The Farmer's Dog

This week Anna returns to Battersea to visit the cats at Battersea’s London HQ as the second in our double bill raising awareness for Wear Blue For Rescue at a time when the charity is at capacity for its cat residents.  Chatting to JoAnna Puzzo , Cat Behaviourist and Training Manager  to find out more about the growing number of abandoned cats in the Charity’s care, how they’re rehabilitated with behavioural and veterinary care. Particularly as Battersea  is currently at capacity with the most abandoned, gifted and stray cats ever! With a look inside their new cat facility where the residents have amazing cabins, pods or studios packed with every aspect of enrichment. Rehabilitating up to 145 cats across the Charity’s three sites at any one time, JoAnna explains that she’s never surprised by the range of feline personalities.  As a massive cat lover herself we discuss many of the cat traits that are still to be defined by science! In so much as cats are considered about 10,000 years behind dogs in their domestication. We talk about how cats decided to domesticate themselves! And about how the Charity matches cats to their forever homes, ensuring a match that is ‘forever’ and being aware of the fact that every cat is an individual. Even to how the cats at Battersea get named and about how people can apply to become a Battersea volunteer.  #WearBlueforRescueSupport Battersea's Wear Blue for Rescue to show your love for rescue animals, everywhere. ​ Because together, we're all in, for them. Battersea.org.uk/wearblueforrescue #WearBlueforRescueBattersea's InstagramFor 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]

Celebrating Wear Blue for Rescue month at Battersea, Anna spent a morning at the London HQ to record a double bill! In this part one we’re talking to Lucy Stratton, the Dog Team Leader at Battersea. We have the pleasure of meeting Bil,l a 10 month old mix breed found abandoned, and now looking for his forever home. Lucy reiterates Battersea’s matching process, similar to a dating app that ensure that you and your prospective pooch are a match made in heaven for the best chances of a long happy life together. We discuss how every dog is an individual and how training and rehabilitation programs differ. With some dogs better suited to a more rural environment in either Battersea’s Brand's Hatch or Windsor facilities. With abandonment at record levels, Lucy explains how heart breaking it is if owners are forced, through no fault of their own, but down to circumstance, to handover their dogs. The team offer emotional support without any judgement and if the owners want can receive updates.We chat about Wear Blue for Rescue and how this annual campaign goes to highlight that rescues make the best pets, especially as the selection process should ensure a perfect fit. For animals and humans alike, Battersea's Wear Blue for Rescue offers plenty of ways for everyone to get involved and show their love for rescue. Buy an item featuring the Rescue symbol from our online shop, or sign-up for a free pin badge or pet tag for you or your pet to proudly display wherever you go. If you prefer to get active, sign-up for Walk for Rescue, Battersea’s dog walking challenge, and raise vital funds with your furry friend by your side. Alternatively, rally your friends, family or colleagues and raise funds your way, no matter how big or small, with every penny making a huge difference to the lives of rescue dogs and cats, everywhere.​​We discuss how adopting a rescue has so many benefits for the humans involved too - not least in the process that is so rewarding at a time when dogs are considered to be in crisis.We chat about how over Battersea’s 160 years, over three million dogs have been successfully re-homed. Their aim is to continue this legacy at the recently refurbished and expanded London HQ that benefits from special rooms that mirror a home environment for de-sensitisation, lovely gardens and exercise zones planted with dog friendly herbs for extra interest. And the message that no dog is ever turned away and they can stay as long as it takes to find them the perfect forever home. Support Battersea's Wear Blue for Rescue to show your love for rescue animals, everywhere. ​ Because together, we're all in, for them. Battersea.org.uk/wearblueforrescue #WearBlueforRescueBattersea's InstagramFor 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 conclude our August Archive Season, this week we’re joined by the legend that is Dr Jean Dodds talking about vaccines. As one of the pioneers to research the duration of immunity (DOI) of modern vaccines, Dr Jean has led the way for the WSAVA (The World Small Animal Veterinary Association) to recommend Titre Testing over annual boosters. Having studied how the DOI of initial puppy shots can last a minimum of three years, if not a life time, Dr Jean believes in #TestBeforeYouTreat and that’s for annual vaccines as well as wormers. A Titre tests picks up the serological immunity that your dog has developed against the core diseases: Parvo, Distemper and Hepatitis, and helps pet guardians manage their dog’s immunisation rather than over vaccinate.  For over five decades Dr Jean has noted the side effects of many vaccines, not least from the ingredients or adjuvants that are added including Mercury. We chat about the difference between active vaccines and non-active vaccines, and the possible side effects from the latter, and what you can do to minimise the risks. We chat about the best time to vaccinate your puppy, and we also discuss Hemopet the blood bank Dr Jean founded in 1986 where bloods for Thyroid assessments are sent globally. In 2015 Dr Jean published the best selling book Canine Nutrigenomics - foods to heal your dog naturally. We also talk about environmental stressors and the food chain too! For more information click here Follow on TwitterJean's bookif 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]

As our August Archive Season continues Anna meets up with Author & Journalist, Genevieve Fox, and her Miniature Schnauzer, Pepper on Hampstead Heath. Retracing their time training on an ‘experience’ walk, where Anna highlighted some training tips. That walk was for an article in The Observer magazine about walking your own dog, and how it helps your dog’s and your own well-being.  Passionate about punctuating your dog’s day, and building proactive games into an everyday walk for extra enrichment.  Anna demonstrated how to connect with your dog and make the walk interactive. Genevieve and Anna chat sitting on a log that became a fun agility obstacle. They chat about why its important to train a perfect recall, so your dog is never a nuisance to other people or their their dogs. Why spending quality time with your dog means you get to know your dog. And why training and adapting life around your dog through their life stages helps keep them on the ball, and reduces anxiety. But they also discuss how dogs enrich our lives, often in times of crisis. Apart from highlighting how Pepper helped Genevieve and her family through the Lockdowns, but when Genevieve was diagnosed with cancer. We chat about her book, Milkshakes and Morphine and why Pepper helped the family cope and pull through this testing chapter. We talk about how social media influences are connections , even to dogs, but ultimately why a house is not a home without a dog!Read The Observer piece here. For more on Genevieve FoxToday's episode is sponsored by Sniffe and Likkit. Check out their whole range at sniffeandlikkit.com and use the promo code ANNA15 to get 15% all products.For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.ukMusic and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People ProductionsCover art by JaijoCover photo by Rhain Ap Gruffydd at Gruff Pawtraits

To continue our August Archive Season, Anna is joined by Trainer & Behaviourist, Victoria Stilwell, all the way from Atlanta. At the time of re recording, Victoria’s second series of It’s Me Or The Dog was being aired, and we chat about this and the landmark first series that aired in the UK in 2005. Victoria explains that the doggy problems are the same as they were in the first series, but more intense as our lives have changed, not least because of the pandemic. If trained dogs are happy dogs, they make for happier pet parents! Victoria champions the term ‘teaching’ over ‘training, and about empowering pet parents with the skills to get the best out of your dog. And why in #NationalWalkYourDog month, getting out with your dog is the best way to be with your furry friend.Watch It's Me or the DogInstagram: @victoriastilwell and on FacebookOr visit her website positively.comFor 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 Pawtraits

As our Summer Season from the Archive continues, in this episode CBS News correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning, Martha Teichner joins Anna to discuss her book: When Harry Met Minnie. Set in New York City it's a true story of an unexpected friendship and the gift of love beyond loss. There are true fairy tales, once upon a time stories that exist because of coincidental happenings that change everything. Except in real life not all of them have the typical , happy -ever-after endings. Both Harry and Minnie were Bull Terriers, but it’s so much more than a tale of two complicated doggies. Order your copy hereFor more about Anna visit her website. Music and editing by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions, a division of Thelonious Punk Productions Ltd.Art work by JaijoCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits 

In light of the recent news in Turkey that the government has passed a bill ordering the destruction of all street dogs and cats there, we start our Summer Archive season with our conversation with Elizabeth Lo, the director of a stunning documentary Stray which follows the every day life of stray dogs led by Zeytin, an Anatolian Shepherd dog, in Istanbul, a city at that point, that not only tolerates but cares for them.Find out where you can watch Stray wherever you are.The Wild At Heart Foundation is helping to organise a petition and protest against the new laws here.For more about Anna visit her website. Music and editing by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions, a division of Thelonious Punk Productions Ltd.Art work by JaijoCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits 

This week we’re discussing why meat is a critical ingredient for dogs to thrive rather than survive!We’re joined by Andy Gray of The Farmer’s Dog and pet food consultant, Caroline Griffith,  to talk about the nub of the issue when it comes to processed foods versus fresh whole foods.We chat about the worrying trend of Veganism for dogs, which understandably prompts a conversation to remind people about why feeding your dog on a lot of meat is ‘appropriate’ for a dog.Highlighting the on-going conversation of plant based diets (many of which are overly processed!), over meat and the consequences of both. And the irony in that why feeding dogs raw can actually contribute to sustainability as well as promoting a dog’s optimal health.Dispelling some myths on feeding raw meaty bones, rather discussing their nutritional benefits and as a key source of instinctual enrichment.We also discuss the billing of meats as ‘human-grade’, and what that actually means, and how this is represented by FEDIAF guidelines. We highlight the selling point used more and more of being grass fed, but does that mean livestock are finished on grass, and what does that mean?Plus we talk about a new range launching very soon containing a mix of novel, species appropriate, and health boosting ingredients!The Farmer's Dog website and InstagramFollow Caroline on InstagramFor more about Anna visit her websiteTheme music and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People ProductionsCover art by Jaijo DesignCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd of Gruff Pawtraits

As part of our Summer ‘revival’ replaying some key episodes from A Dog’s Life’s archives, we’re joined by the Broadcasting legend that is Jenni Murray talking about her love of dogs. From her first  Corgi cross called Taffy, to her two Miniature Schnauzers called William and Mary.  After Jenni battled cancer, she persuaded her husband to accept her first Chihuahua named Butch, latterly joined by two more  little Chihuahuas Frieda and Madge. At the time of recording in Jenni’s garden Butch was almost 16 and Jenni shares the journey with Butch as her rock through a particularly difficult time.  We discuss the impact of dogs and the irony they’re defined as Man’s Best Friend when in fact history concurs that women played the main role through the domestication process. We chat about the inevitable  and the harsh reality that dogs simply don’t live long enough, underlining the fact that dogs define chapters in our lives. We chat about the responsibility a dog is and the commitment that dogs are that so many people have sadly underestimated through the pandemic boom in ownership, to whats considered a crisis with rescue centres overflowing with unwanted pooches.  We talk about vet bills and postulate that vets could be biting the hands that feeds them, which is interesting considering the current CMA investigation! We postulate about the origin of the Chihuahua down to the fact that both Caravaggio and Botticelli painted dogs that look very like a Chihuahua long before Columbus discovered America. We chat about the extreme discussion about dogs and cats being demonised as contributing to climate change by extreme environmentalists. We celebrate dogs and their huge impact on our lives. Sadly since this recording little Butch has passed, but his legacy will live on! You can order Jenni's book hereAnd listen to her new podcast hereFor more about Anna visit her websiteTheme music and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People ProductionsCover art by Jaijo DesignCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd of Gruff Pawtraits

Dog lover and Entrepreneur, Avi Nagel, joins us to chat about a new enrichment brand called Dog And Bond. Drawing on his fond childhood experiences growing up sharing a home with German Shepherds, Avi succeeds in recreating the shared experience of baking healthy snacks for your dog that you can eat too!  Dog and Bond ensuresthat the ingredients are species appropriate so there’s no sugar or grains.  Apart from thinking about ingredients and an awareness of whole foods, it's about training and enrichment at a sensory level. Dogs love to be involved with clear boundaries, and  being encouraged to explore their olfaction as baking aromas waft around. It's also about making an appointment to spend time interacting with your dog. It's a way of reducing stress in an age where science concurs that stress is transferable from humans to their dogs. The silicone baking moulds are all 100% BPA free and re-usable, and the packaging is uber sustainable and thoughtfully designed. Visit their website or follow them on InstagramFor 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 Pawtraits