A Christmas Greeting from Your Pets

Talking Animals Channel have done it again, yet another wonderfully entertaining YouTube video

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Wells-next-the-Sea Beach Cafe DOG OF THE YEAR 2013!

Could your dog be the Wells-next-the-Sea Beach Cafe DOG OF THE YEAR 2013!

If you've been to Wells-next-the-Sea you'll know that dogs are very welcome at the Beach Cafe. So welcome that they have their own club, the K9 club! Now they are searching for the 2013 Dog of the Year, here's what you have to do to enter :

" DOG OF THE YEAR 2013!
As you know, we love dogs at the Beach Café and want to make one of our doggy customers feel extra special by crowning it ‘Dog of the Year 2013!’ Just post a photo of your dog enjoying the Beach Café on our Facebook page….who will it be?"




Will you be entering your dog?

Thanksgiving Day Foods that could Kill Your Dog

The ASPCA warns that the following traditional Thanksgiving foods could harm / kill your dog so don't share with your canine friend and have a Happy Thanksgiving:

1. Turkey Skin
2. Cooked Bones
3. Onions & Garlic
4. Alcohol
5. Nuts
6. Nutmeg
7. Sage
8. Chocolate, Dough & Batter

Canine Fancy Dress for Halloween ~ a Dracula costume for your dog

Would you like to dress your dog as a vampire, maybe even Dracula  himself, this Halloween?
Well you can get a Vampire Cape from PawApparel. This cape costume is good  for dogs who hate a restricting Halloween costume. It is made of light weight synthetic fabric the collar is stuffed with a flexible material creating the popped vampire collar effect. The cape has two black straps to tie around the neck, this allows you to adjust how tight/size you want the collar on your dog

Available to purchase from PawApparel

Canine Fancy Dress for Halloween ~ Little Devil Dog Snood

How cute is this? Turn your dog into a little devil this Halloween with DayDogDesigns Little Devil Dog Snood made from 100% cotton and felt. Available to purchase from DayDogDesigns

Did you know that a group of pugs is called a grumble?

Or that in Welsh folklore corgis were the preferred method of transportation for fairies?

These are just 2 of The 35 Cutest Facts Of All Time go take a look
(not all dog facts but they will make you smile)

Image:Kubek15

Caesar King Edward's Favourite Dog

A postcard found on Ebay of Caesar the late King Edward's favourite dog it states that Caesar was a pathetic mourner in the funeral procession.

Top 11 plants poisonous to dogs

According to Pet Poison Helpline a 24hr animal poison control service in the USA and Canada the top 11 most poisonous plants to dogs are as follows:

1. Autumn Crocus
2. Azalea
3. Cyclamen
4. Kalanchoe
5. Lilies
6. Oleander
7. Dieffenbachia
8. Daffodils
9. Lily of the Valley
10. Sago Palm
11. Tulips and Hyacinths

In this video Dr Justine Lee talks about what plants are poisonous to your dog:

"Your Dog - His Training, Health and Happiness" dog care advise from the 1950s /60s from Spillers

If you're interested in a bit of vintage advice on the training, health and welfare of your dog you need look no further than this Spillers booklet  "Your Dog - His Training, Health and Happiness"

 Published by the pet food manufacturers Spillers this little booklet contains information on how to chose a dog, training, feeding, exercise and grooming.

It's available to purchase from Millie and Dottie's Emporium for £4.00 + p&p

Dachshund Marionette small art felted puppet by Olga of Two Sad Donkeys

Isn't he adorable?

His name is Geronimo and according to his maker Olga he is the most loving, sweet, happy and playful little dachshund!  Who brings so much joy to everyone around him.

 He has been made from 100% sheep wool. The shape was made by wet felting layers of wool and yarn together. Toy is stuffed with pure wool. It is stitched and embroidered by hand.
 
Availabe to purchase from Olga's delightful Etsy shop Two Sad Donkeys.

Does your poodle have a film star personality? Yes then he / she needs the Paramount

Via Architecture for Dogs: invented by architects and designers, is an extremely sincere collection of architecture and a new medium, which make dogs and their people happy. By looking at the diagrams or pictures or watching the videos, people all over the world can make these themselves.

Enter Preloved 's Perfect Pooch Competition

Are you the owner of 'Preloved's Perfect Pooch 2013'? Show your doggy pal off to the world, get the most votes and WIN a stay in a cosy dog-friendly cottage, courtesy of Sykes Cottages.
It's that simple: the dog with the most votes will be crowned 'Preloved's Perfect Pooch' and bag the break – you'd be barking mad not to enter (sorry!)
So upload some fab photos of your dog looking their best to show to the world in our competition Pooch Gallery. They might be leaping for a ball, curled up with their favourite toy, fetching the newspaper or dripping wet and covered in mud on the carpet. Just be sure to show their best side! Then answer some questions to build a short pooch profile, so everyone can know exactly why your hound should be voted top dog. You also need to get all your family and friends voting, so get on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to tell them you've entered!
  ENTER NOW
Closing date for entries is Sunday 1 September 2013 more info here

Dogs are minor angels ~ Johathan Carroll quote

“ Dogs are minor angels, and I don’t mean that facetiously. They love unconditionally, forgive immediately, are the truest of friends, willing to do anything that makes us happy, etcetera. If we attributed some of those qualities to a person we would say they are special. If they had ALL of them, we would call them angelic. But because it’s “only” a dog, we dismiss them as sweet or funny but little more. However when you think about it, what are the things that we most like in another human being? Many times those qualities are seen in our dogs every single day— we’re just so used to them that we pay no attention. "
— Jonathan Carroll
(Source: jonathancarroll.com)

Dog of the Week - Greyfriars Bobby

 

Greyfriars Bobby is famous for his loyalty. Bobby, a Skye terrier was owned by a night watchman for Edinburgh City Police, John Gray, who died when Bobby was about two years old. Bobby spent the rest of his life at his masters grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard.

 

Greyfriars Bobby's loyalty is commemorated with a statue by Willian Brodie "A TRIBUTE TO THE AFFECTIONATE FIDELITY OF GREYFRIAR'S BOBBY. IN 1858, THIS FAITHFUL DOG FOLLOWED THE REMAINS OF HIS MASTER TO GREYFRIAR'S CHURCHYARD AND LINGERED NEAR THE SPOT UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1872 WITH PERMISSION, ERECTED BY THE BARONESS BURDETT- COUTTS" and on the statue is written "GREYFRIAR'S BOBBY, FROM THE LIFE JUST BEFORE HIS DEATH" and "W.H. Brodie Sc RSA 1872"

His grave, where people leave sticks and dog toys, is marked with a stone erected by The Dog Aid Society of Scotland in 1981 which reads:

"Greyfriars Bobby Died 14 January 1872 Aged 16 years Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all."

Image credits: Top: By National Galleries of Scotland (Greyfriars Bobby) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, middle: Michael Reeve This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Bottom: Stephen Montgomery licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Dog on wheels - RSPCA video

Cheeky the dog was so badly neglected when she was rescued that when her matted fur was clipped it was discovered that she had lost her front paws through lack of circulation.

But vets at Arthur Lodge in Horsham came to the rescue and helped create a harness on wheels for Cheeky so she can get around without putting any weight on her front legs...

Four Loves I found, a Woman, a Child, a Horse and a Hound

In 1922 English portrait artist George Spencer Watson painted this oil on canvas family portrait of his "Four loves", a Woman (his wife), a child (his daughter), a horse and of course a hound!
George Spencer Watson R.O.I., R.P., A.R.A., R.A. (8 March 1869, London – 11 April 1934, London)

Make your dog a collar with this Country Brook Designs tutorial

If you'd like to make your own dog collar there is a great tutorial over at Country Brook Designs it does involve using a sewing machine so you will need a bit of sewing experience.

You'll need to gather together the following supplies:

• Nylon webbing
• Contoured side release buckle
• Triglide
• D ring
• Spray starch
• Your choice of fabric

You'll also need access to

• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Scissors
• Measuring tape

Click here for full instructions

Image: Darwin Bell licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

Win a needle felted dog - Giveaway from sewrecycled.blogspot.co.uk

"Oswald is desperate to go to a new home, he is a sweet natured little needle felted Terrier.

He is sporting a rather dapper bow tie too."

Oswald is being offered as a Giveaway over at Sew Recycled pop over to see how you can win this charming little chap.

How livestock guardian dogs are used and why -

Ranchers in the USA who struggle to coexist with large predators are finding new hope in old dog breeds. While these Old World livestock guardian dog breeds have successfully defended livestock from predators for thousands of years in Europe and Asia, they remain relatively unknown in the American West. Explore how they work for one family, and what it means for the maintenance of large predators, like the wolf, on the landscape.


Livestock Guardian Dogs - Working on Common Ground from Conservation Media on Vimeo.

The Brown Dog of Happiness card

Thia sweet Victorian card is one of the many free to use images from The Graphics Fairy and as Karen says it would make a lovely e-card.

Labrador puppies at 11 weeks old

We've been following the progress of the  Naughtland Working Labradors puppies right from when they were newborn here on The Dog's Biscuit

Do you remember the yawning puppy video? So adorable.

Well they are 11 weeks old now, many of them have gone to their new homes but these two, one boy and one girl are still for sale

Gelert ~ Dog of The Week

 In the 13th Century Wales, Llwelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd, owned a faithful hound named Gelert. Some say the dog was a gift to Llwelyn from King John of England.

One day Prince Llweyln returned from a hunting trip to find his baby missing and blood on Gelert's muzzle. In a fit of anguish, believing that Gelert had harmed his child, Llweyln drew his sword and killed Gelert. But at that moment he heard a babies cry and found his son under the overturned cradle and the dead body of a wolf.

Gelert had not killed his child but saved him from a wolf attack and Llwelyn had killed his faithful hound.

Prince Llweyln buried Gelert with great sadness, legend has it that he is buried in a village named Beddgelert. Beddgelert is Welsh for Gelert's Grave. A memorial to Gelert can be found there which reads:

GELERT'S GRAVE
IN THE 13TH CENTURY, LLYWELYN, PRINCE OF NORTH WALES, HAD A PALACE AT BEDDGELERT. ONE DAY HE WENT HUNTING WITHOUT GELERT "THE FAITHFUL HOUND" WHO WAS UNACCOUNTABLY ABSENT. ON LLYWELYN'S RETURN, THE TRUANT STAINED AND SMEARED WITH BLOOD, JOYFULLY SPRANG TO MEET HIS MASTER. THE PRINCE ALARMED HASTENED TO FIND HIS SON, AND SAW THE INFANT'S COT EMPTY, THE BEDCLOTHES AND FLOOR COVERED WITH BLOOD. THE FRANTIC FATHER PLUNGED THE SWORD INTO THE HOUND'S SIDE THINKING IT HAD KILLED HIS HEIR. THE DOG'S DYING YELL WAS ANSWERED BY A CHILD'S CRY. LLYWELYN SEARCHED AND DISCOVERED HIS BOY UNHARMED BUT NEAR BY LAY THE BODY OF A MIGHTY WOLF WHICH GELERT HAD SLAIN, THE PRINCE FILLED WITH REMORSE IS SAID NEVER TO HAVE SMILED AGAIN. HE BURIED GELERT HERE. THE SPOT IS CALLED BEDDGELERT.

Images: Gelert by Charles Burton Barber (1845-1894), 
Gelert's grave via Wikipedia Commons under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Dashund Brooch made of felt

The cutest bandana wearing blue dachshund you'll ever meet, made from Wool Blend felt (approx. 30% wool, 70% Rayon) with a silver-plated brooch fastener by Mary of My Hideaway
Pin him to your favorite t shirt, jacket, or tote bag and be prepared for lots of compliments!

For more animal brooches, click here:
→ http://www.etsy.com/shop/myhideaway?section_id=7359168 ←

Blitz the Greyhound by John Hovenstine

Blitz once known for his speed on the track now spends his days counseling other greyhounds who are interested in leading a more normal dog's life. He encourages them to find ways to take their minds of the track like chasing a stick or barking at the mailman.

This 8x10 photo illustration  by John Hovenstine, it's available to purchase from his Etsy shop J Hovenstine Studios and 10% will be donated toward building a school for orphans in Zambia. If you would like to read more about this worthwhile organization visit http://www.havenofhopezambia.org.

All of John's work is available for private licensing. If you own a greeting card company or any other business that buys the rights to images for reproduction please contact John via his website or his Etsy shop.

Mongrel Letterpress and Linocut Print Poster

"I like a bit of a mongrel myself, whether it's a man or a dog. They're the best for everyday."
George Bernard Shaw

Aardvarkonsea Letterpress 's signed, open edition letterpress & linocut print featuring George Bernard Shaw's Mongrel quote and their own beloved lurcher, Ernie Spartacus Crabtree is available to purchase at £47.51 from Aardvarkonsea

Dog quotations - Louis Sabin - a dog makes you rich

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own having a dog makes you rich"

"A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, big or small, young or old. He doesn't care if you're not smart, not popular, not a good joke-teller, not the best athlete, nor the best-looking person. To your dog, you are the greatest, the smartest, the nicest human being who was ever born. You are his friend and protector."

 ~Louis Sabin

So God Made a Dog

Can dogs drink tea or coffee?

 

Both tea and coffee contain the stimulant caffeine which can be dangerous to dogs in high doses but the occasional weak tea or coffee is unlikely to cause a problem. But it will depend on the size of your dog, eg. a small terrier type could show signs of agitation after drinking only half a cup of strong tea or as little as a quarter of a cup of coffee.

If your dog enjoys sharing your tea or coffee you can avoid the risks by offering decaffeinated versions or a pet brand such as Woof and Brew.

Image: Vanderdecken via Wikimedia Commons

Canine Blood Bank Service - Pet Blood Bank UK urgently needs donors

Launched in 2007, Pet Blood Bank UK is the first and only charity of its kind that provides a canine blood bank service for all veterinary practitioners across the UK.

Just like the human blood service, Pet Blood Bank UK collects from willing doggy donors at organised collection sessions nationwide, on average three sessions a week. The blood is then processed into packed red blood cells and fresh plasma, and delivered to veterinary practices when they need it most.

Every unit of blood collected can help save up to four dogs' lives, saving thousands of lives every year.

Click here to find out if our dog could be a donor

Even if your dog isn't suitable there are still lots of ways you can help Pet Blood Bank UK to save canine lives, find out more at  Pet Blood Bank UK Volunteering

An Oklahoma miracle - video of womans dog emerging from rubble

 Miraculous stories of survival emerge after one of the strongest tornadoes in history tore through an Oklahoma suburb.An elderly woman whose home was destroyed by the Oklahoma tornado found her pet dog among the rubble during a live TV interview.

The footage of Barbara Garcia came as fellow survivors began reliving the terror they felt while winds of up to 200mph obliterated their neighbourhoods.

Mrs Garcia was standing among the twisted wreckage of her home as she was interviewed about her experiences by a reporter from CBS.

"I was sitting on the stool holding my dog," she said.

"This was the game plan all through the years, to go in that little bathroom (together). I rolled around a little bit and when it stopped I was right there (and) that stove cooker is what I saw.

"I never lost consciousness and I hollered for my little dog and he didn't answer, he didn't come, so I know he's in here somewhere." But as she spoke, a member of the camera crew spotted a dog's head poking out of the twisted remains of her home.

Mrs Garcia is seen crouching down before exclaiming with joy as she spots her pet.

"Well I thought God just answered one prayer to let me be OK but he answered both of them," she said, before being led away from the ruins with her dog.

Meanwhile, one mother who survived the storm described how she and her children took refuge in their bath as the tornado tore their house apart.

"My husband told us to get in the bathtub immediately and put on a mattress," she said.

She said she had to hold her daughter's hair to stop her slipping away when the tornado struck.

Another family locked themselves inside their cellar - only to have its door ripped open by the twister.

Ricky Stover said: "We thought we'd die. We saw the latch coming undone and we couldn't reach for it ... glass and debris started slamming on us."

Read the full story of when Barbara Garcia's dog emerges from the rubble in the aftermath of the Oklahoma tornado here

Dog thieves targeting dog walking areas

Dog thieves are parking their vehicles at park entrances, woodland, carparks etc with vehicle doors open. They then blow dog whistles and grab any responding dog and drive off within minutes.

Dog walkers please be aware!

Image of a notice at Stone House Fields in Platt found via  Lingfield Correspondence Facebook.

Dog leading horse video

The opening shots of a terrier leading a huge horse are worth it!

Robert Bradford Dog Sculptures from Discarded Plastic Toys

Dog sculptures by Robert Bradford  made from layers of thousands of discarded children's toys:

" One day about four years ago out in the studio I was looking into my childrens box of outgrown / discarded toys which happened to be stored in the same building and responded to the random collection of colours shapes and forms they made. I figured that if I could find a way of putting them together to constitute a larger form they would have great potential as larger scale sculpture."

Labrador Puppies at 5 weeks old - video

It's those Naughtland Working Labradors puppies again, they are 5 weeks old now and will soon be ready to go to new homes.

Terrier Tea Towel

This tea towel is illustrated with a vintage Terrier print sourced from an old dictionary. Made from 100% natural cotton canvas it's sure to delight any dog lover. Available to purchase from Plum & Ashby for £12.

Click to read about the Plum and Ashby dog Bertie

Barbara Franc Dog Sculpture from recycled and discarded materials

Artist Barabara Franc likes to use recycled and discarded materials in her sculptures she enjoys transforming something with a past history into something new and exciting. And who could deny that her sculptures are exciting!

"Dogs being 'man's best friend' are an obvious animal to sculpt and several of the ones I have made use my own lurchers as source material.  Rufus, my deerhound cross, is the current model."

To see Barbara's work and find out more about her please visit barbarafranc.co.uk 

Merengue the dancing dog video

Amazing dog dancing!

Shop Dog - Bertie of Plum and Ashby

Bertie is a fox terrier belonging to Vicky White, founder of the "everything but the kitchen sink" shop Plum and Ashby. He is very much "the face of the brand" having inspired the shop logo and several products including dog beds and the vintage style wooden toy pictured with Bertie. 

As you can see Bertie is a hands on type muse to Plum and Ashby who likes to help out wherever possible!
Check out the Plum and Ashby Facebook page for more pics of Bertie and of course the website for Bertie inspired products.

Images Plum and Ashby

Dog House Wall Decal

These dog house removable vinyl wall stickers come in several different sizes and colours and can be
personalized with your dogs name. It does look cute by the feed bowls but would also look great by your dog's bed. Prices start at around £20 and they are available to purchase from Graphic Spaces.

Dogs age in human years

 You've probably heard the classic dog to human age conversion of 1 dog year = 7 human years but in reality that is a bit of an urban legend that apparently started in the 1960s in a maths text book! Research by the University of Georgia, as published by BBC News (and others) shows a different picture:

For first two years:

• 12.5 years per human year for the first two years for small dogs
• 10.5 years per human year for the first two years for medium sized dogs
• 9 years per human year for the first two years for large dogs

For years 3+:
Small: Dachshund (Miniature) 4.32, Border Terrier 4.47, Lhasa Apso 4.49, Shih Tzu 4.78, Whippet Medium 5.30, Chihuahua 4.87, West Highland White Terrier 4.96, Beagle 5.20, Miniature Schnauzer 5.46, Spaniel (Cocker) 5.55, Cavalier King Charles 5.77, Pug 5.95, French Bulldog 7.65
Medium: Spaniel 5.46, Retriever (Labrador) 5.74, Golden Retriever 5.74, Staffordshire Bull Terrier 5.33, Bulldog 13.42
Large: German Shepherd 7.84, Boxer 8.90

Which means that a small dog is older than a big dog at two human years - but younger at five.

See the full BBC News article, by Ben Carter, Dog Years: How do you calculate a dog's true age? 

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Yawning Puppy Video

Here's another of Naughtland Working Labradors videos, this one is of a sleepy Labrador puppy yawning - just adorable:

Top 10 things not to feed your dog

Courtesy of Enjoy Yums their list of the top 10 things you should NEVER feed your dog:
1. Chocolate
2. Alcohol
3. Avocado
4. Macadamia Nuts
5. Xylitol
6. Yeast Dough
7. Raw Meat of Fish
8. Bones
9. Grapes or Raisins
10. Onions or Garlic
As they say "Read your labels!"

The Therapist by Mark J Asher photographer of dogs

 The best therapists definitely have fur and four legs. How lucky us dog lovers are to have these empathetic animals in our lives. This print by Mark J Asher features a dog sitting cross-legged on a couch with text that reads: The Best Therapist Has Fur And Four Legs.

Image size: 6” x 8”
Paper size: 8” x 10
Text: The Best Therapist Has Fur And Four Legs.


Available to purchase from Mark J Asher's Etsy shop

Professionally printed on Kodak Endura Matte archival paper and carefully shipped in a rigid, bend-free mailer.

Images Copyrighted by Mark J. Asher. All rights reserved.

More about Mark:

Mark J Asher is the author of three pet photography books and a dog memoir. His first book, “Old Friends,” features senior dogs along with their longevity secrets is in its fifth printing, Old Friends is also published in German. “Barking Up the Family Tree,” captures kids with their cherished furry friends. The work went on to become part of Hallmark's Book Program. Mark's third book, “Bark & Ride,” explores a world where dogs can drive. People Magazine included the book in their Mother's Day Gift Guide.

He recently published my first dog memoir entitled, “Humphrey Was Here," which got a wonderful review in Best Friends Magazine.

Visit Mark's Website: www.markjasher.com
Take a look st his Books: http://amzn.to/nD3kSP
Follow Mark on Facebook: http://bit.ly/dvRR6n

Homemade Dog Food

Ingredients for homemade dog food:

1.36kg minced chicken
2 1/2 cups of frozen vegetables (no onion )
4 cups of rice
6 1/2 cups of water

Strange to see a debt management company issuing dog food recipes but it certainly looks cheaper and there is no doubt about it being healthy. Found via Frugal Queen.

Another frugal blogger Sue of Our New Life in the Country also has a post about homemade dog food, you can read it by clicking here. This is her recipe:

1kg of beef mince

1.5 cups of raw rice (brown or white)

1 cup of raw Barley OR Lentils

1 cup of raw Pasta

2 cups of chopped Vegetables (anything you like but NOT onions or leeks)

1 tablespoon of Vegemite or Peanut Butter

Water

Labrador Puppies at 3 weeks old

Remember the video of the newborn labrador puppies, well here they are again at 3 weeks old with their eyes open:

Questionnaire to help investigation into New Forest dog deaths

Following a number of dog deaths in the New Forest, Hampshire the Animal Health Trust is asking for dog walkers to fill out a questionnaire to help with investigations as to the cause.

"A recent spate of dog deaths in the New Forest in Hampshire has prompted our scientists to assist in an on-going investigation into this mystery dog illness.

Dog owners are advised to look out for wounds or lesions on the limbs or face of their dog which will not heal. Affected dogs then go on to develop signs of severe depression, loss of appetite, and vomiting, quickly accompanied by acute injury to the kidneys, which is understood to have proven fatal in all but two cases to date.

If you have walked your dog in the New Forest Fordingbridge area since the beginning of 2013, please complete this questionnaire, even if your dog has not been affected. 

The actual cause of acute kidney failure, and its link to the initial wounds, is a mystery. This forms the focus of the current investigation which is being led by Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester in collaboration with Forest Veterinary Clinic in Fordingbridge - the area which has been most affected. Lynwood Vets is also closely involved with the investigation, as it has seen a number of cases.
David Walker, Head of Internal Medicine at Anderson Moores, said: “We are working with a number of veterinary and medical colleagues in the UK and the US to try and identify the cause of this concerning cluster of cases as quickly as we can. Pet owners should seek veterinary attention if they identify a wound on their dog’s legs or face. “

Dr Richard Newton, our Head of Disease Surveillance and Epidemiology, said: “Input from dog walkers is essential to progress the investigation, even if their dog wasn’t affected. The questionnaire will provide vital information to help in identifying areas of highest risk, and possibly factors that contribute to the condition in this area of the New Forest.”

It is important for dog owners walking their pets in the New Forest to be vigilant. If your dog develops the clinical signs as mentioned above, seek advice from your local vet immediately.

If you are a dog owner and have any concerns or questions, please direct your enquiries to Forest Veterinary Clinic on 01425 652221 or by emailing: forestvetsAKI@aol.co.uk If you are a vet, please direct your enquiries to Anderson Moores on 01962 76792 or by emailing info@andersonmoores.com.
A hard copy of the New Forest questionnaire can be provided by emailing info@aht.org.uk."

Dog Wants a Kitty

Lone Dog by Irene Rutherford McLeod

I'm a lean dog, a keen dog, a wild dog, and lone;
I'm a rough dog, a tough dog, hunting on my own;
I'm a bad dog, a mad dog, teasing silly sheep;
I love to sit and bay the moon, to keep fat souls from sleep.

I'll never be a lap dog, licking dirty feet,
A sleek dog, a meek dog, cringing for my meat,
Not for me the fireside, the well-filled plate,
But shut door, and sharp stone, and cuff and kick, and hate.

Not for me the other dogs, running by my side,
Some have run a short while, but none of them would bide.
O mine is still the lone trail, the hard trail, the best,
Wide wind, and wild stars, and hunger of the quest!
                                                                              ~ Irene Rutherford Mcleod

Image of a Hunting Dog 12th century, Southern Song Dynasty, ink and color on silk via Wikimedia Commons.
 

Dog Tutus Anyone?

 Tutus for dogs

 these ones are hand tied on a soft and stretchy waffle crochet waistband, with triple layers for maximum fluff.

The maker Jen Rasmussen of Ellie Grace Crafts says that the waffle waistband is lightweight and most dogs barely notice they're wearing it.

Vintage Suitcase Dog Bed

A repurposed vintage suitcase can make a really comfy pet bed, the one illustrated made by Kirsten Schueler of Hershey Is My Baby , won a Design Sponge DIY contest.

If you fancy having a go at making  a suitcase dog bed yourself there are a few tutorials out there including these:

Vintage Suitcase Dog Bed Mox & Fodder
Vintage Luggage Pet Bed Chaotically Creative
DIY Project Vintage Suitcase Dog Bed Houzz
Vintage Suitcase Chair & Pet Bed DIY Gramkin Paper Studio

Let us know if you make one, we'd love to see the results.

Make a dog coat from a recycled sweater

Cute isn't it?
Brook shows you how to make a dog coat from a recycled sweater (or sweatshirt) sleeve over at her blog Babbles by Brook, click for full instructions.

Newborn puppies video

Newborn puppies are so adorable, here's a Naughtland Working Labradors video of their latest litter of Labrador puppies filmed just a few hours after they were born. 

Dog Bed made from half barrel

This is a pretty stylish dog bed, crafted from a recycled half barrel by Gift to World it's available to purchase from their Etsy shop.

The correct names for the different anatomical parts of the dog

 

The correct names for the different anatomical parts of the dog

1. Stop
2. Snout (teeth, tongue)
3. Dewlap (throat, neck skin)
4. Shoulder
5. Elbow
6. Forefeet
7. Highest Point of the Rump
8. Leg (thigh and hip)
9. Hock
10. Hind feet
11. Withers
12. Stifle
13. Paws
14. Tail

Image:Caronna via Wikipedia

Dog Postage Stamps

Dog loving philatelists, or artists who like to include postage stamps in their work, can find instant collections of canine postal stamps at  Tanja Bedenknecht's Etsy shop Stamps and More.

Dognapping - watch out for the letter K

K

National newspapers recently reported that dognappings have gone up by 17% in the UK with an estimated 3,500 dog thefts reported last year. This figure could actually be much higher as many thefts go unrecorded due to the police being reluctant to issue a crime number unless an owner has evidence of a crime and can prove the dog has been stolen.

Dogs are being stolen "to order" by organised gangs who will watch and wait, sometimes for weeks, for an opportunity to steal. One paper reported that the letter K has been found chalked near properties where dogs have been taken. 

What Makes Chocolate Poisonous to Dogs?

You do know that chocolate is incredibly poisonous to dogs don't you?

Dogs and chocolate do not mix. Although dogs, like humans, love the taste of chocolate for them consuming it can result in vomiting, diarrhea,  hyperactivity, tremors, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, seizures, respiratory failure, internal bleeding, cardiac arrest and death.

This is because chocolate contains an alkaloid called theobromine, a stimulant found in the cocoa bean which affects the central nervous system and heart and unfortunately for dogs they can't metabolize it as fast as humans can resulting in theobromine poisoning.

Image: Aka via Wikimedia Commons