredients and 100% plastic-free, providing a sustainable solution for waste reduction.www.companyofanimals.co.ukPomeanate Shampoo BarNEW PET HEADWhat’s in ourPomeanate Shampoo Bar100%PACKED withour brandCRUELTY FREE100%RESPONSIBLY SOURCEDINGREDIENTSNatural &HydratesPOMEGRANTE EXTRACTCleanses & MoisturizesOAT KERNEL EXTRACTSoothes& CalmsALOE VERA JUICENourishes& SoftensCOCONUT OIL@pethead @petheadocial @ petheadocial

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22 Dogs Today May 2024 EXPERT ADVICEThe Royal Veterinary College wants everyone to know that best practice has now changed. You should attempt to cool the dog down before you take them to the vet.A new study by the Vet Compass team at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has found that dogs with heatstroke may be suffering even further due to outdated ﬁrst-aid practices. The research calls for updated guidance to be promoted more widely for dogs with heatstroke – including cold water immersion and using fans or air conditioning on soaked dogs – to support owners to provide the best possible care.Heat-related illnesses (HRI) such as heatstroke are potentially fatal for dogs and can occur following exercise or from exposure to hot environments. While many risk factors can increase the probability of HRI occurring, the priority is to cool dogs early and to ensure rapid reduction in their core body temperature to limit disease progression.Veterinary surgeons and canine scientists from the RVC, Scotland’s Rural College and emergency veterinary care provider Vets Now, conducted a study into HRI, using data from a cohort of 945,543 dogs under primary veterinary care at 886 UK veterinary practices between 2016 and 2018. Overall, 856 dogs presented for veterinary management of HRI.The ﬁndings showed less than a quarter (21.7%) of the dogs presented with heatstroke to UK vets during this period had been actively cooled before being transported to the veterinary clinic, and only 24% of these dogs had been cooled using currently recommended methods of either immersion or soaking combined with air movement. More than half (51.3%) of these cooled dogs had been cooled using outdated advice by applying wet towels. While better than no active cooling, the application of wet towels is not nearly as effective as water immersion or evaporative cooling for rapid and steep reduction in body temperature.Many websites continue to offer outdated ﬁrst-aid advice to dog owners that recommend ‘slow’ cooling using ‘tepid but not cold water’, despite no substantial evidence to support this guidance. Similar myths about using tepid water in human medicine have been dispelled by extensive research demonstrating that cold water immersion and evaporative cooling are the most effective treatments for heatstroke. The Vet Compass study also showed there had been no increase in the use of recommended cooling methods over the three-year study period, despite the publication of the recommended guidelines in 2016 by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care’s Veterinary Committee on Trauma.This new research calls for ﬁrst-aid advice to be updated to the current best practice veterinary guidelines, which recommend to ‘cool ﬁrst, transport second’ as the immediate ﬁrst-aid response for dogs with heatstroke. Recommended cooling methods include cold-water immersion for young, healthy dogs, or pouring water of any temperature that is cooler than the dog over them combined with air movement from a breeze, fan, or air conditioning (evaporative cooling) for older dogs or those with underlying health problems. Owners should also seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.Emily Hall, lecturer in veterinary education at the RVC, and lead author of the paper, said, “The key message for dog owners is to cool the dog quickly, using whatever water you have available provided the water is cooler than the dog. The longer a dog’s body temperature remains elevated, the more damage can occur, so the sooner you can stop the temperature rise and start cooling, the better.”Dan O’Neill, associate professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC, and co-author of the paper, said, “Our previous research showed that 97% of dogs treated for mild heat-related illness survived while only 43% of dogs treated for severe heat-related illness (heatstroke) survived. The data are very clear; acting early to cool dogs as soon as mild signs of overheating are observed will save lives. During exercise in warm weather, if your dog pants excessively, has difﬁculty breathing, or becomes unwilling or unable to continue exercising, then you should stop the exercise, seek shade, cool them with water and seek veterinary advice.” PPhoto posed by a modelWhat should you do if you ﬁnd a badly overheated dog? Quick questionT&C’s apply. Visit burnspet.co.uk. Closing date: 30.06.2024 | ©2024 Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.A LASAGNE-LOVERS TRIP TO ROME!WINSCAN TO ENTER OR VISIT BURNSPET.CO.UK PURRFECT PAWTNERS

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24 Dogs Today May 2024 EXPERT ADVICEOwner Jane Poole saysFitzpatrick Referrals explains that, “Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is the most common spinal disease in dogs and is also seen occasionally in cats. The most common spinal surgery performed in the dog is for intervertebral disc disease.”IVDD in dogs occurs when the cushioning effect of the intervertebral disc between the spinal vertebrae starts to degenerate or harden. This may cause the disc(s) to burst and put pressure on the nerves that are protected by the spinal cord, leading to severe pain, nerve damage, or paralysis. The discs could also bulge or constrict the spinal cord, which may damage the nerve impulses and result in loss of bladder and bowel control. Overweight dogs are more susceptible to IVDD.The treatment for IVDD ranges from rest and medication for mild cases, to spinal surgery on the affected discs in the most severe. Unfortunately, this is not always a success; some dogs can be left with paralysis and can need intervention to help them toilet. Recovery time can vary and there can be a reoccurrence in some instances.Having had a dog who suffered from this very challenging condition, I’m going to suggest some of the best preventative steps to consider if you have a dog who is prone to this.Illustration by Kevin BrockbankQuick questionHow can I reduce the risks of IVDD?My own dog, Kipper, was six years of age. He was a rescue of uncertain parentage, but clearly had some Dachshund type in there – he was a busy, active dog, who was happy to race up our reasonably modest stairs to the bedroom every night, and leap on and off the sofa. One glorious Sunday afternoon, we were out on a walk when he leapt up to catch a ball and then immediately began to shake uncontrollably. He lay on the sofa, getting more miserable until we took him out to the garden and discovered he had completely lost the use of both hind legs, plus his bowel and bladder function.After an emergency vet appointment and complex surgery within 24 hours of the onset (and a not small sum of money!), followed by crate rest and hydrotherapy, he did regain the use of his legs, but he struggled with the pain for the rest of his life.KipperMY STORYMay 2024 Dogs Today25BREED AWARENESSDogs most likely to suffer are chondrodystrophic (aka have dwarﬁ sm, with very short limbs), such as the Dachshund, Welsh Corgi, Shih Tzu, Basset Hound, Sealyham and Pekingese. However, breeds such as the Poodle, Lhasa Apso, German Shepherd Dog, Dobermann and Cocker Spaniel can also be affected.The risk will increase with age and a likely onset date is in ﬁ ve to eight years, but this can manifest earlier in some smaller dogs.REDUCING THE RISK Research into IVDD has indicated that the breed-related disposition to the condition can be mitigated by various factors, although unfortunately genetics can mean that this may still occur.■Weight – a dog who is not overweight will help to not put pressure on the spine. Try to limit treats to a minimum and resist the urge to give the dog part of your meal!■Fitness – an adult dog who is exercised regularly will have better muscular support for their spine.■Harness – the use of a harness is highly recommended, as this will spread the impact of being walked on a lead. A well-ﬁ tting harness is a must, and most pet shops will allow you to try on a variety of styles before purchase.■Avoid jumping – consider physical methods to assist movement on to furniture. For example, use a ramp or lift the dog into the car etc. Limit the use of stairs.OTHER CONSIDERATIONS■Insurance – a good, lifetime insurance plan is a must. Kipper’s surgery and recovery cost in excess of £9,000 (in 2017) and although he didn’t have the need for a second operation, he was on pain relief for the rest of his life, which was an ongoing expense.■Crate training – as part of recovery from surgery, a dog will need to signiﬁ cantly limit activity for several weeks. If your dog is happy in a crate (as large as possible, with a suitably supportive bed, with their own food and drink), this will make recovery less challenging.■Sleeping arrangements – as Kipper used to sleep on our bed, we put our mattress on the ﬂ oor when he was in recovery, so he was still close to us, but this would not be an option for everyone. IN SHORT (NO PUN INTENDED!)It is always worth taking every possible step to reduce the risk of IVDD by keeping your dog ﬁ t and active, so that the spine is supported by good muscular infrastructure. Use a well-ﬁ tting harness to spread the pressure of a lead, keep your dog a healthy weight and minimise the use of stairs and jumping on and off furniture. A well-insured dog can mean that surgery is an option should it be necessary and will give your dog the best possible chance of recovery. PWe may ﬁ nally have the answer – thanks to some homemade playdough!Three vets at the ASPCA poison control centre think they have solved the mystery as to why grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas are potentially lethal when eaten by dogs. They’ve discovered that it’s actually the tartaric acid they contain, which can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea and kidney damage. Prior to this discovery, some dogs have had minimal symptoms and some have died after ingesting the same quantity of grapes. The tartaric acid content can vastly differ depending on the type of grape, where it was grown and the ripeness.The discovery was made while investigating a case of homemade playdough toxicity in a dog. Dr Wegenast realised the symptoms didn’t match the typical case. She explains, “Most homemade playdough contains enough salt that dogs will develop severe signs secondary to hypernatremia (a high level of sodium in the blood) if there is signiﬁ cant ingestion, and aggressive ﬂ uid therapy is needed. In this case, the playdough contained a smaller amount of salt, so hypernatremia didn’t develop. The dog did develop severe azotaemia (high levels of nitrogen in the blood) that was preceded by signiﬁ cant vomiting.”She requested the playdough recipe and found it to be different from most. It contained cream of tartar, which also contains tartaric acid. This led Dr Wegenast and two colleagues to investigate.“The lightbulb moment came with the realisation that tartaric acid and potassium bitartrate are uniquely present in high concentrations in grapes, and that dogs are members of a species that has been shown to be sensitive to tartaric acid — with acute renal failure reported in the older studies. Upon further investigation, tartaric acid and potassium bitartrate kept checking off the boxes in support of the theory that they’re the toxic principles in grapes and raisins.”Hopefully, this new discovery will lead to a better understanding of grape and raisin poisoning, along with improved testing, treatment and prevention. And now you know why never to feed your dog grapes, raisins or sultanas. Or indeed, playdough! PWhy are grapes and currants etc only sometimes dangerous to dogs? Why are grapes and currants etc only sometimes dangerous to dogs?

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26 Dogs Today May 2024 EXPERT ADVICEThe Royal Veterinary College’s Vet Compass Programme reveals the dog breeds at most and least risk of tick infestationNew research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed that designer cross breeds, including Cavapoos, Cockapoos, Goldendoodles and Cavachons, have a higher risk of becoming infested by ticks due to their Poodle parentage. The study scored Standard Poodles as the second highest breed at risk of tick infestation – suggesting the curly coats of these dogs are simply too inviting for ticks. These ﬁndings aim to help owners, breeders and vets better understand why certain dogs are more at risk, what to look out for and how best to prevent ticks in dogs.The RVC’s Vet Compass study examined a random sample of anonymised veterinary health records from more than 900,000 dogs in the UK. Over a ﬁve-year period, almost 2,000 tick infestation cases were identiﬁed. These results show that ticks are a common parasite in dogs, with two per cent (one in every 50 dogs) diagnosed with at least one tick infestation over the ﬁve-year study period.The team explored a list of possible risk factors to understand what makes some types of dogs more prone to tick infestation than others. The factors investigated included characteristics such as the ear carriage, coat, skull shape, and bodyweight, as well as demographic criteria spanning breed, Kennel Club recognised breeds and groups, age, sex and more.The study found that while the new designer breeds – increasingly popular among pet owners – had a higher risk of tick infestation, some longer established breeds were also at high risk, such as the Cairn Terrier, Standard Poodle, Parson Russell Terrier, Golden Retriever and Miniature Schnauzer. In comparison, the breeds with the lowest odds included the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Chihuahua and Bulldog.Male dogs had 1.24 times the risk compared to females. Dogs with medium-length coats (x2.20 risk) and those with V-shaped drop or long, ﬂoppy ears (x1.23 risk) also had a higher risk of tick infestation.Ticks are parasites that attach to the skin and suck blood from animals and humans for up to a week before dropping off when they are fully fed. They can also transmit several serious diseases. Ticks normally live in woodland and grassland, and areas with lots of wildlife. However, factors such as urbanisation, climate change, increased national and international pet importation, and decreasing boundaries between humans, pets and wildlife have expanded the geographic distribution of ticks and have increased the likelihood of infestation by ticks and transmission of infectious diseases that ticks can carry. Despite the human and canine health risks from tick infestation, until now, few studies had explored the frequency and risk factors for tick infestation in dogs in the UK.Dr Dan O’Neill, associate professor of Companion Animal Epidemiology at RVC, and lead author of the study, said, “There is no single perfect dog breed, so it is critical that we fully understand the strengths and weaknesses for the breed we choose to bring into our own family. Owners of dogs that are either Poodle or have Poodle heritage can now be aware of the need to routinely check their dogs for ticks and to perhaps ensure the coats of these dogs are kept short.” PPhoto posed by a modelWhat are the breeds with the highest risk of ticks?Quick questionwww.leblok.com/collections/pet-protectionLeblok now has the answer with our unique specially designed Leblok® Blokka®EMF protective dog coats.The shielding fabric is made from double silver-plated nylon which provides over 99.99% EMF shielding at 1GHz and even shields 5G signals.As electrosmog radiation increasingly saturates our living environment our pets suﬀ er eﬀ ects from this radiation as well. Dogs are especially sensitive to EMF ﬁ elds. Have you ever noticed how dogs start barking when a thunderstorm is imminent? With 5G arriving in our streets it makes sense to protect your dog when taking them out for walks.Choose from the hard-wearing Taradale coat (above) which is suitable for use outdoors, is 100% waterproof with a cosy ﬂ eece lining and is designed for easy cleaning, or the Amberley stretch dog vest (right) which is ideal for warmer weather and protecting your dog indoors.

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28 Dogs Today May 2024It is with a heavy heart and a lot of depressive soul searching that I am writing this, having seen changes in my once beloved profession that are really upsetting me.I held my hand up in 1976 with pride, stating, “I promise and solemnly declare that I will pursue the work of my profession with integrity and accept my responsibilities to the public, my clients, the profession and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and that, above all, my constant endeavour will be to ensure the health and welfare of animals committed to my care.”But in no way did I agree to the current statement from the standards guidelines by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to the veterinary profession. Chapter 9 of the RCVS Supporting Guidance says: 9.16 Where a client cannot afford to pay the fee for veterinary treatment, the veterinary surgeon may wish to discuss the availability of charitable services or assistance with the client. 9.17 All charities have a duty to apply their funds to make the best possible use of their resources. Clients should contact the charity to conﬁrm their eligibility for assistance. The veterinary surgeon should ensure that the animal’s condition is stabilised so that the animal is ﬁt to travel to the charity, and provide details of the animal’s condition, and any treatment already given, to the charity.9.18 Where the client is not eligible for the charitable assistance and no other form of ﬁnancial assistance can be found, euthanasia may have to be the considered on economic grounds. BUSINESS TAKE-OVERThe problems with our profession goes some way back. When I started in 1976, I was only allowed to put up a small plaque. Then advertising was allowed, so the loudest advert attracted the most clients and so on. In the 1980s, insurance started with Petplan. As an idea, it was excellent, but with the caveat that I thought some practices might put their prices up using insurance. Specialisation was started in the 80s, which meant that apart from ringing the colleges for advice previously and doing all the surgery procedures ourselves, in some cases we could send the more intractable cases to these specialists. Then came the corporation of veterinary practices, and practices being able to be run by non-vets in 1999. The corporates started to take over till now they control 60 per cent of all veterinary practices. This was all the logical evolution from the guidance from the RCVS, which ultimately eroded the very fabric and core of the profession by way of handing over the treatment and welfare of animals for corporate proﬁt. I am so unhappy that the veterinary profession, once beloved by the masses, is now considered uncaring and driven by greed and avarice. The ﬁrst question in any consultation seems to be now, “Are you insured?” and not, “How can I help you?” It says in the RCVS guidelines that the charities should help. But how? They are all strapped for cash. Words DAVID THOMSON MRCVSDavid Thomson with PepperA vet’s lamentWhen he graduated as a vet in the 1970s, David Thomson promised to ensure the health and welfare of animals in his care. But 50 years on, he is desperately disillusioned with the direction his profession has taken The PDSA in our area has virtually closed its lists. The end result is a massive distrust of vets and their pricing. A client is now asked for their credit card number before treatment begins. How does the client know how much is going to be charged? STITCH-UPThere is a massive rejection of veterinary services now, and a disturbing new underworld of treatment and drugs on the black market. Why is it that we as vets cannot purchase some drugs at the same price as the prescription companies? Metacam costs me £45 plus, but you can buy it online for £22 including postage. How do we compete? Once, prescriptions were given without charge, but now they have to be paid for and can be charged at whatever price the individual vet practice decides, which can counteract the online discount. My son is a farrier and tells me stories from his clients. One had a dog with a small half-inch cut. The vet suggested it needed a full anaesthetic to be stitched. The owner refused. The practice agreed to sedate the dog and put in the two stitches – and charged £540. Is this reasonable? We would not even sedate a human to put in two stitches. Wouldn’t just cleaning it and putting in two quick staples have done the job as efﬁ ciently and at a fraction of the cost? A local vet practice boarded a dog overnight at a cost that my wife and I could have stayed at the Savoy hotel for two nights. Some of these prices are just incredulous. How can a little old lady with her Yorkie be a bad owner because she can’t afford a £1,000 bill? We have forgotten all of our standards of welfare to the animal and client. We seem to have forgotten who we are. Years ago, I said to the then President of the Royal College, “We are not brain surgeons, we treat animals” and I think that has been forgotten these days. We have forgotten that we used to sort things out most times without the need for a specialist, though they were useful to talk to and were there to help in those intractable cases. HANDS-OFFWe have forgotten the art of veterinary medicine and surgery and it seems now just to be veterinary science. This brings me to the point of specialisation and the problem it can create for some vets, because now, in many cases, graduates are not able to routinely handle ﬂ esh and gain experience with routine non-elective surgical procedures. >May 2024 Dogs Today29Photo posed by modelsHow can a little old lady with her Yorkie be a bad owner because she can’t afford a £1,000 bill? We have forgotten all of our standards of welfare to the animal and client. We seem to have forgotten who we are”

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30 Dogs Today May 2024< This level of specialisation is what the corporates are investing heavily into, providing veterinary ﬁrst-opinion practices and state-of-the art second-opinion specialist clinics with CT and MRI scanners, laboratory facilities and all the add-on mod cons. Eventually, there will be no independent veterinary practices. What is the Royal College doing about this? The new edict in September, requiring all animals to be examined by a vet before being prescribed POM (prescription-only medicine) wormers and ﬂea medication has only fuelled an increasingly annoyed and disenfranchised general public. Clients are coming into practices and venting their anger on being charged £52 for a worming tablet on the poor veterinary staff, who have no control over pricing in corporate-controlled practices, and this is creating such stress in a profession known for its lack of staff retention and high suicidal rate. I’ve been working for over 45 years and am now doing restricted work with local charities and shelters for stray and unwanted dogs. People are getting into an increasingly desperate state to the point they can’t afford to have animals treated, and they are then offered, under the RVC guidelines, the ‘ﬁnal solution’ to have their pet euthanised. But, as euthanasia itself is now getting so expensive, some cases actually bring them to a rescue for rehoming, knowing they will be euthanised. FIRST DO NO HARMI have always gone by the mantra, “You should ﬁrst do no harm”. But it appears now that some surgery is done solely so the proﬁt can be made using insurance and is not at a net beneﬁt to the animal. This is not an exaggeration. I have been sent the X-rays of a dog involved in an road trafﬁc accident, who had fractured its pelvis. The dog was walking, eating but in a little discomfort. X-rays were taken, which showed a small pelvic fracture, which the vet practice said would cost £9,000 to repair. I advised the client to rest the dog and give it Metacam. This dog is now ﬁne, and when I showed these X-rays to a human orthopaedic consultant, he questioned why surgery was even considered, as this would not have been in a human. How can this state of affairs be stopped? Where is the leadership from the Royal College about the standards of welfare for animals and clients? Veterinary medicine has become more expensive through increasing drug costs, stafﬁng costs, building investments, laboratory tests, rents and running costs, but the huge increase in veterinary fees must be justiﬁed to an increasingly unbelieving and sceptical client who sees just money being the main motivation for corporate veterinary practices. The overuse of MRI and CT scans, as stated at the London Symposium, is very worrying. Is it just because the practice has invested in this technology that it has to be used to cover the cost of investment, rather than as a beneﬁt to the animal and client? It seems that this “gold standard” is what the Royal College wants the profession to move to. But do we want all practices to be the equivalent of Harley Street clinics?We need to get back to the time when the animal is what is important, not ﬁnance. I have so much more I could say. I’ve written to the Royal College, but I am only one small voice and nobody is listening. Soon we will not have a vet profession. It will all go underground. How can you expect people to pay these ever-increasing exorbitant fees and how are these fees sustainable in the long run? When I raised my hand, I said I would do all I can to relieve the suffering and improve the welfare of animals. I am 73 years old, but I will not retire while I can still help those who cannot afford these fees, as my conscience will not allow me to stop working. PThe overuse of MRI and CT scans, as stated at the London Symposium, is very worrying. Is it just because the practice has invested in this technology that it has to be used to cover the cost of investment, rather than as a beneﬁt to the animal and client?”Photo posed by a modelLifestyle 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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32Dogs Today May 2024he arrival of laser acupuncture to the UK offers new hope to dogs with challenging medical conditions and injuries. It has been practised successfully by a small community of doctors and vets in central Europe and I am privileged to be one of the ﬁ rst vets promoting this treatment here. It requires the vet to have an interest in laser therapy (more accurately known by the umbrella term ‘photo bio modulation’ (PBM), but I will continue to use ‘laser’ as almost everybody does) and have trained in acupuncture. Both these therapies have been slowly gaining acceptance and popularity, but individually. This is because it is unusual for vets to be experienced in both. Laser acupuncture combines both therapies by using a laser to stimulate selected acupuncture points instead of a needle. Most of the effects of acupuncture are activated, but also the effects of laser/PBM are introduced and channelled to the target area. As with needle acupuncture, this might be in a distant part of the body. This is where the treatment differs from simple laser therapy, which will be applied directly to the target or injured area and will generally need a more powerful laser. With laser acupuncture, dramatic effects can be achieved with a lower power, and inherently safer, device. Let’s look at each therapy independently. LASER Most of the effects of laser take place in the mitochondria, the site in an animal cell where energy is produced. Many forms of ill health, degeneration or ageing result in changes that limit the production of energy by the cell, so that it is unable to function well or divide and replicate itself. Certain speciﬁ c wavelengths of red or infrared light, directed in a parallel beam, exert effects within the mitochondria to return energy production back to normal, whilst stimulating the local blood circulation and boosting the availability of oxygen in the surrounding tissue. All these effects are very helpful for boosting cell division and tissue regeneration. Put simply, any sort of healing will be boosted by laser treatment. ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture can also stimulate healing and works at several levels to reduce pain. The explanation of how acupuncture works depends on the background and level of training of the acupuncturist. Acupuncture for pain control can be explained using a Western understanding of the nervous system. Stimulation of acupuncture points sends a rapid signal to the central nervous system that the body is under attack and that it should mount a response to counteract the pain. Painful nerve signals are then blocked, and natural painkillers released into the circulation. A traditional Chinese-trained acupuncturist can treat a broader range of conditions, many of which are inadequately catered for by Western medicine. Our training teaches us to recognise and correct imbalances and blocked energy within the body, using acupuncture points to open energy channels or meridians. Points can be selected to inﬂ uence internal organs, balance hormones, reduce anxiety and enhance immunity, for example.Using the combined techniques, the effects are maximised. The laser effects are directed along pathways dictated by the acupuncture meridians. The acupuncture effects are activated by the laser stimulation of the acupuncture points. The beneﬁ ts of the two therapies are synergistic. Most pets tolerate needles well, but the laser makes even the grumpiest (or perhaps, most sore) dog treatable. >Words SARAH PRIGGENLaser acupunctureCombining the beneﬁ ts of two therapies, laser acupuncture is an exciting new treatment in veterinary health care and vet Sarah Priggen is one of the ﬁ rst to use it in the UKTMay 2024 Dogs Today33Boris, an eight-year-old working gundog Labrador, has led a very active life, but about 18 months ago, he developed an acutely painful lower back after a day out working. He was crying in pain and off his food. He was stiff in his hind legs and had difﬁ culty climbing on or off furniture.His vet referred him to a specialist neurologist where an MRI revealed that he had a congenitally deformed vertebra in the lowest point of his spine, which, in combination with degenerative ageing changes, was now putting pressure on the nerves as they emerge from the spinal cord. Surgery was inappropriate and Boris was given anti-inﬂ ammatory steroids and painkillers.Initially, these controlled his pain, but recently he had deteriorated to become a very miserable boy who was losing weight, looked dull and sad, and was not always aware of where his hind legs were. Higher doses of his painkillers didn’t improve things. His owners were starting to worry that there might be nothing more that could be done. Then a friend suggested that they brought him for laser acupuncture.On examination, he was acutely painful over his lumbar spine, worsening towards his sacrum. His coat was dull and staring and he had some generalised muscle wastage.He was relaxed throughout his session and lay down to go to sleep. He was a bit uncomfortable and restless in the night after this ﬁ rst treatment, but from the next day, his demeanour and appetite improved. His owner arrived for his second session one week later, saying that Boris was a different dog. He had climbed up on to the owner’s bed, and played with a puppy.Boris will continue to have sessions weekly for now, hoping for further improvement. For the moment, his pain is under much better control and he should be able to lead a quiet, homely life comfortably.Mack is a 12-year-old Sprocker. As a much younger dog, he had some problems with lameness in his elbows and shoulders, which had resolved, but his gait was always a bit odd. His owner describes him as having ‘funny tracking’. Over the last two to three years, he has stiffened in his hind legs and become slow and reluctant to get out of bed. He would hang back on walks. His back legs would cross as he walked and he struggled to clamber on to the sofa. For the last six months, he has been unable to climb the stairs and would sit and cry at the bottom. His vet had been prescribing the following medication: Librela, Yumove and Galliprant, but despite these, he was very uncomfortable in his lumbar and lumbo-sacral spine when examined and he seemed to be deteriorating.Mack has had four sessions with me. After his ﬁ rst session, he limped on a front leg for a day, but then started to improve and get brighter and cheekier. His owner described behaviours that she hadn’t seen performed ‘in ages’, such as ‘humping’ cushions, chewing blankets (sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for!), and ‘smiling’. When he arrived for his second session, he gave me a big toothy smile and was very much more comfortable on exam.After session two, he started to climb the stairs and play with their other dog. Quite remarkably, during session four, only yesterday, his owner and I had a conversation about where Mack would walk when out off-lead. She said that when he was well, he would always walk with or just behind her. Over the last months, he had lagged well behind. After his ﬁ rst three laser acupuncture sessions, he was keeping up. Today she sent me a video of him happily running out ahead of her!CASE STUDY: MACKCASE STUDY: BORIS

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34Dogs Today May 2024CONDITIONSI treat a wide variety of conditions, but the most common are arthritis and geriatric care. I particularly enjoy improving the quality of life of our seniors. However, the most impressive results are with spinal patients. I have successfully treated many dogs with IVDD (intervertebral disc disease or ‘slipped discs’). Laser acupuncture is exceptional at reducing inﬂ ammation and helping the regeneration of nerves. This therapy often offers a non-invasive and affordable alternative to surgery with less pain and a shorter convalescence.How long have you been doing laser acupuncture and how did you get started?I slowly wandered further and further down the rabbit hole! Acupuncture came ﬁ rst. I have been doing some acupuncture part-time since 2007 and in 2013 qualiﬁ ed with the Chi Institute, an international Traditional Chinese Veterinary Acupuncture institute. It was much later that I became interested in lasers. I started using them for wound healing while still in normal vet practice. I think I saw an article on laser acupuncture in a physiotherapy journal. I tried to research this, but I found there really wasn’t much information out there – only one textbook at the time. I started experimenting on some of my acupuncture patients who didn’t like needles and got surprisingly good results, which encouraged me to travel to ﬁ nd practising laser acupuncturists to learn from. I managed to pin some down at an international laser therapist conference, although most of my technique has been developed through my own experiences.Do you still work as a normal vet?No. Most of my time is spent doing laser acupuncture. I’m often asked whether I miss normal vet practice. I don’t have time to!Do you practise any other holistic therapies?I have some training in other areas of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I use some Chinese herbs and sometimes I incorporate food therapy. Food therapy uses the energetics and speciﬁ c properties of food ingredients to help balance and improve the background health of patients.What do you feed your own dogs?Discussing feeding dogs invites all sorts of controversy! For dogs (and humans), I believe, ultra-processed food is bad news. I have two dogs, one is 12 years old, basically very ﬁ t and healthy and does best on a raw diet. The other is 15½ and very frail. I cook for her. Can humans get laser acupuncture?There are a few human laser acupuncturists out there. It is worth researching locally. There are more in Switzerland, Germany and the USA, as they are more accepting of both acupuncture and laser therapies individually. PHamish is a friendly three-year-old Westie. Sadly, as a 10-month-old, Hamish was attacked, beaten with a stick and kicked by a man when out walking. He was checked over by a vet at the time and given anti-inﬂ ammatories, but developed new, fearful, skittish behaviours over the next few months and wouldn’t allow his owner to touch him around his chest or put his harness on. Hamish and his owner did some work with a behaviourist, in relation to this, and also to manage his behaviour towards the other dogs at home. Things improved until the beginning of this year. His owner sought veterinary advice again for Hamish’s strange behaviour. He was playing less and reacting to people and other dogs. He was agitated and restless, panting and occasionally whimpering at night. With the vet, he was very tense and uncooperative when examined and needing muzzling. He was given painkillers, but his behaviour was unaltered.On examination, Hamish was painful over his thorax, hips and stiﬂ es. I performed his ﬁ rst laser acupuncture session, with a main focus on points to calm and relax him, and then found he was more amenable to treatment of points near his painful areas. After his ﬁ rst session, he slept well, and the next day his owner sent me a message that Hamish was calm and had had a good night. He was more relaxed when he arrived for his second session and allowed a very thorough examination and treatment. His sore areas on his thorax, hips and stiﬂ es were much less sensitive. His behaviour at home was normalising.By the end of his third session, he was hardly painful. He is now allowing his owner to put his harness on and he’s playing with his housemates.CASE STUDY: HAMISHQ&AsTreat your dog to oneof Britain’s best walksthis summerFeaturing 100 beautiful countryside walks,from woodand to coastal paths, tried and tested for you and your four-legged friends.OUT 23RD MAY IN PAPERBACK#GreatBritishWalkiesOUT 23

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36 Dogs Today May 2024he man steps hesitantly from his car, pulling tightly down on his cap, ensuring it covers the large scar across his scalp from the brain surgery. He stays quiet as the assistant introduces herself and runs through the protocols of today’s session. The man doesn’t speak much – he’s embarrassed that his words are slurred these days. Instead, he nods, hoping not to draw too much attention.“Are you ready to meet the Doctor?” the assistant asks cheerfully.Working hard to hide his nerves – his pride will allow him no less – he follows closely behind the assistant, not through an ofﬁce door, but through sturdy metal gates, eight feet high, with security overhangs at the top.Because ‘the Doctor’ is not your usual therapist – he is one of several ‘therapy wolfdogs’ at Project Wolfheart.The Doctor approaches conﬁdently, golden eyes assessing, nostrils tasting the air, immediately sensing this man’s vulnerability, immediately seeing his strength. The acceptance is instant. He gravitates to this man, ignoring his support worker. His broad skull rubs against the man’s chest, like a giant cat. Despite his obvious power, he is surprisingly gentle. He is sure of who he is, needs no false bravado. His thick coat, rich with colour and texture, demands to be touched, to be stroked. Moments in, the man’s fear has turned to delight. His face is split like the Cheshire Cat. Words now tumble unbidden from his lips. “Good boy! What a handsome lad you are!”Over the course of the next hour, the man learns how to use his voice and body language to guide the Doctor, culminating in a short stroll through the peaceful Sussex woodland. By the end, his legs are tired – he’s walked further today than any time since his injury – but his eyes are bright, his smile wide and his mood is vibrant. His time with the Doctor is done, but for a while, he takes a seat on the bench in front of the wolfy paddocks. He watches the wolfdogs, breathes the cool country air, listens to the birds in the trees. A song calls out across the valley, a haunting lullaby sung by our wolfy ambassadors. It’s a call of connection, of unity. The man is still and content, and at peace with who he is and his place in this natural world. This is the power of the wolf.People who spend time in the presence of the Project Wolfheart ‘ambassador’ wolfdogs leave feeling awed and humbled both. Emotionally, they are more grounded in their environment, with a deeper sense of connection to the natural world they inhabit. Wolfy contact can have a profound impact on people from all backgrounds. From our urban outreach programmes for schools to our visits to care homes to our activity workshops and animal-assisted therapy sessions, wolves really do have the power to bring communities together. CONNECTING WITH NATUREBeyond the humanitarian beneﬁts, they also provide a ﬁgurehead for the support of the natural world. People leave with a renewed appreciation for the ‘wild’ about them, and a strengthened desire to invest in its preservation and protection.While animal-assisted therapy is well established, nature-based wellness is a newer twist. It focuses on the idea that connection to the natural world via animals can improve our wellbeing and help ease our sense of internal disconnection and detachment. Any dog walker Words NATALIE LAGSTROM, Director of Project WolfheartThe call of the wildAnimal-assisted therapy is well established in hospitals, schools and care Who couldn’t fail to be comforted by a well-trained pet dog? A new project Twill conﬁ rm that a stroll in nature with your dog is an uplifting experience. Nature-based wellness aims to provide this as a form of therapy, treatment and personal growth opportunity, making it inclusive for people from all backgrounds and life disadvantages.In the modern world, people are feeling increasingly isolated and detached from nature – and each other. Our own instinctive needs are often neglected in the rigid corporate world we now inhabit. We have to conform to modern lifestyles, adverts telling us all day long we’ll be happy if only we had this product or that. Social pressures compound the effect. So much of our contact is digital, sterile, provided through screens. There’s less real, sensory contact. It’s easy to lose track of what’s really important in life. And if you have special needs or circumstances, it’s easy to feel even more isolated and shut down.The wolf is at heart a sensory creature, intimately connected to the world they inhabit through sight, sound, smell and touch. In effect, he can become our modern-day ‘spirit guide’, leading us back to our animalistic roots. The wolf has, after all, shadowed us since the very dawn of mankind. As the ﬁ rst domestic species, their footsteps have walked alongside ours from our ancient campﬁ res to the sofas in our modern urban apartments. By following our domestic dog back to his wilder ancestors, we can ﬁ nd the path to our own lost ‘wildness’. Wolves are also amazingly resilient and adaptable, changing behaviour depending what life throws at them. They survive and thrive by cooperation – a teamwork that’s founded on deep love, affection and respect for one another. They care for their families and form bonds that last a lifetime. These are just some of the many ‘lessons of the wild’ the wolf can teach us, if we make the effort to stop and listen to his call. PMay 2024 Dogs Today37e homes and has been for years. oject takes it to a whole other level...Project Wolfheart is a non-proﬁ t organisation based in the heart of the Sussex countryside. We run an extensive ‘ambassador wolfdog’ programme – from fun experiences and activities to animal wellbeing and therapy sessions to outreach programmes for schools, care homes and other groups. We try to preserve our six-acre site as a haven for nature. We also work hard on behalf of wolves and wolfdogs that are in difﬁ culty as a result of the pet trade. We provide a free adviceline for struggling owners and rescue, rehabilitate and rehome wolfdogs without homes.We are currently saving for a bigger sanctuary, as well as expanding our conservation areas and animal wellness programmes. We want to be able to grow our safe haven for wolves and wolfdogs that have been sad victims of the commercial pet trade. If you’d like to help out with any fundraising, please get in touch info@projectwolfheart.org, or if you’d like to donate, please use the QR code on the left.WHO ARE WE?

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Before the Covid pandemic, many companion animal behaviourists focused on running their businesses locally, in the immediate community and maybe surrounding areas. The main reason for this practice is for the behaviourist to meet the dog(s) who are engaging in the problem behaviour, together with their families and anyone else who might be present in the dog’s life, like a pet sitter or a dog walker. This also gives the behaviourist the opportunity to see the home in person and engage with the family in the ﬂ esh. However, with the pandemic hitting the world at the beginning of 2020, forcing the globe into a standstill, businesses had to scramble to ﬁ gure out how to continue without seeing clients in person. The world was thrown into virtual meeting options, by using platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, which made consulting with people and businesses so much easier while keeping a social distance, decreasing the spread of Covid.For roughly two years, we had to conduct our meetings virtually, which gave behaviourists the opportunity to manoeuvre new methods of running behaviour consultations with clients and collecting information. This ranged from collecting video footage of the problem behaviour, a more detailed questionnaire being sent to clients to collect information, telephonic discussions, as well as allowing clients the opportunity to have their own questions ready. Although the world went back to normal in 2022, many behaviourists have decided to keep virtual consultations as a service to their clients in the future. Consulting with a behaviourist in person is still the preferred method for many professionals, but there are various beneﬁ ts for the client in requesting an online consultation.NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAs a behaviourist consultant, it is important to obtain as much information as possible on the problem behaviour the client initially contacted us for. To obtain this, behaviourists will prefer to meet the family and dog(s) in person to see everyone in their ‘natural environment’. The family will be an open book for the behaviourist, and they are able to collect as much information as needed.The downside of this consultation method is that the environment is not actually as natural as it should be. There is one foreign element in the environment: the behaviourist entering the home. The family, as well as the animals in the home, might be a bit apprehensive or nervous having a behaviourist in their home. Many people can feel exposed and vulnerable because a stranger is walking into their homes and coming to ‘dissect’ their lives. By requesting a virtual consultation from a behaviourist, you are placing less stress on your dog and family with someone new coming into the home. It’s not to say that visits might be stressful in the negative sense, but having a new person in the home can make everyone a bit reluctant to show how they are truly feeling. With a virtual consult, people generally feel a bit more at ease. Furthermore, the behaviourist will only focus on what is going on, on the screen, and does not have to manage the environment as well. In severe cases, be it aggression, anxiety, or similar behaviour, it is of utmost importance that the safety of everyone remains the top priority of the behaviourist. Having Virtual beneﬁ ts The world changed forever in the Covid pandemic and businesses had to adapt quickly to survive. Some changes made in the world of animal behaviour therapy have remained and can beneﬁ t everyone involvedWords LIZELLE BRITZ-CHAPMANMay 2024 Dogs Today39

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40 Dogs Today May 2024looked down the muzzle of several aggressive dogs in my career, it is essential to ensure that no incidents can occur, no matter how small. By conducting a virtual consultation, incidents like this might be less likely to happen, due to a new stressor being absent, and placing everyone a bit more at ease.SCHEDULING People have busy lives, jobs, families and many responsibilities they need to manage, which can make it difﬁcult for clients to commit to the schedules of behaviourists. With a virtual consultation, it is easier to schedule the session and ﬁt into each other’s schedules and lives, as travel and access to the client’s home is not necessary. Time is a bit more condensed and structured, and it allows everyone on the call to only set out the time needed for the virtual appointments.COST BENEFITS When behaviourists structure their fees for consultations, many will include travel costs. Some areas might require behaviourists to travel quite a distance, due to the lack of behaviourists in the area, or schedule arrangements between clients and behaviourists. By conducting a virtual consultation, it could be more cost-effective for the client.MORE PRIVACYThe beneﬁt of doing a virtual consultation, is that the behaviourist cannot see more than what the camera is showing them. The client can even put a background on the call, completely blocking the view into the home. If someone in the family does not wish to partake in the consultation, they don’t have to be present and can excuse themselves from the session, away from the camera.Some behaviourists might ask the client to move the camera around the home in order to see the environment, or if the dog is engaging in the problem behaviour during the consultation. >LIZELLE BRITZ-CHAPMANLizelle has been involved in academia throughout her life. Lizelle obtained her legal degree and was admitted as an attorney in the Courts of South Africa in 2015, whereafter she proceeded to obtain a Master’s in Fraud and Risk Management and a Postgraduate in Digital Innovation in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Lizelle is currently a Fraud Risk Consultant and Analyst at a ﬁnancial institution in South Africa.While pursuing a corporate career, Lizelle took an interest in animal training and behaviour, by completing her ThinkingPets training certiﬁcate in 2011, and opening her dog training school in 2012. Thereafter Lizelle obtained her Diploma in Animal Behaviour with Coape International in 2018 and expanded to MHERA in 2021. Lizelle completed her Diploma in Parrot Behaviour with Compass Education in 2021 and is providing consults and advice to owners across the globe. Lizelle is currently completing her course in Dog Aggression and accepted for accreditation at various international organisations and is also working on a programme to educate owners regarding parrot behaviour. lizelle@polkadogschool.co.zawww.polkadogschool.co.zaMEET THE PRACTITIONERS...Because the industry is not regulated it does not have a governing body, as with the health industry, legal profession or teaching industry; however, the most sought-after qualiﬁcations in this industry are very well known worldwide. It is recommended that a client conducts proper research on a behaviourist before arranging a consultationPhoto posed by modelsCommitted to creating the perfect canal cruise for you, your family and your four legged friends in the heart of England.www.kateboats.co.uk 01926 492968 Self drive narrowboat hire

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42 Dogs Today May 2024WIDER CHOICEPerhaps there isn’t a reputable behaviourist available in a town, city or district, or the speciﬁc behaviourist is not within travel distance from the client.By asking for a virtual consultation, the client has more freedom of choice and can use someone who would not have been reachable in a physical session. The client can contact a behaviourist who appeals to them and can receive the help they need, from a qualiﬁed professional.DO YOUR RESEARCH!This industry is not regulated, which means any membership to an accreditation body (like ABTC, IAABC, ICAN, CABTi etc) is voluntary. Some (like the CABTi) only grant membership to people who successfully completed their courses to a high level, to ensure that everyone has the same standard. At this point, the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter is the closest to being a regulatory body, working with government toward self-regulation (www.dogcharter.uk). Not being regulated means it does not have a governing body, as with the health industry, legal profession or teaching industry; however, the most sought-after qualiﬁcations in this industry are very well known worldwide. It is recommended that a client conducts proper research on a behaviourist before arranging a consultation. Some of the things to consider are:■Try and see if the behaviourist has any prevalent qualiﬁcations, from institutions such as Coape, Compass Education, or a university-based qualiﬁcation.■Although not a requirement, or a judgement on a behaviourist’s ability to assist, it is a good idea to check if the behaviourist is part of any international bodies, such as the IAABC, the PPG, CABTi, ABTC, CCPDT etc. These institutions have a set of requirements that must be complied with in order to be accepted, and they uphold a speciﬁc standard before a behaviourist can join. Many behaviourists will show which bodies they belong to, on their email signatures or websites.■See if the behaviourist has a social media presence, like a Facebook page, Instagram page or a website.■Explore the website and see if the behaviourist talks about the methods they use, what type of tools they use and how they conduct assessments.■Read the reviews previous clients left on the various platforms to give you an idea about their service experience.With virtual consultations, a client has all the freedom in the world to choose a behaviourist they feel most comfortable with, and the behaviourist can expand their wings to a wider client base and give more people the help they need with their companion animals. This is a method of consulting being used by other industries across the globe, and it would be a disfavour if it were not used in the animal behaviour world as well. PExclusive discount for Dogs Today readers: use code DOGS20 at mountainpaws.comProduct shown - Cordura Dog Coat £29.99 High-quality products perfect for exploringA 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.comBook now for summer!

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44Dogs Today May 2024 Andrew’s deep bond with horses can only be matched to his connection with dogs. “I think there are many similarities between the way one brings a dog into the family and a horse,” he said. “Of course, you are unlikely to have a horse lounging on your sofa, but the friendship of working together and playing together is the same. In many ways, we all speak the same language.“We have had a number of different dogs in my family through the years, including two Corgis given us by Her Majesty the Queen. They were certainly very colourful characters, quite kind and playful yet quick to the defence if they thought something was not right. Horses can be like that – if something is wrong, they will stand with you, not just run away.ALL THE QUEEN’S HORSES...“I think that the dogs gifted by Her Majesty were very much of her quality; they were not aloof but quite down-to-earth, had a ready sense of humour, but were also always digniﬁ ed when out for a walk. They liked nothing better than to curl up close to you for a cosy evening, but they were not lap dogs – they had a great sense of adventure.”That is something that Andrew Parker-Bowles has always sought from both his horses and his dogs.“I like them to have their own identity and spirit,” said Andrew. “Yes, military horses must have training and discipline – that is not just a mater of formality, but can mean the difference between life and death at times. Military dogs are similar in that they are working dogs, but they also have their own identities, and their play time; I think that is essential.“Every dog I have had has been encouraged to have a sense of fun and a great feeling of belonging to a family. They are not just numbers, they are living, breathing creatures with certain rights. They are not put away in a cupboard after work – they have their time for playing and relaxing with friends.”Talking of playing and relaxing with friends, Andrew was brought up alongside the royal family and could not help share their enthusiasm for horses and dogs. He shared the late Queen’s love of both.“She was quite amazing because she had lots of horses and lots of dogs too, not just the famous Corgis,” Andrew explained. “What was remarkable is that she could tell you the family tree of every horse or dog she had. If you pointed at one of her Corgis, she would be able to tell you its Horse and houndAndrew Parker-Bowles has had a lifetime of working with horses, but they aren’t his only four-legged friendsWords BERNARD BALEthink dogs and horses go together,” Andrew Parker-Bowles told me. “I’m not just talking about hunting, but also the companionship that draws man, horse and dog together. I have often had both horses and dogs, and I never can recall them falling out at any time – quite the opposite, in fact.”Andrew Parker-Bowles is much, much more than simply the man who was previously married to Camilla Parker-Bowles, now the Queen Consort. He is actually Brigadier Parker-Bowles, having risen to the highest of ranks during his illustrious career with the Household Cavalry. He was one of the ﬁ rst on the scene at the terrible bombing near the military barracks at Hyde Park in 1982. He played a major role in saving the life of the legendary Sefton and the two became close friends for the rest of the horse’s life.“It was, of course, something you never forget,” he said. “We lost a number of horses and it was just terrible, I don’t think any of us will ever forget the vivid and awful scenes of that dreadful day.”‘‘Ientire heritage without having to delve into her memory. She just knew them all like a mum.“Her affection for them was quite contagious – and I think in some ways, I was among those inﬂ uenced by her enthusiasm. She really loved her animals and so do I. I hate it when we lose one to old age or illness; it is always devastating. I know there are a few who would say, ‘Oh well, you’ve got another one,’ or something along those lines. They miss the whole point of having one or more dogs. They become your friends, your conﬁ dantes; you are devastated when this close four-legged pal is no longer with you.”It could be thought that a man with such an incredible horse heritage would be less enamoured with canine friends, but that is not the case.“Probably I have spent more time with horses because they have been entwined with my military career and, yes, I do love them, but dogs also get under your skin. They are not passive pets and they expect to have a good time with you, a rough and tumble with a bigger dog is great fun. So, yes, I must admit I do love dogs as well.“Horses and dogs both get under your skin and there’s no cure for that. Anyway, who would want a cure?” PMay 2024 Dogs Today45“I think that the dogs gifted by Her Majesty were very much of her quality; they were not aloof but quite down-to-earth, had a ready sense of humour, but were also always digniﬁ ed when out for a walk. They liked nothing better than to curl up close to you for a cosy evening, but they were not lap dogs – they had a great sense of adventure”

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46 Dogs Today May 2024 Jo Flanders✓Monthly ﬂea treatment is a great money-spinner for vets and unhealthy for the environment. It’s not good for pets to be doused in chemicals for no reason, either. I’ve had three dogs as an adult and two cats. One dog and the cats needed one treatment when they caught ﬂeas. The other two dogs never had a single treatment, as they never had ﬂeas.Jane McNulty✓I think regular ﬂea treatments are overused and largely unnecessary. I haven’t had my dogs dosed for years and have had no problems with ﬂeas. The only time I’ve considered treatment is when a new (foster) dog arrived.Hannah Maria Ester Ward✓Dave Goulson did the study and he is utterly incredible. I had the opportunity to interview him last year about his work on neonics (insecticides) and we brieﬂy touched on ﬂea treatment. Personally, I use a “if my dogs have ﬂeas, I will ﬂea” approach, and I’d use a tablet and not a spot-on.Brian Holmes✓There are more natural alternatives, which we use, but you need to maintain application.Colette Kase✗Hmm. First of all, I believe the chemicals identiﬁed are only found in spot-ons. I thought that those were generally going out of fashion. Most people I know give oral ﬂea and tick prevention. But it’s important to mention that both of the chemicals found are widely used in agriculture and to control household pests. Are pest control companies and pesticide producers ending use of these chemicals? Additionally, in much of the world, deadly tick disease is endemic both for dogs and people. So, for now, pesticide-based prevention is non-negotiable.Anne Kester✓When I had cats as well as dogs, I ﬂea-treated both regularly, as my cats were hunters, so could regularly pick them up. For some years, I would only treat if I saw them. I’ve not treated for some years.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 Sophia Maureen✗It’s amazing to me how many people forget that ticks carry diseases. “Oh, I treat them when I see them” seems all well and good, if not for the detail that they don’t wait for you to notice them before they start passing on diseases to your dog.Vanessa O’Carroll?I read an article in Vet Times advocating a targeted approach to ﬂea and tick treatments some years ago, so it has been in discussion among the vet professionals for a while. Personally, I really don’t like the blanket treatment approach rolled out by a lot of vets in their ‘health plans’. For a lot of these animals, the treatments are probably unnecessary. I do believe in being smart, though. The treatment should be appropriate for the level of risk, so if you live in a sheep/deer/woodland/moorland area like us, the risk of ticks is relatively high, but having said that, I haven’t actually treated my dogs since last spring and have had no ticks (yet). As far as ﬂeas go, I tend to treat the culprit – our cat! But again, not every month. Don’t get me started on worming! Why treat without evidence? (Except for young animals maybe). I occasionally send poo samples off for testing – all have been clear so far.Jacqueline Baker✓I am shocked at how these products are sold to owners as something necessary. If you are in a high-risk area then of course you need to use them, but otherwise you do not – they are not good for the animals or our water. In my case, our dogs have never had ﬂeas or worms – they were treated once by their rescue before coming to us. That’s 16 dogs in 40 years. I check them daily for ﬂeas and use Worm Count once a year.In the light of a recent study on the impact of ﬂea treatments on British rivers, should we reconsider the use of regular, preventative ﬂea and worm treatments?May 2024 Dogs Today47Susan Penny Young✓I treat my dogs once, maybe twice a year. Typically before we travel and stay at someone’s house, or if I actually see we have a problem. I don’t dose just to dose.Nikki Taylor✓I only use them if I see evidence of ﬂ eas and then as a last resort. I don’t like to apply poison to my dogs.Dana Andrews✗I knew someone who liked to boast to me about how she was not ‘falling for it’, and mocked me for regularly treating my dogs. Anyway, guess who got a serious case of Lyme disease from a tick, which she got from her own dog? I’ll give you a hint: it was not me! Her dog was very ill, too. And even after that, she kept insisting she was the clever one. Can’t cure stupid, I guess.Rachel Walton✓I believe that unless you’re frequently taking in rescues and emergency care pets, have stray infested cats or there’s a known problem in the area, then regular medicine shouldn’t be used as a preventative. When I was young, there were stray cats on our farm. As a result, our Jack Russell got ﬂ eas and we had to treat her, the house and the cats we could catch! It took a while, but we got there eventually!Since then, I have owned four to 12 dogs at any one time and I have never done a ﬂ ea treatment unless I have found a ﬂ ea, which is... maybe once? I’m also a dog groomer and take my dogs to work with me. I personally believe ﬂ ea and tick treatments are very overused. We worry about medication overuse and immunity development in humans, sheep etc, but not dogs and cats? It seems crazy, as they use the most.Sue McCafferty✓I can’t remember the last time I used a ﬂ ea treatment! There’s so much overdosing of chemicals these days, both worming and ﬂ ea stuff.Hayley Wells✓In over 20 years, I’ve had to treat for ﬂ eas once! I use Billy No Mates as a preventative from March to October.Karen Rhodes✓We don’t use them, nor conventional worming products. And we haven’t seen a single ﬂ ea in the three and a half years we’ve had him, and we have a zero worm count too.Liz Underwood✗Not to forget that lungworm is also treated by some spot-ons – and that can be a killer for dogs if not protected.Tarnya Stephens✓I use no preventatives and haven’t for years for this exact reason. Thought I’d face problems with licensing, but they agreed I need not prevent and only treat if there is a problem.Rebecca Homer✓I haven’t used treatments for about 10 years now and have never had a bug to date and I check often, due to where I live. I would treat if it was needed, but so far natural deterrents have worked.Mary Leigh✓Vets need to sell all their motions and potions because the pharmaceutical companies put pressure on them to buy it and then they sell it to their clients. I have ﬁ ve dogs and eight cats, and haven’t had ﬂ eas on them for donkey’s years. I check when I brush them, put the fur on white kitchen roll and spray water on it; if the water goes red, that’s ﬂ ea dirt on the fur. If it doesn’t, no ﬂ eas. Chemicals are bad for pets and if you groom your own dogs and put the fur out for the birds to make their nest and you use ﬂ ea or de-wormers, this can kill the birds. I don’t give injections either to my animals after their puppy ones and the ﬁ rst booster. Jane Johnston✓I haven’t used ﬂ ea, tick or de-wormers for years. If there’s a problem, I’ll treat it. I’m not wasting money or using unnecessary chemicals on my pets, especially not every three months. Pe, email enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk o 100 words.Next month’s topic is: Should training people to work with dogs include some form of regulation? Is it time for minimum standards? Currently anyone can advertise a course to train dog trainers and invent their own qualiﬁ cations. Should this be stopped? How do we make sure that dog trainers are competent and not just good at social media?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 result17%79%4%

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48 Dogs Today May 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.Tibetan TerrierMay 2024 Dogs Today49The Tibetans call them The Little People – and for good reason. These beautiful dogs simply ooze character! Character & behaviourThe breed’s afﬁ nity with people was mentioned many times in the survey. “Very social dog” and “Attuned to the people they meet” were common sentiments. But that’s not to say that this is an easy breed. Far from it! “No sense at all – he is like a dog on weed,” said one enthusiast. Another, “Around my circle of friends they are known as Tibetan Terrorists.”Several compared their dog to a toddler and one went further: “They are a cross between a toddler a dog and a cat!” Like cats, TTs like to ﬁ nd a high spot so they can survey their world and alert their loved ones if there is anything noteworthy. All puppies are cute, but TTs are on another level! But don’t be fooled by the angelic looks, many owners warned. “They are very difﬁ cult as puppies. Bitey and self-willed. Be ready to navigate this phase.” Many referred to pups as ‘land sharks’! Be patient and kind, and train and socialise thoroughly, and soon you will come through the other side. 61% agreed with the statement that their TT was ‘very clever for a dog’ and we had several assistance dogs in our survey, plus those who compete in obedience, rally, scent work, agility, and heelwork to music. Some had also qualiﬁ ed as therapy dogs. Exercise21% have 30-45 minutes of daily exercise, 35% have 45-60 minutes of daily exercise, 32% have 60-90 minutes, 7% have more than 90 minutes, and 5% have less than 30 minutes (perhaps they are pups still). They are energetic and agile - several people reported that their TTs were tree climbers (another cat-like behaviour!). Make sure your garden is safely enclosed – even for agile climbers!GroomingThe coat is the TT’s crowning glory and grooming will be a big part of your dog’s life – and yours too! “You have to groom the dog daily from the start, even when he doesn’t need to be groomed, just to get used to it,” advised one TT fan. Many of our survey respondents were drawn to the breed not only for the look of the coat but for its non/low-shedding quality. Although shedding isn’t an issue for our owners, more than half agreed that “the hair that stays in is more of an issue – the knots are much more of a pain if you don’t comb enough”.37% groom their TT every day, 41% every couple of days, and 23% weekly. 49% regularly use a professional groomer, 29% never use a professional and the rest use a professional several times a year. Many trim their dogs, either because their TTs had retired from the show ring, lived in a hot country, it made the coat management easier, or because they preferred the look. Others asked why someone would choose a long-coated breed and then cut the coat. HealthThe Kennel Club advises hip- and eye-screening. The breed should also be DNA tested for primary lens luxation (PLL), a painful condition that can result in loss of sight; neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL12), a lysosomal storage disease that leads to progressive neurodegeneration and results in early death; progressive retinal atrophy (PRA3 & PRA-rcd4); and pituitary dwarﬁ sm (DP-LHX3), a genetic growth-hormone deﬁ ciency. In addition, ear infections, pancreatitis, allergies, Addison’s, knee problems, lymphoma, skin issues and sensitive stomachs were mentioned many times in our survey. Our survey of Tibetan Terrier owners revealed:Lively Labrador?BUY COLLARS, LEADS & HARNESSES

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My Dog CrushOriginsIn Tibet, the breed is called Tsang Apso, which means ‘shaggy dog from Tsang’. Of course, there’s also the Lhasa Apso – the shaggy dog from Lhasa – which is closely related to the Tibetan Terrier. In fact, the two were initially shown together at dog shows under the name Lhasa Terrier. Neither are real terriers. For two millennia, they were bred for monastic life, kept by the monks as watch dogs, herding dogs, retrievers, and, of course, companions. The ﬁ rst was brought to the UK in the 1930s by a surgeon, Dr Agnes Greig, who was given a puppy called Bunti as a thank you from a grateful patient in Tibet. Dr Greig found a second dog, called Rajah, and began to breed her Lamleh line. The Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1937. 50Dogs Today May 2024 ●Mischievous ●Sweet●Affectionate ●Loving ●Smart ●Happy●Playful●Conﬁ dent●Stubborn ●FunnyTraits●Kyi●Shanti●Hetty●Ozzy●Hopper●Kitsi●Tashi●Momo●Zhuni ●BuntiBest namesMay 2024 Dogs Today51Jane HeritageIhave had Tibetan Terriers for over 45 years. They have all had different personalities, but they have all been amazing companions. Mine have always had something to do, be it agility, obedience (within their limits), scentwork, heelwork to music or as therapy dogs.Their history is shrouded in mystery, but they were monastery watchdogs (yes, they bark if allowed to) and also nomads’ dogs where they had to be useful. The Tibetans called them “little people”, as the TT always wants to be with their carer. You notice I say ‘carer’ not ‘owner’; these are independent dogs who also want company! Because of this want of companionship, they can have separation anxiety if not taught from a young age that it is OK to be left alone.TTs are very hairy, with a long double coat. They need a lot of careful grooming if kept long and even if clipped, it is essential to make sure that the undercoat doesn’t mat; if it does, your beloved hairy dog will return from the groomer bald. Of my two current dogs, the male has an exceptionally thick coat, so he gets professionally trimmed; the girl is still shown and is kept in full coat. Long or short, the coat needs to be brushed to the skin at least every other day.BRIGHT SPARKSTTs are happy to be with you, but they can get bored; this is when they will ﬁ nd something to occupy themselves: chewing, surﬁ ng the work surfaces (they are very agile) or digging holes in the garden. They do need exercise every day. The amount will depend on age. They will be happy to walk miles with you or to wander around the local park, having a sniff at all the pee-mail (snifﬁ ng can be as rewarding as a long walk). I love training my TTs. They are so clever and learn very quickly with the right techniques. I remember, in the early 90s, taking a young TT to a different training class. I was told to put my boy on a check chain and walk him – he sat down! The trainer took hold of the lead and tried to make him walk. He still sat down. I removed the check chain, threw it on the ﬂ oor, put his lead back on his collar and walked out (on a loose lead) never to return. TTs respond to positive training not negative. I have always found that the earlier training starts, the better. Rewarding the behaviours I want with a treat and ignoring/preventing those I don’t gives a companion for life. Since the Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme started, we have taken part with every dog, the majority passing their gold test.We have two TTs at present. We are older, and I suspect these will be our last. Jasper is three and Merry is two. We got Jasper during a break in lockdown. We did our best to socialise him, but he can still be fearful in strange situations. Merry is more outgoing; she was carried out and about from eight weeks old and is fearful of nothing. They love nothing more than walking by the river with us; luckily, they aren’t water lovers. Some of my previous dogs have been therapy dogs, as soon as I thought Jasper and Merry were ready, I had them assessed by the charity Therapy Dogs Nationwide. They now visit (one at time) a local care home where they are loved by residents and staff alike.Have I ever wanted another breed? I had Old English Sheepdogs as a child and we had a Lhasa Apso just after we were married, but after getting our ﬁ rst TT to keep her company, we have never changed. POwner’s viewDirty Dachshund?Dachshund?BUY SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER & SPRAYSMerryJasper

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My Dog Crush52Dogs Today May 2024 Best Facebook group●Tibetan Terrier Training and Behaviour ●Tibetan Terrier Grooming and Health Group Trendy Terrier?BUY BANDANAS & BOW-TIESAdvice for wannabe owners●“They are companion dogs – they don’t like being left at home.”●“Difﬁ cult as a pup, but rewarding as an adult.”●“Be prepared for ‘landshark’ teeth during the puppy phase.”●“Be prepared for an independent, thinking, stubborn, sassy, fun, intelligent, loyal, adorable, cute best friend and little person in your life!”●“Do it!”●“Long-haired dogs are high maintenance... you must commit to keeping them in shape or get them cut.”●“You either get into the grooming thing or commit to regular visits to a professional.”●“If you’ve never had a long-haired breed, I would invest in a grooming class.”Antics●“A previous TT learned how to barter. As a puppy, she would start to chew on a leaf and I replaced the leaf with a treat (as I wasn’t sure if the leaf was toxic). She learned very quickly that if she wanted a treat, all she had to do was go outside and bring in a leaf. She would sit with the leaf in her mouth until she caught my attention, then spit it out, expecting her reward.”●“A stolen frozen Yorkshire pudding was buried in the garden, retrieved at night and taken to his bed.”●“Regularly jumps in the bathtub and orders me to turn on the tap for him to drink.”●“When she saw it was raining outside, she went back in to get her towel.”May 2024 Dogs Today53^ Sculptor Suzie Jasper is besotted with her own TT, Rafa, and her work inevitably includes some doggie pieces. This handcrafted Tibetan Terrier measures 85x75x5mm and is beautifully packaged in a gift box. Suzie also undertakes commissions. £28 from www.suziejasper.co.ukLove the breed? Shop the breedPlayful PapillonBUY TOYS, TUGS & TREAT HIDERSv TT necklace, handmade by silversmiths from sterling silver and with added oxidised silver, 18ct gold or rose gold-plated. Heavyweight sterling silver belcher chain available in various lengths, from 16-30 inches. It comes in a solid black box encased in an embroidered felt button-close pouch. From £199-£279 from FreshFleeces on www.etsy.com ^ This custom metal garden stake can be personalised with a name, or perhaps a date, to honour a much-loved TT. Available in sizes from 4-34 inches, in a choice of colours. Made from 16-gauge powder-coated steel, which is durable and weather-resistant. £85.31 for the 12-inch size, from LightofSign on www.etsy.com^ Handpainted watercolour greetings card, £2.74 from Alisarts26 on www.etsy.com< This canvas of a pencil-sketched Tibetan puppy comes in ﬁ ve sizes, from 7”x5” to 20”x16”. £12.75-£33 from CGDezyns on www.etsy.comvThis 220g soy candle burns for over 40 hours and is made from natural essential oils and a blend of sugared almond, vanilla and white musk. £14.99 from makesterofﬁ cial on www.etsy.comv100-page A6 ‘to do’ notepad – with plenty of space to list all your doggie duties. £4.50 from ButtonCraftUKLtd on www.etsy.com

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56Dogs Today May 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 BSL REVIEWI was extremely pleased to learn that the judicial review on this ridiculous XL Bully ban has been given the green light. Well done to all campaigners; now let’s keep the pressure on. The fact we had BSL for over 30 years and it doesn’t work, yet the government found it appropriate to add more dogs to the list, beggars belief.The police and media are very much to blame for the hysteria, too, with police ofﬁ cers who knew nothing about dogs telling journalists who knew even less that any dog involved was an American XL Bully. The government-given deﬁ nition of the breed is so vague, all kinds of dogs are somehow getting roped in, yet we were supposed to believe each dog who attacked someone had been immediately identiﬁ ed as one! Ridiculous. We truly have learned nothing in three decades.Sarah MurrayJoin the debateVoice your opinions on news stories and other topics on our Dogs Today Magazine Facebook page or through our website www.dogstodaymagazine.co.ukBUDDING ARTISTThe Blackberry Veterinary Clinic in Lingﬁ eld, Surrey, ran a spring colouring competition and nine-year-old Lyla won!“We have a winner! We loved seeing all of your beautiful colouring sheets. This one by Lyla was really creative with sequins and lovely cat and dog pictures. So imaginative! Well done, Lyla.”Here’s a photo of Lyla with her two rescue dogs, and, of course, her prize-winning art!PostbagOdorKillOdorKillUse wherever there’s a bad smell, like wet dog smell, dog pee, cooking etc.Mop with it, spray it - indoors, outside, on ﬂ oors, dog beds, on astro turf, patios etc.Dilute just 20ml in a litre of water.A 1lt bottle will make 50 lts.Just 25p for 1lt of air freshener. at is GREAT value.5lt bottle will make 250 litres,making it as little as 14p a litre.EVEN BETTER VALUE.www.animal-health.co.uk01787 476 400USE CODE DOGSTODAYGET 5% DISCOUNT ON ODORKILL Code one use per customer. Valid until 31.07.24

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58Dogs Today May 2024 Your news & viewsAnnelise Smith“Just let your dog ﬁ gure it out on their own, they’ll learn eventually! No need for structured training, it’s all natural instinct anyway.”Ruth Johnson“Smack your dog on the nose when they misbehave, that’ll show ‘em who’s boss! Works every time.”Emily White“Don’t bother with positive reinforcement, it’s all about dominance. Show your dog who’s the alpha!”From FacebookSOME OF OUR FOLLOWERS SHARED THE WORST ADVICE ON DOG BEHAVIOUR AND TRAINING THEY HAVE EVER SEEN ONLINE...PostbagDAMNED IF YOU DO...Re: the Great Debate about whether ‘beware of the dog signs’ (March issue). I feel that it all boils down to a frustrating “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”. I have had a delivery driver coming into my garden to make the delivery – quite literally pushing the gate open and coming in, despite clear instructions to ring ﬁ rst. My dog didn’t bite anyone, but he barked at them and lunged – there was a stranger in his garden! – and as he’s large, he can be quite intimidating. The delivery driver threw my parcel at the dog, ran outside, and screamed at me that there should be a sign warning of the dog (as if he’d bother to read that, after not bothering to read the instructions to ring the bell and not come in!). I seriously considered putting the sign up, but I was worried to let anyone who passed know about my dog. Plus, if anything did happen to that delivery driver, even just a scratch, could the sign have been used as ‘proof’ that my dog was dangerous? As I said, damned if you do and damned if you don’t.Gillian WhiteMichael Richards“If your dog is scared of something, just force them to confront it until they get over it. Tough love works wonders.”Jessica Davis“Shock collars are the best way to train your dog, it’s like a remote control for behaviour modiﬁ cation.”Jeanna Brown“Never give your dog treats or rewards, they’ll become too dependent on them. Just expect obedience without incentives.”Samantha Miller“Don’t waste money on professional trainers, you can learn everything you need from YouTube videos. Who needs certiﬁ cation anyway?”SpringAirSpringSpringSpringSpringHound●Human●Home

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60Dogs Today May 2024 Tea breakName: _________________________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Postcode: _________________________Telephone: _____________________________________________________Email address: ___________________________________________________Breed/type of dog: _______________________________________________APRIL SOLUTION Across: 2 Untrained; 7 Not up; 9 Saracen; 10 Estonia; 12 Dutch; 13 Sleeper; 18 Deep cut; 21 Reels; 22 Austria; 24 Bitches; 25 White; 26 Dobermann. Down: 1 Unleash; 2 Upon; 3 Tosa; 4 Airedale; 5 Nicety; 6 Dinah; 8 Title; 11 Ice; 14 Pinscher; 15 Red; 16 Strayed; 17 Yentob; 19 Ecu; 20 Corgi; 21 Rabid; 22 Asia; 23 Sewn.591210201481715321131618122274196231 124Gyles Brandreth’s Prize Crossword!Complete the crossword grid, then post your entry to arrive by 6 June 2024 to: May 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 Shakers Honkers Flamingo dog toy worth £8.99. Available from PurrfectlyYappy.com The judge’s decision is ﬁ nal in all competitions. How to enterPut the kettle on and have a go at our competitions!Quick Clues Across1 One description of a dog’s coat (6)4 Makes dog-like noise (5)8 Not sooner (5)9 Dogs’ homes (7)10 Type of Swiss mountain dog (7)11 ...McQueen, former film star (5)12 Dogs (breed) inflicted with macho image (11)17 Large breed from Japan (5)19 Uncooked food for Fido (3,4)21 Large Italian breed (7)22 Small type of dog, Chinese (5)23 Taut (5)24 Parts of the foot (6)Quick Clues Down1 Date printed on fresh food labels (4-2)2 River creature (5)3 Agony (7)4 Canine’s buried treasure (5)5 Small, antlered beast (3,4)6 English county home of a spaniel (6)7 Scottish island breed (4,7)13 Point of view (7)14 Toy breed (7)15 Kind of hound (6)16 Pieces of ‘19 Across’ for grilling (6)18 Home ..., title of 1990 hit US movie (5)20 Remove (5)Cryptic Clues Across1 Suave, like one kind of Fox Terrier (6)4 Sounds like a dog where Reading is, do you say? (5)8 Unusually alert, afterwards (5)9 Heartbroken, Nelson carries shelters for Fido and Co (7)10 Type of mountain dog, strangely serene after onset of blizzard (7)11 Retired English vet’s name (5)12 Macho dogs? See trio wrestle madly (11)17 Reformed drinkers accept gear for this breed (5)19 Dog’s dinner that needs no preparation? (3,4)21 Trip out in the car with one canine breed (7)22 Small dog, happy tailless one (5)23 Unrelaxed, for the present? (5)24 They may be bitten by nasty pooch that’s not entirely thankless? (6)Cryptic Clues Down 1 A date at the supermarket? (4-2)2 A kind of hound named Tarka? (5)3 Aggravate hill people with a bit of teasing (7)4 Butcher’s giveaways provided by skeleton staff? (5)5 Take the oars, darling, said the beast (3,4)6 Breeding area of a spaniel of South American gender (6)7 We hear it’s a heavenly soldier’s breed (4,7)13 Thought onion should be put in lots of pie? Just the opposite (7)14 Miniature breed, variety of chow, young Leonard put outside (7)15 Fred the hound (6)16 Expensive cuts of ‘19 Across’ and wood loaded into a ship (6)18 No ale should be drunk without accompaniment (5)20 Former wife takes exercises, learning to drive out (5)decision is ﬁ nal in all competitions. decision is ﬁ nal in all competitions. May 2024 Dogs Today61Banksy’s identity has Banksy’s identity has ﬁ nally been revealedﬁ nally been revealedWinning captionPhoto submitted by Simona King, via email Papillon & Pomeranian by Tim Rose (www.timrosephotography.co.uk)David LewisMarch Caption Runners-upCross QuestionCan you guess which breeds River’s parents are? Dulux felt like a change – a dog with less undercoatDeb Lane Why the brush? I get bathed if I roll...Lois VineI’m just going to give this wall a ruff coat of paintFay MccallumThe winning caption will win a K9 Immortals Octopus dog toy worth £12.99 and the person who sends the ﬁ rst correct answer to the Cross Question will win a Kong Shakers Honkers Duck worth £10.99, both available from www. purrfectlyyappy.comEmail your Caption Competition & Cross Question entries together with your contact details to comps@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk or post to: May Competitions, Dogs Today, The Old Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AA, to arrive by 6 June 2024Caption this!March Cross Question SolutionGizmo’s parents are a Papillon and a PomeranianThe ﬁ rst correct answer came from Laura Tikaani Kirkham +I’m unleashing my inner Paw-casso one brush stroke at a timeNikki AttreeLaurence Llewelyn-Bow-wowen works like a dogSarah JacksonDo you have a funny pic you’d like us to feature? Please email it to us at comps@dogstodaymagazine.co.ukCan you come up with a witty and amusing caption for this photo? How to enterGrace, an Irish Wolfhound Photo submitted by Fran Barnbrook Bribiba IWHWinners of the Cross Question and Caption Competition will win a prize from Purrfectly Yappy

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62Dogs Today May 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 May 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 charity registered in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC03 8979).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 May 2024 Nature’s Greatest Secret At Nature’s Greatest Secret we specialise in the high quality formulation and production of antibacterial remedies speciﬁ cally designed for pets. Made from colloidal silver, renowned for its antibacterial and anti-inﬂ ammatory qualities, our extensive range of gels, solutions and sprays can be effective for a variety of different conditions. Don’t miss our our Colloidal Silver Eyedrops for Pets, a soothing solution crafted to naturally relieve eye irritation for pets and our highly successful Colloidal Silver Eardrops for Pets, developed with a veterinary advisor and enriched with carefully selected essential oils. All of our Petcare products are formulated and manufactured in our purpose-built factory and temperature-controlled laboratory, ensuring that each and every product meets our exacting standard.www.naturesgreatestsecret.co.ukNatural Pet 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 & ProductsMay 2024 Dogs Today65Grooming Product of the MonthWelcome to Abbfabb Acadamy, home to the exclusive range of the ﬁ nest quality grooming scissors. I n a world full of various sizes and models of scissors and accessories available coupled with large amounts of information, we really do understand that it is hard to know exactly which dog grooming scissors to invest in. It is at this point I will tell you that you need not look any further. We are extremely proud of the dog grooming scissors we offer to groomers and we believe whole-heartedly in our mission to provide you with the very best dog grooming scissors.Also, as a family owned business since 1990, we are very proud of the expertise we offer where quality and precision is our passion. Plus we are well on the way to becoming a totally eco-friendly company thanks to our continued efforts to reduce any negative impact we may be having on our environment.Advertising featureAbbfabb Grooming ScissorsSee the full collection at www.abbfabbgroomingscissors.comour passion. Plus we are well on the way to becoming a totally eco-friendly company thanks to 6622July

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My parents wanted to move down south to be closer. I had just bought my ﬁ rst little house with our resident artist, Kevin of Windlesham. Was this the start of the happy-ever-after?A phonecall from my mum changed everything. She was scared. She was following the ambulance. My lovely dad had collapsed and the medics were still trying to revive him. Mum hated driving as much as me, so the idea of her chasing after an ambulance terriﬁ ed me almost as much as my dear dad being unconscious.It took hours for me to reach the hospital, as I still lived so far away. I was surprised to see that Dad was sitting up in bed, watching the TV, as if nothing was wrong. Everyone on the ward was glued to the new TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. But the question I needed answering was: what was wrong with Dad?The cancer was very advanced. It was everywhere – lungs, brain, liver, bones. The doctors thought it a miracle he was well just hours before he collapsed. There was no treatment; it was just all too late. He was close to death. We brought Dad home and called my brother, Neil, who got on the ﬁ rst ﬂ ight from Toronto. Sally, my Beardie, stared at everyone; she sensed something was very wrong.It was Mum that ﬁ rst mentioned John Carter, the maverick cancer vet who had saved Sally. Her terminal cancer wasn’t treatable either, but here she was, staring at us, very obviously ﬁ ghting ﬁ t. I made the phonecall. Would vet John help my dad? Of course, he would try.Somehow, the whole family would squeeze into our new little house that was nearer John’s surgery, but I needed to order an extra bed in a hurry. I phoned the ﬁ rst number I found and explained I needed the bed urgently. When I gave the kind lady my name and address, she did a double-take. She said she had just been reading the latest edition of Dogs Today before the phone rang. I ended up telling her everything and sobbing. The new bed was perfect and just about ﬁ lled the front room. Dad said it was very comfortable.John wanted to see my dad every day for his CV247 medicine. We had to make sure that Dad’s diet was completely chemical free. I sourced the food; my brother took on the daily drive to John in Harrow.Dad’s doctors were hugely sceptical. They said that what my dad needed was morphine. But Dad was surrounded by his family and he was focused on getting better; he wasn’t ready to give up. After three weeks of this regime, Dad seemed remarkably well. We were starting to dare to hope it might work.Dad was already tucked up in bed when the GP knocked on the front door. It was unexpected. As she squeezed past dad’s enormous bed, she said she was just here to check if Dad needed oxygen or pain relief – or if it might be time to go to the hospice?Just at that moment, the phone went. It was John to say he urgently needed to speak to Dad’s human doctor. He said that earlier that day, he’d spotted Dad’s heart was getting very weak and he felt he desperately needed heart medication.The GP made it clear she didn’t want to talk to my dad’s vet. John insisted, so I passed over the phone. She was furious.“No, don’t be so ridiculous! No, he doesn’t need heart meds; he has end-stage cancer…”Just then, there was a sudden intake of breath.My mum shrieked, “He’s not breathing.”My dad had just died very peacefully from a heart attack. The GP dropped the phone and went into shock. PIllustration KEVIN BROCKBANKy parents wanted to move down south to be closer. I had just bought my ﬁ rst little house with our resident artist, Kevin of Windlesham. Was this the start of the happy-ever-A phonecall from my mum changed everything. She was scared. She was following the ambulance. My lovely dad had collapsed and the medics were still trying to revive him. Mum hated driving as much as me, so the idea of her chasing after an ambulance terriﬁ ed me almost as much as my dear dad being unconscious.It took hours for me to reach the hospital, as I still lived so far away. I was surprised to see that Dad was sitting up in bed, watching the TV, as if nothing was wrong. Everyone on the ward was glued to the new TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. But the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. But the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?question I needed answering was: what was wrong with Dad?The cancer was very advanced. It was everywhere – lungs, brain, liver, bones. The doctors thought it a miracle he was well just hours before he collapsed. There was no treatment; it was just all too late. He was close to death. We brought Dad home and called my brother, Neil, who got on the ﬁ rst ﬂ ight from Toronto. Sally, my Beardie, stared at everyone; she sensed something It was Mum that ﬁ rst mentioned John Carter, the maverick cancer vet who had saved Sally. Her terminal cancer wasn’t treatable either, but here she was, staring at us, very obviously ﬁ ghting ﬁ t. I made the phonecall. Would vet John help my dad? Of course, he Somehow, the whole family would squeeze into our new little house that was nearer John’s surgery, but I needed to order an extra bed in a hurry. I phoned the ﬁ rst number I found and explained I needed the bed urgently. When I gave the kind lady my name and address, she did a double-take. She said she had just been reading the latest edition of Dogs Today before the phone rang. I ended up telling her everything and sobbing. The new bed was perfect and just about ﬁ lled the front room. Dad said it was very comfortable.John wanted to see my dad every day for his CV247 medicine. We had to make sure that Dad’s diet was completely chemical free. I sourced the food; my brother took on the daily drive to John in Harrow.Dad’s doctors were hugely sceptical. They said that what my dad needed was morphine. But Dad was surrounded by his family and he was focused on getting better; he wasn’t ready to give up. After three weeks of this regime, Dad seemed remarkably well. We were starting to dare to hope it might work.Dad was already tucked up in bed when the GP knocked on the front door. It was unexpected. As she squeezed past dad’s enormous bed, she said she was just here to check if Dad needed oxygen or pain relief – or if it might be time to go to the hospice?Just at that moment, the phone went. It was John to say he urgently needed to speak to Dad’s human doctor. He said that earlier that day, he’d spotted Dad’s heart was getting very weak and he felt he desperately needed heart medication.The GP made it clear she didn’t want to talk to my dad’s vet. John insisted, so I passed over the phone. She was furious.“No, don’t be so ridiculous! No, he doesn’t need heart meds; he has end-stage cancer…”Just then, there was a sudden intake of breath.My mum shrieked, “He’s not breathing.”My dad had just died very peacefully from a heart attack. The GP dropped the phone and went into shock. Confessions of a dogaholic66Dogs Today May 2024 Heartbreak at home John Carter & SallyDon & Betty CuddyREVOLUTIONARYHEADCOLLARStops 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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