Pets Magazine November 2014

November 2014

IN SEARCH OF DOGFRIENDLY BRITAIN!

How to keep your dog calm this firework season COMPETITION: Enter our fantastic competition to win a Microchip Cat Flap!

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Cool, calm & collected...

Leading canine behaviourist ADEM FEHMI reveals how to keep your dog calm this firework season Think ahead: make sure your IREWORKS CAN BE a huge dog is inside during the firework season, get your walks issue for many pet dogs and done earlier in the day, a tired their owners, not least because dog has less energy to worry! it is normal for a dog to avoid Have a safe, secure and or move away from loud noises. comfortable area for your dog Wolves and other wild canids to settle in. I always leave a will insure survival by moving radio tuned to a classical music away from loud random noises station. The Colorado State such a volcanic eruptions, University has proven that this landslides or stampeding herds. type of music significantly To your dog, the sound of reduces stress in dogs, fireworks can be very something I have witnessed distressing, especially if it often whilst working in cannot be avoided. boarding and rescue kennels over a 15 year period.

So, here’s what to do!

Additionally I often prepare a

F

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food dispensing toy with my dogs’ meal in it to keep them busy during the height of activity on fireworks’ night (7-9pm.) Remember though, once a dog has become fearful, it is unlikely she will eat; in which case let your dog settle in her area, as quietly and calmly as possible.

Desensitize: This is best to do throughout the year on several occasions before all the action starts. In order to desensitize you must start with low levels of sound, scent and potentially visual exposure to fireworks.

Adem Fehmi runs Dog Ease I tend to play firework displays from my Smartphone, tablet etc whilst I am exercising the dogs, while they eat, or play with me, or each other. As I see the dogs either don’t react or improve their reactions towards the sounds and sights I increase the volume or exposure. Some dogs are more into picking up scents, sounds and visuals, and so it is important to observe your dog calmly and work on the necessary areas at your dog’s pace.

course can reward or promote the behaviour.

must be used along with all of the above steps.

An owner who has control of a dog is more likely to experience decreased stress levels as the dog can look to them as a guide.

A dog who manages her owner does not have this option! The dog needs to see a calm and relaxed owner, as this will help reassure her rather than lots of fuss and telling the dog ‘its ok’ ‘don’t be silly’, ‘good girl’ which just adds to the dog’s anxiety.

Remember, a fearful dog’s behaviour can change and it is important to appreciate this. In extreme cases, a dog behaviourist should be able to help.

Think of your own behaviour: Often, dog owners pamper their dogs when they show signs of stress, which of

Sedation: For me sedation is for the extreme cases and as a last resort. It is essential that any drugs are dispensed by a veterinary surgeon after they examine your dog. Sedatives

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Working across London and the South East, canine behaviour specialist Adem Fehmi BSc (Hons) FMCFBFBA/FMGODT from Dog-Ease (www.dogease.co.uk) also runs classes in obedience and agility as well as working with gun dogs from his Hertfordshire base.

Pet Tales

book reviews

CAT LOVER AND owner

synchronicity from which the plot ultimately unfolds.

David Cliff, MD of Gedanken, a company specialising in coachingbased support and personal development, reviews an “astonishing book” with a wide appeal.

Mishima’s owner by default and the book’s key (human) protagonist Samuel, develop friendships that are as unusual as they are diverse. Many subcharacters within the plot enigmatically explore the nature of the universe and how our very observation of it ultimately alters that which we observe.

Whether you’re into cats, philosophy, quantum physics Love in Small themes developed in the book and the delightful references to or simply a good afternoon read Letters on a rainy day, I can heartily literature spanning from recommend “Love in Small

By Francesc Miralles diverse a range as Goethe to Letters”. Hailed as an £7.99 paperback Buddha. The lead protagonist Publication date: October not only prepares for his role as international best seller, I can well see why and I look forward a university lecturer, but also 2014 to Miralles’ next publication considers his existential but then me being handed this I was pleased to review Love in position as a person feeling small book to review is just very much alone in the Small Letters by Francesc another small, synchronous universe. He becomes Miralles published by Alma event that makes that prospect ‘connected’ by a set of books Ltd. unrelated, synchronistic events an inevitability! that of themselves are I have to say I thoroughly The book is an incredibly enjoyed this novel which was a insignificant but together add enjoyable read with a light to a rich journey exploring rare treat to enjoy on a rainy hearted humour and a touching friendship, love, our sense of Saturday afternoon with separateness as individuals and of common humanity that nowhere to go due to the connects us all. Compassion, the nature of life itself. weather! understanding, tolerance, the questioning of our lives and There is a delightful simplicity Of course, the undersung hero their function are all rolled into within this book is a cat called in Miralles’ writing which Mishima, who through typical this piece of work which will be makes the book ultimately cat wilfulness is the “cat-alyst” an excellent gift in particular, readable. Short succinct for the more thoughtful people chapters seem to create context to so many of these events of in your life! markers for the different

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In search of dog-friendly Britain

JANE COMMON, who along with her Battersea dog Attlee edits www.phileasdogg.com and wrote the best-selling travel guide ‘Phileas Dogg’s Guide to Dog-Friendly Holidays in Britain’, reveals the runners and riders in this year’s Kennel Club Discover Dogs contest to find the most dog-friendly destinations in Britain.

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T

HE votes

have been cast, the numbers crunched and, on November 8th – 9th, at the Kennel Club’s Discover Dogs show at Earls Court in London, the winners will be revealed in the society’s annual contest A real dog’s dinner at The Millstream to find Britain’s most dogsmelling, enclosed gardens friendly destinations. (and a secure paddock) to stop Hotel/Places to Stay: Attlee and I are lucky enough to have just returned from a week’s break at last year’s winner in this round – Helsbury Park, in Cornwall. It really is Disneyland for dogs with rabbit holes to stick snouts down, 10-acres of grounds to explore, fields to chase tennis balls through, woods to chase squirrels through and a river to jump in for the aquaticallyinclined.

The four cottages are perfectly set up for dogs too, with slate and wooden floors to accommodate muddy paws, throws on every sofa so Rover can relax after a busy day sight-

any Houdini hounds in their tracks and kennels in the garden, should Sir Wagger require some me-time away from his humans. High paw Helsbury! *Helsbury Park, Camelford, Cornwall, PL32 9RH Tel: 01566 781753; website: www.helsburypark.co.uk Prices start at £795 per week; £20 charge per dog per stay.

Pub/Bar: This is always one of the most keenly contested categories and Attlee and I travelled to Wiltshire to check out The Millstream in Marden, near Devizes, for the Kennel Club. A

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water bowl was set out awaiting Attlee’s arrival – tick; a great fuss was made of him by the waiter – tick; and, when it was time to pay the bill, he and his canine companion Jodie were both given complimentary treats. That’s a double tick!

Attlee’s a big fan of the contender’s offering Mutts Menus as well – Brandling Villa in Newcastle has roasts for Rovers of a Sunday and pigs’ ear tacos, should Fido fancy foreign fare, while The Orange Tree in Thornham, Norfolk has a full menu of Scooby snacks. *The Millstream, Marden, Devizes, Wilts SN10 3RH Tel: 01380 848490; www.themillstream.co.uk

*Brandling Villa, Haddricks Mill Road, South Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1QL Tel: 0191 284 0490; website: www.brandlingvilla.co.uk *The Orange Tree, Thornham, High Street, Thornham, Norfolk, PE36 6LY Tel: 01485 512213; website: www.theorangetreethornham.c o.uk

Attlee at Glastonbury Abbey

Dog-friendliest Town or City: One of the most hotly contested categories is always Britain’s dog-friendliest town. Keswick won in 2013 but apparently Buxton is snapping at its heels this year.

Our top tip for dogfriendliness, however, is Glastonbury in Somerset.

Its hippie peace and love vibe – with a crystal shop on every corner; incense-scented emporiums purveying angel wings and goddess robes; and postcards in windows offering every alternative therapy under the sun (including Reiki for dogs) – definitely extends to canine-kind. Attlee was warmly greeted in every cafe, pub, restaurant and shop we popped into. There’s also a Tor to explore and an ancient Abbey to stroll around.

Camping/Caravanning: Phileas Dogg’s camping correspondent Evie gets intents when she’s seeking a canine canny campsite but the good news is more and more are realising the potential of the hound pound and welcoming waggers.

One to watch for 2015 is Bivouac in Yorkshire which announced it was becoming Pets Magazine

dog-friendly last month – news we’ve been waiting for since it opened in 2012.

Providing eco-friendly glamping in the grounds of the Swinton Park Estate, Bivouac boasts eight Mongolian-style yurts, six wooden tree-house style ‘shacks’, a 12-berth barn for larger groups, a cafe and shop, hot tubs and, best of all, a spotless shower block.

A few of our favourites, which are dog-friendly all year round too, are up for the honour, including Brancaster and Holkham in Norfolk, Watergate Bay in Cornwall and Bamburgh in Northumberland.

Indeed, Northumberland’s one of the best destinations for a beach holiday for bow-wows in Britain, with all bar one of its beaches dog-friendly all year round.

The other categories in the awards are Day Out; Cafe/ Restaurant; Great Outdoors; High Street and Large Organisation. To find out more log on to www.bedogfriendlyawards.co.u k – winners will be published on the site after they’re announced.

It’s glamping with the emphasis firmly on the glam and Attlee and I are already booking our spot for next summer.

Phileas Dogg’s Guide to DogFriendly Holidays in Britain, published by Constable at £12.99, details over 300 dogfriendly destinations around the country. It’s available now on Amazon and in all good bookstores.

*Bivouac, High Knowle Farm, Knowle Lane, Masham, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 4JZ Tel: 01765 535020; www.thebivouac.co.uk Prices start at £93 per night for a wooden shack, £64 for a yurt and £20 per person in the barn.

Prices for dogs had not been confirmed at time of going to press.

Beach: The best beach competition always creates waves – after all, what do dogs love more than a stretch of sand to play Frisbee on and some surf to ride?

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Tales from the sharp end of veterinary practice

MALCOM D WELSHMAN is a retired vet and author of three pet novels. The first, Pets in a Pickle, with a foreword by James Herriot's son, reached number two on Kindle's bestseller list.

The third, Pets Aplenty, has just been published. The Sun says:'It’s perfect for animal lovers the world over.' Malcolm shares with Pets Magazine readers his short story called Crackerjack. one of many stories based on his years as a vet.

I’d placed my black bag on the counterpane and knelt down. From under the bed a pair of green eyes blazed at me.

drooping from her shoulders, hopped from one foot to another like an agitated heron.

‘I’m so sorry he’s playing up,’ she said. He’s not usually so naughty. But with the Guy Fawkes bonfires last night and all those fireworks going ‘Come on Crackerjack, off… well, it’s scared him.’ She bobbed her head there’s a good puss,’ I down level with the bed and addressed the dark pleaded as, peering into the shadow beneath it. ‘Now Crackerjack, if you gloom, I cautiously slid my hand towards the cat. behave yourself, I’ve some nice coley for you My reward was a deep snarl and a show of afterwards.’ The reply was another venomous needle sharp teeth. I sat back on my heels to hiss. consider my next move. Meanwhile his owner, I jumped to my feet, grasped the brass head rail Miss Jameson, stood in the doorway, grey shawl and wrenched the bed away from the wall.

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There was a flash of black as I turned to Miss Jameson.

Crackerjack bolted from his ‘Crackerjack’s been hit by a car,’ hideaway. ‘The door,’ I yelled I said. turning to Miss Jameson.

Too late. The fur bomb had Miss Jameson’s lips quivered. exploded onto the landing and ‘But he will be all right?’ she was now no doubt hurtling faltered.’ down the stairs, making for the cat flap.

‘Gently I pressed his ‘Well, his annual vaccination will just have to wait,’ I muttered, snatching up my black bag. ‘But do make sure you keep him in the kitchen next time. Next time was a mere two days later.

‘I’m so sorry to call you out at this time of night,’ apologised Miss Jameson as she opened the door. ‘But Crackerjack’s been missing since this morning and only just returned. Poor thing doesn’t seem at all well.’

I glanced up the stairs. Miss Jameson caught my eye. ‘Yes, he’s up in the bedroom,’ she confessed, fluttering her hands in the air.

I found him not under the bed but lying on the counterpane, panting, eyes glazed, clearly in distress. There was no snarl as I bent over to examine him.

His pupils were dilated, his breathing rapid. Gently I pressed his toes to unsheath the claws. They were shredded.

toes to unsheath the claws...’

it might be a good time to have Crackerjack neutered. It would probably stop him fighting and calm him down. And possibly lessen the rampages under the bedroom furniture. So while he was still under the anaesthetic, this was done.

‘So how is he?’ I enquired when I went round to visit Miss Jameson a week later.

‘Well he’s in a state of shock at ‘Oh he’s fine. Using the leg the moment,’ I explained. ‘And well.’ there seems to be a problem in ‘And where is he?’ I hardly one of his back legs.’ dared to ask.

Crackerjack growled as I raised his right hind. ‘But don’t worry. We’ll hospitalise him overnight and see how he is in the morning.’

‘I’m sorry but he’s up in the bedroom.’ She looked guiltily at me. ‘Well, poor thing, he’s been through such a lot lately.

Besides,’ she added as we climbed the stairs, ‘he does so like the bedroom. He’ll sleep all day on the counterpane if you let him.’ She opened the bedroom door.

Crackerjack seemed much brighter the following day to judge from the way he spat vehemently at me from the back of his hospital cage. But he wasn’t putting any weight on ‘Now Crackerjack, here’s your his right leg. nice doctor to see you….Crackerjack? Where are Once anaesthetised, an X-ray you?’ showed a dislocation of the right hip joint. Being such a well-muscled cat, it wasn’t easy manipulating the joint back into place. Eventually I managed it with as much swearing and cursing as Crackerjack might have done.

There was one more thing. I’d suggested to Miss Jameson that

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There was a familiar snarl from under the bed.

Malcolm D. Welshman is author of Pets Aplenty published by Austin Macauley (0207 038 8212) at £7.99 Kindle version £2.05.

WIN a Microchip Cat Flap!

We’ve got a fantastic prize up for grabs this month - a microchip cat flap worth £79.99!

The award winning SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap recognises your pet’s existing identification microchip which acts as a personalised door key.

Your pet has access to the outdoors without the fear of strays and neighbours’ pets coming into the home, meaning less stress for both you and your pet. The cat flap is battery powered, stores up to 32 pets microchips numbers and can be installed in walls, windows and doors.

To enter, simply email editor@petsmag.co.uk adding your *name and address details - to be valid you must add ‘cat flap comp’ to the subject line of your email.

The lucky winner will be chosen at random.

One winner will be notified via email.

The closing date for entries is Wednesday December 3, 2014.

* By entering this competition, you agree that personal details may be supplied to our partner company providing the prize.

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