A Dog's Life Archive: Simon Garfield

As we continue our short literary season, we replay one of our favourite shows: Anna's chat with Dr Zazie Todd - CompanionAnimal Psychology -  talking about her book Purr. In our conversation on cats , the lack of science on their behaviour (compared to dogs), she recount several hilarious anecdotes on Gremlin, which will make you realise why she named him Gremlin, the lengths he went for to help Molly when she was poorly, and why Gremlin was quite a cat for someone’s first feline! He is so missed, but we hope is he is reunited with Molly across that rainbow bridge. Zazie's websiteInstagram: @ZazieToddFor more about Anna go to annawebb.co.ukMusic and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People ProductionsCover art by JaijoCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff PawtraitsTo advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: [email protected]

As our Literary season continues, in this classic episode from the archive, children’s author, Jane Elson, joins Anna to discuss why animals, especially dogs, feature in her books. Dyslexic herself, Jane writes for those with reading difficulties, highlighting how animals - dogs in particular - help children in so many ways, not least in learning to read out loud. In her multi award winning ‘Moon Dog’ , she depicts the  horrors of the puppy farming trade. Raising awareness for the next generation of dog owners, she worked with the charity All Dogs Matter to convey the horrific details, and the effects of losing a puppy on the whole family.  In  her latest novel Storm Horse, inspired by the racehorse Seabiscuit, who in the 1930’s represented hope for the Americans struggling through the Depression; and why history can inspire the present. Jane also highlights why horses help build children’s confidence, helping them learn to read and be in the moment. Weaving characters through her series, she’s inspired by London and the legacy of her own kitten called Crayon who sadly died very young.Published by Hachette, Storm Horse and Moon Dog both mark the era of the pandemic and work on several levels making them great for grown ups too!Follow Jane on Twitter @JJELSON35 and Instagram @JJElson35For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.ukMusic and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People ProductionsCover art by JaijoCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff PawtraitsTo advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: [email protected]

As we continue our Literary season, Anna talks to best selling author, Marika Cobbold, in this classic episode from the archive about her latest novel, On Hampstead Heath, where a small dog, Gillie, plays a central role in driving the plot. Gillie is based on her own dog, Gilbert, who was stolen and later found dead in another part of London in 2019. Find out more about Marika hereOr follow her on Twitter on @MarikacobboldGet your copy of On Hampstead HeathFor more about Anna go to annawebb.co.ukMusic and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People ProductionsCover art by JaijoCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff PawtraitsTo advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: [email protected]

To launch our Literary Season, we revisit our chat with author Simon Garfield about his book Dog's Best Friend, from January 2020.If you want to move your dog to a raw diet or even switch brands we wholly recommend Paleo RidgeFor more about Anna go to annawebb.co.ukMusic and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People ProductionsCover art by JaijoCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff PawtraitsTo advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: [email protected]

To mark the start of flea season we bring you this classic episode from the archive. Vet and Environmental campaigner, Andrew Prentis is also  a ‘fellow’ at Imperial College. He is amongst the team of scientists that have advised pet owners to be more sparing in their use of toxic flea and tic treatments, warning that they are entering watercourses and damage aquatic ecosystems. Reviewing 160 scientific papers on the impact on aquatic ecosystems of imidacloprid, a pesticide used in 138 pet treatments sold in the UK. They found that “one monthly flea treatment for a large dog contains enough imidacloprid to kill 25 million bees".   In the decade up to 2019, the sale of the pesticide for veterinary use in the UK increased 152 per cent. In that year, 2,500kg of the substance were sold for veterinary use, not much less than the 4,000kg used in 2014 for combined agricultural and veterinary use. We discuss how we can change our approach to parasite control in our pets by adopting a Test Before You Treat approach that’s used in Scandinavia where Vets only prescribe treatments if an animal actually has fleas. Certainly where wormers are also concerned (similarly penetrating waterways and the landscape), there’s an easy alternative simply by testing your pet’s poop. If no worms are found, why give your dog a wormer? One of the sticking points of the discussion is that the market for parasite control in the vet industry is valued at £170 million.  We chat about how practices could recoup this revenue in other proactive ways. Instagram: @the_environmental_worrierWebsite: vetsustain.orgIf you love A Dog's Life and would like to help support the show why not become a Patreon backer where you can also have access to some exclusive content. If you want to move your dog to a raw diet or even switch brands we wholly recommend Paleo RidgeFor more about Anna go to annawebb.co.ukMusic and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People ProductionsCover art by JaijoCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff PawtraitsTo advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: [email protected]

When we’re chatting to Dom Burke, Behaviour Officer at Dogs Trust about the Charity’s  advice for dog owners wanting to travel safely and responsibly on trains with their dogs. New research, from Trainline, has found 11% of people in the UK now travel to work with their four-legged friend, rising to 20% among Gen Z. Reasons for this include relaxed attitudes towards dogs in workplaces, the high cost of dog care, and the rise of hybrid working.Two-thirds of people say their dog dictates their travel habits. Almost a quarter (24%) of people now make daily journeys with their dog, with almost half (48%) doing so several times a week.Despite this, many owners admit they don’t feel completely confident about how to travel by train with their pets due to a lack of clear guidance. The report has found 55% of dog owners would travel more if they had better advice on how to keep their pets safe and comfortable on a train, with the safety of their dog, fear of annoying other passengers and worries about dog mess among their top concerns.Dogs Trust, in partnership with trainline.com, is offering advice on the key skills to train your dog to make for smooth train travel,  and highlighting why teaching your dog to enjoy the experience covers all the basics for socialising your dog. From polite meeting and greeting  of lots of  different people, settling for the journey, walking to heel, toileting on a cue,  leaving bits of food that might be on the platform, coping with the sights, sounds and smells and much more. Follow Anna on:https://annawebb.co.uk We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productionshttps://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/ Music by Mike Hanson Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits Art work by https://jaijo.com

This week we’re discussing dysplasia in dogs with Orthopedic surgeon Gordon Maclellan. He is highlighting the Pupscan project which has studied whether dysplasia is congenital or caused by environmental factors.  The research studying over 70 breeds , hundreds of litters suggests in line with ground breaking studies in Sweden that the evidence reveals that there is no genetic influence on dysplasia in dogs as has already been confirmed in people.For more information click here.Follow Anna on:https://annawebb.co.uk We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productionshttps://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/ Music by Mike Hanson Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits Art work by https://jaijo.com

I’m chatting to Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today Magazine and Patron of the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance. Pet Detective, Wayne May, Police Liaison officer for Dogs Lost, about these worrying statistics and that clearly the legacy of dog theft and the thousands of tragic cases that peaked in 2021 with 2,760 dogs stolen with barely 19% of dogs ever being reunited with their families.The Pet Abduction Act in May 2024 has clearly played a positive impact, resulting in a 21% decrease in thefts. But the fear and the horror stories of theft have left their legacy.Despite the positive impact of the landmark legislation - The Pet Abduction Act, statistics sadly reveal that 61% of dog owners are still concerned about their pet being stolen.A third of dog owners are feeling “extremely” or “very” worried so, to mitigate the risk, wisely :49% of dog owners never leave their pets unattended outside shops or schools44% avoid leaving them in cars with one in six17% using tracking devices22% installing motion security camerasA fifth paying for professional dog-sitting services when away.For more informtation about the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance click here or here for Doglost.Follow Anna on:https://annawebb.co.uk We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productionshttps://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/ Music by Mike Hanson Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits Art work by https://jaijo.com

This week Anna pops back briefly from this year's Crufts in Birmingham to update Mike who couldn't make it up there himself (again!)It's all sold out but for next year or more information click hereFollow Anna on:https://annawebb.co.uk We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productionshttps://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/ Music by Mike Hanson Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits Art work by https://jaijo.com

This week Anna chats about one of her favourite subjects - Bone Broth!She's joined by Dan Gulliver and Danny Smith from Axels Elixir , talking about their journey to bringing their brand to market.Aware of Bone Broth’s enormous health benefits from a young age, Dan was determined to bring up his Mastiff called Axel on the best natural whole food diet which would include Bone Broth.We chat about how Dan made so much broth that he ended up giving it away to friends and family for their dogs. Receiving positive unprompted feedback that these dogs were benefiting from shiner coats, bright eyes, more energy and less stiffness, Dan began to develop an idea - Axels ElixirTwo years on from their launch, the brand prides itself on its sourcing organic ethically sourced bones and some health boosting herbs and apple cider vinegar into a broth recipe that’s Axels Elixir.The range mirrors nature and the protein sources inspired by a dog’s ancestral dietUsing sustainable packaging where the broth is portioned into bone-shaped frozen portions, makes it very convenient to store and serve.Launching a dedicated cat variety soon, the future is purrfect.For more information and to order yours go here.Follow Anna on:https://annawebb.co.uk We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productionshttps://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/ Music by Mike Hanson Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits Art work by https://jaijo.com