Darling's Real Dog Food

Feeding Cerrig Darling's...

2011-06-06T00:34:00.002+01:00

Ahhhhh! What can I say? Except, perhaps, a huge thank you to Eileen Clayton for sending us this wonderful, wonderful photo. We are exceptionally proud to be feeding the new Clayton puppies, as you may imagine.

Why dogs bite people

2011-06-06T00:00:00.003+01:00

Hounds for Heroes Fundraiser 22nd May

2011-05-11T09:59:00.002+01:00

This is being organised by Annette Bowcott of Hamble Hounds Dog Training School on 023 8001 1439 if you want to ask her about it. Looks like it will be an entertaining day out and an excellent cause, too.

NEW Secret Royal Wedding Photos

2011-05-11T09:41:00.003+01:00

Enzo Leach - one of the famous Spinone Boys - fed, I might say, by Darling's - caught in secret Royal Wedding drama.

10 best positions in bed

2011-05-02T11:47:00.013+01:00

I know, I know, this is very silly but lovely Elaine sent me this as an email and - well - I just couldn't resist posting them. Sigh.

Domestication may have been quicker than we think...

2011-04-25T15:40:00.002+01:00

There's an intriguing article in the March edition of National Geographic exploring the whole subject of the domestication of wild animals with lots of examples including chickens, pigs and sheep. The but that fascinated me, however, was the section about an experiment involving silver foxes that began in 1959. Researchers in Siberia bred foxes to encourage a single behaviour: friendliness towards humans. Over the next few generations the foxes behaved more and more like domesticated dogs. By the second generation aggressive response to humans began to disappear, by the fourth the kits (puppies) were wagging their tales and approaching humans voluntarily as well as allowing themselves to be carried and by the sixth generation they were completely accepting of humans and would lick them. Interestingly, from the 9th generation onwards the foxes began to change their outer appearance. That is to say their ears became floppier, their coats began to change colour, their tails started to curl and became shorter. These are all things that make dogs appear appealingly juvenile to humans. The researchers believe that some animals and not others carry genes that predispose them to be more easily domesticated. This sort of makes sense and explains why all sorts of animals have remained wild, while others have been successfully domesticated. The experiments suggest that it probably didn't take very long - perhaps as little as 20 years - for wild wolves to become tame dogs some 15,000 years ago.

More about Pet Plus

2011-04-18T23:03:00.002+01:00

When I wrote about PetPlus a few weeks ago Suzi McIntyre tried to add a comment and it got lost somewhere in space and ever since I have been meaning to update the posting but actually it probably makes more sense just to copy and paste what she said:

And I do recommend Pet Plus with raw food in healthy dogs and cats, because the raw food we feed does not contain the whole 'prey' animal. The guts contain probiotics, prebiotics and digestive enzymes which are of enormous benefit to our carnivorous pets. I am always getting comments from committed raw food feeders saying how much better their dog / cat is since adding the Pet Plus. Even our dear friend Ros Walters, a brilliant canine nutritionist, has found a vast improvement in her dogs' health since adding the Pet Plus. So it's definitely not just for sick dogs and cats. The aim is to prevent them getting sick in the first place! Feeding raw on its own is only part of the job.

2011-04-18T21:55:00.002+01:00

Just to say I hope you will support Naturally Happy Dogs a new online video magazine that has recently been launched. It is early days yet but they have endeared themselves to me because one of the first programmes they made was about raw feeding.

In rememberance of Freya Brian

2011-04-02T10:52:00.008+01:00

We had the honour of feeding a very, very special dog for the last few months. Her name was Freya, her dates were 24/12/2003 - 25/03/2011 and she was a lovely, lovely mother. Tracey, who looked after her, said: 'She was always very photogenic, gleaming coat - we never used fancy coat preparations - it was all down to good food, healthy lifestyle, being a fit dog & lots of love & attention & of course, being a happy dog!' Anyway, as you can see from the shots she was stunningly beautiful and we were very sorry to hear (only a few days ago) that she had given up her fight with cancer. Our heartfelt condolences to her family.

Photo: Sam at Farlap

Swedegate! How a vegetable has nearly brought us to our knees.

2011-04-01T02:16:00.004+01:00

They look innocent enough, don't they? Swedes. But they have been the bane of our existence for the last few days. In our enthusiasm to use only fresh, local, seasonal vegetables a few weeks ago we decided to include swede in some of our recipes.

The thing about swede is that it has a strong smell and flavour and although most of our canine customers have been fine with it, a few have said to us (in dog language, of course): ‘It may be good for me, but I still don’t like it.’ Hopefully, you won’t have encountered this problem, but if you have (and we don’t yet know about it) please get in touch so that we can put things right for you.

We won’t, I hasten to add, be using swede again!

We are happy to recommend Pet Plus

2011-03-29T18:02:00.014+01:00

If we had to recommend one all round food supplement it would be Pet Plus. I'll outline why we like this particular product so much in a moment. First, I want to just explain that a healthy dog on a raw food diet won't need supplements (although some owners might take the attitude that they are an aid to good health and can't do any harm). What about dogs that are ill, have recently been ill or lack energy? Here the story is very different. The right supplement can make a marked difference to a dog's wellbeing and vitality. There are plenty of products on the market but the one we have always favoured (initially because our Chief Veterinary Surgeon recommended it and later from personal experience) is Pet Plus. The reason is that it contains high quality, whole food based ingredients. These are:

Enzymes
Pet Plus contains Protease for protein digestion, Amylase for carbohydrate digestion, Lipase for fat digestion and ProCerelase for the digestion of vegetation.

Probiotics
Lactobacillus Acidophillus is one of the best probiotics for dogs. It colonizes the gut easily, creates an environment that discourages pathogens and does not transfer antibiotic resistance, unlike some other probiotics.

Prebiotics
Alfalfa, Kamut wheat grass and barley grass have been pulverized and juiced then carefully dried so that all those fabulous nutrients, which would otherwise be hidden inside the cells, are preserved without chemicals and readily available to your dog. The beet root fibre is also a great source of fibre. Together, these four ingredients are an essential support for the probiotics and provide an enormous number of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

Safflower And Flax Seed
Excellent sources of essential fatty acids, safflower and flax seed supplies the perfect balance of omega 3 and 6 for your dog. They are also rich sources of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients and support the probiotics.

Brewers Yeast and Garlic
Repelling parasites is the main role of the brewers yeast and garlic. They are also a source of B vitamins and many other important nutrients.

Another thing we like about Pet Plus is that it has been formulated by Susanna McIntyre a naturopathic vet based in South Wales and it is possible to buy it from her direct. Anyway, if you have been wondering whether your dog needs a bit of a boost then this could be the answer.

Crufts may be sponsored by other dog food companies but Darling's feeds the winners!

2011-03-29T17:32:00.004+01:00

Heartiest congratulations to Banrigh for winning Best in Breed and also, of course, to Elise Cartmell and Rob Horsfield who are his - um - support team. Eukanuba may sponsor Crufts but - not wishing to brag or anything - we feed the winner! V.Holloway/The Kennel Club photograph.

Interested in Staffordshire Bull Terriers? Visit this site...

2011-03-16T23:34:00.009Z

If you are keen on Staffordshire Bull Terriers then you'll find tons and tons of information on the Staffordshire Bull Terrier World site. Just thought I would let you know!

Why not enter the Rescue Remedies photo competition?

2011-03-16T14:11:00.003Z

This is such a silly photo I couldn't resist using it even though its connection to this post's subject matter is exceedingly tenuous (when I googled for an image of a rescue dog this is what came up).

It is my proud boast that so far we haven't had to turn down a single request by a canine charity or welfare organisation looking for a fundraising prize. One such charity is Rescue Remedies - a small, effective, ethical rehoming organisation well deserving of support. At the moment they are running a photo competition and I hope that you will take time to enter.

Rescue Remedies has been rescuing dogs in the Surrey area since 2002 and is currently looking after around 60 or 70 dogs. They do not have a 'centre' but are internet based.This is what they say on their website: We are very small and don't have staff or a call centre, just a few dedicated volunteers processing applications and liaising with families.

You will find tons of information on their website or email enquiries@rescueremedies.co.uk

We're getting ready for Crufts!

2011-03-06T22:51:00.002Z

A quick note to let you know that we will be at Crufts again this year. For me it is a bit like the way my children sometimes count '1,2, skip a few, 99, 100'. I was there several times as a puppy (as it were) in the 1960s and then not again until last year. A lot had changed in the interim. The first time I went was to watch Alison (who brought me up) compete in the obedience class. 1964? I remember it was all - well - black and white. A bit like the photo above. I mean, look at the table and the friendliness of the place. How I wish it was still the same. Innocent. Now, although I love meeting our customers and spreading the word about raw feeding, I consider it pretty close to the seven circles of hell. I am a country boy and hate crowds. I mean, there isn't even anywhere to sit down with a cup of tea. Still, for all my reservations I know I will have a fantastic time. Indeed, my real regret is that the brilliant restaurant we found last year - Matthew's - has closed. The chef was a genius and I only wish I could discover where he has gone to. Anyway, if you are going to be at the NEC in the week ahead please, please come and say hello...

Minnie puts on weight, thanks to Darling's!

2011-03-01T20:06:00.005Z

A really cheery email from Minnie's best friend: 'I have to share something v exciting with you - she has put on 200g in weight since being on Darling's! This is amazing as I've always struggled to get weight on her....it's monumentally exciting! Her coat is also more shiny than before.' So, as you may imagine, we are all feeling pretty pleased this evening! (Rather a stunning looker, isn't she?!).

Thank you card received from a grateful customer (Anne Keane, to be precise)...

2011-02-26T13:44:00.003Z

Eric, Enzo & Rossi - The Spinone Boys

2011-02-25T12:34:00.005Z

Every few weeks we get an email from Eric, Enzo and Rossi aka The Spinone Boys and there are always photos and - well - they always make us laugh - so here are their St. Valentine day shots, which are amongst my favourites...

Nick Thompson and the Healthy Beast 'Small Animal Raw Food Nutrition' Course on the 24th September

2011-02-22T09:48:00.001Z

If you would like to know more about raw feeding then put Saturday 24th September in your diary and get in touch with the organisers Healthy Beast (great name, isn't it? Their number is 01869 349955). The course is being given by Nick Thompson. The letters after Nick's name run on forever - BSc (Hons) Path. Sci., BVM&S, VetMFHom, MRCVS - but we know him as one of the best and most enlightened vets in the country. He is a keen proponent of raw feeding (well, he would be, come to think of it) and a brilliant homeopath, as well. He is one of a handful of vets who we really trust. Not only does he know his stuff, but he is a brilliant speaker, too. I have not come across the organisers before but looking at their website they seem to run an equine facility in Oxfordshire that specialises in looking after horses with health issues and they also make a range of herbal/oil based products for horses and dogs - some medical, some not. They offer quite a few courses and, all in all, it looks pretty impressive. Anyway, I am sure Nick wouldn't be working with them if he didn't think they were good at what they do. The main website for the organisers is Natural Healthcare Services for Animals.

Hurrah for agile Orla

2011-02-21T00:03:00.003Z

I just had to post this photo of Orla the Wonder Agility Dog from St. Albans whose sporting career is closely watched by all in the office because she seems - well - such a cheerful, enthusiastic, willing dog. Penny, who lives with her, has just set up an agility training school in St. Albans and if you are interested in attending let me know and I will fish out details. Meanwhile, good luck to Orla (whose full name is Orla Nothing!).

To everything there is a season

2011-02-20T15:00:00.004Z

The view from my bedroom window at midnight. Note the fact that there are no leaves on the trees. To everything there is a season - and that includes our food. We are artisan producers and we use the ingredients available to us - trying to buy as locally as possible. So, at the moment very little lamb, not much rabbit, a definite shortage of young beef bones and frequent apologies to our customers because we won't buy anything that isn't British. Still, spring is definitely on the way and in a week or two we shouldn't be facing these shortages. Incidentally, we have just appointed a new head butcher and one of his first duties is to re-examine our supply chain. We are concerned that we haven't had time to visit our suppliers recently. We've made some changes and we plan some more so we need to do our homework.

Cool for cats...but not for Darling's

2011-02-19T13:35:00.004Z

Are you feeding your cats on Darling's vegetable free recipe? I'm afraid I have good news and bad news. For some time now we have been aware that we are losing money on these recipes but we haven't had the heart to push the price up. Another problem is that we sell very little of it and it is very time consuming to make. Also, although Darling's customers are all total darlings, some of our feline customer companions seem to hold us responsible if their cat won't eat a particular recipe - even if they have had it before. I don't think it is any secret that cats are notoriously fussy when it comes to their victuals. Anyway, we have decided that we are going to stop making it on a regular basis. That's the bad news. The good news is that existing customers may order the same amount of food that they have ordered from us in the past for four weeks from the day we announce that we are stopping. Also, if any customer decides to go the DIY route we will be happy to recommend books, recipes etc. We are really sorry to be letting down our few vegetable free customers but we will do everything to make sure we look after everyone properly. As soon as we get our dates sorted out we will ring and write to everyone likely to be affected.

Them bones, them bones, them raw bones...

2011-02-14T18:35:00.006Z

This wonderful photo has been sent to us by one of our customers and shows some adorable wheaten puppies being introduced to raw bones by their mother. It seems a good excuse to pass on various bits of bone information from Tom, our Chief Veterinary Surgeon.

One of the things we sometimes hear from new customers is that they have tried their dogs on raw bones before and either the bones have been regurgitated or else the dog has had Diarrhoea. There are various reasons for this. It may be that the dog has been on a sterile diet for so long that their enzymes for digesting bones have, to quote Tom, 'switched off'. If this is the case it can take anything for a few days to a few weeks for them to be restarted. Another possibility is the type of bone. Lamb bones are more likely to cause vomiting and/or Diarrhoea due to the high fat content of the marrow. Dogs are no different to humans in that what suits one digestive system, doesn't suit another. There are dogs, for instance, that have trouble digesting pork or duck bones.

For this reason Tom normally suggests that if your dog is new to raw bones you may like to start with chicken wings followed, after a few days, by chicken legs and then - providing everything is proceeding smoothly - a meaty beef bone. Why meaty? Tom points out that: "Bone with no meat is not good as dogs just dig into the bone to get the marrow and can either break teeth if the bone is very strong and they are pig headedly determined to get through it or they can end up with lots of splintered bone (more common with lamb bone) which they just chuck back up rather than have it going through their sensitive intestine (rather clever in my opinion)."

On an ongoing basis chicken, beef, lamb or pork bones should all be fine for your dogs but do remember that bones must be a) raw, b) from young animals or birds so that they are soft and c) an appropriate size. What size is appropriate? They must be large enough that the dog can't crack them and/or gulp them down too easily. The one exception to this rule is chicken bones because if from young chickens they are soft to begin with.

It is perhaps worth pointing out at this juncture that we grind raw, meaty bones into our food so that your dogs gets the right nutritional balance. However, they still need bones to keep their teeth and gums clean.

Hurrah. The new Darling's raw food kitchens are open.

2011-02-08T17:35:00.002Z

This week we published our first newsletter (it has only taken a year) and on the front page Vicky announces some really exciting news. Rather than re-write it I am just going to copy and paste what she said (lazy of me, I know, but efficient):

"Exciting news from Darling’s GHQ – our brand new kitchen is finally finished. Last week we held a brief opening ceremony and this week we have been working out, with the help of some very thick manuals (hopefully too many books won’t spoil the broth), how to use all our new toys. We wouldn’t need the kitchen, of course, if Darling’s wasn’t doing so well. This seems, therefore, an ideal opportunity to thank you for your support. I don’t want to come over all gushy on you, but we are incredibly grateful for your business.

The whole new kitchen thing has been a bit of a saga. To begin with none of us had ever bought commercial kitchen equipment before (think normal kitchen equipment on steroids… our new food processor is the size of a small skip) so we had rather a lot to learn on that front. The actual premises weren’t a problem as a local farmer offered us a suitable building, but fitting it out took much more time than we expected. Then, when the equipment arrived the driver had an accident unloading it. Two of the most expensive items literally fell off the back of the lorry and had to go back to be repaired. Just before Christmas some of our pipes burst and just after Christmas our freezers broke down. In mid-January the electrical circuit board exploded… but you get the picture.

I am not saying that we don’t still expect teething problems but hopefully we are over the worst. Early customers may remember that when we launched, just over a year ago, we made all the food in my own kitchen. When my family finally said ‘enough is enough’ we used a butcher’s shop some 20 miles away. Our new kitchen is a mile up the road from my home and I can walk to work.

I use the word ‘work’, but it isn’t really. We started Darling’s by accident after Jonathan (my co-founder) got fed up with making food for his own and his foster dogs and thought that if he went into the business himself he could get out of the chore. ‘That,’ as one of his five children pointed out the other day, ‘will learn him’. Three of his children, by the way, help in the business, as does my husband, my best friend, my best friend’s husband, my daughter’s best friend’s Mum… I could go on. The fact is it is a little dangerous to be related to either Jonathan or myself and even to be related to our friends!"

Need dog walking, day care, photography, fetching or training in Hertfordshire? Try 4 paws, 2 feet...

2011-02-03T13:35:00.005Z

I've never met Lucy Proctor who runs 4 paws, 2 feet - a dog walking, day care, photography, fetching and training service based in Hertfordshire (it covers Redbourn, Harpenden and St. Albans) but you only have to look at her website (all Lucy's own work!) to get a feel for what she is like and what she believes in.

It isn't just that she is a strong proponent of raw feeding and a huge supporter of Darling's (not that these don't count for a great deal in my eyes) she is obviously passionate about what she does. There are photos (with witty captions) of all the dogs she walks and looks after. There is a lot about Pooh (real name Winnie...the rescue cocker spaniel in the photo above). And there's quite a bit about her interest in behaviour, training and canine welfare. (She knows her onions, by the way, before she set up on her own she was team leader at a well-established training centre).

What else can I tell you? Oh, yes. She is especially interested in re-training and helping adult dogs with what I suppose we might call 'issues'. And she is organising group walks, which seem to be a big success.

Anyway, if you live in her area and you need someone I do hope you will give her a try. Her number, by the way, is 07976 067 298 and the website is www.4paws2feet.co.uk.

Daisy, demodectic mange, Ivermectin, keeping an open mind and the problem of vets who don't support raw feeding

2011-02-01T21:31:00.008Z

Last Saturday afternoon I received a call from one of colleagues worried about one of the dogs we feed - Daisy. On Friday night she has been indescribably ill (throwing up, diarrhea, drooling, sort of half collapsing, lack of appetite) and, as you can imagine, her owners rushed her into the vet who gave her a shot of something unknown and also put her on a course of antibiotics. The vet was horrified that Daisy was being fed raw and said that undoubtedly this was the cause of the problem. The owners had got straight onto us Saturday morning and we had got onto Tom, Darling's Chief Veterinary Surgeon, on holiday as it happens, but naughtily checking his email anyway because that is the sort of chap he is. Tom had made some suggestions, I will come on to those in a moment, but my colleague didn't feel experienced enough to talk them through with the customer, would I do it? One of the principles we hold dear at Darling's GHQ is that if we don't know something, we admit it. So I looked up Daisy's medical history, had another chat with Tom, and rang our customer. (Stick with me on this, I will get to the point eventually.)

The first thing I said was that we are, naturally, terrified by the thought that there might be something wrong with our food. If they could put some of Daisy's - look, I won't beat about the bush, I used the word poo - into the vet for analysis we would pay for the tests. Daisy was, in fact, better and they had been feeding her Pedigree Chum every four hours on the vet's advice, so that was out. I explained that it was, in fact, unlikely to be the food because she had been eating the same batch for two weeks, we had had no calls from other customers and the symptoms seemed to differ from ordinary gastroenteritis. The customer wondered if Daisy might have built up an intolerance to our food over time. I called Tom again to discuss this possibility. We both agreed that it seemed unlikely but not impossible.

What of Tom's suggestions? Well, Daisy has been suffering from something called Demodectic Mange for months and none of the topical treatments had worked so her vet had put her on something called Ivermectin. Demodectic Mange is often a symptom of a compromised immune system so Tom felt that it would be better if her food was cooked, at least for a while. As you may imagine he was rather against the Pedigree Chum diet the other vet had prescribed. Tom also recommend probiotics and FOS (fructo-oligo-saccharides...but you knew that) to counter the effect of the antibiotics and thought a short course of multi-vitamins might help, too. Most importantly, he was concerned that the Ivermectin could have affected Daisy's liver. This might account for the falling around, dazed symptoms. Interestingly, the FDA in the US do not approve of Ivermectin being used for mange because the dose is so high. This is what it says on suite101.com about it:

Ivermectin is used in higher dosages to treat both demodectic and sarcoptic mange in dogs. Ivermectin used in these dosages is considered to be an off-label use of ivermectin as the drug is not approved by the FDA when used at these dosages. Off-label usage is common and Ivermectin is frequently used by veterinarians to treat mange in dogs but dog owners should be aware that the dosages are much different than those dosages used for monthly heartworm prevention.

The same site lists the symptoms that dogs can experience as:

depression
lethargy
vomiting
diarrhea
lack of appetite
incoordination
seizures
excessive salivation

It doesn't follow that this was definitely Daisy's problem - but it had to be worth investigating.

The customer was now facing a dilemma. On one hand she believed in raw feeding even though she had only been trying it for two weeks, and she could also see the sense in what we were saying. On the other hand her vet was telling her that we were wrong and that raw feeding is dangerous. Also, she really wanted to end Daisy's suffering with the mange and the vet was promising that the Ivermectin would achieve this. I was also facing a dilemma. I didn't want the customer to feel under pressure. Although we provide dietary advice and always consult with Tom if a dog has any health issues we rarely get to meet the dog so there is a limit to what we can offer. If I was responsible for Daisy I would have chucked the Ivermectin and consulted a homeopathic vet to discuss other options. But I couldn't say that to my customer. She had to make the decision.

In the end she decided that she wouldn't feed any processed food to Daisy but would use fresh ingredients and cook them for her. And that she would stick with the Ivermectin. This may well be the right decision because Daisy does seem a lot better and that would suggest she isn't suffering from side effects but that it was due to something she ate. (I should have mentioned Daisy ate some non-Darling's raw food last week, too). We are sending the customer a cheque to cover the cost of the Darling's food in her freezer and we have asked her to donate it to a good cause. I didn't feel we really had to do this but my concern is always to make sure - if at all possible - that customers retain a good impression of us. There isn't really a moral to this tale except that it does highlight what we raw feeders are up against with vets who don't really understand what we are talking about and don't keep an open mind. Also, I hope it give you an idea of how involved we are with the health of all the dogs we feed.

Please support Wetnose Animal Aid

2011-01-29T23:33:00.003Z

One of our customers has just brought a really good charity to my attention: Wetnose Animal Aid. They raise money for smaller and less well known rescue centres both in the UK and overseas and they are supported by, amongst others, Joanna Lumley, Annette Crosbie and Barbara Windsor. They have set up special awards and also a petition to persuade one of the TV stations to launch a Wet Nose Day (you know, like Red Nose Day). The latter is obviously A Very Good Idea and I've signed it and I hope you'll sign it, too. The link is: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/animals-in-need-tv-fundraising-event/

Orla is a star!

2010-09-06T11:08:00.003+01:00

This is a shot of Orla who has just moved from Grade 3 (where she pretty much swept the board everywhere she went) to Grade 4. She has, as you can see, star quality and - naturally - she wouldn't be on my blog if she wasn't one of our very satisfied Darlings.

Look how well Pop is doing on Darling's!

2010-08-30T12:01:00.008+01:00

This gorgeous puppy, Pop, has been growing in leaps and bounds thanks - I like to think - to Darling's. Please, please remember that we LOVE to receive regular photographs of all the dogs we feed as we make everything to order and it is so nice in the kitchen to be able to see who are food is going to. Thank you, too, to Nigel for sending me these shots of Pop.

Rocco enjoying a Darling's bone

2010-08-25T19:52:00.001+01:00

Taurine issues for cats

2010-08-24T11:50:00.003+01:00

A growing number of our customers are using the Darling's vegetable-free dog food to feed their cats.

This makes sense because it is pretty much the purrrfect (sorry, I can never resist a pun) recipe and although we aren't actually promoting it we have set up a special page for it at Darling's Real Cat Food.

One issue that is coming up a lot is that of taurine levels. Is there enough taurine in our food? And - just as importantly - will it survive freezing?

The second question is easily answered. We have done an analysis of our food and the taurine levels after freezing for a month come in at:

Lamb 1260 mg/kg
Beef 638 mg/kg
Rabbit 376 mg/kg

Which is pretty reassuring.

Logic would say that this should be sufficient. Our food replicates what cats would eat if they lived in the wild - that is to say a raw food diet of meat, offal and bone. This was what they thrived on for the six or seven million years before processed cat food was invented and it is reasonable to assume that it contains sufficient taurine.

Anyway, the whole taurine issue only arose after it became clear that modern, processed cat food was short of the stuff and that it is vital to feline health. No one really knows, however, exactly how much taurine cats should be absorbing. The levels set by the various pet food manufacturers strike me as incredibly arbitrary.

I mean, a cat living on a mouse diet would only be getting 240mg of taurine per kilo. Rather less than a cat being fed on Darling's.

This, in turn, leads to the concern that cats could be overdosing on taurine. There is no research on this that I am aware of. Tom, our Chief Veterinary Surgeon, is having a think about this whole issue. In the meantime, our food is 100% natural and an analysis shows it has plenty of taurine in it. Therefore, we don't believe that this is an issue for cats eating Darling's. Moreover, we do not recommend adding taurine unless there is a clear reason to do so. Nature, we feel, knows best.

Halloween Dog Walk for a good cause

2010-08-07T11:23:00.003+01:00

A nice email just arrived from Heather Armstrong who helps to run the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust (although it should really be the Gambia Horse, Donkey & Dog Trust as they look after a lot of dogs, too) saying that they hope to organise a national dog walk in aid of the charity on 31st October. She is looking for volunteers to help set up local walks and has designed some posters to help publicise each local event. Visit the Trust's website or email Heather (heather@gambiahorseanddonkey.org.uk) for more information.

Aaaaaaahhhhhhh! Hurrah for Bucket Boy

2010-08-06T13:38:00.003+01:00

A hamper of Darling's Real Dog Food is about to wing its way to this adorable puppy - Miguel - winner of the photo competition organised by Bull Breeds Online - a news forum for lovers of all the different Bull breeds. Miguel lives with the Taylors and - so far as I can tell - about a thousand other Staffords.

A remedy of homeopathic vets...

2010-07-01T07:41:00.014+01:00

As we drove back from the Quantock Hills in Somerset last Sunday night Vicky and I agreed it was the only time in our lives that we had ever been to a conference where we felt we really had to send a personal 'thank you for having us' note to the organisers. Attending the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons' (BAHVS) annual get together was like being invited to a family reunion. And a happy family at that. Even when delegates disagreed with each other during a session - and it didn't seem to occur very often - not a word was spoken in anger.

I am not quite sure what the collective noun for homeopathic vets should be. A remedy of homeopathic vets sounds good. A commune? A cure? A nest? A tincture? At any rate, they are an impressive bunch because homeopathy, unlike conventional medicine, has a strong psychological element built into it. The practitioner places great emphasis not just on the symptoms but also on the personality of the patient. This seems to attract professionals who are especially open-minded and inquiring. I can't remember when I last spent a weekend with such an interesting, lively and warm-hearted group of people.

As I follow a 'there are more things in heaven and earth...than are dreamt of in your philosophy' approach to life I have never had any trouble believing in homeopathy. The core concept, that it is possible to alleviate and cure symptoms by using a tiny quantity of the correct substance (a sort of 'hair of the dog that bit you' approach) seems perfectly logical to me. In life it is often the tiniest change or adjustment in something that brings the greatest results. Why should this not be true of our mental and physical health?

Although I may be open to homeopathy there are plenty of people who aren't. Several friends became quite worked up when I told them how I was spending last weekend and I had to endure quite a bit of 'it is all unproven and not based on science' ranting. I don't really know enough to counter these arguments effectively - but over the next few months I intend to learn more. I do have some of the answers, though. One of the charges against homeopathy is that it is really a placebo and that patients imagine themselves better. This line rather falls down when one considers homeopathic treatment of animals. (Unless one believes in animal communication, of course, which I do, but which anti-homeopaths most certainly don't.) No, to my mind successful homeopathic treatment of animals has to be accepted as evidence that there is something in this branch of medicine.

The idea that it is unscientific doesn't bear close scrutiny, either. It is ridiculous to imagine that the highly qualified vets at last weekend's event have thrown logic out of the window. For one thing, they spent most of the conference discussing research, trials, reference sources and - to my mind of greatest interest - case histories. Also, homeopathy's critics tend to be against it on principle: 'This shouldn't work, so it can't.' There are plenty of people who have experienced positive results from homeopathy - and I am amongst them - who believe otherwise.

One final thought. I am rather against conspiracy theories but it has to be said that the pharmaceutical industry does not like competition. For decades it has been attacking any form of medicine that doesn't require vast expenditure on the part of the patient. In particular, the industry has lobbied the EU and other major governments to restrict the practice of medicinal herbalism and homeopathy. The fact that both these branches of medicine offer inexpensive and effective treatment options must play a role in this. At Darling's we are currently experiencing low level harassment which we know must originate with a large pet food manufacturer (we know because the nature of the harassment is such that only someone within the industry could be behind it). So, I don't find it at all hard to believe that the pharmaceutical industry are out to get homeopathy. Part of this campaign is - undoubtedly - the spreading of misinformation. In a nutshell, one can't believe everything one hears or reads but should take the time to look at the facts.

Maisie and Blondie are absolute winners!

2010-06-18T15:18:00.002+01:00

Well, I know I am hopelessly biased towards Pointers but even so at nine months Maisie (proper name Jilony Heaven Can Wait For Fyldefair) is shaping up to be a national champion. She has already qualified for Crufts 2011 and last weekend scooped another prize - this time Best Puppy in Show at Bowood House Dog Show. Heartiest congratulations to Maisie who, as part of her prize, won a hamper of Darling's. Hopefully she will share her prize with her sister (well, not literally, but I am not sure what else to call her), Blondie, who won second place in the AV Gundog class. Let me just say, by the way, that the classes at Bowood House were all on the giant size this year, reflecting the huge popularity of this annual, fund raising event. If you want to see more photos of Maisie, and who wouldn't, then visit the Fyldefair website.

The most beautiful Irish Water Spaniels in the world?

2010-06-12T10:17:00.003+01:00

Could there be six more beautiful Irish Water Spaniel puppies in the whole world? Born to Liberty - a Darling's diner, naturally - around five weeks ago. From left to right they are Pink girl, Red girl, Turquoise boy, Blue boy (sitting in the front), Lilac girl and Green boy. Or, Pinky, Reddy etc. This is according to their collar colour, not that you can see their collars now their hair is getting so long. Anyway, heartiest congratulations to Liberty!

A story in four pictures...thank you Molly!

2010-06-08T16:02:00.008+01:00

Please read this important message about bloat.

2010-06-07T03:22:00.005+01:00

I've just received an email from Gill Arney who has started a much-needed campaign to increase awareness of bloat which is, apparently, the second leading killer of dogs after cancer. She has created a facebook page and also a free poster that you can download from Baloo.co.uk or send away for (info@safedog.co.uk)

Bloat is a very serious, potentially fatal problem and I wrote about it at considerable length on 15th February 2010 if you care to look at my archived posts. How do you know if your dog has it? Here are the things to look for:

Your dog retches from the throat but nothing is produced other than small amounts of frothy mucus
Your dog tries to defaecate unsuccessfully
Your dog adopts the 'Sphinx' position
Your dog's tummy goes hard and/or swells up like a balloon and is as taut as drumskin
Trying to bite, or worry, the abdomen
Your dog is very unsettled

CONTACT YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY. Bloat is a true emergency - be prepared to drive to the surgery straightaway. The chance of survival decreases alarmingly if you delay getting the dog to the surgery more than 60-90 minutes after the first signs.

What causes bloat? Bloat in dogs is likely caused by a multitude of factors, but in all cases the immediate prerequisite is a dysfunction of the sphinctyer between the esophagus and stomach and an obstruction of outflow through the pylorus. Some of the more widely acknowledged factors for developing bloat include increased age, breed, having a deep and narrow chest, stress, eating foods such as kibble that expand in the stomach, overfeeding, too much water consumption in a small period of time; before or after exercise and other causes of gastrointestinal disease and distress. Studies have indicated that the risk of bloat in dogs perceived as happy by their owners is decreased, and increased in dogs perceived as fearful.

SOS Dog Walk. 24th July. Hampstead Heath.

2010-06-06T02:52:00.003+01:00

If you live in the London area then why not join the SOS Animals Sponsored Walk on Saturday 24th July? I have blogged about SOS Animals before so I won't repeat myself. They do fantastic work rescuing abandoned dogs in Spain and elsewhere. What I especially like about them is the fact that the organisation is run by volunteers and operates on a shoestring budget. That means that every penny you can help them raise goes to help the needy animals and not on administration or marketing. The walk itself will be 8 miles and I am sure it will be a lot of fun. The minimum sum you have to raise to participate is £15. Contact details on their website or call 07939 025485

Raw food and fertility...

2010-06-05T13:58:00.004+01:00

When Dr. Francis Pottenger conducted his famous experiments with cats (he fed, roughly, 450 on a raw food diet and 450 on a cooked food diet using the same ingredients) he found that after three generations the cats on the cooked food diet became infertile. We don't know if the same holds true for dogs and cooked food BUT we given that fertility is a growing problem we can guess that it might be so. (Incidentally, processed cat food now has various additives put into it to counter the effect of the cooking, which is why the domestic cat hasn't become extinct in the last 50 years). So, how can a raw food diet aid fertility? The first thing to remember is that it takes two to tango. Dogs are just as likely to suffer from fertility issues as bitches if fed on processed food. Basically most manufactured dog food offers a narrow spectrum of nutrients, damaged fats and proteins, high chemical and grain levels, high levels of artificial calcium, salt and sugar mixed with low levels of natural anti-oxidants, enzymes, available micro nutrients and phytochemicals and…but you get the idea. One of the effects of feeding processed food to several generations of dog, according to Dr. Ian Billinghurst in his book Grow Your Pups With Bones is substantially reduced fertility. He points out that: ‘the best way to certain of low to non-existent fertility…is to feed a dry food starting from when they are puppies.’ Billinghurst then goes on to explain why the different elements (essential fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin C, anti-oxidants and so forth) in a raw food diet boost fertility. For males he lays great stress on the need for zinc, which occurs naturally in lamb, beef, chicken, eggs, and carrots as well as methionine (found in eggs), magnesium (found in green vegetables), manganese (again found in green vegetables), selenium (again found in eggs) and other important nutrients. Billinghurst feels that it is always better for dogs to obtain all these nutrients from their food and warns against overdosing with supplements. Where supplements may be required it is vital to get professional advice as it is possible to overdose a dog on ingredients such as zinc. If you have a fertility issue with your dog we would be pleased to offer advice.

Extreme raw food...

2010-05-31T04:25:00.002+01:00

I make no apologies for posting this photo. I am not sure whether the hand (and the roll it is holding) belong to a giant or this is a very, very small puppy BUT either way I defy you not to smile at the expression on the dog's face.

For dog's sake we must stop cutting down trees

2010-05-18T22:19:00.003+01:00

I know. It is very silly. Sent to me by my gorgeous friend, Helen, in NY. Thank you, Helen.

The ultimate dog lover's holiday

2010-05-13T12:00:00.006+01:00

Rather like Jerome K Jerome, I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. One result of this is that I never take a proper holiday. A few days here, a few days there, but never more than 48 hours without some work by my side. This does not stop me, however, from planning trips of every conceivable length and nature. At the moment I am obsessed with the idea of signing up for one of the dog training holidays organised by Philippa Williams' Dogs for Life. Phillipa has been running these events for over 16 years and she seems to have hit on a perfect formula: really fantastic, rural locations...plenty of space...positively luxurious accommodation...delicious food...and days packed with dog training and dog walks. Let me give you a couple of examples. In June she has organised two six day gundog training holidays on the Novar Estate in Scotland. There's one for novices and one for advanced. In July there is an Activity Week including Agility training to be held at Riverdale Hall Hotel in Northumberland. The prices are jolly reasonable, too. If you spend £20 joining Dogs for Life then a whole week starts at £570 and even the most expensive 6 day break for everything (en suite bedroom, three meals a day, all training but not drinks) is only £850. Speaking of training Philippa has demonstrated at Crufts for the last six years. Need I say more? Of course, I may be convinced but I still have to talk on of my so-called working dogs into it. Honey? Darling?

Are some genetic problems caused by food?

2010-05-11T23:59:00.004+01:00

Much has been said in the media and elsewhere about how over breeding has caused all sorts of genetic health conditions in dogs. While this is true, it masks something equally disturbing. The majority of dog owners in the developed world have been feeding their dogs processed food for decades. Processed food has two potential drawbacks. Firstly, it can be seriously deficient in the ingredients dogs need to maintain good health. Secondly, it can contain ingredients that actually damage a dog’s health. When experts describe a health issue as being ‘genetic’ they may be overlooking something more obvious: the effect of feeding processed food to generation upon generation of dogs. A good example of this is skeletal disease. Almost unheard of before processed food, bone disease is now widespread in the west. For dogs to have healthy bones they need the calcium and other vital bone-building nutrients that are only found in raw bones. Each generation that doesn’t receive these vital bone-building nutrients is weaker than the last. Modern solutions to bone disease – involving various treatments as well as culling and selective breeding - are never going to solve the problem. What has to happen is a re-building of healthy ‘stock’ by means of the correct diet.

Well, that's what I think.

Gambian Dog Rescue!

2010-05-11T23:51:00.004+01:00

More Gambian news. I have just been sent this great shot of the 'guard dogs' at the Gambian Horse and Donkey Trust. Apparently, it isn't just an equine charity, after all! The team who run it have taken in various waifs and strays...

Transform a horse's life for just £20

2010-05-09T00:20:00.005+01:00

If anyone contacts us to ask for a free draw or raffle prize we almost always say 'yes' because although giving away a hamper of food costs us between £50 and £75 in real terms, it is easier to justify than cash and will - hopefully - help to raise an even larger sum. So far this year I think we have given away about 20 such hampers - all to deserving canine causes. With one exception. We've just agreed to donate one to something called the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust. As its name suggests this small but highly effective charity was: 'established to reduce rural poverty in Gambia by increasing productivity of working horses and donkeys through animal welfare and management education.' Gambia is, of course, one of the smallest and poorest countries in Africa.

The horse and donkey population has never been accurately measured, but the best estimate is 25,000 to 40,000. It won't surprise you to learn that they suffer appalling treatment and conditions, by and large because their carers have never been trained in equine management. Although, having said this, it must also be pointed out that there is a terrible shortage of food (leading to malnutrition and disease) and equipment.

The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust has been making steady progress in its fight to improve the lives of these unfortunate creatures. One of the things I like about the charity is that it can do so much with so little. I've just sponsored two horses for a whole year. Not as generous as it sounds, I am afraid. The cost? Just £20 each.

I know money is too tight to mention at the moment, but if you can spare anything at all I am sure that the Trust will make good use of it.

Hurrah. We have a winner.

2010-05-08T23:16:00.004+01:00

I am thrilled to announce, somewhat belatedly (ahem, least said about this the better), the winner of our Crufts Free Prize Draw. Nel, a three year old smooth coated border collie, has won free Darling's dog food for a whole year. She lives, by the way, with Nikki Goddard who runs the Whiskers and Wet Noses Canine Beauticians in Bridgwater (07812 840288). We are all rather keen on Whiskers and Wet Noses because they only use environmentally friendly, organic, herbal preparations something which cannot be said of many similar businesses. Nikki, by the way, rescued Nel at seven months and has always fed her a raw diet. As you can see Nel is keen on agility training and we are delighted to be feeding such a talented dog.

Congratulations to Malindi (Super Mum)!

2010-05-08T00:35:00.002+01:00

Sigh. Malindi (who we feed) has just had four totally adorable puppies and I couldn't resist posting the photograph. This very happy Bernese Mountain Dog family live with Sue Small. Sue has never bred before but judging by the very cheery email I just received she is more than qualified for it. She has, after all, done the Canine Behaviour and Training course at Moreton Morrell Agricultural College and also runs a boarding and walking service. Sue first fell in love with Bernese Mountain Dogs when her Dad took her to a dog show in...well, I won't say when but she was terrifically young...only for various reasons (she kept taking in rescue dogs I suspect) it was 37 years before she realised her dream of owning one. What a dog, though! Malindi has already done incredibly well at Crufts and now these little angels come along. Anyway, heartiest congratulations from all of us at Darling's...

Cavalier Matters

2010-05-05T15:07:00.002+01:00

Thanks to the BBC documentary ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’ there has been some (but by no means enough) publicity about the way in which breeders have caused countless dogs to suffer from genetic diseases and conditions that could easily have been avoided.

The problem is the ruthless desire to create dogs that look a certain way for showing with no thought for the consequences or, for that matter, the ‘rejects’. Obsessive breeders thought nothing of culling dogs that did not meet their desired look nor of using mother-to-son, father-to-daughter and brother-to-sister matings to achieve their ends.

Thankfully, as a direct result of the programme, which was produced by Jemima Harrison, things are starting to change. Nevertheless, it is going to take decades of responsible breeding and vigorous health screening to solve the problem.

In the meantime, caring owners are working to make life better for the poor dogs caught up in this dreadful situation. One such person is Tania Ledger who has created a fantastic site for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel lovers.

Cavalier Matters describes itself as offering ‘simple advice for potential and existing owners…including hereditary health issues’. Tragically, although there are plenty of general tips, lots of delightful photographs and some amusing cartoons, the bulk of the site focuses – one way or another – on hereditary health issues. So, while it manages to celebrate this adorable breed it does make for rather chilling reading.

The core problem the dogs face is called Syringomyelia (SM)/ Chiara Malformation (CM). If a dog is described as ‘CM’ it means that its brain is too large for its skull. If a dog is described as ‘SM’ it means that a genetic defect in its skull is destroying its spinal cord. There is no cure for either condition, both of which can be exceedingly painful for the dog. When I tell you that the site recommends allowing £1000 a year for vet bills you will get an idea of how serious these conditions are.

There are several other serious hereditary health issues, too, including: Mitral Valve Disease, Idiopathic Asymptomatic Thrombocytopenia (a blood clotting disorder), Eposodic Falling Syndrome (a type of seizure), Chronic Pancreatitis, Hip Dysplasia, Luxating Patella (knee joint problems), hallucinations, deafness and various eye, skin and coat disorders.

Each of these conditions causes the dogs to suffer and what is so frustrating about it is THE SUFFERING IS UNNECESSARY. If breeders would follow basic, proven protocol the problems could be solved.

Anyway, I strongly recommend a visit to Cavalier Matters if only to look at the first cartoon which shows someone rushing up to a scaffold and saying: ‘Great news your majesty. The Kennel Club is thinking of naming a spaniel after you.’ It is both sad and infuriating that this gorgeous breed should suffer as much as the man it is named for.

Four absolute Darling's

2010-04-16T20:21:00.003+01:00

The black eared one is RJ (after her mum Ruby Junior), the little Brindle one Little Em but in her new home she will be called Hettie, the white one with the dot in her ear is Dottie at the moment but will soon be Phoebe and the other white one is Crystal. They were bred by Jane Foster and they are PROUDLY fed by Darling's. Sigh. Aren't they beautiful?

Raw Dolphins!!!!

2010-04-14T16:46:00.009+01:00

I don't really take holidays. Some days I work 18 hours, other days one hour (recently it has been more the former than the latter) and as I love the different things I do this suits me well. But - or rather BUT - if I was going to take a holiday I think I might be jolly tempted to sign up for a Raw Dolphins holiday. Raw Dolphins? Well, yes. Run by a darling Darling customer called Yemaya (who is also a pal of a pal) they offer an opportunity to swim with dolphins in locations that look (to my jaded northern European eyes) pretty close to paradise. Think gorgeous, empty, sunny, sandy beaches. It is also possible to take a yoga class every day on the beach. Yemaya is a huge proponent of raw food and eats an entirely raw vegan diet. Having tried this myself I can vouch for just how great one feels not eating meat and not eating anything cooked. Anyway, the 'raw' bit of Raw Dolphins refers to the food on offer. Whether you treat the holiday as an opportunity to detox or whether you end up changing to a raw diet on a permanent basis if my experience is anything to go by you won't regret it. Hey ho. Marianne and I are just back from four days on Culebra which, as you know, but I didn't, is off Puerto Rica (I relied on the pilots to find it for us...and they did) and so I am rather overflowing with enthusiasm for exactly the sort of place that Raw Dolphins will take you. Also, I note from their website that they do food demonstrations as part of the holiday. As I say, if holidays were my style I'd be booking now. Yemaya can be reached on 07884 438758 or email rawdolphins@live.com

This always makes me laugh, too!

2010-04-14T16:26:00.003+01:00

This advertisement reputedly appeared in the Atlanta Journal. Maybe it did. Maybe it didn't!

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me... Call (404) 875-6420 and ask for Annie, I'll be waiting.....

Callers supposedly found themselves connected to the Atlanta Humane Society who were looking to re-home a black Labrador. I would love to think the story is true!

This always makes me laugh...

2010-04-04T02:34:00.001+01:00

My colleague Ruth just sent me this photograph and although I have seen it half a dozen times IT always makes me laugh. HAPPY EASTER!

Why we were over the moon when Banrigh won at Crufts...

2010-04-02T14:44:00.003+01:00

Vicky, Ruth and I were THRILLED when Banrigh (or Ch Drawing Down the Moon to Cusidh) won 1st Open Bitch, Bitch Championship Certificate and Best of Breed at Crufts this year. Why? Because Banrigh is one of our canine customers. It happened by accident, really. My wife, Marianne, and I both have a bad Internet habit. She spends hours online looking at sites with names like HorseDeals.com and I spend hours online looking at dogs. I have a huge yearning for a hound (actually, I have a huge yearning for almost any dog you care to mention) and several months ago I had become obsessed with Scottish Deerhounds, as one does. More by accident than design I came across a site (www.scottish-deerhound.com) devoted to the breed run by Elise and Rob Horsfield. So taken was I by the site that I wrote and offered them a sample box of Darling's for no other reason than...well...I could. Anyway, one thing led to another and the Horsfields have become much valued customers. So, as I say, their win thrilled us.

If you don't know anything about Scottish Deerhounds they repay study. This is what it says on Wikipedia about them: "The Scottish Deerhound is believed by some to have existed back to a time before recorded history. Its antecedents may have been kept by the Scots and Picts, and would have been used to help in providing part of their dietary requirements, namely from hoofed game (archaeological evidence supports this in the form of Roman pottery from around 1st Century AD found in Argyll which depicts the deerhunt using large rough hounds (these can be viewed at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh). Other evidence can be found on standing stones from around the 7th century AD reflecting a hunt using hounds, such as the Hilton of Cadboll Stone. In outward appearance, the Scottish Deerhound is similar to the Greyhound, but larger and more heavily boned. However Deerhounds have a number of characteristics that set them apart. While not as fast as a Greyhound on a smooth, firm surface, once the going gets rough or heavy they can out run a Greyhound. The environment in which they worked, the cool, often wet, and hilly Scottish Highland Glens, contributed to the larger, rough-coated appearance of the breed. The Deerhound is closely related to the Irish Wolfhound and was the main contributor to the recovery of that breed when it was re-created at the end of the 19th century."

Heartiest congratulations to the Horsfields and to Banrigh, too, of course.

The use of drugs to control aggression in dogs

2010-03-23T16:50:00.005Z

One of the most interesting conversations I had at Crufts was with a behaviourist with a canine customer (patient?) on medication to control aggressive behaviour. She spoke airily of the Amino Acid Manipulation Diet as if everyone knew what that was. I didn’t and so the first thing I did that night was look it up online. Nothing. Not a sausage. I wrote to our vet, Tom, about it and in a moment I will explain what he said.

Dog on Prozac

First, an interesting study relating to behaviour and drugs that I found in a site dedicated to English Springer Spaniels. In it the author explains that Ilana Riesner DVM, formerly of Cornell University (NY), did quite a bit of research into aggressive dogs and discovered that many of the dogs studied by Dr. Reisner had abnormally low amounts of serotonin metabolites in their urine and cerebral spinal fluid. This suggested that the dominance aggression was associated with abnormally low levels of serotonin in the brain which corresponded with findings in violent mental patients and prison inmates!

Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters or brain chemicals that has a calming effect. In most mammals, it seems to decrease the amount of aggression associated with dominance. While it doesn’t necessarily change the social status of an animal, higher serotonin levels decrease the likelihood aggressive displays will be used to maintain that social position. Based on these findings, Dr. Riesner used drugs that increase serotonin levels to treat dominance aggression in dogs. We’re talking here of drugs such as Prozac!

Anyway, about 50% of the dominant aggressive dogs respond to these drugs, with a decrease in aggressive displays. The drugs don’t solve the problem, but they made it safer and easier for owners to use behaviour modification techniques to change the dog’s social status in the home. This indicates that dominance aggression may, at least in some individuals, result from a brain abnormality on the chemical level.

So what about the Amino Acid Manipulation Diet?

So, where does this diet come in? Here are the key points Tom made:

“It is believed that some behavioural problems in dogs are due to genetics that lead to low serotonin levels. However, these may well be 'normal' dogs who are getting the wrong diet which is inadequate in serotonin's precursor tryptophan, due to cooking.”

“The highest sources of tryptophan are what dogs eat in the wild red meat, eggs, chicken &c”.

“If you want more serotonin and a calmer dog feed a raw meat diet - you couldn't get a better Amino Acid Manipulation Diet except that there is no manipulation.”

I am still not 100% sure

I am still not quite sure what the Amino Acid Manipulation Diet actually is. Does it only mean a change of diet? Or is it achieved by using processed foods? All help gratefully received. In the meantime I have to say that I do think drugging dogs with behaviour issues is madness when there may well be a much more natural and effective solution viz. a raw food diet. There has been quite a bit written on the connection between raw food and better behaviour and I will return to it again in the future.

From wolf to wealth

2010-03-23T16:06:00.007Z

How old is the dog? Where do they come from? The latest evidence, reported in the NY Times last week in an article entitled New Finding Puts Origins of Dogs in Middle East, suggests that the dog became domesticated at the same time human settlement occurred, some 15,000 years ago, and that it took place not in Asia (as previously claimed) but in the Middle East. The theory is the result of a massive new DNA testing programme undertaken by Bridgett M. vonHoldt and Dr. Robert Wayne of the University of California. Dr. Wayne believes that wolves began following hunter-gatherer bands to feed on the wounded prey, carcasses or other refuse. At some stage a group of wolves, who happened to be smaller and less threatening than most, developed a dependency on human groups, and may in return have provided a warning system. Supporting this theory Dr. Carlos Driscoll of the National Cancer Institute (what they have to do with dogs is a bit of a mystery) suggested that dogs could have been the sentries that let hunter gatherers settle without fear of surprise attack. They may also have been the first major item of inherited wealth, preceding cattle, and so could have laid the foundations for the gradations of wealth and social hierarchy that differentiated settled groups from the egalitarianism of their hunter-gatherer predecessors. 'Notions of inheritance and ownership,' Dr. Driscoll said, 'may have been prompted by the first dogs to permeate human society, laying an unexpected track from wolf to wealth.'

Great source of dog walks and information...

2010-03-23T14:54:00.007Z

A day barely seems to pass without someone launching yet another website featuring dog friendly walks, pubs, beaches &c. &c. &c. The problem is that most of the people behind these sites are thinking about how they can make money from them rather than whether the information they are providing is useful and accurate. One exception to this is Driving with Dogs

What I love about this site is that it has been started by dog lovers for dog lovers. The founders, David and Lezli Rees, launched it in 2005 after sitting in traffic for an hour on the M40 with their Border Collie (Jem) and realising that there must be some fantastic walks just off the motorway if they only knew where they were. So they set out to do the research covering 1000 miles on foot and visiting just about every motorway junction in the country.

As if this wasn't enough they then set about adding other walks as well dog-friendly beaches, pubs, accommodation and campsites. What's more, they included other useful information such as access for those with disabilities and so forth. All in all an incredible labour of love done with no thought of profit, only of service.

Lezli came to visit us on our stand at Crufts and showed me the printed version of their website: Motorway Walks. Short Walks for Drivers and Dogs. This is available from the Border Collie Trust.

Anyway, I can't recommend their website enough and - now I have found it - look forward to trying some of the walks! Driving with Dogs.

How a raw diet can help purine problems in Dalmations and other breeds…

2010-03-23T00:40:00.011Z

If you have a Dalmation, Beagle, Bulldog, Basset Hound, Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Miniature Schnauzer, Lhasa Apso, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund, Newfoundland, Irish Terrier, Scottish Terrier or Irish Setter then you are probably only too aware that these breeds can have purine metabolism problems.

In this short article – and with the considerable help of our Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Tom Farrington – I will try and explain how diet can help.

What are purines?

Purines are natural substances found in plant and animal cells and they are vital to the chemical structure of genes. (Don’t ask me any more about the gene angle because I am already in over my head!). High levels of purine can be found in any food group - that is to say vegetables, fruit, meat and fish. Certain foods such as kidneys, game, yeast, mackerel, herring, sardines and mussels are particularly high. Others, such as chicken, beef, lamb and non-acidic fruit contain lower levels of purine.

When cells die and get recycled in a dog’s body the purines in their genetic material also get broken down. Once completely broken down they turn into uric acid, which is important to good health because it serves as an antioxidant that protects blood vessels.

However, sometimes uric acid levels in the blood and other parts of the body can become too high. This happens, for instance, when the kidney isn’t functioning properly (as it is the kidney that helps keep blood levels of uric acid balanced) or where there is excessive breakdown of cells. Although kidneys regulate the amount of purine (excreting what isn't required) it is worth remembering that the cause of the problem lies in the liver where purine metabolism is done.

OK enough biology.

The purine problems in dogs…

The breeds already mentioned above metabolise purine in a unique way ending up with excess uric acid. This in turn leads to urate stones. Worse, if treated with Allopurinol to block enzyme-producing urates, dogs can end up with xanthine stones instead of urate stones. This is what Tom has to say about the problem:

“From my experience in treating these cases it should be pointed out that urate stones are radio-lucent and thus can easily be missed especially when in the kidneys as x-rays pass right through them leaving no shadow unlike other stones. It takes air contrast x-rays to show them up! But this cannot be done in the kidney and the stone cannot be felt in the kidney, either. Even ultrasounds can miss them but CT (Computerised Tomography) can pick them up."

The Dalmation question

Dalmations are one breed that has been particularly prone to urinary stones and if you have a Dalmation or are interested in why then this site will be of interest:
www.thedca.org/stonecharts.html.

How can diet help?

A raw food diet without organ meat and with none of the high purine vegetables (such as cauliflower, peas, spinach, mushrooms and legumes) is generally excellent as a diet for all breeds with a purine metabolism problem.

Tom says: “There will be dogs that are severely compromised genetically and some dogs who, due to various commercial diets including some commercial and home-made low-purine diets, have already suffered severe stones.”

He also points out that in compromised dogs a high fat diet can add to the problems by increasing urate formation especially in the kidneys. So if you have a thin dog with a purine problem consider increasing the frequency and size of meals rather than the fat level and check for hidden stones.

Bear in mind that plenty of pure water is also important. The word ‘pure’ must be emphasised as some additions to water for purification and sterilization purposes can change the urine pH or entire body chemistry triggering crystal formation.

What else? ‘Table foods’ are out and so is anything with salt in it. With regard to diet, incidentally, this may require the addition of potassium citrates (for preventing calcium oxalate crystals) and sodium bicarbonate (for preventing cystine crystals). Always ensure that the diet does not have large amounts of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) added as it acidifies urine decreasing the risk of the most common forms of stones but increasing the risk of urates.

Finally, do remember to arrange regular urine checks to ensure the pH stays alkaline and for the presence of either urate or xanthine crystals.

Remember, we make all our food to order

If you want to switch your dog to a low-purine, raw food diet but don’t know where to start we can help. All our food is made to order and we don't charge anything extra for adding or altering the basic ingredients. Please call or email for more information.

Perhaps the most impressive dog trainers in London

2010-03-22T22:49:00.008Z

I have very specific ideas about how dogs should be trained and, candidly, most trainers fail to impress me. My own education was received from a wonderful, Australian woman called Alison Morgan who, though now in her eighties, is still passionate about dogs and obedience training. I watched her work with her own champion dogs almost every day throughout through my childhood (I should explain that she brought me up), attended her classes and also went to many of the dog shows where she appeared. Her philosophy is straightforward: positive reinforcement of good behaviour and what I would describe as mild disapproval of bad behaviour. Anyway, the result is that although I like lots of dog trainers I meet, there are few that I really admire.

Two that I am more than happy to recommend, however, are Phillip Gazzard and Craig Steiff. Phillip runs Bark Busters for North, South and Central London and Craig runs Bark Busters for West London, Croydon and Sutton. Recently I chose them to look after my sister-in-law Kate’s new lurcher, Jackson, (photos to follow) and my business partner Vicky is actually getting them to help her with her Labradoodle, Rudi. In other words, they are so good we are using them ourselves.

What makes them special? They follow the Bark Busters training philosophy designed in the 1980s by Sylvia and Danny Wilson and which has since become the most popular training method in the world. Indeed, Bark Busters have trained more than 500,000 dogs since it was founded in Australia. Anyway, I am rambling (first day back at blogging and all that). My real point is that if you are looking for a trainer anywhere in the London area I would definitely recommend Phillip and Craig. They have their own website Dog Training London or you can call them on 0808 100 4071.

Crufts here we come!

2010-03-04T00:22:00.002Z

Only a week now until Crufts. You will find us in Hall 1 on Stand 100. Please, please, pretty please come and say hello if you are an existing customer. And, of course, if you aren't.

Free hamper of Darling's raw food

2010-02-23T02:14:00.003Z

We have 20 hampers of Darling's Real Dog Food to give away to dog clubs as free draw or competition prizes. Just drop me an email jonathan@darlingsrealdogfood.com if you want to apply. Also, while I am about it if you run a canine website of any description we have some excellent articles on raw feeding that we will be happy for you to post.

Save a Westie!

2010-02-19T00:06:00.002Z

Isn't this photo FANTASTIC? It was sent to me by Robert Woods of Westie ReHoming in Wiltshire. They are his family's family, as it were, of West Highland Terriers photographed on their summer hols on the Isle of Mull. Westie ReHoming is, as the name suggests, involved in finding new homes for Westies. What I like about the organisation is that they are scrupulously careful about choosing new homes for the dogs in their care. The same cannot be said of all such organisations. Anyway, if you are a Westie lover then you could do worse than send a few bob to support its work. And if you are looking for a Westie to love - and you are serious about it - they may be able to help.

Pets Allowed! Great new site.

2010-02-17T03:37:00.005Z

Looking for somewhere to stay that will let you bring your dog or cat? Searching for an interesting pet-friendly place to visit? A new site, Pets Allowed, aims to provide users with a free list of suitable accommodation and visitor attractions. It has launched with a good selection (my test searches all came up with a reasonable selection) and I imagine that over time it will get even better as they build up their database. Anyway, Pets Allowed is definitely worth bookmarking.

An urgent call for action

2010-02-17T01:25:00.005Z

Every year millions of British dogs and cats - possibly your own - are being put at risk. How? Let me explain. Canine Health Concern has just launched a much needed campaign to try and change the unnecessary and potentially fatal vaccination of dogs and cats. The core element of the campaign is an open letter to Professor Dean of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), the government body responsible for vaccination guidelines and regulation. The nature of the problem is summed up at the beginning of this letter:

"Despite repeated requests over many years, the VMD – a government department - has failed to take action to ensure that veterinary vaccines are administered no more frequently than is necessary, or to warn and protect the public from spurious claims on the part of veterinary vaccine manufacturers and veterinary surgeons. Independent duration of immunity studies have been available since the 1970s to show that immunity to viral disease in dogs and cats persists for years or the life of the animal, and that annual vaccination is not required."

The thing that I found really shocking as I read the rest of the letter was the fact that equivalent bodies in other parts of the world have woken up to the risks and have stopped allowing pharmaceutical companies to promote regular boosters. Why not the British? Hard to say. For a nation of pet lovers we are not shining here and it is important that this issue is brought to the attention of parliament so that pressure can be put on the VMD to make these much needed changes to the regulations.

If you would like to know more about this issue visit the resource area of the Canine Health Concern website and click on books/publications and then look for press releases/letters. It is an eye opener and if you feel inclined (as I did) to take action I hope you will decide to write to your MP.

Proof that canned pet food is dangerous

2010-02-16T16:44:00.003Z

The BBC reported that this poor stray cat walked into the Scottish SPCA's Wildlife Rescue Centre in Middlebank on Sunday with her head wedged in an empty pet food tin. After the can was carefully removed she was checked over. She has now been taken to the Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Balerno, Edinburgh. Colin Seddon, Scottish SPCA Wildlife Rescue Centre manager, said: "Luckily no damage was done and the little cat was very pleased to be freed from the discomfort that comes with having your head stuck inside a tin can." Proof that canned pet food is dangerous. A reminder that litter is a terrible threat to animals. And a good excuse for me to say that Darling's is as good for cats as it is for dogs. Indeed, we already have some feline customers and we are planning to re-package and slightly re-formulate our recipes shortly with a view to launching Darling's Real Cat Food. In the meantime if you have a cat then please don't hesitate to contact us on 0844 656 1566.

Gastric Torsion and how to deal with it…

2010-02-15T18:46:00.004Z

I had never heard of Gastric Torsion until this week when a prospective customer asked us whether our food would be OK for a Great Dane who had had his spleen removed due to ‘bloat’ – which is another name for the same thing.

The first thing we did was ask our Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Tom Farrington, what he thought and he began his answer by referring us to a fantastic article on the subject by an American vet called Ron Hines. If you want to read the full article click here. Anyway, here is how Ron describes the actual problem:

“Gastric dilatation is a life-threatening condition that occurs in mature large dogs. I do not see many of these cases but when I do I have work diligently if I am to save the animal. Another term for the condition is gastric dilatation/volvulus or GDV. Volvulus is a twisting of an organ along its long axis. In this disease, the stomach flips over on itself and expands with trapped swallowed air and fermentation gases. Circulation to the stomach and spleen are cut off to the point where the dog may go into shock and die. A startling finding is that the incidence of bloat has increased by more than 1500% over the past 30 years.”

He goes on to say that the cause is abnormal muscular contractions in the stomach and that: “Lack of normal motility and circulation in the stomach cause the body to become too acidic (metabolic acidosis).” He goes on to point out that dogs who eat from elevated dishes are more likely to become bloated and to explain that there does seem to be a genetic link.

There is then quite a bit of interesting information about a study carried out by Purdue University which, basically, points out that dogs who eat dried food seem to be up to four times more likely to suffer bloat. So, not feeding your dog dried food and not raising the bowl would both seem to help.

So, what did our vet, Tom, say?

Well he started by emphasising that dried food was dangerous and that:

“It is important to ensure the dog puts on weight as this is one of the factors that reduces the risk, but too much fat increases the risk of recurrence so it means feeding often till the dog gains weight. A raw food diet is clinically proven to improve the chances of preventing a recurrence. In my experience this can be any of the Darling’s formulations, but many Great Dane breeders prefer a tripe diet. This is basically where a portion of the diet is replaced with raw tripe (tripe is normally treated before sale) and owners can do this themselves or it can be supplied with the food from Darling’s. The weight of the dog should be monitored carefully.”

Note, we are always happy to help anyone with diet and health issues whether or not they end up becoming a customer. Anyway, I digress. Tom continued with an extremely interesting piece of advice:

“A more important factor in my opinion is to address why the dog is upset. Most dogs who get bloat do not do so around feeding time but rather late at night - ask almost any vet when he has had to do the surgery and it is usually 9pm to 2am ish., it is rarely ever a day time procedure.

I find many of these dogs are upset in some way.

Just to give one example was a Rottweiler on it's 3rd Gastric Torsion and it happened to end up with me. In a quick conversation with the owner I asked if any thing had triggered and they said no he had tried to chase the cat before it had started, but they had stopped him as usual. A little further questioning revealed that this had happened before each episode of bloat. Treatment with a (homeopathic) remedy for anger promptly caused the dog to belch for a very prolonged period nearly suffocating us all.

The owner reported that each time the symptoms occurred giving the remedy brought it to a prompt conclusion. At this point I suggested that they let the dog chase the cat next time it teased the dog (I had checked about the possibility of the dog over doing it with the cat and was assured the cat was far the fleeter). After one chase the cat stopped teasing the dog and there was never another episode of bloat, so the condition is not as simple as many indicated it is. Dogs who are happy do not seem to get it - unhappy is a very wide term including things from grief to vexation and anger.”

All of which is very interesting.

If your dogs have any serious medical issues I really can’t recommend Tom enough. He has been my personal vet for over a decade and has treated our pigs, horses, chickens and dogs with great success. Here are his contact details:

e-mail farrington.vet@gmail.com - anytime
web: http://sites.google.com/site/farringtonvet/home
Mobile 087 2494059 International ++353 87 2494059
Phone 023 8848811 International ++353 23 8848811
Fax 023 8848805 International ++353 23 8848805

Super dog! What we like about Pet Plus

2010-02-10T23:39:00.005Z

One of the questions we wrestled with when we were formulating the original Darling's recipes was what to do about supplements. In particular, Tom (Farrington) our Chief Veterinary Surgeon (jolly impressive title, isn't it?) suggested that we consider adding a powdered supplement called Pet Plus. In the end we decided not to bother because the ingredients we use actually meet all (and more) of a dog's nutritional requirements.

But, and that should be a big BUT, we really like what goes into Pet Plus and believe that there are plenty of instances where it makes sense to use it, such as when a dog is elderly, unwell, lacking in energy or where the effects of processed food need to be counterbalanced.

What makes us keen on Pet Plus? Here is how they describe the ingredients on their UK website:

The probiotics in Pet Plus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum, have been chosen as the two most important Lactobacillus species for dogs. Naturally found throughout the gastrointestinal tracts of healthy animals, these micro-organisms help to defend the body against invading pathogenic bacteria. Probiotic organisms produce lactic acid and keep the colon environment slightly acid to prevent the growth of harmful organisms; furthermore, lactobacilli are known to produce several antibiotic compounds to further inhibit the growth of pathogenic organisms. Due to the prevalence of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment which kills the beneficial organisms as well as harmful bacteria, healthy intestinal flora may be lacking. Supplemental replenishment of probiotics quickly returns the flora balances to normal. In addition, Lactobacillus organisms have been found to significantly contribute to the reduction of lactose intolerance symptoms. Yet another benefit of probiotics is their ability to regulate bowel movements and halt diarrhoea.

Alfalfa is considered highly nourishing and is a rich source of many trace minerals in addition to providing magnesium, iron, B vitamins, chromium, vitamin C and b-carotene. It is also a prebiotic, supporting the all important gut flora. Chlorophyll has been shown to have a cleansing action on the body, detoxifying and preventing odours.

Barley and wheat grass are important cereal grasses. When harvested during their early growth, they not only function as prebiotics to maintain the health of the probiotics, but also they supply vitamins and minerals at levels comparable to the green leafy vegetables.

Flax seed and safflower petals are rich natural sources of the essential fatty acids, which play a critical role in the maintenance of a healthy skin and coat.

The following digestive enzymes are also present in Pet Plus to aid the digestion of the food.

Protease digests proteins to produce amino acids and since dogs do not synthesise essential amino acids, it is of utmost importance that the diet be digestible. Amino acids are important building blocks, being used by the dog’s body to build muscles, metabolic enzymes, neuro-transmitters and many other biochemicals. Amino acids supply nitrogen for the synthesis of all other nitrogenous compounds, as well as a back-up supply of energy.

Amylase, glucoamylase and cellulase digest starches and cellulose, respectively, to produce free glucose and break down the plant cell walls to release their nutrients. Dogs require glucose to supply energy for all life functions. This is provided by the pulverised raw vegetables which form an essential part of our dogs’ daily diet. Although fibre digestion is not considered essential for canine health, the break-down of some fibre has been shown to be beneficial, supplying a source of supplemental energy.

Lipase digests dietary fats, releasing free fatty acids and glycerol. Dietary fat is a concentrated source of energy supplying four times as much energy as either protein or glucose. Fats are important to canine health. Fats act as a carrier for fat soluble vitamins (e.g. A, D and K), build cell membranes, form prostaglandins, leukotrienes and hormones. Proper assimilation of fats is also important for a healthy skin and coat.

The following two ingredients help the body to repel parasites.

Brewer’s yeast in the dog formulation is a rich source of the B-complex vitamins and is high in the minerals magnesium and phosphorous. Combinations of brewer’s yeast and garlic have also been found to be effective in reducing flea infestations on dogs. In addition, brewer’s yeast has a pleasant taste that supports compliance.

Garlic is naturally high in iodine, sulphur, phosphorous, iron, potassium and selenium, as well as the vitamins B1 and B3. This herb/vegetable is well known for its beneficial effects on both the immune and cardiovascular systems. Garlic has been shown to kill worms and repel fleas.

Pet Plus is only available in the UK through a vet called Susanna Mcintyre who also specialises, by the way, in canine dentistry.

Catherine O’Driscoll Complementary Healthcare

2010-02-10T01:24:00.001Z

Dogs clearly experience the same range of emotions as humans. They may not be as well hidden (if a dog is, for example, jealous he or she tends to express it more directly) but they are, in essence, identical. More than this it seems pretty clear to me that our own dogs pick up on our emotional state in the same way that another human might. But with one major difference. Companion dogs don’t have the same range of options that humans have. They are trapped. Where am I going with this? Well, if you agree with me then you may be interested in the work being done by Catherine O’Driscoll.

Catherine may be better known to you as the founder of the not-for-profit organisation Canine Health Concern which is particularly keen to get the message over that vaccines could be causing your dog considerably more harm than good.

However, she also practices as a canine complementary healthcare professional and she has lots to say about the way in which canine emotions and thus canine behaviour is strongly linked to our own emotions and behaviour. Put another way, your dog may be mirroring or reacting to you in a much more sophisticated and complicated way than you imagine.

He or she may also be suffering in ways you don’t realise.

Catherine believes that one solution to this whole problem is Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT. On her website she describes this as:

‘A fast-track tool for personal growth, bringing peace and harmony into our lives in direct proportion to the amount we use it. From personal experience of using EFT, I know that when we use EFT on ourselves, we are taking care of ourselves and the animals in our care. After all, we can’t give our dogs anything that we ourselves do not have.’

Sounds a bit airy-fairy? Well, it isn’t. This is a practical technique ‘similar to acupuncture, but instead of using needles, you stimulate energy points on your body by tapping them with your fingertips. The process is easy to memorise and you can do it anywhere.’

It involves telepathic communication. Only a fool would scoff at this. Many years ago I had some dealings with Yuri Geller and at one point he bent all my tea spoons by stroking them gently once or twice and it stopped me from ever doubting that people can have powers that science does not yet understand. There is ample evidence that human telepathy works so why shouldn’t it work with animals?

Incidentally, one side benefit of learning about EFT is that it may lead to you becoming happier and more fulfilled.

The other day Pippa Ducat (the really lovely animal behaviourist from Kent that we rather adore at Darling’s) was pointing out to me how all the training techniques she advocates for dealing with dogs work with people. Well, I gather the same is true of EFT.

Catherine has a great video on her site and lots and lots of additional information. If you are genuinely interested in dogs and their welfare then I can’t recommend strongly enough discovering more. The site is: http://odriscollhealthcare.weebly.com

The dog we're helping to feed...

2010-02-10T01:15:00.000Z

You remember (of course you do) how the winner of our Prize Draw was the canine rescue charity SOS? Well, this is Paddy, the dog we are helping to feed. Isn't he gorgeous? If you are looking for a really worthwile canine charity to support please remember SOS Animals UK.

Barking Mayhem 2010

2010-02-08T02:05:00.003Z

If you live within easy distance of Stevenage in Hertfordshire then can I recommend putting 3rd May in your diary? That’s the date of the second ‘Barking Mayhem’ dog show. The organisers clearly have a penchant for German Shepherds because there is to be a rally just for them…but it isn’t all about Shepherds. Last year – the first year the organisers have planned the show – attendance was a stunning 1,500 and this year they are hoping for more. Whoops. I should have mentioned that the show is in aid of charity and is organised with the help of the Barking Mad Dog Training School. Anyway, it all looks great fun. Vicky and I are hoping to be there if we can, incidentally, but even if we can’t we are planning to donate a bumper Darling’s hamper as a prize.

Dicky Bags...the No.1 answer to No.2s

2010-02-05T12:37:00.004Z

Why my oldest son, Nat, set up his dog walking, babysitting and errand business, which he rather cleverly called WalkSitRun his younger brother, Jack, secretly referred to the enterprise as WalkSh!tScoop. It is certainly true that Nat developed, albeit briefly, an obsessive interest with different scooping and storage methods and when you visited him he was inclined to wave the latest device under your nose and ask: 'What do you think of this?'

Anyway, I am sure that Nat would heartily approve of Dicky Bags, the trendy new scooper accessory, that bills itself as 'the No.1 answer for dogs' No.2s'. Basically the Dicky Bags kit consists of a) the bag itself...a zip-up container in a range of colours that you can clip to the dog's lead or your belt b) biodegradable pick up bags c) a freshner thingy (they don't actually call it this) that fits in the zip up container.

So, what you do is scoop and bag as per usual and - instead of then having to spend your whole walk holding the offending plastic bag in your hand - you pop it in the neat little container and - um - Bob is your uncle (which in my case actually happens to be true, Hello, Uncle Bob).

Anyway, if you live in an area where scooping is de rigueur then the Dicky Bag has to be the way to go.

PS They are very good value for money!

‘Save Our Strays’ deserves our support…

2010-02-04T14:05:00.002Z

I am in slight disgrace with my business partner, Vicky, for not mentioning the winner of our Discover Dogs free draw sooner. It was Tania at Save Our Strays (SOS) Animals UK and, not surprisingly, she has decided to donate the prize – a whole year of Darling’s Real Dog Food – to feeding one of the rescue dogs in her care.

SOS is a small, specialised rescue charity that really deserves our support because they do work that no one else is really interested in. In a nutshell, half the stray dogs (and cats) in rescue centres on the Costa Del Sol are left there by ex-pat Brits who have decided to chuck in the good life and return to Blighty leaving their pets behind them. SOS works to re-house these poor animals.

Of course, the problem with strays in Spain goes much deeper. The country has one of the largest stray populations of dogs & cats in Europe. Furthermore, horrific cases of animal cruelty have been extensively documented, specifically directed towards the working dogs. It is not rare for the Podencos (Pharaoh Hounds) and Galgos (Greyhounds) to be hung when they have finished their working life, or to have their legs broken and be left to die. Neutering is not common, either, and few dogs are vaccinated. Basically, it is a pretty rough life.

Anyway, SOS Animals UK works with Spanish rescue centres providing volunteers, cash, medical supplies, bedding and – crucially – bringing dogs back to the UK where they can be re-homed.

Fantastic and important work that deserves to be supported.

Seven glorious moments with Pluto

2010-01-31T22:21:00.000Z

Bored? Why not waste a happy 7 minutes watching this 1932 Disney cartoon of Mickey Mouse washing Pluto?

Daily Mail slams pet food manufacturers

2010-01-31T09:28:00.002Z

Hurrah! The national press are turning the heat up on pet food manufacturers. In last week’s Daily Mail there was a long, well-researched and highly critical feature article attacking the industry. After giving a couple of examples the author, Alison Smith Squire, got down to business. ‘Few people,’ she pointed out, ‘are aware of the little-publicised concerns about processed pet foods - and that includes wet (i.e. tinned and packet) foods as well.’ She went on to emphasise that part of the problem is that ‘much of the veterinary industry is inextricably linked to the pet-food manufacturers.’

I always feel that it is poor form to lump the whole veterinary profession in together just because a number of diehard reactionaries refuse to acknowledge that they have made a mistake. Nevertheless, there is some truth in what Ms. Smith Squire went on to say:

‘Research into pet food is carried out by the pet-food companies but, more surprisingly, the training of vets at some universities is also funded by pet-food manufacturers. Crucially, lectures on nutrition at a number of vet schools, and for veterinary nurses at individual practices, are also often paid for - and even taught - by these huge corporations, giving them the ideal platform to promote their products. One could argue that given this information, it's hardly in vets' interests to promote a more natural diet for pets.’

Nor did the fact that many vets earn a substantial income from pet food escape the newspaper’s notice:

‘The pet-food manufacturers appear to be promoting their brands with the help of veterinary practices, sponsoring food displays in surgeries which help to generate business for vets (via commission and the fact that some specialist food can only be bought at veterinary surgeries). Hills Science Plan, a pet-food brand owned by Colgate-Palmolive, boasts that: 'More vets feed Hills than any other pet food.' Last year, Hills sponsored the British Veterinary Association's 2009 Congress (the biggest meeting on the veterinary calendar). It also signed a partnership with the British Veterinary Dental Association to sponsor tooth care in animals. Royal Canin Foods (owned by Mars/Masterfoods) boasts on its website of 'its partnerships with leading veterinary schools and universities'. It runs Pet Health Counsellor Courses, training veterinary nurses in diet, and says stocking its food in veterinary practices can 'increase practice turnover'.The message from the company is clear: sell our pet food, and your business will profit.’

Thank you and well done, Alison Squire Smith! Meanwhile, if you are interested the whole article is available online just click here.

A shameless plug for Speedy Connections

2010-01-30T13:06:00.001Z

I wouldn’t have made it to last week’s talk in Port Lympne if it hadn’t been for Darren Bentley of Speedy Connections who collected me at short notice from Gatwick and whisked me down to Kent in a very smart people mover thing. He is now expanding into other travel related areas and as he is not only a really nice chap, but a dog lover to boot, his business is to be strongly recommended.

Our first public talk on raw feeding

2010-01-29T00:38:00.005Z

Thank you, thank you Pippa Ducat of Best Behaviour School for Dogs. Last week she invited Vicky and me to speak about raw feeding at a special evening event at Port Lympne zoo in Kent. Over a hundred people turned up, which is amazing as the weather was foul and the zoo is miles from anywhere. Guests were greeted with a drink and when everyone had settled Pippa gave a fascinating presentation on canine behaviour. I’ve been involved with obedience training since I was, literally, a toddler (I was raised by someone who ran training classes and used to take me along in my pushchair) but Pippa gave me lots of new insights into canine psychology. She was a tough act to follow but I did my best to make canine biology interesting (which it is, once one gets into it) and to explain why dogs are biologically designed to eat raw food. Vicky finished with a few words about diet. A really great bunch of people – the whole thing turned into a party after we had finished – and we came away having made lots of new friends. Thank you, again, Pippa.

More dogs in art

2010-01-26T12:13:00.002Z

If you live in London or the South East and you are looking for a photographer to produce a portrait of your dog then I rather like the work being done by Sammie Luck. Visit the Dogaholics website (http://www.dogaholics.co.uk) for further details. Incidentally, Sammie also runs a range of other dog-related services including home boarding and walking. She is based in Kent.

Another Kent-based animal artist I really like is Maika Spooner. She is young (barely at university is my guess) but talented and last week I saw a brilliant oil painting she had done of her own dog that was absolutely packed with expression and personality. You can reach her on maika@pendana.co.uk

Two mentions of Kent in a single blog entry. Why? I’ll explain tomorrow.

Dogs in Art

2010-01-25T08:35:00.006Z

Just back from a fantastic trip to Naples with my son, Bert, who is now backpacking around Europe. Highlight of the week was a visit to Pompeii where, outside the House of the Tragic Poet we spotted the world's most famous 'Beware of the Dog' sign (below) which is, incidentally, incorporated into this very clever Dogs in Art video (above) by Veronica Betty...whoever she is.

The dog with a 340 word vocabulary...

2010-01-12T00:16:00.009Z

Was I surprised to discover that there is a dog capable of recognising a stunning 340 words? Yes and no. On one hand everyone with some experience of dogs knows that they are considerably more intelligent than they are given credit for. Darling, our English pointer, for instance, can definitely count. If I show her how many treats I am putting in my pocket and reward her with one at a time she always knows when she has had them all. On the other hand, a 340 word vocabulary is pretty impressive especially compared to certain teenage children of my intimate acquaintance. Anyway, here is the footage of this amazing dog:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8441974.stm

'Health, whether of soil, plant, animal or man, is one and indivisible...'

2010-01-02T17:39:00.007Z

Here is a Christmas snap of my two favourite pigs - Patti and Selma - in their new home. It is, sadly, over two hours drive away so I haven't been to see them since they left us. They were my pride and joy but a couple of years ago Marianne developed an anti-pig attitude probably because I was keeping them in our best field – sheltered from the wind, overhung with shady trees and full of lush grass – and she wanted it for her equine pals. Plus she had started composting to international competition standards and begrudged the pigs our kitchen scraps.

Speaking of compost due to the prevailing weather conditions last summer my normal pastime – sailing – was replaced with a new passion: soiling. I was in love with soil as a child, of course. I played with it, rolled around in it and – if photographic evidence is to be believed – ate it. When I became interested in gardening I understood, in an abstract way, that it was important to care for the stuff. It wasn't until much more recently, however, that I came to realise the essential wisdom of Lady Balfour’s remark: ‘that health, whether of soil, plant, animal or man, is one and indivisible.’

Which is why it is so important to source food - whether for ourselves or our animals - from farmers who look after their land. Lots of big food businesses - including many of the supermarkets - pretend that they are buying from small, ethical farmers but by and large it is simply a marketing ploy.

The hottest name in canine couture...Puppy Kit!

2009-12-31T15:29:00.008Z

What are the best-dressed dogs wearing this season? Something from Puppy Kit puppykit.co.uk. The super-smart online canine boutique (which also boasts a shop in Buckhurst Hill, Essex) had the stand next to us at Discover Dogs last November and it took four people a whole day to stock their shelves. I don't think there was a moment during the two-day show when people weren't queuing to look at their range and as we were packing up I noticed that Vicky and Marianne both sported overflowing Puppy Kit carrier bags.

What makes Puppy Kit so special? As with any fashion shop it comes down to their eye. The buyers have a brilliant knack for seeking out the hottest pet fashion and accessories. International labels include Juicy Couture, Dogs of Glamour, Chien Vivant, Waifs & Strays, and Trendy4Paws plus they carry all sorts of witty accessories such as collars, coats and bowls featuring your favourite soccer team.

Puppy Kit brings style to the practical things that every dog needs from baskets to blankets and from toys to tags. They also offer all sorts of dog-related items including a range of jewellery. Anyway, as you will have gathered, we have all gone slightly Puppy Kit mad at Darling's!

Pet Food Politics. The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine.

2009-12-30T00:14:00.008Z

After being up for half the night dealing with sick Chihuahuas I decided I would spend the afternoon snoozing on the couch. However, I made the terrible mistake of starting to read a book sent to me by my friend Matt (who runs a brilliant organic chocolate company called Organic Meltdown www.organicmeltdown.com that plants a tree for every bar of chocolate sold) and it was so gripping I ended up not sleeping after all.

Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine describes the 2007 USA recall of pet food involving 200 different brands containing (or suspected of containing) ingredients responsible for killing an estimated 4,000+ dogs and cats. It reveals how, in an effort to cut costs and boost profits, manufacturers started to buy ingredients of dubious provenance and quality from - amongst other places - China. The Chinese, it transpired, had been lacing these ingredients with (of all things) melamine.

The author, Professor Nestle, isn't really interested in dog welfare per se. To her the key point is that: 'Pet foods are just one part of an inextricably linked system of food production, distribution and consumption.' She views the recall (the largest consumer recall of all time) as a warning about the globalisation of the food industry viz. we can no longer be certain where ingredients really come from or whether they meet appropriate safety standards.

She is doubtful about whether manufacturers, government or consumers have learned from the experience and predicts that it is all likely to happen again hinting darkly that next time it may be humans who die. A chilling book, then, but fascinating for all that.

Warning about SentryPro XFC - our Alice and Edward both had dreadful reactions

2009-12-29T18:43:00.003Z

Hudson Valley, NY. Up all night with Alice (above with Mrs. S) and Edward thanks to a product called SentryPro XFC which controls fleas and - more importantly - ticks. Ticks in this part of the world often transmit Lyme disease and after much debate Marianne and I have decided that prevention is necessary. Usually we use something called FrontLine but as the vet wasn't on duty when I went to collect it at our local PetSmart store the assistant recommended SentryPro instead.

Well. We followed the instructions and applied it to the back of both dogs just before bed. But at 2.30 we were awoken by a terribly noise and crying and rushed down to find Alice shaking and falling over and trying to lick her paws. There were little piles of vomit all over the floor. A quick look online and what do we find. Hundreds of references to similar cases. We follow the advice being given out by various sites and wash the dogs several times and then - as they still seem ill - made a visit to the vet (a 45 minute drive each way) who called the manufacturer's hotline. The company's representative said it wasn't an allergic reaction but an overdose and that there was nothing we could do.

Thankfully, by 6ish both dogs had stopped being sick and the worst symptoms had subsided so we all went to bed.

Now. Here are my complaints:

- Nowhere on the packaging does it say the treatment shouldn't be given to dogs weighing under 9lbs (Alice is about 5 or 6 lbs). We assumed that because she weighed less she needed a smaller dose. It was the dose given to me by the pet shop and the assistant had said it would be OK.

- Nowhere on the packaging does it say (that I could find) that you shouldn't leave dogs that have been treated with other dogs as they may lick it off. (We might have thought of this ourselves, of course, but we didn't).

- Nowhere on the packaging is there any warning that the product may cause an allergic reaction or that it could poison the dog.

Happily, it doesn't look as if our dogs have suffered any permanent effects. Still, we are pretty fed up with the manufacturers - Seargent's Pet Care Products - and would strongly advise other US based dog owners to give their products a wide berth. A very wide berth, indeed.

A really stupid rule...

2009-12-28T04:01:00.004Z

Manhattan. A white Christmas. A black thought. Why are dogs only allowed off their leads in Central Park before 9am on a Saturday and Sunday morning? It is a really stupid - I'd go so far as to say cruel - rule. Obviously, it is sensible to make people with aggressive dogs restrain them in public places. Otherwise, dogs should be free to enjoy the park. Grrrrr.

Stop speed eating with this great bowl from Rich and Robin

2009-12-26T14:55:00.004Z

It is natural for dogs to gulp (rather than to chew) their food as all the digestion takes place in their stomachs. Some dogs, however, get into the habit of eating so quickly that it makes them ill. Which is where this great bowl from online luxury pet shop Rick and Robin comes in. Fiendishly clever, eh? The little bits that stick up slow the dog down and force him or her to eat at a normal pace. There are other similar bowls on the market - and it is a case of different bowls suit different dogs - but this is the one we recommend you try first. Incidentally, Rich and Robin has a great a selection of other 'luxury pet essentials'. www.richandrobin.co.uk

The Pet Health Council is a bad, bad joke...

2009-12-23T21:48:00.003Z

The Pet Health Council is, according to its website: 'Here to promote, inform and advise on the health and welfare of pet animals in the interests of both pets and people.' It is supported - financially - by the following organisations:

British Veterinary Association
Pet Care Trust
Pet Food Manufacturers' Association
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

All these organisations are committed to the idea that there is nothing wrong with manufactured dog and cat food. This isn't suprising when you see where their vested interests lie.

The British Veterinary Association receives substantial funding from the pet food and pharmaceutical sectors.

The Pet Care Trust is registered as an educational charity. They have some very odd aims including: 'Stop the Health and Safety Executive gold-plating the European Biocidal Products Directive through its insistence that manufacturers conduct prohibitively expensive tests on the active ingredients of biocidal products that have been on the market for many years.' Biocide is a chemical substance capable of killing living organisms. Basically, they are a representative body for pet shop owners and groomers.

The Pet Food Manufacturers' Association is exactly what you would expect. Their members are the processed food manufacturers that produce the food that some vets now believe is causing so many medical problems in dogs and cats. No shortage of funding there, let me tell you!

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is not, of course, involved in dog and cat food. Their vested interest (you see their name cropping up elsewhere in the pet care sector) is in promoting the idea that drugs are the best cure for what ails all of us - human, canine or feline.

Anyway, back to the Pet Health Council. Nowhere on its website could I find any information about raw food or the possible dangers of vaccinating pets or the problems associated with over medication or the successes that have been achieved by so-called 'alternative' methods such as homeopathy. In short, they are a simply there to whitewash the vested interests that support them. The best advice they seem to be able to offer pet owners is to make sure that their dogs have plenty of water. Pah.

Why didn't anyone tell me...?

2009-12-23T02:27:00.004Z

In a shop today a woman said (morosely, I felt): 'Just two days until Christmas'. I only wish someone had mentioned it to me sooner. It has come as a terrible shock and finds me deeply unprepared. I have done no Christmas shopping whatsoever unless you count three bars of Green & Black chocolate which I bought for Mrs. S and secretly ate. I must smuggle out the wrappers when no one is looking.

I have been reading Real Food for Dogs & Cats by Dr. Clare Middle. Excellent, short book about why dogs should be eating a raw diet. In the first chapter she places great emphasis on how dogs are pack animals and the importance of making their status within the pack clear to them. The following types of behaviour will give your dog the impression that they are higher in the pecking order than the humans in your family:

- Feeding them before you eat.
- Letting them onto the furniture.
- Letting them sleep in your bed.
- Giving them treats for no reason.

Does it matter? That depends. In general, if a dog believes it is high on the pecking order it is less likely to behave well or do as it is told. It can also lead to anxiety. As Dr. Middle points out:

" Dutiful dogs can become over burdened with a sense of responsibility greater than they are capable of managing, making them confused and stressed and sometimes leading to behaviour problems and even aggression."

I have a friend with a staggeringly beautiful lurcher who is charming but - um - headstrong. Indeed, it is almost impossible to get him to do anything he is told. I am sure this is because he sleeps on her bed. On the other hand, she doesn't mind and he seems perfectly happy. So obviously, it is a matter of personal taste.

Is your dog's guaranteed safety worth 1p a day?

2009-12-19T03:22:00.004Z

Have you got a seatbelt or better still a crash-tested safety crate for your dog? Think I am being neurotic? You wouldn't travel in a car without buckling up and you certainly wouldn't let a child roam free. So why put your dog's life at risk? Especially as there are some great safety products on the market.

The Rolls Royce of canine safety equipment comes from www.safedog.co.uk a Kent-based company offering a tubular steel crate that has been crash tested and fits most estate cars, people carriers and four wheel drives. OK, it will cost you upwards of £335, but to me this seems a small price to pay for peace of mind. Let me put it this way, one of these crates will last forever but even if you only use it for - say - ten years it will cost you as little as 1p a day or less. If we took our dogs in the car more than a few times a year this is what I would get them.

As it is we use a harness. I don't think these are anywhere near as good but they are still better than nothing and will stop the dog from going flying if you have to stop suddenly or become involved in an accident. We got ours in the USA, but SafeDog have what looks like an excellent option starting at £49.

Please, please think about how you transport your dog. I've been involved in two serious accidents (neither my fault) and I know how easy it is to think: 'Oh, it will never happen to me.'

Support Pets As Therapy

2009-12-18T16:43:00.004Z

One of the most interesting people I met at Discover Dogs this year was Maureen Hennis, the Chief Executive Officer for Pets As Therapy. Since 1983 this fantastic charity has been taking dogs and cats to visit people in hospitals, hospices and residential and nursing homes as well as schools and other establishments. They also work with children who have special needs, stroke victims and many others. Wherever they go they bring comfort, companionship and therapy to those in need. Some 4,500 volunteers benefit 130,000 or more people every single week. What an achievement! Anyway, if you are looking for a canine charity to support this Christmas I don't feel you could do better. You'll find more information on their website www.petsastherapy.org

Of John Carter, CV 247 and curing cancer in dogs (and humans)

2009-12-18T02:27:00.004Z

Years ago I remember reading something about a vet in Harrow who was having great success in treating cancer in pets (and humans!) but I never gave it much thought until one of our customers recently wrote and pointed out that part of the treatment was a raw, organic diet. So I did a little research and found that the vet concerned was called John Carter - sadly now deceased - and that his work had had quite a bit of publicity and is now (after many years of struggling) available in Hungary. As Hungary is in the EU I think this may mean the treatment is available here. Anyway, the website of the company which was set up to develop and research the treatment Ivy Medical Chemicals (www.ivymedical.com) is fascinating. Here is what they say about CV 247:

"CV 247 is a combination product comprising of Sodium Salicylate, Copper Gluconate, Manganese Gluconate and Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) taken as a solution. The product was conceived and initially developed by Mr John Carter, veterinary surgeon, who also advocated that in combination with the therapy a patient also followed an “organic Diet”.

Mr Carter established the treatment regime after many years of study and empirical research starting in around 1976. The work began after a number of friends and associates as well as many companion animals had succumbed to the effects of cancer. Mr Carter’s hypothesis was that the increasing rate of cancer affecting the human and animal world could have an association with modern food manufacturing methods and the environment. His theory and treatment was aimed at stimulating the individual’s immune system so as to resist the development or progression of cancer. The effect of this theory was repeatedly tested in his Veterinary practice on a compassionate treatment basis. Mr Carter’s interest and the success with the animals he treated led to word of mouth recommendations to tend to other animals suffering from cancer.

CV 247 was seen by pet owners to have a notable rate of success on their respective companion animals, and an anecdotal portfolio of satisfied dog owners was compiled. Credibility in the drug and treatment regime increased further when in 1993 Mr Carter was introduced to UCL Ventures, a division of University College London (UCLV). The anecdotal evidence collected persuaded UCLV that the claim should be investigated independently. UCLV agreed to carry out controlled trials and introduced Professor Peter Beverly who at that time was Head of the Tumour Immunology Unit of the Imperial Cancer Fund at University College London. Professor Beverly agreed to undertake a series of controlled experiments on the effect of the treatment on malignant cancers in mice. After gaining the necessary licence to undertake the experiment, the trials were carried out under a formal contract between John Carter and UCL.

Three controlled experiments were carried out. Professor Beverly concluded in his report that the treatment caused a statistically significantly reduction in the rate of tumour growth in the treated compared to the untreated groups and that there were no observable side effects attributed to the treatment."

You'll find tons more on the web about all of this. I don't feel qualified to say anything about the efficacy of the treatment but if I hear of any dog or person suffering from cancer I shall certainly pass the details on. Incidentally, I have a feeling that I read somewhere that you have to start treatment before chemotherapy.

Can dogs fly...?

2009-12-17T13:46:00.002Z

We are looking into taking our American dogs (my wife is American and so three of our family dogs reside in the US) to our home in Ireland. The last time we considered doing this I did quite a bit of research and became so worried about their welfare that I gave it up. Now I have been introduced to Dana at Pet Movers (dana@petmovers.com) and she has been so reassuring about the whole thing that we are on for it again. She says that the secret is a) use only airports and airlines that treat the dogs as live cargo and not as luggage and b) get prior approval for everything so that there is minimal delay. She warned me against giving the dogs sedatives (which one vet had been suggesting) as it can endanger their health at altitude and told me that not once - ever - has she come across a dog that didn't recover quickly from the experience. It looks as if our dogs will fly after all!

Why your dog doesn't need crunchy food...

2009-12-16T22:58:00.003Z

On the first night of my French Exchange (what a harrowing three weeks that was) the father of the family where I had been imprisoned became somewhat intoxicated and long after the rest of us were abed could be heard singing in the kitchen. At 2am he began to shout: 'Voltaire, au panier! Victor Hugo, au panier! De Saint Exupéry, au panier!' He must be seeing dead writers and philosophers the way other people see pink elephants, I thought to myself, as I attempted to sleep. Odd, though, that he should be trying to get them into a basket. I made a joke of it, in my broken (oh, OK, pathetic) French, at breakfast next morning to the considerable amusement of all present. Voltaire, Victor Hugo and De Saint Exupéry being the family's three Spaniels.

Why am I waffling on about this? Because the experience prepared me for dogs with unusual names. And so when a prospective customer called today to talk about her Dachshunds - Darwin and Hooker (no, no, not what you think, named for the famous 19th Century biologist) - I was not taken by surprise.

I convinced my caller that a raw diet would be better for her dogs but she was harder to persuade when it came to not adding mixer. 'They need it,' she kept saying, 'because they want something to chew on.' Well, we discussed it a good bit and in the end I dropped the subject because I could tell I was causing irritation (or maybe I should say more irritation than usual). The truth is, however, that dogs don't need mixer, kibble or biscuits in with their food because unlike we humans dogs don't chew much. Their teeth are designed to tear meat of the bone not to - um - masticate. That's why you see dogs gulping down their food. Their primary objective is to get it into their stomach as quickly as possible in order to start digesting it. There are lots of other reasons not to feed dogs mixer, kibble or biscuit, not least the fact that they shouldn't be eating more than a tiny amount of grain. Also, what they really want for their teeth and to exercise their jaws and upper body is bones. Foam rubber, incidentally, is not considered good for dogs. Just thought I would mention it.

Dogs versus cats. The great debate.

2009-12-15T17:50:00.003Z

Quick. Nip into your local newsagent and pick up a copy of the latest New Scientist because the cover story by Kate Douglas is all about the relative merits of dogs versus cats. She looks at 11 different factors - size of brain, shared history, ability to bond, popularity, understanding, problem solving, vocalisation, tractability, supersenses, eco-friendliness and utility. The piece is packed full of fascinating canine and feline facts but as this is a dog blog I'll focus on the former. Here's a selection of things I never knew before:

The oldest archaeological remains of dogs are 31,000 years old. The entire dog genome has now been sequenced, incidentally, and the results suggest domestication around 50,000 years ago. However, Peter Savolainen of the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden thinks it is only 16,000 years ago and that the first dogs to be domesticated were to be found around the the Yangtze river in China and were probably destined for the dinner table.
Give a 4 month old puppy the choice between canine and human companionship and they choose us!
Rico the border collie can understand 200 different words.
Dogs, unlike say chimps, can understand gestures and looks, too. They are predisposed to inspect our faces for information, reassurance and guidance.
Dogs learn in the same way as babies using a technique called pedagogy which entails implicit teaching. Other animals, such as dolphins, for instance, learn by emulation.
Dogs see in the dark five times better than humans.
A dog's sense of smell is up to 100 million times better than a human's.
A medium sized dog's ecological footprint - the area of land required to keep it fed - is 0.84 hectares. Even a chihuahua requires 0.28 hectares.

Really, a fascinating piece if you can get hold of a copy. While I am on the subject of canine versus feline difference it is interesting to see their different begging techniques - as demonstrated by the photo above.

Thank you Canine Health Concern

2009-12-05T23:41:00.003Z

I've just sent a long email to Catherine O'Driscoll, founder of Canine Health Concern (CHC), to thank her for her campaigning and to let her know how useful I have found her website. Catherine (I hope she won't think it impertinent of me to call her by her first name) is best known for her books explaining why canine vaccines are so detrimental to canine health. However, she has also been a fervent advocate of raw feeding and through CHC commissioned some interesting research which is summarised on their website (www.canine-health-concern.org.uk) as follows:

We asked people who had changed their dogs away from pet food and onto raw meaty bones to take part in some research. Our results showed that Natural Food - including raw meaty bones - is Better for Dogs than Processed Pet Food

Eighty-nine dog owners took part in the survey. Seventy-four per cent had changed to the raw meaty bone diet, and 13% were already feeding a similar diet. We were astonished by the results: there was a massive drop of 85% in veterinary visits shown by people whose dogs had �gone natural�. The 85% reduction was achieved by those who had been feeding the natural diet for a period of six months or more. Our own records show that, initially, feeding costs of a natural diet increase whilst vet costs decline. After about a year, quantity and feeding costs decline, too, as the dogs� nutrition rises to optimum levels.

The main visible health benefits reported by owners of the 126 dogs who were changed to the natural diet include . . more energy and activity, improved teeth and gums, glossier coats, and skin, and weight and behavioural improvements. Other benefits included lower susceptibility to fleas, improved appetite, an absence of stomach and digestive upsets, sweeter breath, cleaner ears, no more scratching, and veterinary medication no longer required.

Although dogs who had been on the diet for only a few weeks showed improvements, those on the natural diet for six months or longer were dramatically healthier than those whose diet had only recently changed. And - importantly - guardians were reporting multiple benefits for their dogs.

Canine Health Concern has been incredibly effective in its campaigning and in 1998 was the subject of a World in Action documentary. It only costs £16 to join (I've just joined myself) and it is money well spent.

Meat. You get what you pay for.

2009-12-04T15:06:00.003Z

I have often felt that Radio Four should introduce a ‘Rant for the Day’ in which people with strong feelings on a topic – such as my good self – get an opportunity to let off steam about something that really, really upsets them. Like the cheap meat offered for sale by pet shops and other online suppliers.
Let me tell you why (he said his voice beginning to rise).

The amount that we spend on food has been falling as a percentage of income since the beginning of the Second World War. In 1939 the average person spent about a third of their money on food, whereas now the figure is likely to be one tenth. At the same time the cost of food has been falling in real terms thanks to intensive farming, imported food from developing countries and much lower standards.

Paying less for food is not necessarily a good thing.

Intensive farming causes serious environmental damage because it reduces biodiversity, requires harmful chemicals and creates pollution. It is cruel on the animals and birds as anyone with an open mind will see if they care to visit any of these so-called ‘farms’. It leads to huge health risks – think BSE, foot and mouth and all the extra drugs that humans now consume because they are already in the food we eat. Plus the food itself has barely any taste to it. When it comes to imported food there is one additional disadvantage: the wasted energy and resources used on transport. It is insanity to fly beans from Kenya to Britain. Sheer insanity.

Anyway, anyway, if the food we eat ourselves – especially the meat – is of poor quality (and by and large it is) and has been obtained at the expense of the environment and animal suffering, what about the food we give to our dogs? I am not talking here just about the meat that goes into processed dog food which is often what they call ‘Four D’ – the ‘D’ being meat that comes from dead, dying, diseased or down (disabled at slaughter) animals. No, I am also talking about the meat that you can buy for your dog that may cost as little as 30p a kilo or less.

30p?

The fact is, meat that costs this little can only be unfit for human consumption. It can only come from animals that have suffered.

Speaking as a former farmer I know that to raise a free range animal or bird, to feed it properly, to get it veterinary care if needed (although the worst problem I ever had with my herd of pigs was sunburn… a good farmer rarely needs to call out the vet) and to slaughter it in such a way as to minimise the stress and trauma (which takes time, thought and money) is expensive.

The only way to ensure that you are buying meat of superior quality is to know where it comes from and how the farmer approaches his business. Personally, I never buy meat from supermarkets because even if it is organic and free range you don’t really know where it comes from. Instead, I buy from a butcher I trust or direct from the farmer. It costs more, but it is worth it.

OK. Rant over.

Major R.F. Wall and Sir Frederick Hobday endorse Darling's raw food diet

2009-12-02T01:33:00.010Z

On 1st December 2005 at 4.23pm (or was it 4.24, I forget now) Mrs Self and I met by the Information Booth in Grand Central and last year on the same day, and at the same time, and in the same place we got married there. (If you are very bored and really have nothing better to do you will find the story and photos in the NY Times). This year, wanting to celebrate the happy day, but feeling that a change of venue was called for, we decided to nip up to Hay on Wye for a couple of days walking.

It seems like 30 years or more since Richard Booth, a second hand bookseller, put the place on the map by declaring himself King of Hay. That's because it was 30 years or more. The media flocked to the sleepy little market town and so did other booksellers and now it is pretty much the most popular second hand book destination in the country.

HRH's main bookshop (there is a second one in the castle) hasn't changed much over the years (although it is now owned by an American who is smartening it up) and there is still a large section on DOGS. That's right DOGS. You probably thought I was never going to mention DOGS but I was leading up to it that's all.

So, when it rained and rained and rained on Sunday we pottered over to the Booth emporium and spent a happy couple of hours browsing. Mrs. S in the horse section, me in the dog section. Of all the books I ended up buying my favourite is: Keeping a Dog by Major R.F. Wall with a foreword by Sir Frederick Hobday (you couldn't make this up) published in 1933 and dedicated 'To Jumbo from Uncle John'.

There are many gems to be gleaned from this excellent and entertaining tome but I will confine myself to just one quote from the chapter on feeding: 'The majority of dogs readily digest and thrive on raw meat.' A useful reminder that before the pet food industry started brainwashing everyone it was generally accepted that dogs should be fed a raw food diet.

We should pay our vets more...

2009-11-27T01:37:00.005Z

We – by which I mean we pet owners – don’t pay our vets enough money.

No, honestly.

Most vets are dependent on commercial organisations to help supplement their income. They get sponsorship, fees, research grants and training from pharmaceutical companies and other organisations such as dog food manufacturers.

They also make commission from selling everything from medicines to, of course, food. Indeed, many small animal practices earn as much as a third of their revenue from dog and cat food sales alone.

If we pet owners were willing to pay more in fees then maybe vets could free themselves of their dependence on businesses that so obviously have a vested interest in providing support.

I would go so far as to say that an unwillingness to pay vets what they are worth has led to the fact that the whole veterinary profession is geared towards curing problems instead of preventing them.

This is because there is money in cures but not in prevention.

The wonderful Mrs. Self and I have just been to Vienna where we were given a tour behind the scenes at the Spanish Riding School. After looking at the stables, which house several dozen horses at a time, Mrs. S asked: ‘How often do the vets come to visit?’ The woman showing us around thought hard: ‘I mean maybe every two months, maybe not so often.’

The point is the School knows how to care for their horses so that they don’t get ill and don’t become injured. Interestingly, the School doesn’t use commercial feeds, but grows much of the horses’ food themselves on their own farms.

It is expensive being a vet. First you have to study for at least seven years and then, if you want to set up in practice, you have to invest a great deal of capital. Unlike, say, solicitors they haven’t trained their customers to pay substantial fees (my solicitors, by no means a fancy firm, don’t think twice about charging me £250 an hour and sometimes more).

As I say, if we were willing to pay more then maybe vets would be less susceptible to offers of help from unscrupulous commercial interests.

Why dogs bite people II

2009-11-25T00:18:00.004Z

An interesting discussion this evening with a dog behaviourist who was explaining to me that domesticated dogs are being kept in a state of permanent puppyhood. In the wild they would lead a very different life. Instead of being taken from their mothers they would, at the appropriate moment, be pushed away. They would be taught how to fend for themselves and, in particular, how to capture prey. In due course they would have to fight for/find their place in the pack. Also, they would receive very little petting and love. I half knew all this but it was good to be reminded. Meanwhile, I must thank everyone who has been sending me 'why dogs bite people' photos. I have spent a happy ten minutes wondering what sort of conversation took place in the home where these poor dachshunds were photographed. 'Dearest, I have had a brilliant idea.' 'Really?' 'Yes, let's buy five banana suits and dress up Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch.' 'Genius, but I don't think Titch will go for it.' 'No, perhaps you are right. I'll only get four.' 'They are going to be so happy.' Evidence that domesticated humans, like domesticated dogs, are also being kept in an equivalent state.

Instant recall. How to get your dog to come.

2009-11-24T19:30:00.006Z

On the right we see Laura, my daughter, then aged about nine or ten throwing her arms back and calling: 'Daaaaaaaarling!' On the left, out of sight, Darling is racing up the hill as fast as she can keen to obey her mistresses' (have I got the apostrophe in the correct place?) voice. All my dogs have pretty much instant recall and the way I have always trained them is this. I don't feed them for a day. The next day I divide their food into ten little plastic bags and take them into the garden (well, field, to be strictly accurate) and after they have romped off I call them - just once. If they come (and with a bit of prompting, sit neatly in front of me) they receive one tenth of their daily food. If they don't they are down to nine tenths. Repeat, as it were. The first day most dogs end up with about half their daily allowance of food. The second day they tend to stick to one like glue making it hard to put the system into practice. I've never come across a dog (apart from my ex-partner's standard Schnauzer, who has no interest in food) that didn't respond to this method. If only I could train the children as easily. I often have to call: 'Laurrrrrrraaaaaaa!' a dozen times to get her attention...

One of the first campaigners for raw food

2009-11-21T22:55:00.003Z

Hurrah for Ros Walters, the leading British canine nutritionist. She may be in her 80s but she is still taking on private patients, advising vets and campaigning for raw dog food. Although Ros is not known to the general public, she was one of the first experts to challenge the processed dog food industry. Vicky and I went to see her on Friday in order to discuss some new biscuit recipes she is working on for us. Ros thoroughly disapproves of our cheese and peanut butter biscuits on the basis that neither of these ingredients are to be found in the wild. Instead, she has suggested we offer biscuits containing health-giving herbs. Which is what we are going to do from next year. As you can see she has two beautiful corgis.