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This area of the site includes information and articles which have appeared in national newspapers, magazines and websites
and which we feel might be of interest to you.

the dogs dumped because they didn't match the sofa

Pet owners have dumped their dogs because they did not match the furniture, an animal charity said yesterday.
Others complained that the dog's different-coloured eyes made it look evil, said the Dogs Trust.

The excuses were revealed as the Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, listed the most irresponsible reasons people have given for abandoning dogs. The Trust, which 30 years ago coined the slogan 'A dog is for life, not just for Christmas', said one dog was given up after it ate the Christmas turkey, another lost its home because it tore open its owners' presents on Christmas Eve.

In an effort to cut this further, the Trust's 17 centres will stop rehoming dogs over the holiday season. People will be able to
visit and reserve a dog, but not take it home until the New Year.

dogs can read emotion in human faces

Research findings suggest that, like an understanding best friend, they can see at a glance if we are happy, sad, pleased or angry.

When humans look at a new face their eyes tend to wander left, falling on the right hand side of the person's face first.
This "left gaze bias" only occurs when we encounter faces and does not apply any other time, such as when inspecting animals or inanimate objects. A possible reason for the tendency is that the right side of the human face is better at
expressing emotional state.

Researchers at the University of Lincoln have now shown that pet dogs also exhibit "left gaze bias", but only when looking at human faces. No other animal has been known to display this behaviour before

The BBC has confirmed it will not broadcast the dog show Crufts next year.

The Kennel Club, which runs Crufts, said the decision followed "disputes" over the inclusion of certain breeds of pedigree dog in the competition.

The club complained to Ofcom after a BBC investigation earlier this year found dogs on show suffer from genetic diseases following years of inbreeding. The BBC said it remained "keen" on continuing discussions with the club. The show is still set to go ahead in March next year but the club said it could not comply with the BBC's request for particular breeds to be excluded from the show.

Dogs are intensely jealous creatures that experience a range of complex human-like emotions, a new study at the University of Portsmouth has revealed.

The study of 1000 domestic animal owners in the south of England also uncovered examples where jealous dogs acted as 'uninvited chaperones' between couples sharing romantic moments.

The research was done by University of Portsmouth psychologist Dr Paul Morris and colleague Christine Doe, and will be presented at the BA Festival of Science in Norwich, on Thursday 7th September.

It challenges the long-held scientific belief that only humans and chimpanzees are able to experience secondary emotions such as jealousy, guilt, shame and pride. Dr Morris, who is an animal behaviour expert, said dog owners showed 'remarkable consistency' in reporting jealous behaviour.

Dogs' amazing sense of smell down to a wet nose

Dogs have many more nerve cells in their nasal cavities than we do and a wider variety of receptors to latch on to odour molecules. Now a team led by Brent Craven of Pennsylvania State University in University Park has shown that the complex network of snot-coated tubes in a dog's nose also "pre-sorts" smells, which may make it easier for the brain to identify them.

Before odour molecules can reach smell receptors, they must get through a layer of mucus - and some molecules are absorbed quicker than others.

military dogs get new veterinary hospital - IRAQ

A new $15 million veterinary hospital for four-legged military personnel opened Tuesday at Lackland Air Force Base, offering a long overdue facility that gives advanced medical treatment for combat wounded dogs.

Dogs working for all branches of the military and the Transportation Safety Administration are trained at the base to find explosive devices, drugs and land mines. Some 2,500 dogs are working with military units.Like soldiers and Marines in combat, military dogs suffer from war wounds and routine health issues that need to be treated to ensure they can continue working.

DOG HAILED AS HERO AFTER SAVING KITTENS FROM FIRE

Forget fighting like cats and dogs, this was more like fire-fighting. Family pooch Leo risked his life to save a litter of newborn kittens from flames engulfing a house and was hailed as a hero by Australian fire brigade.

Leo's owners, a family of four, had escaped from their blazing home in Melbourne, with a second dog. But Leo, a jack russell cross, refused to leave the building. Believing one person unaccounted for, firemen entered the house, where they found him standing guard over the kittens despite the thick, acrid smoke.

Nicholas Roe visits a restaurant that welcomes canine customers

I've met a few naughty dogs in my time but this one took the biscuit. Literally. She took the biscuit right out of my hand, gave me a snuffle, then ran off into the corner to gnaw on a bit of old rag.

It's not often that my dinner companions act with such distinctive flair but, there again, they're not often cross-bred King Charles spaniels. The venue for our unusual date is The Tempest restaurant in Christchurch, Dorset, which has just taken a jaunty step down the road to social inclusion by introducing a menu for dogs.

Britain's biggest dog needs life-saving operation

The owners of Britain's biggest dog have appealed for help to pay for a life-saving operation

Samson, a four-year-old Great Dane-Newfoundland cross stands an incredible 6 ft 6 in (1.98m) on his back legs.
Julie and Ray Woods, from Wyberton, Lincs, rescued him from an RSPCA centre when he was just six months old.

Since he was adopted, he has grown from 16 stone (102kg) to a massive 20 stone (127kg) hound with a 59 inch (1.5m) chest
and a 29 inch (74cm) neck, although the couple are strict about his diet.

Pedigree dogs are suffering from genetic diseases following years of inbreeding, an investigation has found.

A BBC documentary says they are suffering acute problems because looks are emphasised over health when breeding dogs for shows. Scientists at Imperial College, London, recently found that pugs in the UK are so inbred that although there are 10,000 of them, it is the equivalent of just 50 distinct individuals

Steve Jones, professor of genetics at University College London, said: "People are carrying out breeding which would be first of all entirely illegal in humans and secondly is absolutely insane from the point of view of the health of the animals. "In some breeds they are paying a terrible price in genetic disease."

Movements Towards Pet Rental Prohibition

"No person shall engage in the business of leasing or renting dogs and cats." This is the opening line of a Bill passed by The State of Massachusetts in the US this week. Prohibiting the renting of pets, the Bill, which has now been forwarded to the US Senate for concurrence, seems almost exclusively aimed at the business activities of the now infamous pet rental company FlexPets.
Dogs Trust said of the news last night that the campaign against what it calls a "cruel dog rental trade", has made a step forward, raising hopes of a ban on this side of the Atlantic.

can you give your dog an attack of the yawns?

Everyone who has sat for ages in a doctor’s waiting room will be aware that yawning is infectious.
But did you know that dogs can catch it?

Scrutiny of 29 dogs placed in a room with a yawning man found that 21 – or 72 per cent – also started to yawn.
Top of the yawners was a Border collie, fitting in five in the space of a few minutes

Electrifying Announcement for Welsh Dogs

After many years of campaigning the Kennel Club is delighted with the announcement made by the Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones to ban electric shock collars in Wales.

Said Elin Jones "After giving due consideration to the arguments, I propose to introduce a ban on the use of electric shock collars in Wales.” She further commented that Wales was “leading the way” with this ban now in place. Elin went on to explain that the ban would stand on any product that induces a shock from which a dog cannot escape.

Eurotunnel Prize Offered To Pet Owners During National Microchipping Month

This year National Microchipping Month is highlighting the importance of keeping your pet’s details up to date on the Petlog system. Unfortunately, there are many cases where animals are found, but owners have moved address and consequently the animals are unable to be returned. The public are invited to upgrade their pet’s record to Petlog Premium for only £10 (normally £15) during the month of June with the added bonus that they will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a FlexiPlus Shortbreak Return Ticket with Eurotunnel.

First Dog Activity Trail Unveiled In North East Woodland

If your pooch is slapping on the pounds and looking full in the face then a trip to your local wood might now be an even better idea. The Forestry Commission has linked up with the Kennel Club to unveil the first ever dog actvity trail in any of its UK woodlands in 200-heactare (500 acre) Coatham Wood, near Long Newton, Teesside.

BLUE CROSS - Royal Parks half marathon

The Royal Parks Foundation, the charity for the eight Royal Parks, has launched a new half marathon and The Blue Cross is very excited to be nominated as one of their main charities. We will help you every step of the way to reach your personal target for this landmark event, whether you sprint like a greyhound, crawl like a tortoise, or hop like a rabbit. The route will take you through four central London Royal Parks: Hyde Park, St James's Park, The Green Park and Kensington Gardens. Runners and spectators alike will have magnificent views of landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, and the Royal Albert Hall.

Rother District Council persuaded to scrap its proposed year-round ban of dogs
from beaches

The Kennel Club’s dog owners’ group, KC Dog, and local responsible dog owners have persuaded Rother District Council to scrap its proposed year-round ban of dogs from beaches. The original proposals would have penalised responsible as well as irresponsible owners, but the council has taken into account the responses to an informal consultation last year, which were largely against such a ban, and has proposed fairer orders.

Rent-a-dog woman has animal welfare chiefs snapping at her heels

It is the ultimate luxury for the time-poor and wealthy who want the status of walking a flamboyant dog without the hassle of hair on the carpet or dealing with fleas...

Read more....

Now read "A scheme for the benefit of people rather than for pets..."by Caroline Bower,s a companion animal behavioural counsellor, a partner in the Veterinary Hospital Group, Plymouth, and co-author of The Dog Owner’s Problem Solver

Read more....

Microchip your pet during National Microchipping Month 2008

The campaign aims to encourage vets from around the country to hold microchipping clinics in their surgeries to highlight how microchipping can ensure you never lose that special someone in your life.

The events provide a great opportunity for pet owners to develop their understanding of the processes involved and the services available to them and their pets through Petlog, the UK’s largest reunification database.

Being a part of June’s National Microchipping Month couldn’t be easier. Vet surgeries have been putting their events up on the Kennel Club website, where pet owners can now go and find the clinic nearest to them. The Kennel Club is encouraging pet owners to take their pets along to one of the hundreds of clinics up and down the country, and have their pet microchipped.

The first national blood bank charity for dogs is launched

The latest research into childhood allergies suggests that having a pet in the home reduces the risk of children being
sensitive to allergens.
The scientists from the National Research Centre for Environmental Health in Munich say they have found that having a pet when a child is growing up trains the immune system to be less sensitive to potential triggers for allergies such as asthma, e
czema and hay fever.

Read more....

Kids who get down and dirty with the dog have far fewer allergies

The latest research into childhood allergies suggests that having a pet in the home reduces the risk of children being sensitive
to allergens.
The scientists from the National Research Centre for Environmental Health in Munich say they have found that having a pet when a child is growing up trains the immune system to be less sensitive to potential triggers for allergies such as asthma,
eczema and hay fever.

Read more....

Move over Kate and Naomi – here comes Murray!
HELSBURY PARK DOG PHOTO WINNER 2008

With nearly 1000 votes overall it was a very close run thing but we're delighted to announce the winner of this year's photography competition is Nick Tucker with this picture of his fabulous dog Murray [HP009]. The runners up included Neo [HP010], Biscuit [HP005] and Wilma [HP015]. Thanks to everyone who entered and who voted. The winner of the voucher draw was Tim Roberts and we hope to welcome him to Helsbury soon.

dog years by mark doty

If your response to one of the pet cemeteries beloved of the Edwardians - where active gundog and assiduous mouser alike were laid to rest - is disdain, you will have no means of understanding Mark Doty's illuminating, perceptive and profound meditation on life, death and the adoration of dogs

East Riding Council Consults on Vast Dog Control Orders

KC Dog, the Kennel Club’s dog owners’ group, is letting residents within the East Riding of Yorkshire know that the Council is consulting on introducing council-wide dog control orders restricting access to public land. The consultation closes on 7 April and KC Dog urges all responsible owners to write a response to the Council before that date.

Confirmed rabies case in dog in France

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has become aware of a case of confirmed rabies in a dog, diagnosed in France on the 26th February. The French authorities have identified 4 potential risk areas where people may have been exposed to rabies. The risk of rabies is considered ongoing in these areas.

The geographical areas and corresponding periods of risk are:

• Hautes-Pyrénées ( Tarbes city and surroundings), from the 25th October 2007 onwards
• Gers (Auch city and surroundings), from the 1st November onwards
• Seine-et-Marne, from the 15th December onwards
• Calvados (Lisieux city and Thury Harcourt village and their surroundings), from the 15th December onwards

Kennel Club Educational Trust announces signing of Stoneleigh Agreement

A final agreement has now been signed with the Royal Agricultural Society of England to provide a permanent national and central venue at Stoneleigh for use as an educational, training and canine activity centre.

Pets get pampered with hotel beds

Hotel chain Travelodge is offering special pet-sized luxury beds which come complete with a mattress, pillow and duvet

open for dogs

The Kennel Club Sticker Campaign to break down barriers for dog owners
Places which display this campaign sticker ‘Open for Dogs’ and which allow dogs, will benefit from encouraging more visitors together with their dogs, and have the Kennel Club connection.
Contrary to popular belief, it is by no means illegal to take dogs into restaurants and pubs etc, and The Kennel Club would like to make life easier for millions of dog owners who would benefit if more places allowed dogs - and so would the businesses!

dog days are here again

If you are barking, you will probably be spending the coming weekend in Birmingham. From Thursday to Sunday, the National Exhibition Centre in England's second city will be the scene of what is acknowledged to be the greatest dog show on earth.

Hear boy: The bowl that talks to your pet while you're not home

Those terrible pangs of guilt you endure when occasionally forced to leave Fido or Tiddles home alone for the day, a talking food bowl that will reassure your pet with the sound of your voice..

what's up, dog?

Specially trained dogs may prove to be a diabetic’s best friend, according to a new American initiative. Diabetes Forecast, the journal of the American Diabetes Association, reports that canine graduates from Ruefenacht’s California-based hypoglycaemia-alert dog training centre are already proving their worth..

Why a mongrel will always trump the pedigree chump

With a pedigree as long as his tail, you might expect the pure-bred pooch to trounce his mongrel cousin in an IQ test.
But it seems that all that breeding may be for nothing. For when it comes to intelligence, scientists say the crossbreed wins, paws down.

Researchers who tested dozens of dogs found that mongrels have superior spatial awareness and are better at solving problems.

KC DOG - The Kennel Club Dog Owners group

As part of the "Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act" local authorities will be given the power to issue dog control orders.
This means that councils will be able to make an order for a standard offence to apply to land within their area.
Offences are likely to cover: not putting, and keeping, a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer;
allowing a dog to enter land from whichthey are excluded; and taking more than a specified number of dogs onto land.

britain's best dog-friendly hotels

Some hotels leave dogs out in the cold - but now Fido is fighting back and hoteliers are beginning to realise
that Britain's dog owners are an important market-force.
Chris Haslam finds Britain’s best places to put up your pooch

don't look now - but is that dog laughing?

Amid all the panting, a dog at play makes a distinctive, breathy exhalation that can trigger playfulness in other dogs,
says a Nevada researcher. Yes, it might be the dog version of a laugh... listen for it next time you are out with your dog.

cool stops for hot dogs

Forestry Commission England is supporting the Kennel Club’s summer campaign "Hot Dogs Are Not Cool in Cars"
to raise awareness of the dangers of leaving your dog in the car during hot weather. In 2007 the Commission is targeting
dog owners as part of the Active Woods campaign to promote the healthy living opportunities offered by woodlands.

They feature a ‘Ruff’ Guide to the best places to break up long motorway journeys and give your pooch
(and your family) a greener breather!

KC DOG - SUCCESS IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT

KC Dog, The Dog Owner's Kennel Club Group, has worked with the Isle of Wight Council to rewrite their proposed dog control orders. The original measures were considered by KC Dog to be an overreaction to complaints received from the anti-dog lobby.
The council has listened to KC Dog and its members and has removed the contentious article that would have seen dogs banned from local beaches for most of the year. T he council has scrapped a proposal which stipulated that dogs would not be allowed within
10 metres of children’s play areas, since these are situated in local parks it would have meant that all dogs in the park
would have had be walked on leads.

PET RELATED NEWS FROM THE BBC

"No animal should ever jump up on the dining room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation."
-- Fran Lebowitz