Ross McCarthy

This week we’re joined by Dog Behaviourist, Ross McCarthy from the Cambridge Institute of Dog Training and Behaviour (CIDBT). Ross has over 25 years experience of working with dogs nationwide and is London based. We chat about the old days when we met as being Ambassadors for the  raw food company, Natural Instinct.  We discuss why 70% of Britain’s dogs are currently suffering from anxiety, why the rescues are now literally bursting, and why dogs are facing euthanasia through no fault of their own, just from a lack of appropriate training and understanding. We focus on the positives of how ‘things can only get better’ looking at how the CIDBT offers accessible training and behaviour courses for dog owners  to learn how to help others in a professional capacity to get the best out of their dogs.  We talk about Ross’s passion for Rottweilers, and how they’ve taught him so much on his own dog journey,  and why experience enhances learning. Ross’s aim is to make the world of dogs a happier, safer and better place - one thought is to introduce a test for new dog owners, in away like a driving test before you get behind the wheel. Find out more hereThank you to the good people at Antinol. We're super proud to be collaborating with them and you can enjoy at 10% discount on your purchase by using our promocode ANNAWEBB. Remember - you're supporting A Dog's Life by supporting our proud sponsor!For 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]

We’re joined by Lucy Eldred from Canine Partners talking  about the urgent need for funding and volunteers! Canine Partners trains assistance dogs for people living with physical disabilities and is making an urgent appeal for Puppy Training volunteers, as a sustained decline in volunteering since the pandemic poses a real risk to its ability to meet growing demand for life-changing partnerships which empower individuals with greater independence, security, and confidence. Because of overwhelming demand, due to rising costs and a decline in donations and volunteers, Canine Partners has been forced to make the difficult decision to temporarily close its waiting list to new applications for an assistance dog. Currently, about 100 individuals are waiting for a trained assistance dog, each urgently needing support with essential daily tasks to regain their independence and improve their quality of life.The dogs have much more to do than fetch and retrieve – they allow their human partners to reclaim independence in their day-to-day lives by opening doors, retrieving dropped items, operating light switches, and providing consistent emotional support.  In addition to practical assistance, these canines also offer companionship, increased confidence, and a sense of safety.The impact is profound with 93% of individuals saying their assistance dog has improved their emotional wellbeing and confidence, while 89% report that their dog enables them to live life more fully, 73% need less formal care, reducing the strain on the NHS and local services, and 83% less dependent on family and friends.Follow on Instagram or go to their websiteThank you to the good people at Antinol. We're super proud to be collaborating with them and you can enjoy at 10% discount on your purchase by using our promocode ANNAWEBB. Remember - you're supporting A Dog's Life by supporting our proud sponsor!For 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]

We’re joined by Tyler Whitnall, a passionate conservationist who presents TV series One Zoo Three and is a zookeeper at Hertfordshire Zoo where he grew up alongside his two brothers, we chat about  the history of this family run Hertfordshire based Zoo, and its sister Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent.  Discussing the challenges of keeping the animals cool in a heatwave and how Ocado donates ‘wonky’ fruit and vegetables or dented cans to the Zoo. Thanks to Ocado’s food  ‘bank’ donation, the Zoo saves over £30,000.00 a year on food bills ,  so far allowing over £400K to be channelled into conservation and welfare projects.  As Lemurs lick on fruit ice lollies, and Sun bears smash open watermelons and tomatoes ,  we talk about this family run Zoo and is dedicated to education and conservation. Follow the Big Cat Sanctuary or Herefordshire ZooThank you to the good people at Antinol. We're super proud to be collaborating with them and you can enjoy at 10% discount on your purchase by using our promocode ANNAWEBB. Remember - you're supporting A Dog's Life by supporting our proud sponsor!For 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]

This week we’re joined by Cathryn Michon- film-maker, actor, comic and nationally best selling author. Cathryn is the only American woman screenwriter with two films released globally in 2019 (A Dog’s Way Home and A Dog’s Journey - the sequel to A Dog’s Purpose).In her latest book, I’m Still Here: A Dog’s Purpose Forever, Cathryn takes the theme of A Dog’s Journey, which explores the idea of reincarnation, and eternal love, underlining that a dog’s purpose is to look after their human forever.The book is not sad, is not about grief, but celebrating the eternal love and energy that dogs bring. It’s so thoughtfully put together with illustrations by Seth Taylor and printed on watercolour paper.As a celebration of her muse dog, Tucker, we chat about energy and its lasting format, and the scope for connections on different levels.The book also underlines our responsibility to dogs, the joy the bring, and the art at keep us in the moment. Cathryn postulates that dogs don’t live as long as people, and its down to their purpose to bring fun and spreading joy.Bringing this gift to their people, time after time.Huge thanks to Cathryn Michon @cathrynmichonOrder your copy hereThank you to the good people at Antinol. We're super proud to be collaborating with them and you can enjoy at 10% discount on your purchase by using our promocode ANNAWEBB. Remember - you're supporting A Dog's Life by supporting our proud sponsor!For 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]

This week we're joined by singer-songwriter and dog lover, Nick Celino, talking about his new music and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Charlie, who is the latest in the line of previous doggies, Tino, Billy, and Prince. Check out Nick's music on Spotify.And this week is the first in our new partnership with the good people at Antinol. We're super proud to be collaborating with them and you can enjoy at 10% discount on your purchase by using our promocode ANNAWEBB.For 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]

Our Archive Wellness season continues, again focusing on the Microbiome. Anna is joined by CEO of Ingenious Probiotics about what represents an explosion in the science of healthy bacteria.  We discuss probiotics in an external environment rather than an internal one. Based on our knowledge, albeit recent and expanding, we understand the vital role of probiotics as balancing bacteria in our microbiome. Joe discusses how we can use probiotics as a cleaning product to kill pathogens indoors with out adding chemicals. Too many chemicals in the home environment can make your indoor environment 100 times more toxic than outdoors. The issue with dogs is that the explore the world nose first, and sadly overtime many chemicals used in the home leach / off gas very toxic ‘endocrine disruptors’ that can play havoc at a cellular level. Choosing a more natural option to work symbiotically with nature can also be used to clean ears, remove tear stains, and clean teeth. Joe talks about the range of products from shampoos to sprays for the coat. Thinking about how the enzymes also work we discuss how the the probiotics actually work to keep good bacteria in the environment and react accordingly to the pathogens in the environment. As an emerging science , this episode clarifies we’ve just begun to scratch the surface of pro-biotics in the context of us having lived in a very sterile world. For more information click here or follow on InstagramIf 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]

Carol Hughes is back for part two of her chat about the Microbiom as our archive wellness season continues. Carol’s journey began being commissioned by the Welsh Government to research plant compounds, in particular natural occurring steroids. Carol explains how this naturally moved into researching animals microbiomes as part of her parent company Phytorigins. It was this research that brought Carol into focusing on the Microbiome. With technology advancing particularly with Artificial Intelligence. We discuss how working with leaders in the field at Aberystwyth University, how her team has conducted the first in-depth observation of different ‘biomes: cats, horses, and of course, dogs. We talk about her first study relating to obesity in dogs, and the bacteria - in fact a natural plant steroid that stimulates a pathway to the brain that could help reducing a tendency for obesity. Highlighting that you are what you eat, we explore how the microbiome responds to different hormones, and the lack of them, and the fact that it's a very delicate eco-system that relies on so many factors. Carol believes the microbiome shows everything in your dog, when you know how to read the picture presented. What she has discovered is that dogs in the UK are not well, and that their’ biomes are more compromised that cats and horses. Her research can highlight why spaying and neutering can affect the biome, and how antibiotic resistance is very obvious, along with other bacteria that are missing, painting a sad picture.For more information visit their website or FacebookIf 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 PawtraitsAdvertising and sponsorship opportunities [email protected]

As we continue our Wellness season we bring you another classic from the archive when we’re joined by Carol Hughes talking about the Microbiome. Carol’s journey began being commissioned by the Welsh Government  to research plant compounds in particular natural occurring steroids. Carol explains how this naturally moved into researching animals microbiomes as part of her parent company Phytorigins. We discuss how science namely Artificial Intelligence has moved forwards combined with working with leaders in the field at Aberystwyth University, how her team has conducted the first in-depth observation of different ‘biomes: cats, horses and of course dogs. We talk about her first study relating to obesity in dogs, and the bacteria that indicate and prove why dogs are getting porkier. You are what you eat!!!!! Carol believes the microbiome shows everything in your dog, when you know how to read the picture presented. What she has discovered is that dogs in the UK are not well. In fact they are less healthy than horses and cats. We discuss the many reasons as to why this is the case, revealing that Carol’s research is a honey pot of information that could help Britain’s dogs be healthier. For more information visit their website or FacebookIf 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 PawtraitsAdvertising and sponsorship opportunities [email protected]

Our archive wellness season continues with this classic episode where Anna is joined by Dr Nick Thompson, known as the Holistic Vet. We chat about vaccines, but also about minimising chemicals in your home. Science proves that indoor environments can be 100 times more toxic than outdoors. With this in mind Dr Nick talks about his experience using ‘probiotic therapy’. We chat about his experience with his own dogs in terms of Dental Care and with Dog Dental Month upcoming, it's a timely reminder that tooth brushing is not always the full proof answer in dogs or indeed humans. This why diet plays a major role. Dr Nick has long championed feeding a raw balanced and complete diet and we chat about why keeping your dog’s mouth full of good bacteria, rather than creating a sterile environment created by sterile diets, is so easy yet important!  Biscuit kibble gets stuck in dogs gums, and tiny particles remain overtime to create a pro-inflammatory reaction and gum disease. Conversely, feeding raw fuels the digestive system, the microbiome, and creates an environment in the mouth for good bacteria to flourish and counter any bad bacteria, which helps keep disease at bay. This coupled with regular treatment with Ingenious Probiotics’ Dental Spray has Dr Nick’s thumb’s up. Similarly for dogs fed on kibble diets especially adding some Collar-gen will replenish what is missing from a sterile biscuit diet. Collagen depletes in all mammals with age, and as a structural protein is essential for strong bones, and healthy soft tissue, including teeth and gums. Nick's WebsiteNick's InstagramIf 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 Productions

We kick off our wellness season with this classic from the Dog's Life Archive. Dr Lise Hansen talks about the benefits of the Titre Test.Order Lise's book:https://www.hubbleandhattie.com/shop/HH5415/And follow her on:@alternativevetFind out more about Earth Animal and order your No Hide Wholesome Chews today! Tell them Anna sent you!https://www.earthanimal.com/our-products/uk-no-hide-natural-treatsFollow Anna on:https://annawebb.co.ukMusic by Mike HansonCover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraitsArt work by https://jaijo.com