Pooches big and small will be flocking back to the New Forest this weekend to let their fur down at Dogstival, and it's sure to be the first time of many for lockdown pups! With thousands of dogs set to attend, the doggy day out is a great opportunity for new furry additions to get out there and start 'petworking'. Socialising with around 4,000 dogs in one go doesn't tend to feature on the puppy school syllabus though, so here are some tips to help would-be four-legged festival goers make the most of their 'Glasto with a bark' experience... 10 Tips for Dogstival First-Timers Ramp up socialis ..read more

Welcoming a new pooch into your home is an exciting concept, but it’s definitely something that requires a lot of time and thought. Before taking the leap and getting a new canine companion, you must first consider the pros and cons of owning a pet. Although it can be an exciting process, dogs need a lot of care and attention. Making a quick, in-the-moment decision is not something that is advised when it comes to providing a new home for any animal. For those who have never owned a dog before, making the final decision can be a daunting prospect. There are most likely a lot of worries and que ..read more

When buying a pet, we’re urged to find out more about the seller. But both buyers and breeders should beware. With pet theft on the rise due to an increase in demand for dogs and consequent soaring prices, scammers are pretending to be buyers so they can sell stock on to puppy farms, or breed them for a profit. To avoid being duped, Kennel Club assured breeder Johnathan Mazur-Jones, 50, has come up with an innovative way of protecting himself and his pets. He has started using a new digital ID app to ensure the people interested in his puppies are who they say they are. From the Post Office ..read more

Dogs are social creatures who rely on companionship and mental and physical stimulation for their health and happiness. So when the holidays wrap up and we return to work and school, it can be tough on them. If you're looking for a way to keep your pooch entertained while you're out of the house, why not try doggy day care? Following a surge in pet ownership during lockdowns, multi award-winning day care Bruce's has seen an increase in demand for its services. It has several sites across the South East of England and is rapidly growing. A new centre was opened in Tunbridge Wells at the end of ..read more

Vets, charities and animal-loving celebrities are joining forces with a government campaign to warn prospective pet owners of unscrupulous sellers. Following a rise in demand for pets during lockdown, prospective puppy and kitten owners are being warned of the risk of being scammed when buying a pet online. The new government campaign aiming to prevent this is named ‘Petfished’, a play on ‘catfishing’ where a stranger creates a fictional online persona to lure someone into a relationship. Deceitful pet sellers use a similar tactic. To help prospective cat and dog owners avoid ‘cruel and oppor ..read more

The four-legged festival of the summer is back and it's set to be a brilliant and deserved celebration for our furry friends, after endless months of eat, dog walk, sleep, repeat. Now in its third year, Dogstival is well-established as the canine festival with serious cool-factor. Doggy devotees will be flocking back to the gorgeous surroundings of Burley Park in the New Forest this June for two days of pure hound-o-nistic fun. As always, the epic canine celebration will have heaps of activities and things for our four-legged friends to enjoy, including: + BARKOUR! New for 2021, an adventure ..read more

When we commit to owning a dog, we know that we need to walk them frequently for physical exercise, mental stimulation and socialising. But many of us don't seem to know how much exercise we should be giving them. This actually depends on many factors including their breed, age, health and personality. Your dog's breed is one of the most important factors that determines how long you should be walking them for. There are some breeds that are more energetic and excitable than others, and because of this, they need more frequent and vigorous exercise. Then there are other breeds that have instin ..read more

We all want to keep our four-legged friends happy and healthy by giving them the best we can get. Gone are the days of nasty rawhide and bland biscuits - now it's all about high quality, natural treats. To help pet owners give pooches the premium quality they deserve, Dogs of Britain sells a wide range of natural chews and treats. Wilbur & Paisley were invited to try some of their goodies to see what they thought … British Gourmet Meat Sausage Box (£11.99) Packed with scrumptious sausages, this box certainly got tails wagging. Inside are plenty of different flavours to keep pups happy, in ..read more

Divorce is an unfortunate and stressful situation to go through, and it can often be made worse when a beloved family pet is involved. Our furry friends are the heart and soul of the family unit so when a couple separate, deciding who gets custody of the pet can cause major disputes. Here’s what happens to your four-legged friend in the event of a divorce… Pets in the eyes of the law When a divorce case involves kids, the courts will make decisions with the children’s best interests in mind. But it's not the same for our furry family members. Although the majority of us consider our pets part ..read more

Looking after our planet is more important than ever before. And all of us can make a difference - including our four-legged friends. To help minimise their environmental impact, new sustainable pet brand Enviropaws has launched a range of planet-friendly products. We were invited to try their eco-friendly alternatives to see how we, as pet owners, can do our best for the environment… Compostable Poop Bags (From £5.49) Small switches can make a huge amount of difference to our planet. And the easiest swap dog owners can make is moving to more eco-friendly poop bags. After all, we use them eve ..read more