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Inside this month... DogsToday
The ethical pet magazine for people
News & features who really care about dogs
6 The cost-of-loving crisis: the fall-out of the Facebook: Editorial @beverleycuddy
economic slump on pet owners Dogs Today Editor: Beverley Cuddy @Dogs_Today

14 Vet monopolies: perhaps some chains should Art Director: Rosie Peace
not pass go Chief Sub Editor/Contributing Editor: Claire Horton-Bussey
Deputy Editor: Alessandra Pacelli
26 Remembering Madi: capturing memories in Illustrator: Kevin Brockbank
portraits Proof-readers: Katie Horton-Bussey & Alys Horton-Bussey
30 Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts tells us Advertising & sponsorship
about her best friends Sales & Marketing Director:
Mike McGlynn 01276 402591
Over to you! Sales Executive - Print & Digital:
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34 Postbag: what matters to you
36 Obituaries: your tributes Office dogs
Betty (Old English-Golden Retriever-ish); Honey (Cocker Spaniel);
38 Great debate: what would you do if your dog Lennie (Staffie-German Shepherd cross);
had an upset tummy? Loki (Border Collie-Kelpie cross); Vicky, Justine & Poison Ivy
(Newfoundlands); Sophie (Jack Russell)
Betty’s Personal Trainer: Kirsten Dillon IMDT A.Dip CBM
Training & behaviour
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November 2022 Dogs Today 3

 Dear readers Beverley Cuddy

ast month, we reported on

L a fly-tipped litter of pups. If

you thought that was low,
this month, a massively
pregnant Dachshund was
chucked out to fend for herself.
Did the owner fear she might
need a C-section and thought
someone else could foot the bill?
Greta started giving birth the
first evening in Steph Taylor’s care.
Steph said the pound was no
place to be born. Greta was still
Illustration by Beverley Cuddy

terrified, as you can see from her

face; a Dachshund with her ear
inside out and afraid. Had she ever
known the love of a human? What
sort of person would have left her
alone at this most vulnerable of
times? Anyone who dumps dogs
when prices drop isn’t cut out to
have them in their lives. breed rescue that was planning the default public perception.
Not all the pups have made it. on hanging on to a young dog Rebecca Walters from
At the time of writing, Greta’s not that the breeder wanted to take Pupstarts Breeders says,
eating and has mastitis. back. This was a breeder who “Following the pandemic puppy
Has the bottom fallen out of had gone above and beyond boom, we are seeing a drop in
breeding dogs? Maybe Greta can for health testing and early demand and prices. As a result,
give the world a wake-up call, socialisation and had a robust the unethical and irresponsible
like her human namesake has. contract in place. She’d tried who jumped on the bandwagon
Now we have the cost- hard to find the best homes, but, are deserting just as fast as they
of-living crisis, we are seeing as anyone who has ever bred a joined. As usual, the innocent and
demand and prices of pups litter can tell you, you can make defenceless in the equation are
dropping almost as quickly as the mistakes. People surprise you. treated like collateral damage.
value of the pound. This buyer was a relative, too, so Yet another example of the
The get-rich-quick puppy add in baggage. human ‘click, collect and dump’
retailers will be moving on to mentality. It’s shameful, but it
their next venture and rescues NET NEGATIVITY doesn’t reflect all breeders, many
will be under huge pressure to When I asked for advice on of whom continue to make a
cope with their overstocks and social media, it quickly became positive contribution to the dogs
deleted lines. like an old Jeremy Kyle episode. of our future.
Perhaps it seems an odd time Both the anonymous breeder “The National Dog Breeder
to have a National Dog Breeder and the unnamed breed rescue Convention highlights and
Day, but it’s at times like these were vilified. Who’d have emphasises ethical and responsible
that the public needs to see the thought that providing a safety breeding and gives breeders,
difference between the good net for pups could be given such pet professionals and owners a
and the bad. a negative spin? platform to come together and
With rescues close to bursting, Good breeders really do have discuss topical subjects and issues
I was very surprised to hear of a a mountain to climb to change around breeding to educate and
illuminate the industry. There is
lots to learn; the convention has
Beverley Cuddy is something for everyone.”
Dogs Today’s Editor and The National Dog Breeder
publisher. She shares Convention takes place November
her life with Betty, an 21-25 https://bit.ly/Breederweek
Old English-Golden Oh, and have you voted for
Retriever-ish dog from the most loved petfood brand
Many Tears, and Honey, in Britain yet? There’s still time:
a Cocker Spaniel. https://bit.ly/NobelPrizefordogs P

4 Dogs Today November 2022

Words CLAIRE HORTON-BUSSEY

The economy has tanked and people from all walks of life are
ever-increasing rents and mortgages. For pet owners, there are

Cost-of-loving
very day, I am seeing And not just single dogs – there The RSPCA says it is “incredibly

E more and more social-

media posts about
dogs being dumped.
Abandonment is on the increase, as
are voluntary surrenders to shelters.
have been numerous litters of pups
being dumped. Even pregnant
bitches about to whelp. These are
not rare incidents any more; the
concerned” about the number
of abandoned animals it is being
called out to and fears the cost-
of-living crisis could be leading
frequency is alarming. owners to make difficult decisions.

6 Dogs Today November 2022

 Illustration KEVIN BROCKBANK

struggling to keep themselves warm and fed and to pay

extra mouths to feed – and winter is about to start...

crisis
The charity’s Animal Kindness Index
report found 68% were concerned
that the cost of caring for pets was
increasing, 28% were worried about
being able to care for their pets and
19% were worried about how they
would afford to feed their pets. The
report also found there was a 153%
rise in people searching online for:
‘Can I give my dog paracetamol?’
since 2019, suggesting many are
trying to treat their pets at home.
Debi Emmett is at the front line,
helping those most in need. She
set up the Pet Food Bank Service
in south Wales four years ago in
response to an urgent need.
“A friend told me about older
dogs going into shelters, and older
people feeding their dogs before
feeding themselves,” remembers
Debi.
The years since have become
even more desperate, with
Covid and furloughs, and now
the economic crisis and eve of
recession. Debi has never been
busier – the charity saw a 700%
increase in hits on its website
(https://petfoodbankservice.co.uk)
last month and the
stories are just as
heartbreaking.
“One woman had
been feeding pasta
to her dog. She said,

November 2022 Dogs Today 7

Debi has never been
busier – the charity saw a
700% increase in hits on
its website last month
‘I know it’s no good, but I had
nothing else.’ That means she had
nothing else to eat either. We know
people are asking at the human
food banks for tinned meatballs
and tuna – so they can share it
with their pets.”
UNHAPPY CHAPPIE
Food donations come from
collection bins in shops, from
rescues that pass on any food they
cannot use (Cardiff Dogs Home,
Hope Rescue, All Creatures Great
and Small and the Swansea branch
of RSPCA), and from manufacturers
and retailers. Pets At Home has
donated food, Butcher’s gave
2,500 tins, and Zoopla had the Pet
Food Bank Service as its charity
of the month and gave pallets of
product too.
It’s not just that people’s
8 Dogs Today November 2022
household bills have increased,
leaving them with less money, but
that pet food has rocketed in price
recently too.
“Some pet food has doubled in
price,” says Debi.
A traditionally cheap food,
used by many for dogs with a
sensitive stomach, even the cost
of Chappie has risen significantly
– by as much as 35% – meaning
some supermarkets have stopped
stocking it.
Debi’s Pet Food Bank Service
only serves south Wales, but many
others are across the country.
To find your nearest:
■ Ask your local human food bank.
Some of the smaller ones provide
pet food in their packages. If they
don’t, they are likely to know the
nearest pet bank.
■ Look for ‘pet food bank’ in a
search engine to find one nearby.
■ Ask nearby dog rescues if they
can help, or if they know of
support. Most realise it’s better to
support a loving home to keep
their pets than to have to rehome
for the sake of some dog food.
■ The Pet Food Bank Service’s
website has a list of other pet food
banks across the UK, on its Outlets
page and adds more as it hears of
them (https://petfoodbankservice.
co.uk/our-outlets)
■ Debi also recommends contacting
the RSPCA and Blue Cross, who
have been supporting lots of local
initiatives.
REACHING OUT
The RSPCA began to join forces
with local food banks in 2020, and,
thanks to a generous donation by
the Pets At Home Foundation this
year, has been able to extend this
to help even more pet owners who
are struggling.
Building on existing schemes
run by many RSPCA centres and
branches, the new Pet Food Bank
Partnership sees over 20 more
teaming up with their local food
banks across the north of England.
The scheme aims to reach 110 food
banks by the end of next year to
provide help to the public and
reduce animal abandonment.
In the first quarter of 2022 alone,
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 the RSPCA distributed double
the amount of pet food than the
previous year to help meet demand.
The RSPCA has also launched
the Cost of Living Hub at www.
rspca.org.uk/costofliving with tips
and advice for anyone who might
be finding times hard. Many of its
Hope for the homeless
ith rocketing inflation and
W ever-increasing rents and
mortgages, suddenly those who
were already below the poverty line
and struggling are at serious risk of
homelessness.
For those who have absolutely
nothing, there’s little change. The
only thing you have to lose if you’re
homeless and living on the streets
with your dog is your dog. Which
* Source: Singer RS, et al Psychol Rep. 1995; 77(3 Pt 1): 851-7.
is why most refuse to give up on
their best friend if offered a room
in a hostel. Only seven per cent of
owners experiencing homelessness
would give up their pet in exchange
for housing*, according to StreetVet,
a registered charity that provides
accessible, free vet care to pet
owners experiencing homelessness.
Hostels very rarely accept dogs –
something StreetVet is determined
to change with its new accredited
hostel scheme.
StreetVet co-founder Jade
Statt explains that the StreetVet
10 Dogs Today November 2022
branches and clinics are providing
vouchers for discounted routine
vet care too.
SEEKING HELP
Whichever region you live in, help
won’t be far away. If you need
support, don’t be afraid to ask. And
Accredited Hostel Scheme (SAHS)
came about “from talking to
StreetVet clients and realising what
‘voluntarily homeless’ means. They
had been offered a room in a hostel
but would have to relinquish their
pet.”
Refusing deemed them
‘voluntary homeless’.
“And I was like, ‘Wait, wait, wait…
Back up!’ It’s such an alien concept.
When we realised the scale of the
problem, we asked what we could
do to persuade hostels to take pets.
WINNING STRATEGY
“We started simple – offering leads,
muzzles, crates to hostels, and
ensuring the dogs’ vaccinations
were up to date. But the main thing
we were hearing from hostel staff
was that they felt ill prepared to
accept dogs; they had no training
and you could understand how
daunting it was for them.
“The concept of an accredited
if you are fortunate enough not to
need help and can donate a bag or
tin of food to a local food bank, be
assured that it would be very much
appreciated not only by the pet, but
by the owner too. Donations of help
are just as valuable too, if you can
spare a couple of hours of your time.
hostel scheme was crystallised
when we were given the
opportunity to enter the Purina
BetterWithPets competition to
secure funding for a project that
enhanced the human-animal bond
and we won! This international prize
of over £40K enabled StreetVet to
put our accreditation scheme into
action.”
The SAHS is designed to
provide hostels with wrap-around
support and to make it as easy as
possible for hostels to start saying
yes to pets. It launched last year
during Covid and now has a full-
time hostel co-ordinator and 20
accredited hostels spread across the
country. It is hoped there will be 50
by the end of this year.
Accredited hostels receive
support in 10 key areas to help
implement positive pet policies:
■ Hostel staff training and education
■ Hostel dog policy and owner
contract
Vet-strength
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 ■ StreetVet patient registration
READERS’ TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ■ Provision of pet essentials
■ Telemedicine triage service
Ditch the heating and One of my dog’s There’s great ■ Free legal advice with partner
sleep with the dogs! beds is an old duvet second-hand stuff A-Law
Jeannie Gee with one of the kid’s in the flea market on ■ 24hr emergency freephone
old duvet covers – Agility.net ■ Funded in-practice veterinary
I sleep with my dogs easy to wash and Eileen Jones diagnostics and surgery
and it’s saving me a change. He tends ■ Transport to vet practices
fortune – my Beardies to sleep on the Don’t buy expensive ■ Emergency kennelling
have thick coats. bed when it’s cold dog puzzles/
Gillian Kedzierski anyway; sometimes enrichment brain “We empower staff, so they have
I wake up too hot! games – make your support in any eventuality. For staff
Second-hand stores Trish Smith own. It’s surprising training, the seven-part modular
are a great place what you can do online course explains why people
to find blankets for Lots of second- with empty toilet- experiencing homelessness have
bedding. hand and new dog roll tubes, empty pets so the staff can understand the
Donna Sidebotham stuff is auctioned boxes and towels! importance of their dogs and the
for local rescues on You can have a whale benefits of keeping them together.
Best dog bed? A Facebook, many of a time without We explain how StreetVet can help
second-hand cot-bed starting with £1 spending a penny! provide practical and educational
mattress. Get them minimum bids. You Kim Brophy Mobley support – and information on the
free off Facebook are supporting your law, such as where the responsibility
marketplace. They local rescue, as well Walk locally instead for the pet lies if an owner is
often have waterproof as buying bargains. of driving to dog sectioned person, for example.”
covers and pretty Also check out local walking venues. Hostel staff are also educated
sheets for free, too! boot sales, too. Petrol is so expensive. in behavioural basics, such as
Jaime Hepburn Carla Si Trish Smith the ladder of aggression, dog
interaction, postures and so on, as

A s the cost-of-living crisis

mounts, more and more families
are taking the difficult decision to
give up their pets. In the UK, nearly
one-third of pet owners report
feeling worried about taking care of
their animals during this time.
Yet for many people with
disabilities, assistance dogs remain
a lifeline. And the current demand
is outstripping the supply. Recent
reports found that the number of
assistance dog users increased by
42 per cent in the last decade before
the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As more people recognise
the value of these highly trained
Priceless progress animals, the need for consistent,
industry-wide welfare standards
becomes increasingly important
The cost-of-living crisis to ensure people benefit from
must not compromise dogs that are properly raised and
better welfare standards cared for, and that can enjoy the
challenges of being a working dog.
for assistance dogs Assistance dogs are not merely
says Peter Gorbing, dogs trained to fulfil certain tasks;
former CEO of Dogs for they are animals that have been
carefully socialised from a young
Good and past chair of age to be able to work in a wide
Assistance Dogs UK range of environments without
becoming stressed, anxious or
distracted. However, at present,
the lack of a clear definition for
assistance dogs across most of
Europe means those who need
them have little guarantee of
quality unless they are trained by
organisations that operate to clear
standards.
This is why experts representing
the whole industry are working to
agree on Europe-wide standards
and definitions to cover all
assistance dogs. As a result, the
dogs, the people who need them,
and the organisations that connect
them would benefit.
With consistent standards, the
dogs’ welfare will be protected,
allowing them to be better
prepared for the demands of being
an assistance dog. The process
of supporting dogs to become
assistance dogs begins when they
are puppies. If dogs are exposed
to the wrong types of training at
the wrong age, their development
can be negatively impacted by
overburdening them too young.
This could negatively affect their

12 Dogs Today November 2022

 Photo © Love Photography
well as general care and common
pet toxins.
“It’s important to make a dog
part of the hostel community.
There are introduction posters,
where you can put a photo of the
dog, its name, what it likes, what
it doesn’t – ‘being touched on the
head’, for example. It empowers the
owner, who can introduce the dog
to others in the hostel and interact
safely. Dogs can help everyone’s
wellbeing in a hostel.”
Jade is keen to keep developing
the support offered.
“We’re finding it can be hard
for those in hostels to move on
to permanent accommodation
because there are so few pet-
friendly properties. We’d like to
create a responsible dog ownership
certificate that clients could
do online with support at the
hostels.” Such a certificate could
be used as a reference to show
landlords and hopefully help secure
accommodation.
Behavioural support is another
area that StreetVet has in its sights.
ability to grow into confident
assistance dogs.
For example, young dogs should
not be carrying out task-related
training until they are mature
enough and properly socialised.
Rather, their early education
should focus on exposing them
to people, other dogs and new
environments so they learn to tune
out distractions and remain calm in
stimulating situations.
VITAL STANDARDS
The people who rely on service
dogs would also benefit from
consistent standards. Guaranteeing
quality is key to the sustainability
of assistance dogs, which can
make an enormous difference in
the lives of people with disabilities.
Just within the standards-based
industry in Europe, around 20,000
people have assistance dogs and
many others are currently on
waiting lists. These dogs are key
to managing many needs: they
help address mobility challenges,
provide diabetic and seizure alerts,
and more. However, the demand
SUPPORT STREETVET
To support StreetVet’s
work, visit www.
streetvet.co.uk
StreetVet Xmas cards
and wrapping paper,
featuring the charity’s
patients, are available
from https://lilwabbit.
co.uk/collections/
streetvet
The StreetVet
calendar will soon be
available from https://
streetvet.webbox.
co.uk/
The dogs they deal with are usually
well socialised with people – but
not so with other dogs – and
separation distress is another
problem that can present itself once
in a hostel. When a dog has spent
its life 24/7 with the owner, even
half an hour alone, while the owner
attends a doctor’s appointment, can
be difficult to endure.
for assistance dogs consistently
outstrips the supply.
With the onset of the pandemic
creating a 25 per cent increase
in the prevalence of anxiety and
depression globally, the demand
for therapy dogs has increased
as well. While these are different
from assistance dogs, it is vital
to set standards that protect the
dogs’ welfare and ensure they are
comfortable in the wide range of
environments in which they will
work. For example, Animal Assisted
Intervention International (AAII)
has developed comprehensive
standards to support dogs working
in a range of animal-assisted
interventions.
For the individuals and
organisations working to train
assistance dogs, standards also
are beneficial. Having the same
regulations and definitions across
Europe will allow for greater
mobility within the industry.
For instance, certified trainers
could more easily move around
Europe to address assistance dog
shortages. It would also encourage
StreetVet hopes to create
behaviour videos that can be
accessed by residents in StreetVet
accredited hostels.
In the meantime, StreetVet
is forging forward, getting more
hostels on board and being there for
those who are facing a hard winter
on the streets.
sector-wide initiatives to support
the professional development of
people working in the industry.
There are already many
in the sector that utilise self-
regulation, such as the members
of Assistance Dogs International
or the International Guide Dog
Federation, showing the value
of such collaboration. And even
in light of the cost-of-living
crisis, the organisations involved
consistently maintain high
standards, ensuring that dog
welfare is never compromised.
Though financial pressures are
growing across all sectors and
walks of life, this does not mean we
can afford to stall on animal welfare
standards. It is our responsibility
to ensure high-quality welfare
and wellbeing for all of our dogs,
allowing them to be happy, healthy
and thrive in a strong relationship
with the person they assist. If we
get this right, they will make great
assistance dogs. Strengthening
standards will enshrine a service for
some of the most vulnerable among
us when they need it most.
November 2022 Dogs Today 13
Words ALESSANDRA PACELLI
Illustrations KEVIN BROCKBANK

Board
games
A petition is asking
the Welsh Parliament
to hold an enquiry
into the corporate
takeover of the
veterinary profession
in Wales – an issue
that has been
discussed across
the UK, as many feel
shareholders’ profit
is taking precedence
over animal welfare...

I
n 1999, a decision was made that
would change veterinary practices
across the UK. Up to that point, the
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
allowed only qualified and licensed
veterinarians to own a vet practice;
this is no longer the case.
In the 23 years since, the
landscape has altered dramatically.
Over half of veterinary practices in
the UK – over 53 per cent, according
to the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons (RCVS) – are now owned
by just seven companies. In Wales
specifically, the figure currently
stands at 44 per cent – 151 out of 343.
The RCVS Code of Professional
Conduct expects organisations
to appoint a senior veterinary
surgeon to provide appropriate
professional direction, and prohibits
veterinary surgeons or groups of
veterinary surgeons from entering
any agreements that may have the
effect of fixing fees. Despite this,
members of the public, as well as
vets, have raised concerns over the
effects of this takeover on small,
independent veterinary practices
– as well as concerns that the care
of animals may become secondary
to the goal of turning in profits for
shareholders.
LOSING INDEPENDENTS
Welsh pet owner and campaigner
Linda Joyce-Jones first became
concerned about the situation
when the vet practice she used was
taken over by a large company. She
says the change in the quality of
care towards patients was almost
immediate and things took a turn
after her cat, Rosa, died. Linda felt
that her care had been mishandled
and decided to get to what she felt
was the root of the problem: the
corporate takeover of independent
vet practices.
Linda isn’t new to campaigning,
as she’s already played a large
role in the ban on wild animals in
circuses in Wales.
“I started campaigning and
petitioning to have the situation
with corporate vets investigated
across the UK – this is not a uniquely
Welsh problem,” she says. “Getting
your companion animal to an
independent vet practice is near
impossible in some areas; virtually
every vet close by is owned by
a corporate, and of course when
referrals are needed, they will
refer your pets to another practice
owned by the same company, not
necessarily the best one – so at the
end of the day, you’re still paying
them. It doesn’t take much to see
why this situation is untenable.
“The Westminster government
has received petitions on this issue
more than once, so I decided to
petition the Welsh parliament
as well. Far fewer signatures

14 Dogs Today November 2022

 HELP FEED A LOCAL
HOMELESS DOG THIS
130 YEARS
OF CARING

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Over half of veterinary practices in the UK – over
53 per cent, according to the RCVS – are now
owned by just seven companies
are required to have a petition
considered for debate in Wales, so
that is where I eventually focused
my efforts.”
Since opening the consultation,
the Petition Committee received
several statements on the matter
– including one from a veterinary
professional whose name was
withheld. The vet, Linda says, once
worked for an independent practice
that was bought by a corporate and
that they eventually left in order to
work independently once again.
In their message to the Petitions
Committee, they outline what they
feel are the main negative factors in
the current situation in the UK.
One concern is competition –
or rather, the lack thereof. With so
much power and sites across the
UK, the vet explains, corporates
can effectively create a monopoly
to supply medication, goods and
services across vast areas. This
also gives them access to deep
16 Dogs Today November 2022
discounts that are unavailable to
small, independent practices – who,
on the other hand, have seen their
own costs rise.
“Their buying power is now so
great that the peripheral industries
that supply our profession are being
held to ransom,” the vet wrote.
“Pharmaceutical companies are
giving massive discounts, though
these are rarely passed on to the
consumer, as most pricing is based
on net-cost calculations, not net-net.”
BLACKLISTED
If the producers accept the terms
and put discounts in place, the
statement reads, then they are
placed on a ‘preferred supplier’ list.
If not, they are placed on a blacklist.
While vets are not obliged to follow
the lists, the choice not to do so is
“actively discouraged”.
Independent practices are not
only forced to deal with unfair
competition, however: sometimes
they are left entirely without
supplies.
“The pharmaceutical industry
has also punished independent
practices in the recent vaccination
shortages for both dogs and cats,
making sure the corporate sites
receive supplies by ring fencing
available stock for them and leaving
independent practices with no
supplies for months on end,” the
statement goes on.
GRADUATE TACKS
Veterinary manpower was another
point of concern underlined in
the statement. With a massive
advantage when it comes to
recruiting new vet graduates
through sponsorships and the
offer of ‘graduate academies’ that
independent vets cannot hope to
match, the anonymous vet argues,
“the concentration on university/
referral level ‘gold standard’ practice
is creating the ever increasing bills
that clients now face”.
The vet continues, “It will be
argued, by its proponents, that
‘gold standard’ is better medicine.
However, the reality, again in my
personal opinion, is that simple
cases end up being excessively
worked up, receiving set protocols
of laboratory and diagnostic tests
that are often not necessary, and
just add to the wedge, that is the
excessive cost of treatment, that the
profession is placing between the
clinician and the animal owners.
“If you teach this to new
graduates that know no better,
and tell them that any other way is
inferior, then you create an entire
generation of veterinarians who are
comfortable with charging far more
than their predecessors.”
Higher bills for tests or even
surgery that independent vets
would instead consider unnecessary
is among the main complaints Dogs
Today has received from its readers.
We also received complaints about
eye-watering bills that seemed
much too high even for out-of-hours
services, as well as a distinct feeling
the patient’s welfare was not the
vet’s first concern. For some of our
staff it was also a lived experience: in
2019, our editor, Beverley Cuddy, had
a dismal experience when she had
to rely on a corporate vet practice to
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June 2020 Dogs Today 11

put her elderly Bearded Collie, Oscar,
to sleep.
The vets would not put him to
sleep until the bill was paid upfront;
nothing illegal, but it hardly makes
one feel as though their pet’s
welfare is the most important part
of the equation. Reflecting upon the
experience, Beverley would say, “I
never thought I’d see the day when
a vet would hold a card machine in
one hand and the lethal injection in
the other.”
She was then handed a “jaw-
dropping receipt”, plus a leaflet
from what was described as a
“family-run” pet crematorium. It
soon became clear the crematorium
belonged to the same company
who owned the vet practice,
however.
“The bill had been huge, but
we’d not really been paying
attention, as we were grieving,”
Beverley said. “Nearly half of it had
been the cremation costs. And it
was all paid in advance before
they’d consider putting Oscar out
of his suffering. No one should
ever feel ripped off at this most
vulnerable time.”
KEY INFLUENCERS
One more concern the anonymous
vet outlined is the amount of
influence that the corporates have
within the governing and political
bodies of an industry they have
bought their way into.
“The main representative
body for veterinarians, the British
Veterinary Association, and the
veterinary nurse equivalent, the
British Veterinary Nurse Association,
18 Dogs Today November 2022
now receive the majority of
their membership fees from
the veterinary corporates,” the
statement reads. “Most corporates
pay their employees’ membership
fees regardless of whether they
wish to be members or not.
“A nice perk on the surface,
but this means a small number
of corporate groups finance the
majority of both organisations –
organisations that are meant to
give their members legal advice
in regards to disputes with their
employers.”
While the petition was
considered by the Welsh Petitions
Committee on Monday 17 October,
there has been a delay. Lesley
Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs
and North Wales, and Trefnydd,
stated that “the provision of
veterinary services in Wales remains
a non-devolved issue, which lies
beyond the remit and responsibility
of the Welsh Government”.
However, Linda says, not all is lost.
“The Senedd Cymru/Welsh
Parliament’s Petitions Committee
yesterday decided to refer my
latest petition to the Economy and
Rural Affairs Committee,” Linda
wrote on 18 October. “Our Minister
Lesley Griffiths MS has stated in
a letter to the Committee’s Chair
Jack Sargeant MS that this isn’t
an issue devolved to our Welsh
Government.”
She added, “I remember a
gentleman called Carwyn Jones –
then our First Minister – telling me
at a public event in Bangor that he
wasn’t sure our Welsh Government
could actually ban the use of wild
animals in circuses here in Cymru.
That was in October 2015. Three
years later, in July 2018, Carwyn
stood in the chamber of our
Senedd and announced the Welsh
Government was bringing forward
a ban!”
As she awaits a response, Linda
is not idle. Earlier in October, she
launched Rosa’s Mobile Vets, named
for her beloved cat. As this goes to
print, the independent practice is
expected to begin operating shortly
on the island of Anglesey, in north
Wales.
NON-PROFIT PRACTICE
“I had the idea for the vet practice
quite a while ago. I have taken out
£30,000 against my house to buy a
van and set up the basic equipment
that we need,” Linda says. “It will
employ a vet and the demand is
going through the roof already.
“I want people to be able to
treat their family members at
home. Blood drawing, ultrasound,
diagnosis, vaccinations – we also
offer holistic therapy with fully
qualified people registered with the
RCVS. It’s going to be a non-profit,
community interest group. If things
go well, I’d also like to expand the
district vet nurse scheme in the area.
“I think one of the most
important elements is a trusting
relationship with your vet. It’s quite
remarkable that this situation has
been allowed to get to this point
in such a short space of time. No
vet should be put in a position
where they’re obliged to put a
corporation’s gains before the
well-being of their patients.” P
As we await
an update on
the petition’s
status, we’ll
be reporting
on more
pet owners’
experiences
with corporate
veterinary
practices – the
good, the bad,
and the ugly.
Watch this
space...
Words & photos EMMA BARNETT
EMMA BARNETT
Emma Barnett is a certified
Coape animal behaviourist,
specialising in dog behaviour
and training. She runs So
Help Me Dog! based in South
Oxfordshire and helps dogs
and puppies of all ages
and backgrounds with any
struggles they may be having.
Emma’s love for animals makes
her the perfect professional
to approach for assistance if
your dog is having difficulty
coping with life.
www.sohelpmedog.co.uk
20 Dogs Today November 2022
If I had a magic
Much of a trainer or behaviourist’s casework
would vanish in thin air if owners hadn’t been
spellbound by a dog’s looks
A
friend once asked me what
I wished all prospective
new puppy owners would
do. The answer shot out of my
mouth before I even knew what
was coming. “Research!“
Before I tell you what I mean
by that, let me tell you what I
don’t mean. Doing your research
doesn’t mean hanging around
parks, seeing a dog you like the
look of and asking the owner
what breed it is and whether they
are good with kids. Nor does it
mean asking your friends if their
dog (that you also quite like the
look of) is a good family dog.
This isn’t research. At best, it’s a
pinch of general information-
gathering with a copious amount
of subjective opinion. It doesn’t
tell you what you actually need to
know – the breed’s function. And
this all boils down to genetics.
Genetics is a big subject. We
could discuss familial or health
genetics, but I want to look at
breed genetics because ‘breed’
is what typically informs most
prospective puppy buyers’
Photo posed by a model
wand...
decisions - it tells you what the
dog is going to look like (its form).
But that appearance has only
come about because humans
(for thousands of years) have
repeatedly selected (or bred) for
certain behaviours, and when
we do that, we change the
appearance of the dog. That’s why,
within the same species, we have
such a vast range of different-
looking dogs, from Dachshunds
to Irish Wolfhounds. Complicated,
huh? I’ll try to explain (without
blowing either of our brains)…
Dogs have worked alongside
man for thousands of years, and,
in the beginning, they all looked
pretty similar. They had a job to
do, and those jobs were, and still
are, numerous: guarding livestock
or property; tunnelling and killing
animals that live underground;
hunting and killing animals (some
faster than others) overground;
moving livestock around (with
differing methods); tracking,
pointing, flushing and retrieving
game or waterfowl; and pulling
boats or fishing nets ashore.
FORM & FUNCTION
The better the dogs were at their
individual jobs, the more likely they
were to be selected for breeding.
This does two things: firstly, it gives
us the look of the dog because if we
consistently select for behaviour,
the appearance changes, giving us
the breed. Secondly, it hones those
skills until we have high-performing
machines. Those behaviours are
hard-wired into them, giving us
the function of the dog. You cannot
separate the form of the dog from
the function.
And here lies the rub. Literally.
Because if there is one thing that
will rub a trainer/behaviourist up
the wrong way, it’s the answer
to the question, “What made you
choose a [insert breed name] as
your family pet?”
“Oh, I’ve always liked the look
of them.”
Inside, we are rolling our eyes.
Why? Because much of the time,
the behaviours we are called in to
resolve are either totally normal for
the dog or are being performed
because they have no outlet for
those hard-wired behaviours.
For example:
■ My Border Collie keeps herding
the kids/cars/cyclists
■ We let Fluffy the bunny out in
the garden, and my Greyhound
killed her
■ My Mastiff-Labrador has a real
problem with visitors
■ My Bichon Frise has separation
anxiety
■ My Working Cocker Spaniel
grabs everything in his mouth
and won’t let go, and has started
growling at me
■ My Dachshund keeps digging up
my garden
Dogs have been doing their ‘jobs’
for thousands of years. It’s only
comparatively recently that they’ve
been expected to ‘just’ be a family
pet and lie around the house all day.
Their environment has changed,
but their genes haven’t caught up,
and this is why we see so many dog
parents struggling with their four-
legged friends.
Now, I’m not going to lie. I chose
my dog because of how he looks
– well, partly anyway. And I would
challenge any dog professional to
say that they chose their pet purely
based on function and not on looks.
But that’s because there are always
going to be certain breeds that
release a flood of oxytocin (that stuff
that melts your heart and renders
you all gooey inside), and you fall
in love instantly. For me, that’s a
small to medium-sized breed with
floppy ears and a longer, soft coat.
But let’s face it, the options are
endless. I could choose anything
from a Shih Tzu to a working Cocker
Spaniel. But these are two dogs
with very different functions. I could
probably give one a really lovely
Coape International’s Karin
Pienaar takes the baton from
longtime contributor Peter
Neville, to present training
and behaviour features on all
aspects of living with dogs.
KARIN PIENAAR
Coape International Partner
DipCABT (Coape) OCN,
CertCAB, CAPBT Practitioner,
ICAN Member, CAB
Karin has worked in animal
behaviour therapy since 1997.
After more than 20 years of
consulting with dog and cat
owners, Karin now focuses
mainly on managing Coape
International (www.coape.org),
presenting the Coape Diploma
and mentoring students.
Karin is also responsible for
course advancement and
developed the industry-
changing MHERA™ concept. Her
book, MHERA: Mood Matters,
will be available in both
paperback and e-book format
from DogWise Publishers soon
and is a must-read for anyone
working in the industry.
Karin is the behaviour
consultant to numerous pet
companies, such as Eukanuba
and Ascendis Animal Health,
and is a regular contributor to
several local and international
magazines, as well as appearing
on television and radio when
time allows. She is often a guest
speaker at behaviour-related
events and conferences.
When she has time to spare,
she consults on particularly
challenging cases and as an
expert witness in legal cases
involving animal behaviour.
November 2022 Dogs Today 21
life, but the other? Well, it would
be like bashing a square peg
into a round hole. Both the dog
and I would be miserable and
frustrated.
So, when we experience that
oxytocin rush, instead of saying,
“That’s the dog for me!” Ask
yourself:
■ What is this dog’s job?
■ Can I give this dog the lifestyle
it needs?
■ Is my home environment right
for this dog?
■ Is my lifestyle and personality
suitable for this dog? Are we a

Illustration by Kevin Brockbank

good match?
■ Am I prepared to change
my lifestyle and make the
necessary adjustments to
ensure the welfare and
happiness of this dog for the
whole of his life?

If you can’t answer ‘yes’ to

those questions, this is probably
not the dog for you. Find the
breed where you can answer yes
because that is the dog for you.
FINDING LOVE
But how can you find this dog?
Where do you research? Well, the
obvious port of call is the internet.
But this is a dangerous place to be
because there is an awful lot of
claptrap you have to sift through
first. Google ‘Dachshund’, and
you’ll have 10 websites pop up, all
desperate to tell you what they
know. Some information will be
similar, if not identical; some will
be contradictory (one website
told me they were great with
other dogs, one told me they’re
not). Read enough and you will
undoubtedly be able to pick out
all the information you want to
hear to convince you that the
Dachshund is the perfect dog for
you, and you could probably do
that for most breeds of dogs.
So, here’s what to look for and
what to avoid...
■ Breed history
Do search for information on the
history of the breed. This will tell
you what job this dog had. Then,
think about what this means in
terms of how this dog is used
to spending his day. Are they
Avoid information on specific crossbreeds, such
as Cockapoos. All you will get is paragraph upon
paragraph of ‘best guesses’... Any dog (pedigree
or crossbreed) can be any combination of its
mother, father, grandparents, great-grandparents
and beyond”
protecting the home territory, ■ Crossbreed conundrums
or are they out in the fields? Are Avoid information on specific
they hunting and killing, or are crossbreeds, such as Cockapoos.
they herding? Are they digging All you will get is paragraph upon
or chasing to catch prey? Do paragraph of ‘best guesses’. It’s
they work one-to-one with a a bit like a stranger trying to
handler, or do they work in a predict how your unborn children
large group of dogs? Do they stay are going to turn out. Any dog
close to the handler or work more (pedigree or crossbreed) can be any
independently, at a distance? combination of its mother, father,
Let’s take the Dachshund, for grandparents, great-grandparents
instance, who was bred to spend and beyond.
large portions of the day out in Don’t make the mistake of
the country, finding badger dens, thinking your Labradoodle will be
digging down into them to find 50% Labrador and 50% Poodle – and
and dispatch its occupants, and that it will have the best bits of each.
barking and barking to let the Nope, nope and thrice nope! Instead,
handler know where he is. Hmm… research Labrador and then Poodle.
that’s a lot of digging, killing and If you feel there are nightmarish
barking behaviour. If you live on aspects of each, imagine them
your own in an apartment block smooshed together in one dog and
with no garden, surrounded by then see if you still want one.
neighbours, and you go out to
work for most of the day, can you ■Personal truths
see why this may not be the dog Avoid buying into personality
for you? descriptions. Firstly, your dog’s

22 Dogs Today November 2022

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familial genes will influence its
personality. Secondly, your dog’s
environment and experiences
will play a part in shaping its
personality. Thirdly, your dog is
going to have its own unique
personality (just like humans). So
descriptions like outgoing, loving,
eager to please or stubborn are,
at best, unhelpful and, at worst,
damaging.
■ What to ignore...
Ignore everything that tells you
this breed of dog needs a strong
pack leader, or you must be the
‘alpha’. Or that dogs need a firm
hand, corrections and discipline
and mustn’t be allowed to take
control. Ignore anything that
suggests your breed should be
trained by using pinning, alpha
rolls, shock collars, prong collars,
choke chains, spray bottles etc. No
breed of dog needs this. Ever.
DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
But aren’t behaviourists and
trainers out there to help owners
who are struggling? Don’t we
24 Dogs Today November 2022
turn up with our magic wands
and sprinkle our fairy dust? Well,
yes, we are here to help, and
sometimes, if the problems are
mild and the solutions are simple,
it can seem just like we’ve waved
our wands. Other times, there
might be some more adjustments
and work required, but once
we’ve explained to the owners
why they’re seeing what they’re
seeing, they often have a lightbulb
moment. We then adjust the
expectations and put strategies in
place to help them have a great
life with their pup.
But… sometimes we turn up to
see broken relationships and not
just between the dog and owner
but between kids and dogs, kids
and parents, and both owners –
and all because the dog hasn’t met
the (unrealistic) expectations of
the family. The dream the family
had of dog ownership has been
destroyed. There’s frustration,
leading to arguments, resulting in
everyone feeling disappointed,
sad and resentful towards the dog.
And the dog? Well, he’s just
trying to be a dog, trying to do
the doggie things that make him
happy and contented, but the
owner finds those things hard to
live with. The owner thinks the dog
is acting up, doing it deliberately
or is just a ’bad’ dog. And it’s
heartbreaking to see a family at
crisis point. Sometimes we’ve been
called in too late, or the issues
feel insurmountable to the owner
– they can’t bear the idea of any
more work, or they physically can’t
make the adjustments needed, and
they have to make the distressing
decision to give their beloved
family dog up for adoption. Even
worse, we’re not called in. The dog
is labelled as difficult or aggressive
and is euthanised.
Life with a dog should be a
complete and utter joy, full of love,
laughs and looniness – and one of
the first steps towards achieving
that is doing your research
and choosing the right dog for
your environment, lifestyle and
personality. Ask not “What can the
dog offer me?” But, “What can I
offer this dog?” P
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Words CLAIRE HORTON-BUSSEY
The only thing wrong with dogs is that their lives are too short. But they
Madi: never forgotten
I
’m sad to report that longtime Dogs
Today office dog Madi died on 6
May. She was almost 15 years old.
It’s taken me five months to be able
to write about her passing, as the
loss was just too great; I had to wait
until the overwhelming, crashing
wave of grief subsided a little.
Madi was born at Many Tears
Animal Rescue in August 2007. Her
mum was a Border Collie and her
dad a mystery. Everyone speculated
that a Corgi was likely, given her
short little legs and early love
of nipping ankles if she wanted
to hurry someone along. A later
DNA test revealed that mum was
26 Dogs Today November 2022
a collie cross, as was dad, with a
Dobermann great-grandparent and
many breeds in the mix, including
Australian Cattle Dog, Jack Russell
and even Finnish Lapphund. Madi
was certainly unique!
The Dobermann ancestor made
us laugh, given her diminutive
stature, but when it came to
protecting her home and her loved
ones, made perfect sense. She
was certainly a ‘Pinscher’, adept at
stealing food that you’d never think
could be within her reach.
JELLY BABY
We still laugh about when I took her
to meet my in-laws for the first time.
Their pristine home had never had
a pet within its walls when puppy
Madi came bounding in as if she
owned the place. She immediately
won them over with her roll-overs
and requests for tummy tickles.
Madi followed my mother-in-
law round on that first evening, as
she readied the dining room for
our tea and pootled in and out of
the kitchen, preparing the meal.
Then there was a loud gasp from
the dining room. I ran in to find Another time, I had a plasterer
Madi stood in the middle of the in the house. He knew all about
dining room table, with her face in dogs, he bragged. Dogs respected
the ornate glass bowl containing him as boss, blah blah. I swear Madi
a fruit jelly for dessert. My in-law looked at me and raised one of
asked if she could put the rest in a her expressive eyebrows. I offered
Tupperware box for Madi to take to make the chap a sandwich at
home and finish! lunchtime, but he said he only ate
It wasn’t the last time Madi a certain specialist diet and had a
embarrassed me with her next-level packed lunch in his van. Ten minutes
thieving. When my sister-in-law later, he returned from said van with
stayed with me one weekend and an empty bag. In the time the ‘dog
tucked into a bacon sarnie mid- expert’ plasterer had been working
morning, Madi appeared from in my house, Madi had crept out to
nowhere and rose like a dolphin from his van (parked on my gated drive),
the floor to grab the sarnie from my found the door wide open, hopped
guest’s hand as she raised it to her in and helped herself!
mouth, and then the pocket-rocket I learned to be as watchful of
ran like hell out of the backdoor Madi as she was of me, especially
to enjoy her spoils. She was ever when decorating the kids’ birthday
watchful, and so skilled and agile, cakes or stuffing the Christmas
you could do nothing but applaud. turkey. One year, though, my eldest
can be remembered forever...
daughter made mince pies as gifts and gave a new collie cross pup
for her Scout leaders. She left them from Many Tears a home, but that’s
on the table, ran upstairs to get another story... It seemed the best
some card to make boxes for them, way to honour Madi’s life, and
and by the time she came down, I hope she’s looking down and
they’d gone. Cue an emergency vet whispering her secrets to the new
visit for an emetic injection. Within pupster about how to scale kitchen
minutes, Madi started puking each work surfaces and dining tables to
one up – whole! In her haste, she snaffle the finest jellies and bacon
hadn’t even chewed them when sarnies.
she stole them – she’d swallowed Madi Moo Moo, we’ll love and
each one in a single gulp. If we’d miss you always.
dusted some icing sugar on the top,
we could have still gifted them! REMEMBERED ALWAYS...
As smart as a button, Madi
A beautiful portrait of Madi has given us all great comfort during this
loved learning new tricks and
time. I commissioned the incredibly talented Andrew James Holmes
would perform a repertoire of
to do the portrait seven years ago, after seeing his work in this very
twirls, roll-overs and leg weaves
magazine. His stunning capture of baby Betty, editor Beverley Cuddy’s
for anyone in exchange for a treat.
crossbreed, was truly remarkable, so I sent Andrew some pictures from
She was my constant companion
a photoshoot when Madi was aged about six months old.
through single-parenthood with
Andrew’s business, Captured in Pencil, is perfectly named. The
a toddler, through to vetting my
portrait not only captured Madi’s alert ‘you have a treat’ expression, but
future husband and attending our
it also captured her prime – her energy as a young pup, ever eager to
wedding with her collar decoration
train and play with us.
of fresh flowers. She shared our
And now Andrew has completed a portrait of Madi’s golden years,
home with many cats and kittens,
when Madi wasn’t ‘new’; when we knew each other inside out. Seeing
happily accepted a new human
the finished portrait literally took my breath away; I have so missed
baby and another dog, and saw
seeing her face, it reduced me to tears to have her home again. The
many foster dogs come and go.
portrait doesn’t just capture her likeness, but her very essence.
Like her younger portrait, it will hang in our kitchen diner, above
THE LAST GOODBYE
the bed where Madi snoozed (always with half her brain awake should
As she aged, her muzzle turned
anyone drop or leave any food unattended!), and where our new pup
grey, but her gentle, hazel eyes
now rests. It’s the perfect place to whisper wise-dog secrets to the
remained. She was sprightly until
next generation, and to keep us
the last year when she began
all still under her watchful gaze.
to slow a little. Librela injections
gave her a new lease of life, and Turn over to find out more
a fortnight before the end, she about Captured in Pencil >
managed to steal some cheese
biscuits from the table. It gladdened
my heart that although her eyesight
and hearing were almost gone, her
nose was as powerful as ever and
she could still sometimes outwit me.
But when age finally caught her
and she would no longer eat, it was
time to say goodbye. We all lay with
her – her head on my lap – while
she gently fell asleep one last time. I
thanked her for being the best dog
ever, for teaching my girls the love
of a good dog, and then our hearts
broke. We will miss her forever, but
gradually the smiles of her love and
antics are replacing the tears.
Two months on, we couldn’t
bear the doglessness any longer

November 2022 Dogs Today 27


CAPTURED IN PENCIL
ncredibly, Andrew James Holmes
I is a self-taught artist, who has
fine-tuned his skills over a lifetime
of practice.
“I’ve always loved to draw
since I was little – comic strips
and cartoon characters developed
to human portraits and then
eventually I focused on dog
portraits,” he explains. “I have
a clear vision of how I want a
drawing to look, so I’ve developed
my techniques over the years to
best achieve that result.”
Pencil has long been his
favoured tool.
“It allows me to get the level
of detail I like to cram into a
drawing, right down to tiny faint
hairs,” Andrew says. “It also allows
me to build up a drawing in layers
piece by piece, with greyscale
being a style of drawing that has
always grabbed my attention.”
As Andrew focused more on
greyscale pencil drawing, he
realised that dogs were brilliant
subjects to capture.
“They have so much
expression,” he explains, “and as
there is so much variety between
breeds, it became a real challenge
to capture the difference in fur
and hair detail. Even just talking
to clients about their dogs, it is a
pleasure to match a client’s passion
for their own dogs with my own
passion for drawing them.”
It’s a good job he enjoys
drawing dogs, as he’s now done
over 500 across a variety of
breeds! There are some clear
trends, however.
“Springer Spaniels are the most
28 Dogs Today November 2022
popular followed by Labradors
and Golden Retrievers,” he says.
“I have also seen a lot of German
Shorthaired Pointers more
recently cross my desk. Though
despite the number already
drawn, there are several breeds
I have yet to draw, such as the
Dalmatian and Boston Terrier.”
It comes as no surprise that
Andrew is a dog lover, and his
current canine companion is Bode,
a Jack Russell, who is now 12 years
old “but still charges around like
he’s a puppy and is the king of the
castle!”
From the 500-plus dogs he’s
drawn, he struggles to pick his
favourites, but some do stand out.
“It’s tricky to pick a favourite,
as each commission grabs my
attention in its own unique way,”
he says. “However, some stand out
as being pieces that challenged
me to learn new techniques to
capture the subject and detail in a
different way.
EYES LAST
“Bailey the Golden Retriever
was one of the first to include
background detail, as the scene
was an important memory of
Bailey, resting by a table after an
adventure with his family. Stevie
the Springer was a real challenge,
not only to capture the subject’s
two different-coloured eyes in
greyscale, but also to portray
a wet dog with convincing
surrounding water detail.
An average portrait takes
around 20-30 hours, spread
over the course of a week or so,
with larger and more complex
drawings taking over 50 hours.
“I don’t limit myself to a time
frame; a drawing takes how ever
long it takes until I’m happy,” says
Andrew. He often has two to three
drawings on the go at a time,
switching each session regularly
so he can come back to each
drawing with fresh eyes.
Explaining his process, Andrew
says, “A drawing starts with a
rough layout to size up and then
placement of key features. Layers
of shading build up the tone
and define key lines with the
help of cotton wool to achieve
a smooth and even finish. Once
I’m happy everything is in place,
I apply multiple layers of detail,
particularly with darker details
gradually coming though.
“I use mechanical pencils,
so I use thinner leads over time
for finer detail. White detail is
actually just the paper showing
through, applied by using eraser
pencils rather than white pencils.
A drawing always finishes on the
eyes before signing the piece.”
With so many portraits
completed, does Andrew have any
goals he’s not yet achieved?
“I would really like to capture
all dog breeds eventually, and I
have recently started adding to
my wildlife drawings portfolio.
Coloured pastels is another
medium I would like to explore
– in fact, I have recently started
adding a little colour to the eyes of
some subjects using pastel pencils
to really make them stand out.”
To see more of Andrew’s work,
including his wildlife portfolio,
visit www.capturedinpencil
.co.uk
 The Northern Inuit Society
wishes you all a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
The Northern Inuit breed was started around 33 years ago. The idea was
to develop a dog that resembled a wolf but that would fit well into family
life. The Northern Inuit Society began five years later, to further develop
the breed and hold a register of all Northern Inuit dogs and breeders,
to ensure that type, health and temperament are kept as standard.
Breeders registered with the Northern Inuit Society complete all health
tests relevant to the breed before breeding a litter.

Northern Inuits not only have stunning looks and intelligence; they are
good all-round dogs with skills in other areas. They have appeared
in many TV series, films and adverts. Recently, they were chosen to
play Dire Wolves in Game of Thrones because of their wolfy looks,
trainability and their wonderful temperament around children.
They were also chosen to fill the role of Rollo in Outlander.

Northern Inuits enjoy taking part in many outdoor activities, such

as canicross, bikejoring, agility and obedience, assistance dogs and
even search and rescue. Despite all these talents, they still retain
their comical, clown-like disposition, which has earned them the
nickname of ‘Nitwits’.

The breed has gained worldwide recognition with a growing community in America, Canada and
Europe. We have our sister club in America called AMNIS, or American Northern Inuit Society.
The Northern Inuit Society runs its own rescue in the event that a dog is returned by its owner.
These dogs rehomed by the society after health checks, assessment and neutering.

The society, as the governing body of the Northern Inuit, holds its own shows in May, July,
August and September at Dogs Unleashed. Come along and see us.

Find out more

about this wonderful breed!
Contact us via www.nisociety.net
Join us on Facebook on the Northern Inuit Society
Dogs page or American Northern Inuit Society
Follow us on Instagram
Contact Julie on 01636 681082 or 07547 253516 UK,
or Gwen Weatherly Lambert on Amnisociety@gmail.com
for USA
June 2020 Dogs Today 29
 Sometimes you hear
of people who have
dogs and don’t care
for them. I don’t
understand that at all.
If you have a dog, you
have a friend – and
you always take care
of your friends”

My Best Friends
Julia Roberts has many showbiz pals from her numerous Hollywood
films, but her greatest loves are her dogs

“I
was brought up with animals, especially horses
and dogs,” said Julia. “I was very young when I first
got up close to a horse and looked up at him with
my knees knocking. I was not very big and that
‘horse’ was probably a 12-hands pony, but it sure looked
like a horse to me.
“I didn’t have that problem with dogs and just loved
playing with them. Today, I love horses and I’m told I’m
not a bad rider – I’ve done so in quite a few movies. You
can’t bring horses inside and curl up on the sofa to watch
TV – you can with dogs, of course, and I do!
“I have two dogs at the moment and one of them,
Major, got himself lost a while ago. You can imagine
how much panic there was in the household. It was OK
because a neighbour had found him and posted a notice
on social media. We were reunited pretty quickly and I
didn’t know whether to be upset with him or just thrilled
to have him back. We all shed a few tears, but that was
from joy – and the subject never came up again.”

WANNABE VET
Julia’s love of animals nearly diverted her from an acting
career and Hollywood would have been the poorer
without Julia Roberts as part of its star-studded family.
“I never thought of being an actress when I was
growing up in Georgia – I actually wanted to be a vet,”
she admitted. “I was fascinated by animals from an early
age and I thought being a vet would be great because
I could work with animals and help them recover from
their illnesses. When I realised how difficult it would be to
qualify, I changed my mind.
“At school, I could play the clarinet and I was quite
good at English. I didn’t see myself playing the clarinet
as a profession, so I studied to be a journalist. That all

30 Dogs Today November 2022


changed when my brother Eric began to get work in
Hollywood. He seemed to be enjoying himself and I was
drawn to trying the same thing myself.
“I had a few acting lessons and was lucky to get
a few breaks. One of my earliest movies was Mystic
Pizza and I was quite surprised when someone actually
recognised me from the movie.”
Julia Roberts has, of course, become one of the
most famous actresses of all time, mostly on the big
screen, but she has also won a few awards for her stage
performances. But while she is still the toast of Hollywood,
with all its glamour and glitz, she is never happier than
when she has pulled on her jeans and is out with her dogs.
“Sometimes we just go to a local shop, but often we
go for really long walks through the parks and I love
that,” she said. “I get recognised sometimes and that
happens no matter how much you try not to be. The
really cool thing is, if people speak, they usually want
to talk about the dogs – our dogs and their dogs. I love
that. I am very happy to talk about dogs for hours but,
of course, the dogs are just like children and they give
you that look which says, ‘How much longer do I have
I have worked with dogs in movies
a few times and I always want to take
them home afterwards... They are fun
to work with, though, and sometimes
steal the scene – but that’s OK. I don’t
mind being upstaged by a dog”
Words BERNARD BALE
to stand here while you are talking? I’m getting so
bored.’ Fortunately, other dog people understand that, so
nobody thinks you are trying to get away.”
Julia really is a huge fan of canines.
“I have worked with dogs in movies a few times and
I always want to take them home afterwards,” she said.
“I don’t, of course; we would have to move to bigger and
bigger houses. They are fun to work with, though, and
sometimes steal the scene – but that’s OK. I don’t mind
being upstaged by a dog.”
Julia could not contemplate life without a dog.
TICKET TO PARADISE
“They are such a part of the family and they get very
close to you – a bad day at the office is soon cured when
you come home and get a fantastic greeting from your
best friends and your family. Dogs seem to know just
what to do – they make you laugh if that is what you
need, or just cuddle up and comfort you if you are really
low and feeling sorry for yourself. It is no wonder that
they are called man’s best friend, though I think a lot of
ladies would agree that they are a girl’s best friend too!”
Julia has helped a number of dog and other animal
charities by lending her name to them.
“I hate to hear of any sort of cruelty in this world,
human or animal, and there are so many great people
out there, doing their best to help others in trouble.
Some animal charities are just fantastic and rescue dog
centres are among those. I like to support them as much
as possible. I guess that’s one advantage of being well
known – you can do something positive.”
Julia is nothing if not positive about having dogs as
part of her family.
“Having dogs in the family helps teach kids – well, all
of us – about life and responsibility,” she said. “Sometimes
you hear of people who have dogs and don’t care for
them. I don’t understand that at all. If you have a dog, you
have a friend – and you always take care of your friends.
“Our dogs are more than just friends – in our house,
they are the stars!” P
I hate to hear of any sort of cruelty
in this world, human or animal, and
there are so many great people out
there, doing their best to help others in
trouble. Some animal charities are just
fantastic and rescue dog centres are
among those. I like to support them
as much as possible. I guess that’s one
advantage of being well known – you
can do something positive”
November 2022 Dogs Today 31
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32 Dogs Today November 2022

 Postbag Your news & views
In July, Dogs Today received a cry for help from Lina Cornick, a
Ukrainian refugee who had made it to the UK but had been forced Get in touch
to leave her two dogs in Poland at a shelter. While both dogs
We love to hear your
were vaccinated and chipped, she was struggling to get them
transported to the UK. Our editor, Beverley Cuddy, shared Lina’s news and views, and see
appeal, and we recently received this happy update... photos of your dogs!

TOGETHER AGAIN
I want to sincerely thank you for
your care and kindness. Thanks
to your post, I found people who
helped me move my Ukrainian
dogs, Luna and Petra, from Poland
to Great Britain.
It was very difficult; the
situation seemed hopeless. But
now, two and a half months later,
all is well – my girls are in Britain.
I am also very grateful to all the
people who supported me all this
time and did everything possible
and impossible to get the dogs
to Britain. Thank you!
Lina Cornick
Email editorial@
dogstodaymagazine.co.uk
Write to us at Dogs Today,
The Old Print House,
62 High Street, Chobham,
Surrey, GU24 8AA
Join the debate
Voice your opinions on news
stories and other topics on
our Dogs Today Magazine
Facebook page or through our
website www.dogstoday
magazine.co.uk

Meanwhile, not every eastern European dog is so fortunate...

BLANKET BAN And then to have the only route to the survival of
I’m writing in relation to the once again extended rescue being taken away in a blanket ban? This is an
ban of dogs coming in through rescue charities from abhorrent decision. These charities have the correct
the areas of Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania. I paperwork – they are not in the business of setting
am at a loss as to why any vet, never mind the BVA, adoptions up to fail, illegally importing animals
would support a move to deny healthy, vaccinated without their necessary health checks and valid
dogs with the correct paperwork from being moved paperwork!
into the UK. Apparently, there has been one case of Man’s best friend is being cruelly let down by
fraudulent paperwork – that’s one case. Weigh that this ridiculous blanket ban and the only result of this
against the many hundreds of dogs that will die is that dogs will die horribly on the streets in these
on the streets without this allowed movement and countries.
you’ve got a stupid and cruel decision. Corinne Coward
While I struggle to understand people who feel
they are unable to cope with their pets in this country
due to the cost-of-living crisis and callously abandon
them, creating need in the UK, at least there is
provision here.
In the countries mentioned, however, there is no
provision – everything is down to volunteers who
rely completely on donations and are daily in the
heartbreaking situation of finding injured and abused
abandoned animals in terrible states, rescuing and
rehabilitating them, providing the care and resources
to bring them back to health from trauma and abuse,
and finding homes for them in countries around the
world.
This is hard and heartbreaking work for which
they receive no aid, except for donations - can you
imagine the tightrope of stress they walk every day?

34 Dogs Today November 2022

£29.50
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deditob oot s .com

 Obituaries Your tributes
If you want to pay tribute to a departed pet or have a suggestion for a lost star dog,
write to us at the address on page 3 or email editorial@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk
and put ‘Tribute’ in the subject line

Photo © Kennel Club/onEdition

Molly
Our beautiful, beloved Molly
Dog went to sleep one last
time on 6 October 2022 at 6pm.
Molly developed an extremely
rare autoimmune inflammatory
neurological disorder in August,
and the steroids and immune
suppressants sadly failed to provide
benefit.
Molly was relatively stable
initially, with facial paralysis, minor
deficits of her vision, balance,
muscle strength and coordination,
and we hoped the medication
would lead to improvement. She
continued with a very gradual
decline, but she noticeably
deteriorated the last few weeks
and there was nothing more that
could be done.
Molly had given so much
to us, she owed us absolutely
nothing, and I wasn’t going to
let my precious baby girl suffer
when it was entirely unnecessary
and avoidable. I had to make the
decision, but when Molly gazed into
my eyes, as she always did, I could
see that she was telling me she was
tired and ready to go. It was time.
We organised for a vet to come
and put her to sleep at home.
Sedative given, Molly laid on the
bed with me and mum, being
stroked, kissed, cuddled and told
how loved she is. She relaxed and and love to so many people and
fell into a deeper and deeper sleep, positively impacted everyone she
and then she was turned so the vet met and who knew her online and
could give the second drug, and through her blog. I know her loss
before he even finished injecting it, will be felt by many people and will
Molly was gone. bring great sadness.
Molly was one of a kind and We know some will want
truly irreplaceable. She transformed to send condolences, and we’d
my life in many inconceivable also love for people to share
ways; I owe everything to her. All I their thoughts and memories
am and all I’ve achieved are down of Molly with us. Please email
to her. I feel lost without her. Our memoriesofmolly@lucy-watts.
home is quiet and empty, the light co.uk
of our lives is gone, and our hearts Thank you for being part of
are truly broken. Molly’s life.
Molly brought joy, laughter Lucy Watts MBE

Beverley Cuddy, Editor, writes:

Molly was sunshine in dog form. I do hope every time you feel the warmth of the sun, you’ll remember all the
good things and the happy times you shared – and the hard times that she made more bearable. She was also a
window into your world for all of us to get to know you a little better.
We all loved her and we all love you, Lucy. Virtual hugs at this sad time.
It was such an honour to meet you both and give you an award, to share your story and have Molly on the
front cover.

Marley
Marley, the most wonderful dog you would ever meet.
Unfortunately the big C got to him. But hey, he had a
wonderful life of 13 years and 9 months. He will always
be in our hearts.
We are blessed to still have his mum, Tally, who has
just reached 16 years old.
Simon and Clive

36 Dogs Today November 2022

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 Great Debate
Labrador. Posed by a model
If you have an opinion on this subject that is not already covered here,
putting ‘Great Debate’ in the subject line. Please limit your response to
My dog has had loose motions
for a few days and tried to
be sick this morning but was
unproductive. She’s fully insured,
but had a ghastly experience at
the vet’s and it was suggested
we try some home remedies
first. What should I do?
38 Dogs Today November 2022
Jules Magee Burton
✚ You absolutely need a vet
you trust. However, we recently
found that easier said than done.
After many, many years of
amazing vets, we suddenly had
several who seemed to be suited
to hamsters, not dogs.
There’s lots of basic things you
can try first. I’ve always found
that if you feed sweetcorn, you
can see if it passes or not. If it
doesn’t, you can almost always
say there’s a blockage and you
need treatment. Is it a pup? Is
it teething? What’s the dog’s
temperature? Are they drinking?
Peeing? How is your dog acting?
What’s right for one dog will
absolutely not be for another!
Have a checklist of what you can
tell the vet over the phone.
Kendra Davies
✚ Unless the vet is quite
literally killing your dog, a
‘ghastly’ experience – and even
an upset dog – is still miles better
than your dog potentially going
downhill fast and dying of
something that could have been
cured with medicines instead of
chicken broth.
Karen King
Have you starved the dog for
24 hours then tried plain food, such
as boiled chicken or boiled rice for
a few feeds? If this has been tried
and the dog is lethargic/not
themselves, then it’s off to the vet.
Linda Ede
✚ Go to a new vet; your dog
should see someone. Maybe a
friend or relative can recommend
someone they use.
Carole Morton
✚ I would be looking for
another vet. I have changed mine
because I was not at all happy with
the treatment l was having.
email enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk This month’s result
100 words. 5%
9%

Corina Mulder Karen Walker

? The ‘few days’ part is
worrisome. I think I’d go by
energy level. If lethargic, straight
to the vet. If typical energy, feed
pumpkin, chicken and rice.
Depends too if there are worms in
faeces.
✚ Please be careful with
home remedies. We had some
issues and we finally found a vet
86%
able to diagnose correctly. Sadly,
you are once bitten and twice
shy. Seek the help of a second
vet, please.

Tracey Burton Linda Behm

✚ If you feel uncomfortable ✚ Ask friends with dogs
visiting your vet, then change vets. about their vet and then choose Vet
The stomach issue needs to be one and get there right away.
investigated, but even if it was Home remedies

something you could manage at Jen Taylor Depends

home, there will come a time
when you will have to take your
dog to the vet.
Alison Binnall
✚ If the vets were so bad, are
they aware? Speak to someone
about it. If still not happy, go to a
different vet. Be careful treating at
home, as it could be something
serious.
Veronica Tunley
✚ In my experience, trying to
be sick and having loose stools
can mean a blockage or partial
blockage, so I would be cautious,
especially if they get
uncomfortable and arch their
backs. I have had a few difficult
vet experiences, including the
wrong treatments, and I have to
remind myself to ask difficult
questions if I take a dog to the vet
and not accept everything they
say at face value. Vets are human
and mostly do their utmost but,
like doctors, aren’t perfect.
If the dog was upset after
the visit, it may be worth trying a
few home remedies first and see
if it settles things. If not, though,
don’t wait too long. Go back to
the vet – either your usual one or
another!
Kathryn Benes Baker
✚ Try another – or several
other – vets; you’ll find one you
like. When I changed doctors
and vet, I interviewed more
vets than I did doctors. I found
one I loved.
Mother Hubbard’s
✚ Critter Care
Your dog is sick and most likely
dehydrated. Please find another
vet. Your dog should have been
given IV fluids.
Krista Davis
✚ Vet, immediately!
Darline Geer
✚ Get a new vet.
Debi Gischer
✚ I had a bad vet. I took my
baby in for a cough and was told
it was nothing to worry about. She
kept coughing for about three
weeks and it sounded so bad that
I made my husband take her back
and asked to see a different vet.
We then found out that she had
mass on her lung and heartworm,
and could not be saved. I just
don’t understand how one vet
could find out what was wrong
and the other couldn’t. Go to
another vet if you think the first
could be wrong. Good luck – I
hope your baby is OK.
Jacqui Evans
✚ Have you tried talking to the
vet over the phone? I’ve been
advised that way, but I must
admit that if I’d had a ‘ghastly’
experience, I’d think about
changing vets. P

Julian Pottage
✚ If the dog is trying
Next month’s topic is:
unsuccessfully to be sick, it
“Should there be an enquiry into the corporate takeover of the
sounds like there is something
wrong that needs investigating. veterinary profession in the UK?”
Ask to see another vet in the
Email editorial@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk with your thoughts, putting
practice or, if it is a small practice
‘Great Debate’ in the subject line or write to ‘Great Debate’, Dogs Today,
and that is not an option, go to a
different practice. The Old Print House, 62 High Street, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AA

November 2022 Dogs Today 39

 My
Dog
Crush

M
any of us
have ‘dog
crushes’
– soft
spots for breeds or
Large
types that we love
but know we’ll
probably never own
for lots of terribly
sensible reasons.
Maybe you don’t
Munsterlander
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.

40 Dogs Today November 2022

A

Photo by Tim Rose (www.timrosephotography.co.uk)

n all-round
gundog, the Large
Munsterlander
works hard, plays
hard, rests hard!

Sponsored by

Our survey of Large Munsterlander owners revealed:

Character
“Jolly hard work but magical” was
how one owner described the Large
Munsterlander. They are working dogs at
heart, but once their bodies, hearts and
minds have been adequately occupied,
they happily settle and many owners
recommend them for active, outdoorsy,
training-minded families. In fact, 70%
said their dogs were lapdogs if given the
chance.
“They believe they are lapdogs even
though they weigh in at 50 pounds. One
leg, two legs and suddenly their whole
body is in your lap!”
84% say they are very affectionate, 61%
say they live to please their owners and
68% say they are sensitive and that it’s
easy to tell when their feelings are hurt.
Grooming
The coat is long and dense, with
feathering on the legs and tail. Most from
our survey groomed their dogs once a
week and said shedding is no worse than
in any other dog.
Training & exercise
31% of our respondents give their dogs an hour’s exercise daily, 27%
give 90 minutes, and another 27% give two hours or more.
The Large Munsterlander is a smart dog that makes an eager
student in training. An intelligent tracker, our survey owners took
part in gundog tests, search and rescue, agility, canicross, bikejor,
therapy dog visits and even assistance dog work.
Balance is needed, however. One owner sums up, “LMs don’t
like to be left inactive for long periods of time and need a lot
of engagement both physically and mentally. They thrive on
company and interaction. Sleep is also important for them; often
the mistake with gundog breeds is to keep them constantly
occupied, which isn’t helpful for their overall health, or the owner’s.”
With a high prey drive, reliable recalls are a must.
Health
Large Munsterlanders should be tested for hip and elbow dysplasia
and eye screened for hereditary cataracts.
They should also be DNA tested for hyperuricosuria (HUU), a
condition where uric acid does not dissolve fully in the urine and
accumulates, causing the formation of crystals and then stones,
which can block the urinary tract. HUU is an autosomal-recessive
condition, which means that a dog must inherit the abnormal gene
from both parents to be affected; if it inherits from only one parent,
it will not be affected by the condition itself but will be a carrier
and can pass the abnormal gene on to offspring.

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November 2022 Dogs Today 41

 My
Dog
Crush
Traits
● Energetic
● Loyal
● Just the right
mix of crazy
and magical
● Loving
● Intelligent
● Driven
● Goofball
● Sensitive

Origins
ailing from

H Munster, in
Germany, the
Large
Munsterlander is a hunt,
point and retrieve
gundog that is
celebrating its
centenary as a
recognised breed. They
were originally
registered as German
Longhaired Pointers,
but when the GLP
breed standard stated
that only brown or
brown/white dogs
were permitted, the
black-coated ones
Downsides
were left out in the ● Quite rare – be
cold and so enthusiasts prepared to go
fought for recognition on a waiting list
in their own right. ● Strong prey
The first breed drive
club was founded in ● Rural home or
Germany in 1919 and regular access
they were recognised to countryside
by the Kennel Club in needed
the UK in 1971.

42 Dogs Today November 2022

 Owner’s view
olette Hart had rescue
C
dogs for many years
and met a Large
Munsterlander through a
dog trainer she was working with.
“We were struck by how much
character and personality they
have and soon became hooked!”
she says.
So, almost 15 years ago, Freya
joined the family.
It was the start of a great love
for the breed. Colette describes
the Large Munsterlander as,
“Intelligent, a love of using their
nose to work, energetic both
mentally and physically, inquisitive,
comical, incredibly loyal, loving
and affectionate... and very, very
chatty!”
Colette’s current dogs are Digby
(aged 10) and Quinn (five).
A year ago, Quinn was diagnosed
with genetic chronic anxiety, on
referral to Langford Veterinary
Hospital and Referral Centre in
Bristol. Colette says, “We knew his
behaviour wasn’t consistent with our
other puppies from eight weeks of
age. He screamed a lot, was always
hungry and didn’t gain weight easily,
slept intermittently and wouldn’t sit
still. We weren’t able to cuddle him
properly for the first six months, as he
was so busy and stressed. He veered
from manic to exhausted, with no
in-between level.
WIRED DIFFERENTLY
“A saving grace was he had been
introduced to mantrailing at 10
weeks old, which we’d taken
up with Digby and Freya, and
he absolutely loved it. He is a
natural worker, is confident and
has structure and focus, which
seems so important to him. He also
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Photo © Colette Hart
well known, as it’s a mental health
condition that is genetically passed
to the dog, and can be experienced
across several breeds, not just LMs.
“Neurologically, Quinn doesn’t
interpret things as other dogs do.
His brain isn’t wired in the same
way, so he isn’t able to make sense
of situations and therefore he gets
frustrated and panics. He can’t
understand how to switch off,
and no behavioural modification
techniques will work without
medical intervention.”
QUINN’S WORLD
When he isn’t medicated, Quinn
struggles to self-regulate and
his frustration builds. Symptoms
include panting, crying that
escalates to barking, eye rolling, lip
licking, pacing and hyperactivity.
“He’s also quite immature for a five-
year-old in some respects, as he’s
unable to make sense of things in
the usual way of learning.”
Colette is keen for people to
understand more about mental
health in dogs.
discovered how nice a cuddle was “Our aim is to encourage people
and is the most affectionate boy. to share their experiences, open
But he didn’t have the capacity to conversation between breeders
make a decision, or to self-soothe and potential owners, and to work
and be calm after an arousing together to learn more about health
event.” screening, not for just physical but
The eventual diagnosis came as also mental health conditions in our
something of a relief. “Finally, we dogs.
knew it wasn’t our fault,” Colette “I’m developing a Facebook
says. private group called ‘Quinn’s
“We were told that Quinn had World’, for those to respectfully
genetic chronic anxiety, which share information, experiences and
is different from other anxiety- education about all genetic issues
related problems that can often be affecting our dogs. If anything,
caused through a particular incident it helps me to think I’m doing
that happens in the dog’s life and something for Quinn – and others
that may be improved through who may not feel as comfortable
behavioural intervention. GCA isn’t speaking about this.” P
For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST
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2020
WINNER
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Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook
Manufacturer 2020 – UK
Winners 2013-2022
November 2022 Dogs Today 43
 My Best names

Dog Herman
●

● Scout
● Bailey

Crush ●

●
Buster
Bluebottle
Mutley
● Ivy
● Schnoffles
● Chewie
● Birdie

Best Facebook
group
● Large
Munsterlander
Club UK

Breed antics Advice for a newbie

● Climbed a ● They love to hunt, fetch,
tree to get a water retrieve… and
pigeon cuddle
● Chased a ● Not for the faint-hearted
Chinook ● Stick with the training;
helicopter in you will get success
full hunt mode eventually
● Collects the ● Think hard about the
correct pair of amount of time you have
shoes for the ● You need time and
person who has countryside/space
arrived home ● Meet some of these dogs
● He enjoys first. They are big, loud,
blowing full of energy and can
bubbles in be hard to train.
muddy puddles Can you cope?

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Manufacturer 2020 – UK

Winners 2013-2022

Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www.dogmatic.org.uk

44 Dogs Today November 2022

Love the breed?
Shop the breed
< ‘I’m only
talking to my
Large
Munsterlander
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REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST
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Manufacturer 2020 – UK

Winners 2013-2022

Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www.dogmatic.org.uk

November 2022 Dogs Today 45

 Quick question
Photo posed by models

Do you have a problem you’d like answered by an expert? Or do you

Email your question to enquiries@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk

Calm in a storm

46 Dogs Today November 2022

want advice from someone with personal experience of the issue?

EXPERT ADVICE
Dr Linda Simon, a veterinary surgeon, shares her tips for keeping dogs
calm during a storm.

■ Tire them out

Getting your dog sleepy before the storm begins will help to get them
into a calm state of mind. Keep an eye on the weather forecast for
information on when the storm is due to start and take your dog on a
long and interesting walk beforehand, have them socialise with other
dogs and even practise some training. Mental and physical stimulation
should tire them out enough to help them sleep through most, if not all,
of the storm.

■ Lead by example
When the storm starts, be cautious not to act unsettled yourself. We often
forget that dogs can quickly pick up on our body language and stress
levels, which may exacerbate their anxiety. Act calm and confident.

■ Safe haven
Feeling safe is really important to dogs, especially in times of fear.
Creating a safe haven for them will provide them with somewhere to
retreat to, to feel safe and secure. This could be anywhere in your home,
but ideally away from any windows where they are likely to hear the
thunder more or see the lightning. Make up a cosy bed with a pillow,
throws and blankets for them to snuggle into or even hide under. For
more anxious dogs, this ‘safe haven’ might need to be closer to your bed
or chair, so they have that extra security of knowing you are close by.

■ Offer a distraction
Distraction is a great way to take your dog’s mind off the storm outside
and avert their focus to something more enjoyable. Offering your dog a
nice chew that will take them some time to get through, or a filled Kong,
will keep their attention away from the storm and help them to feel
calmer as they settle down for the night.

■ Background sounds
Background sounds are a great way to distract your dog from the loud
and sudden crashes of thunder. Whether it be the TV, radio or even
playing a dog-friendly calming playlist, these sounds should mask, or at
least diminish, the volume of the storm.

■ Blackout blinds
Depending on the size of the storm, lightning can be really bright, often
illuminating the whole room. These sudden and unexpected flashes of
light can be just as scary as the loud bangs of thunder to your dog. Invest
in some blackout blinds or curtains. Not only are blackout blinds great for
keeping the lightning out, but they will also help your dog to sleep better.
Dogs’ circadian rhythms are influenced by light, so it is much easier for
them to sleep in a dark room!

■ Lights on
If investing in blackout blinds or curtains isn’t an option, another way to
reduce the impact of the lightning flashes is to turn a side light on.

November 2022 Dogs Today 47

 Quick question
Photo posed by a model

How to prepare for

firework season
EXPERT ADVICE
Firework season is almost upon us and it’s important to be prepared.
The RSPCA advises…

■ Doggie den ■ Speak to neighbours

Create a den in a quiet area of the Check local press and websites,
house and make it a special safe and speak to your neighbours and
place by placing tasty treats and local council/schools etc ahead of
favourite toys inside. Make sure your time, to find out dates and times
pets always have access to plenty of of local displays.
places around the house to hide.
■ Soundproof your house
■ Routine changes Simple steps, such as closing
We recommend walking dogs windows and curtains, can help your
during daylight during fireworks house seem safer to your pet, so ■ Pheromone diffusers
season, so if this is different to your begin doing this now (if it’s different Speak to your vet about using
normal routine, begin to alter the to normal) to get your pet used to it. a calming collar or diffuser,
time of your pet’s walk to get them which disperses calming
gradually used to it. ■ Sound desensitisation pheromones that may help
Teach your pet to deal with the your dog to feel more secure.
sounds by using training CDs.
We recommend Sounds Scary, ■ Get help
which comes with guidance on If your pet has a severe
how to use it. You can also muffle fireworks fear then speak to
Photo posed by a model

the sound of fireworks by using your vet or clinical animal

calming music, like classical
playlists. Start to introduce this
now. This is a long-term approach,
so it may be worth starting now
ahead of next year.
behaviourist now to come
up with a plan or to discuss
whether there are any
treatment options to help
them.

48 Dogs Today November 2022

 Quick question

Acorn danger
Acorns contain tannins, which can cause upset tummies, and, though Shaz McNeill
rare, can lead to kidney failure and be fatal. Overall, it’s best to keep Is it possible to put netting on the
dogs away from them – not always easy if you happen to live or walk ground and batter the tree with
somewhere with oak trees. We asked our followers for solutions... a wooden pole every few days
to let the loose ones drop? A bit
like how olives are harvested.
READERS ADVISE
Obviously time-consuming, but
Rachel Jackson it would dramatically reduce the
We are surrounded by oak trees and the acorns are raining down at the constant flow of them falling.
moment. My husband uses a blower to round them up and pick them up
every few days. Most of our dogs haven’t really bothered with them, but Carla Si
Amaya will pick them up and chomp on them. Obviously, we stop her You may need to block that area
and she doesn’t do it often – usually when she is lying outside and one is somehow, so the dog has no
near her head. She is a large Greyhound and we have not had any health access. If not possible, perhaps a
problems, but they are poisonous and I do distract her when I see her soft muzzle for going out until the
looking at them. period passes. Better than risking
blockage and tannin toxicity.

Sheila Keevil-Bullock
Our Woody has been eating
acorns from the huge tree next
door. He’s been sick a few times,
but otherwise OK. We’re forever
picking them up!

Nicki Bloomfield
Use nets and buy some moveable
temporary fencing (fencing posts
etc) so you can section off a safe
small area.

Sylvia Geekie
Maybe consider a muzzle during
the time acorns fall, just while out
– muzzles can be used for lots of
reasons.

50 Dogs Today November 2022

June 2020 Dogs Today 35
 Quick question
Photos © Sarah Bartlett

Photography
tips

EXPERT ADVICE
Pet photographer Sarah
Bartlett (www.instagram.com/
dogwomanphotography) gives
her best tips to capture stunning
portraits of your dog – whether
you’re using a camera, or just
your phone.

■ Action shots
Dogs are fast-moving subjects and
they’re also unpredictable, which
can make canine photography a
little tricky at times. Luckily, if you
are using a DSLR or professional
camera, you can increase your
shutter speed to capture action
shots like jumping, sprinting or
catching a treat. On an iPhone, if
your dog is moving around, having
the time of their life, try dragging
the shutter button (the button you
use to take the photo) to the left
and your iPhone can take up to 10
photos a second.
On android phones, look for
‘continuous shot’ mode, which can
often be found in the settings. Many
androids and Samsung phones
allow you to hold the shutter button
down to take multiple photos at
a time. By taking lots of photos
in quick succession, it allows you
to move your phone around and
you’re bound to capture a great
action shot in no time.
■ Props
Introducing props, such as items
in the forest (eg logs, fallen trees)
or even a favourite toy at home,
can be tricky. Often, trying to pose
dogs around props is met with
dogs wanting to play, or even run
off with said props! Allow your dog
to relax in the setting first and sniff
and investigate the props.
Don’t stress your dog by
forcing them into positions they
don’t want to be in. Try to capture
candid photographs of your dogs
interacting with props in a natural
and fun way. This will be much
more relaxing for your best friend –
and you, the photographer!
■ Angles
Dogs are usually at a much
lower eye level to their human
counterparts, unless you have a
giant breed like a Great Dane or

52 Dogs Today November 2022


Newfoundland type! Often, when we take
photos from a standing position, we are
pointing our lens down at our pets. This isn’t
great for showing their true proportions, or
showing the body of the dog.
Try lying chest to the floor, keeping your
camera in line with your dog’s eyes. This will
allow you to capture a much truer proportion
of your dog – and because you are now on
a similar level, you may find that your dog
interacts with you much more, allowing you
to take some really interesting photographs.
You can also try putting your camera
completely on the ground, capturing some of
the ground or grass and pointing the camera
up at your pet to make your dog a much
larger subject in your image. Getting a muddy
tummy is all part of the fun!
■ Backgrounds
Often, when our dogs are doing something
silly, cute or photo-worthy, we take a photo
and there are other distractions within the
frame of the image – sofas, cushions, the
odd hand or shoe. These can all distract
attention away from your main subject, your
beloved pet. You don’t have to use fancy
backdrop equipment if you don’t want to
– just find a plain wall, use a bed sheet, or a
simple background to allow your pet to be
the main feature.
■ Fun and stress-free
Lastly, and most importantly, let your pet
dictate your photographs. Most family pets
and dogs are not trained to stay in positions
for long periods of time, and if you have not
trained your dog to sit or stay, don’t expect
them to grasp that now when you pull the
camera out.
If you relax and have fun, this will allow your
pet to also relax and be their natural selves.
EXPERT ADVICE
Experts at the
photo-printing
service ParrotPrint
.com have named
their easy-to-
master techniques
for a pride-of-place
photo...
■ Have treats at hand
Maintaining a pet’s attention can be tricky, especially if they
are agitated or distracted. Having treats and toys with you
can help to focus their attention – and are good rewards after
they have been hard at work, posing.
■ Avoid using flash
Using natural lighting allows photos to appear less posed and
can help to capture pets in their everyday settings. Using a
flash on animals can cause red-eye in photos and scare them.
■ Burst/continuous mode
With today’s advanced technology, most mobile phones are
equipped to take different types of photos. To capture your
pet in their truest form, use burst or continuous mode to get
action shots, and sift through these to find hidden gems.
■ Maintain focus
A busy background can make for a distracted image, which
is not ideal when the goal is for the pet to be the centre of
attention. Blurring the background, for example by using
a phone’s portrait mode feature, can remove distractions.
Additionally, using a clean background or zooming into your
pet’s face is a way to maintain camera focus.
■ Edit photos
Photoshop is a way to add creativity and enhance images,
as well as to include fun additions to experiment with design
and layout.
■ Experiment with lenses
Some camera lenses allow for closer perspectives of animals,
and others are better for wider frames. Take photos of a pet
from further away, as they are less likely to be disturbed.
■ Eye level
Taking photos from above won’t capture the true beauty and
details of the animal. Getting down to the pet’s eye level will
make for a more realistic photo, while allowing you to see the
world from their perspective.
■ Candid shots
A photo of a pet sitting posed and well behaved is not an
accurate representation of how they usually act. Instead,
capture them in everyday situations – for example, when
running, eating and playing. This will make for more realistic
photos, allowing your pet’s personality to shine through.
November 2022 Dogs Today 53
 Quick question
Dalmatian. Photo posed by a model
Collar
danger
EXPERT ADVICE
A canine first-aid expert, vet nurse Rachel Bean (www.rachelbean
.co.uk), has warned dog owners about the dangers of leaving
collars on their pets indoors.
In her work, Rachel has seen
injuries and death after dogs’
collars became caught on door
handles or radiator dials and
choked while they were alone.
In some horrific cases, boisterous
play times between dogs have
also led to choking incidents
54 Dogs Today November 2022
and death, and Rachel says that
there is no reason for collars to
be worn when the dog is not out
for a walk.
Rachel also warned of
leaving dogs wearing collars and
harnesses in indoor crates, because
they could become caught.
She said, “All too often
these indoor collar injuries and
tragedies can be avoided by
simply taking off the collar.
Many people think it is a legal
requirement, but that is only
when your dog is out walking.
“When you are walking with
your dog, you are watching them
closely, but at home so many
things can happen while you are
not looking, and that is when
these horrible incidents happen.”
Rachel, who travels the
country, giving canine first-
aid workshops, added, “I have
seen cases where, during a
play session, a dog’s mouth has
become caught on the other
dog’s collar, creating a dangerous
panic situation and causing
devastating, life-threatening
injuries.
“Your dog will be safer and
more comfortable without their
collar indoors, and you will be
able to relax too.”
The law states that all pet
dogs must wear a collar with an
owner’s name and address visible
when in a public place.
 Time k
rethi
to uzzlen
the m

Muzzles ensure peace of mind for stressful situations for

both dogs and pet parents
Why choose
For decades owners of muzzled dog have experienced prejudice when out and about. However,

1 the mood is shifting. The stereotypical status “aggressive dog” sporting a muzzle is a thing of the
past. A new study commissioned by Company of Animals on behalf of Baskerville (2022)* found
that the number one reason to use a muzzle for dog owners is during the visit to groomers and
vets (31% of the nation’s dog owners) and not for biting!
Muzzles are a fantastic training tool that create a safer environment for the dog, the owner and
others around it.

Be careful, despite their look, fabric muzzles are cruel Respect the dog’s
welfare: they can pant,
and dangerous for your dog drink and take
Wearing a fabric muzzle, even briefly, will interfere with a dog’s sensitive and essential respiratory treats easily.
process: panting.
By design, fabric muzzles only allow the dog to breathe through the nose and prevent the

2 thermoregulation through the tongue, thus ruling out every kind of exercise, temperature
fluctuations or stress levels for the dog lest their health and welfare be at risk. A normal body
temperature for a dog is between 38.3°C and 39.2°C but an increase in any of the aforementioned
factors can cause major distress and sadly, rapid death even within minutes of wearing a fabric

Baskerville is a trademark and copyright of the Company of Animals ©2022 Company of Animals
Advanced bite
muzzle.
protection
For this reason, although fabric muzzles can appear appealing due to their lower price or
apparent softness, they are actually dangerous for your dog’s welfare and not even safe for you
or people around as they are not bite proof.

Basket muzzles are the most ethical option for your dog Strong but
Overall, basket muzzles are the safest choice for the wellness of your dog and your own safety. lightweight
Designed by experts for over 35 years, Baskerville humane muzzles combine:
- comfort and welfare for the dogs, allowing them to pant, drink and take treats

3 -
(which is essential for a good muzzle conditioning)
high standards of safety thanks to their ultra-robust patented basket in TPR
(thermoplastic rubber with a high impact strength, not to be confused with Easily adjustable
silicon baskets which are easily bendable and thus not bite proof). & suitable for
most dogs
Elected as the Best dog muzzle**, Baskerville is recommended and used by behaviourists
and vets around the world

zzle survey 750 respondents US/UK/Germany / ** Inside

e Research, mu r US 2021
Sources: *Se

For more information on the Baskerville Muzzle range and

muzzle tips and advice please visit companyofanimals.com
Find us
 Tea break Put the kettle on and have a go at our competitions!
Photos by Tim Rose (www.timrosephotography.co.uk)

Just for fun...

Criss-cross Use the clues to fill in the words below and solve the anagramsof these dog breeds.
Words can go across or down. Letters are shared when the words intersect.
1

Across
6
3 Blurrier RT reek ye (5,4,7)
5 Aftertaste chow reoriented
(4,6,7,7)
7
7 Around nub whinge (9,6)

Down
1 Aberdeen pontiffs vignettes
(5,6,7,7)
2 Lapwings replenishers (5,8,7)
4 Dogsled Hollie pawnshop
(6,6,8)
6 Eery striker (4,7) 4 Polish Lowland Sheepdog; 5 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier; 6 Skye Terrier; 7 Norwegian Buhund
Criss-cross answers: 1 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen; 2 Welsh Springer Spaniel; 3 Kerry Blue Terrier;

What to do if you ✔ Speak softly – don’t call, whistle or chase STOP

✔ Contact owner if you are actively looking for a missing dog
see a lost dog DROP
✔ Use slow movements – show you are not a threat!
THINK
✘ Don’t approach head-on at speed
✔ Sit, crouch, or lie on the ground – keeping the dog in sight
✘ Don’t look directly at the dog – avoid eye contact
✔ Lure with food if possible – throwing it away from you,
but also not directly at the dog
✔ If the dog runs away, don’t chase. Follow from a
distance, stopping and dropping if the dog turns around
✔ Don’t attempt to catch or restrain the dog unless
you’re confident that you will get him or her the first time

56 Dogs Today November 2022

Hope, a Great Dane. Photo submitted by Lynne Pettifer

Caption this! Winners of the Cross Question

Can you come up with a witty and amusing and Caption Competition
caption for this photo? will win a prize from
Purrfectly Yappy
The writer of the
winning caption
will win a
Fuzzu A Gorilly
Named Billy
Dog Toy
worth £13.99
from www.
purrfectlyyappy.com

The person who

sends the first
correct answer to
the Cross Question
will win a pack
of SmartBones, a
healthy alternative
to rawhide, from
www. purrfectly yappy.com

How to enter
Send your Caption Competition
& Cross Question entries together
with your contact details via email
to comps@dogstodaymagazine
Do you have a funny pic .co.uk or post to: November
you’d like us to feature? Competitions, Dogs Today,
The Old Print House, 62 High Street,
Please email it to us at the Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AA,
address on the facing page to arrive by 1 December 2022

Photo submitted by Philippa

In the ring Just for fun... Cross Question
Unscramble the jumbled letters in the circles.
Can you find these big, small and
inbetween breeds?

A B

U ICU
R
HA

H
NO HA
DEED

PST
LEGS

C
Can you guess which breeds Cherry’s parents are?
In the ring answers: A Deerhound; B: Chihuhua; C: Shetland Sheepdog

November 2022 Dogs Today 57

 Prize crossword Compiled by Gyles Brandreth

Quick clues Cryptic clues

Across Down Across
3 Welsh breeds (9) 1 Type of sheepdog (6) 3 Lashes may cut these dogs
7 One sixteenth of a pound (5) 2 He went to mow with his dog (3,3) (9)
8 Type of spitz (7) 3 Coastal area for holidays (7) 7 Doorman, at heart, is a
lightweight (5)
9 Roman pointer? (7) 4 Small breed related to the Griffon
Bruxellois (13) 8 The end, we hear, for a
11 Taste (5)
European breed (7)
12 Age (3) 5 Executioner (7)
9 Type of hound with
13 Chihuahua’s nationality (7) 6 Harmony (5)
wagging tail, taken in by
16 Title of film about a boy’s pet 10 Miniature kind of breed (3) Scotsman (7)
bird (3) 13 Rise (5,2) 11 Boat is a hit? (5)
18 Dog’s nose (5) 14 Kind of hounds (7) 12 The singular ‘2 Down’ chap
20 Portion (7) 15 Female swan (3) is upset for a long time (3)
21 Belonging to the UK (7) 16 Canine shelter (6) 13 ‘The Hairless Dog’ (X), seen
22 Female relative (5) 17 Obeyed ‘Don’t move!’ command in dilapidated cinema (7)
23 German ––, ie Alsatian dogs (6) 16 Peke’s not exercising? A
(9) 19 A point of the compass (5) novel pet! (3)
18 Points out what sniffer dog
uses (5)
1 2 3 4 5 6 20 Setter (not half) surrounds
FBI agents for a bit (7)
7 21 Just like a Bulldog – hits rib
out of place (7)
8 22 Girl, pleasant on the
outside, a bit evil at heart (5)
23 German dogs with pastoral
role (9)
9 10 11
Down
12 1 Dog, mostly cold, has to
relax (6)
13 14 15 2 No name, perhaps for
person with TV dog (3,3)
16 17 3 We’re told to observe team
where holidaymakers go
18 19 20 (7)
4 A m-marshland thief grabs
second dog (13)
5 Executive game? (7)
21 6 Noted ‘How Much is that
Doggie?’ accompaniment
22 (5)
10 Kind of Poodle marking
23 Tolstoy’s end (3)
13 How horse-riding expenses
accumulate? (5,2)
Name: _________________________________________________ We occasionally
loan our address 14 Breeds from a French and
Address: ________________________________________________ list to charities G-German boy (7)
and companies
________________________________________________________ 15 The writer provides an
we feel may be
of interest to
animal enclosure (3)
____________________________ Postcode: _________________
you. Please tick if 16 Made, say, to work in this
Telephone: _____________________________________________ you do not wish dog’s home? (6)
to receive this
Email address: ___________________________________________
information. Q
17 Steady? Possibly, and
remained in position (6)
Breed/type of dog: _______________________________________
19 Former PM’s direction (5)

58 Dogs Today November 2022

 Wordsearch Just for fun!

S R B O R D E R C O L L I E D B P J T O
L E O B R E O B L O O D H O U N D W B N
S N G D K G X C I L O O Z W I Q R W R A
E O V N A N D Y J C Q T T O B O R Z O I
R T M J T R I G S F H J H O O N Z Z B L
D G M I E U O A G J K O R Y X S Z G U A
N N H R V E M B C U H D N B E I Z D L T
A I L E G A R I Q D E G O F R E N R L I
L L W I G I T J M R L D E E R U W S T O
F D O R A F H N T D K L L P O I O D E C
S E E R R V W E O W G D Z H V B S B R C
E B D E T Y R S B A O O T B C V W E R A
D E E T A R F A E O N E Q K V G P F I R
R A I R I A G B D F S G O D L L U B E B
Win this!
The winner of this month's E U I E N O K A M S K N L N R I I M R V
crossword will receive a Kong I C R W T E N R A F F I T S A M L L U B
Wild Knot bird - a squeaky V E R E W R S B E A R D E D C O L L I E
plush toy, with internal knotted
rope and minimal stuffing for U R V I E S P E S Z Y B O L O G N E S E
minimal mess! Available from O O G B R I T T A N Y U K J C E J J N G
PurrfectlyYappy.com B N R E I R R E T N O T S O B C M D D X

How to enter Can you find these breeds beginning with the letter B?
Complete the crossword Search up, down, forward, backward, and on the diagonal.
grid, then post your entry to
Barbet Bichon Frise Borzoi
arrive by 1 December 2022 to:
November Crossword, Dogs Basenji Biewer Terrier Boston Terrier
Today, The Old Print House, 62 Basset Hound Bloodhound Bouvier des Flandres
High Street, Chobham, Surrey Beagle Boerboel Boxer
GU24 8AA. The first correct entry
Bearded Collie Bolognese Bracco Italiano
pulled out of the hat after the
closing date will win the prize. Beauceron Borador Briard
The judge’s decision is final. Bedlington Border Collie Brittany
Bergamasco Border Terrier Bull Terrier
October Solution Bernadoodle Bulldog
Across: 1 Scruff; 4 Yapped; 8 Organ; Bernese Bullmastiff
9 Belgian; 10 Pet name; 11 Tutti;
12 Wolfhound; 16 Irish; 18 Vendeen;
20 Explain; 21 Rip up; 22 Setter;
23 Neatly. Down: 1 Snoopy; 2 Right;
3 Fantail; 5 Allot; 6 Pointed; 7 Dandie:
Irish Wolfhound by Tim Rose (www.timrosephotography.co.uk)

9 Beethoven; 12 Whippet; 13 Unnerve;

14 Biters; 15 Snappy; 17 Heave;
19 Expat
Beaucerons (posed by a model)

November 2022 Dogs Today 59

 Classified adverts Holidays, Training, Services & Products

Want to
advertise your
business in
our classified
section?

Email mike@dogstoday
magazine.co.uk or call
now on 01276 402591

Boturnell Farm Cottages Dogs

stay
free!

Home from home for you and your dogs. If they are relaxed,
then you can relax. Every cottage has an enclosed garden
for those late night & early morning comfort breaks.
PLUS: 8 acres of woods ● Throws for the furniture ● Animal first aid kit

www.dogs-holiday.co.uk

PEAK DISTRICT
*In accordance with the government road map

Very dog-friendly family-run Country Inn

with self-contained rooms in the grounds

Open
from th
e
l
Dog & Partridge We
can’t wa
to see
it
12th Apri
2021* Fabulous Beer Garden & Terrace you!
serving Dinner, Lunch and Drinks.
Overnight stays, short breaks available from
12/4/21. In-room dining also available for all meals
including breakfast and drinks.

01335 343183
www.dogandpartridge.co.uk
Advertising feature

Dog-friendly Venue of the Month

Dog-friendly Warwickshire holidays at Mallory Court
A luxury country house hotel located on the outskirts of Royal
Leamington Spa, where your four-legged friend receives a
five-star service from our friendly team and cater to every
canine need. Providing our ‘pawsome’ guests with a welcome
letter, dog bed, cushion, bowl, poop bags and treat!
We invite owners to bring their dogs to stay and have a
selection of dog-friendly rooms to choose from. Explore 10 acres
of grounds and if that is not enough we have a number of local
walks and parks suitable for you and your pooch!
The ultimate retreat for owners to relax with their canine friends.
www.mallory.co.uk

60 Dogs Today November 2022

November 2022 Dogs Today 61
 Classified adverts Charities, Training, Products & Art

TIME FOR A
NEW BED?
F I N D A WAR M & C O S Y B E D T O DAY
AT P U R R F E C T LY YAP P Y. C O M

Advertising feature

Holiday of the Month

We are a family-owned business with self-drive narrowboats for weekends and short breaks,
and week-long holidays from both bases (Stockton or Warwick). We also have boats available
for longer hire periods, when you want to escape and include your canine family member.
This is not camping on water, the boats come equipped with everything you need for a
relaxing holiday afloat: fully equipped galley (including fridge and 4 hob gas cooker), a bathroom with a flushing
toilet, and a shower, plenty of hot water, central heating and a TV for the days you need to catch up with the real
world! Don’t forget with narrowboat hire the boat is the holiday – you don’t need to allow for those expensive days
out during the week! Our quoted prices INCLUDE diesel and damage waiver (and linen and car parking) – if you are
comparing prices with other narrowboat holiday firms, make sure you compare like for like!
Star ratings for each narrowboat are displayed on the relevant pages, and online availability and reservation
is now also a feature, but feel free to phone or email if you would like to discuss your canal holiday plans.
www. kateboats.co.uk | Phone: 01926 492968 | Email enquiries@kateboats.co.uk

62 Dogs Today July

62 November 2022
 Lintran K9 award-winning dog Forbes Copper
equipment transport systems
One of the world’s oldest
Estate Cars | Dog trailers, pick up’s & vans | All 4 x 4 vehicles natural remedies
The original copper dog collar from
Forbes Copper is a very effective
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Dog & Gun System Water

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T: 01673 885959 enquiries@lintran.co.uk £12.50

www.lintran.co.uk Copper
Dog Collar
Lintran (SS), Brentwood House,
30
YEARS
Lincoln Road, Faldingworth, www.forbescopper.com £14

Market Rasen, Lincs LN8 3SF

Product of the Month Perfect for man’s best friend, the Chicubes range of dog kennels
and dog cabins are all fully thermally insulated and man-made
from composite panels. These panels are very easy to clean,
wipe down and disinfect allowing you to maintain a
hygienic dog cabin with minimum effort.
The Chicubes range of kennels are designed for all sizes and
breeds of dog and provide a safe, draught-proof area that
can also include a window placement.
Please contact us if you would like a slightly different size kennel or
any alterations made to our standard design. We also offer a totally
bespoke service if you want something completely different.
www.chicubes.co.uk
Tel: 01782 499915 | Email: sales@chicubes.co.uk

November 2022 Dogs Today 63

 Charity Spotlight established 1958
We are a non-destruction
sanctuary for abandoned
Welcome to Charity Spotlight - a handy reference point for good & unwanted dogs
PRIORY ROAD ASCOT
folk doing great work. We’re helping to raise the profile of this BERKSHIRE SL5 8RJ
diverse group of people and we encourage you to get involved 01344 882689
with them, be it fundraising or even volunteering

Registered Charity No. 256728

www.foreverhoundstrust.org

ecue

Charity of the month Labrador Lifeline Trust

The Labrador Lifeline Trust is now in its 27th year of rescuing
and rehoming unwanted, ill-treated and abandoned
Labradors irrespective of age or infirmity

W e continue to support many of our dogs and unfortunately prices are on the
increase the entire time. It becomes more and more difficult to fundraise
within this economic climate and there may come a time when the level of our
support will decrease. There is a limit to how many times we can ask for help.
On behalf of the Labrador Lifeline Trust, a huge thank you to our supporters, who
never fail us in our hour of need.
Another way you can help us is to purchase from our online shop where we
stock a range of Labrador-related products including Christmas cards, stickers,
calendars and gift tags. Your chance to win at
w w w .aht.org.uk/ lottery
Donations can be made by visiting our website at https://labradorlifeline Registered Charity Number 209642

.enthuse.com/Donate#!

Labrador Lifeline Trust

www.labrador-lifeline.com
Reg charity 1076061

If you’d like to see your organisation featured in these pages,

please call us on 01276 402591 for more details

64Dogs Today November

64 July 2022
Help us to help more We rescue and rehome Spo nso r a puppy
collies and collie crosses
We rescue and rehome throughout the UK. Why not
100s of dogs and cats fro m just £1
subscribe to our ’Border
in London every year Collie World’ quarterly a we e k.
themayhew.org magazine? Only £10.00 pa.
020 8962 8000
BORDER COLLIE TRUST GB
Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

Registered Charity
Heathway, Colton, Rugeley,
Staffs WS15 3LY

No. 1077588
Tel 0871 560 2282
www.bordercollietrustgb.org.uk Visit
Reg Charity No 1053585 g uide do g s.o rg .uk/ Do g sTo da y
Rescue centre open daily 9-11 am 2-4 pm A c ha rity re g iste re d in Eng la nd a nd Wa le s (209617) a nd Sc o tla nd (SC 038979).

AS
SEEN ON
EL
C ANN
H
4

Bringing pets
and people
closer together
woodgreen.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 298348 00526nc0819

WE RESCUE KILL
SHELTER AND
ABANDONED DOGS
FROM ROMANIA
AND REHOME THEM IN
THE UK AND GERMANY
@barkingmaddogrescue @bmdrdogs

www.barkingmaddogrescue.co.uk

Smokey Paws provides pet oxygen We rescue and rehome 100s

masks to the fire service.
of dogs and cats in London
Saving
But many more masks are needed.
every year Yorkshire’s
Please help us to help more
www.themayhew.org Dogs
Registered Charity No 1167291

020 8962 8000

To rescue, rehabilitate and rehome
vulnerable and at risk dogs from Yorkshire
Registered Charity

The next pet saved could be yours Tel: 07562 986101

No. 1077588

Email: savingyorkshiresdogs@gmail.com
You can donate via Web: www.sydrescue.org.uk
www.smokeypaws.co.uk
or email info@smokeypaws.co.uk Find us on

Become a Companion &

Keep Tails Wagging
With a Regular Gift
Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1139999
As a rescue charity, Rushton helps abandoned,
abused and unwanted dogs on a international
scale. Rescuing dogs from all over the world.
especially the meat trade in Asia and China.

Call Now:+44 (0) 1823 49 10 52

Scottish Charity No. SC006914

Senior Staffy Club

Our aims are:

sta

Finding the cures

for serious pet
Rescue and rehoming illnesses, helping
centre for dogs and cats them live longer,
www.leicesteranimalaid.org.uk healthier lives
www.seniorsta yclub.co.uk
Tel 01455 888257
Registered Charity No. 242560 www.petsavers.org.uk
seniorsta yclub@hotmail.co.uk

July 2022 Dogs Today665

November 5
 Confessions of a dogaholic
photo of a man with a three-legged
Amemories.
dog recently reduced me to tears
and brought back a flood of
Back when Dogs Today began,
there had been another young hopeful
applying to be the launch editor. I
didn’t know, but I had been up against
Jemima Harrison.
Jem took rejection very well,
going on to become a producer
on the hugely significant TV
series Horizon. While there, she
discovered a young man called
Tim who, by chance, had found
that the street drug ecstasy had
reduced his ghastly Parkinson’s
symptoms. This led to scientists
rethinking the way they
might treat this incurable
neurological disease.
Around this time, I was
campaigning against cosmetic
tail docking. It needed a catchy
name, so car stickers for Tailwaggers
Against Docking were produced.
The campaign generated a very
official letter. (I was a magnet for
them – everyone from the Oscars to
Biro would try to sue us!)
It turns out the word ‘Tailwaggers’
was protected by a trust of the
same name; we’d infringed their
trademark.
At its height, Tailwaggers
Club had millions of members all
over the world, including all the
Queen’s Corgis and even Bette
Davis. They’d started Guide Dogs
but interest had slowed and now it
just quietly distributed the money it
had left to pet owners in crisis.
Luckily, the trustees liked
our stance against docking and,
instead of suing us, let us share
the name and I joined the board.
The concept of the club – dog
owners helping each other – was
a brilliant one.
But as Tailwaggers inevitably
neared the end of its pot of
money, social media made it
much easier to connect people
so they could help themselves.
66 Dogs Today November 2022
Tailwaggers I heard of an elderly dog lady, who was
united homeless and sleeping in her car. Could
Tailwaggers find someone to foster her
dogs before they all froze to death?
The young Border Collie was quickly
placed, but the rather cantankerous old
Jack Russell proved more difficult.
You may have found Jemima’s
name familiar when I mentioned it
earlier. Our paths eventually crossed
when she made the documentary
Pedigree Dogs Exposed.
Jemima saw my appeal on
Facebook for help with the
old lady’s dogs and suggested
someone who might help.
It was Tim, the chap mentioned
earlier, the one who had Parkinson’s.
He’d missed having a dog but didn’t
feel able to commit, as his illness
was progressing.
When the old lady finally got
settled, her two dogs no longer liked
each other. Tim had bonded with Milo,
so he became his forever dog. The old
lady was delighted and very relieved.
Milo had always had a strange
bump on his front leg, but when it
started growing, the vet was worried.
It turned out to be cancer. The only
treatment the PDSA vet offered
was euthanasia or amputation – no
chemo. So, Milo became a tripawd,
but Tim was very worried that the
cancer might spread.
Jemima had often heard me
talk of Mr Carter and CV247, so she
suggested that maybe Tailwaggers
might fund Milo’s drugs?
I knew Tailwaggers couldn’t
afford it, so instead I quietly paid
the bill personally. At the time, it
didn’t seem a huge commitment; Milo was
already an old dog.
In the end, Milo had an amazing
10 years with Tim.
The photo I saw today on
Illustration KEVIN BROCKBANK
Jemima’s timeline sadly revealed
Tim and Milo were now reunited.
Milo’s life had been long, Tim’s sadly
all too brief.
What a shame there’s never
been a man like John Carter for
Parkinson’s. P
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68 Dogs Today June 2020