Woof – the blog

Dogs and water – don’t force the issue…
Dogs and water – don\’t force the issue… For those that read my missives, you will know, I am very keen to get dogs into the water. It\’s fantastic fun for them and vital, in hot weather. I witnessed, recently, another example of what not to do with a dog and water. A couple and […]

Expert advice? Confused owners…
Expert advice? Confused owners… Advice from, so-called professionals, can be confusing for dog owners. I was chatting with a chap who had re-homed a dog from a farm. The first time I met him with his new canine charge, the dog was off-lead and romping around with other dogs. The next time I met them, […]

Out of control?…
Out of control? So, you are walking your dog, she is off lead playing with other dogs and, generally, having a good time. Suddenly, another dog appears on the scene and bites your dog. Your dog responds with some aggression, understandably. The other owner, demands you control your vicious dog, ignoring the fact that they’re […]

Cold concerns
Cold can kill I was prompted to write this after finding a dog loose in a lane. I know this dog, so returned it to it’s house – the gate had been left open. A knock on the door elicited no response. This dog is often in the garden when I walk by with my […]

Stressed dog owners
We seem be be living in an, increasingly, stressful world. We worry about what people are saying on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media outlet. We worry about what people think about us in any circumstances throughout the day. When considering dog owners, I see more and more people out with their dogs showing […]

Give a dog a chance…
Once again, I find myself having to talk about owners not doing the best thing for the dogs in their charge. A couple approached the group of dogs I was with, socializing with Ziggy (my pooch). The approaching dog was a Setter on a 9 foot, or so, lead. The owner was, continually, yanking hard […]

Taking responsibility
‘I don’t understand. My dog is really friendly. Why did that dog try to attack my dog?’ I’m sure, we have all heard similar comments from dog owners. I met a chap with his lively Labrador yesterday. He used similar phrases to describe an interaction with another owner. But first, picture a common situation. His […]

Understanding the needs of rescue dogs
There are thousands of, unfortunate, dogs that need re-homing throughout the U.K. Many organisations put up dogs for rescue; many are destined to remain in rescue centres for long periods of time. This is a question that troubles me. I wonder, WHY is this the case? Rescue dogs are of particular interest to me. I […]

A new dog – it’s a team effort
I was chatting to a lady today who was out with her young pup – around 6 months old. She had been trying to train her dog and to do the right things at home. However, it was proving difficult. Her situation is one that is all too common. Whilst, she was trying to do […]
Getting a dog – choosing carefully
The choice is overwhelming. However, finding the right dog for you should not be an impulse decision. It needs, careful, thought before deciding on the pooch for you. So, why then, do so many people get this important decision wrong? I see many people that have, simply, not thought about what a dog means, potentially, […]