Dogs Today September 2020 : simplebooklet.com

Inside this month She had terrible tear stains BEFORE AFTER News features 4 Dear readers 6 Time to make some noise One email could change almost everything 10 Mr Chai s legacy will Westminster ban the international puppy trade 12 Debbie Bridges on commissioning a masterpiece 20 Gary Lineker would have loved extra time with Snoop 22 Do as I do Training that s easy to follow 29 Cruelty bill becomes law in Scotland Over to you 26 Great Debate should rescue have stopped in A few weeks later I could see a difference in Heidi s face I was very surprised lockdown 36 Postbag what matters to you I would recommend Ocryl to any dog with tear stains Training behaviour 30 Alison Mercer stand by your dog 46 Victoria Stilwell taking on the trolls kindness is powerful 50 Peter Neville s True Case History giving birds Opinion 66 Confessions of a dogaholic Press wars VISIBLE RESULTS WITHIN 2 WEEKS Investigation 34 Good in tents How to camp with canines 40 Dog crush Bull Terriers is a bully for you Competitions shopping 56 Pop the kettle on and tackle our puzzles and competitions Ocryl for Eyes Combats unsightly tear stains and keeps them at bay Cleans away uncomfortable crusts and debris Also contains soothing Rose Extract Ocryl is available from your vet or via ocryl co uk TVMUK tvm_uk tvm_uk Bull Terrier pups Photo posed by models A gentle eye cleansing solution for dogs cats and exotic pets ocryl co uk The ethical pet magazine for people who really care about dogs Facebook Dogs Today Editorial beverleycuddy Dogs_Today Editor Beverley Cuddy Art Director Rosie Peace Chief Sub Editor Contributing Editor Claire Horton Bussey Deputy Editor Alessandra Pacelli Contributing Editor Karen Cornish Illustrator Kevin Brockbank Proof readers Katie Horton Bussey Martha Cornish Alys Horton Bussey Roving Reporters Owen Haatchi Advertising sponsorship Advertising Sponsorship Manager Mike McGlynn 01276 402591 Office dogs Betty Old English Golden Retriever ish Madi collie cross Nellie Staffordshire Bull Terrier Isla Lurcher Beth Justine Poison Ivy Newfoundlands Popsie Lurcher Betty s Personal Trainer Kirsten Dillon IMDT A Dip CBM Dogs Today Pet Subjects Ltd The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ T 01276 402599 E enquiries dogstodaymagazine co uk W www dogstodaymagazine co uk Publishers the bird Chrissie Osborne Heidi s owner Watch Heidi s full story at DogsToday LIMITED Chief Operations Officer Graham Smith 01276 402598 graham wearebrandshare com Managing Director Beverley Cuddy 01276 402597 beverley dogstodaymagazine co uk Subscriptions For subscription queries call Pet Subjects on 01276 402599 or email subs dogstodaymagazine co uk Initial subscription rates UK BFPO 12 issues 39 50 24 issues 61 EU countries 12 issues 65 20 Rest of the world airmail 12 issues 79 80 Direct Debit offer UK only 9 99 for 3 months with 1 month free trial and a 1 sign up fee The editor is always pleased to consider articles and photos from freelancers However there is often a considerable delay before material can be assessed Please include an SAE if you want your work returned While every care will be taken no responsibility for loss or damage can be accepted Competition sponsors and their families are not eligible for any competition Dogs Today incorporating Perfect Pup is published by Brandshare Ltd The Stables Saddler Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ Tel 01276 402599 Brandshare Ltd reg office The Stables Saddler Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ Distributed by Marketforce UK Ltd 2nd Floor 5 Churchill Place Canary Wharf London E14 5HU Tel 020 3148 3333 www marketforce co uk Printed by The Manson Group 2020 Dogs Today The world copyright of the editorial matter both illustrations and text is strictly reserved Registered as a newspaper for transmission in the UK On the cover This month s cover star is the gorgeous Weimaraner Sir Walter Puddles taken by owner and top photographer Andre Koekemoer who is based in Johannesburg South Africa Next issue on sale October 9th To download Dogs Today for iPad go to the App store Android and PC versions are available from Pocket Mags the Kindle edition from www amazon co uk September 2020 Dogs Today 3

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Dear readers Beverley Cuddy I recently interviewed filmmakers Dominic and Ian Higgins on my Devil Wears Dog Hair podcast That same day they d launched Of Wolves and Men an animated short film timed to coincide with National Dog Day that tells the story of how man and dog ended up becoming best friends At the time of going to press the film has already picked up three awards Do check it out there s a link at the bottom of the page for both the film and the podcast The next film they are working on is even more exciting Fleur the dog who wouldn t die Now I am sure you all know this story but it s one I will never tire of Fleur was a street dog in Romania a country that had state sponsored dog genocide People were paid to round up the strays and spay them Kill shelters didn t feed or give water to the dogs and those spaying often used string It was cheaper to inject a dog with paint to kill it rather than use the kinder veterinary drug Fleur was photographed with her insides hanging out She looked so sad so desperate It was a haunting image much shared on Facebook She was patched up and Beverley Cuddy is Dogs Today s Editor and publisher She shares her life with Betty an Old English Golden Retriever ish dog from Many Tears She grew and grew and grew soon after this photo was taken 4 Dogs Today September 2020 Animal Skincare Your Pet Safe Antiseptic Spray Tough on Pathogens including MRSA E coli SARS C0V 2 Yet skin pH Neutral Gentle to Skin Safe for All The Family THE NATURAL WAY TO CARE FOR YOUR PETS SKIN brought to England by Val at Valgrays Border Collie and Animal Rescue and Wendy and Andrew Morris took her in and gave her a taste of how wonderful life could be But after only a short while Fleur became terribly ill Her intestines were dying The botched surgery had damaged her and the sort of surgery she needed wasn t in any veterinary textbooks Only pioneering veterinary attention could put her back together though even then the chance of survival was less than one per cent No dog had ever survived the procedure she needed The dog loving community on Facebook had saved her once before and it came to her rescue again The surgeons at the Royal Veterinary College heard Fleur was coming and the public raised the money for the complex surgery that was to take all night Fleur survived and thrived There is a book and soon there will be a film But Fleur is getting older It would be too stressful for her to play herself in the film Instead Ian and Dominic are looking to cast another dog But who could do it Physically Fleur is very small and dainty The role will be demanding and the film will hopefully be filmed partly in Romania to capture her life before capture Do you have a talented acting dog that could play Fleur Do get in touch if so Who will play Wendy and Andrew I ask that exact question on the podcast it all comes down to budget If you are reading this Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley any chance of mates rates Tom we ll put you on the cover this time promise P https thedevilwearsdoghair podbean com e filmmakersian dominic higgins withguest appearance of fleurher owners Of wolves and Men https youtu be DieDRSneYmE Fast acting formula soothing and calming to effective allergy management skinfold care for brachycephalic breeds itchy skin sore paws cuts grazes post surgical sites weepy eyes irritated ears dry flakey or smelly skin 100 safe on all skin types For all mammals birds reptiles Leucillin is a safe effective and versatile skincare solution mimicking the body s own immune system it is specially formulated to match the natural pH of your pets skin Leucillin is non toxic will not sting and is safe for all skin types including ears eyes and sensitive skin Leucillin quickly relieves soothes and calms for good skin and coat condition Available from all good pet shops Pets At Home and Just For Pets stores www leucillin co uk June 2020 Dogs Today 5

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Words BEVERLEY CUDDY Dogs reminded us to live in the moment and not to dwell on dull trivial things The distractions of the pandemic and Brexit have made it hard for politicians to get much else done but it seems to have made animal welfare reform a higher priority It s something very broken that we can all agree needs fixing Cynically it is also something that won t cost the country anything and that polls very well with constituents Politicians can get the feel good factor without losing a vote So that is why I am encouraging you to use your voice It s time to make some very targeted noise and help your local MP to feel useful and appreciated These issues are all nearly over the line There have been years of lobbying already your wellaimed nudge could make all the difference You can choose to use a template letter see the end for links or write your own but here are some campaigns that urgently need your help Better cruelty deterrents Time to make some noise You can make all the difference Even if you have never emailed your MP before this is a great time to start T he other day I was doing a TV interview for American news channel PBS which was great fun When you are asked very broad questions it really does help you to find a better perspective It was clear to me that most 6 Dogs Today September 2020 of our laws were conceived in an era when our dogs were called Fido Spot and Rex and when the majority had practical jobs such as herding guarding or hunting The industrial revolution loomed and the prospect of redundancy threatened but the ever so adaptable dog saw a gap and jumped straight in sitting between us on our sofas In our increasingly stressful and disjointed world dogs were to become an indispensable part of our families In lockdown we came to appreciate family even more Remember Fabulous Finn and Brave Dave Wardell When Finn s Law was passed it united the country It was unthinkable that stabbing a police dog was previously seen by the law as the same as snapping the wing mirror off a police car But Dave couldn t stop there The maximum sentence for animal cruelty is only six months and the maximum tariff is as rare as politicians who don t want you to vote for them So Finn sLawPart2 was launched with the aim of increasing that sentence to five years It almost got through in the last parliament but everything closed down early It s back again and that all important second reading is scheduled for 23 October There is just time to email your MP You can even go one further and put them on the map There s a blog recording which MPs have given their backing Pet theft chips You could start your letter with I was disappointed to see your name not on this list has there been an admin error Surely you must support better deterrents to stop animal cruelty Dave Wardell told me If people could send their MPs a simple email politely asking them to support Chris Lodder s private members bill Animal Sentencing Bill on 23 October AKA FinnsLawPart2 If they get a reply let us know so we can add them to FinnsMapOfMPs which shows which constituencies have pledged support for this long overdue bill FinnsLawPart2 is for cruelty and neglect to all animals including service animals We are currently a country with one of the lowest maximum sentences available for this sort of crime in the world Every Friday the map will be updated and shared These will be called FabulousFinnFridays and there will also be FinnsBarkToParliament Just as in 101 Dalmatians we want all your dogs barking at Westminster to urge them to vote for better deterrents It really is time for us all to make some noise The blog is here https medium com one man one dog one friend one quest finnsfridaybark toparliament ad23267a2619 Time for some Pet Theft mythbusting If you are a regular reader you ll know all about the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance There have been so many petitions that have triggered debates in parliament but the ministers just keep giving the same copy and paste reply it s most frustrating Can you contact your MP and see what they say This is what they are churning out usually The theft of a pet is already a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968 and the maximum penalty is seven years imprisonment and so there is no need to introduce a separate offence They are wrong It is theoretically possible but so is winning the lottery and then being struck by lightning while holding a black cat Only a Crown Court can deliver a sentence for pet theft in excess of six months These highest courts in the land are reserved for crimes likes murder and armed robbery Cases of pet theft would only ever be heard at Crown Court as part of another bigger trial part of a mixed bag of other offences Precedent has shown it is impossible to secure any custodial sentences in even the most organised bulk high cost pet thefts from commercial breeders Pet theft is apparently up over 60 per cent in lockdown there is a clear need for better deterrents We already have special protection for mushrooms bicycles and scrap metal Pets are priceless totally irreplaceable Pets are part of the family and because the law does not reflect this the criminals find this low risk high reward crime increasingly attractive So yes there is a need Every pet is at risk until MPs accept that Feel free to give them examples of how life altering this crime is it isn t like having your phone pinched Nine years ago Rags was stolen Would the minister tell owner Caroline Key we don t need better deterrents for this life changing crime She says It hurts like it September 2020 Dogs Today 7

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happened yesterday feels like a lifetime of hope and despair She recently asked on her Facebook group Did you pick up a dog on the roadside or apparently abandoned at Frankley Services on the M5 in 2011 Or maybe you bought her since in good faith Or do you know someone who has She was wearing a blue fabric collar no dangly tags which had her postcode embroidered on it She would now be 16 bright gold curly coat with white running from under her chin down her chest and over her tummy She has a short upright tail and half pricked ears which blow back when she runs She has a cute sit up and beg and many other tricks She loves agility and her most favourite hobby is swimming she leaps into water from a distance and swims in anything canals rivers the sea anything If you have her you must love her deeply too Please please let her see her one surviving friend again who checks every dog that looks like Rags just in case it s her ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTIONS NO BLAME NO RECRIMINATIONS You can talk to me anonymously though K9searchuk or DogLost Please though give them the chance to say goodbye to each other If you love her let her meet her friend to get closure People say move on but there is nowhere to move on from There is nothing worse than just not knowing Pawpounders AND THEN THERE S FERN Fern was reunited six years after being stolen She was picked up as a stray after being used for breeding She d obviously had some medical treatment during her incarceration so why wasn t the vet aware she was stolen Why wasn t her microchip checked We need to make it compulsory for vets to cross check microchip ID at the first treatment and reunite stolen and missing microchipped dogs and cats So yes There are things that need to change Please can we stop MPs and ministers repeating that there isn t a problem and there s no need to change In the last few months the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance is delighted that Brenda Blethyn OBE has agreed to be its patron Brenda said I am shocked by the spiralling numbers of dogs that Off Lead Secure Park Franchises Pawpounders Off Lead One of the best opportunities within the Pet Industry for over 20 years Secure Park Franchises Now available across U We have successfully run our park for over 4 years now and have decided to roll out similar parks across the UK prices range between 40k to 75k with a full income of 60k and above We provide the full package which includes One of l the best opportunities within the Pet Industry forlover 20lyears Obtaining planning permission l National and local advertising Fencing Digital entry gate system l Carpark l CCTV l Automated booking software and payment system l Landscaping agility equipment l In house training program l Full 24 7 365 support l 100 proven track record have been stolen during lockdown adding to what was already a growing problem in the UK Our pets are priceless irreplaceable members of our families and the law must reflect this to protect them and us That s why I m delighted to become a patron to Sampa and happy to add my name to secure PetTheftReform Speak up for pets Please contact your MP start training them to vote the right way on animal welfare issues Politicians are human they want to feel good about themselves and proud of their career choice There are few other things they can do that will cost the country nothing in taxes but will deliver so much gratitude There s more they can do once you ve got these two issues sorted They can attend and support the upcoming debate on the cynical import of battery farmed puppies in bulk That s a ghastly loophole that needs patching up Puppies bred in countries with even worse welfare standards are then dragged thousands of miles only to die a few weeks later at the vet s Some don t die obviously but you get the point The loophole encourages people to breed these poor dogs Close the loophole stop the trade and stop the suffering There s also the import of puppies who have had their ears chopped off see last month s issue for the petition people are paying thousands of pounds for an Instagram trend that is sick beyond words And there s a debate due on the ridiculous Dangerous Dogs Act the result of a brilliantly fast moving petition There s a theme here isn t there All the laws about pets are out of date and need to reflect that dogs are family not things You can t judge them by what they cost you shouldn t improve them by cutting bits off and you shouldn t exploit them Can some sensible pet loving MPs start ticking all these off There must be someone who does MPs PR Imagine being known as the best friend of our best friends Mr Gove helped the bees and we started to like him a little more didn t we A Pet Tsar Who would you pick P Write to or email your local MP Find their details here http www parliament uk mps lords and offices mps It s said to be more effective to write in your own words but there is a template letter for Pet Theft here www stolenandmissingpetsalliance co uk write to your mp 8 Dogs Today September 2020 w No lable K U ai av ross ac Ooff the few businesses not effected by Covid 19 in actual fact we got busier One ur park has over 400 satisfied clients actively using the park regularly even during COVID19 Lockdown we were at 100 occupancy Over the last few years this has given dog owners at last a place where they can actually enjoy taking their dog for a walk instead of having to keep them on a lead worrying about other aggressive dogs distractions in the park no secure fences www pawpounders com click drone showing park A dog does 17 times more exerciseand off lead and iton has our been proven thatvideo dog behavioural issuesour are linked to not enough exercise Our local council love it as it takes pressure off their parks which we all know are getting overcrowded and are all going lead only We have been in the dog day care industry for 12 years and currently hold a 5 Star licence with Lichfield Council and DEFRA We also for dogs in hospitals so have a good4understanding dog behaviour and know to howroll important it is for dogs to acro Wecarryout have assessments Successfully run our park for over years nowofand have decided out similar parks off lead exercise This park evolved from 70 us helping a charityon andcapital has grownofsteadily from there and now we believe it is theget ukgood prices range between 40k to with out a return 18 months the leading private Park in the UK We cater for dog clubs when they want a group meeting and also a local system agility teamcarpark practices here We provide the full package of planning permission fencing digital entry gate CCTV There are toilets a kitchen area with vending machine a coin operated dog shower 2 shelters from the rain fresh water and dog poo automated booking software and payment system landscaping agility equipment In house training bins in each field program and full 24 7 365 support This is an automated system and takes only one day of your time spread over 7 days so no need to give up your job You can even 100 proven track record use this to top up your pension Our park has over 400 satisfied clients actively using the park regularly even during COVID 19 Lockdow we were at 100 occupancy We are taking deposits from interested franchisees to secure their area as we are limited by demographics Please call 0121 308 6404 if you are genuinely interested This over the last few years has given dog owners at last a place where they can actually enjoy taking th www pawpounders com dog for a walk instead of having to keep them on a lead worrying about other aggressive dogs distrac in the park no secure fences and click on our drone video showing our park seen on BBC We areexercise currenly in off the lead process of joining British Franchise Association A dogAsdoes 17 times more and it hasthe been proven dog behavioural issues are linked to June 2020 Dogs Today 9 enough exercise Pa

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Words ALESSANDRA PACELLI Mr Chai s legacy In our July issue we spoke of the petition launched to ban the import of young puppies for sale in the UK backed by numerous celebrities Now the petition has shattered its target of 100 000 signatures and might soon land in parliament M r Chai was small but his death has caused huge ripples that might change the fate of puppies across Europe for good The Pomeranian puppy was imported from Russia as a birthday present for Love Island star Molly Mae Hague and died only days afterwards TV vet Marc Abraham who was one of the driving forces behind Lucy s Law called for the seller who imported the puppy to be investigated The government has made it quite clear that with Lucy s Law you can t sell a puppy without it having been seen with its mum in the place where it is born he told the Mirror To have a puppy sold by an English breeder that s being imported from Russia without its mum is suspicious It should be reported to the local authority and this case should be investigated and a full explanation should be given by the local council Following Mr Chai s death dog lover Lucy Parkins decided to launch a petition to ban the exploitative import of young puppies for sale in the UK The petition read The recent tragic case of a puppy dying just six days after being delivered from Russia has exposed a completely legal but immoral route to market for pups bred hundreds of miles away and sold away from their mums Who s actually inspecting 10 Dogs Today September 2020 these breeders and transportation conditions Selling imported pups like this is cruel and appears to contradict the government s own advice to always physically see puppies interacting with their mothers in their place of birth as with Lucy s Law in England Backed by celebrities including Ricky Gervais Katie Price and Peter Egan Lucy s petition gained signatures incredibly quickly three days after launch 27 000 people had already signed it and in just 41 days it surpassed the target of 100 000 signatures enough to be considered for debate in parliament FALLING ON DEFRA EARS A response to the petition from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Defra reads The government works to ensure regulations protecting the welfare of transported animals is followed while also educating potential pet buyers of the risks of buying from a deceitful seller The government takes the issue surrounding the importation of pets very seriously and continues to ensure that the illegal import of puppies is stopped and that puppies brought into the UK through legal means receive a high standard of care The rules concerning the commercial transportation of animals are set out in Council Regulation EC 1 2005 on the protection of animals during transport and in domestic legislation The Welfare of Animals Transport England Order 2006 WATEO The EU legislation aims to protect the welfare of animals during transportation and applies to animals transported in connection with an economic activity Under article 4 of The Welfare of Animals Transport England Order 2006 there are some general provisions for the protection of all animals during transport It is an offence to transport animals including people transporting dogs in a way that will cause injury or unnecessary suffering Animals must be transported in a means of transport which takes in to consideration the conditions required for the animals such as space ventilation temperature security liquid and oxygen needed The primary responsibility for the enforcement of the transport legislation rests with local authorities Local authorities carry out routine welfare checks on animals and their means of transport and will take appropriate enforcement measures up to and including prosecution if required Our policy is to ensure therefore full application of existing EU rules on our territory during the Transition Period and to encourage other member states to do the same The end of the Transition Period will open up numerous opportunities for us to The import of young puppies for sale in the UK is at odds with Lucy s Law which requires potential buyers to visit the breeding premises in person and see the puppies interacting with their mum before buying further strengthen animal welfare standards in the UK The government also continues to raise awareness regarding the improper selling of pets by deceitful sellers through our Petfished campaign which seeks to educate prospective pet buyers on common tricks and tactics used by deceitful sellers that may result in the purchase of a mistreated or unwell pet The campaign urges buyers to mitigate risks for example by buying from trusted sellers such as those under the Kennel Club s Assured Breeder scheme viewing puppies with their mothers and siblings asking questions of the seller and following the Animal Welfare Foundation and RSPCA Puppy Contract to ensure that puppies are in good health when purchased The import of young puppies for sale in the UK is at odds with Lucy s Law which requires potential buyers to visit the breeding premises in person and see the puppies interacting with their mum before buying a very difficult requirement to meet when buying a puppy who s been imported from abroad Over the years animal welfare organisations have shown time after time how puppies too young to be away from their mothers slip through border checks despite the minimum age for a puppy to legally arrive in the UK being 12 weeks partly because most border staff are unable to tell an eight week old puppy from a 12 week old one Dogs Trust suggested a rather simple solution to strike at the heart of this trade banning the import of any pup younger than six months of age This would make it harder to pass off young puppies as old enough to enter and most of all it would make the puppies harder to sell in the UK as they will have grown past the most marketable puppy stage The most radical solution to this problem is to call for puppies under the age of six months to be banned from entering Great Britain under PETS Dogs Trust wrote An extension of the three week wait to 12 weeks after the puppies have received their rabies shots in line with the incubation period of rabies would achieve this This solution would strike at the heart of the illegal trade in puppies coming from eastern Europe Now campaigners are working to keep the momentum going and looking forward to the petition being discussed in parliament Thank you to everyone who signed and shared wrote Lucy Parkins I couldn t have done it without every single one of you P If you wish to sign the petition visit https petition parliament uk petitions 326261 September 2020 Dogs Today 11

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Words DEBBIE BRIDGES Most people would despair at the thought of a 14 month recovery following an accident but for flight attendant Julie Pugh every cloud has a silver lining Art from the heart I think I can safely say most of us would struggle to find a positive side to being incapacitated after a painful accident But there are those who have a knack for 12 Dogs Today September 2020 finding a silver lining in any cloud that comes their way and Julie Pugh is one such person Her Dorset cottage is full of colours that reflect Julie s warm and cheerful personality and as we settle down to coffee and a hearty slab of homemade cake she tells me about the tumble she took on a pavement only yards from her home which broke her ankle several bones in her hand and her collarbone It s the best thing that ever happened to me she says as she describes the complications that followed leading to 14 months away from her job as an air hostess I m a busy person always on the go she says So I was looking for something to fill my time when someone put a note through the door about a local art class and I thought I d give it a go I really loved it especially working in pastels Julie signed up for a second weekly class hoping her newfound hobby would help keep her sane during the long road to recovery As it turned out it did a lot more than that and she was soon tapping into a talent she never knew she had using pastels to produce remarkable pawtraits of dogs which seem to capture the character of each of her subjects as well as their physical appearance I generally spend a whole day working on the eyes and they re always the last to be finished Julie says It s as if these beautiful dogs come alive under my hands and it s the most amazing feeling In the short time since she walked into her first art class Julie has produced some two dozen pawtraits for clients some as far away as America New Zealand and Hong Kong and almost as many are stacked up beside her work station in the repurposed garden shed waiting to be started My first attempt was the teacher s Golden Retriever and it was so awful I just laughed Julie says But he showed me what I was doing wrong and I tried again September 2020 Dogs Today 13

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working from a photograph of my much missed Australian Shepherd Burstie which was an improvement Then things got better again with Ben and Vita ROMMIE RESCUES Ben and Vita are the elderly Romanian rescue dogs who currently share the Pugh household where life with Julie and her husband Steve is a far cry from their early years on the streets Probably still savouring the little bits of cake Julie s been sharing from her plate perhaps that s how she stays so slim they re currently snoozing contentedly in a patch of sunlight as she tells me about finding them both on the internet through the charity SOS Romanian Rescues South West After losing Burstie I couldn t face having another Australian Shepherd she says I saw a picture of Ben looking like a big teddy bear on the SOS Facebook page and he reminded me of my first ever dog Ben was then about nine years old He s now 13 very deaf and slightly senile and we love him to bits Ben quickly settled into life in his new home and Julie and Steve felt he was all they needed to make their lives complete until Julie saw another face looking out at her from the SOS Facebook page Vita s picture caught my eye she recalls Then I read her story She was 12 years old and had been a homeless man s constant companion since she was a tiny puppy When he died she was left lost and alone wandering the streets they d walked together and sleeping in the places they d shared I contacted the charity immediately and offered to take her People thought I was mad including Steve but I felt it was the right thing to do And it was She and Ben got on from the first and she s an absolute joy She s 16 now and apart from her old legs being a bit creaky she s in fine health Since the arrival of Ben and Vita Julie has been on a mission to raise funds to help other dogs in similar situations and the discovery of her talent for capturing dogs on paper has provided the perfect opportunity I give 10 per cent of every pawtrait I sell to charities helping animals in countries where there are no official welfare organisations she says And I offer a pawtrait of prize winners dogs in charity raffles PAWTRAIT FUNDRAISING And that s exactly what Julie was doing when I first met her on the SOS Romanian Rescues stand at Woofstock where she was smiling through wind and rain to ply her soggy raffle tickets The three day music festival and dog show is held annually in Dartmouth a threehour journey from Julie s home which tells you something about her energy and commitment That raffle was won by a couple with a gorgeous Cockapoo called Bertie says Julie When it was finished Steve and I took a trip to Wales in our camper van with the dogs to deliver it As well as her fundraising activities Julie is keen to raise awareness of the potential of street dogs like Ben and Vita to make wonderful companions SOS Romanian Rescues South West is run by Carol Winter from her home in Devon Julie tells me She looks after the dogs there when they first arrive getting them used to their new environment and assessing their characters in order to find them the right homes When she told me about Lola a particularly lovely dog who was continually overlooked by adopters I painted her pawtrait and offered to give it to anyone who took her on LOLA S HOME In the event Lola found her forever home with Rachel Tiplady who knew nothing of the pawtrait gift but like Julie spotted her new best friend on the SOS Facebook page Above left Carol Winter from SOS Romanian Rescues South West with some of the dogs in her care Above right Lola Left Rachel Tiplady left and her daughter Abigail with Lola Above Ben left and Vita relaxing at home with Julie Below Julie s portrait of Lola Left Vita and Julie s portrait of her below Above Vita in Romania with Emila who was instrumental in her rescue 14 Dogs Today September 2020 September 2020 Dogs Today 15

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Above Woofstock raffle prize winner Bertie s photo left and Julie s finished portrait right Above left it starts with the eyes and they are always the last to be finished Below more examples of Julie s work By coincidence Rachel lives in a neighbouring village and we head off to a local dog friendly cafe to meet her daughter Abigail and of course Lola We try to tuck ourselves away in a corner but a dog of Lola s size and determinedly sociable nature isn t easily tucked away and before long she s schmoozing anyone she can reach on nearby tables this being before the Covid 19 era Luckily no one is immune to her gentle charm and far from being put out our fellow diners are soon vying to be next in line for a cuddle We re going to investigate qualifying her as a Pets as Therapy dog Rachel says and it certainly looks as if you d be hard pressed to find a dog more suited to the role Despite being together for only two months the bond Lola has formed with her new family is clear to see Rachel and Abigail can t look at their new pet without smiling and Rachel says they all feel lucky and proud to have such a fantastic dog in their lives My son uses his phone to translate phrases into Romanian she says He tells her she s beautiful and she doesn t need to worry because she s safe now As for Lola s pawtrait Rachel says she was overwhelmed when Julie asked if she d like to have it a question she didn t need asking twice I absolutely fell in love with it she says It s a stunning piece of artwork and hangs in pride of place above the fireplace By the time we re saying our goodbyes Lola has stolen a number of hearts mine included and Rachel says they ll be doing their best to promote Romanian rescue dogs whenever they re out and about together Cloud 9 Vets A former Olympian who competed at the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympics Lisbet Stuer Lauridsen is now responsible for running Cloud 9 Vets who care for our beloved pets in end of life situations We wanted to find out more Do you support pet owners with aftercare Yes we do but we only work with a limited number of crematoria with excellent codes of conduct We will help support and professionally arranging aftercare exactly the way our clients want What happens when a pet owner contacts you We have the time for everyone that needs end of life support for their pet All calls are treated with respect and understanding We know that making that first call can be such a difficult thing to do which is why our guiding values are care and compassion IN THE WORKS You d think being back at work and continuing to produce her striking works of art would be enough to keep Julie occupied But no she has another ambitious project up her sleeve I m writing a book about Vita s life she says Unlike a lot of street dogs her story is known from the day she was found at two weeks old trying to suckle from her dead mother Who knows perhaps Julie is about to reveal another latent talent which will see her finding success as a published author And if she does she plans to donate any proceeds to Romanian dog rescue Rachel believes the love Julie puts into her artwork shines through for all to see I realise that s also true of her fundraising activities and while praise is heaped on her artistic endeavours her aim remains a simple one I just want to help as many animals as I can she says P Leads to follow Julie can be contacted on julie thepughies co uk and more examples of her work can be seen at www pughiespastelpaws co uk or Pughie s Pastel Paws on Facebook For information about SOS Romanian Rescues South West go to www romrescue org or email info romrescue org 16 Dogs Today September 2020 ADVERTISING FEATURE ADVERTISING FEATURE Lisbet why did you start Cloud 9 Vets Our goal is to give pet owners the possibility to be at home to say that peaceful goodbye End of life is a time when you need help and support more than ever and being in the loving and familiar environment of your own home is such a comfort We cover large parts of the UK and we were the first and I believe still the only nationwide practice focusing exclusively on end of life What makes Cloud 9 Vets special Because we only work with gentle euthanasia at home we can focus on the things that really matter when saying a final and dignified goodbye to a beloved pet We re here seven days a week and our Care Coordinators have time to discuss individual situations with compassion and empathy We do not hurry the calls and we do not rush the home visits Have you been able to help during the Corona pandemic Absolutely We prepared specific protocols in anticipation of the lockdown meaning we can ensure closeness care and compassion during our visits without compromising safety for anyone involved Many of our home visits are conducted outdoors increasing safety without losing the ability to say a loving goodbye End of life is such a sad time how do you and your colleagues cope with this It may be a sad time but being able to help pet owners when they need us most is very rewarding having time to listen and arrange a dignified and loving goodbye can be a great comfort We re a close knit team and our support for each other allows us to provide a caring and empathetic service for our fellow pet lovers which is so needed worthwhile and fulfilling Could you give us some final comments about Cloud 9 Vets and home euthanasia I ll use the words of one of our clients As soon as Amber at Cloud 9 picked up the phone she was just what we needed in a moment of crisis calm and understanding and although it was Sunday evening somehow she managed to get a vet to us the same evening Andrea was just wonderful respectful understanding and explained everything We said goodbye to our beautiful 15 year old rescue dog in the garden on his bed with lots of hugs and kisses to send him on his way Andrea let us take our time it couldn t have been more peaceful I can t thank Cloud 9 Amber and Andrea enough You are doing an amazing job thank you P Lisbet and her team can be reached by calling 08000 354 999 between 7am and 8pm seven days a week cloud9vets co uk September 2020 Dogs Today 17

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Words BERNARD BALE Football legend and sports broadcaster Gary Lineker is better known for Walkers than for walkies but dogs have always been a major part of his life and after losing his beloved Snoop last year he knows it won t be long before another dog joins his family Maybe I am a bit selfish but I like having autonomy and the remote of course I can do what I like but I miss having someone to come home to I don t see myself as getting married again but I can t say that about having another dog Team Labrador G ary Lineker is one of football s enduring success stories As a player he won countless major honours and became a national hero After hanging up his boots he became a television celebrity and of course a champion of Walkers crisps But more than that Gary is also a self confessed dog lover Dogs are very special said Gary At least they are to me My Labrador Snoop died last year and I was totally devastated I shall probably get another dog before long because there have always been dogs in the family and it doesn t seem quite right without one Perhaps it is the greeting they give you whether you have just been outside for a minute or two or away for a couple of weeks They make you feel so welcome and so important as well They greet you as if you are the best thing in life We all know the best thing in their life is really the next meal so I am under no illusions Gary Lineker was born into a family of market traders in Leicester and helped on the stall from an early age We were greengrocers and I remember getting involved when I was very young he recalled As well as thousands of people the market used to attract dogs wandering around on their own They fascinated me and I often wished we were a butchers instead of a greengrocers because I might have been able to sneak something to please the dogs They were not so keen on cabbage 18 Dogs Today September 2020 Snoop was also a big football fan and he liked nothing better than to chase after a ball or to try to take it off me when I was kicking around He often succeeded too My next dog will be even better because I think I am slowing down a bit I loved both football and cricket from an early age and I spent more time playing and thinking about football than I ever did on my school work A teacher actually put that in my report once and said I ought to concentrate more on my school work because I would never get a living out of football As it happened Gary earned a very good living from football and had a reputation not only of being a record breaking goal scorer but also of being a decent bloke who was hardly ever in trouble with referees Captaining England to one of their best World Cup performances in 1990 he has since gone from strength to strength as a television presenter and is one of the highest earning celebrities on British television I can t say I m not pleased with the way things have turned out he said I would have gone back to being a market trader if things had not worked out as they did and I wouldn t have had a problem with that It has been a family business for generations and I would have been proud to carry on the tradition dogs I have had all come into their own and I think any dog owner will tell you the same If you are unwell they want to be your nurse If you are a bit depressed they want to be the court jester and make you laugh or distract you from your thoughts by offering to play Other times they just cuddle up to you and give you a bit of comfort I should think that it is unlikely that I will not have another dog before long I miss Snoop and just having a four legged companion That s another great thing about dogs they will watch you on TV and not tell you that you were rubbish GREATEST FANS Gary still has a big fan following as well as his family He has been married twice and is on good terms with his former wives He also has a strong band of friends with whom he socialises regularly but he still believes that a dog is the closest companion anyone can ever have They are so amazing Snoop was a great example of the very best of dogs but they are all special They never really stop being puppies Snoop was playful right to the end and it was hard to believe that he was a pensioner in dog terms Most dogs are like that They will go and get a ball or a toy to play with even when they are getting arthritic They have so much energy too As a footballer I had to train near enough every day to keep up my fitness level Dogs seem to be capable of lying around all day and then bursting into energy whenever they want I particularly like Labradors because they are good all rounders They are big enough to make people think twice they are bundles of energy their loyalty is beyond question they are easy to train and they have a great temperament I guess that is why they are so popular as guide dogs for people who are blind Aren t they fantastic I have found that Labradors are great family dogs too they are prepared to settle for a short walk but will also walk miles with you Snoop was also a big football fan and he liked nothing better than to chase after a ball or to try to take it off me when I was kicking around He often succeeded too My next dog will be even better because I think I am slowing down a bit CUDDLE BUDDIES I have always taken our dog on holiday with us if we are staying in this country the holiday would not be the same without the complete family and that includes the dog Dogs are so adaptable they don t mind being away from home just so long as we are together That s all that matters We all get our times of being a bit fed up or get the flu or something and that is when the FAMILY MAN At present Gary lives alone and has no plans to change that except possibly to open his door and his heart to well you ve guessed it I am enjoying being single again he said I have got used to it and while I have friends to go out for meals with including female friends I am still in regular touch with both my former wives and our children So in a sense I am still a family man that hasn t changed at all Maybe I am a bit selfish but I like having autonomy and the remote of course I can do what I like but I miss having someone to come home to I don t see myself as getting married again but I can t say that about having another dog I should think that it is unlikely that I will not have another dog before long I miss Snoop and just having a four legged companion That s another great thing about dogs they will watch you on TV and not tell you that you were rubbish P September 2020 Dogs Today 19

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ADVERTISING FEATURE ADVERTISING FEATURE Ditch the itch Burns nutritional adviser Karen Armitage answers some common questions from pet owners about managing dogs with sensitive skin and explains there s often one simple solution I s your pet constantly biting or scratching at their fur Or maybe you ve noticed you re furever having to vacuum due to moulting Although many pet parents believe it s normal for their dog to scratch smell or moult pet nutrition experts Burns believe these symptoms can actually be easily tackled with a few simple changes to your dog s diet meaning a happier pet and a cleaner more hygienic home Are some breeds more prone to itchy skin and moulting than others It does appear that some breeds are predisposed to these issues Years ago I would have spoken to more Westie owners than any other breed Staffies were also way up front especially those with white coats Data from the Burns free nutritional advice line in 2020 shows the Cockapoo and Bichon Frise top the list of enquires about skin issues although Staffies are still included This could simply be because there are more Poodle crosses around now and similarly I see more Bichons than Westies now when I m out and about attending dog shows When it comes to the enquiries we get about moulting Labrador Retrievers top the list Isn t it normal for dogs to scratch and moult Can a change in diet really help It s not normal for a dog to heavily moult outside of the seasonal moult and it is certainly uncomfortable and irritating for your dog to be constantly scratching We are what we eat and this is also true of our furry friends The skin can be aggravated by an unsuitable diet but how Feeding an inappropriate diet be that lower quality ingredients feeding too much or a dietary intolerance can cause a build up of toxins in the body This waste can have an adverse effect on many of the organ systems including the skin This was really brought home to me a few years ago when I was working our trade stand at a local county show I used to bring along our family pet Labrador Whizzy who would normally happily lie by my side watching the world go by On this particular day she kept wandering over to the WI stand opposite It eventually dawned on me that she was being given a cookie every time she went over and looked lovingly at the lady dishing them out I have no idea how many she consumed but by the next day her skin was ultrasensitive Just touching her back sent her into a violent scratching episode luckily it settled back down after a few days Of course this highlighted other times when she appeared to be itchy and these episodes often coincided with overindulgence such as Christmas and children s birthday parties This was also usually followed by an episode of moulting Are there any diet tips for dogs suffering from severely itchy skin Over the years I have met many dogs whose skin has improved by a change in diet One in particular stands out as the change was so remarkable I met a gentleman from Cardiff with a Westie who had such a severe skin condition that she had very little fur left and was traumatising her skin by constantly scratching Having tried so many different medications lotions and potions which made no difference whatsoever he was at the end of his tether A change to a highly digestible diet based on wholegrains was suggested Three months later her lovely coat had grown back there was no more scratching and her skin was nice and healthy I was convinced Dogs with itchy skin are often soothed by natural food free from common allergens and additives My top tip is keep things simple Find a natural wholesome diet that is high in complex carbohydrates especially wholegrains like brown rice and low in protein and fat P l For more information on the causes of sensitive skin and moulting and suggested recipes to treat it visit https burnspet co uk sensitive skin dogs l If you would like personalised advice from a Nutritional Adviser you can also give the Burns Nutrition helpline a call on 0800 083 6696 20 Dogs Today September 2020 HYPOALLERGENIC PROMOTES HEALTHY COAT NATURAL INGREDIENTS HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE SIMPLE RECIPE NATURAL FOOD FOR PETS Developed by Veterinary Surgeon BVMS BVMS MRCVS MRCVS 0800 083 6696 Visit our website burnspet co uk Call our Nutrition Team on LOW FEEDING COSTS

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Words SIMONE TIG STEPHENSON Do As I Do Prompting is similar to luring but you don t have the reward in your luring hand Instead you use your empty hand for the dog to follow marking with Yes or the clicker and rewarding your dog from your other hand Shaping Ever wished you could just show your dog what you would like them to do Now thanks to the work of ethologist Claudia Fugazza from the University of Budapest you can C laudia has developed Do As I Do an intriguing new training technique based upon social learning which is the skill of learning by imitation The concept that dogs can learn new behaviours by observing and copying their handler is not totally new it was originally developed in the 50s by scientists working with chimpanzees However it s only in recent years that it has been explored in domestic dogs and it turns out that dogs are brilliant at social learning from humans Most conventional dog training is achieved with either capturing the behaviour luring prompting or shaping 22 Dogs Today September 2020 Capturing a behaviour means exactly that and works well for things your dog does naturally such as lying down and barking You wait for your dog to start to do the thing you want to train label the action with the word you want to become the verbal cue and then immediately mark either with the word Yes or with a clicker if you prefer and reward Luring is a method where you use the reward something the dog wants such as a treat or toy to encourage the dog to move in the way you would like You probably taught your dog to sit by luring showing them a treat by their nose and then gently moving the treat upwards as your dog s nose follows the treat they sit and you let them know they have achieved the goal by marking with Yes clicker and then rewarding with the lure Once your dog is doing it swiftly each time you begin to add in your verbal cue just before you make your hand movement Over several training sessions the lure is faded away and the dog responds on just the verbal cue is about rewarding your dog for doing successive increments of the behaviour closer to the main goal For example you could teach your dog to nose touch a target with shaping At first you would mark with Yes or the clicker and reward whenever they looked at the target Then you would mark and reward them for stepping towards the target then for sniffing the target and once they are doing that well you would wait for them to touch the target with their nose and mark and reward that Once your dog is able to reliably do the complete action you would add in a verbal cue Do As I Do is a very different training method your dog learns to watch you enact the actions memorises them and then when you ask copies what you did Amazing isn t it Once your dog understands the concept of copying your demonstration on cue it is very easy and fast to teach new tricks and behaviours even complicated ones such as picking up toys and putting them into a box or maybe opening a cupboard taking out an item and bringing it to you When your dog has learnt the task by observing and imitating your demonstration you can add in a verbal cue so your dog will do it when you ask We often exhibit functional imitation with our dogs For example if you show your dog that you want them to pick up an item you will demonstrate this by picking it up with your hand whereas your dog will perform the same action but with their mouth as it would be impossible for them to use their paws Learning through observation and imitation is a natural process for our dogs which we often suppress If we are gardening and our dog joins in and starts digging up the flowers we tend to stop them but imitation can be a great teaching tool There are limitations as to what you can teach as only imitable actions can be taught using the Do As I Do method you can t use it to teach walking on a loose lead or recalls for example So I hear you ask how on earth can I get my dogs to understand that I want them to copy something I do First you need to do some preliminary work 1 A sit stay Your dog needs to have a really good sit stay as it s important they can stay while you move about Eventually they re going to need to sit still and watch you demonstrate the action you want them to copy 2 Three tricks The next thing you will need is for your dog to have three separate tricks Why three As you will see later we need three tricks so we September 2020 Dogs Today 23

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Photo by Nick Keane ABOUT THE AUTHOR Simone Tig Stephenson ACAI MAPDT00655 Tig is a reward based dog trainer with over 20 years experience She specialises in agility and Do As I Do Tig shares her life with three Tervueren aged 16 years 11 years and 8 months old At Crufts 2020 Tig was awarded the KCAI Significant Contribution Award for her contribution to dog training can randomise the order in which they are performed Each trick needs to be something that you can demonstrate Tricks such as spin walk back stand on a stool and paw touch a mat are good examples Ideally at least one of your three tricks should be body actions rather than something that uses a prop Lay down spin wave and walk backwards are all body actions whereas standing on a stool walking round a cone and pawtouching a mat involve a prop So why can t you use three tricks with props Well I suppose you could but when a prop is used it creates object focus and this can work against us when we are teaching the dog the Do As I Do protocol If I have taught my dog to paw touch a mat go around a cone and nose touch a ball each object itself can become the cue for that behaviour For example as soon as my dog sees the mat she will want to do the paw touch trick she won t walk around the mat or nose touch it as she knows the trick she does with the mat is a pawtouch The presence of the mat has become a cue to paw touch This is a good thing for the majority of training we do with our dogs when we pick up our dog s lead they sit in anticipation of the lead being put on as it has become the cue for going on a walk But it s not so helpful for learning Do As I Do It s great if your dog has got lots of prop related tricks as they will be useful in the second phase of learning the Do As I Do protocol 3 Verbal cue only So you have three tricks and at least one is a body action Your dog must be able to perform them with only a verbal cue And I mean really and truly on a verbal cue only no cheating with a tiny nod of the head to encourage the dog not even helping them with your eyes There is an important reason why it s all to do with creating a mental picture When we help the dog by gesturing even just with our eyes the physical cue takes away the need for the dog to picture the behaviour in their mind s eye and if they re going to make the connection between our actions and theirs they need to have a mental representation of what they are doing Here s a little test for you For this you will need some sunglasses Ask your dog to sit put on the sunglasses and put your arms by your sides Make sure your hands don t move Could your dog do their trick with no verbal cues from you Don t forget to reward Test all three tricks this way Mix up the order that you ask for each trick and if you are using a prop such as a mat or a cone make sure this is in position when you ask for each trick Once your dog can do each of the three tricks on verbal cue only you are ready to start teaching the Do As I Do protocol Copy rules When teaching your dog to copy you there is the danger of the dog simply learning that your demonstration is a new cue for the chosen trick giving the illustration of the dog copying the handler when in truth the dog has just learnt a new cue for the trick To prevent this the Do As I Do protocol has some strict rules for the handler The key is to ensure each time you train the protocol you change the order of the three tricks so that it is always random Otherwise your dog will start to learn a pattern rather than to observe you It helps if you number your dog s tricks for example 1 spin 2 paws up 3 go round a cone 1 Ask your dog to sit facing you so 2 3 4 5 6 7 they can clearly watch what you do Leave them in the sit stay and demonstrate your first trick we are doing spin Return to your original position in front of your dog and stand very still Without moving give your new copy me cue Do it or Copy Still without moving give your dog your established verbal cue for the trick Spin Wait for your dog to do the trick Praise and reward them Now repeat steps 1 to 7 with trick number 2 and once that s complete repeat with trick 3 Keeping it random is important so now change the order of the tricks 3 2 1 or 2 1 3 you get the idea Keep changing the order so your dog can t predict which trick you will do Do As I Do is an advanced training method and requires a lot of mental effort from your dog so remember to keep your training sessions short and fun and stop before your dog gets tired or frustrated After doing a few training sessions you will notice that your dog is starting to do the trick when they hear your Do it cue rather than waiting for the name of the trick Now is the time to cut out step 5 you no longer give the original cue word at all Well done Your dog has mastered the first stage of Do As I Do protocol In the second phase of training we generalise the concept with other tricks your dog already knows and once your dog can do that you are ready to begin using Do As I Do to teach your dog new behaviours Want to know more We have covered the basics of Do As I Do training but just as with learning any new skill you may hit problems while teaching your dog the protocol so I recommend Claudia s book which is clear and concise with step by step instructions and help with problem solving If you prefer to learn in person I run Do As I Do training classes at my dog training club and online and I also teach Do As I Do workshops for other dog clubs Once your dog is confident with the protocol you can even do an exam to prove their competence So have a go Do As I Do is such a natural and fun way of learning I hope you and your dog enjoy this training method as much as I do P Do As I Do Using Social Learning to Train Dogs by Claudia Fugazza is published by Dogwise Publishing www doasido it What is Do As I Do Watch Tig train at https youtu be hvPWZJo6WxA 24 Dogs Today September 2020 September 2020 Dogs Today 25

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Crossbreeds Photo poed by models Great Debate If you have an opinion on this subject that is not already covered here putting Great Debate in the subject line Please limit your response to email enquiries dogstodaymagazine co uk 100 words Colette Kase They managed to find ways to do this in other countries with both fostering and rehoming options This not only worked incredibly well I happen to know many people who got a second or third pet or a new one after one had died but it also took a lot of pressure off the charities many of which were struggling for donations Everything was done with hygiene and social distancing and the vets that worked with the organisations found work arounds so they could do the necessary preventative stuff I also know some very lovely people who have had to struggle alone because they were too ethical to adopt an imported puppy but were unable to adopt a dog any other way So dogs have had to sit in kennels all this time when they could have been in a home Should charities have halted adoptions during the lockdown Nicole Carballeiro All rescues are super strict on who gets to rehome a rescue dog I trust their judgement whether it is in a lockdown or not Elspeth Cameron If someone really wanted a rescue dog they would have waited Yet another excuse blaming rescues for people buying a puppy A puppy isn t an essential purchase 26 Dogs Today September 2020 Jenny Hutton I think it should have continued as long as the homes could be vetted properly or with homes already checked The lockdown has caused lots of people to pay silly money normally paid for Championship or trained working dogs for run ofthe mill pets and has contributed to this horrible crime of organised pet theft and mugging to fuel the demand going to unchecked and often unsuitable homes Cathryn Hawkins No rescue should have gone ahead Good vetting and homechecks were still possible using PPE Workmen still came into houses during lockdown Rehomers could have visited adopters in the same way taking the dog to do a meet and greet in their garden I think that lack of rescue dogs has contributed to illegal breeding and dog theft Genuine prospective rescuers will have bought puppies instead Stephanie Zikmann It is a very tough question and it depends on the situation I personally think it s a great opportunity for families to take on board a rescue because of the additional time available to really work on desensitising training and building trust However a responsible guardian should also be mindful not to set up the routine unrealistically it would also be wise to include socialisation to as many things as possible as well as to provide ample alone time for the dog so that they are becoming accustomed to normality too I think if with someone experienced in positive led training and owning dogs adoption during lockdown was a great thing However for some it will prove to be detrimental due to the lack of social interactions and the fact the dog is getting used to having company 24 7 Val Simpkin We lost Beau at the beginning of March and were just starting to feel like we could begin to look for a new addition when lockdown happened One of our local rescues carried on rehoming another shut its doors completely I decided that socialising a dog wouldn t be easy in the weird situation we were in and there was also the situation with vets closing their doors to all but emergencies and the real possibility that I or my husband might get ill of course and so we decided that we would wait until lockdown eased and then look In the meantime I bookmarked a few rescues further away from home who had excellent reputations and made contact explaining our circumstances and so on At the end of June we adopted Tally from Morgans Rescue in Cumbria and he has proved to be a perfect match for us so we are very glad we waited Paul Watkinson What would have happened to all the dogs and cats and other animals if rescue charities had closed their doors on them Without their valuable work and intervention during these uncertain times which is mostly unpaid many dogs and other animals would still remain in appalling conditions and most would have certainly faced death without charities intervention and help I can understand the worries with life returning to normal and then these animals possibly being tossed aside but I would like to think that the rescue charities would have vetted these people carefully enough before allowing them to be adopted How many hundreds or even thousands of lives have rescue charities saved by remaining open Jo Goss It depends on the situation It is always advisable to adopt a dog at a time when you can be at home with them a lot to help them get used to their new family and environment There is always a risk that a few people may only have wanted a dog to alleviate the boredom of lockdown and that they would then return them as soon as they return to work but many adopters are genuine Perhaps allowing fostering rather than full adoption might be a good interim solution Vanessa Waddon No one knew what lockdown would look like Rescues like us were faced with the real possibility that adoptions would stop and with responsibility for every single stray for six local authorities that we would soon run out of space What impossible choices would we have to make then It was vital we continue to rehome working safely within the sector specific guidelines we were given We had to adapt but still managed to adopt out responsibly and maintain our standards Since lockdown started we still managed to admit over 160 dogs who urgently needed our help We couldn t have done that if adoptions stopped Mara Taylor A difficult choice for sure but I cannot see how thorough checks could be carried out under the circumstances and this would make rehoming responsibly very difficult unless the adopter was already known to the rescue A lot of people bring up how people who couldn t get their hands on a rescue were in such a hurry that they went and bought a puppy on impulse for high prices but those are precisely the people no reputable rescue would give a dog to September 2020 Dogs Today 27

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Great Debate Anneka Burek I know a lot of people have just got pups because they couldn t get a rescue dog That is not the rescues fault obviously but the demand for dogs has become very excessive regardless so puppy mills have thrived Prices are at an all time high for dogs that aren t necessarily healthy I fear a big backlash once the prices drop and people decide they want to go on holiday and or the dog doesn t suit their lifestyle I can only hope that the rescues can prepare for this Lizzy Brown We followed government guidelines and managed to get quite a lot of dogs into foster homes with volunteers who were not working It would have been irresponsible to rehome at the beginning of lockdown with vets being closed and even pet food being hard to purchase as people stockpiled it along with loo roll Our view was that dedicated adopters would understand and wait which many did Applications to adopt were ridiculous as many decided they wanted a dog and surprisingly as we made them wait until we could home check again many decided they didn t actually want a dog any more We refused to lower our standards to do video home checks as so much of the visit is a feeling Things were much easier of course for those rescues that don t bother with a homecheck Debbie Anne Rescues adhered to the government guidelines but as usual the same can t be said for the backyard breeders who have been constantly rubbing their hands and supplying to demand 28 Dogs Today September 2020 Words ALESSANDRA PACELLI Gernella Batty I can see a lot of separation issues when the family go back to work or school I suspect there are bound to be a few rejections for some poor animals when they have passed their pretty and entertaining period Hopefully the next owner will get them for the right reasons Moira Doig Unfortunately arrivals didn t stop so unless the rescue had extra capacity they would soon become full The rescues were also running with reduced staff levels and without the normal volunteers We favoured responsible adoptions during lockdown where the adopter selected the dog online and completed a questionnaire We then had a chat and invited the family to meet the dog We covered what would happen when lockdown ended and what strategies would be in place We were very particular as we did not want dogs returned when normality returned Had we chosen to halt adoptions during lockdown dogs in real need would have been turned away This month s result 19 24 57 Pam Pallister No I think the rescue kennels should have continued to rehome dogs even if it eventually turned into a fostering situation If they hadn t the potential rehomers would have turned to puppy farms Yes No Maybe Marianne Anderson I think it was Lisa Gunther and Clive Wynne who did studies on how short stays away from kennels sleepovers etc were hugely beneficial to reducing stress in kennelled dogs so even if these dogs are returned which hopefully they re not at least they got some respite Lisa Park We were given guidelines to what we could do No members of the public could visit the rescue home checks could be done via video and we were allowed to transport no further than 40 miles to drop off dogs with adopters We never contemplated rehoming dogs this way as the few meet and greets between potential adopters and dogs are an important factor in matching the right owner and dog Dropping one of our dogs with strangers just didn t sit well with us at all P Join the debate Next month s topic is Do puppy socialisation classes do more harm than good Email editorial dogstodaymagazine co uk with your thoughts putting Great Debate in the subject line or write to Great Debate Dogs Today The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High St Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ Scotland leads the way In our July issue we reported that a bill to increase the maximum sentences for animal cruelty in Scotland had passed its third and final reading Now that it has received the royal assent it is law and charities are urging England and Wales to follow suit I n a major victory for animal welfare in Scotland acts of cruelty against animals can now be punished with jail sentences up to five years as opposed to the previous maximum of twelve months The Animals and Wildlife Penalties Protections and Powers Scotland Bill which was first introduced in October last year passed its third and final reading on 17 June and has now received the royal assent During the final debate on the Bill Mairi Gougeon MSP said If anything can be taken from the debate it is the passion and strength of feeling that members across the chamber have for animal welfare and our wildlife and the seriousness with which we treat those issues not just here in Parliament but more widely in Scotland I am proud to have introduced this important bill to strengthen and modernise the enforcement of our world leading legislation I truly believe that Scotland has some of the best animal welfare standards in the world This important No 57 and focused bill will have impacts on the ground as soon Yes 24 as it comes into force When it becomes law the bill Maybe 19 will send an even stronger message that animal cruelty and wildlife crime of any kind will not be tolerated in Scotland The cases that Gillian Martin highlighted gave a good illustration of that The bill provides much greater flexibility for authorities to deal with a wide range of offences and it will protect the vulnerable people and animals involved in what are often troubling animal welfare situations It will reduce the burden on courts enforcement authorities police and farmers The bill is welcomed by stakeholders and has strong support from the public I hope that the provisions lead to behaviour changes that further reduce animal cruelty and wildlife crime Battersea Dogs and Cats Home praised the Scottish Government for making this historic and vital change in the law Battersea s chief executive Claire Horton said We are thrilled with this change in the law Battersea alongside the Scottish SPCA other rescue organisations and members of the public have been campaigning for a change in Animal cruelty penalties in Scotland are now in line with many other European countries but England and Wales are lagging behind the law in Scotland since 2017 This change wouldn t have happened without everyone s dedicated support This is the final piece of the puzzle It s been a very long journey to make the punishment fit the crime it will act as a proper deterrent and protect animals from those who would abuse and mistreat them LAGGING BEHIND Animal cruelty penalties in Scotland are now in line with many other European countries but England and Wales are lagging behind with a maximum custodial sentence of only six months even for the most harrowing cases in fact most people convicted spend no time in prison at all The Animal Welfare Sentencing Bill should have brought the maximum sentences up to five years in England as well but the bill was stopped in its tracks when PM Boris Johnson made the decision to prorogue parliament in September 2019 The bill was to fall again as the December 2019 election followed forming a new parliament and was then seemingly forgotten despite the fact it had been widely supported by MPs across the political spectrum In June Labour MPs called for the bill to be finally enshrined into law by autumn A private members bill brought in by Conservative MP Chris Loder is currently seeking to introduce these measures but it has been delayed until later this year for 23 October five months after its original date for discussion in Westminster Claire said The Scottish Government has delivered its promise on tackling animal cruelty It is now time Westminster stopped delaying and followed suit P September 2020 Dogs Today 29

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Best Behaviour by Alison Mercer Challenging other people can be awkward especially with authority figures but when you take on a dog it s your duty to advocate on his behalf The voice A s dog owners guardians pet parents or whatever we want to call ourselves we have to be responsible for our four legged friends We are obliged to do some things by law such as microchipping putting ID tags on collars and keeping them on leads in certain places Other things are also legislated for their well being such as ensuring they enjoy the Five Freedoms freedom from fear injury disease and suffering the freedom to enjoy a suitable environment with appropriate companionship and diet and the freedom to express their natural behaviours On top of that I think most owners would agree that it s necessary to have an appropriate level of training for their lives to be lived comfortably and safely for example housetraining recall walking well on the lead and basic good manners Habituation to sights and sounds eg traffic and livestock and appropriate socialisation with other dogs and humans should also be high on anyone s list of things to work through with their dog However there is one key responsibility that is easily overlooked or can feel difficult to live up to being an advocate for our pet The word advocate comes from the Latin for give a voice and it is precisely that giving a voice for a person being or cause that either lacks one or is rarely listened to When it comes to our pets being or failing to be an advocate for them can have a huge effect on their lives their behaviour and our relationships with them SPEAK OUT From the moment we select a dog be it puppy or adult we need to speak up for our dog If we ve chosen a puppy a good breeder should either already be doing positive handling and habituation and be feeding a suitable diet or they should be open to being asked to do those things and any other reasonable requests For example the breeder of my last puppy was doing a great job and was completely happy to be asked to do a scented cloth swap so pup could smell my dogs and so mine could smell him before they first met If we need a puppy to be habituated during those crucial first weeks to a particular sensation we need to ask the breeder to do that and provide proof they ve done it After all if we are going to invest good money time and love in a pup why shouldn t we expect to get what we ask for If we can ask for a service history and MOT when we buy a car we should absolutely ask for things that affect a living being we expect to share our future years with If we ve decided to have a dog from a rescue source we should ask for as much information as we can get If they say it s dog friendly where s their evidence If it s good with cats children livestock how do they know Do they absolutely know it s OK on its own for a few hours If any of these things are particularly important to us as adopters we need to ask and be sure we re getting honest answers I ve known too many adopters who have been left with animals they didn t sign up for though I recognise that this was sometimes down to less than reputable rescues and inexperienced prospective owners The next thing most of us have to deal with is our family and friends Here it is crucial we speak up for our pets particularly if we have young and or enthusiastic children in the house Many of the most common behaviour problems that trainers are called in to solve could be prevented by everyone being clear about expectations and sticking to certain ground rules ASSERTIVE ADVOCACY Our job as advocate here is to make sure the new dog is given its own safe space and appropriate toys has plenty of proper sleep time and is not treated as a toy to be picked up and played with and then ignored at a whim Leaving a dog to speak for itself when it is overtired overstimulated Illustration KEVIN BROCKBANK 30 Dogs Today September 2020 September 2020 Dogs Today 31

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Best Behaviour Alison Mercer is a Sarah Whitehead s Clever Dog Company Method Trainer based in Exmoor north Devon She runs Carefree Dogs specialising in bespoke one to one training behaviour modification and activities for pet dogs With a background as a search and rescue dog handler and a keen interest in the links between physiology and behaviour Alison is a Talking Dogs Scentwork Accredited Trainer a Real Dog Yoga Accredited Instructor and is working towards Animal Centred Education Certification with Sarah Fisher She is also a Scentwork Instructor for Rachael Landymore at The Haven Dog Training Centre Basing her work on modern kind and effective methods Alison prides herself on creative practical and good humoured routes to success Visit www carefreedogs training to find out more by Ali Mercer or feeling unsafe will lead to growling nipping and worse if we don t step in to speak for them However hard it seems to put our foot down with family and visitors speaking up for them can have a profound effect on their behaviour We can also run into problems with acquaintances and strangers when we re out and about enjoying a walk we will have to speak up if another dog is being a nuisance or our dog doesn t want to meet another because it s afraid in pain or compromised in some way If a meeting or game is inappropriate we must say so If we don t want our dog chasing a ball or stick and potentially getting into conflict with another dog we can politely and firmly ask the other person to stop and wait while we move away It s not always easy though I find saying My dog s in training often meets with compliance Our dog s well being is more important than people s opinion of us If being firm with family and strangers can feel tough advocating for our dogs with trainers groomers and vets can feel even harder It has been proven with some fascinating experiments that we will strongly tend to obey or be unduly influenced by authority figures Trainers and vets are in a natural position of authority when we are the ones seeking help from them Many trainers will have heard clients relate how they went along with something even though they were uncomfortable with it or even disagreed entirely I doubt anyone hasn t experienced this at some time in their pet owning life particularly when they were inexperienced It s probably best to trust our gut instinct and not let others blind us with science or worse bully us into compliance LEARN TO QUESTION As we learn more about how dogs tick physically emotionally and behaviourally we should be more confident in speaking up if we are not happy about a training approach or technique a path of treatment or method of handling I will never forget the look of fear and seeming betrayal one of my dogs gave me when he was suddenly pinned down by two vet nurses for a painful though thankfully quick procedure In hindsight I blame myself for not asking to be absolutely clear what the vet wanted to do I now know better and am not afraid to ask questions or insist on things if it s for the good of my dogs even if someone thinks I m being difficult Our dogs need to be our priority and by making sure they are as OK as they can be we can hopefully avoid the fears and defensive behaviours that can result from inappropriate handling Essentially it boils down to us deciding what is acceptable and appropriate for our animals as individuals and being confident or brave enough to speak up for their best interests Whatever other imperfections we have as owners we should take this responsibility to heart P When we re out and about enjoying a walk we will have to speak up if another dog is being a nuisance or our dog doesn t want to meet another because it s afraid in pain or compromised in some way If a meeting or game is inappropriate we must say so 32 Dogs Today September 2020 Discover FOR A PERFECT DOG FRIENDLY STAYCATION holiday pembrokeshire co uk

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Beagle Photo posed by models Quick question Do you have a problem you d like answered by an expert Or do you want advice from someone with personal experience of the issue Email your question to enquiries dogstodaymagazine co uk What tips do you have for taking a dog on a camping trip Are there any must have items I should pack and how can I ensure the experience is a positive one BLUE CROSS ADVICE Getting used to the tent If your dog has never been camping before it s best to try to get them used to it before you go If you can pop the tent up in your garden while your dog watches you You can reward them with praise and treats for calm behaviour around the tent As your dog will be sleeping in the tent with you you ll need to get them used to being inside it This may seem strange but dogs are often not used to such a confined space and the lack of windows may make them worry Try to encourage your dog inside the tent with lots of praise and treats and calmly sit next to them inside Leaving the tent up all day and going in and out with them in short bursts will be the best way to encourage them inside with you You can even give them their favourite chew when they are lying in the tent with you Downtime Remember to give your dog some downtime When we re camping we spend a lot more time outdoors and normal routines go out the window This can cause interruption to our dogs sleeping habits so be sure to give them time to sleep during the day as well as when they re with you at night Much like people a lack of sleep can lead your dog to feel tired and irritable and could cause them to act differently than they usually do Bonfires Being huddled near a fire with friends and family can be incredibly cosy but they can pose a danger to our dogs if they get too close Be sure to keep them on a lead when around the fire pit and always keep a close eye on them Make sure the fire is controlled and put out correctly before you head to your tent for the night And don t let your dog walk near the fire area until it has completely cooled dog paws are very sensitive and the ground can stay hot for hours after a fire has been put out Livestock A lot of campsites in the UK are based on or near farmland Be extra careful around livestock with your dog they need to be placed on a lead It s a criminal offence to allow your dog to chase or attack livestock and farmers can shoot dogs they believe are worrying livestock on their land Camping in the heat Camping is far more tempting when it s hot While we may relish the heat our dogs often really struggle Try to find a camping spot in a shaded area and never leave your dog in a hot tent on their own A tent can act like a greenhouse and heat up really quickly Know the signs of heatstroke in dogs and keep them in the shade during the hottest parts of the day Think about ways you can keep them cool and if there s a river lake or a dog friendly beach nearby treat your dog to a nice dip to cool them off P 34 Dogs Today September 2020 WHAT TO PACK Bed and blankets you ll need somewhere for your dog to sleep and retire to so be sure to take their bed and some blankets with you for extra warmth in the nights Treats and chews giving your dog a nice chew or treat ball can keep them entertained while you re chatting by the bonfire or playing some outdoor games Food don t forget their food and be sure to store this in a cool dry place Bowls for food and water spending more time outside will inevitably mean that your dog will be exercising more than usual So always have water available and provide a nice deep water bowl as well as taking their usual food bowl A long line this is helpful for dogs who have a chase drive Most people go camping to the countryside so having your dog on a long line will give you reassurance that they can run around if they want to but won t be able to chase after any wildlife that may be on the grounds Harness if your dog is not used to the sights sounds and smells of the countryside they can sometimes pull a little more on the lead as their senses become overwhelmed with lots of exciting information Having a harness will make sure that any pressure from pulling isn t placed on their neck and will also help if you want to have them permanently on lead Tie out stake having your dog on a lead at all times can be tiring for you A tie out stake can become your best friend in these situations This allows you to place your dog s lead on to a pole that is twisted into the ground meaning you can get on with barbecues and other activities while your dog is safely tethered Wind break providing a wind break or some form of screen gives your dog some privacy especially if they re on a tether If your dog is worried or frustrated by other dogs passing a wind break can help settle them and stop the barking Towel muddy paws are no fun when traipsed through a tent Keep a towel handy by the tent porch so you can avoid a Beethoven style shake off in your sleeping area September 2020 Dogs Today 35

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Postbag Your news views SAVING SETTERS I have always wanted my own Irish Setter and English Setter I have both now with the added satisfaction of them both being from rescues After contacting the fabulous rescue charity Settusfree my English Setter Emy came to me from Lombardy Italy three months later than planned due to the Covid 19 lockdown Emy s gotcha day was 8 June 2020 the start of her new life in her forever home Emy has settled so well and acts as if she was always meant to be a much adored member of our family She has become good buddies with our senior Cocker Spaniel Holly and although not quite inseparable yet we can see things flourishing between them We know Emy is happy and that is the main thing She spends a lot of time in the garden enjoying the summer sun chasing butterflies and snoozing She has found her voice letting us know when she wants her food or to go for her evening walk Her confidence has improved no end and our bond with her is growing We continue to ensure Emy has the love and affection she deserves after a not so fortunate start to her four year old life Our family is more than complete with our dogs now and if the story of Emy s successful adoption can inspire other dog lovers to offer these beautiful dogs a loving caring home then it s something I am proud to help promote Sue Daniels Obituaries Your tributes Get in touch We love to hear your news and views and see photos of your dogs PICTURE PERFECT Ianto was very proud to see himself in the June issue of Dogs Today Megan Richards RUNNING FREE Meet my two babies Samurai the white Bull Terrier is seven months old Daisy is almost five years old and blind but that doesn t hold her back I love them to bits Yolandi Cloete Email editorial dogstodaymagazine co uk Write to us at Dogs Today The Old Print House 62 The 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 dogstodaymagazine co uk From Facebook WE ASKED OUR FOLLOWERS WHAT S THE MOST DAMAGE YOUR DOG HAS DONE WHILE YOU WERE Peter Stock My lounge Christopher Everett The sofa Just the entire sofa Catherine Bradbury My dog tried to get into the bin got the lid stuck around her neck panicked and ran into an antique lamp I returned home from a trip to buy groceries to find the lamp shattered and Page sitting in a corner lid still around her neck trying to act like nothing at all had happened The grocery store is next door I was away no more than eight minutes Caroline Evans Shoes so many shoes 36 Dogs Today September 2020 Lisa White I went to the post office left the telly on to keep my dog company and returned to a broken telly on the floor No such thing had ever happened before I wonder if a cat appeared on the screen Jenny Millward Every single bauble on the tree on his first Christmas with us Lynne Smith A lovely dress I had laid out on the bed to wear for the evening before I went to buy some pastries to take to the party My terrier decided it would make a wonderful toilet GONE FOR ONLY 10 MINUTES 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 6 or email editorial dogstodaymagazine co uk and put Tribute in the subject line DIXIE Dixie came into my life at three years old I met her from walking her on Borrow My Doggy and her owners could no longer look after her due to work commitments so they gave her to me Little did I know how much Dixie would save my life I went through a very difficult time and got diagnosed with MS Dixie was my therapy dog through it all She made me so happy and helped so many members of my family too She really did touch everyone s hearts People say she was like a human in a dog s body She had a number of trips to London by train She even had a doggie afternoon tea in Kensington London She went everywhere with me and had the very best life Unfortunately she died at the young age of six due to a surgical swab being left inside her when she was spayed at six months old Her life may have been short but she was loved by many and was treated like the queen she was Dixie died on 12 June 2020 Never forgotten and always in my heart Leila Ives ARCHIE Clare Balding and her beautiful Tibetan Terrier Archie featured in Dogs Today s June issue Unfortunately elderly Archie passed away soon afterwards I am so sad to tell you that our beloved Archie has walked his last walk Clare wrote Alice and I are brokenhearted but grateful to him for the joy he gave us the places he took us and the friends he brought us We miss him so much RIP Archie 2005 2020 September 2020 Dogs Today 37

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M 38 Dogs Today September 2020 WE KNOW DOGS Shop showing grooming breeding essentials now l New products regularly added l Sign up to our mailing list to stay up to date with news exclusive offers l Need your order in a hurry Express delivery available Little Monty on his first day at home onty s Dog Store is an online family run store based in Warrington Cheshire We are handmade grooming products made incredibly passionate about supporting in the UK from 100 per cent natural our customers to provide their dogs with ingredients the happiest healthiest and most What makes us unique and different stimulating life possible We believe that from our competitors The simple answer our four legged best friends are just as is that Monty s Dog Store is a community important as any other family member first and a business second Also we have Since Monty s Dog Store launched four a champion dog toy tester Yes Monty months ago we have been extremely really does test every single toy we sell humbled by the fantastic response If a toy fails the Monty test then it does support and reviews we have received not appear for sale on the store from the wonderful community of Our aim is to support dog owners in Sadly there are many dog owners and dog lovers across the multiple ways Our website and social cheap fake branded UK What makes us different from our media platforms provide useful articles dog toys for sale online competitors I will tell you very shortly blogs and posts designed to keep dogs which pose a serious but first I want to share with you how happy healthy and stimulated We pride health risk to dogs due to Monty s Dog Store went from being a ourselves on providing personalised the chemicals contained dream to becoming a reality this may customer service and support within the toy s rubber surprise you Over the coming months we will and stuffing As the old On 15 April 2018 a beautiful eightbe further increasing our own branded saying goes if it looks week old Bulldog named Monty arrived at product range having listened to our too good to be true his forever home Our family was bursting customers feedback and suggestions then it probably is with happiness and excitement Never has We will provide more useful information a dog been more loved and spoilt and educational content including Over the coming days we quickly found that Monty free dog training videos and interviews with experts had two puppy passions an insatiable desire for biting Above all we will continue to support dog rescue and toes and a love for ripping apart dog toys Despite rehoming charities our endless search of high street pet stores we were This is just the beginning We want you to be part of our unable to find safe dog toys that were robust fun and community and our journey in supporting dog owners and stimulating to meet Monty s needs enriching the lives of dogs We look forward to you joining us and sharing your dog stories and photos on our website CHOKING HAZARD and social media P One fateful day will remain with us forever We gave Monty a new toy and after a short while he started choking Fortunately we were both present in the lounge to quickly remove the toy s stuffing from his throat The experience made us realise that we needed to take positive action We decided to launch an online dog store that focused on meeting the needs of dog owners by engaging with them to address their concerns We would provide a large range of safe fun and stimulating dog toys from Monty s Dog Store 4A Rylands St well established brands such as Kong and Zogoflex Warrington Cheshire WA1 1EN After several months of hard work and long hours we www montysdogstore com were delighted to launch Monty s Dog Store providing sales monty dog com a one stop shop with safe branded toys along with r ou ty es qu Re Bulldog Monty s proud owners tell us about the inspiration behind Monty s Dog Store and the near death experience that changed their lives EEue FcRatalog Meet Monty Monty tests the Kong Flex Ball Advertising feature www petcetera co uk ONLINE 01948 668100 CALL US IN STORE BRADELEY GREEN TARPORLEY ROAD WHITCHURCH SY13 4HD

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T My Dog Crush Photo by Tim Rose www timrosephotography co uk hese friendly dogs have a striking appearance and a tendency to play the clown They will have you laughing every single day Sponsored by For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Our survey of Bull Terrier owners revealed Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018 UK Winners 2013 2019 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk Character M any of us have dog crushes soft spots for breeds or types that we love but know we ll probably never own for lots of terribly sensible reasons Maybe you don t have enough hours in the day for the dog you dream of Perhaps you have a wandering eye and there are just too many dogs to fit into a lifetime Or you already have a house squashed full of adored allsorts that chose you In this feature we go through popular dog crushes and take a fresh look at what it would be like to actually live with them 40 Dogs Today September 2020 Bull Terrier These are powerful dogs with big personalities and lots of love to give but even their owners recognise a Bull Terrier isn t always the sharpest knife in the drawer around a third of our owners say their dogs are not very bright or even a bit daft The majority however are either very intelligent or at least averagely clever Only 10 say their dogs are easy to train and they have a reputation for being a little stubborn They love to learn says one owner but make you out to be liar when you want to show people They are very affectionate and generally quite relaxed when they re not having a loopy moment Training exercise Most of our dogs enjoy short to medium walks several times a day rather than great long hikes They also enjoy some fun and games at home Some of our owners do take part in activities such as obedience and agility but more than one owner responded with Are you having a laugh to the question about participating in activities Coat care Coat maintenance is nice and easy with this short coated breed just an occasional bath and comb are needed Dogs with skin conditions might need to be given a bath more often Although over 50 of our owners say that shedding is no worse than with other breeds some owners do admit the hair can be a bit much I wake up with white eyelash extensions explains one Health Just under 20 say their Bull Terriers are the healthiest dogs they ve ever owned but a similar number say their dogs have made the vet a fortune According to our owners Bull Terriers are prone to allergies and skin conditions In fact 40 suffer from allergies and a whopping 68 have experienced skin conditions Eye problems can also be an issue with the breed The Bull Terrier Club strongly recommends testing for a number of medical conditions including heart and kidney disorders and hearing loss especially for white dogs as well as a very serious inherited skin condition called lethal acrodermatitis Trancing Trancing is a very unusual trait that seems particularly common in Bull Terriers Greyhounds are also known to exhibit this behaviour Often following an encounter with a plant or some curtains the dog will seem to slip into a trance like state and move in slow motion often in circles This is also known as ghost walking One of our owners explains Not only does he do it in the garden under bushes but he also sticks his head in my wardrobe to trance when my clothes touch his head For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018 UK Winners 2013 2019 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk September 2020 Dogs Today 41

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My Dog Crush Downsides Can be stubborn Tend to become a bit over excited Fair weather walkers Prone to some serious medical conditions Traits Origins W hen bear and bull baiting were banned in 1835 Bulldogs were crossed with terrier breeds to create a faster nimbler dog more suitable for the rat pit and tragically dog fighting These original dogs were known as Bull and Terriers and they were highly prized for their speed ferocity and ability to dispatch vast quantities of rats The descendants of these rough and ready dogs are the much gentler Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers that we know today Best Facebook groups Absolute Bull Terrier Rescue Bullie Walks UK Bull Terrier Addicts Entertaining Affectionate Happy Playful Clever Funny Owner s view L ola is an easygoing seven year old Bull Terrier who lives in Leeds with Kelley Smith She can come across as a bit dim admits Kelley because she charges about and sometimes runs into things but she s actually very intelligent She s active too she gets a couple of hours exercise a day and will plod along for miles The only downside is other people s reactions some people seem terrified of bull type breeds and will pick up their children or dogs Such reactions can be frustrating and are totally unjustified according to Kelley People are blaming the wrong end of the lead she says Despite these prejudices Lola just keeps on being cheerful and carrying a ball in her mouth Best Facebook Groups Keep Calm and Papillon Papillon Lovers For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018 UK Winners 2013 2019 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk 42 Dogs Today September 2020 September 2020 Dogs Today 43

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My Dog Crush Love the breed Shop the breed v This characterful handmade Bull Terrier keyring would make a superb gift for the Bully lover that has everything 28 from www etsy com uk shop PeculiarPals Best names Elsie Reg Agnes Nellie Maximus Stanley Thumbelina Bullseye Wear your love for the breed for all to see with this quirky T shirt designed by Emily Devine 15 from www etsy com uk shop emilydevineart Bull Terrier antics Checks the weather before she decides to go for a walk If it s raining she point blank refuses Regularly sleeps in the bathtub when I m out Demolished the cat flap by repeatedly ramming his head through just for fun v Celebrate a birthday with this cheeky Bull Terrier card 3 60 from www etsy com uk shop TheTerriersClub This cuddly Bull Terrier toy is 12 tall and can be personalised with an engraved tag From 14 95 and available from www paradisepets co uk There are lots of other Bull Terrier gifts available and Dogs Today readers can get 10 per cent off their order by entering the code DOGS TODAY at checkout Enjoy your cuppa of choice in one of these cheerful mugs The colourful splash illustration by Lisa Jayne Art is 10 from www etsy com uk shop LisaJayneArtLtd and the handmade mug with 3D head is 44 from www etsy com uk shop CentralCraftsCo v v If you re not able to own a Bull Terrier you can make one from felt with easy to follow instructions 19 50 from www notonthe highstreet com clara Manages to embarrass me or make me laugh every walk Spins and twists inside her duvet and then shouts for help to get back out Perfect to pop in your handbag this compact mirror features original artwork by Simon Hart 12 50 from www notonthehighstreet com simonhart Curtain twitches with her cat brother For Dog People by Dog People For Dog People by Dog People Because your dog deserves the BEST NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018 UK Because your dog deserves the BEST NO MORE PULLING NO MORE RIDING UP NO MORE RUBBING NO MORE COMING OFF NO MORE DISCOMFORT REVOLUTIONARY HEADCOLLAR Winners 2013 2019 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Awarded Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018 UK Winners 2013 2019 Dogmatic UK Ltd is on Facebook Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Endorsed by Dr David Sands BSc PhD CFBA Fellow of the Canine Feline Behaviour Association Call to join the ever growing number of people changing to Dogmatic 01952 245330 or visit us at www dogmatic org uk 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 September 2020 September 2020 Dogs Today 45

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Victoria Stilwell Be kind Victoria Stilwell is a world renowned dog trainer best known as the creator and host of the international hit TV series It s Me or the Dog as well as Greatest American Dog on CBS Dogs Might Fly on Sky One and her web series about police K9s and their handlers Guardians of the Night A passionate advocate for positive dog training methods she is the founder of the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training Behavior www vsdta com and the CEO of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training www vspdt com Visit www positively com for news about Victoria s work and details about her books The Secret Language of Dogs Train Your Dog Positively and It s Me or the Dog Illustrations KEVIN BROCKBANK 46 Dogs Today September 2020 The dog world has its fair share of online bullies who troll those who have different views on breeding diet and health But ironically trainers who promote kindness are treated especially hatefully H ave you ever received negative comments or been bullied on social media If you have then you understand how bad it can make you feel and how damaging it can be This month s column is not about dogs but this is a conversation we all need to be having right now and that is why I am sharing what has happened to me since I became known in the media world It s Me or the Dog started in late 2004 and began airing on Channel 4 in the spring of 2005 Social media did not exist then and the only way people could voice their opinions was in print on TV radio and via email When I first started filming the show I had my email address on my website and when I finished filming in 2013 Facebook was just becoming popular Since then social media has become a very important way to spread my mission which is to Change dogs lives positively Although I have a lot of support there are some people that have criticised what I do and have voiced their opinions to me over the years The emails I received when It s Me or the Dog first hit TV screens were overwhelmingly supportive The night the first episode aired the phones at Ricochet productions the production company that made the show rang off the hook Production staff came into work the next morning to find over 500 emails and phone messages waiting for them from viewers wanting me to help with their dogs I also received hundreds of emails via my website and even though some people criticized what I did they did so in a constructive manner that was sometimes really helpful When you are in the midst of filming a television show working 14 hour days writing a book doing media appearances and trying to raise a family it is hard to get a good and fresh perspective on what you are doing And so I found some of the emails that gave me constructive criticism really helpful and took their advice on board SAD OUTCOME Then the Benji episode aired Benji was a black Cocker Spaniel that bit a child in the home he lived in five times during one frenzied attack scarring her physically and emotionally I had worked with Benji and his family six weeks prior to the attack and the family were making great progress They had been accepted on to the show because even though Benji had snapped at the younger child in the house once the situation was workable The child had dropped a packet of crisps on the ground and Benji tried to bite her as she reached down to get them I approached the episode with caution but made sure as I do with every family to get a full medical and behavioural history of both dogs before I took the case on I have learned however that people either forget to divulge information or do not think that some behaviours are relevant This was true in this case After Benji attacked the older child I found out additional information that the family had not told me Benji would sometimes stand on the landing and growl at the family as they came out of their bedrooms After these growling episodes he would take himself off to his bed at the top of the stairs and sit staring straight ahead of him with a glazed look in his eyes For a few minutes he was unreachable and seemed exhausted and out of it This was new information to me and I could not understand why the family had not told me prior to me working with them If they had I would not have taken on the case and would have referred them to a veterinary behaviourist instead Benji s behaviour seemed to suggest there was something much more sinister going on that he might be suffering from idiopathic rage syndrome also known as Cocker rage This could be due to seizure activity in the brain or some other neurological problem I advised the family to take Benji to a vet behaviourist for further investigation but they had already consulted with their vet and made up their minds to put Benji down I was filming down south when the call came and could not get up north to meet with the family again A producer was sent down to the location and filmed me on a phone call with the family where I supported the vet s advice and their decision that Benji should be euthanased At the time I did not have editorial control of my show and only a small portion of my conversation aired It is the only time that I was upset with the producers I still love respect and work with the production company who made It s Me or the Dog today and I know everyone makes mistakes but the way the episode was edited caused a backlash against me that lasts to this day FALLOUT On the night the Benji episode aired I took my daughter into London to see Disney on Ice When I got back to my flat I could not understand why there were so many emails in my inbox but I soon found out why Viewers were incensed at how the Benji episode had been handled Children had been watching and no one expected a bad outcome We do not lie on my show and make out that everything is wonderful when it is not which is something I am proud of but I was nevertheless shocked by some of the things viewers had written How could I blame them September 2020 Dogs Today 47

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When I eventually watched the episode myself I was appalled This was the first time I was abused online Some emails contained threats against me and my family and called me a dog killer People who did not know me or Benji s full story were threatening me for killing a dog The papers also got hold of the story and people called for me to be taken off the air even though other animal behaviour experts supported the decision the family had made T 01252 845988 E info animussurgical com ViMEDBOND oline Monoline Monovite Catgut Nylomide NyloBlue Skin Glue For the repair of small cuts HARSH LESSON The Benji episode would have been forgotten if not for a few people that saw a perfect way to smear my name even more Homemade videos started appearing on YouTube about Benji and the dog killer I never watched them The Benji experience changed me and taught me a valuable lesson I removed my email address from my website and negotiated more editorial control over my shows It s Me or the Dog was and still is a great television show but people will crop up even now to say hateful things while others criticise my methods and techniques used on earlier shows without realising that my first shows were filmed 15 years ago and I have evolved since then Every trainer should keep evolving and use the information we learn from behavioural and cognitive science to make our methods better but anyone can sit behind their computer and be an expert They can pick you apart and voice their opinions without knowing all the information and without being experts themselves They can do it respectfully or they can crush you I am outspoken about using humane training methods and have remained true to that message for 20 years I have a lot of support but I am also still regularly attacked by people who use outdated training methods and equipment to train dogs and are threatened by what I say I thought I would share some of the 48 Dogs Today September 2020 Single orders available online No account necessary See website for full product range names I have been called over the years so you understand what I am writing about I apologise if I offend anybody with this list of profanities but I write them to show the level of depravity people will sink to I have been called a bitch a fake a phony idiot stupid weak ugly and the c word I ve been told to go f myself and to die I have had fake stories circulated about me by those that are jealous and have an axe to grind POWER OF KINDNESS I m writing about this now because I have been following the story about Caroline Flack and why she killed herself I did not know her but I knew of her work on Love Island I know she was in an ongoing court case and that she had been suffering with depression I also know that she had been tormented by the media and social media The internet opens the world up to us but it also makes us vulnerable to attack If we try to make the world a better and kinder place we should be able to do it without being called a nasty word We should be able to do it without people telling us we should die We should be able to do it without fearing for our lives Of course everyone has a right to criticise and we do not have to agree with everything everyone says but if we stick our heads up above the parapet and speak out against cruelty and injustice and for kindness we should be able to do so without being crushed The day after Caroline Flack died I posted the following on my Facebook page Like the MeToo movement I wanted to share with people what had happened to me I ended with this paragraph To all of you who have ever trolled someone or have crushed them because they speak out for good for kindness and a better way just stop Turn your fear your anger and your hate into good If you don t agree with someone voice your opinion eloquently and respectfully And if you seek to take someone down because you feel bad about yourself turn that insecurity into kindness Our world is sick at the moment but the way we combat that is to stand up for good help those that are vulnerable and use our voices for positive change Even though our leaders are bullies you don t have to be KindnessIsPowerful P www animussurgical com

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True Case History by Peter Neville A young German Shepherd Dog s birdwatching habit starts to make the The problem The client Owners Jane and Carl Address Johannesburg South Africa Name Blaize Breed German Shepherd Dog Age A year old Sex Neutered male Problem Bird mad Dear Peter I am really hoping that you can help us Our lovely young GSD Blaize is completely obsessed with birds He spends his entire day trying to catch them and as we have so many living around us of so many different sizes and shapes he is kept very busy indeed Of course they have all learned about him and stay out of his reach perching on walls and just out of range but this has simply resulted in him barking at them in frustration pretty well all day It s become a real problem for our neighbours as well as us and so any advice would be hugely appreciated Kind regards Jane 50 Dogs Today September 2020 Incessant barking can be a huge disruption for everyone living within earshot of a noisy dog especially a big barked breed like a German Shepherd Dog and so when I received this mail I knew we had to act soon if we wanted to save everyone s sanity in Jane s neighbourhood I went to visit Jane Carl and Blaize at the first available opportunity to see what we could do about Blaize s barking Meeting the family When I arrived at their home I was greeted by an extremely exuberant German Shepherd Dog who ran up to me with what could only be called a big smile on his face His tail was wagging so hard and making such a loud thump thump sound on the gate that I was worried he would injure himself He was beautifully mannered though and promptly planted his backside on the ground and offered me a paw to shake hello Jane who was standing next to me at the gate told me they d spent a lot of time and energy training Blaize not to jump up at visitors and to shake a paw instead because her elderly mother lived with the family and they didn t want him to hurt her by jumping up against her Of course I obliged by shaking Blaize s paw and gave him a quick chest rub to let him know that he was indeed an exceptionally good dog neighbours twitchy The background Jane and Carl both loved the breed and had bought Blaize from a local breeder with a good reputation for producing handsome fit and well behaved dogs They had met Blaize s parents before the litter was born and spent a lot of time with the pups from birth until they could take their chosen one home at eight weeks The breeder housetrained the pups and made sure they were already well socialised with their other adult dogs and selected guests by the time they each went to their respective homes Blaize settled in with Jane and Carl without any problems and attended a puppy school from nine and a half weeks sticking with his training until he graduated at nine months He was a lovely sociable and well behaved dog who clearly had a wonderful relationship with his pet parents The family lived in a spacious home with a lovely garden They walked Blaize once a day in local parks for up to four kilometres of their walking and maybe 10 kilometres of his running about and he was fed only the best food often home prepared He slept in their bedroom on his own comfortable bed at night and generally was an all round easy companion Jane worked from home so Blaize had company all day long and she was the first to pick up on Blaize s bird fixation She showed me a photo she had taken for Carl of Blaize walking along the base of a wall following a bird walking along the top of it He was so fixated on the bird that he didn t realise that he had reached the end of the wall and had ended up walking into the adjoining wall A few weeks later the barking at birds started and a couple of days before my visit the neighbours had begun to complain That s when they decided to call me for help Peter Neville is an adjunct teaching professor at The Ohio State University USA and a director of Coape International an online education provider of pet behaviour therapy courses www coapesa com and www facebook com COAPEInternational Peter has presented a behavioural case history from his practice for Dogs Today since the very first issue He now lives in Finland with his partner Stella their Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Spooch and cats Bulldozer and Asla but he frequently disappears to Africa to help guide safaris specialising in tracking and studying African Wild Dogs and other large predators with Rae Safaris www raesafaris co za Understanding the issue Blaize was a young energetic dog and while he was certainly well looked after it soon became clear that he was somewhat bored when outdoors all on his own while Jane was working He loved his walks and spent a lot of time with his family but when they were unavailable he didn t really have anything to do I noticed a distinct absence of toys and after spending a few hours observing Blaize I could comfortably share with Jane and Carl the reason for their dog s fixation on birds Blaize would only fixate on stalking and chasing birds when Jane was working and Carl wasn t home He would spend the first part of his morning with Jane but as soon as she sat down at her computer he would go outside to find a bird to stalk and chase Usually the birds were on the ground but after a while they started to sit on the walls instead just outside Blaize s reach This caused him some frustration He soon learned that when he barked at the birds they would either fly away or move off and so it was the perfect occupation for him Blaize was quite merrily doing his breed type specialist behaviour of herding what was available to him while his owners were occupied If it weren t for the neighbours objecting to the barking Jane and Carl probably would not have known that this was how he was amusing himself in their absence September 2020 Dogs Today 51

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True Case History by Peter Neville Luckily for us Blaize loved his food So I decided to introduce him to the joys of chewing a stuffed Kong as that would be something that he could do when Jane was busy with work The first time I put a stuffed Kong on the ground in front of him he took one look and grabbed it ran to his bed and proceeded to chew on it until it was sopping wet with GSD drool Now normally when you introduce a dog to a Kong you start off on the easy setting with the Kong filled with kibble packed loosely with a smear of peanut butter liver or cheese spread across the hole so that the food can easily fall out as soon as the opening is licked clean Blaize mastered this far too quickly and pretty well sucked the cap off the toy so we quickly went straight to the intermediate level of packing the stuffing in more tightly and mixing it with peanut butter so that it was sticking together more BRAIN AT WORK Tackling the behaviour I was very glad that Jane had not punished Blaize for the barking It would have marred their perfect relationship and that was something we certainly didn t want Instead of rebuilding relationships damaged because of punishment especially of such an innate behaviour we could focus on finding a more suitable activity for Blaize to engage in when he needed something to do Blaize clearly liked herding and this behaviour was extremely rewarding for him What could we introduce him to that would be equally rewarding For it to compete with the herding and guard barking it had to be as freely available and as much fun to do This meant it couldn t be something that included Jane or Carl which rather narrowed it down to a selection of fooddispensing toys tracking activities and chew toys 52 Dogs Today September 2020 But this too was too easy for such a smart dog and so we moved to the expert level of stuffing the Kong freezing it or putting it in a two litre plastic container filled with diluted stock and frozen into a solid block of ice Blaize absolutely loved his Kong He carried it around in his mouth and as soon as it was empty he d start playing with it by dropping it to make it bounce around all over the place as Kongs do and then chasing after it catching it and repeating Jane decided to provide all his meals in his Kong to make sure he didn t put on weight and we introduced a few sessions of fetch per day as well I tested Blaize to see if he would also enjoy being scatter fed in the garden as a means of keeping him occupied but he didn t like it at all The birds were also just too big a distraction then especially when some of them quickly learned to get their own back on him by flying and landing quickly to steal his kibble So we opted to stick to Kongs chew toys and fetch sessions to keep Blaize active and occupied and to distract him from the birds The result Now he had so much to do Blaize quickly forgot about those boring silly birds and his feathered fixation stopped If only all my cases were this easy to solve Blaize took to his new daily entertainment like a pro and soon the barking was a thing of the past Jane and Carl were diligent caring caregivers and their devotion to their dog really showed It was such a pleasure working with them and their neighbours were delighted too with the swift resolution of the problem But then as I learned long ago if you take the time to get things right with GSDs they do respond so very quickly P Dog Insurance with up to 30 off Visit theinsuranceemporium co uk DT99 or call 03300 243 980 today Entertainment Leisure Insurance Services is an appointed representative of The Equine and Livestock Insurance Company Limited The Insurance Emporium is a trading name of The Equine and Livestock Insurance Company Limited registered in England and Wales no 294940 which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority no 202748 The 30 discount is made up of 20 Introductory Discount plus 10 Multi pet Discount if appropriate The Introductory Discount is available for the rst 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies O er ends 31 12 2020 and is only redeemable on monthly policies and not where premiums are paid annually Our Defaqto 5 Star Rating applies to Lifetime Gold Dog Insurance policies BESTIE PREMIUM DOG TREATS with HEMP OIL EXTRACT Naturally rich in Phytocannabonoids and high in Omega 3 6 9 Oils Recommended for Arthritis Joint Discomfort Post Surgery Recovery Aches and Pains Hip Dysplasia Stress and Anxiety Order online at www leafheal org or call our free careline 0800 999 1223 Leafheal

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Put the kettle on and have a go at our competitions Winners of the Breedsearch Cross Question and Caption Competition will receive a bottle of the wonderful shampoo from The Missing Range from Completely Conkers Breedsearch I R R E T H C I W R O N R V L R N I A E C R R I L I E A E B R E E I I G N V I I E N A S D S U Z B R O H E S N R A R D N N G L S E I T X F A S R R R I A O C Y I T M A R A U Q E D E R D A O P E H T G P F H H F E E T O T T E A E O S T I D A S I A A F B Y N T E L I N H T R R R N N R M R M Y O S E R K L R D W H E E E A C E A L R B E E E O A S E E R M L S T S T S B L R E T D T X W E L A I E E I A K N V Y Y R E L R L O N L I A T H H L Y E B U Y N O E S C L G C G C S Z O A I A L T K M C R I N R N G N Y V U M P T G N U A S O T R R A E O E L E D I I R Can you come up with an amusing and witty caption for this photo Do you have a funny pic you d like us to feature Please email it to us at the address on the facing page In the ring I N A P S D L E S H W O L I F N F I I M Clue for missing letters Ex Strictly judge famous for saying Seven A B U QAR F H O U N D T O E S Q S U S S E X S P A N I E L C S M O O T H C O L I E M E R L I T B S R P H I O B Find 25 hard to find dog breeds in this wordsearch When you have finished you should be able to solve this clue It s what all these dogs have in common They are all __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ according to the Kennel Club Search up down forward backward and on the diagonal to find the hidden words Send the list and the hidden quote you have found to the email or postal addresses below I BOLT Eight lucky winners of the Breedsearch picked at random will win a bottle of luxury dog shampoo from The Missing Range from Completely Conkers and the winners of the Cross Question and Caption Competition will each win a bottle too This bespoke collection of natural dog grooming products is blended using only the finest pure essential oils that smell divine Each shampoo features a very special missing dog The range is dedicated to all missing dogs wherever they may be and is inspired by Conker a much loved Spanish Water Dog who went missing on 22 November 2013 in Oxfordshire and has not yet been found The manufacturer s greatest wish is to reunite the featured long lost dogs by telling their stories on the bottles of Completely Conkers The first lost dogs to appear will be Izzy Megan Chester Lexi Hansum Hugo and of course Conker You can hear each dog s story in their owners own words at https completelyconkers co uk Just for fun Unscramble the jumbled letters in the circles You ll see that they share some letters but you need to find the missing ones Can you find three unusual names for markings in KC breed standards F T E S D E E U R I D F T T H L O B A E H T H E W I E K G U I Caption this HI BE M C Winning caption from Alabama Et Charles I would definitely swipe right Betty Black You won t see that I m not wearing any pants will you Bob Smith Cross Question Can you guess which breeds Lola s parents are No I really don t think black is my colour Besides it shows up all the dog hair Clare Williams Forgive me if I look confused I m just reading whether I should stay at home go to work eat out or self isolate Does this make sense to the humans Emmy Butler How to enter Send your Breedsearch Cross Question Caption Competition entries together with your contact details via email to comps dogstodaymagazine co uk or post to September Competitions Dogs Today The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ to arrive by 9 October 2020 August Cross Question Solution Nora s parents are a Deerhound and a Pointer The first correct answer came from Melanie Wilson In the ring answer A Harlequin B Blue Belton C Blenheim 56 Dogs Today September 2020 September 2020 Dogs Today 57 Deerhound Pointer by Tim Rose www timrosephotography co uk Geoff looked in disbelief at the object that Stan the man had in his hands There was no way imaginable that it could be the cheese that Stan kept speaking about August Caption Runners up Photo submitted by Hannah Wright L R R E A E C L G K S M U L N E R E A E B L E E Floyd a Greyhound Photo submitted by Sy John Ewing Tea break

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Prize crossword Quick clues Down Across 1 3 7 8 9 11 14 16 17 1 Dutch Barge dog 8 2 Bare 5 3 tipped ears feature of French Bulldog and Chow Chow 5 4 And 25 Across Disney s canine cartoon classic 4 3 3 5 5 Familiar form of Eleanor 5 6 Healthy canine s sparkling features 4 10 Entelbuch Cattledog s nationality 5 12 Japanese fighter 5 13 Ridgeback s old country 8 15 Italian sheepdog 7 18 Excessive disproportionate 5 19 Greek author of fables 5 21 Comic bear 5 22 Leave out 4 1 23 24 25 26 Charles breed of spaniel 4 Bill Sikes dog in Oliver Twist 5 3 Norwegian hunting dog 8 Kerry Irish terrier breed 4 Brick carriers 4 Dog s teacher 7 2 Down movement 6 Type of 8 Across cheese 6 Land of the short haired pinscher 7 Tucked up for the night perhaps 4 Rare Hungarian breed 4 Dogs of strong build with drooping ears and pendulous lips 8 See 4 Down Tough Japanese breed 4 3 2 1 4 5 6 3 7 8 9 11 14 16 17 20 23 24 25 26 7 8 Down 1 9 10 12 11 2 13 15 14 3 16 4 17 18 19 20 21 5 22 25 6 24 10 12 26 13 Name ________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ ____________________________ Postcode ________________ Telephone ____________________________________________ Email address __________________________________________ Breed type of dog ______________________________________ 58 Dogs Today September 2020 We occasionally loan our address list to charities and companies we feel may be of interest to you Please tick if you do not wish to receive this information Q 15 18 19 21 22 Canine from Holland hiding at first in one desk surprisingly 8 Wearing nothing in snake dance 5 Sir Anthony was uncompromisingly forthright 5 And 25 Across Cartoon dogs that pander madly quite madly 4 3 3 5 Girl featured in the Spanish story 5 Viewers initially excited That s right 4 Cottage for a great hound 5 Martial arts expert from town in Jamaica 5 Radio he s repaired in country now called Zimbabwe 8 Sheepdog about to be eaten by tail less mammal 7 A foreign duke abandons king That s unwarranted 5 Fabulous storyteller striking a pose 5 Bear given blow nothing more 5 Don t include order with it 4 Not yet subscribing Visit www dogstodaymagazine co uk or turn to page 54 to rectify that immediately Win a Radley watch One lucky subscriber will win a ladies Watch It Watch by Radley the perfect accessory for the fashion forward dog lover The sleek design takes a contemporary twist on the classic Radley model creating a simple yet effective product to match every style A rubber coral strap beautifully accentuates the rose gold detailing on the watch face and the dangling dog charm and has a charming bright appearance The watch is a pastel dream ideal for adding a pop of colour to an outfit without being too overbearing or difficult to coordinate with so it s no wonder that it s a bestseller at Watches2U The classic Radley emblem of the Scottie dog is subtly displayed on the cream watch face and again on the metal charm attached The silicone strap fastens with a metal buckle and the watch is waterresistant and powered by a quartz movement making it practical and durable for wearing on the go Whether the watch is a gift for another animal lover or a practical purchase to keep track of time on dog walks it will be a useful addition to your accessory collection for years to come www watches2u com Win this The winner of this month s crossword will receive a pack of Soopa Kale and Apple Dental Sticks Find more Soopa dog treats at PurrfectlyYappy com How to enter Complete the crossword grid then post your entry to arrive by 9 October 2020 to September Crossword Dogs Today The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ The first correct entry pulled out of the hat after the closing date will win the prize The judge s decision is final Code Breaker Can you crack the code to find this quote by Dave Barry We ve given you the word DOGS to get you started August Solution A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U VWX Y Z Across 8 Lucerne 9 Pooch 10 Cairn 11 Scottie 12 Alaskan 13 Inca 16 lark 17 Spaniel 21 Moocher 22 Large 23 Ernie 24 Oysters Down 1 Black 2 Schiller Hound 3 Drentse 4 Persia 5 Spoor 6 Boston Terrier 7 Cheetah 14 Clumber 15 English 18 Parson 19 Wheel 20 Leash 20 14 6 D __ O __ G __ S __ __ __ __ __ 20 6 14 13 5 17 17 10 13 __ __ __ __ S __ __ __ O __ __ G __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 12 17 8 2 13 11 8 6 24 14 10 2 11 21 19 11 __ __ __ __ S __ __ O __ __ __ D __ S __ __ __ __ __ __ GO __ __ 11 21 17 2 13 21 6 26 10 20 19 10 14 6 O __ __ __ 2 Clumber Spaniel by Tim Rose www timrosephotography co uk 23 Partial skin graft for Charles 4 Dickens of a dog that s bang on target 5 3 Breed of dog English old hunk possibly 8 Kerry is sad 4 Heartless gangsters they might be carrying bricks 4 Sports shoe for dog s instructor 7 One could barely have an interest in this 6 Foreign hand is European 6 Tyrolean hound s terrain 7 Sailor and journalist sleeping 4 Hungarian dog one mostly dumb and backward 4 Dogs making row among crowd 8 See 4 Down Fighting dog beginning to tremble on seeing Alsatian 4 Sub Club Hello subscribers We think it s time for you to get even more perks than just getting the magazine cheaper postage free and before everyone else This area of the magazine is just for you to say thank you for supporting us by buying your magazine direct We really appreciate it and it really helps us Cryptic clues Across 20 Dogs Today Compiled by Gyles Brandreth 6 26 __ __ __ __ __ 18 24 11 21 17 __ __ __ 9 19 8 1 19 2 13 18 24 D __ __ __ __ S __ __ O __ __ __ D __ S __ __ __ __ __ 24 17 17 20 13 21 6 26 10 20 19 8 18 13 17 O __ __ 11 6 __ __ __ __ 7 19 8 3 S __ __ __ __ __ __ 9 19 13 17 O __ __ __ 5 6 8 __ __ __ __ 1 18 11 21 __ __ __ 11 21 17 __ __ __ __ 11 21 17 15 __ __ O __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ O __ __ __ __ __ G __ __ 12 18 19 11 24 6 6 10 17 24 11 10 2 G __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 8 18 14 21 11 18 24 O __ __ __ __ 2 6 26 8 11 21 18 24 14 __ __ __ 17 19 8 How to enter Email your answers to comps dogstodaymagazine co uk and put September Sub Club in the subject line We will need your full name and address to check you are on our current subscriber list Or post the answer with your name and address to September Sub Club Dogs Today The Stables Saddlers Halt 86 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8LZ or enter online at www dogstodaymagazine co uk category competitions One winner picked at random after 9 October 2020 will win the prize For full terms and conditions see page 3 September 2020 Dogs Today 59

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Holidays Products Products Classifi ed adverts Classified Adverts Holidays Want to advertise your Want to advertise your business business in ed section inour ourclassifi classified section Contact james petsubjects co uk Contact mike orpetsubjects co uk call now on 01276 858 880 or call now on 01276 402591 Luxury self catering lodges in the Yorkshire Dales Yorkshire Cottage Style Double Storey Lodges two bedrooms sleeps 2 to 4 Set in a peaceful valley just over one mile from Richmond in North Yorkshire are these Self Catering Yorkshire Cottage Style Lodge Accommodations They offer great value Yorkshire Dales self catering holidays all year round 01748 822406 info flowerydell lodges com L U X U RY S E L F C AT E R I N G A C C O M O DAT I O N g Do friendly Now with Hot Tub www yorkshirelogcabins com Dog friendly holiday park in Cornwall theparkcornwall com Visit appletree cottages co uk 01430 430 677 vivienne sweeting btinternet com PEAK DISTRICT Family run hotel near Ashbourne Good food real ales Pets welcome veggie choices and special diets catered for Over 15 of our properties are dog friendly with enclosed gardens complimentary dog bowls and even a doggie bag full of goodies will be waiting your arrival There are many pubs and restaurants in the area that welcome dogs with open arms DOG FRIENDLY BREAKS O N T H E P E M B R O K E S H I R E C OA S T 2 PEOPLE 4 NIGHTS Autumn Breaks available FROM ONLY Dog Partridge Country Inn with rooms in the grounds 01335 343183 www dogandpartridge co uk With some great accommodation deals to choose this is the perfect place to stay We are Dog Friendly so feel free to bring your little friends with you 1 Night when you come Midweek B B just 140 to stay Your subsequent nights pets can run free 50 off on our stunning grounds whilst you take in the breathtaking scenery Dog Friendly Accommodation in Wales 01639 731 167 Craig Y Nos Castle www dogfriendlywales com or www craigynoscastle com Dogs Today Today July September 60 2020 2020 6 0 Dogs Brecon Road Pen y Cae Powys SA9 1GL T C s Apply H o l i d a y s yo u r d o g wo u l d l ove The WooF Guide BY COASTAL COTTAGES Call us on 01437 772 742 Or Visit thewoofguide com PetHoliday Productofofthe theMonth Month AWARD WINNING HOLIDAY PARK IN DORCHESTER DORSET Luxury stone built self catering holiday cottages deep into Hardy Country near Dorchester in Dorset Almost half of our properties are dog friendly and the grounds include a fully enclosed dog exercise area perfect for a gentle morning stroll before setting out for the day www greenwoodgrange co uk hello greenwoodgrange co uk 01305 268874 Pictured The Coppice Spa Pet Lodge Three beautifully converted Victorian farm stables ooer elegant luxury and peaceful retreats situated on our working farm surrounded by the beautiful Saltmarshe Delph Nature Reserve and bordered by the River Ouse Comfort really is at the heart of Appletree Cottages spacious single story layouts means weary legs can easily rest after a day exploring before you discover one of our lovely nearby pubs Nature s Greatest Secret Landal Darwin Forest is an award winning Welodge are delighted to be nominated as Pet Product of the Month holiday park in the Derbyshire Peak District We have a very focused product range of natural remedies for They offer a variety of pet friendly accommodation your most lovable friends with woodland walks your dog will love right from Our customers are very loyal as they discover how well the door Onsite they have a pet friendly restaurant Colloidal Silver can work for a wide range of bacterial and and fantastic facilities including an indoor fungal issues and they return to us again and again In short our swimming pool There is a wealth of fantastic products are effective and help to promote natural healing attractions to visit nearby including Chatsworth House or you can simply relax and takeNature s in the Greatest Secret are committed to offering the finest quality splendour of the Peak District National Park Colloidal Silver products with the greatest choice and value anywhere www darwinforest co uk www naturesgreatestsecret co uk September 2020 Dogs Today 61 July 2020 Dogs Today 61

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Classified Adverts adverts Classified The Dog Lovers Registration Club Charities Products Art Charities Art UK Westie ReHoming Registered Registered Charity Charity England Scotland England Wales Wales 1108659 1108659 Scotland SC045329 SC045329 Westie Westie ReHoming ReHoming is is aa charity charity dedicated dedicated to to the the welfare welfare and and rehoming rehoming of of the the West West Highland Highland White White Terrier Terrier We We take take in in westies westies needing needing aa new new start start in in life life and and place place them them into into aa suitable suitable home home where where they they will will be be loved loved and and have have their their needs needs met met Register your Pedigree puppies and adult dogs online for beautiful gold bonded pedigree paperwork with same day processing Dedicat Dedic ated at ed to the We West st Hig Highl hland W hland Whi hite hit te Terri Terrier errier For more information visit www dogregclub co uk or call either 0161 792 2479 or 0161 729 2350 www westierehoming org www westierehoming org 0844 0844 879 879 4260 4260 Westie Westie ReHoming ReHoming information westierehoming net information westierehoming net PO PO Box Box 4204 4204 Swindon Swindon SN2 SN2 9LA 9LA westierehoming4 westierehoming4 Heathway Heathway Colton Colton Rugeley Rugeley Staffs Staffs WS15 WS15 3LY 3LY Tel Tel 01889 01889 577058 577058 www bordercollietrustgb org uk www bordercollietrustgb org uk Charity of the Month Dogs For Good Dogs for Good needs your help to double the number of people with disabilities we can support with dogs We re an innovative charity exploring ways dogs can help people overcome specific challenges and enrich and improve lives and communities We are passionate about our future and how we can help more people with the use of our assistance dogs Discover all of the ways we help Assistance Dog our assistance dogs support adults and children with a range of disabilities and also children with autism Community Dog our community dogs and their specialist handlers help to improve their independence wellbeing and skills Family Dog our Family Dog team gives advice and support to help families with an autistic child to get the most out of their relationship with their pet dog www dogsforgood org 01295 252600 info dogsforgood org DogsToday Today July September 2020 2020 662 2 Dogs September 2020 Dogs Today July 2020 Dogs Today 663 3

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CharitySpotlight Spotlight Charity We rescue and rehome collies and collie crosses throughout the UK Why not subscribe to our Border Collie World quarterly magazine Only 10 00 pa established 1958 We are a non destruction sanctuary for abandoned unwanted dogs Welcome Welcome to to Charity Charity Spotlight Spotlight a handy reference point for good folk le of folkdoing doinggreat great work work We re We rehelping helpingto toraise raise the the profi profile of this diverse diversegroup group of of people people and and we weencourage encourage you youto to get get involved involved with them be it fundraising or even volunteering with them be it fundraising or even volunteering PRIORY ROAD ASCOT BERKSHIRE SL5 8RJ Sponsor a puppy from just 1 a week BORDER COLLIE TRUST GB 01344 882689 Please contact us or visit our website for more information Heathway Colton Rugeley Staffs WS15 3LY Tel 0871 560 2282 www bordercollietrustgb org uk Visit guidedogs org uk DogsToday Reg Charity No 1053585 Rescue centre open daily 9 11 am 2 4 pm Registered Charity No 256728 AS SEEN ON EL BCT_0310 4x1 indd CHANN1 A charity registered in England and Wales 209617 and Scotland SC038979 4 1 10 16 55 42 4 Bringing pets and people closer together woodgreen org uk www foreverhoundstrust org Registered Charity No 298348 00526nc0819 WE RESCUE KILL SHELTER AND ABANDONED DOGS FROM ROMANIA AND REHOME THEM IN THE UK AND GERMANY Chilterns Dog Recue barkingmaddogrescue Charityofof themonth month Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary Charity the Smokey Paws provides pet oxygen masks to the fire service Founded 1963 Sanctuary Chilterns Dog Rescue Society CDRS has a long Pine RidgeinDog is a small independent animal history organisation of rescue andWe rehoming to grow thanks to rescue rescue and and continues rehome dogs the dedication and enthusiasm of many dog lovers please call us on 01276 402591 for more details DogsToday TodaySeptember July 2020 2020 64 64Dogs Registered Charity No 1077588 A We rescue and rehome 100s of dogs and cats in London every year Please help us to help more www themayhew org 020 8962 8000 But many more masks are needed W e are a small independent animal rescue organisation founded in 1958 by Mr Bernard Cuff fter many years of hardinwork is an independent whose passion life was to rescueCDRS and rehome dogs that charity It CDRS bought its own premises receives no Government funding and would otherwise face a very bleak future in Chivery nearPine Tring Hertsis and relies entirely on the generosity of the Ridge currently run by Mr Cuff s widow Connie developed purpose built passion facilitiesand for love for public to continue its vital rescue and whose equal all canines is at the dogs with nowhere elsesanctuary to turn giving these rehoming Your support would heart of the dogs awork better future The RescueThese Centre has 40 kennels be greatly appreciated are clearly difficult times for everyone but Pine and a smallRidge team relies of highly trained solely on donations from the public who staff who provide outstanding For further information incidentally have been quite wonderful But this help please care for dogs of all ages types and contact CDRS is needed now more than ever so if anyone wishes to backgrounds in need of protection Tel 01296 assist be assured that every penny raised623885 goes to our training anddogs rehoming in addition to enquiries cdrs org uk welfare a 5 star licence for boarding www chilternsdogrescue org uk Large kennels have under floor heating plenty of natural light with indoor and outdoor areas Green If you can help or for further information please contact us technology has been incorporated By phone 01344 882689 to reduce running costs Sensitive By post Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary landscaping has created a woodland Priory Road Ascot Berkshire SL5 8RJ By email walk for potential adopters to pineridgedogs yahoo co uk get Or visit www pineridgedogsanctuary org uk to know the dogs wildlife areas and If you d like to see your Registered charity organisation 256728 featured in these two DogZones to provide grassy pages please call us on 01276 enrichment paddocks for the dogs to If you d like to see your organisation featured in more thesedetails pages 858880 for play socialise and relax bmdrdogs www barkingmaddogrescue co uk The next pet saved could be yours You can donate via www smokeypaws co uk or email info smokeypaws co uk Registered Charity in England and Wales No 1139999 Saving Yorkshire s Dogs Registered Charity No 1167291 To rescue rehabilitate and rehome vulnerable and at risk dogs from Yorkshire Tel 07562 986101 Email savingyorkshiresdogs gmail com Web www sydrescue org uk Find us on Become a Companion Keep Tails Wagging With a Regular Gift 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 Your chance to win at www aht org uk lottery Call Now 44 0 1823 49 10 52 mail rushtondogrescue co uk Registered Charity Number 209642 Scottish Charity No SC006914 Senior Staffy Club Dogs Today 2018 Charity spotlight lottery23 01 2018 advert v3 indd 14 47 10 1 Our aims are Rescue and rehome sta ordshire bull terriers and sta y cross dogs aged 7yrs Recruit foster carers all over the UK Encourage volunteers at En our kennels in Sta ord and Worcester www seniorsta yclub co uk seniorsta yclub hotmail co uk Rescue and rehoming centre for dogs and cats www leicesteranimalaid org uk Tel 01455 888257 Registered Charity No 242560 Finding the cures for serious pet illnesses helping them live longer healthier lives www petsavers org uk September 2020Dogs DogsToday Today665 July 2020 5

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Confessions of a dogaholic O ur magazine s first Crufts was strange John the publisher was used to the editorial teams refusing to man their stands at shows He had booked promotions girls from an agency Yes you are right to be worried Looking back it was madness Stands at Crufts were very expensive and he had booked a big one The promotional models charged by the hour and were just giving the magazine away It was going to be an enormous bill The glamorous girls looked surprised or perhaps it was just the Botox They were used to working car shows or boat shows never a dog show High heels and tight fitting sparkly cocktail dresses didn t go with the Dogs Today T shirts John wanted them to wear It was going to be a very long four days BAD PRESS 66 Dogs Today September 2020 at his first Crufts and the other from the Sun It s disgusting He s a legend the reason I wanted to be a photographer said one The American came over His name was familiar Elliott Erwitt Later I looked up his work I had admired a birthday card featuring one of his famous images We were later to pay homage to it on our front cover The Independent had flown him over and given him an open brief to photograph whatever he liked at Crufts They would devote many pages of their weekend supplement to his work Holidays for everyone WAR ON CRUFTS Like Dogs Today Elliott wasn t given a Best in Show pass either It had taken over an hour for him to get even a basic pass to take photos inside the show An hour of his very precious time wasted It sucks he told us But people are quite nice here really In New York there d be blood all over the steps The chap from the Sun decided to declare war on Crufts He was determined to do a piece on how much dog poo is produced over the four days It s much easier to find a negative angle than a positive this is the worst treatment I ve ever had too I was horrified The last thing we needed was an anti dog story A new face appeared behind the press desk someone I vaguely knew I thought I d tip her off that the press were revolting I know she said Tell me about it I ve almost been spat on I ve passed it on and up they really don t care Bet you re glad you left aren t you Well yes I was But things were soon to get even stranger P With 18 pet friendly locations across the UK to choose from tails will be wagging when you discover our Tailor Made Collection Illustration KEVIN BROCKBANK When I went to collect our press accreditation I was told by an embarrassed member of staff that Dogs Today wasn t actually classified as a dog magazine Well that was surprising Had I put the chairman s nose out by leaving the KC Yes and no They always treated the press badly They d opted to use the NEC s purpose built press centre for a centenary dining room for the members and squashed the media into a small windowless cupboard Still I was more than happy to make use of their comfy chairs and free cups of tea mainly to avoid the girls on our stand I noticed an American gent waiting at the booking in desk when the two men sitting next to me started getting more and animated One was from the Mirror Press war hoseasons co uk tailormade 0345 498 6182

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