Your Dog

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Hello • Welcome to the September issue of Your Dog…

SUBSCRIBE FOR YOU… and treat them, too! • You already love Your Dog. Now there’s an even better reason to subscribe.

Let’s talk news… • A selection of stories, UK news and beyond that caught our attention

The dog who just kept swimming

The summer danger hiding in the grass

Is ‘usually comes back’ good enough? • How good is your dog’s recall, really?

Would you smash a window to save a dog?

Just for fun • Historical fun and random facts about our four-legged friends…

Show dog, stage star and lifesaver: Miep reaches BBC awards final

SUMMER LOVIN’ • Last year a very special, unusually large litter of puppies was born to charity Guide Dogs; 13 brothers and sisters who became known as the Baker’s Dozen. Your Dog is supporting Crumpet; every month we’ll be following him as he progresses on his journey to becoming a life-changing guide dog…

STOP THE ROT! • Pip the Sprocker is a canine expert in sniffing out dry rot, as Andrea McHugh discovers

SAVED FROM A SINKHOLE • After being rescued from a Central American jungle, puppy, Dennis, has transformed his rescuers’ lives. Joanne Bednall reports

STRANDED! • How would you cope if your vehicle broke down with your dogs inside? Andrea McHugh reports

The Welsh-trained dogs on an African mission • Vega and Kuda, two specialist conservation dogs trained by charity, Dogs 4 Wildlife, in Wales, are heading to Zimbabwe to join a pioneering anti-poaching unit protecting black rhinos and other threatened species in Matusadona National Park

IN MEMORY OF… • The death of a dog is a loss many owners feel deeply, but it is not always easy to talk about. Remembering them properly, in whatever form feels right, can help owners mark a life that mattered

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR DOG IS IN PAIN? • As humans we can tell others how we feel, take painkillers, or even seek medical advice. We can also make lifestyle changes in the short and longer term to help us. However, for our dogs it can be a very different story. Jackie Boyd reports…

WHY IS MY DOG OBSESSED WITH OTHER DOGS? Part two • Previously, Toni explored why your dog might be obsessed with other dogs and suggested some useful exercises to encourage calmer, more focused behaviour. In this issue, she explains how to put that training into practice

BALL MAD! • For some dogs, a love of chasing a ball can become an unhealthy obsession. Toni Shelbourne explains how to spot the signs…

INTERNET MYTH BUSTING! • From ice cubes and heatstroke to ticks, vaccines and ‘cold wet noses’, our expert vet, Vicky Payne, tackles some of the most persistent dog health myths doing the rounds online

LION HEARTS AND LOYAL SOULS • Regal, reserved, and unmistakably striking, the Chow Chow is one of the dog world’s great originals. With its lion-like ruff, blue-black tongue, and dignified air, this ancient breed is as fascinating as it is beautiful. Independent rather than clingy, loyal rather than openly fussy, the Chow is best suited to owners who appreciate a calm, self-possessed companion with a strong sense of character

WHAT DOES YOUR DOG REALLY NEED? • From gut health and glossy coats to calm behaviour and comfortable joints, supplements are becoming part of many dogs’ daily routines. But what do they really do… and how can owners choose the right support for their dog?

50 ways to… ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE CHEWING • The table leg. Your slippers. The TV remote. Given half a chance, some dogs will sink their teeth into almost anything! But chewing is...