Your Dog December 2023

I first want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Sarah, our outgoing Editor, for her remarkable near-30 years of dedicated service. Her passion and commitment to all things canine led to Your Dog being the best-selling UK dog magazine spanning decades, and it still holds that position today. We wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement. You may have seen me in the magazine before (or at Crufts), as I’ve worked with the Your Dog team for over 20 years now, including the role of publisher for the past six years. Quick bio: I have two dogs: Mutley, a 13-year-old Cocker Spaniel rescue with some quirky traits, and Peggy, a four-year-old Standard Schnauzer (guess the breed profile this month!). I’ve had dogs for most of my life –…

Your Dog Magazine, Warners Group Publications, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9PH Call 01778 395070 Email: Editorial@yourdog.co.uk EDITORIAL ANDREA McHUGH is a freelance journalist and author of several dog-related books. She competes in agility and heelwork to music. JACQUELINE BOYD is an animal scientist, canine coach, nutritionist, writer, lecturer and cocker spaniel aficionado. JOANNE BEDNALL has been a freelance journalist, writer and author, specialising in dogs and horses, for the past 30 years. JACKIE DRAKEFORD is a behaviour trainer who has worked with all types of dog but specialises in sighthounds, lurchers and terriers. LARA CRACKNELL is a cocker spaniel loving Your Dog content editor (across multiple platforms). JAMES BUZZEL is Your Dog’s publisher/editor. He lives with two dogs (+ two cats) and seeks dog adventures. OUR EXPERTS…

Durdle Door needs no introduction… it’s one of the most famous beaches in Dorset. This iconic natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast makes for a stunning setting. The shingle beach is dog-friendly all year round, and when the tide’s out, a lovely sandy beach is revealed which the dogs will love under their paws. Well worth a visit if you’re in the area, even just for the view. Take your dog along the route from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door for an invigorating coastal walk. Durdle Door's geological formations are a testament to millions of years of Earth's history. It's an educational experience for you and a fascinating sensory adventure for your dog. The dramatic arch and the serene coastline make for some incredible photo opportunities. Nearby villages like…

Despite the cost of living crisis most pet owners (37%) are spending £20 every single week on their pets. According to the research by consumer intelligence platform Vypr, a third of Brits are spending more on their pet compared to this time last year, and only 13% of shoppers are spending less. When asked what they would cut down on in order for their dogs to get fed, the majority of owners said they would put their dogs first and miss out on their own food (29%). Other sacrifices include not having takeaways (9%), not buying clothes (5%), not going to the pub (5%) and stopping a gym membership (3%).…

The year was 1953. Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey, Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing became the first people to scale the summit of Mount Everest, women wore full skirted dresses with stiffened petticoats, men favoured three piece suits with fedora hats. Pubs closed at 10pm, cars, televisions, washing machines were all becoming more popular….and the very first ‘Dryboot’ rolled off the production line. From Bridgedale to Viking and most recently, Harris – the Dryboot has changed little in it’s 70 year life. It is still manufactured in the same factory in Malaysia, using the same high-quality natural rubber and production processes… a true testament to its success. Among the many thousands of dedicated ‘Drybooters’ the company is proud to supply boots to several professional walking guides who…

Agility Team GB are celebrating topping the medal table at the 2023 Agility World Championships, and bringing home the most medals in the team’s history. The World Championships, which took place in Liberec, Czech Republic in October, saw hundreds of handlers and dogs competing from 43 different countries across the globe. A total of five medals (two gold, two silver and one bronze) were won by Agility Team GB, putting them top of the medal table and making it the most successful result at the Championships in the team’s history.…