The DogCast Radio blog

Graeme Sims has a new website, The Graeme Sims Method - and dog lovers in Italy are in for a treat, as it's a bi-lingual website. Now not only English speakers can discover Graeme's wonderful life story, his love of dogs and his training methods. I've met Graeme many times and he is always delightful company, full of insights into dogs' minds, and never short of an amusing or thought-provoking anecdote. I will never forget watching him work nine sheepdogs simultaneously, it was amazing.

I love discovering new products that my dogs might enjoy
, so when I came across Stagbars I was intrigued. Stagbars are stag antlers that are made into dog chews - obviously you don't give your dog the whole antler, they are cut into size appropriate chunks and sold by weight. Stags grow new antlers every season, and shed their old ones, so this is a very environmentally friendly business, which uses basically a waste product and turns it to good use. Sounds good so far, the only question left was would my dogs be as enthusiastic as I was?

Dog law delays are unacceptable claim RSPCA

Public pressure is key to lobbying Government department

The continued persecution of dogs based on their physical appearance is unacceptable and the law needs to change, the RSPCA says.

Britain’s biggest animal welfare charity claims the Government is dragging its heels over promises to reform dog control legislation – despite nearly nine out of 10 people arguing that the current law doesn’t protect the public effectively.*

New York, Milan, Paris… Battersea
High fashion for abandoned dogs as top designers dress Battersea’s finest
 
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is officially the new stop on the fashion circuit, so prepare for Westies in Westwood, Dachschunds in Deacon, and Staffies in Stella. The world’s top designers are swapping the catwalk for the dogwalk for one night only to help unwanted and abandoned dogs stride out in spectacular style for a truly unforgettable and never been seen before fashion event.
 

SURF DOG RICOCHET HOSTS FUNDRAISER IN HONOR OF HERO DOG STACEY MAE
BENEFITING BETTY WHITE'S HUMANE HEROES CLUB/AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION
BETTY WHITE WILL MATCH UP TO $25,000 IN DONATIONS TO THIS FUND!
 

Don’t let this Christmas be lonely – foster a Battersea animal.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home hopes its dog and cat fostering scheme can transform Christmas for those due to spend the festive season alone.

The charity is looking to recruit new dog and cat foster carers, who can take animals into their home and care for them while they recover from operations, or to give them a break from kennel or cattery life.

In the course of my job interviewing and writing about (mainly) dog folk, I come into contact with some lovely people. I've just discovered Critter Studio, who are not only lovely people, but they take some gorgeous shots of a variety of animals, notably dogs. Critter Studio took the smashing shot of PJ Houghton with her two German Shepherds and her Papillon which accompanies my latest article in UK magazine, Dogs Monthly.

Animal charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home says it has seen a 40 per cent increase in the number of ‘handbag’ dogs coming through its doors this year, with many suffering from behavioural issues after being mollycoddled by their owners.

Yorkshire Terriers were the most popular small breed needing Battersea’s attention, with over 90 already coming into the Home so far this year, compared to 54 the year before – a 67 per cent increase. Chihuahuas are also an increasingly popular breed at Battersea, with a 36 per cent increase coming into Battersea since last year.

Campaign has not even started yet and it is already a success!!

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has revealed the top 10 calorie-laden food offenders for dogs and cats, as it warns owners to ditch the biscuits, sausages and cheese from their pet’s diet.
The animal charity is calling on owners to address their pet’s diets and prevent an obesity crisis among the nation’s dogs and cats. It warns that half a tin of tuna is equivalent to a human dining out on a large cod n’ chips, while a 3cm cube of cheese equals a cup of molten fondue cheese. Even a well-meaning chipolata translates into a gut-busting 12oz steak on a human’s plate. 
It is an issue Battersea’s vets face on a regular basis, and one viewers will witness in Monday’s episode of Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs on ITV1. In the programme, Paul helps overweight Alaskan Malamute Honey with her weight maintenance programme, as