Merry Christmas to all pet owners…we hope you enjoy the feast 🙂
Blog
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Download Your Copy of K9 Magazine’s 79th Issue Here!
Whether you’re looking to read on the go or at home, K9 Magazine has an edition just for you. With Issue 79 hot off the internet press (is that a thing?) we’d love to hear your thoughts on our latest edition to make sure as we move into 2015 we’re giving you everything you’d like from us.
Download your tablet friendly or flash edition here today and be sure to check back in and let us know…but before we finish up for the year we’d like to say…
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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
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Stars Turn Out for London Tinsel and Tails Fundraiser
Comedian Bill Bailey and Call the Midwife’s Helen George joined over 200 people for a fundraiser in Hammersmith, West London to help raise money for abused and neglected animals last night as The Mayhew Animal Home held its third annual fundraising event, Tinsel and Tails, at St Paul’s Church in London.
The guests were wined and dined during a fun-filled festive evening of entertainment including a luxury celebrity hosted auction and raffle with a fantastic selection of prizes including holidays to Morocco, the South of France, and a solid silver bracelet and earrings, from Andrew Prince, a designer who has made jewellery for Downton Abbey. He donated the items in memory of his dog Gooseberry who sadly passed away.
Bill, who has five rescue dogs, a cat, some pigeons, a parrot and a snake, said: “This is a fantastic event which raises awareness of the plight of rescue animals. When we got our rescue dogs they were just skin and bone but we helped them make a full recovery. I’m so glad we have the Mayhew to help rescue pets like these. They do a magnificent job.”
Photography by Bonnie Baker
Helen George and actor Peter Egan was amongst those performing readings during a fun-filled festive evening of entertainment to help neglected and abandoned pets. Screen siren, Sylvia Syms – now 80-years-old – also gave a reading alongside her daughter, Beatie Edney, also an actress.
Sylvia is a lifelong supporter of the Mayhew and recently adopted a dog called Bunny, who came into the rescue centre with a distressing skin condition. She is now making a full recovery. The Mayhew’s four legged friends – past and present – were out in force on the red carpet.
Volunteer Awards were awarded in ten categories including foster carer of the year which went to Kevin and Irene Barrett. Outstanding contribution went to Laressa Kelly.
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K9 Magazine’s Big Canine Christmas Jumper Review!
With many changes in our canine team of late (the four-legged kind), 2014 has been a year of change for us. We said goodbye to our beloved Chloe and hello to newbies Christopher and Danny.
Some of you may have seen Christopher feature in Mia’s big Christmas hamper review already but this is his first official review debut and give a warm welcome to Danny who also makes his first official debut. The boys have certainly kept Mia entertained since she lost her best friend.
Our Christmas jumper review was inspired by Mia herself. Every year she dons her red cashmere sweater and runs as fast as her legs will carry her into Ryan’s parents home announcing her arrival with the sound of a door banging off the radiator before arriving with two paws fully on the worktop in the kitchen to find out what progress has been made on Christmas lunch.
However a little over a month after losing Chloe, she was diagnosed with cancer and has been wearing her red sweater for just under four weeks to protect her stitches so we thought ‘lets find her a new one’ and we’ve done just that.
Of course with Danny, a 16 month old Rottweiler cross, and Christopher, a twelve-week old Rottweiler, now also here and more than ready to accept lovely gifts, they both got in on the act and the team at Astar Pets were happy to send some fab goodies for the trio.
Who are Astar Pets?
The team behind the site are well known in the digital field with combined experiences across many known brands, but their passion for Astar Pets stems from personal experience.
Astar Pets is essentially a market place bringing together pet brands and designers under one roof as an easy to shop experience giving you the chance to find everything from the essentials to the more luxury pet products.
What did our trio receive?
Mia received a soft woollen traditional pink argyle dog sweater (£21.50). Made from 100% supersoft acrylic yarn, the sweater is machine washable. Designed in a classic turtleneck style, it’s made with a light stretch making it easy to wear and much more comfortable. Available in sizes x-small to x-large, the jumpers have an opening on the neckline for a lead to fit through so it makes it perfect to wear out and about. We think she looks divine, don’t you?
Christopher received a traditional nordic fair isle dog sweater (£21.50). A sister sweater to Mia’s lovely jumper but with a different design, this sweater is made from the same 100% supersoft acrylic yarn and is machine washable. Again designed with a classic turtleneck collar the sweater has been weighed down with a double layer of ribbing on the front leg sleeves to help to keep this jumper in place on lively dogs, but with a light stretch all over to make it much more comfortable to move. Available in sizes x-small to x-large.
Danny was a lucky boy and received a luxury dog coat in a dusty blue colour, fiting for this lovely gentle giant. Stylish, waterproof and windproof this coat has a reflective trim for added visibility making it the perfect coat for early morning/evening walks during the Winter months. The collar is also a nice feature making it extra cosy around the top as you’re able to fold down, or pretend you’re a T-bird and wear up.
The coat has a v-neck elastic panel at the front for comfort and a warm thermal fleece lining and fastens with a strap which goes under underneath the dog’s belly and fastens with a velcro attachment on top. Machine washable, you can keep this coat in tip top shape for the no doubt colder and wetter days and weeks ahead!
Danny also received a Kyjen Christmas reindeer toy to welcome him to the team, which has has duly shared in a game of tug-o-war with Christopher (closely inspected by Mia). If he would have chosen to have the tug-o-war, who knows, no one says no to Christopher. Apparently. The boys absolutely loved this squeaky toy, being a longer design it really made a fun toy for them to play with together.
See our gallery below for fun moments from the photoshoot which took place with Mia, Christopher and Danny’s gifts…
A huge thanks to the Astar Pets team for making the build up to Christmas a little more special for our trio!
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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
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TV Personality Calls For Tougher Justice For Puppy Farmers
“If people saw behind the scenes at a puppy farm they would be shocked.”
TV presenter and ambassador for dogs calls for stiffer penalties for puppy farmers
Animal loving TV presenter Paul O’Grady has spoken out at his disgust at the shocking conditions puppy farms dogs are forced to endure.
Paul spoke about the horrors of puppy farming and the imported puppy trade at the RSPCA Animal Hero Awards, ahead of the launch of the charity’s #NotAPresent campaign this week.
Paul, known for his work on ITV’s For The Love of Dogs, said: “The puppy farms that exist both in this country and abroad are just shocking. They are harrowing and dreadful.
“The RSPCA do wonderful work and all I can say is thank God for them. They are fighting a battle, really fighting a battle.
“Through my work I see the good side of people as well as the bad side and believe you me there are things we wouldn’t dare show on TV because it is just too harrowing. It is just dreadful.”
He added: “We have got a responsibility to animals and we are here to care for them, not to abuse them. Until the judicial system changes and starts giving out stiffer penalties, puppy farmers and the like will get away with murder and we have to stop it.”
The RSPCA has already taken 30% more calls concerning puppy farms and the puppy trade so far this year, compared to the whole of 2013.1
The RSPCA this week launched the #NotAPresent campaign, which warns people against buying puppies as presents as it could fuel the trade in farmed and illegally imported puppies by people who put making money before animal welfare.
Violet Owens, RSPCA campaigns manager, said: “Many puppies are bred purely for profit and the sad fact is that while there continues to be such high demand for puppies, particularly the desirable pure-bred or fashionable crossbreed puppies, there will be puppy traders willing to exploit this fact.
“Puppy traders often go to extreme lengths to make their illegal operations appear legitimate to unsuspecting buyers. Some rent houses to make it appear as if the puppies have grown up in a home environment. Others post multiple adverts on the internet sites while using separate mobile phones for each breed advertised to disguise the huge numbers they are selling.”
The RSPCA is now calling on MPs in England to develop legislation that tackles the root causes of the problem by cutting off the illegal trade and ensuring increased accountability and monitoring of anyone who breeds puppies.
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Fat, Badly Behaved Dogs Lead UK In To Animal Welfare Disaster
UK pet nation heading for animal welfare disaster
Lack of training and socialisation causing behaviour meltdown in 250,000 dogs
…and fat pets are fast becoming the majority with 5.5. million fed fatty treats
Badly behaved and overweight pets are fuelling a pet welfare crisis in Britain, according to the annual PAW Report from vet charity PDSA.
The latest Report reveals some shocking findings with a rise in dog aggression directed both at humans and others pets, and concerns relating to destructive behaviour, both caused by a cocktail of boredom, lack of training and socialisation and worryingly low levels of regular exercise. A quarter of a million dogs are behaving aggressively towards people every week. And dog hostility towards other pets, including attacks, rising annually to over 600,000.
The Report also shows that pet obesity levels are continuing to increase. 80% of vets and vet nurses now predict there will be more overweight pets than healthy pets in five years time, and with 5.5 million pets being fed fatty treats the pet obesity epidemic is set to balloon.
Another staggering finding is that 2.4 million dogs in the UK are not given the opportunity to safely exercise off the lead outside of the home or garden on a daily basis – with over 800,000 of these dogs never going for walks. This can lead to destructive behaviour and anxiety, as well as aggression and is also contributing to the rise in pet obesity.
These statistics are taken from the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report*, the largest ever annual assessment of pet welfare (which has surveyed 21,000 pet owners over the past four years). Produced in conjunction with YouGov, the 2014 PAW Report exposes a grave lack of understanding when it comes to meeting some of the most basic of pets’ needs, says PDSA Head of Pet Health and Welfare, Nicola Martin: “We are undoubtedly a nation of animal lovers, with four out of five pet owners stating they feel physically or mentally healthier because of their pet.
“However, our latest findings reveal that anti-social behaviour in dogs continues to rise due to a worrying lack of training, socialisation and exercise. Owners are sadly continuing to feed the wrong types of food with portion sizes out of control. Preventative health is also a major concern – the basics such as vaccinations and neutering are often ignored by owners, leaving their pets vulnerable to a wide range of deadly diseases.”
In response to these findings and in an effort to gain an even deeper understanding of the health and happiness of UK pets, PDSA is encouraging pet owners to take part in its Big Pet Survey: pdsa.org.uk/bigpetsurvey. The charity aims to build the biggest ever insight into the wellbeing of the pet nation.
Nicola continues: “The more people that take the survey and share their views with us, the more we can identify the most vital and pressing pet welfare issues, and provide the right support and solutions to help make improvements.”
Key findings from the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report:
Dog Behaviour
1.5 million dogs are not properly ‘socialised’ as puppies – which involves exposing them to everyday sights and sounds before 12 weeks of age.
62% of pet owners having been concerned or frightened by another dog’s behaviour
250,000 dogs are showing aggressive behaviour towards people every week and 30% of pet owners reporting they have been bitten or attacked by a dog
Over half of veterinary professionals report an increase in levels of dog on dog attacks
Over 800,000 dogs never being taken for off the lead walks, and nearly 250,000 never even walked on a lead
Obesity
5.5 million pets still being fed fatty treats, fuelling the pet obesity epidemic
80% of veterinary professionals predict there will be more fat pets than healthy weight pets in five years time
Owners over 55 are least likely to seek vet advice regarding their pet’s diet.
Preventative Health
Millions of pets still at risk of deadly diseases, such as parvovirus, due to lack of vaccinations and neutering
Just 66% of dog owners are aware that microchipping will soon be compulsory in England and Wales
Pet Ownership
5 million pet owners did no research at all before taking on their pet with many largely unaware of the specific needs of their chosen pet
25% of pet owners would consider getting a puppy from a puppy farm where there welfare needs are unlikely to have been properly met
86% of pet owners believe online sales of pets should be regulated
For more information, and to take part in the next PAW Report, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/bigpetsurvey
Photo by swong95765
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American Veterinary Medical Association says ‘Prevent Dog Attacks By Not Focusing on Breed’
Across the country, some communities have attempted to reduce the incidence of dog bites by enacting breed-specific legislation that bans the ownership of certain types of dogs. Most recently, residents of Aurora, Colorado, voted in November to uphold their nine-year ban on pit bull type dogs in the city.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), however, breed-specific legislation is an ineffective way to reduce the number of dog bites in a community, unfairly targeting dogs that have done nothing wrong and providing a false sense of security while leaving the root causes of dog bites un-addressed.
“The role of the breed is actually very small,” says Dr. Emily Patterson-Kane, animal welfare scientist at the AVMA. “So if you suppress one breed, another breed is going to come to fill that role and your bite injuries are going to continue to occur until you have a real community approach to animal control and education.”
Dr. Patterson-Kane said that instead of focusing on the breed, effective dog bite prevention measures fall into three areas:
- How people raise and care for their dogs
- How people manage situations when their dogs are in contact with other people
- How communities respond to people who are raising or keeping their dogs in a dangerous or harmful manner
Things such as proper socialization and training, securely fenced yards, and strongly enforced animal control regulations will do much more to prevent dog bites then outlawing certain types of dogs based on their physical appearance, Dr. Patterson-Kane says.
One of the problems of many current breed bans, Dr. Patterson-Kane says, is that they target pit bulls, which aren’t actually a breed but a “type” descended from bull and terrier breeds. Media reports describing a pit bull attack may in fact be describing a dog that was never considered to be a pit bull, or was known for certain to be another breed, such as a Labrador.
“A pit bull is in the eye of the beholder,” Dr. Patterson-Kane says. “So if an apartment passes some regulation saying people in this apartment aren’t allowed to have pit bulls, the guy with the Labrador-boxer cross is going to be surprised to find that all his neighbors think he’s breaking that rule.”
Dr. Patterson-Kane says that instead of simply cracking down on negative behavior, communities should focus on fostering environments where people and their dogs can have positive experiences together, and where dogs are less likely to end up in situations where they feel threatened and don’t know how to cope.
“I think the focus should be that any dog can be dangerous,” Dr. Patterson-Kane says. “But with the right veterinary care, with the right community education, and with the right enforcement of responsible behavior, we can make sure that dogs aren’t just potential biters harbored in our homes, but they’re actually animal members of our community.”
You can hear more from Dr. Patterson-Kane on breed-specific legislation and dog bite prevention on AVMA’s latest Animal Tracks podcast, available on AVMA’s website or through iTunes.
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Why It’s Vital We Never Lose Trust In Our Vets
Back in 2009 the BBC broadcast the results of a K9 Media inspired vet fees survey. The results highlighted the – sometimes massive – range of fees being charged for ‘standard’ procedures by UK veterinarians. As much as £100 difference in the cost of a standard neutering procedure, in the SAME county.
I believe the hot topic of disparity between vet fees is not going to go away any time soon. As pet insurers increasingly aim their fire at vets for performing ‘un-needed procedures’ on animals who are financially protected and more and more pet owners exchange information on the huge variance in medicine costs, we have to ask: will the vet fees issue lead to an erosion of trust and if so, what can we do to stop it?
I have long held a concern that many pet owners may begin to second guess their vet’s recommendations on treatment as cynicism sets in. This would be a disaster. Let me explain why and how I think it could happen.
I take my dog to the vet for treatment on a lump that has suddenly appeared on her leg.
My vet gives me some medicine and cream and tells me to come back in two weeks.
I do. The lump is still there.
I see a different vet. This vet says they’ll have to operate as the position and feel of the lump gives concern for cancer.
Now, I obviously agree – without hesitation. I pay for the surgery. I pay for the cost of the biopsy on the removed lump. I pay for the after care. I’m £700 down.
My dog’s on the mend and it suddenly dawns on me; why was I recommend the cream in the first place if the position and feel ‘needed’ surgery?
If the above sounds like a far fetched scenario, think again – it happened. Not to me. But it happened.
Now, let’s take a look at price variance.
Why should/can one vet charge £4.00 for a specific brand of worming tablet and another charge £5.90 for the EXACT same pill? Same dosage, same brand, same pill. Why?
Well, I can answer my own question, why; they can, because they can.
Vets are a small business. Fact. They are a for profit enterprise. And I am the LAST person on earth to advocate vets become anything other than innovative, entrepreneurial businesses. Where my problem lies is in the fact that there is a groundswell of disquiet amongst a significant number of pet owners, upset, confused at how and why they got charged £300 for a neutering procedure whereas their neighbour got the EXACT same procedure done for £100 less with a vet down the road.
If we find ourselves becoming cynical or second guessing our vets, we’re in trouble. More to the point, our pets are in trouble. We need absolute complete trust in our vets. And I believe a way to achieve this is by the introduction of a standardised, nationwide veterinary invoice.
The invoice would NOT standardise charges. It would NOT prevent or restrict vets from charging whatever they see fit for the services and products they offer. What it would do is legally compel ALL vets to declare exactly what their customers are paying for.
So if a neutering operation was charged at £300, the invoice would list:
– Cost of labour
– Cost of anesthetic
– Cost of dressing
– Cost of drugsI would like to see vet drugs sold at a standard, recommended retail price – so if it’s a medicine that I can only get on prescription, I would like the price to be the same for that drug whether I use a vet in Nottingham or Notting Hill. A margin for the vet can still be built in to the retail price, if a vet wanted to retail the drugs above the national recommended retail price, then it should be declared on the invoice along the lines of (Sold at £0.35 above RRP).
I don’t mind paying it, but I want to know EXACTLY what I’m paying for. I want to have the power of comparison. I want to be happy that – should I want to – I can shop around for a vet who works at a lower hourly rate or a vet who operates a ‘RRP policy on all pet medicines’.
I don’t want restrictions, I just want transparency. I want them same level of disclosure from vets that I expect from the garage who services my car, because although I acknowledge the main dealer will charge me 35% more than the garage in my town for parts and labour, I am happy in the knowledge that I can at least do a side by side comparison of both providers and make an informed decision on who to use.
British vets are some of the best in the world. We should be very, very grateful to have such a depth of skilled professionals to care for our pets. All we want is more clarity. There are vets who fleece owners for every penny. They are, fortunately, the tiny minority (and let’s not overlook that) – well, that’s too bad. But let’s have a national vet invoice that means we can pick apart the precise elements of our bill and choose our vets accordingly.
Do you agree?
Photo by ** RCB **
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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!
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Meet the World’s First Dog Who Can Drive!
Have you met Porter yet?
He’s the world’s first driving dog!
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The Three Greatest Loves (& Losses) of My Life
I should feel lucky to have had three great loves who’ve loved me unconditionally but having just recently lost Chloe at 15 years old my heart feels broken and although it hasn’t yet been two months since she left us, the loss feels greater the more time passes leading me to think about all three of the dogs we’ve loved, lost and forever treasure.
My first great love, and loss, was Bonnie.
A quirky Cocker Spaniel, in any and all senses of the word. She was a funny character, I’m not 100% sure anyone, myself included, ever fully knew her. We adopted her at two-years old from a show kennels my cousin worked at. Bred from Crufts winning stock, she decided life in the ring wasn’t for her.
When I think back I liken her personality to Columbo. A persona that screamed simplicity, but underneath those massive ears and curly mophead lay a cunning mind whirring away.
I remember once while living in Suffolk playing cricket outside one Summer’s night. We left the door open and Bonnie and Jackson followed pottering around. Mid-way through what was most likely a shocking attempt at playing cricket from myself, I saw Bonnie creeping back inside then coming out and thought no more about it until I saw her repeat the action a few more times. I decided to creep up and investigate when she went back inside one more time. She had opened a hole in the bottom of a 30kg bag of food and was treating it like a self-service buffet.
Classic Bonnie move. In fact most classic Bonnie moments involve her opening and stealing a ham hock from the fridge, stealing and eating a loaf of bread at nano speed, before getting to older age and being unable to catch a treat dropped from hand height to her but opening her mouth and making that lip smacking sound we all know too well about five second too late.
My second great love and loss was Jackson.
He wasn’t my dog, not really, not to begin with anyway. Ryan had him from a puppy but when I first met Ryan in his dog training days, Jackson went everywhere he did. He was four-years old then and Jackson and I became friends, mainly through feeding him Skips crisps initially (at the time I didn’t realise Ryan’s diet mainly consisted of Skips, Supernoodles and orange Club biscuits).
Jackson has an aura about him derived from his statuesque nature and everyone who met him has a Jackson story. In fact the ‘Nervous Twitch’ mentioned in K9 Magazine’s last Dogosaurus was inspired by him.
He was a kind, protective, funny boy who made me laugh more times than I can count. Jackson battled cancer, and won, before passing suddenly one weekend just over nine-years ago aged 13 years old.
After he beat the disease we took him on a celebratory pet friendly break to Newton Abbot in Dorset. A weekend of pottering about (him) and falling in water (Chloe, his daughter). One of the funniest moments that weekend came when we were packing up to leave, it’s something we only spotted in the photos afterwards and the sequence of shots has led us to put our own dialogue with voices and accents, of course, to them.
For some reason Jackson took exception to something a dog in the distance said so Chloe peered over to check it out, while his grumpy old man face stayed put.
The next photo in the sequence was of Chloe running out of the car to check on things, while the third photo showed her back in the car with a satisfied (almost smug-like) look on her face as ‘daddy’s little girl’.
Chloe really did idolise her dad. She changed personality after he passed and although noticeable at the time, now that Mia has been left by Chloe, she too has changed personality. Chloe is my third love and most recent loss.
Indulgent this feature may be, I’ve been reading a lot about coping with the loss of a pet recently to try and give my mind some sort of order once again. One thing I cannot find the answer to is if I am alone in the grief feeling so overwhelming and all consuming weeks afterwards. After reading this article by Joe Yonan I was inspired to share.
At the time we had to say goodbye to Chloe, it was after a year long illness. We were told she had a combination of canine spondylosis and degenerative myelopathy which affected her spine with the effects worsening over time. In fact, looking back she hit all three stages from development to the latter stage pretty much bang on schedule as other dog owners had relayed in their own experiences.
Throughout the three stages of the disease progressing, Chloe needed more care and to the end was unable to walk or hold herself up late afternoon/early evening in particular so our day was scheduled around Chloe’s needs and what she needed and when. If only she’d been younger to take advantage she would have loved it…
We tried to manage her rest as well as we could, and sometimes it worked. If she would rest after breakfast she would be fine until lunchtime. She was a stickler for routine paying no attention to the clocks going back, but when they went forward she whole-heartedly agreed. She would start her countdown to tea around 10 to 3 in the afternoon. It used to amuse me and I’d get used to hearing the banging of her tail outside my office door or against my desk. You literally could set your clock to Chloe-time.
In the latter stage of the disease, her mind was the same but her body was failing her and we knew would only get worse, yet I didn’t truly prepare myself for a time when she wouldn’t be here.
As the disease progressed, Chloe-time worked against her. She would still want to get up and walk around, but she couldn’t cope with the pacing.
I am lucky in that working at home wasn’t an issue so for most of Chloe’s life we’ve spend every day with her and I cherish that. Or will do in the weeks or months to come I think with much more ease. Just now I’d do anything to get another 15 years with my special girl.
With Chloe we had three markers on what we would look out for to make sure she was still enjoying life and had quality of life, and when it got to the point that she was no longer able to cope we felt we had no choice but to make a decision to let her go because if we didn’t, it would have just been for ourselves rather than her, and she loved so fully and unconditionally, this was one final thing we could do for her.
It left us with broken hearts and a hole as big as her heart.
I think in the first few weeks I threw myself into work. With such a lot to do, I felt I could do more good through National Dog Adoption Month helping more dogs to find new homes and more owners to find their canine soulmate. At night times with the house so much quieter without Chloe’s presence, I just worked some more and Mia, who idolised Chloe as much as Chloe did Jackson really, was lost without her and slept for most of the time.
As November began, my work load began to slow and I found myself albeit busy during the day, I was running out of excuses.
I wonder if in the early weeks I distracted myself too much, or if perhaps I was mindful of the decision being the right one for her whereas now, although that’s still the case, the loss is greater because time has passed and what I’m left with now isn’t the Chloe on 29th September who needed us to help her, but the Chloe I remember for 15 years worth of fun, beauty and spirit, her love of all things orange in her younger days, her ability to have her eyes closes in most photos taken, and so much more besides.
Chloe once shouted at Andrew Castle from her dressing room backstage at GMTV while accompanying Mia (she sat with her back to the camera on a live appearance once also).
She once trod in and upturned a water bowl on Big Brother’s Little Brother backstage after being given a tour behind set by Dermot O’Leary. She also once attempted to usher someone out of our house because his presence delayed her teatime. I think I’ve said enough of her stickler for routine!
She had the biggest heart and biggest, most beautiful brown eyes and I will forever miss her. She gave the best cuddles and I miss her presence every moment of every day. I hope she knows just how much she taught us about living life the Chloe way.
If you too have lost a pet, share your special moments below here. I’d love to hear your own canine’s shenanigans and hope the antics of Bonnie, Jackson and Chloe here have amused you.
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Mia’s Big Christmas: A Dog Christmas Hamper Review
Our pets play as important a role in our festive plans as our friends and family do, and so choosing the perfect gift can be something we spend a good amount of time thinking about. What will they like? What do they need? What will they most enjoy opening when they find their present under the tree?
All of these things play an important factor in our decision making process and so over the next week or so Mia will be getting in the Christmas spirit reviewing some pet gift ideas. She will be casting her expert eye over the gifts and entertaining with her gallery of photographs, which may or may not feature her new sidekick, Christopher who’s not yet used to the limelight like she is.
First up, wearing her obligatory Christmas jumper Mia has the pleasure of reviewing the Dog Christmas Hamper kindly sent into her from the team at JustRewardPetHampers.co.uk. Packed full of goodies and health treats, the hamper is priced at £49.99.
Who are Just Reward Pet Hampers?
Set up with the help of canine CEO, Arthur, Just Reward Luxury Pet Hampers was set up to deliver quality products direct to your door. Combining dog treats, toys and grooming products using only the best from both local and UK wide brands, the hampers are designed to stand out from the crowd.
Mia’s Dog Christmas Hamper
Being a big fan of anything food related, this hamper was perfect for Mia. Packed with posh quality dog treats, she took an immediate liking to home baked dog treats by the Daft Dog Bakery. Free from Gluten and made with human grade ingredients, they have no added salts or sugars.
After Christopher woke up and taking inspiration from Mia, he landed (quite literally) in the hamper. We thought if he’s going to be involved, he has to look the part so with the bandana from the hamper suitably worn, he decided the Good Breath Rubber Dog Bone, Antler Chew and filling were all his.
The Antler chew is naturally shed and responsibly sourced from premium Grade A Antler. The rubber bone toy should keep him occupied for hours and because it’s infused with a strong minty flavour we can say goodbye to puppy breath!
In addition to Mia and Christopher’s favourites the hamper also included:
- Lily’s Christmas Biscuits – 100 % natural and hand-baked, these bite-sized, heart-shaped dog biscuits are made with freshly-prepared turkey, liver, cranberries and thyme, plus a sprinkling of yummy Christmassy cinnamon which is also a wonderful anti-inflammatory that can help boost energy, circulation and brain health.
- Lily’s Three Bird Feast – A tin of grain free Christmas dog food made with freshly prepared turkey, goose, and duck combined with parsnips, Swiss chard, carrots, cranberries, apples and thyme for an irresistible and wonderfully nourishing canine Christmas lunch.
- Hungry Hector Turkey Delights Made with Turkey, whole Cranberries and some sage and approved by a qualified vet. The best treat for any dog without spoiling their appetite before having their delicious Three Bird Feast Christmas Dinner.
- Dogsbody Shampoo – A mild yet deep cleaning shampoo which removes dirt and odour without stripping the coat of its essential oils, its ‘Easy Rinse’ technology keeps washing time to a minimum, and built in conditioners and Pro-Vitamin B5 help improve the health, strength and condition of the coat.
Mia received the hamper with a bandana sized for her breed, but if you let Just Reward Pet Hampers know what size your dog is when ordering they will pick a bandana to best fit your dog.
As a dog who has virtually everything a dog could need this hamper was perfect for Mia, she loves her yummy snacks and with more toys than she can shake a stick at, an almost fully treat filled hamper with one chewable toy and some shampoo to keep her coat as shiny as a TV hair model, this makes an ideal gift.
Find your dog’s perfect Christmas hamper online at JustRewardPetHampers.co.uk!
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Have You Got Your Tablet Friendly Edition of K9 Magazine Issue 78 Yet?
If not, why not we ask 🙂
Get your week off to the best possible start by downloading K9 Magazine’s latest issue, featuring an exclusive interview with Dynamo about life with his dog, Bessie and much much more you won’t want to miss…
But don’t take my word for it, click to find out all about what’s in this issue before downloading your tablet friendly edition HERE
Go on, you know you want to!
Once you’ve read, we’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on what you liked or what you’d like to see more of – we love hearing from you.
