Labrador Retriever

These two Labradors were used to eating their food from the same bowl, and Stitch taught Cookie to share the portion between them. (Aren't dogs amazing?) And now, even after Stitch's death, Cookie still leaves half the food in the bowl for her friend.

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As dog lovers, we know that the worst aspect of loving a dog is losing a dog. Their lives are too short; never long enough. We must love them and make every day as happy as possible, and when they die keep them secure and cherished in our hearts.

Actor Tom Hardy is grieving for his dog Woody, and has put together the tribute video (above) and written a moving tribute here - http://tomhardydotorg.tumblr.com/

Make the most of every day with your dog, and make memories to sustain you when they are gone. I'm often reminded of these words from Rudyard, warning of the dangers of, "giving your heart to a dog to tear".

“The Power of the Dog”

THERE is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware 5
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head. 10
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs 15
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But … you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!). 20
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way, 25
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve: 30
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Run free Woody, you had the best thing a dog can have - a loving owner.

Take care,

Julie xx

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There have been a couple of stories lately that have made me shake my head in complete incomprehension – here’s another one.

How beautiful is little Bea? Yet all her breeder could see of her was that she would not “sell”. So to that breeder, the tiny puppy was no longer worth anything, and was taken to the vet, at just FIVE WEEKS OLD, to be put to sleep.

I’ll let that sink in for a second. This gorgeous little Yorkshire Terrier was condemned before her life had really started, due to a disability which will not stop her living a happy life.

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You probably know that the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the UK. But not every individual of the breed can claim the same popularity. For example, poor Buttons, a chocolate Labrador is one of the longest stay residents at Battersea’s Brands Hatch shelter.

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You’ve probably read headlines about the French bulldog catching up to the Labrador as the UK’s most popular dog breed. The Kennel Club’s records show that in fact the French bulldog will not only become as popular as the Labrador, it will overtake it, and become the most popular dog breed in the UK.

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I don’t really make New Year’s Resolutions anymore. Mainly because I know I’ll break them way before the year’s finished, and also because I’ll make changes when I need to, thank you, not in response to some arbitrarily agreed date.

However, this year, I’ll make an exception.

This year I’ll resolve to strive to keep Buddy as happy, healthy and active as he can be.

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I have been lucky enough to interview psychology
professor, neuropsychological researcher and dog lover Dr.
Stanley Coren twice. The subject of our first chat was
how to age proof your dog. At the time of  that
interview Buddy, my Labrador was only three years old.  He was
a baby. Physically a solidly built dog, mentally he was very much a
puppy, and there was not a single strand of grey in his glorious,
shiny, black fur.

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