A day with Lizi Angel

Our contributing dog psychologist, Lizi Angel, is fast becoming a dog research analysis expert! As well as keeping up to date with the research being published on dog psychology, canine brain chemistry and behaviour, Lizi has also been carrying out some basic trials herself looking into what is the most calming place to stroke your dog. Her research of nearly 100 dogs has shown that they feel most at ease when you are touching them on their chest, especially if you are meeting them for the first time.

The chest was the point that all female dogs preferred and the second most calming for male dogs, whose top was the back of the neck.

Today we filmed with Lizi an in-depth look at Separation Distress - also known as Separation Anxiety. Lizi explained how important it is to differentiate between actual distress and simply opportunist behaviours such as in chewing. She also explained her 9 step success plan on how to allow your dog to overcome Separation Distress.

We also filmed an article about how to get the best from a Kongs and we looked at Lizi's concepts as to what it is dogs really needs and whether owners are providing for all of them.

Certainly a lot to look forward to in the coming months issues of the video magazine!

Turid Rugaas

We are really pleased to have filming some articles for you with none other than calming signals expert and world renowned dog professional, Turid Rugaas! Turid was over in the UK from her home country of Norway for a seminar organised by the company 'Dog and Bone'.

Turid was a delight to meet, film and work with, and we were pleased to film some fascinating articles for you including how to integrate calming signals into dog training and how to understand a 'teenage dog'! We also heard some important messages from Turid on recognising emotions in your dog and encouraging mental stimulation in ways that can most help a dog learn to cope with the world around them.

Acupuncture and Nosodes

Having successfully filmed an article with Nick Thompson on acupuncture for canine cystitis, we were keen to meet some dogs that have been receiving the same treatment but for different issues.

Along comes Brandy! Brandy is a 10yr old handsome Irish setter cross who was rescued as a stray in the USA and now lives in the UK with his owner. Brandy has been enjoying acupuncture under the guidance of vet Richard Allport to treat his aging joint issues and with great success. His owner was happy to explain Brandy's progress for you all to hear just how beneficial acupuncture can be for dogs.

Richard also filmed an interesting article for us explaining exactly what Nosodes are, and how, despite common belief, they are not always recommended by holistic vets as alternatives to vaccinations.

Training Puppies is live and free!

Naturally Happy Dogs are very pleased to be bringing our fans another free video, especially from someone as respected as Dr Ian Dunbar.

In his video "Training Puppies", Dr Dunbar (www.dogstardaily.com) explains what is involved in training puppies, including what age you should start training a puppy, what happens if you don't train them, whether training classes are a necessity and how much time puppy training really takes.

Ian highlights the most important things to teach a new puppy including:
- Bite inhibition
- Socialisation
- General behaviour problems

Crufts

Naturally Happy Dogs has had a lovely time at Crufts 2011, talking to lots of Natural organisations who provide a wide range of pet products and services.

We will be adding many of them to our directory over the next few days, do keep checking back to find out about some of the great services there are out there.

Greyhounds galore!

As we are supporting the Greyhound Rescue West of England this month, we visited Janet Peacock to find out what Greyhounds are like to live with as pets. We then went along to the local 'Greyhound Walk' where we met many of these lovely creatures and joined them for their monthly outing. Watch the greyhound video here.

March 2011 is live

The March issue is now live - sign up here here to watch our fantastic new videos.

Naturally Happy Dogs meets Jez

Another fantastic day's filming, this time with dog trainer Jez. Jez's knowledge and enthusiasm for educating people in order to benefit their relationships with their dogs comes across very clearly when listening to Jez. In the videos we filmed today, he uses his professional, practical knowledge to help you train your dogs easily and respectfully and have great fun doing so.

Filming with Ian Dunbar

The Naturally Happy Dogs team have had a fantastic afternoon today filming with Ian Dunbar (www.dogstardaily.com). It couldn't have gone better and we are really looking forward to bringing you what he has to say. We think his message is so important we're bringing you his first video to you for free, so watch this space!

TTouch and Acupuncture

Another great day's filming, today we visited Tina Constance, Tellington TTouch Instructor, to film how Tellington TTouch can help a dog reach a state of learning, focus and calm.

We then filmed a fantastic acupuncture consultation with Nick Thompson and an English Bull Terrier whose incontinence has improved drastically since receiving acupuncture.

We also filmed some articles on vaccination choices and Kennel Cough - what it is, what can be done etc. We look forward to editing these and putting them live over the coming months.

Another two free videos live

Sally Rowe appears again for us in another free video, the 'Down' command , and Dale Pinnock tells us all about Spirulina & Dandelion. Catch all our videos in the Video Library.

Baking for your dog!

We have been filming articles for you again, this time definitely one for the discerning canine.

Do you think your dog would like Sophies' Super Steak Biscuits? Sometimes I think our dogs might eat better than us! Our baking for dogs chef Kris Owen is passionate about greyhounds and has recently rescued a beautiful greyhound called Sophie from lurcher greyhound SOS (www.lurchersos.org.uk). Sophie herself is passionate about steak. She managed to persuade her new mum to name her latest recipe after her, in order to share the tasty biscuit with all dogs worldwide - three woofs for Sophie!

Kris also showed us how to create a lovely lightweight gluten free yummy Turkey Gobble Meatloaf, which can be used to compliment your dogs dinner or cut into chunks and kept to be used as low fat treats. The turkey meatloaf is a favourite of Tinker a re homed greyhound who has a delicate tummy and can be a picky eater but loves this Turkey meatloaf.

Look out for these recipe articles later in 2011.

Another free video

Ever wondered what Hydrotherapy for dogs is all about? Is your dog less able to move as they age? Do you compete in a dog sport such as agility, flyball or canicross?

We visited Barbara Houlding at her Hydrotherapy Centre in Suffolk, click here to watch this free video!

You can view any of our other free videos by clicking on any of the videos at the top of our Video Library.

TTouch filming

Naturally Happy Dogs were thrilled to be back filming more features for you again yesterday! For our first shoot of the 2011 we met a lovely lady called Lesleyann Jones who is a Tellington TTouch practitioner.

We filmed an interesting article for the magazine in which Lesley explains in a clear and concise way, exactly what the training method that is so often mistakenly seen as a massage type therapy, is all about.

We also had the joy of working with Max a great Collie cross for the Tellington video too, he was so well behaved. He is a rescue dog after having lived and worked for a disabled lady, helping her by collecting the post for her, picking things up off the floor for her and generally being her best friend. Max thoroughly enjoyed the Tellington sessions he had throughout the filming, he was positively grinning and definitely Happy!

We hope to bring you some interesting features later in the year about the fabulous work dogs do for people with disabilities.

Issue 1 launches

After a very busy year preparing the Naturally Happy Dogs website for launch, the time has come to release our first set of subscriber videos.

Our first issue is packed full of the goodness we look forward to bringing you in the future. From an insight into why dogs chew by the leading Tellington TTouch Practitioner in the UK, to a fascinating interview with a veteran of the canine Film & TV industry, to an excellent training video explaining why dogs bark at the front door and how to stop it using positive reward-based training. All this and much more and that's just issue 1!

We are very proud of all the hard work that has gone into making this website happen, and hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed making it!

Happy New Year 2011

Happy New Year! January is upon us, and the final preparations are being made to naturallyhappydogs.com ready for the big launch! Keep in touch to watch our videos soon

New look 'issue' style home page

The new look homepage is now live. Once we launch, this will be the look of the current month's issue, so we're getting you used to the feel of it now!

Please let us know what you think on Facebook, any feedback is much appreciated and allows us to make the site that is right for you.

Fourth free video is now up

Leading up to our big launch, we've just put the fourth free video live, please take a look!

If you like the video, please let us know by clicking the 'Like' button next to the video, or give us a feedback on our Facebook page.

We look forward to bringing you more great content in the new year, merry christmas to all our viewers!

First videos go live

Naturally Happy Dogs are very pleased to bring you your first 3 free videos!

Please visit our video library to watch Sally Rowe teaching the 'Sit' command, Kris Owen baking cheese biscuits for dogs and Lizi Angel explaining whether the dog is a true pack animal.

Please let us know what you think via our Facebook page!

The 'new look' website

Naturally Happy Dogs are pleased to announce that our 'new look' website is now live on www.naturallyhappydogs.com. Do have a browse and let us know what you think.

We look forward to bringing you the first few 'free' videos over the next couple of weeks, ready for our Big Launch in January 2011.

If you want to be one of the first to hear about Naturally Happy Dog News, sign up to the mailing list here.