Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2025 i Your Dog

Hello! As the calendar flips to a fresh year, it brings with it opportunities to make this year the best yet – for you and your beloved canine companions. A new year means new adventures, milestones, and moments to cherish with our dogs. Whether it’s tackling resolutions like teaching your pup a new trick, taking up a new activity, heading out to new places for walks, or simply carving out more quality time, this year is bursting with possibilities for deeper connections and wagging tails! I hope that our lead feature ‘What a difference a year makes’ can help inspire you to find what is going to enrich the bond between you and your dog in 2025. It features three really heart-warming and affirming stories that no matter your situation, you can…

January 1st always feels like a fresh start, with all the promise that our dreams could magically come true in the year ahead. But, as everyone knows, a lot can happen in a year. I talked to three very different dog owners to find out about the challenges they’ve faced in 2024, the fun they’ve had, and their dreams for the future. What they said was incredibly inspiring. “2024 was the best year of my life!” Lucy Heath, dog trainer and BGT finalist, from Grantham, in Lincolnshire, had an amazing 2024 and can’t wait to see what the new year brings. “I can honestly say that 2024 was the best year of my life,” said Lucy. “To start with, I went to the Crufts semi-finals in January and qualified three…

Winter doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Some aspects are hugely enjoyable – watching your dog bound through freshly fallen snow, building a snowman (if you’re lucky enough to get a good snowfall!), or taking your dog out through a landscape which has been transformed overnight by a hard frost into a glittering wonderland. Of course, the other side of the coin is the mud, the short, dark days, the rain, the cold, and lots more mud… a typical British winter! We’ve got a few tips to help you through the colder months with your dog… ■ Thin-coated or old dogs will need warm, waterproof clothing during the chilly, wet months. A lightweight waterproof jacket can be a godsend on rainy days for thick-coated dogs, as wet fur…

The most robust thing about the Labrador Retriever is its popularity! The Kennel Club refers to the breed as “the most popular of all pedigree breeds” and it topped the charts for breed registration figures in 2023, as it has done for countless other years. And the Labrador is popular for very good reason. They are fantastic all-rounders – you name it, they’ll likely be able to do it. Even better, Labs revel in company and love being part of the family. The roots of the breed are in Canada, with it hailing from Newfoundland and it is named after the Labrador region of the area. It is thought that the origins of the breed we know today come from the 19th century when a variety of dogs called St.…

Endangered seabirds living and breeding on remote islands off Scotland have a very special detection dog to thank for their survival. Because Reid, an English Springer Spaniel, has become a vital weapon in efforts to boost declining numbers of Atlantic Puffins, Northern Gannets, Manx Shearwaters, Great Skuas, and Leach’s Storm Petrels, whose fragile habitats are threatened by invasive rodents. Alongside his owner and handler, Rachel Cripps, the six-year-old spaniel’s remit is to protect 38 Scottish islands by sniffing out rats before they can decimate seabird populations in their hunt for eggs, chicks, and sometimes even adult birds. Competent swimmers, rats can travel between islands and cover distances of up to two kilometres as they seek new habitats, food sources, or to escape predators. “People don’t realise how easy it is…

Spotted something? If you’ve spotted something dog related and fun, send us a picture and we may feature it on these pages. It could be your dog doing something, an intriguing piece of dog artwork, or at a show or event… so keep your eyes peeled! Email michael.hallam@warnersgroup.co.uk…

Q I am looking for a new year training challenge for my clever Border Collie. I would like to be able to keep him focused on me when I need him to stay close on our walks. Can you suggest any good training activities? A What a great new year training resolution! Try teaching these useful commands to build a bond with your dog and keep them close, especially good for dogs who are reactive or easily distracted on walks. Start in your house and move to busier places outdoors as they improve. Hand touch Put a tasty treat between two of your fingers and hold your hand out to the side at about waist height. Your dog should nose your hand to get the food. Repeat a few times then…

Y BWTHYN DENBIGH, NORTH WALES “Years ago, Y Bwthyn was a holiday cottage on my parent’s farm, but sadly my parents have passed away,” said owner Iona Edwards-Jones. “We love dogs and thought we would renovate the cottage and make it really dog friendly. We wanted to create a place where people could enjoy a luxury stay, as well as it being dog friendly. The reviews we are getting are all fantastic, so I hope we have done a good job! “There is a king-size bedroom, plus a double and a super king-size bedroom, that can be split into two singles. The cottage has a cosy lounge with its original inglenook fireplace and a wood burner, a dining room, and a modern, fully fitted handcrafted kitchen. We’ve tried to include…

When pet owners vote your product as the best, it’s a real badge of honour. If you needed any convincing of how big a deal the Your Dog Product Awards are, you’ll notice that the winning brands often put a winner’s logo on their packaging and on their exhibition stands at shows, such as Crufts. The companies are proud that dog owners recognised their product as something they rely on to take good care of their canine companions. Here, we meet the class of 2025… BEST SPECIALIST FOOD Burns Sensitive Dry Dog Food Burns understands that dogs often have unique dietary requirements in the same way as humans do. That’s why their Sensitive range has been specially formulated for dogs with allergies and intolerances. Choose from our tailwaggingly-tasty varieties. ●…

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about dogs – from myths about their behaviour to misunderstandings about their needs, it can sometimes be hard to know what’s true. We are separating the facts from the fiction to see just how much you really know about dogs! 1 Dogs only see in black and white ● Myth: Dogs can see colour, but not as vividly as humans. They see shades of blue and yellow, but reds or greens they can’t see as clearly. 2 A wagging tail always means a happy dog ● Myth: While a wagging tail can mean a dog is happy, it can also signal excitement, anxiety, or even aggression. The position and speed of the wag matter, too! 3 Dogs should be fed once a day…

Braiá Caramelo: The wedding crasher In Brazil, a sweet tale unfolded around Braiá Caramelo de Jesus, a golden-coloured stray dog with an irresistibly charming personality that inadvertently found his way into the limelight. This canine wedding crasher managed to turn a couple’s big day into an even grander occasion, leaving a lasting imprint on the hearts of everyone present. An unexpected but undeniably welcome guest at Douglas Robert and Tamíris Muzini’s wedding, Braiá didn’t just crash their nuptials but charmed his way into becoming a permanent part of their family. On the couple’s wedding day, a day meticulously planned down to the last detail, Tamíris, the elegant bride, arrived at the church, radiant in her long gown. To her surprise, she noticed a stray dog, with soulful eyes and a…

Caring for your dog’s coat is essential for his welfare. As his carer, you may find grooming a time consuming and difficult chore but have you considered what it’s like from your dog’s point of view? Whether your dog is groomed at home or goes to a groomer, there will be signs he isn’t coping well with being brushed. For example, if you arrive at your groomer’s and your dog is reluctant to go inside, this is a big signpost to his discomfort about the situation. At home, he might shy away from the brush, mouth, or even bite you. There could be areas he finds more challenging to be combed and it can be a frightening experience. For a dog, like children, the sensation can be unpleasant or even…

SPONSORED BY Signs of dementia Q I am at my wits’ end and really need some advice about my elderly collie, Fizz. She has always been clean in the house but recently she has been weeing in the lounge and kitchen, sometimes just after her walk or when we aren’t there to let her out. At night she wakes us up (and our neighbours) barking but when we go down to her she doesn’t seem to want anything. ng. I don’t want to put her to sleep but I just don’t know how much longer I can cope with all the mess and sleepless nights. A It sounds like Fizz is suffering from canine dementia. Symptoms include vocalisation, inappropriate urination, reduced interaction, attention seeking, and apparent forgetfulness. I would recommend…

BOATING LET YOUR DOG SHARE YOUR HOLIDAY on our comfortable 2-6 berth boats. Beautiful countryside. Lots of walks. Excellent boating instruction. All year hire. Family firm. Tel: 01829 732595 www.chashardern.co.uk CORNWALL REALLY DOG FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION Pets stay for free, unlimited numbers, set in 25 acres between Bodmin Moor & Looe. Quirky converted barns. Each property has it’s own enclosed garden Tel: 01579 320880 www.dogs-holiday.co.uk ANGIE’S WALHALLA COTTAGE 4* Gold – Central Cornwall, Great location, sleeps 2 and a dog. Has own private garden, parking, and fields to walk dog. www.cottagefor2plusdog.com or telephone 07725738733 DEVON DARTMOOR. Three eco-friendly barn conversions (sleep 2-15). Self catering. Idyllic moorland position. Dogs welcome. Book direct, avoid agents fees. Tavistock 01822 810687. www.dartmoorholidays.co.uk DEVON CHURCHWOOD VALLEY on the South Devon coast. Dogs welcomed, unique coastal and woodland…