Crufts: 6 - 9 March 2014

We had an enjoyable if exhausting 4 days at Crufts. It was lovely to welcome some new subscribers to Naturally Happy Dogs and to meet existing ones who popped over to say Hi. It was also nice to meet up with contributors Rob Fellows, Caroline Spencer and Sarah Sheldrick.

We were positioned next to the obedience ring with it's loud announcements again, but it was lovely to be next to the Animal Care College, this is what they wrote in their March newsletter:

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New Video On-line Magazine

At Crufts we met up with the owners of an exciting video magazine called Naturally Happy Dogs. We were very impressed by the range and quality of their videos (there are over 350 currently available and new ones are being uploaded every month). They provide a superb source of fascinating material about every aspect of dogs. There are far too many to list here but highlights include interviews, training tips and techniques, behavioural issues, insights into organisation, detailed information about breeds and breeding, diet and nutrition - the list goes on and on. And the editors welcome suggestions as to subjects - so if there is anything you are particularly interested in which is not covered - just ask. We can thoroughly recommend this magazine for our current students, our past graduates and, in fact, anyone who is interested in extending their knowledge of dogs.

We were so impressed that we have come to an arrangement with the publishers so that as of today anyone who begins an Animal Care College course will be signed up for two months free access to Naturally Happy Dogs so that all those videos are immediately available to them giving the a kick start into their course.

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We are very excited to be working with them in the future.

March 2014

Our behind-the-scenes look at what happens at a veterinary practice this month offers the first of a three part series on castration and spaying. The first is an overview of the two procedures and Reena Patel explains the pros and cons of each so that we can make an informed decision about what is right for our dog.

If it's activities you're after, there are more videos on IPO Schutzhund, this time looking at the obedience element, and on teaching walkarounds for TD Rally.

If we want to put our pets through their paces, it's important to be mindful of the impact on their bodies but, fortunately, there are a range of things we can do. This month we have an introduction to the subject of canine massage and also learn how hydrotherapy can be used to support agility dogs.

Most dogs can be very active without any encouragement, however, and there may be times we don't want them to be. In this month's issue we learn how to stop a dog from jumping up with the help of an irrepressibly bouncy Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

We also take a look at the valuable work of the National Animal Welfare Trust.

Finally, have you ever wondered about the ancestry of your lovable crossbreed? Black Dog DNA do DNA profiling of dogs to find out just that. We were very interested to discover the ingredients of our very own office dog Sandy.