Oldies Club, a charity dedicated to rehoming dogs who are getting on a little in years, has some wonderful pairs who are waiting patiently for their forever homes – could you offer a loving retirement home for them? These dogs are in a foster home where they’ve been assessed and now just need that special family to give them their happy forever after. It may seem daunting to take on two oldies, but the ones below are wonderful pairs who will just give you twice the love of a single dog. Max & Pepsi Max & Pepsi Max and Pepsi are 12-year-old brother and sister Labrador-collies. Sadly, th ..read more

Our friends at the fabulous Oldies Club charity have put together these ’12 dog gifts of Christmas’ – to remind us all of the wonderful ways that dogs bring joy to our lives. Christmas is a perfect time to reflect on the important things in life – and dogs are certainly one of those! GRATITUDE Dogs know that you have saved them and bless you with their gratitude – the look that says ‘Thank you for saving me; thank you for loving me.’ COMPANIONSHIP When everyone else has left you, or just not been the person you thought they were, your old dog will offer you the best companionship you could ..read more

A new exhibition is coming to a London art gallery, which is sure to be of interest to dog lovers – and fans of their relation, Painted Dogs. ‘Wings and Brushstrokes’, by Michelle Pearson Cooper, features stunning portraits of diverse breeds, from the Japanese Akita to the Labrador. Crossbreeds are catered for too in the form of a beautiful portrait of Samur, the former Icelandic president’s dog, a cross between a German and Icelandic Sheepdog (below). Samur (former Icelandic president’s dog) Watercolour, 55 x 70 cm It’s no surprise, then, that artist Michelle Pearson Cooper is a big dog lover ..read more

The Kennel Club has launched its Be Puppywise campaign to help people look beyond those cute puppy-dog eyes and avoid being duped by rogue breeders and traders. Puppy farmers are harder to spot than you think. They know prospective owners want to see home-reared pups with mum present. As puppy buyers are becoming more knowledgeable, so the rogue breeders are becoming more cunning. Rachel Atkinson, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, bought a Cockapoo, Fynn, in August 2021. Fynn was poorly from the moment she collected him, suffering from parasites and viruses common in puppy-farmed dogs, and nea ..read more

Birmingham Dogs Home is delighted to be welcoming registrations from local pet owners to its new state-of-the-art veterinary clinic. The beautiful new practice is based at the charity’s rescue centre in Catherine-de-Barnes, Solihull. All income generated from the clinic will be put straight back into the charity, helping to fund its rescue and rehoming work across the Midlands. Welcoming dogs, cats, as well as small furries, the charity’s friendly, dedicated clinic team offers a full small-animal practice provision. Among the services offered are preventive health-care options including v ..read more

Support Dog Charlie has transformed the life of his guardian, whose health has limited his ability to do everyday activities. Chris Beddoes remembers the day his world turned upside down. On 5 August 2015, the then 33-year-old collapsed while working as a senior healthcare assistant within the medical assessment department at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital – a job he’d had for 16 years. “I was making up an A&E trolley and reaching over to do the far corner and collapsed before waking up on the trolley in terrific pain,” said Chris. The dad of two, now 41, was left with chronic back pain ..read more

A new study by the VetCompass team at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has found that dogs with heatstroke may be suffering even further due to outdated first-aid practices. The research calls for updated guidance to be promoted more widely for dogs with heatstroke – including cold-water immersion and using fans or air conditioning on soaked dogs – to support owners to provide the best possible care. Heat-related illnesses (HRI) such as heatstroke are potentially fatal for dogs and can occur following exercise or from exposure to hot environments. While many risk factors can increase the pro ..read more

Our dogs are our everything and we want to do everything in our power to give them the best quality of life for the years they have left with us – and that’s also true when it comes to holidaying with an older dog. When planning a break with our furry golden oldies, we want to give them the same amount of adventure but without the increased risk and stress. Pack Holidays has put together 10 tips on how to make your senior softie as happy and comfortable as possible. 1. Get a Vet Check Before You Go It’s natural for dogs to slow down a bit as they get older, but it’s important to have regular ..read more

Much like humans, dogs are omnivores, and many enjoy having some vegetables and fruit added to their usual diet. However, some fruits – such as, for example, grapes – can be toxic to dogs, and should be entirely avoided. When it comes to other fruits such as bananas, strawberries, apples and tomatoes (yes, tomatoes are technically fruit!), however, the answer is usually positive – with some caveats. Can dogs eat bananas? Bananas are a great source of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. They also contain fiber, which can help regulate a dog’s digestive system; ov ..read more

Easter is a fun time for humans, but is a particularly dangerous time for pets, and owners must be cautious, as it poses a risk to their health and well-being, even from unexpected sources. Dr Linda Simon, an in-house veterinary surgeon at Pooch & Mutt, has shared her 5 top tips to keep your dog safe this Easter. 1. Keep dogs indoors or on a lead during Easter egg hunts Whilst you should encourage dogs to run and play in the garden, an Easter egg hunt is one garden activity we should ensure they sit out. Making sure your dog doesn’t have access to chocolate eggs is very important. Chocolat ..read more