Pets Magazine March 2018

march 2018, FREE

Pets in focus Photo Special

THE MUST-SEE DOG MOVIE! TOP PRODUCTS/PET CARE TIPS & MUCH MORE INSIDE Vet Pets Magazine

At Crufts 8-11 March, Stand 1, Hall 2

WWW.ARTYLOBSTER.COM Vet

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Cavaliers’ Choices...

Premium pet products, destinations & activities for you & your pet chosen by Sophie Nell and Rufus, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, assisted by Marie.

History of the dog ‘The Dog: A Natural History’ (Ivy Press, £20.00) by Dr. Adam Miklosi is a wonderful and extremely informative book that covers everything from the dog’s prehistoric origins to his biology. It contains everything you need to know about man’s best friend, his behaviour and his enduring friendship with humankind.

The book features a canine directory of different dog breeds.

An initial chapter on Evolution & Development looks at dogs' ancestors. Chapters on Anatomy & Biology, Society & Behaviour, and Dogs & Humans follow, accessing the most recent studies on everything canine. From hunting patterns to diversity, and training methods to classification, you'll find everything you ever wanted to know in this comprehensive study.

Chuck it!

The best-selling Ultra Grip Launcher promises play that covers maximum distance with minimal effort, while the Ultra Ball guarantees satisfaction for even the most fetch-fanatic dogs. With its famous high bounce and tough rubber exterior, the Ultra Ball is the pawfect accompaniment for the Ultra Launcher, which launches balls three times further − giving dogs and owners a way to enjoy even more far flung play. Provides lots of fun for even the most active dogs. The set is available in medium (RRP £14.99) while stocks last.

ChuckItToys

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Cavaliers’ Choices... walk the dog!

Eezehold is a retractable dog lead designed to provide improved comfort over conventional retractable leads.

The original soft grip handle moulds to your hand for added comfort for both you and your dog. With 4 meters of high visibility leash suitable for dogs (up to 50kg) and a unique one finger retract and release mechanism, Eezehold is intuitive and simple to use for all ages. Its design and material gives a better overall grip and adds to your control and comfort, as you walk your dog.

Available in a variety of colour combinations.

Nutritious food

£26.00 from Eezehold

Made through a continuous baking process which has been heralded as the purest form of creating pet food, Nineteen 87’s ultra-nutritious range, went down very well at Pets Mag towers.

Each flavour is created using 50% fresh meat, fish or poultry, all of which are sourced from farms in the UK. With an easily traceable and short journey from farm-to-bowl, Nineteen 87 is proud of both the quality and provenance of their product. www.nineteen87.co.uk

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Cavaliers’ Choices...

Two's Company The Double Dog Extension Lead by Mountain Paws is constructed from durable nylon and designed to stand up to the daily exertion of walking even the most energetic of dogs. Easy to clip on to your normal lead, the double dog extension lead features two separate elasticated sections that offer increased freedom for your dogs and a reduced risk of shock from dogs pulling. Robust clips at each end of the lead can be securely attached to your pet’s collar.

The lead also features a camlock that allows you to adjust the length between the two dogs, ideal when walking two breeds of different sizes.

Each of the individual lead sections has an integrated grab handle, ideal for keeping dogs close when required. www.mountainpaws.co.uk

PS/ We’re always looking for premium products & services to review for both pets and people! Please get in touch with the boss at editor@petsmag.co.uk.

Love,

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Sophie, Nell & Rufus

xxx

An Unbreakable Bond

Kate Mara stars in ‘Rex’, out later this month

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By MARIE CARTER ‘Rex’ is the affecting and uplifting story of one of the greatest bonds – the love and loyalty of man / woman and dog. The film (named ‘Megan Leavey’ in the US) tells the true story of the unbreakable emotional connection between young Marine corporal Megan and her service dog Rex – who both became war heros.

Kate Mara (‘House of Cards’) is excellent as Megan, an aimless young woman with a difficult background who is, in the early part of the film, seen repeatedly fighting with her mother (Edie Falco.)

Brilliantly directed by Gabriella Cowperthwaite (‘Blackfish’), the film is by

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turns emotionally affecting and beautiful, without descending into syrupy sentimentality. The power of the story shines through and is intensely uplifting as

privations. The drill sergeant tries to shape her into a Marine through tough physical challenges and discipline.

A rebellion against the strictness of her regime, sees Megan assigned to the K9 Unit for “shit duty” following a disciplinary hearing. There, she comes face to snarl with a seemingly vicious and out of control German Shepherd named Rex. But there is something in their meeting that brings out a spark in Megan.

The troubled young woman from a difficult background relates to the troublesome hound that no one a result. wants to handle. She goes on to pester the K-9 trainer After being impressed by (played brilliantly by Tom two smartly dressed Marines Felton) for a placement in on parade, Megan makes the unit. Megan’s grit and the snap decision to sign up. determination causes him From there, Leavey is to give her a trial...with the catapulted to boot camp, dog no one wants to handle, with all its rigours and namely Rex. Pets Magazine

In advising Megan, the trainee reminds her: “Everything you feel goes down leash.” Megan is not really a ‘people person’ and does not naturally form connections with others.

Soon Megan and Rex are shipped out to Iraq to sniff out bombs and munitions.

A fellow dog handler Matt Morales (Ramon Rodriguez) on deployment warns that there are bounties on their heads, and that Megan is particularly vulnerable as a female dog handler. Megan and Matt form a bond and have a brief relationship.

However, there is true

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intensity in one relationship only; that between Megan and Rex, particularly after both are injured in combat.

She and Rex go on to be awarded a Purple Heart for bravery. Over the course of their service, Megan and Rex completed more than 100 missions.

The direction by Gabrielle Cowperthwaite during the battle scenes involving Rex and Megan particularly is superb, as it is so sharply observed and emotionally involving.

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Upon recovery from her tour of duty, a confused and PTSD scarred Megan is forced to separate from her beloved canine companion who is left behind for more combat duty. The film, from a script by Pamela Gray and Annie Mumolo and Tim Lovestedt, then turns its focus on Megan’s desperate battle to adopt Rex, which is frustrated by a military vet branding him ‘unadoptable’.

‘Rex’ is intensely moving and I defy you not to have your hankies at the ready. Its focus turns from how troubled young woman Megan rescues troublesome

Marine dog Rex, who in turn ‘rescues’ Megan.

Cowperthwaite is brilliant as director in portraying the truly unbreakable bond between these two war heroes.

‘Rex’ is available on digital download on 12th March and on DVD on 19th March.

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Hamming It Up!

Stephanie Rebello of Purrfect Pawtraits is a talented Birminghambased pet photographer who specialises in studio and location photo shoots. She shares with us her inspirations as well as a fun photoshoot involving playful hamsters.

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‘Time for Tea’

Stephanie Rebello of Purrfect Pawtraits is a Birmingham based pet

her time

hamster Jerry. Jerry inspired me to start taking around dogs, cats, photographs of pets, she is great in front of the camera reptiles and enjoys posing for treats.”

and

rodents.

photographer who specializes in studio and location pet photoshoots.

Having grown up on a farm in Southern Ireland, where her parents dedicated their lives to rescuing animals, Stephanie spent much of

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Stephanie says: “It was only natural that growing up I wanted to work with animals too, so I moved into the fabulous world of pet photography after getting my pet Pets Magazine

Stephanie has volunteered at an animal sanctuary to take photographs of dogs and cats to help them find their forever homes.

“I am so grateful to have worked with many amazing pets, but my most favourite images from this past year have to be the hamster images included in this article...”

Do you have any pets yourself?

Yes, I have three pet hamsters, a Syrian called Jerry who was my inspiration to start pet photography and my two Roborovski The Pumpkin House hamster sisters called Red and Morgan. But over the years I've had many pets as my parents back home rescue animals and we always had anywhere from three to twelve dogs at home.

Is pet photography the favourite part of Rubber duckies are so fun...

Where do you take your inspiration from?

I am inspired by people's reactions to my photography. It is amazing how a photograph can change a persons opinion of an animal. For example with my photography of rodents I

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have had many people who are scared of rodents comment on how cute they actually are.

It's a really nice feeling to know that someone has become more accepting of an animal because of my images.

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your work? If so, why?

Yes, I absolutely adore working with animals. Over the years I have photographed people and events but never really felt fulfilled until I adopted a Syrian Hamster and started taking some photographs of her, I just fell in love with

‘Financial times...’

photographing pets. For me the fun part is never really knowing what type of images you are going to capture because animals have their own plans and you just never know how they are going to act in front of the camera.

What are your favourite places and subjects to

with are hamsters. They are the most challenging but produce the funniest images.

Any brief tips for the amateur pet artist?

If you are photographing your pet the very best thing you can do is get the camera down to their level.

All Hamster Images are copyright of Stephanie Rebello of Purrfect Pawtraits.

The portrait of Stephanie and her pet hamster Jerry was taken by photographer Dave Kai Piper.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ stephies_purrfect_pawtraits

photograph?

It's an unusual perspective for us as people to see a I love working with pets at dog, cat or hamster from their owners homes as every that angle and it will make photoshoot is completely your images much more different from the last. My fun. favourite animals to work

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Facebook: www.facebook.com/ purrfectpawtraitsbystephie/ Website: www.purrfectpawtraits.com/

LARS B. ANDERSEN, CEO of Arty Lobster On 3D Pet Sculptures Click this link to watch the video.

And here’s two examples of Arty Lobster’s fantastic 3D sculptures. Visit their website at www.artylobster.com to order a 3D sculpture of YOUR pet!

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