Health
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. […]
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 […]
Dog Limping on a Back Leg? What it Means and What to Do Next
Why Is My Dog Limping on a Back Leg? A Dog Owner’s Handbook It’s that heart-in-your-mouth moment, isn’t it? One minute you’re enjoying a lovely ramble, the wind in your hair and your dog happily bounding ahead. The next, you spot it. A little hop, a skip, and then a full-blown limp. Your dog is […]
Dog Not Drinking Water But Eating? Here’s What to Check
Why Your Dog Might Be Turning Their Nose Up at Water The other week, I took Jasper for a proper yomp up Kinder Scout. It was one of those rare, glorious days in the Peaks – clear skies, a gentle breeze, the lot. We got back to the car, he hopped in the boot, and […]
How Often Do Dogs Need a Rabies Jab? A Plain-English Breakdown
What on Earth is Rabies, Anyway? Right, let’s get the scary bit out of the way first. Rabies is a virus that attacks the brain and spinal cord of mammals, including dogs and humans. It’s a truly nasty piece of work and, once symptoms show, it is almost invariably fatal. The virus lives in the […]
Why’s My Dog Barking in His Sleep? A Proper Look at Doggy Dreams.
The Sleepy Woofs and Twitching Whiskers The other night, I was just settling down with a brew when the noise started. A low ‘woof’, a little whimper, and then a full-on, muffled bark from the dog bed in the corner. His legs were going like the clappers, and his ears were twitching nineteen to the […]
Why Your Dog Nuzzles You: Decoding Their Affection, Scents, and Worries
The Heart-Warming Stuff: Is It Just a Cuddle? There’s nothing quite like it. You’ve just kicked off your muddy walking boots after a long stomp, and your four-legged friend trots over, leans in, and gives your leg a thorough nuzzle. It’s a common, and usually heart-warming, bit of behaviour. For the most part, when your […]