Anna's Blog

This week we’re joined by Andrew Hale. As a certified dog behaviourist, one of the founders of the UK Dog Charter and much more, he runs his practice in south Devon called Dog Certified Care.

We chat about how his human psychology degree and work in practice for people inspired helping owners and their dogs. Without ‘humanisation’ Andrew talks about why we must factor the emotional experience into training and behaviour, indeed life itself.

This week Anna is joined by Rachel Bean RVN - qualified veterinary nurse. Apart from being an amazing ‘dog person', Rachel is the creator of the iPET Network's canine first aid qualification.

We chat about this and about common accidents, like how to offer the first line of care for cut paws, insect stings, and with more serious situations like possible bloat or for  dogs that might be choking.

This week Anna is joined by Vet Nurse and Behaviourist, Morag Sutherland. Apart from boasting a long career as an in-practice vet nurse, Morag is one of the founders of the Raw Feeding Vet Society (RFVS). Not only passionate about feeding animals as nature intended, Morag as clinical experience highlighting how dogs thrive on a balanced, complete species appropriate diet comprising a lot meat as natural born carnivores.

This week Anna is joined by Mike Dower, founder of Jai Dog Rescue in Thailand. Talking about why he left a busy career in London five years ago to set up a rehabilitation centre helping street dogs in Thailand.His passion for these dogs shines through. We talk about why Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is so inspired by Jai Dog and its sanctuary, it has invested in a five year initiative and financial collaboration called:  CNVR - Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release scheme. 

This week Anna is joined by Milliner Awon Golding and top Photographer Lucy Reeve, talking about this year’s Haute Dogs calendar which is in aid of the Jai Dog rescue. For the first time Awon and Lucy flew out to Thailand to take the stunning photos captured for the calendar.

Featuring 12 amazing rescued street dogs who all have their story to tell. Jai Dog works tirelessly to neuter and offer medical assistance to hundreds of dogs living rough on the hectic streets of Thailand.

This week Anna is joined by PDSA Vet Sean Wensley chatting about his book Through A Vet’s Eyes. As a candid exploration of how we live with animals in the modern world, Sean explains why we mustn’t lose touch with nature and all animals in the natural world.

They offer stark contrast to our farm animals and pets being kept in captivity. We discuss the importance to understand the Five Domains: Nutrition, Behaviour,  Physical health, the Environment, and the Mental Health of all animals. In the wild animals these domains are provided naturally through survival, but Sean argues we can all do better to ensure the well-being of all animals in our care.

When you consider that 10% of Britain’s pooches spend Christmas Day at the emergency vets, it's proof that the festive season can be very stressful on many levels.

Dogs don’t know it’s Christmas, although they certainly know something is happening. That’s in part due to us getting so worked up about the presents, the cards, the decorations, the Christmas tree, the lights, all the food and of course the visitors.