August 2008

One dog owner is delighted to have been nominated for an award for her dedication to her beloved dog.

Fifteen people in Britain have been nominated for the award from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).

Pat Cleever, of North Wales, said that her dog, a German Shepherd called Nat, had always been ‘a bit clumsy’ and had always been reluctant to do any prolonged exercise.

Around six months ago, Nat had been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, a fairly common health problem with German Shepherds. The condition was so bad that Mrs Cleever had considered having him put down. [read more]

According to an animal behaviour expert, the techniques used to teach dogs and puppies also work for toddlers.

The Deputy Head of Behaviour at Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, Pat Moore, claims that the ‘positive reinforcement’ training techniques that many dog trainers use should also be used for toddlers.

These ‘positive reinforcement’ techniques work by rewarding good behaviour rather than focusing on punishing mistakes and bad behaviour. There are different rewards that can be used for dogs, such as giving small edible treats, verbal praise, playing with a favourite toy or simply a scratch behind the ears. Whatever pleases the dog is suitable as a good reward. [read more]

Those people walking their dogs who fail to pick up the dogs’ mess are being warned by councils that they are being watched and if caught, they will face a fine.

In particular, the amount of dog mess being found along Lytham Green and on the local beach is causing a real concern to Fylde Borough Council. Area patrols are now being stepped up in order to prevent further cases. [read more]

Most dogs like to chase birds, it’s part of what being a dog is all about. However most dogs just stick to chasing pigeons in the garden. Not so for a Staffordshire bull terrier/Rottweiler cross from Edinburgh. He was chasing a seagull near the Firth of Forth, and jumped over a 15ft wall in Lower Granton Road. The dog wasn’t expecting there to be a 15ft drop the other side of the wall, and found himself stranded.

Unable to reach the dog, his owner called the Lothian and Borders fire and rescue service to come to the dog’s aid. [read more]

Does your dog resent being left at home when you go to work? Do they stare at you longingly as you leave for the day, wishing they could go with you, giving you the old guilt trip?

Worry no more, because next month, Wednesday September 17th, is Take Your Dog to Work Day!!!

You shouldn’t have a hard time convincing your boss to allow you to bring your dog to work either, as it’s all for charity; The Blue Cross to be precise. Plus, if you’re worried that your dog might not last the full working day without wanting to misbehave, the Blue Cross are also offering tips on training your dog for their first day at work. [read more]

Last night showed the first episode of a two part special starring Martin Clunes as he investigated the history of dogs, Martin Clunes: A Man and his Dogs.

Clunes has always lived with dogs and the programme originated from his own curiosity about where they came from. He currently lives with two cocker spaniels and a black Labrador.

In a similar discussion to the BBC’s Pedigree Dogs Exposed programme last weekend, Clunes opened the programme talking about how we have meddled with the dog’s breeding to generate so-called pedigree dogs. He claimed that the history of most dogs cannot be traced back more than five generations, no matter how illustrious the pedigree. [read more]

Cancer is one of the biggest killers throughout the world, and is said to affect 1 in 3 people. While a cure for Cancer may still be some way off, better ways of detecting it are emerging all the time; the latest of which involves using dogs.

Indeed, a team of SKIN scientists are using sniffer dogs to detect bladder cancer with their noses.

Dr Carolyn Willis is a Dermatology researcher from Amersham Hospital. According to the BBC she’s looking to use sniffer dogs in tests to diagnose bladder cancer by ‘sniffing’ urine samples. This is following news from the US that certain type of skin cancer emits a distinctive sent. [read more]

These days it seems like dogs aren’t allowed anywhere. Dog owners can’t take their dogs into pubs, parks and even some town centres. Britain has become a very unfriendly place for many dog owners.

In stark contrast, a beach in Cyprus has opened up just for dogs. The resort of Ayia Napa is the first to have a beach just for dogs, and other animals, amid complaints that dogs were being discriminated against. [read more]

There are many things you think of when you think of dog owners, being snorers isn’t typically one of them. However recent research suggests that people who have grown up around dogs when they were young children are more likely to snore in later life.

Scientists claim that a pet dog makes a baby more likely to become a snorer as an adult. They believe it’s because of the bacteria that is spread by the dog. The bacteria pet dogs have simulate the lymphatic systems of babies, which in turn leads to swelling of the tonsils. This has the unfortunate side effect of leading to snoring. [read more]