TD Rally

Becky Skelhon made us very welcome today in her Talking Dogs Rally class. We enjoyed watching her students show off their skills until it was time for our very own office dog Sandy to give it a try.

Becky showed us some of the second level moves so it was a challenge for Sandy and she was tired out afterwards but we think she did pretty well.

Down, boy!

Today we visited Vicky French and her two staffies Stella and Storm. As soon as we entered the house we were aware of the problem! While staffies are known for their exuberance and friendliness, these two were at the extreme of this spectrum, repeatedly jumping as high as they could at you. There was no aggression or viciousness there, just a very high level of hyper-excitement which had been left unchecked. We filmed an article on how to deal with this problem, a simple solution but one that requires patience and more than anything consistency. We look forward to bringing you this article soon.

December 2013 Issue

Seasons Greetings everyone!

In this month's issue we begin our new series of looking behind the scenes at the world of day to day veterinary medicine. With the help of Vet Reena Patel, we cover topics like neutering, dentals and X-rays. Reena is no stranger to the camera, having been the Blue Peter Vet, but has happily agreed to our filming actual veterinary procedures at her practise in Pinner. The first of these looks at Anaesthetics. Another first this month is Flyball. This month's video introduces the sport; future issues will demonstrate how to teach flyball skills.

In addition, we continue with some popular topics begun in previous issues. We take a step back in time from the Whelping video shown in November's issue to look at the topic of Mating. We find out the uses for the herb Psyllium and about the life cycle of the tick. We also look at how TTouch can be used to help with rehabilitation and how to teach the basics of Disc Dog.

Lastly, Trevor Nelson, who has demonstrated a range of grooming skills in previous issues, tells us what it is like to work as a Dog Groomer.

Just one more thing to mention, with Christmas just around the corner, is a reminder that we do have a couple of videos to help you to keep your pet safe and stress free at Christmas in our Seasonal Advice category

We're an award winning website!

Here at Naturally Happy Dogs we are very excited about being awarded Online Business Of The Year 2013 at the Hertfordshire Business Awards last night.

The past three years has been a long but enjoyable road, and the website has developed and grown over this time, which included seeing us at Crufts and Discover Dogs this year, among a number of other events.

We are really pleased with the articles we have produced so far, we hope you've enjoyed them as much as we have making them, and we very much look forward to bringing you more top content in the future.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped us get this award, especially to all our contributors, and also to Pauline Rowe, who has worked tirelessly to make contacts, and has recently put a huge amount of effort into the Breed Library.

We thank you all very much and look forward to working with you moving forward.

Best wishes, hugs, and woofs to you all from Kevin and Sally.

Book review: Camper vans, ex pats & Spanish hounds

Camper vans, ex pats & Spanish hounds by Tania Coates and Sam Morris, reviewed by Sally Marchant, www.naturallyhappydogs.com

This is a lovely little book about a couple who find and rescue a stray dog on their three day road trip to a family wedding in Spain. Not realising just how much their lives would change, they fell in love with 'Pedro' while trying, unsuccessfully, to find his owners. The book tells the story of how the couple gradually got more and more involved with the organisation SOS (spay our strays) during the process of bringing Pedro back to the UK, and how it didn't take long for them to start fostering and bringing dogs over to the UK to find their forever homes. They now run SOS UK and help many dogs per year through their ever expanding network of volunteers across the country.

The case studies in chapter four introduce some of the dogs they have helped, they give a taste of the horror that some dogs go through, how much people care and selflessly give up their time and energy to helping the strays of Spain, often with no return, and what great family pets these dogs can become. The dedication of Tania and Sam and everyone else involved with the schemes is obvious throughout.

Tania has a lovely gentle way of writing and the book is full of gorgeous photos which really show the personalities of some of the rescue dogs. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Spain, or the kindness of people, or just dogs in general!

Puppy farming song for Christmas number 1?

At Discover Dogs this year we met up with a new group called "C.A.R.I.A.D." who have produced a single aimed at raising awareness of puppy farming. We were pleased to be the first to pre order their CD which is being released on 12th December.

C.A.R.I.A.D. was set up two years ago by Linda Goodman with the express aim of putting an end to the appalling battery breeding of dogs. 'Cariad' means love in Welsh, and the acronym stands for Care And Respect Includes All Dogs. C.A.R.I.A.D. is a small non-profit organisation with a big heart, and this Christmas it has set itself a huge task to reach the Number One Christmas slot with a song specially written by singer-songwriter Mandy Woods.

Aimed at educating the public about the reality of puppy farming, 'Cariad at Christmas Time' was recorded in October at Shabbey Road Studios in Caerphilly, and, like Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' back in the '80s, it's a multi-vocal recording. This time, however, instead of getting celebrities to sing the lyrics, C.A.R.I.A.D. decided to invite a number of smaller dog rescues and charities to put forward anyone among their staff and volunteers with a good singing voice and the confidence to go into a studio and sing their heart out. The response was phenomenal, and on October 5 a group of strangers, some local and others coming from as far afield as Lancashire, Suffolk and Wiltshire, met up at the studio.

Some had professional experience, others simply a love of singing and a commitment to the welfare of dogs. Al Steele, co-owner of Shabbey Road, did a magnificent job of instilling confidence in the group, arranging the vocal parts on the hoof and getting the very best out of everyone, regardless of their age or experience. He also produced the single, and the result is the CD that accompanies this message, that is set to receive worldwide radio air play. The charity single is available to pre-order via download from iTunes or as a physical CD from the website www.cariadatchristmastime.wordpress.com, and the proceeds will be donated to the rescues and charities that helped make it possible, as well as to the C.A.R.I.A.D. campaign.

More importantly, though, the song is aimed at exposing the horrors of puppy farming and persuading people not to buy a puppy at Christmas, especially if the mother of the puppy isn't present. Better still would be to go to a reputable rescue in the New Year and save a life by adopting one of the thousands of dogs and puppies who are waiting patiently for someone to give them a new, loving home.

C.A.R.I.A.D. and Mandy are very happy to be contacted for further information about this very special and vital project aimed at saving the lives of thousands of innocent and suffering dogs.

Website: http://www.cariadatchristmastime.co.uk
Twitter: #cariadatchristmas
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CARIADcampaign
For more information about 'Cariad at Christmas Time', email Mandy Woods at woods.mandy@hotmail.co.uk
For more information about C.A.R.I.A.D., email CariadCampaign@live.co.uk

November 2013 issue

Ever fancied teaching your dog to read?  Thought it was impossible?  Apparently, it's not, dog Trainer Chris Mancini shows how it's done in Teaching tricks: Reading.  If you'd like to do something a little more active with your dog, we also have a video that gives an introduction to the sport of Disc Dog. 

At Naturally Happy Dogs there are times when we can be privileged to witness, and bring to our subscribers, some incredible footage. That is certainly the case in this month's issue. With the kind permission of experienced dog breeder Mike Hollingsbee, we were able to film the birth of 7 Border Terrier puppies, a truly moving sight. But for those considering breeding a litter themselves, Mike has many warnings, it's not always as easy as we might think, as the video shows.

On a more day-to-day level, in this month's issue, we look at: grooming puppies, preparing dogs for air travel and, in two videos, the irritating subject of fleas.  Tanya Leslie tells us about Flea Allergic Dermatitis and Nick Thompson tells us how we can treat fleas and worms naturally.

Finally, on a general interest level, Toni Shelbourne gives us her insight into how a wolf pack works.

A day at the Animal Health Trust

We had a lovely day with the AHT (Animal Health Trust) in Suffolk where we were made to feel wonderfully welcome.

First stop was the hydrotherapy pool where we filmed two techniques used to help agility dogs: one was the use of the pool itself and the other was an underwater treadmill. Jo Handley Howard explained the use of each type of equipment and the different benefits they provide.

Then we met up with Farrah Stevens in a beautiful sunken garden. She gave us a very helpful overview of the work of the trust. After that, we were treated to a delicious lunch in the on-site cafe.

Our last stop was the highlight of the day. It is hard not to be won over by 7 bundles of wriggling gorgeousness - 5 week old Bull Terrier puppies. Once they'd had an opportunity to play and fill their tummies, they all grew very sleepy. That meant that they could stay happily relaxed through having their hearing tested. It was fascinating to see how this test is carried out. Julia Freeman, who performed the tests, explained how the signals on the equipment are interpreted. As for the puppies, they didn't seem to mind a bit and in most cases, slept through it.

Huge thanks go to the staff of AHT for making the day so enjoyable and for enabling us to capture on film some of the valuable work they do.

To cap it off

We have cause to thank the great Toni Shelbourne again for her time, filming some more articles around using TTouch for rehabilitation, and in particular talking to us about the 'Calming Cap' - a rather strange looking piece of equipment that can be helpful for dogs reactive to visual stimuli.

The cap doesn't stop the dog from being able to see, but reduces the intensity of the visual environment around it, allowing the dog to cope better.

We also filmed very interesting articles about "Conversations in the Park" (both canine and human!) and behaviour around livestock.

We look forward to bringing you these articles soon.

Book review: "Toby's Tails" by Susan Keefe

Toby's Tails by Susan Keefe

Book reviewed by Sally Marchant, www.naturallyhappydogs.com

Toby's Tails is a children's book about the first year of life of a young Border Collie, Toby. The book is told from Toby's point of view: from the moment he opens his eyes and discovers the other animals on the farm through to going to his new home and learning all about life in general. This provides an unusual perspective and one that supplies a good opportunity to explore and empathise with Toby's feelings such as when he is scared of the camera and the TV.

Seeing the world through his eyes also enables the author to educate in an interesting way. When Toby, for example, wants to relieve himself, he discovers that he gets praised for going outside so decides that he will do things in this way again. This explains to children the concept of how to teach housetraining using positive reinforcement techniques that the puppy will understand.

The language is generally simple, readable and appropriate for children but the author doesn't shy away from using mature language where appropriate such as 'rhythmic', 'reprimands' and 'desolate'. This can be considered a good way to extend a child's vocabulary.

The only question mark hangs over whether the author should force themselves to be constrained by the basic premise they have set up. Should the puppy's understanding and that of the creatures around him be limited to what animals could, in reality, understand? Should the language of the people in the story sound like natural speech? Or are the characters in the story just a vehicle for education? Toby discovers a lot by asking Lucky the Golden Retriever he lives with and through conversations with local wildlife. He learns about birth and illness, the lifestyles of the animals around him, why colostrum is important to the farmyard goat kids, how bats use sonar to locate their food, and the difference between warm and cold blooded animals. The only difficulty with this is that much of what the animals discuss would, in reality, be beyond their understanding and as such feels rather unnatural. A child may well not have a problem with this and may just find it a fun way to learn about a range of interesting subjects.

The dogs within the book also understand every word of English said to them by the humans in the story, such as when they are going to get fed or what town they are in. Unfortunately, the belief that dogs should understand our spoken language often leads to problems with people and their pet dogs so it might be worth ensuring that children were aware that this ability is within the constraints of this book and not actually a reality. 

Overall, it's a nice little book that would be suitable to read to a younger child, or for an older child to read to an adult or even to themselves.

Road trip

We've just returned from a trip around the M4 corridor, taking in some more topics from our Homeopathic Vet Nick Thompson, as well as a couple more breeds for our library, and some more new subjects too.

Have you heard of Schutzhund, otherwise known as IPO? It is little known here, but in Germany it is a huge sport. Schutzhund means 'protection dog' in German, and it is an obedience/tracking/protection combo mostly practised with the German Shepherd breed. Indeed, most GSD's will have a Schutzhund champion somewhere in their heritage, as this sport shaped the development of the breed. We spoke to one of the premier UK kennels practising this sport for a fantastic couple of videos coming soon.

We also caught up with Pen Farthing, an ex-marine who now runs a rescue and charity called Nowzad Dogs, which is doing some fantastic work in Afghanistan pioneering the rescue effort over there. Nowzad will be our charity of the month when their videos go live.

The Portuguese Podengo and Hungarian Puli were the breeds we filmed for the breed library, we thank their very experienced owners for their time. All in all, a very successful trip and we look forward to bringing you these articles soon.

Book review - "The Holistic Dog: a complete guide to natural health care" by Holly Mash

"The Holistic Dog: a complete guide to natural health care" by Holly Mash
Reviewed by Sally Marchant from www.naturallyhappydogs.com, the online video magazine.

At first glance, "The Holistic Dog: a complete guide to natural health care" by Holly Mash appears to be a small book but it is packed full of very good information.

It begins by clearly outlining what complementary therapies are and explaining what makes them different to conventional veterinary medicine. It explains each of the common types - Homeopathy, Herbal medicine, Acupuncture, Bach flower remedies, Tellington touch and Chiropractic and for each, explains how it works, what it's used for, how it is administered, dosages and how to find a qualified practitioner.

The language is a little technical at times, for example "serially diluting the active component in a solution and vigorously agitating it" but on the whole, the book is very readable, using the technical terms only where appropriate. The author gives plenty of examples to clarify any statements that are made and to add understanding to concepts throughout the book.

I was quite surprised that the book also includes helpful information for anyone considering getting a dog. It includes such topics as deciding whether you have the time and energy for a dog and the benefits of dog ownership. I had assumed that the book would focus on holistic treatments but it actually looks at every single part of dog ownership, from the initial decision about getting a dog, through to that 'final' sad decision at the end of the dog's life. Every aspect of dog ownership is considered from a holistic perspective, encouraging the reader to consider their decisions carefully. For example, the author posits questions like: Do you really want a long coated breed if you live in the muddy countryside? How might Bach Flower remedies be helpful for settling a new rescue dog? How can looking for 'qi' help to pick a suitable puppy from a litter? Throughout the book, 'standard' advice such as leaving a new puppy with a favourite toy for their first night in their new home, is mixed with 'complementary' advice such as the benefits of the homeopathic remedy aconite and TTouch when a puppy is teething.

The chapter on the canine mind is full of very up to date, modern thinking about training dogs, clearly explaining why 'dominance' based methods are outdated. Using pictures to illustrate, this section explains how dogs communicate, again including holistic advice such as initially visualising your dog's good behaviour before proceeding to teach it. The importance of exercise and playtime and the effects that feeding can have on behaviour are covered as well as training theories and techniques.

Following this is information about preventative health care looking at vaccines, neutering, worming and flea treatments from both a conventional and a complementary point of view. The author explains the pros and cons of each and also covers the benefits of combined health care such as what homeopathic remedies to give if your dog suffers a vaccine reaction. The nutrition section doesn't preach about what type of food one should feed, but gives clear information about what to be aware of when raw feeding and warning signs to look for on complete foods such as labelling terms, certification logos and whether the food is ethically sourced.

The supplements section gives information about each of the main dietary supplements, what they are and what they are used for, this section encourages the reader to ask questions such as where the ingredients are sourced and how much active ingredient is in the product.

There is some fantastic advice about looking after the elderly dog such as using different scents in different rooms as the sense of smell is often the last sense to fade. The author suggests giving the dog who can't get out and about some picked plants for him to sniff in bed for a bit of mental stimulation. This section also covers saying goodbye and what help and support is available. The last chapter covers typical holistic treatments for common ailments, including common symptoms, routine care and complementary treatments.

The book is full of large, lovely pictures which help to break up the information and often give helpful visual aids to what is being explained, and important points are often highlighted in coloured boxes. There is a useful 'addresses and further reading' section and a comprehensive index.

This book is not so much of a 'how to' in terms of treating problems or training dogs, but it gives a very clear and thorough explanation of the underlying concepts and ideas. Throughout, it advises if you have a specific medical problem; to seek advice from a veterinarian; for general training to attend classes and for major behavioural problems, to visit a behaviourist.

I would say this book is perfect for someone interested in natural care who is looking to get a new dog, or even those who already have a dog who want to look over their complete care of their pet to take into account holistic ideas. It is more of a 'reading' book than a 'reference' book, but whether someone reads it cover to cover or dips in to a chapter at a time, I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to lead a more natural life with their current, or future dogs.

October 2013 dog videos

One of the less pleasant aspects of dog ownership is that they are prone to picking up unwanted guests like fleas, ticks and worms, but at least there is helpful information on hand on how to deal with them. In this month's issue we look at fleas. Other health related topics are a video on the uses of Hawthorn (Cretaegus) and another on the VMD's Product Information Database which tells you all you need to know about veterinary drugs.

On a practical front, we look further at dogs and air travel and at how pets can be affected by grief and loss when another dog passes away.

If you're looking for more information in relation to dog activities, we offer further videos on a couple of appropriate topics. In our Ringcraft series we look at handling techniques and in our Teaching TD Rally series, we look at spirals.

Finally, we find out from studies undertaken into wolves whether there is truth in the idea that we have to be the "alpha".

Medivet Pinner

Today we visited with Reena Patel and her colleagues at Medivet Pinner, who very kindly allowed us to film their day.

We got some great footage of some consultations, and also some procedures in theatre which was very interesting, and will make for some great articles.

We filmed a few topics with Reena while we were there, and look forward to bringing these to you in the coming months. We also hope to return to Pinner in the not-too-distant future to capture some more great footage.

Thanks very much Reena and co, it was an honour and privilege to spend the day with you all!

'Ello 'ello 'ello!

Today we visited Stevenage Police Station to interview Sergeant Ian Blundell and Sarah Sheldrick about the Dogwatch scheme.

'Borrowed' from the Met Police, this scheme is aimed at getting the local community, and in particular dog walkers, involved in making their area a safer place.

Stevenage is now the largest such scheme, with over 2,000 local people signed up. Anecdotal evidence has shown that people involved in the scheme are more likely to report suspicious activity to the police. We look forward to bringing you these articles soon.

Filming Nina

At last we had our first opportunity to film Nina Bondarenko, not for the website this time but filming her seminar for a new DVD.

Nina was talking about various different training methods and demonstrating using the attendee's own dogs, which were allowed to come along.

We're a fan of Nina's work, and hope to film her for the magazine sooner rather than later... fingers crossed!

September 2013 dog videos

There are many tricks that are lots of fun to teach your dog but surely getting them to tidy their toys away has to be one of the more useful ones. Find out how in Teaching tricks - Tidy toys away. Other useful information can be found in the first of the series of videos about air travel for dogs, what to take into account and how to find a good company to help you with this. For this, see the video Pet Air UK.

In September's issue we have more to offer in our ongoing series': Ringcraft - Showing Dogs, Herbs - Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis), Wild Wolves in the UK and Support during grief and pet loss. We also learn about how the VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate) deal with reports of adverse reactions to drugs.

Finally we look at Dog Poo Wormeries, how to turn your dog's waste into something a little more useful. We really do cover everything!

Disc Dogs

Today we visited with Chiara Zorzetto, an italian dog trainer living in the UK. Chiara competes in and trains in a sport called Disc Dog, quite unknown in the UK but big in the United States and also played on the continent.

Chiara took us through a potted history of the sport, and also gave us a demonstration of the freestyle and also distance flavours of the Disc Dog sport with Enja the Border Collie.

We thank Chiara for their time and will look forward to bringing you these articles soon.

August 2013 Issue

If you're looking for something fun to do with your dog, had you ever considered watching them launch themselves into a swimming pool?  Perhaps not, but that's just what the sport of dockdogs offers.  See our video Dock dogs.  For those looking for something a little more traditional, we bring another in our series on Ringcraft, this time looking at Movement Ringcraft - Movement.

As Promised in the July blog, August brings another video on the work of Fire Investigation Dogs and we meet CC and Reqs.  We also learn more about the work of the VMD and how their Accreditation Retailer Scheme can help us to buy pet medicine online safely.

Reactive Dog expert Brenda Aloff shows us how to use Eye Contact and Impulse Control techniques to help with problems of dog aggression and we learn how Reiki can be used for heart problems:Reiki - for Heart Problems.

Following the loss of much beloved "office" dog, Lady, we've found Belinda Johnston's advice on dealing with Grief and Pet Loss particularly helpful. We bring the second of Belinda's videos this month.

On a happier topic, having visited the UK Wolf Conservation Trust site in Reading, we have some lovely footage of their wolves as well as hearing about the great work of the Trust.

On the ball

Today we visited the Hot Shots Flyball club near Watford, to film an article for our 'Activities with dogs' section.

We interviewed Team Captain Richie, who has been training in Flyball for the past 6 years. He gave us a great introduction to the sport, and showed us how to teach a dog to do the box and the set of four jumps. We got to see the whole team in action who are currently completing the whole course with four dogs at around 19 seconds.

We look forward to bringing you these articles in the coming editions.