Carmel Graves, Dogs Trust Training and Behaviour Advisor and Dr Roger Mugford, Training and Behaviour Expert with Andre, the Great Dane.
Click on photo for larger image.
Two very different press releases from Dogs Trust today - one concerning a dog looking for a new home:
LUCIAS - THE DOG FED UP WITH THE BRITISH WEATHER!
Former homeless dog despises the drizzle
Having spent his life on the streets with his homeless owner, you would think that 11 year old Lucias, would be used to the British weather. However, the friendly Staffordshire Bull Terrier has had enough and is now firmly refusing to step foot outside if it rains, even in the slightest drizzle.
There's been a lot in the UK media about dog names and what they reflect about the owners. What's your dog called, and which category do you fit into?
We have some beautiful photos uploaded to the site, but this one stood out. I like the composition of it, and I think the dog is stunning. The comment is lovely too. The dog in question is a Siberian Husky called Misha, and I hope you enjoy the photo as much as I did.
If you have a dog, share his or her photo with us, and don't forget to check out our breed profile pages to see other listeners' dogs.
Bilbo is a gorgeous Newfoundland dog who is currently caught in the middle of a mess through no fault of his own. Bilbo’s story first hit the headlines in 2008 when he was banned from the beach on which he was performing life guard duties. Up until the ban, Bilbo had been assisting his owner and then head lifeguard, Steve Jamieson, helping keep bathers safe at Sennen Cove beach in Cornwall. However the beach is a no-go area for dogs in the daytime, and since Bilbo is not classed as a working dog, he found himself falling foul of the ban.
It’s been one of those dreadful drizzly days when the rain never really gets going, but having not really got going it keeps on all day long. It was the kind of day to spend inside reading a book or watching a DVD. I had work to do of course, but it would have been good to read a book or watch a DVD if you had the time.
Most days I receive a few dog-related press releases via email and they vary tremendously. Hearing about a rescue dog looking for a good home makes me sad, but I'm glad if I can be of assistance at all. The latest notification I've received is concerning Windsor:
WINDSOR LOOKS FOR HIS OWN CASTLE IN SHROPSHIRE
Local rescue dog searches for a new home
Windsor, a seven year old black Collie cross is on the look-out for a new abode after being handed into Dogs Trust Roden when his owners could no longer care for him.
I mentioned Jill Moss yesterday, and for those of you who don't know who this courageous woman is, you can hear her telling her story in Episode 58 of DogCast Radio. (http://www.DogCastRadio.com/node/158) Life was for Jill and her Samoyed dog Bella was going very well - until Bella was struck down with MRSA. It is incredibly moving to listen to Jill tell in her own words how she stayed by Bella's side, even catching MRSA herself, and how Bella lost her struggle against the infection.
Yesterday I had a very enjoyable, but at times quite surreal experience. I went on a wolf walk with the UK Wolf Conservation Trust. (http://www.ukwolf.org/) We had been invited to join Jill Moss of the Bella Moss Foundation (http://www.thebellamossfoundation.com/) on the walk, as she is a member of the trust. She had some great stories of her experiences with wolves, which will be coming up in an episode of DogCast Radio soon.
Apparently I’m now going where no other media organisations have gone before, because although the press release below was sent out, it has not been published – so you read it here first. (probably) It comes from Catherine O'Driscoll and Canine Health Concern (http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/) and I find it very worrying.
I want to know what is safe for our dogs – and I don’t want any attempts to brow beat me into having my dog vaccinated. For example if there is an event I want to take my dog to, I don’t want to have to produce a “valid” vaccination certificate.
Puppy Farm Awareness Day is a terrific idea. If we can establish in enough minds that puppy farms are evil, and definitely not the right place to buy a dog from, perhaps they will finally go out of business. It's on 19th September this year, and to celebrate ThePet.net are throwing a party:
Celebrities support ThePet.net’s ‘World’s Biggest Puppy Party’
Puppy Farm Awareness Day 2009
TV Vet’s ‘Social petworking’ website leads fight against cruel UK Puppy Farming trade
