Does your dog travel in the car with you? How does he get into the car? How safe is he once he is in the car and travelling? Does he know not to leave the vehicle until you give him permission to do so?
It's something many of us do every day - pop the dog in the car - and yet if it isn't done safely then we can be putting our dogs, and ourselves, in danger.
The good news is that it is something we can easily put right with a little thought and training. Julie asked advice from the always excellent Mim Edwards, based in Adelaide Australia. Mim's advice is always clear, relevant - and it works! You can hear Mim tell Julie how we can get our dogs into the car safely, make sure they are safe during the journey, and that they exit the car in a safe controlled manner.
The process of having the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog recognised in the UK continues, and we went along to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Fun Day recently. It was great fun, and of course there were many Swissies there. There were also other dogs, and we couldn't help noticing a very nice black Labrador.
This young dog is not destined to be a pet dog though, he is being socialised as he prepares for his training as an assistance dog for the disabled.
Beryl who is the puppy socialiser for this particular dog talked to us about what her role is, and how she came to be a socialiser. Perhaps the biggest question that springs to mind is, "How do you cope when it's time for the dog to leave you?" How does Beryl cope? Listen and you'll find out.
For more information go to Dogs For the Disabled
In the DogCast Radio News, we hear about a dog who is losing pounds, as well as a dog who has lost a lot of dollars, and a dog with a gas problem - in a good way! We also feature a new initiative by authorities in Australia to help educate children about dogs.
We have an arty theme in Puppy Playtime, and here are the links to various activities:
For younger listeners who want to make a paper plate puppy puppet.
A variety of colouring pictures
Information about some of the most popular breeds, as well as labelled illustrations to colour
If you prefer looking at art rather than producing it, try some beautifule-cards
IS your dog good for you? Well here's an article that backs up the fact that not only does your dog make you feel good, he actually improves your health
Should dogs and children really mix? According to this research yes they should. Pets help make our children healthier.
When an owner is in hospital, should their dog have visiting rights? Obviously DogCast would support this, and this article puts forward the idea that it would be good for humans and animals alike.
Eva Dutton is a fantastic artist who has produced some beautiful wolf paintings. To view more of her work try:
Read more here.