Total Dog Magazine

Category: Featured

This Is the Best Black Friday Deal We’ve Found for Dog Owners

It’s that time of year again! Black Friday is almost upon us, so it’s time to start thinking about Christmas. But, before you do, why not treat yourself and your dog to something we think they’ll love this holiday season and beyond.

After all, Black Friday = bargains galore, so why not take advantage!

We will be updating this page as more offers are released but in the meantime, here’s the first Black Friday Dog Deal we think you need to know about – and it’s a cracking deal.

Get Your Paws on the Furbo This November for £149!

This treat dispensing pet camera is a favourite of our friends at K9 Magazine. Here’s why:

1. It dispenses treats.
2. It has a two-way microphone and it alerts you if your dog is barking.
3. You can share the app and log in with friends and family so they can call your dogs.
4. You can personalise the alarm that signals when treats are being dispensed.
5. You can save your memories by capturing photos and videos.

Quite honestly, it’s a fantastic piece of technology and once you’ve tried it, you will wonder how you got on without it.

Read K9 Magazine’s review of the Furbo in full here

Usually £249, you can treat your dog to their own pet treat camera for £149 using coupon code ‘dogmagazine149’ today!

Buy Now Here

This Black Friday offer has been brought to you by Furbo Dog Camera.

November 19, 2018
Dog Dental Care: How to Clean Dogs Teeth

Knowing how to clean a dog’s teeth is important not only as part of a dog dental care regime, but it is also a great way to bond with your dog, whatever their age.

But before we share with you our advice on how to clean your dog’s teeth, let’s answer some of the most common questions about the subject.

Dog Dental Care Facts

‘How many teeth does a dog have?’ – asks Ann Rice.

Like humans, dogs are born without teeth. But when they are only a few weeks old, a puppy will begin to develop milk teeth.

By 16 weeks, a puppy will have 28 milk teeth before giving way to their adult teeth at around 6-8 months old.

Adult dogs have 42 teeth.

‘How do I get rid of dog breath?’ – asks Marcia Barrett.

Acoording to dog groomers, a dog’s diet can play a key role.

Brushing their teeth and gums to keep them healthy and free from plaque using chew toys and dental chew treats, such as Pedigree® DentaStix Twice Weekly™ is scientifically proven to help reduce tartar build-up and helps to keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy and strong.

‘How often should I clean my dog’s teeth?’ – asks Lynsey Rayner.

Every day.

How to Clean Dogs Teeth

Longtime dog owner Carole Matthews shared her advice with us on how best to clean a dog’s teeth. Here are her four top tips on how to get a dog comfortable with the practice.

1. Get prepared

You will need a few essential items to clean your dog’s teeth at home.

The first is a suitable toothbrush that’s sized to fit their teeth perfectly for maximum benefits.

If your dog is a toy or miniature breed, a small pet toothbrush is ideal.

If your dog is a small dog, I find that a child’s toothbrush will work well and for any medium-large breeds, an adult’s toothbrush will be suitable.

Next, you’ll need a dog toothpaste and luckily, they are mostly quite meaty flavours (my own dogs love the beef flavour). Human toothpaste has chemicals that could be harmful, so a toothpaste made just for dogs will make sure you avoid any unnecessary or harmful chemicals.

2. Treat it like a training session and start slowly

Find a quiet spot for you and your dog to sit down together away from any distractions.

If you can, try to do this at the same time every day so it becomes routine for your dog and you.

The goal is to get them used to the idea of having their teeth cleaned, so treat the learning process like a training session.

Keep the sessions short, this may be only a few minutes, don’t worry if that’s the case, just remember to stop while your dog is still relaxed and happy.

3. Getting your dog used to the toothpaste

To get your dog used to the toothpaste and brush, first introduce the toothpaste to them by putting a small amount on your finger and allowing them to lick it off. This is why choosing a flavoured toothpaste designed to appeal to dogs works well!

Next, after your dog has shown they like the taste of the toothpaste, put a little more on your finger and run your finger along a gum on the inside of their mouth.

You should do this for a few days until your dog is comfortable before introducing the toothpaste on a toothbrush.

Remember, it’s all about taking small steps to make sure your dog is fully comfortable and happy because brushing their teeth will be a regular activity for you and your dog to enjoy a few moments of bonding time together. I always try to start this practice with my dogs from a young age to get them used to it.

4. Introducing the toothbrush

After a few days, introduce the toothbrush and allow your dog to lick the toothpaste from its bristles.

Once your dog is comfortable with the toothbrush, wet the bristles and add toothpaste, pushing the toothpaste down into the bristles.

Next, begin by brushing the front teeth slowly in small circular motions. Begin with the left side before moving to the right. Stop regularly to allow your dog to lick the brush and feel like they’re receiving a reward.

You may need to hold your dog’s muzzle gently to keep their mouth closed (this is to stop them chewing when the brushing begins). If so, this is perfectly normal, just remember to take it in small steps so your dog remains calm and comfortable. It will also help to keep you calm too if you’re nervous when doing for the first time (which is also perfectly normal, I was too).

Once your dog is happy to let you brush their front teeth and canines (the longest teeth), you can move onto their back teeth, repeating the process as above.

It may take your dog a couple of weeks to feel entirely comfortable with having their teeth cleaned. Each dog will get comfortable at their own pace. The trick is not to rush and make sure you stop each session when they’re still happy, so you end on a positive note.

As well as daily cleaning, you can help your dog’s dental care regime by introducing other fun items, such as chew toys or treats, which are designed specifically to help remove plaque from their teeth as they chew.

I’ve found chew treats work brilliantly for dogs of all ages, so even if your oldest dogs start to chew their toys less because their teeth become more sensitive, something you’ll no doubt have noticed if you’ve ever owned an older pup, a tasty dental treat will usually always tempt them!

And of course, it’s always worth setting up a regular health check with your vet for a dental check-up once or twice a year.

This article is sponsored by PEDIGREE® DentaStix Twice Weekly™.

October 18, 2018
How Long is OK For My Dog To Be Left Home Alone?

A dog separation anxiety study conducted by the University of Brisol has suggested that a huge number of dogs are suffering with separation anxiety as a result of being left home alone at home for too long.

We wanted to solicit the views of dog owners on this thorny issue as it often proves one of the most commonly asked questions we receive here at advice.dog…just how long is too long to leave a dog at home alone.

There tends to be two schools of thought about how long is too long to leave a dog home alone:

1. Working people should be able to have dogs, but leaving the dog at home for more than a few hours at a time is cruel and proper arrangements should be made to cater for the dog’s needs i.e professional dog walker or owner returning home to take the dog out.

2. There is a certain ‘cut off point’ at which it is simply too long to leave a dog at home on their own.

How Long Can a Dog Be Left At Home For?

So, the question is, where do you stand?

Is there a magical number after which it’s not OK for a dog to be left alone and, if so, what is it?

Should dogs EVER be left alone for periods of longer than, say, two hours?

Are we getting worked up over nothing? Is it OK to leave a dog alone for the length of a normal working day (above 6 hours).

And finally, what tips, experience etc do you have in helping a dog cope with potential separation anxiety issues?

We’d be interested in your thoughts, so feel free to add your views in the comments section.

According to the University study, Dr John Bradshaw, a fellow at the Anthrozoology Institute at Bristol University, has revealed that dogs may be ‘traumatised’ by being left at home while their owners go out to work — shocking the countless dog owners who assumed they were fine to be left alone, and highlighting how little we really know about our pets.

April 12, 2018
Would Your Dog Like To Win Some Treats from Pet Munchies?

This month Pet Munchies, makers of premium gourmet dog treats, have teamed up with K9 Magazine to offer 7 lucky readers the chance to win three packs of their popular training treats for your dogs to enjoy…find out how to enter below.

Made from quality, human grade real meat, Pet Munchies treats are packed full of natural goodness for your dog without artificial additives and are available in three varieties: Chicken, Sushi, Liver & Chicken.

Gluten free, naturally low in fat and carbohydrates, high in protein and very nutritious – Pet Munchies treats are ‘sealed with a Dogs approval’.

K9 Magazine’s trio absolutely loved these treats. Mia was particularly taken with the Sushi variety leaving Danny wondering if she would share. The perfect treat to take out to for dog walks or training sessions.

Find out more about the delicious and nutritious low fat Pet Munchies treat range online at Pet-Munchies.com.

So delay no longer! Visit FreePetStuff.co.uk today and enter here: http://www.freepetstuff.co.uk/win-pet-munchies-training-treats/

Good luck!

October 27, 2015
5 Amazing Dog Hacks Every Owner Should Know About

1. For most dogs they have a discreet feature connecting their body to their heads. It is called the neck. The dog’s neck is almost custom made to fit a range of collars and leads. No longer do you have to take your dog out on to a busy high street and let him walk in a dangerous (and illegal) manner, frightening worried onlookers as you ‘show off’ what a great dog owner you are by allowing your dog to walk ahead of or behind you and risking your dog causing an accident/being killed simply because you’re ‘too good’ to put your pet on a leash in public.

2. Most towns and cities have a small to medium sized building out of which a group of specially trained animal experts work. They are known as veterinarians and they have a fair to good understanding of many ailments and problems affecting dogs. With this knowledge, the next time your dog is showing signs of being genuinely ill, in discomfort, pain or close to death as a result of an injury or sickness you no longer have to ask for the advice of random people in your Facebook friend’s circle as to what to do about your dog who is clearly in desperate need of professional attention. So instead of posting a status update like,”My dog was stung by a bee and is now violently convulsing on the kitchen floor. What should I do? lol.” You can instead use the internet to find the address of one of these small buildings where veterinarians work from and they will actually be able to physically do something to stop your dog suffering.

3. Most dogs require food and water to operate in a functional and efficient manner. As a result they will sometimes need to demonstrate the full workings of a mammalian digestive system, leading to them depositing small parcels of digested food from the tiny hole that sits neatly at the base of the dog’s spine. In order to prepare for this quirky little habit, a small bag can be used to neatly collect the dog’s deposit which can then be safely placed in a refuse bin rather than simply gawking in amazement at how astonishing your dog’s bowel movements are before walking off and leaving a nasty pile of warmed up excrement for everyone else to navigate around.

4. Referring to hack number one, now you know about the head-to-body connection device on your dog – the neck – when your canine is running merrily in a public place and makes a beeline toward other dogs, people, children or wildlife you can avoid accidents, injuries and all round distress by teaching your dog to come back to you (a hack known as ‘dog training’) and utilising your dog’s head-to-body connection feature by temporarily installing a leash, thus giving you full control over your dog’s movements. This is a great way to avoid your dog getting bitten or preventing your own dog from playfully attempting to remove other dog’s heads from their own head-to-body connection mounts.

5. Most dogs have a great internal intelligence unit. It is commonly referred to as their brain. They use this device for learning and remembering things, things that you have the ability to input. One of the best uses of the internal intelligence unit is its ability to respond to clear, consistent commands which are then followed up with acknowledgements by you such as giving the dog something they enjoy. The internal intelligence unit has not yet been effectively modified enough to respond to repeated shouting from you as you stand, slack-jawed, observing your dog from a great distance whilst you simultaneously carry out a conversation on your mobile phone pausing randomly to bellow toward your run-away canine companion who is in the process of terrorising all pets, people and animals at a distance of about 1,000 yards from where you are.

Bonus hack: Your dog’s internal intelligence unit rarely breaks down. If your dog’s appears to have malfunctioned and the person standing opposite you behind the reception desk of your nearest animal shelter is nodding politely and seems to give the impression that this sort of thing happens regularly, it’s because they are being polite and they are nodding and smiling as they suppress the urge to inform you that they have goldfish in their care who are better informed and mentally adroit than you. The reality is, your dog does not need to be rehomed because ‘he’s too much of a handful’, it’s more the case that your own internal intelligence unit not fit for purpose.

Various examples of dogs with brilliantly functioning internal intelligence unit’s can be found at dogsblog.com.

September 8, 2015
How to Translate Dog Barks

Dogs are so successful at communicating with humans their richly earned title of ‘man’s best friend’ follows them all throughout the world. But how much do we REALLY know about what it is they’re trying to say with their barks, grumbles and unique canine vocabulary?

In this video you’ll get the chance to see – and hear – which barks are attention seeking, which sounds mean ‘back off’ and more.

Enjoy!

If you’d like to see a run down of the various different types of dog barks and what they mean CLICK HERE.

August 19, 2015
5 Reasons Dogs Rule TV

TV writers have known for years the impact a dog has on a show. Whether they change a character’s likeability or simply draw audiences in.
For example, did you know that one of the unwritten rules of TV is that if you want to make an audience dislike a character write in a scene which sees them interact with a dog whereby they inflict discomfort or pain on their canine co-star?

Most recently newly crowned winners of ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ show, Jules O’Dwyer and her dog, Matisse, came under scrutiny when it became clear Jules had used a stunt dog, yet Matisse isn’t the first canine to win the votes of the British public. In 2012 Ashleigh and her dog, Pudsey, won the talent contest and have gone on to build a career showing the duo’s bond on stage and screen.
So what is it about dogs on TV that we can’t get enough of?

Well, we think we’ve figured it out. Here is K9 Magazine’s five reasons why dogs rule TV.

1. They can surprise even the most professional TV hosts.

2. Readers of a certain age will forever remember coming in from school and watching this soap with it’s bouncy Labrador.

3. They can steal the stage from even the most well-known stars. Celebrities don’t want to talk about themselves, they want to talk about their dogs.

4. Who really wanted to hear about the weather anyway? Ripple rules.

5. Sometimes all you need is a dog and you’ll have one of the Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time as voted by the TV Guide which has been running on and off across the globe for 46 years.

Featured Photo Credit: “Stròlic Furlàn” – Davide Gabino

Who’s your favourite TV dog? Comment below and let us know!

June 5, 2015
Meet the Newest Odd Couple All Animal Lovers Need to Know About

First there was ‘the dog and crow’ playing ping pong together, then came the orangutan and the hound, which saw the duo act like long lost friends enjoying each other’s company, and then we met Bubbles, the baby elephant and Bella, her canine sidekick, who captured the hearts of millions, but did you ever think you might hear about a dog and rat becoming BFFs?

Meet Osiris, a 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd cross, and his friend Riff Ratt, a 3-month-old fancy rat. This Chicago based atypical duo have taken Instagram by storm sharing special moments at home.

Speaking of their unique special friendship, owner Mickey Alice Kwapis, who an experienced foster carer and involved in wildlife rehab said: “Osiris was abandoned as a tiny puppy in a parking lot and from the time I rescued him that night until now, he has received special training to be extremely gentle with baby animals, such as mice, squirrels, kittens, raccoons and puppies, and help keep them warm between sessions on a heating pad, which can be dangerous and overheat. In February, on Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend, Eric and I were at a pet store looking at lizards when we fell in love with one of the baby feeder rats, which they use as live food for reptiles. His eyes were barely open and we knew we had to have him as part of our family.”

Mickey continued, “So we brought him home, named him Riff Ratt and bottle-fed him for a few weeks, and nursed him back to health. Osiris was by our side the whole time, licking up spilled milk and helping groom Riff because he was too small for baths. When his eyes finally opened all the way, Riff was so used to the smell and feel of Osiris that it didn’t phase him in the least, and they were instant best friends. They began playing together as soon as he was old enough and now share toys, eat the same treats, cuddle and play together.”

Here are a few of their special moments shared on the social platform.

Speaking with Mashable, the pair’s owner said: “I’m sure you all are wondering if we’re afraid Osiris will eat Riff – NOPE! Osiris has helped foster and care for dozens of animals and he is the gentlest dog I’ve ever met.”

Keep up to date with their adventures and latest photos and videos on Instagram by following them @osirisandriff

May 9, 2015
Dogs at Polling Stations – In 2015 it Became a ‘Thing’

It began as a question, ‘are dogs allowed at polling stations?’ and quickly became a top trending term on Twitter on 7th May, so while we await the outcome of today’s election, here are some of the best photos of dogs who visited polling stations across the UK.

1. The dog who showed up, in style and on-trend in tweed.

Photo Credit: Twitter/LilyBaileyUK

2. The dog who looks like he’d like to vote then get ‘Otto’ there.

Photo Credit: Twitter/Edingtonsltd

3. The trio of dogs who came, saw and conquered the polling station.

Photo Credit: Twitter/StumpedMonkey

4. Have directions, will vote.

Photo Credit: Twitter/DennisSkinner

5. This little detective Agatha Christie surely knows the outcome after casting her vote.

Photo Credit: Twitter/SaskiaODonoghue

6. It’s a Pug’s life.

Photo Credit: Twitter/thalestral

7. The dog who opted for the quiet life and chose to vote by post.

Photo Credit: Twitter/BBCPaulMurphy

If you took your dog to a polling station, share your photos and experiences with us – we’d love to hear from you!

May 7, 2015
These 5 Dogs Can’t Get Enough of Their Favourite TV Shows

If you were to rank your dog’s favourite things, what would they be? For K9 Magazine’s own Christopher, he loves watching TV with cricket being his favourite ‘show’ so far, and apparently he’s not alone.

A study published in the journal, ‘Animal Cognition’, found that dogs observe images on TV just like humans do, and unsurprisingly they can identify the images of other dogs. In fact, some who took part in the study completely ignored humans in adverts, and barked solely at their fellow canines.

The research also revealed that dogs spot images faster than we do, which might account for Christopher’s love of cricket, and in fact football, with the fast pace and his interest in the moving ball.

Here are five dogs who love nothing more than curling up on the sofa – or parking themselves right in front of the TV (who else really needed to see it anyway) – to get a fix of their favourite show.

Scrabbles loves the rabbit show.

Photo Credit: Dwilliams851

We know one dog who will be watching the Madrid Masters, Georges can’t get enough!

Molly refuses to be parted from her ‘Air Buddies’.

Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ can bring a tear to anyone’s eye, including this Chug.

However, Ziggy didn’t quite understand. He’d rather be on the telly than idly standing by watching!

Photo Credit: Brad Frost

Does your dog love TV? Did they enjoy our videos? Share your photos and videos with us, we’d love to hear from you!

May 6, 2015
Comic Legend Bill Bailey Helping to Secure a Rosy Future for Rescue Dog

Comic legend and musician Bill Bailey visited The Mayhew Animal Home in North West London during National Pet Month where he met Rosie, a one year old Shih Tzu and Chihuahua crossbreed, who arrived at the rescue centre, in Kensal Green, last month due to her owner’s ill health.

Bill who has a veritable menagerie of pets, including five rescue dogs, a cat, a parrot, a snake, some chickens and ducks at his West London home, said: “I am delighted to meet The Mayhew’s rescue dog, Rosie. She’s a great dog and I hope she gets a new home soon. I am passionate about the plight of rescue animals. Having rescue dogs myself I know just how important it is to have places like The Mayhew helping pets to get back on their paws and find new homes. They do a fantastic job.”

Cassie Farndale, Animal care team, at The Mayhew added: “It’s so brilliant of Bill to give his time to Rosie and The Mayhew to raise awareness of the plight of rescue pets. She’s a very easygoing lovable dog. Her owner was ill and had to sadly give her up. She’ll make a great pet for someone. She’s looking for someone with time on their hands and can live with other dogs. “

As well as his extensive stand-up work, Bill is well known for his appearances as team captain on Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Have I Got News For You. He is currently working on his upcoming tour, Limboland, where he recalls his global travels, ponders about the meaning of happiness and treats the audience to some live music. After rave reviews in Australia and New Zealand, Bill’s show will kick off in theatres across the UK, starting in Plymouth on 9th October 2015 and continuing in London’s West End until January 2016.

If you would like to adopt a pet from The Mayhew rescue centre please visit www.themayhew.org

National Pet Month runs until May 4th and aims to promote responsible pet ownership and raise awareness of the value of rescue animals. For more information please visit www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk/

April 30, 2015
These Dogs LOVE to Play Football, But Who’s Better?

Finding something your dog loves that you can do together is a real treat. My dogs have all loved football. Chloe used to love to ponder rather than actually play, but Mia has always taken the game very seriously. There are videos of her taking people out with tackles which will never see the light of day (the embarrassment of people actually seeing it happen at the park will live with me forever) and it seems very much that Danny and Christopher are following in her footsteps, with I hope, better timed tackles.

These dogs also love to play football and have been showing off their goalkeeping skills on Youtube, but who do you think is better?

1. Meet Ethan, he knows the word penalty means business.

2. This is Purine, and he has the stamina to last.

3. This dog has passion and height, so he can reach those high flying shots.

So, who gets your vote? Let us know below! If you’re still undecided check out the cat who loves to play football before you make your decision.

April 15, 2015
Celebrity Dog Owners Get Behind Campaign for Better Dog Health

Celebrity dog lovers Damon Scott and Craig Revel Horwood are getting behind a campaign calling for more regulations to help improve the long term health of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Owners of 13-year old Sophie, a Cavalier Damon rescued a little over five years ago the showbiz couple are supporting the petition organiser Margaret Carter who says “many people wrongly believed losing the BBC’s Crufts’ coverage was a watershed but most breeders continue to mate Cavaliers that are untested. Even puppy farmers are able to register their litters with the Kennel Club.”

Sophie is known as the ‘wonder dog’ at her family vets. From her first visit in such poor health the vet gave her two weeks to live, Damon has done whatever was needed to keep her happy and healthy.

The couple cherish each day with her having recently been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) which is a degenerative disease of the heart valves that leads to congestive heart failure. In 2009 a report by a leading veterinary cardiologist stated that 50 per cent of Cavaliers develop MVD heart murmurs by their fifth birthday. It is the biggest killer of Cavaliers under 10.

Craig and Damon were told recently that Sophie, who has MVD, has months to live.

Craig says, “She is the most beautiful little girl. We need to make sure all Cavaliers are MRI scanned and heart tested before breeding,”

Damon, a life long dog owner said, “We’re backing the petition because we thank our lucky stars for every day we have with Sophie. She’s my little girl and Craig and I are passionate about animal welfare and the lives of all dogs. This campaign is focused on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, but we want every dog to be healthy on the inside, rather than for the focus to be on how they look on the outside.”

Damon continues, “The life of a Cavalier is one where owners know their dog will have an inherited health problem and that’s surely wrong. This petition isn’t designed to cause a disruption to the business of The Kennel Club. We want to enforce better health regulations for the breed. Otherwise the Cavalier is just a dying breed and it’s scandalous if we, as a nation of dog lovers, sit back and let this continue.”

Craig, Damon and Sophie will soon be joined by Pippa, a Cavalier they’re adopting if their introduction goes well.

Damon says, “Sophie’s health problems don’t put us off her breed. We love Cavaliers and Craig knew I would fall in love if I met one at the Battersea Collars & Coats Ball, but dog owners in generations to come should get to know this wonderful breed for their spirit and fun nature, not because of their health problems and the way to achieve this is to bring the breed back to health, not by ignoring the problem.”

Get behind the campaign and make your voice heard by signing today: https://www.change.org/p/the-uk-kennel-club-stop-registerin-g-cavalier-king-charles-spaniel-puppies-unless-their-parents-are-mri-scanned-and-heart-tested

December 18, 2014
Strictly Come Dancing Judge Backs Campaign for Healthier Cavaliers

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood and other celebrities, including TV presenter Lisa Riley, celebrity chef Richard Corrigan and Made In Chelsea star Binky Felstead have joined 2,500 campaigners urging the Kennel Club to take control of a health crisis among Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

A lack of screening means more and more Cavaliers are falling victims to heart problems and another painful condition caused when the dog’s skull is too small to accommodate its brain causing fluid-filled cavities that destroy the spinal cord.

Cavalier lovers, including Craig Revel Horwood and his partner Damon Scott, were told recently their Cavalier Sophie, who has MVD, has months to live. Craig said: “She is the most beautiful little girl. We need to make sure all Cavaliers are MRI scanned and heart tested before breeding,”

The pair claim the Kennel Club is not doing enough to ensure that Cavaliers are screened for Mitral Valve Disease and Syringomyelia before they are bred from leading Cavalier lovers to launch this petition and ask the question ‘has the KC learnt nothing?’

Despite labelling itself “the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to protecting and promoting the health and welfare of all dogs”, campaigners say the Kennel Club has failed to take a strong stance, despite outrage after the TV documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed that showed Cavaliers screaming in pain. This resulted in the BBC ditching its coverage of Crufts in 2008.

“The Cavalier is in serious trouble and the Kennel Club needs to do much more. Mandatory testing for both these conditions is the bare minimum,” says Jemima Harrison, the documentary’s director.

“How many more scientists need to raise the alarm before something is done? How many more Cavaliers have to suffer before we see real action to save this breed?”

A “Cavalier” attitude to health and welfare

“Many people wrongly believed losing the BBC’s Crufts’ coverage was a watershed but most breeders continue to mate Cavaliers that are untested. Even puppy farmers are able to register their litters with the Kennel Club,” reveals Margaret Carter, petition organiser and Cavalier campaigner.

KC and breeders blame everyone but themselves including owners

“There is a voluntary MRI screening scheme for CM/SM but most of the small number of breeders who do scan don’t submit their results to it,” concedes Carter. The need for an official scheme for MVD was agreed in 2008 but nothing has materialised, showing there is no genuine will for reform.”

The Signatories

Catherine Farnsworth bought two-year-old Kookie the Cavalier from a Kennel Club assured breeder. “Kookie’s parents were not tested. He started showing severe symptoms of CM/SM at just four months old,” she recalls. “On bad days, he is very vocal. It’s distressing to watch and I worry about the long-term impact of the medication.”

Kookie, pictred above

Mother-of-three Charlotte Mackaness says her family was distraught when their first Cavalier died of MVD. “Just months later our two-year-old, Beebee, was diagnosed with CM/SM. Like many with SM, much of Beebee’s pain is around the head and neck so my children can’t play with her like before.

“The Kennel Club is all talk,” she continues. “The breed club seems exactly the same. Pet owners understand testing isn’t a guarantee. All we ask is breeders do everything possible to reduce the risk.

“Beebee’s breeders have won several Crufts’ Best of Breed titles and came highly recommended from a Cavalier Club puppy coordinator but we’ve since learnt their health record is far from ideal. While they collect trophies, all our darling dog has to look forward to is a life of pain.”

Beebee, pictured above

What is Mitral Valve Disease?

MVD is a degenerative disease of the heart valves that leads to congestive heart failure. In 2009 a report by a leading veterinary cardiologist stated that 50 per cent of Cavaliers develop MVD heart murmurs by their fifth birthday. It is the biggest killer of Cavaliers under 10.

What is Chiari-like malformation/Syringomyelia?

Syringomyelia (SM) is a painful neurological condition most often seen in Cavaliers, although other breeds like their close relations the Brussels Griffon are also seriously affected. It is often attributed to Chiari-like malformation (CM) of the skull. Put in lay man’s terms, the skull is too small for the brain causing severe pain and forming fluid-filled that cavities that destroy the spinal cord.

Get behind the campaign and make your voice heard by signing today: https://www.change.org/p/the-uk-kennel-club-stop-registerin-g-cavalier-king-charles-spaniel-puppies-unless-their-parents-are-mri-scanned-and-heart-tested

December 15, 2014
Did These Dogs Really Pose For Their Own Photos?

It’s claimed that the average dog owner takes 527 photos and selfies per year. It sounds a lot but when you think about it, it’s less than two photos a day.

Always striving to capture each and every moment we can of our time with our pets, thankful for the day we have photos to look back on in years to come reminding us of naughty habits, fun times or just the bond we had with our dogs staring back at us through the photos and not just ever-present in our hearts and minds, it’s no wonder our pets have gotten in on the ‘selfie revolution’.

Whether they’ve forced themselves in and are taking their very own selfie, photobombed yours or been there by choice, we love them all.

Here are some of the best dog selfies we’ve found…

1. The dog who mimics.

2. The sleeping beauty.

3. The happy couple.

4. The dog who keeps in shape.

5. The dog who couldn’t wait.

6. The dog who’s got this handled.

7. The dog who was a photographer in a previous life, knows just how to get the best look.

8. The dog who didn’t quite understand.

9. The dog who’s camera shy.

10. The dog who loves to travel, and show where they’ve been.

If you’ve seen a dog selfie which has made you smile or if you have one of your own, please share them with us – we’d love to hear from you!

December 5, 2014