Just after Christmas David and Alison Green lost their 13-year-old Border Terrier and were desperate to find another. In the New Year, they decided to look for a new puppy and followed the advice from all the large animal charities. This was BEFORE lockdown. They asked friends with Borders it there were any litters available in the area and got …
Helping a pet cope with the loss of a family member
Do our pets experience grief? In today’s world, our pets are very much part of our families and, while that reflects the way we feel about our pets, it also reflects how our pets feel about us. Our routines rapidly become their routines, they share our immediate living space and so our excitement, anticipation, joy or sadness are all emotions …
Understanding Dog Legislation around Dog Ownership in England
One of the few upsides to being in Covid-19 lockdown has been having the time to catch up on some webinars. One that immediately caught my interest was one on Dogs and the Law. I admit it sounds a dry subject, but a good speaker makes all the difference. It is important that dog owners understand the laws around dog …
Caring for our Dogs During Lockdown
There can be very few people whose lives have not been dramatically affected by the restrictions of lockdown and, if we look beyond the personal tragedies hidden in the official statistics, many of us are finding life increasingly difficult as the social restrictions continue. If you are a key worker, your life will have become very much busier with all …
The Chase
THE CHASE The chase (no, not the quiz show which I have been watching too much of since Covid-19 started!) is an instinct which many of our dogs struggle to control. Chasing is part of the predatory motor pattern that dogs have inherited from their wolf ancestors. In a wolf the sequence is: Orient (spot prey) > eye prey > …
Over attachment
Sitting in my friend’s living room, I was astounded to see how her dog (Heidi) responded when she left the room to go and make a cup of tea. As the living room door was closed Heidi rushed up to the door and began jumping up and whining. Within a couple of minutes, she was panting, running backwards and forwards …
Breakthrough update from Wood Green
Since the launch of Breakthrough in 2016, we have been carrying out studies with Chris Bennett at Wood Green – The Animals Charity – in Godmanchester, to demonstrate the results that Breakthrough produces. Chris Bennett has an update on three of the dogs currently on Breakthrough. Bach – 2yr old Cocker Spaniel Bach came to us due to some aggression …
Caring for your dog on a budget
For all of us, the need to keep both our loved ones and ourselves safe is paramount; however, these recent changes to society may not only prevent us from socialising but also limit our ability to afford all the luxuries to which we have been accustomed. Few, if any, of us saw the Covid-19 crisis coming down the line or …
Excessive Barking
Why do dogs bark? Vocalisations such as barking, growling, whining are all part of a dog’s normal communication system; however, some dogs bark more than others such as Beagles and Fox Terriers whereas the Basenji doesn’t bark. So, what can trigger your dog’s barking? Firstly, it is important to remember that you should not expect your dog never to bark: when …
Vaccinations and dogs
Start a conversation about vaccination with a group of dog lovers and you open a can of worms! Everyone wants their pets to be as safe and healthy as possible, but with so many opinions and scare stories, what should you believe? As a GP Vet, the first thing I would recommend is that EVERY dog should visit their vet …