The DogCast Radio blog

We went for a walk on Cannock Chase today, and Buddy and Star found some friends to play with. The child in the photo detected a child-friendly Lab and came straight over. From then on Buddy lay on his back to have his tummy rubbed by the child. All would have gone on peacefully, were it not for the presence of an enthusiastic German Shepherd Dog puppy and Star, because all of a sudden they both wanted in on the action. The child was happy to fuss all three, and Buddy was happy to lie on his back in the middle of it all!

We have an interview with Deborah Howard, the founder and president of CAPS in the latest episode of DogCast Radio -out now! Below is the latest news from CAPS:

Animal Planet Airs Special: Puppy Mills Exposed
Deborah Howard President of Companion Animal Protection Society Helps Expose Inhumane World of Pet Shops and Puppy Mills
 

Cloning dogs is still a new and controversial area - and now they've gone and made it even more controversial. They've created cloned glow in the dark dogs. I'll say that again, just so you know you read it right - they've cloned glow in the dark dogs. Glow in the dark Beagles to be exact.

Of course the first thing that springs to mind is "Why?" What is the point of a dog that glows in the dark? (Apart from the fact you probably wouldn't lose him on a moonlight walk.) Why on earth tinker with a dog's DNA to make him glow? Now the team

Do you live with an Australian Terrier? If so and you have anything to say about the health of the breed, then Doreen Simpkins wants to hear from you. Doreen can be heard in Episode 75 of DogCast Radio, with a profile of the breed. She breeds awesome Aussies, and now she has been asked to sit on the breed health working group. She is interested in collating information and/or research from as many different sources as possible.

Just spotted this very odd video of wolves eating berries - not the kind of behaviour you expect of them! I know they hunt as a pack, but surely usually the prey moves a bit more? But then our dogs love fruit and veg too. Buddy likes apple and banana, while Star cannot rest if you are eating a pear and she knows she will get the core. She sits waiting patiently like a good dog, but she makes eye contact to ensure you know she is waiting patiently like a good dog.

I'm reading A Dog Year by Jon Katz at the moment. Being a Lab owner I'm loving his descriptions of the peaceful harmony he and his two Labradors enjoyed. I'm also enjoying the vivid depiction of the havoc the arrival of troubled, wild Border Collie Devon brings. It's a very honest account, with Katz owning up to every mistake and loss of temper.

Stockholm University research has shown that dogs are getting "dumber". Researchers found that current pedigree dogs are "disinterested, shy and less responsive to commands than their ancestors." They also found that show-quality and "handbag" dogs are the most likely to be affected by this lower intelligence.

I have to admit to a weakness for black Labradors, since their is one asleep on my sofa as I write this. He is often to be found snoozing on my sofa, but if he feels there is the need to defend his territory, he is up on his feet and barking, quick as a flash. His hackles go up, creating an impressive mohican effect down his back, and his barks are ear-shattering.

If you've ever ben faced with the problem of how to move your dog from one country to another, or over a long distance within a country, you may have considered putting your pet on a plane. Up until now you're only real option - unless you have your own jet - was to put your dog in the cargo hold. This is far from ideal in many ways. Now apparently, with the launch of Pet Airways, you have an alternative.

Since little Bo arrived at the White House he has attracted at least as much attention as his famous owner! So I will confine myself to saying that he looks very cute, and wishing the family and Bo many years of fun together. I will also point out for you some interesting comments.