Although I grew up with dogs, it wasn’t until I had children and stopped working that we got a family dog. It was my daughter who was desperate to have one, and when the time seemed right, we got a puppy labrador and called her Bonnie. It was a most magical time for the children to have a puppy but it was not without its challenges. I remember when the children would sit in a chair with their legs dangling, it would be regarded by the puppy as fun to bite their swinging toes.

A friend for my dog. People often think that the incumbent dog in the household will welcome a new dog into the family home, and many dogs do. But one should not expect or think that it will all be plain sailing. All sorts of problems could occur that were unexpected. If you are thinking of getting a second dog and you think it will be good company for your dog, think again, before blindly making that decision. These are some of the things to think about - Not all dogs want t

Dogs digging in the garden is often regarded by owners, and especially keen gardeners, as destructive behaviour and a nuisance. It is also potentially hazardous for dogs if they dig up and eat plants that are poisonous to them. So how do we stop it? Let’s check first why Fido is doing it, because if we can work that out, it could give us a headstart fixing it? For example, is he is digging because he is trying to get out of the garden to get to someone (perhaps there is a bit