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Estimates of the number of dogs injured or killed on the roads every year in every country is just horrific. Add to that  number, the injuries to humans and damage caused by dogs running on the road and you have a nightmare scenario. Other situations such as attacking other pets, constant barking and causing a disturbance, damaging property or worrying livestock, chasing cars, bikes or runners are also problems that fill up social media pet group pages with desperate pleas for help and advice on curing or controlling dogs. Trainers and training courses are big business in many countries. 
Thousands of dog lovers have sensible trainable pets who respond to their owners or trainers but thousands of others (especially hound owners) either spend small fortunes on training classes and expert tuition or keep their pets on leads/leashes and fenced in for their entire lives. Some will sell them on or dump them on an overcrowded rescue centre or even abandon them in the hope that someone will find and care for their errant unwanted pet. There is yet another group who love their dogs, want to enjoy their free-running company safely and turn to trying out shock (electric) collars. They risk alienating friends and making strong enemies if they go ahead. Is it worth it? Are a few seconds of tolerable pain (if that is what it is) less horrific than the scenarios described above?
​There are 3 classic questions to consider before trying one: 1) Can training and control with the abhorred shock collars (where they are still legally purchased and used) be a long-term effective solution to bad or dangerous behaviour? 2) Do they really work for all dogs? 3) Are they truly as cruel as opponents of the devices claim? Aside of these questions pet owners have to ask the if we can trust that the collars will not be used incorrectly, inappropriately or downright deliberately cruelly. The answer to this last question is almost impossible to determine and as such is probably the most weighty argument for banning them.
Even so, there are many loving dog owners who have found that careful very moderate use of the collars has meant keeping a difficult pet out of trouble and ensuring a safe and happy lifestyle for the animal and the family. Most electric collars today are much smaller than early versions, with many control levels and feature buzzers or bells that dogs rapidly learn to react to rather than the associated shock and this is sufficient to know that any dangerous situation can be controlled effectively without any pain involved. More details and opinions of users and opponents over the next week. Please respond if you have a view.....

The real cost of buying  a puppy or dog. The cost of adopting a dog. The REAL cost in cash and emotions. A lifetime of love and affection - but be sure to know the real cost  - in joy  and pain, and real lifetime expenses. (think  $18,000 - $90,000 - but think also - they really are worth it) New series starting tomorrow........

Hygromas are an accumulation of fluid in the joints  caused by pressure - a knock or fall or, in my case, time and movement in a flight box (|in spite of every care by the breeder with much cushioning) during travel. They often go away on their own after a few days or even weeks but occasionally need aspirating by the vet (or even surgery in extreme cases) but generally the advice is to keep the elbows clean, watch for any redness or discomfort indicating infection and wait. I was just on the point of seeking the vet's help after 2 months of waiting when another puppy owner advised longer on their own experience of the condition. After 5 months the hygromas started to go and rapidly disappeared after another couple of weeks - so 6 moths in all. So don't worry prematurely - just be watchful and enjoy your puppy.......

The best breakfast for puppies - fortified cornflakes (with iron and vitamins) or Weetabix and full-cream milk, just warm in winter and for the very young ones, otherwise cold and no sugar and definitely no honey (can cause  a pup weaned from mum's help to be unable to pass faeces)
The second best or second meal - scrambled egg with or without toast or any light egg dish.....

Lots of toys, old shoes/slippers/cardboard boxes/plastic bottles (tops removed) - no need to buy anything - they will soon shred everything you give them. Later - they will have one or 2 treasured items but not at this age. Not wise to leave them unsupervised - they can swallow something - remove buttons, studs, anything metal or hard, eyes in old teddies need watching, plastics after a bit of play - edges can cut delicate puppy mouths. Don't leave them with chews (preferably never give them any) - big hard marrowbones are great but never leave them alone with them. Socks can be dangerous - wet socks get stuck in little throats. Puppies need watching!

So you are getting ready for a new puppy to come into the home. Unlike the woman in my last post you know that it will take some time to TRAIN the puppy. If you just let it run all over the house, do not take the time to put it out and encourage it to do the right thing, then get ready for all that woman's complaints now and don't lose your cool because you weren't prepared.  The best possible advice is to get or make an indoor kennel. Look for ads for second-hand ones - they will be quite adequate for a short time or an old flight kennel cleaned out and padded up is ideal as it will have a lockable door and proper ventilation as well as a secure place to fix water bowls. Be careful to use breathable bedding materials but not chewable and swallowable stuff.  Large inco. pads are useful if you can get them but be prepared for them to be shredded so put under a warm washable topping. Old towels from charity shops or markets can do the same job if you have an hygienic way of washing them frequently. If you have other dogs or pets in the house put the cage near so they have the company but will not be able to bother them. If the puppy is very young introduce slowly to the older ones, Use leads/leashes to control older ones at early meet-ups and NEVER leave a young puppy unsupervised with older pets in the early days/weeks. Let the puppy out to play and they will do what they need to do outside and will get sleepy naturally, Time for one of the meals? - then a sleep in the cage. No need for a puppy to run all over the house - use or improvise a child gate to stop it running up and down the stairs . Slowly, slowly, lot of vigilance and patience and you should be able to just enjoy your new bundle of fun. Food and other tips next time. If you know all this and have something to add that's useful - please do post, especially if you have a sighthound - but all dog lovers are very welcome......

A woman posted on Facebook complaining about her puppy peeing in the house at night - when I replied giving a few tips but assuring her that with a bit of effort the puppy would soon grow out of that stage - I received a nasty reply saying her house 'stank' and she couldn't put up with it.  She was pregnant so I supposed expected sympathy. I didn't answer. For a start - if she was planning a pregnancy it was not an ideal time to get a puppy, second she should have asked about puppy behaviour before getting one, thirdly she would soon be up at night with the baby so could easily let the dog out frequently but most of all - puppies require attention just like babies. You know babies are going to take time with nappies (diapers) and toilet training and you will make the effort. Puppies take a lot less time to grow up so a little effort now will pay off very soon - if you didn't know that puppies are babies too and need training and cleaning up after for a bit - you really definitely SHOULD NOT HAVE ONE!  My tips on how to deal with that stage starting tomorrow. Breeding puppies will be later as I assume most breeders know full well how to deal with that - so it it will be the last in the series

Problem with video ?- view on FB timeline - will try again to correct soon.

Aliki broke her leg very badly at 5 months old - one vet told us she would always have a limp and probably never run again - I will write up about the treatment and surgery over the weekend but sh was severely restricted in movement for weeks and our brilliant Cypriot vet told us she should not have free exercise for many more - we tried! - she was up and running in no time and moved here to Tuscany and the huge woodland garden where she ran, and still runs, every day....more details shortly.....

Another scare last Sunday night. In lockdown we don't get to see many people or other dogs. Sunday afternoon was different. A beautiful Tuscan winter's afternoon and all the world seemed to be walking their dogs down this little road. My lot went crazy and as if that wasn't enough the goatherd and his family, friends, dog and new puppy came over to pick the late fruit off the trees in the garden area next to me. Mad hour and Sharav just deeply upset and barking all the time. He gets more troubled if I shut him in so there was nothing to be done and he seemed ok at feeding time and throughout the evening but he came ustairs to ge me in the night, shaking, looing very sick, wandering about house and garden completely out of it, coughing with fluid coming up - very bad. I thought it was the end - nothing I could do - just make comfortable and sit with him and pray. Slowly, slowly he improved - I suspect congestive heart failure but to get to a vet or call one in is virtually impossible. He probably need Fortekor - a medication that has eased and prolonged several of my dog's lives over the years - the active drug (an ACE inhibitor) can be obtained in milder form from pharmacies (if certain that is what is needed)- if only I can get to one or get someone to go - or, better still to ty and get Michael and a car here.......he is ill and still stuck in Cyprus,,,,,,keep praying.

We love them too much. We can sometimes see the aging process and look the other way but they do age  and we have to help them just as we would  any aging relative or loved one.
Some may get through, like our Bliss, until well over 15 and only the very end of her life were there any signs. Others look at death's door and yet revive and go on for months or years beyond. Several of our Salukis have experienced heart problems at the end of their days but drugs like Fortekor have extended their lives and given us time to say goodbye. More tomorrow........