Your Dog November 2022

Dogs are known for their stoicism — so often they soldier on despite feeling uncomfortable or experiencing pain. In our lead feature this issue, animal behaviourist Toni Shelbourne explains how pain can impact on your dog’s behaviour and be the hidden cause behind many behaviour problems. So, what does pain look like? And how can you spot the signs that all is not well with your dog? Turn to page 10 to find out. There’s more useful, practical advice on page 14 in our first aid feature‘How to cope in a canine crisis’. While most days out with our dogs are pleasant or routine experiences, how well prepared are you should the unexpected happen? First aid expert Kerry Rhodes recommends three items you should have with you at all times,…

Our cover star this issue is Akita Tupac, who was 10 weeks old when our picture was taken, and has just recently gone to his new home. “Tupac is a cheeky, happy young pup. He’s very empathetic and loving, taking after his dad,” said breeder Sarah Dalziel-Riddell, from Guildford, Surrey. “He loves playing with his toy duck and tennis balls and has started to make friends down at the park. He’s only just started puppy classes, but he’s doing great so far with his basic commands and walking on the lead.”…

A Manchester-based rescue that’s full to capacity with dumped A dogs and has staff in tears daily is pleading for people to foster its canine residents. With the cost-of-living crisis really starting to bite and the number of unwanted pets spiralling, Dogs 4 Rescue in Sharston, has invited government ministers to witness its heartbreaking situation. Describing the home as“the most depressing place on earth”, owner and manager Emma Billington says the phone hasn’t stopped ringing with people trying to give up their dogs due to financial worries and following the covid puppy boom. The final straw came when the home, already full to breaking point with 50 dogs, had to turn away a four-month-old puppy, knowing he would later be put to sleep. “In the last month, we’ve seen six…

NEW MILESTONE FOR ‘RUBBISH’ PET PORTRAIT ARTIST Hercule Van Wolfwinkle, whose fun animal drawings took the internet by storm, is celebrating after his fundraising for local homeless charity, Turning Tides, reached the £200,000 mark. Commissions flooded in when Worthing-based Hercule — aka Phil Heckels — drew a picture of family Labrador Nala for his son during lockdown and posted it online. “It never gets any less overwhelming when we hit these milestones and it’s so amazing how much support people continue to give the project,” said Phil, who thinks he still has 50,000 requests sitting in his inbox. YORKIE FINALLY FOUND AFTER BEING STOLEN FROM FAMILY FLEEING UKRAINE A Ukrainian family whose Yorkshire Terrier was stolen just six days after arriving in the UK, following a tortuous 2,000-mile drive across…

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is calling on owners to ‘bag it and bin it’, as new research shows an estimated 884 tonnes of dog poo are being deposited in our parks and green spaces every day — the equivalent of 68 bin lorries full. The online survey, undertaken by YouGov in association with local authorities, reveals around 176,800 owners leave 35.3 tonnes of unbagged poo on the ground, while 88,400 leave 17.7 tonnes of bagged poo hanging from a tree, on a post, or under a bush. More than half of councils reported an increase in both unbagged dog mess on the ground and abandoned bagged poo, while half say they are emptying bins more frequently. Sixteen per cent have installed bigger bins and 27 per cent litter pick and…

A Cockerpoo puppy, born at Dogs A Trust Basildon after his pregnant mother was smuggled into the country, has graduated from the charity’s training school, despite being blind. The use of specially adapted training methods has not only helped nine-month-old Darwin to learn new tricks but has enabled him to find his forever home with Hertfordshire-based Bethany Godbert. Dog School coach Charlotte Vallancey explained: “Working on verbal cues was important. We used clear sounds Darwin could easily pick up on, as well as the smell of tasty treats as a guide for him to follow. We really focused on the skills Darwin would need to live safely and happily with his family.” Bethany, who also adopted three-year-old Beagle Newton from Dogs Trust Kenilworth in 2019, added: “The training sessions enabled…