Editor’s letter

While February can be a gloomy, bitter month, there

Face mask threat to dogs’ HEALTH

Owners are being warned to keep an eye out for discarded

END PET BAN FOR TENANTS, SAYS MP

Animal welfare charities are supporting a Private Member’s

News HOUND-UP

An animal welfare charity, which provides veterinary

WIN! A six-month supply of dental chews

February is Pet Dental Health Month and, to mark the

’THE PETS FACTOR’ STAR AND AMAZON BEST-SELLING AUTHOR RORY ‘THE VET’ COWLAM.

ABOUT RORY

’DOGGY BINGO’ CHEERS DEMENTIA SUFFERERS

It takes more than a global pandemic to prevent staffat

World pupdates

● MOZAMBIQUE: A specialist team of illegal wildlife

Fun & GAMES

Just like us, dogs learn best when they’re enjoying themselves, as Julie Hill discovers.

BUILD YOUR BOND AND REINFORCE RECALL

TRAINER, BEHAVIOURIST, AND LONG-STANDING PUPPY SCHOOL TUTOR DELIA GRAHAM.

WATER BABIES!

JOHN ‘FITZ’ FITZPATRICK, HEAD TRAINER AT COSFORD DOG TRAINING.

PET TRAILING

HEAD TRAINER AND OWNER OF NOSE TO TRAIL RACHEL RODGERS.

RING THE BELL

FIONA WHELAN, BEHAVIOUR SPECIALIST AT THE COMPANY OF ANIMALS.

DISC DOG

RUBY WELSFORD, FOUNDER OF THE UK DISC DOG ASSOCIATION AND TRAINER AT RUBY, BETSY AND MILO TOO.

Love, life, and dogs…

Andrea McHugh looks at how to make this year’s Valentine’s Day extra special.

Behind CLOSED DOORS

We spend a lot of time teaching our dogs to sit, stay, and come when called to keep them safe outside, but teaching good manners around the house can be just as important, says Toni Shelbourne.

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED!

Lameness in dogs can often go unnoticed by owners, or requires some real veterinary detective work to discover the underlying cause, as Vicky Payne reveals.

A cut above!

As a new TV series featuring dogs, expert judges, and a celebrity presenter hits our screens, Joanne Bednall finds out more.

Water – the elixir of life

Despite its life-giving properties, all too often the impact of water on the health of our dogs is overlooked, as Dr Jacqueline Boyd explains.

The water bowl

While water is often the forgotten nutrient, its importance

FREEBIES

We’ve got a cracking collection of giveaways for you this month. Have a look and see what you could win!

Home TRUTHS

How easy is it to successfully combine flat-dwelling with dog ownership?

Super bond

William Bromwich lives in Coventry in a downstairs

Lockdown puppy

Corwin and Sarah Emerysmith live in a rented first-floor

VICTIMS OF WAR

The Nowzad shelter in Afghanistan has been saving the lives of animals in this war-torn country for almost a decade. Now it faces a new enemy. Sue Corfield reports.

One smart Cookie

On a dusty street in Kabul in the summer of 2016, high-pitched

LETTERS

Email your letters to sarah.wright@warnersgroup.co.uk

Restless MINDS

Some dogs just never seem to switch off. Trainer Carol Price advises on managing more obsessive-compulsive, excitable dogs.

Together Forever…

Isabel George remembers two soldiers and their dogs who made the ultimate sacrifice.

LANCASHIRE HEELER FACT FILE

● Life expectancy: An average of 14 years, but they

HAPPY HEELERS

Assertive and active, compact and clever, could the Lancashire Heeler be the perfect canine companion for you? Julie Hill finds out.

Q& As LANCASHIRE HEELER

OWNER: ELAINE SYRETT, COLCHESTER, ESSEX.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Our social media fans share some pics of their Lancashire Heelers.

A CLOSE COMMUNITY

Jacky Cutler is co-ordinator for the Lancashire Heeler

Q& As LANCASHIRE HEELER

OWNER: JENNY GRANT PARKES,WORCESTER.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Heather Poulton, Stourbridge, West Midlands.

Dog SHOPPING

This month’s must-haves are just the thing for banishing those winter blues.

THE ALFIE EFFECT!

Suzy Emsden’s Pug, Alfie, has attained cult status for cheering up countless poorly children in Manchester hospitals. Joanne Bednall reports.

A BARKING GOOD READ

At this time of year, nothing beats settling down on the sofa with a good book. Read on to find out more about some of the latest releases.

DOG Answers

Got a problem with your dog? Whether it’s about behaviour

The Gallery

Give your dog his five minutes of fame.

THE NAME GAME

Most breeds are named after the places they are associated with (not always correctly) or the activity they do, but a small number are named after the humans who helped create them.