Penny
Are Dog Parks a Good Idea? Honest Pros and Cons
The Great Dog Park Debate: A Ponder Over a Pint The other afternoon, with the rain lashing against the window pane in proper Peak District fashion, I was watching the ‘board of directors’. Buster, my food-obsessed Lab, was dreaming of dropped biscuits, twitching by the fire. Fern, the high-energy Spaniel, was bouncing off the furniture, […]
Are Dog Ear Infections Contagious? A Practical Guide for Pet Owners
Are Your Dog’s Sore Ears a Problem for the Whole Pack? The other week, Fern, my whirlwind of a Spaniel, came barrelling back from a particularly boggy walk along the Derwent. She celebrated, as she always does, with a full-body shake that sprayed the kitchen with peaty water. But then came a second shake, a […]
Can Dogs Eat Carrots? A Complete Guide to Benefits, Risks, and Serving Ideas
Can a Dog Have a Carrot? The Short Answer from a Peak District Kitchen The other day, I was wrestling with the weekly veg box, trying to stop a muddy avalanche of potatoes from rolling under the sofa. I turned my back for a second, and Buster, our food-obsessed Labrador, had already pilfered a carrot. […]
How Much Banana Can Your Dog Safely Eat? A Complete Guide
Can My Dog Eat That Banana? The Short Answer I was sat by the fire, peeling a banana for my porridge, when I felt the familiar weight of a Labrador’s head on my knee. Buster’s eyes, wide and soulful, were locked on the prize. It’s a scene that plays out in dog-owning homes across the […]
How to Safely Clean Your Dog’s Anal Glands at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide
What Are Dog Anal Glands and Why Do They Bother Us? Right, let’s have a straight chat about one of the less glamorous parts of having a dog: the anal glands. I knew it was ‘that time’ again the other day when Buster, my food-hoover of a Labrador, started his infamous party trick. The one […]
Why Is My Dog Losing Hair? A Vet’s Guide to the 12 Most Common Causes
Spotting the Difference: Normal Shedding vs. Worrying Hair Loss The other day, I was giving the living room a much-needed sweep when I found a clump of fur under the sofa. Now, with Buster the Labrador in residence, our house is in a permanent state of what we lovingly call ‘canine glitter’. But this was […]
How Much Does a Dog Allergy Test Cost? (2026 Price Guide)
Scratching the Itch: When to Consider an Allergy Test for Your Dog There’s a particular sound that can jolt me from a deep sleep faster than any alarm clock: the relentless thump-thump-thump of a dog’s leg against the floorboards. The other night it was Fern, our high-octane Spaniel, having a proper go at an itch […]