Dogs
How to Stop a Dog From Whining: Decoding the 5 Main Triggers (and Fixing Them)
There is a specific frequency—somewhere between the sound of a dentist’s drill and a dial-up modem connecting in 1999—that a whining dog seems to hit effortlessly. I was recently sitting in a layby near Mam Tor, trying to enjoy a flask of tea after a muddy scramble, when my own four-legged shadow decided that the […]
Can You Get Worms From Your Dog? Assessing the Risks and How to Stay Safe
I was halfway up a particularly boggy incline near Kinder Scout last weekend, watching my spaniel, Barnaby, enthusiastically investigate something unspeakable in the heather. Just as I leaned in to clip his lead on, he spun around and planted a massive, slobbery lick right across my chops. While wiping away the slime (and trying not […]
How to Collect a Dog Urine Sample: The Stress-Free Method (Male & Female)
The Wee Job: Getting It Done Without the Drama It was a bleak Tuesday morning in the Peak District, rain lashing sideways, when I found myself chasing my Terrier, Barnaby, around the garden with a soup ladle. Not my finest hour, and certainly not the neighbours’ favourite view over the fence. But when the vet […]
What to Do After Your Dog Has a Seizure: Immediate Steps & Recovery
I still remember the first time I saw a dog have a fit. It was years back, halfway up a muddy incline near Mam Tor with an old Spaniel named Barnaby. One minute he was sniffing a patch of heather, and the next, he was on his side, legs going like a drummer in a […]
Shortest Living Dog Breeds: The Top 15 & The Science Behind Their Age
I was having a trudge up Mam Tor last Tuesday—bit of a drizzle, standard Peak District morning really—when I bumped into a chap with an Irish Wolfhound. Cracking dog. Size of a small pony and gentle as anything. We got to chatting while the dogs had a sniff, and he gave the big lad a […]
What To Do After Removing a Tick From Your Dog: Cleaning, Monitoring, and Warning Signs
The Panic is Over, But the Job Isn’t Done Picture the scene: We’ve just come back from a proper soggy stomp over the hills. I’ve got the towel out to dry off the mud, run my hands through the fur, and there it is. A tick. A nasty, grey little hitchhiker tucked behind the ear. […]
Why Does My Dog Lick My Legs? A Plain English Look at Canine Kisses
A Familiar Scene: The Post-Walk Lick Picture this. You’ve just kicked off your muddy walking boots after a proper yomp across the hills. You slump onto the sofa with a brew, and within seconds, you feel it: a wet, persistent, rhythmic licking on your calf. It’s the dog, of course, giving your leg a thorough […]
Why Your Dog Scratches the Carpet (And How to Save Your Rugs)
The Scritch-Scratch Sound That Makes You Wince It’s a sound every dog owner knows. That rhythmic scritch-scratch-scratch from the other room that makes your shoulders tense up. You picture the fibres of your new rug being pulled, one by one, by a set of determined paws. Your first thought is probably, “Stop that, you little […]
Why Does My Dog Sleep Between My Legs? Understanding Canine Instinct and Affection
The Human Hot Water Bottle: Why Your Dog Insists on Sleeping Between Your Legs I woke up the other morning with a distinct inability to bend my knees. The culprit? A 30-kilo Labrador, snoring contentedly, wedged firmly into the gap behind my legs like a furry, breathing hot water bottle. If you’ve ever woken up […]
Why Is My Female Dog Humping The Male? Making Sense of It All
Right Then, What’s All This Humping About? Picture the scene. You’re having a nice, quiet cuppa, watching your dogs potter about the garden. All is calm. Then, out of nowhere, your lovely bitch makes a beeline for your male dog and starts… well, you know. Humping him for all she’s worth. The male dog looks […]