The DogCast Radio blog

I mentioned Lee Gibson's new DVD last week, and it was while we were working with Lee that Buddy did one of the funniest things he's ever done. We were completely new to agility, and so we started where Julie Andrews recommended starting - at the very beginning. Lee believes in getting the basics right; of teaching your dog the commands for each piece of equipment, teaching a right and left command, teaching a pause on the contact points, and a priority is learning to trust your dog, and giving him the space to let him get it right.

It's an approach that pays dividends. You simply can't

We went to the Museum of Iron in Ironbridge, Shropshire, UK, last week. We've been before and I always admire this beautiful Greyhound table. Not only is it a fine example of craftsmanship, but the dogs look so proud; supporting and defending the table at the same time. Do you think they'd try and sneak the odd scrap as well though? They certainly would if they were Labradors!

It does pose a few questions - like what kind of tablecloth would you have to buy to allow for those dogs' heads? I also wonder about the people who

I haven't posted since Friday because Jenny and I spent the weekend stuck in bed with a horrible cough and really high temperatures. It was a real pain; we had to cancel a long anticipated family outing, as well as some quite important dog training. All the weekends when we had nothing planned when it wouldn't have mattered, and we had to be laid low this particular weekend. Ah well, worse things happen I know. I hope your weekend went well.
Anyway, Episode 81 of DogCast Radio is now available with two smashing interviews.

Lee Gibson of Lee Gibson Training has brought out a fantastic DVD to help you with agility training. Buddy and I went to him for lessons when we started agility, and I can thoroughly recommend his approach. Lee believes in

I suppose every dog owner thinks this, but I think that I live with the nicest dogs in the world. I'll give you an example of what leads me to think this. When our dogs are asleep, obviously we try to avoid disturbing them, but sometimes it can't be avoided, and sometimes it happens by accident.

The other night I was busy sorting out my clean dry laundry, and putting it away. I was walking into the bedroom with my arms full of "smalls".

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and if you fancy having a night at a dog friendly hotel, you could win yourself one for free in this competition, run by ThePet.net. You can hear an interview with the site's creator, TV vet Marc Abraham in Episode 62 of DogCast Radio.

Win a romantic Valentine’s night for two, with puppy love included, thanks to ThePet.net

Did you know that dogs can be blood donors? There are many reasons why a dog might need a transfusion, and there are blood bank schemes in both the UK and the USA. Both the sites those links take you to have more information about whether your dog could be a suitable donor, and what the process involves.

Are you tired of Health and Safety getting in the way of common sense? Well never mind Health and Safety gone mad, it's gone to the dogs now.

Here's a story about a life saving Newfoundland who is being hounded off a beach. Bilbo the Newfoundland is owned by an RNLI lifeguard, and has taken an active role in ensuring swimmers' well being in Cornwall as a beach rescue dog, this is as well as visiting schools to educate children about water safety, and attending charity events. Now Health and Safety officials want

What other animals does your dog share his home with, and how well do they get along together? Ours cohabit with various other species, but have never had to put up with the situation I read about recently. One dog owner's parrot has learned to mimic her voice, to the point where he can give instructions to her dogs. The parrot in question lives with an Alsatian-Collie cross, and two Cairn Terriers. The poor dogs are fooled into responding when the bird calls them over to his cage. Although the bird praises them, he apparently hasn't so far managed to treat them for their obedience.

The RSPCA has issued a warning about putting coats on dogs. You can see an article in the Telegraph newspaper about it here. The charity suggests that putting a coat on a dog could cause it to overheat, and amount to cruelty. This caught my eye as I had recently sat in a training class, next to an older Labrador. When it was time to go back out into the bitter cold, the owner produced a warm and waterproof coat, which the dog did not object to having put on at all.