Barking Up The Wrong Tree

It’s a dog’s life

You’re running around doing the household chores and your dog is just lying there. He’s having a lovely relaxing snooze in amongst all the chaos.

It’s at times like these that you really begin to wonder what it would be like to live like a dog. All your time would be spent playing in the garden, eating, chasing those pesky cats and napping. Wouldn’t it?

Well now, there’s chance to find out, with a Pets Eye View Camera. This clever little gadget allows you to see life as your dog sees it. The digital collar camera fits around your pet’s neck and films every bit of mischief that they get up to.

I dread to think what the results would be if my dog, Bobby, wore one. But at least we would find out just how he manages to escape from the garden every day.

Bobby, planning his escape route

A loyal friend

On my way to work today, I saw a lady with a guide dog.

Being a dog lover, I have always been fascinated by guide dogs and the work that they do. And this morning, once again, I was so impressed and humbled by how vital these animals are to the blind and partially sighted.

The lady I saw was making her way through a city centre during rush hour. She was crossing an extremely busy road. But she knew she could trust her furry friend to keep her safe. And that is precisely why us dog lovers are so fond of our pets.

These dogs are highly trained and sensitive and they really know what they are looking out for. It’s amazing that they are so focussed on their job and they never get distracted. In fact, most office workers could probably learn a thing or two from them!

Puppy fat

‘The diet starts on Monday’.

These words seem to echo around every office in the country. In fact, us humans are slightly obsessed by diets and exercise plans.

But we’re not suffering alone, because pet obesity in the UK is a growing problem according to a survey by PDSA.

According to the survey, ‘tubby’ pets are now seen as normal, and many owners even think that their chubby dogs are more cute and cuddly than their healthier counterparts.

But, just like humans, pets who are overweight will suffer from health issues and they may have their life expectancy cut short.

It’s worth checking with the vet what your dog’s ideal weight is. If you find out that they are slightly overweight, then get advice on the best diet for your dog.

And definitely don’t wait until Monday.

Jet set ‘pawsengers’

The bags are packed, passport is at the ready and you’re already smothered in suncream.

There’s no better feeling than jetting off on holiday.

But then, you turn round only to see your pooch looking up at you with that expression on his face. He knows.

And that pang of guilt is enough to take the shine off your holiday feeling completely.

But this is a problem of the past for American pet owners, because here, Pet Airways has just been launched.

Pet Airways is an airline aimed solely at animals, from budgies to cats and dogs.

During the flight, pets are taken on in-flight toilet trips and they even enjoy pre-boarding walkies. It sounds as if they are treated to a better service than their owners!

The airline means that pets are no longer crammed into the cargo hold with the luggage. It also means no more sorry expressions and no more feelings of guilt.

Just remember to pack that doggy passport!

On the dogwalk

It’s a controversial subject.

We’re not talking on the scale of Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, but it is a controversial subject nonetheless.

I’m talking dogs in clothes.

Some people hate them, but I think they can be great fun.

There are so many amusing outfits available from completely pointless cowboy outfits to the more practical rain macs.

My dog Bobby, is the proud owner of quite a few ensembles and accessories. And he looks adorable in all of them, particularly his dinner jacket and top hat.

I don’t think dogs should be continuously dressed up and used as toys (Paris Hilton style), but the odd dressing up session can be fun, so long as the dog is comfortable with it.

Just make sure that your dog doesn’t become a complete fashionista. It could end up costing you a fortune.

Man’s best friend

Even when you’ve made a catastrophic mistake, you can always rely upon your dog to stick by you. The dog won’t turn its back on you or be disappointed, or laugh at you.

It’s a bond that only dog owners understand.

But now children in Dorset are getting to experience this unique relationship, as dogs there are being used to help primary school children learn to read.

The people behind this new scheme are The Caring Canines charity. Volunteer dog owners sit with the children, from St Michael’s Primary School in Bournemouth, with their terriers, Labradors and Shetland sheepdogs.

Unlike children, the dogs don’t laugh when a child makes a mistake or stammers over a word and this is said to build their confidence and motivate them when it comes to reading.

But what do the dogs get in return? Well, they are treated to a good old stroke and playing session after the reading is finished.

It’s not the most conventional classroom method, but I say that anything involving dogs has got to be a good thing.

Perhaps it’s time we started bringing our dogs into work. Purely for motivational reasons of course.

Overcoming those obstacles

If your dog is anything like mine, when they’re out on a walk, it’s a challenge to even get them to walk the right way around a lamppost.

The result is a very confused dog pulling away at a lead which is wrapped several times around the post.

But it seems, this is not a problem Kenny Spottiswoode has had to deal with. Because his four year old dog Nike recently won the Pedigree Highland Agility Stakes final held at the Scottish Game Fair in Scone.

The Dundee trainer has been training and competing with dogs for almost ten years and he says that the secret to dog agility and training is to have lots of fun. He says that the best way to train is by doing two training sessions a week for five minutes at a time.

Kenny also stressed that the most important thing is to create a strong bond with your dog so that they enjoy the training.

Nike was required to tackle an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels and seesaws during the competition. It sounds like a big challenge to me. I think me and my dog will start off by mastering that lamppost.

The life of Bobby

I’ve kept him quiet up until now. But I think it’s about time to introduce you to my dog, Bobby.
Bobby is a West Highland White Terrier. And much like most dogs of this breed, he has a very distinct personality.

You can often find Bobby burying his face in dirt, trying to escape over fences and running away for a little holiday in next door’s garden. Mischievous doesn’t even begin to cover it.

This cheeky little dog has just turned two and when he reached this milestone I noticed a definite shift in his behaviour.

Although he still indulges in the occasional mischief, Bobby now spends more time sleeping. In fact, it’s very difficult to get him to do anything else sometimes.

He has got into the habit now of sleeping on the bed. But when the morning comes and everyone gets up, Bobby decides to go back to bed in true teenager fashion. He even gets under the covers and rests his head on the pillow!

Clearly, Bobby has matured over his two years. He has grown out of his naughty puppy tricks and now likes to enjoy a leisurely day relaxing, eating and sleeping.

Well, at least, I did think that until the other day, when I found his face buried in a muddy puddle again. Some dogs never learn.

Not so U.G.L.Y

To me, dogs are like babies. They are all beautiful.

But that’s not the general consensus at Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California. Here they hold an annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest where celebrity judges choose one lucky winner for the title.

This year’s winner was Pabst, a boxer-mix shelter dog. Pabst sports a unique under bite as well as an adorable frown.

His owner, Miles Egstad was a first timer at the competition and won $1,600 in total during the dog competitions. And as part of his prize, Pabst won a year-round modelling contract which he signed with his paw.

Pabst was a rescue dog adopted by Egstad three years ago and he is the first ‘mutt’ to win the contest in more than seven years.

Some say he’s got a face that only his mother could love, but I think Pabst is adorable. Despite that prominent under bite.

Following the dog trend

The minute Cheryl Cole wears a slightly different shade of lipstick, masses of girls are swarming the makeup counters to try to match it. In fact, most trends these days are dictated by celebrities.

And it is no different with dogs.

Although buying a dog should be treated as a serious decision and they should never be treated as fashion accessories, a lot of people seem to be inspired by breeds that are popular with celebrities.

One of my favourite breeds is the Pug. And these little guys seem to be extremely popular with the celebrities too, with Jessica Alba owning two called Syd and Nancy.

This breed is particularly striking with its wrinkly, short muzzled face and stocky build. Pugs are playful and like any dog, can offer a real sense of companionship.

But with this unusual dog costing around £1000, I think it might be a while before I indulge. Perhaps I’ll just treat myself to that new shade of lipstick for now.