Do you get tired of lugging around tins and sacks of heavy dog food? Or do you find the range at your local supermarket convenient but the range too limited?
We want to help make it easier to buy dog food. Fill out our short dog food survey and we’ll share the results with you on this blog in a few weeks.
A report from the insurance company, Direct Line, suggests that some boarding kennels are leaving dog owners with steep vet’s bills.
According to Direct Line’s study, 12% of dogs who have stayed in a kennel contracted an illness as a result; 4% sustained an injury.
Direct Line’s full report is available on their website.
BBC 3 follows on from Dog Borstal with yet more dog-related viewing!
You Need a Dog follows Samira Akerbousse as she tries to improve her life by taking in Bob, a Cocker Spaniel who works as a therapy dog.
Bob lived with Samira, and her daughter, for three weeks, during which time she hoped he would help improve her social life and even lead to romance. After a quick training session - during which we saw a softer side of Dog Borstal’s Mic Martin - Bob gave Samira a chance to get out and about, with the programme’s highlight being the revelation that St Albans has a singles night for dog owners!
It was also interesting to see hear from an American dating expert - Wendy Diamond - who specialises in dog owners. Apparently, Samira was to check her potential beau’s coat, teeth, etc. Actually, my mind wandered a little at that point, so I’ve no idea what she actually advised.
You see, You Need a Dog isn’t a programme about dogs; it’s a self-improvement show in which a dog is used as a tool. Bob seemed like a happy chap and he did appear to have a genuinely positive effect on Samira’s life but it was all rather fleeting. Happy or not, poor old Bob was a lifestyle accessory for three weeks, then sent back off in his crate.
A pug called Buck has been saved by donations from pug lovers around the world.
After running into traffic near his home, Buck suffered three broken legs and landed his owners, Colleen and Jim Bighley, with a $3,000 bill.
Colleen told her friends on the Minneapolis and St Paul’s Pug Meetup Group that she was unable to pay the bill. Within minutes, a pug lover from Australia had pledged $2,000 and soon Buck’s future was secured, with further donations made directly to the vetinary hospital.
Buck is now at home, recovering.
Rob Alleyne, author of The Trouble-Free Dog and trainer on Dog Borstal, tells us about his approach to dog training and his experience of working on the BBC 3 show.
I used to attend a dog training class with my own dog 20+ years ago. Then the woman who ran it decided to retire and offered it to me. I was only 19 or 20 and was terrified at the prospect, but reluctantly agreed rather than see the class close. And I have run classes ever since.
Like most good trainers, I develop by studying what I am doing, and looking to see how it can be improved. There are few truly wrong methods per se that should never be used, though there are many that are used inappropriately. I also look at things that other people do, and use them or modify them to suit my situation or client if necessary.
Learning is an ongoing process, there are things that I do now that I won’t be doing in five years, and there are things that I did five years ago that I can’t believe I did or told people to do. But that is how we learn.
Apparently the idea was thought up by the programme’s Executive Producer, after fostering a rescue dog that would have otherwise had major, though unnecessary, surgery.
I received a phone call asking me if I thought that it could be done, and if I thought that I could do it? The rest, as they say, is history.
Only if you cross him. Actually, he really isn’t that scary at all. He gives a lot of himself when training, and he asks a lot in return. People who aren’t prepared to do that get it in the neck, and he makes no apologies for that.
To be honest, prior to meeting Mic, I was convinced that I would absolutely hate him, But in fact we get on really well. People have accused him of all sorts, that he’s homophobic, sexist, and a bully. Watching him on television, I can completely see why people would think that. But what people forget when watching these programmes is that for every minute that you see, there are probably three hours that you didn’t see.
As an example, everyone thought that he was horrible to Billie-Jean last week for no reason at all. In fact, she turned up an hour and a half late for filming, keeping the whole crew waiting, and apparently, her only excuse was that she had stopped on the hard shoulder for that long as Fudge needed to get it on with Shag Teddy, which she thought was very funny. Needless to say, Mic was not impressed, and what you saw was the immediate aftermath.
And Dale from the first show told the other students that he only came on because he wanted to be on television, and had no real desire to train his dog. Nobody notices how encouraging Mic is when it is going well, or how much he supports the dogs though, which is a shame.
Because we are so similar in so many ways, and yet so different in others. They make very good dogs, but very poor people, and my clients are usually people who have forgotten this.
Treat it as the family dog from the time you bring it home. It is not a new baby, it is a new puppy, and although there may be some similarities, it is governed by some very different rules from a human child.
Educate it primarily on how to do the right thing. It will learn so much more quickly if you take the time to show it the right way to do things, rather than waiting for it to do the wrong thing and then punish it. Look at all of the things that you are letting it do as a puppy. If you would not be happy for him/her to do them as an adult, stop it now, and show it what it should be doing instead.
I have a five year old German Shepherd named Jester. Never was a dog more appropriately named, he is such a clown.
Read our review of BBC 3’s Dog Borstal or buy Rob’s book The Trouble-Free Dog.
Chat about Dog Borstal in our forums.
The USA and Australia really do seem to have the best when it comes to dogs. Here in the UK, we seem a touch behind; let’s see if we can change that!
In the past, we’ve bemoaned the lack of dog-friendly venues for British dog owners. The excellent DoggiePubs is filled with details of dog-friendly pubs but, last time I looked, there’s no mention of a stylish city-centre bar that welcomes dogs.
SkyBark is a new event in Los Angeles that brings art, music and dogs together! Held in downtown LA’s Hanger 1018 gallery/bar, on March 25, the night will feature a canine couture show, pet art and photography and, importantly, the opportunity to adopt dogs in need of a home.
While many British pubs welcome your mutt with a bowl of water, SkyBark’s got something a bit more special planned. Treats and cocktails, created specially for the event, will be available for all the dogs in attendance, as well as the occassional something for their owners. There’ll be plenty to keep the mutts busy, with play areas for each size of dog and canine toilets courtesy of the night’s organiser, PetaPotty.
To book your ticket - $20 - visit www.skybark.com.
by Jörn Oleby
When we take on a dog we take on responsibility. This responsibility involves the everyday care of our dogs in areas such as hygiene, coat and paws, nutrition, exercise and training.
Many dog owners invest considerable time in activating their dogs by obedience training, seeking activities, tracking and protection exercises at training grounds, out in the countryside or in the forest. These activities allow us to spend time with our dogs while also keeping them physically and mentally alert. Some of us present dogs at shows and judge their appearance and breed attributes. Perhaps we should also pay greater attention to assessing mobility to encourage the sort of care that can spare dogs unnecessary injuries in the future. A well-functioning dog has retained its natural elasticity and suppleness.
A dog with restricted mobility has short and stiff muscles. When a dog has shortened musculature or tonicity, pressure is exerted on the joints leading, in turn, to decreased mobility. This ?€˜strangles?€™ the blood vessels and impairs blood circulation. Muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments then receive insufficient nutrition and less oxygen. Reduced blood flow also means that lactic acid accumulated in the muscles is not naturally transported away. The lactic acid builds up along with other waste products leading to irritation of the pain receptors in the muscles. The dog experiences pain. Pain, in turn, causes further tension and reduces blood flow even more. A vicious circle arises and can persist for some time if it is not discovered and treated.
Short and stiff muscles is something that we ourselves and our dogs can suffer from if we don?€™t take care of our physical condition. Another illness that might reduce our dog?€™s mobility is Arthrosis, and is usually formed of fibrous connective tissue and cartilage and is very common in older persons or dogs, especially affecting weight-bearing joints.
Articular cartilage becomes soft, frayed and thinned. But also younger persons or dogs might get Arthrosis due to genetic reasons, injuries or the combination of overweight and too little exercise. A common symptom of Arthrosis is stiffness and lameness.
Studies on dogs have shown that regular massage and stretching during a longer period of time are preventing and reducing the effects of Arthrosis and age related stiffness.
Massage and stretching are an effective way to prevent muscle related problems and strain injuries and improve the quality of your dog?€™s life. Massage and stretching are a complement to daily exercise, obedience training and diet and build contact between you and your dog in a natural way. Massage is an enjoyable way of strengthening the bond with your family dog and your canine friend will love it.
I now want to show you how easily you can preserve and increase mobility and reduce the risk of muscle related injuries. Here is an example of one of the basic massage techniques:
“The greater part of the pressure you exert should be applied by the flat hand although your thumb and fingers are also engaged in manipulation.”
Massage relaxes the muscles and is an excellent way of letting your dog wind down after a long jogging or cycling session. And it is enjoyable!
Warming up before activity has a preventative effect and stretching is just as effective after the dog has used its muscles. The dog should have warmed up and exercised before you start to stretch the muscles and I recommend that you allow your dog to wind down after physical exertion. Let the dog walk for a while on the lead in the same way a race horse runs an extra lap at half the pace to round off the race. This helps to remove lactic acid and waste products. As with massage it is important that the dog is relaxed before you start this treatment.
“Hold the dog?€™s elbow with one hand, grasping the wrist with the other. Move the leg forward and upwards, stretching the elbow joint and the flexor muscles of the foreleg (shoulder joint)”
Warming up can involve walking with the dog on the lead for 15 to 20 minutes before allowing it to run freely. In this way the muscles soften up and are ready for physical activity. Competitive or working dogs should warm up in a more goal-oriented way.
Below you can find a check list that might come in handy when warming up.
First remember that the dog should have warmed up and exercised before starting a competition or an active session. I also strongly recommend that you allow your dog to wind down after a competition or an active session before any stretching activities.
Here is a check list that could be used before a competition or active session.
Warming up does not tire the dog but rather increases blood circulation and warm up the muscles ensuring that the joints are lubricated and more supple. The dog is now ready to perform.
After the warm up you could also easily test your dog?€™s mobility using the eight most common stretching techniques. You should be sensitive to your dog?€™s signals. The dog should not experience any discomfort. If it does, don?€™t hesitate to contact the vet.
?€?Place one hand directly above the knee joint and the other hand on the lower part of the leg around the hock joint. Lift the leg upwards so that the knee is bent. Push gently upwards and backwards with the hand positioned above the knee joint.?€?
After completing a competition or an active session let the dog wind down and then carefully do some stretching exercises.
And when you come home reward the dog with massage and you will get a happy performing dog ready for new challenges.
Massage and stretching is an essential and a low cost investment in your dog?€™s health and improves the quality of your dog?€™s life.
Jörn Oleby, author of the book ?€?Canine Massage and Stretching ?€“ A Dog Owners Manual
Daniel George, and his partner dog Yogi, were voted winners of the 2006 Friends for Life competition, at Crufts on Sunday.
Yogi has been helping twelve year old Daniel, who has Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy, for the past eighteen months. Thanks to training by the charity Dogs for the Disabled, Yogi has given Daniel a new lease of independence.
“I used to feel like I was trapped in a box and unable to get out. Yogi is my best friend; I couldn’t imagine life without him. He’s there to help whenever I need him and makes me smile whenever I feel sad,” Daniel told Dogs for the Disabled.
Yogi’s amazing abilities include helping Daniel to take his socks off, pulling his duvet back on should it come off in the night and barking if Daniel falls.
Daniel and Yogi received an astounding 80% of the 144,000 votes amde by viewers of the BBC’s Crufts coverage. During an emotional ceremony in Crufts’ main ring, Ben Fogle presented the pair with their award, climaxing in a standing ovation from the crowd.
You can find out more about Daniel, Yogi and the work of Dogs for the Disabled at www.dogsforthedisable.org
Dog Borstal - Mondays, 9pm, BBC 3 - sees three delinquent dogs, and their owners, endure a week of intense correctional training.
Making the most of its disused air base location - high wire fences, military-style tents for the owners and cages for the mutts - the show gives the owners a short, sharp shock.
The first episode introduced the trainers: Debbie Connolly, Rob Alleyne and Mic Martin. So far, Debbie and Rob seem like normal people; Mic seems to enjoy his position of power a touch too much, though.
As a former police dog trainer, and with tales of his military service never far from his lips, Mic likes to make it clear he’s a man’s man. Sadly, the producers thought it necessary to engineer a little conflict and placed him with Flake, a Jack Russell whose gay owners inspired a series of nervous, “what they do in the privacy of their own home is their business” style comments from tough-guy Mic.
The first show’s other two inmates were Henry - a Weimeraner whose main hobby was stopping his owner from putting a jumper on - and Maggie, a Staffie who was still terrorising her neighbourhood despite having mauled a smaller dog and killed two cats.
Although Mic’s hard-man act was somewhat tedious, the trainers quickly demonstrated their expertise. Henry’s boistrous behaviour and strong will were quickly brought under control and Maggie was able to resist sinking her teeth into any other animal that walked past.
It appears that Dog Borstal could be of more long-term interest than Channel 4’s It’s Me or The Dog. We’ve stopped watching Victoria Stillwell’s show, mainly because it has become a little samey now it’s in the second series. Dog Borstal, although contrived in places, is perhaps fresher.
Chat about Dog Borstal in our forums.
“Every step I make, I make a new friend” just about sums up the wonder of dogs.
It’s been a while since London - the Alsatian protagonist of 70s/80s Canadian children’s tv show The Littlest Hobo - has been on UK tv screens. If you love the show’s theme tune, Maybe Tomorrow, you’re in luck thanks to the internet!
The original song’s singer - Terry Bush - has recently released a re-recording as part of an album of “adult contemporary with a country flavour” songs. You can buy it for �17 from Terry’s website - www.thelittlesthobo.com.
UK readers will remember NatWest’s advert, a few years ago, featuring an cartoon Jack Russell on a worldwide adventure. The ad used a faithful cover of the song by pop group Scooch. A quick web search reveals that an Oxford-based group of DJs have their own version of the Littlest Hobo theme on their website, which sounds very much like the Scooch version.
The most interesting version, though, is the Spanish version of the Littlest Hobo theme.
“Una voz me llama cada vez…”