Barking Up The Wrong Tree

That guilty look

You walk into the room, only to find your dog’s head buried in the rubbish bin. And what follows is what can only be described as a look of guilt.

At least, I thought it was guilt. But researchers at a New York college think otherwise. Barnard College carried out an experiment where they tricked owners into thinking innocent pets had misbehaved.

Most of the owners claimed they could see that guilty look even when dogs had really done nothing wrong.

The study found that there was no link between the owner’s claim of reading a guilty look and whether the dog had misbehaved.

Well no matter what the scientists say, I still believe that dogs can display their emotions. After all, when their head has been buried in the rubbish bin, they’re right to look guilty.

Toby nominated for award

Toby is a West Highland terrier who has been nominated for the doggie version of the People’s Pride of Britain awards, also known as the prestigious national Dogs Trust Honours awards, in the ‘doggie devotion’ category.

Toby is 15 years old and has lived with his owner, Fiona, for almost all Read the rest of this entry »

Survival of the fittest

Every now and then, you read an amazing story about dogs that makes you wonder at how well they can survive and adapt.

Today I was reading a story about a cattle dog called Sophie Tucker who fell overboard from a family yacht off the coast of Australia in rough weather.  The family searched but could not find her and feared her lost.

Today the family was reunited with the dog.  She Read the rest of this entry »

Dog loses half body weight

An overweight dog is an unsightly dog in my opinion as it means they are suffering.  To many dog owners though, it apparently means they love them.

Recent research has shown that one third of dog owners admit they give their dogs too many treats and about the same admit that a lack of exercise is probably contributing to the problem.  If you can’t keep your dog healthy then you don’t deserve one!  In fact, this research also showed that two thirds Read the rest of this entry »

Marley and Me dog film

Yesterday I went to see Marley & Me, a film for dog lovers starring a golden Labrador called Marley, Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.

I’m afraid I was most disappointed.  If you haven’t seen the film yet, you may not want to read on as this does contain spoilers. Read the rest of this entry »

Tougher treatment for dog owners

How much tougher should we be on those who neglect their dogs or neglect our streets?

In recent articles, we’ve talked about how a DNA dog database is being put together in Germany to identify dogs and how wardens are getting tough on those Read the rest of this entry »

Where did Gumbo go?

You might remember all the furore over the Kennel Club, pedigree dogs and Crufts over the last year.  One thing I did mention a while ago is how the media were discussing the apparent hypocrisy that the BBC seemed to be showing when Eastenders featured a St Bernard, one of the breeds they wanted banned from Crufts, called Gumbo.

Gumbo was abandoned to Bradley in the soap, who was non-too keen until Gumbo won a dog show and some prize money.  The show then showed Bradley receiving a phone call from someone wanting to use Gumbo as a stud dog.

There was lots of media coverage over the hypocrisy and the BBC defended itself admirably, however, I note that Gumbo has not appeared for some time.  Did I miss an episode, did someone take Gumbo, did the BBC remove him or what happened?

Doggie DNA database

I recently heard of a DNA database being set up for dogs in a German town called Volkach.

Apparently, the town has had enough of dogs fouling the street and is setting about DNA testing all of the town’s dogs so that if they find any doggie muck on the streets, they can test it and then proceed to take action against those dog owners allowing their dogs to mess on the street and not clean it up.

Reportedly, there are over 400 registered dogs in the town and all will have to supply either a fur or saliva test to be added to the DNA database.

The thing I want to know is how much are they going to pay the poor sod who has to actually test the poo?  What a job, I wonder what their job title will be!

Scottish dog scam

Potential dog owners looking for a new puppy are being warned by the Scottish SPCA to be wary of a scam that involved offering puppies to new owners for free providing the purchasers pay for the transport of the puppy.

The buyer sends off the money and lo and behold no puppy arrives.  A similar scam has been running for years in the auto trade but now it appears the scammers are trying to take advantage of dog loving folks!

Reportedly, several people have been conned by this trick and the Scottish SPCA is making a real effort to get this publicised in the media so that people won’t fall for it any more.

So, if you are offered anything like this, steer well clear!

Gumbo causes media argument

Eastenders St Bernard, Gumbo, has caused quite a few arguments in the media of late as people call upon the BBC to not be so hypocritical.

As dog fans will no doubt be aware, the BBC late last year broadcast a documentary about pedigree dogs and how they believed the Kennel Club was promoting a culture of breeding for looks rather than health and welfare.  They showed how dogs have changed over the years with breeding and that inbreeding has resulted in unhealthy dogs.

Later, the BBC demanded that the Kennel Club should drop 14 of the most unhealthy breeds, the St Bernard included, from its Crufts dog show or it would stop broadcasting.  The Kennel Club refused and the BBC dropped Crufts.

Gumbo has caused issues because in Eastenders he is portrayed as a top show dog and his new owner Braldy uses him to make money at dog shows and offers him as a stud dog.  In actual fact, Gumbo really is the son of two former Crufts champions, so who is the hypocrite now?