The Chinese crested and Mexican hairless are two dogs that have very little hair and have unusually wizened features and they are not what you would describe as attractive canines. Despite this, they are two of the breeds of dogs that are growing fastest in popularity in the UK.

The research identifies five of the ugliest dogs available and estimates that in the past decade the number of these types of dog being born has increased by more than three times.It is not just that the number of dogs is increasing overall, but the number of traditional breeds that are being kept is significantly decreasing.

The Yorkshire terrier has always been a very popular dog in the UK but since 2001 its numbers have decreased by over 30 percent. Another very popular dog is the German Shepherd which has declined by a similar amount. One of the most significant declines was seen by the Highland White Terrier which has seen a fall in numbers of over 50 percent since 2001.

Experts in the industry have said that people are generally looking for a pet that is a bit more unusual but there are also some practical elements involved. People with asthma are sometimes unable to have a dog with hair as it will aggravate their condition, so hairless pets, while not attractive, do provide a solution.

The Mexican hairless is certainly one of the most unusual looking dogs and it is believed they originate from South America. In ancient history it was believed by the Aztecs that this type of animal had special healing powers, the animal was not just used for this however and it was also often consumed.

It is believed they were brought back to the UK by colonialists after they thought the animals were ‘strange looking’ and that they would entertain people back home. Despite the early interest the first pair to enter the UK came in the 1950′s, and they were on display at the London Zoo. This animal requires more care than many other dogs because when they are in the sun it is necessary to apply suncream on them. Despite being ugly, the price of these dogs is certainly not cheap, with the average puppy costing around one thousand pounds.

Leslie Lockhart is from the Mexican Hairless Club and she said, “Despite their appearance they are wonderful pets and many people often ask about them. I like to think they are very similar to Marmite, you either love them or hate them. There is one thing that is certain, they do make an impression and if you take the time to get to know one of these animals you will find them to be a wonderful and loving pet.”

The Chinese crested, is another unusual dog which is very popular in the UK and it is continuing to grow in popularity. It is most noted for winning competitions in California, where the ugliest dogs in the world are rated as highly desirable.

It is easy to get used to seeing your cats healthily gambolling around and think that it will always be this way, but sadly this is not the case. Every good thing must come to an end some day, and one of the best ways of making this easier is with Pet Insurance. A sick cat is any owner’s worst nightmare, but it would make the vet’s bills one less thing to worry about. It can’t stop your cat from getting ill, but it makes it easier to get the treatment  needed.

Insurance is something you hope you will never need to use, but if the time comes when it would be useful then you would thank your lucky stars that it is available to you. It might be cheaper to simply put money aside by yourself, but insurance can come to pay for itself very quickly if it turns out to be necessary.

The only time that is too late is if your cat is already sick. It is best to start looking as soon as possible to give you the maximum time to learn about pet insurance and find out which plan will serve your needs best.

Pet insurance gives you tremendous peace of mind, knowing that no matter what happens your cat is guaranteed the best medical attention available. Whether it gets sick or has an accident, whatever needs to be done will get done with the insurance paying almost all the bills. In addition, this care will be provided as soon as possible.

Unless you have already had dealings with them it is hard to explain how quickly vet bills add up, and swiftly become very expensive. Investing in pet insurance means that you are protected from the risk of unexpected and unnecessary debts, even if it seems like it’s not an apparent necessity at the start.

If you don’t have insurance, then it means that money becomes a factor when deciding which treatments your cat should have. If, like many families, you consider your cat to be more than just a pet, this can be a simply awful decision to make.

Imagine if you had to have your cat put down because you can’t afford the fees. With the right policy, money is less of a concern, and therefore you can focus your attention on your cat and its wellbeing.

There are many available pet insurance plans to choose from, and it is important to research all of them thoroughly. Pet insurance is not cheap, but you need to decide before it is too late. Do your research thoroughly as best as you can to decide if insurance is the right path for you, and if so, which plan to take out.

Another essential thing you must consider is whether a cat is the right pet for you. If you are looking for something to give you companionship, then a cat might not be the best choice. Unlike dogs, cats are very hard to train and are incredibly independent animals. They will do their own thing and come and go as they please.

This can be better if you are someone who is out a lot, because they are much more able to take care of themselves than a dog. However, if you don’t have the time to even clean out a litter box then it might be best to hold off until you have the time to properly care for an animal. Although independent, cats do have some basic needs.

While getting a cat might seem like a good idea at first, you need to be certain that you are not going to lose motivation. There are many good reasons to get a cat, but you need to be aware that adopting a cat means the burden of its care is on you.

Looking after a cat takes both time and effort. You will need to be able to find the time to clean out its litter box, to feed it, to make sure it has enough water, and if it is a long-haired breed then it will need to be groomed. Some cats will require more attention than others, and this is a choice that will need to be considered early on in the process.

Another very significant factor is financial. Cats can vary from anywhere between a couple of pounds if you’re purchasing from a friend, neighbour or an animal shelter, to hundreds or even thousands of pounds if you want a purebred or a pedigree cat.

The initial investment is not the only cost you need to consider. Your cat’s needs for food and cat litter are two of the more obvious costs, but if something goes wrong and it needs medical attention, the costs can increase dramatically. Add in miscellaneous expenses such as toys, and the charges can pile up.

Although you might have seen homeless people looking after cats, you have to remember that these cats may not be very healthy and could be carrying a disease. In addition they may have other people that give the cat food and attention. Looking after a cat is a big commitment, and you need to be sure you have the money to look after it properly.

Getting a cat takes a lot of time, as well as money, and it can have a significant impact on your lifestyle. You need to make sure that you, or a member of your family, can look after the cat. This includes feeding, watering and changing the litter box. There are a lot of cats that have been returned to animal shelters because the owner made a mistake. Make sure this doesn’t happen to you.

New Dog Friendly Camping and Caravan Site Book launched

Dog owners can now choose where to go camping or caravanning and relax in the knowledge that their dogs are going to made as welcome as they are. Dogfriendly  is the largest database of dog friendly venues in theUK, and they have just released this years version of the Dog Friendly Camping and Caravan Site book.

This 2012 edition has over 600 pages of bang up to date information on which camping and caravan  sites in England and Wales are dog friendly. It’s great news for Dog owners that they can take their beloved pooches to any of the sites listed here knowing they will receive a very warm welcome.

Containing information such as how many dogs are allowed, extra charges for dogs and breed exclusions, it is an invaluable resource for dog owners who want to go on a camping or caravan holiday with their dog(s).

With “stay-cations” becoming more and more popular due to the squeeze on holiday budgets and the cost of leaving dogs in kennels, Dogfriendly’s Camping and Caravan Site book is a must for dog owners.

The Dogfriendly Camping and Caravan Site book is available online at www.dogfriendly.co.uk at £14.99 plus postage and packing.

Vets Kitchen gives you the chance to win a dog friendly break

Well known television vet Joe Inglis has his own natural vegetarian brand of pet food known as Vet’s Kitchen (www.vetskitchen.co.uk) , and has now joined forces with the UK website Dog Friendly (www.dogfriendly.co.uk)  to create the first exclusive on pack consumer promotion for his brand. Dog Friendly is the largest database in the UK of places to visit and stay where your dog is as welcome as you are.

The promotion begins at the start of February 2012, and offers customers the opportunity to win hundreds of great prizes including a dog friendly holiday in a luxury cottage, Vouchers worth £200 to put towards short breaks in dog friendly cottages, guide books to dog friendly holidays, dog toys, a consultant with Jez Rose, the leading canine behaviourist and free membership to Dog Friendly, worth £5.99

Vet’s Kitchen’s MD, Joe Inglis, said: “As well as being passionate about feeding natural, high quality foods to our pets, I also believe that they should be treated as a member of the family – and being able to take them with you on holiday can only add to the enjoyment of dog ownership. By running this promotion with Dog Friendly, I hope we will encourage more dog owners to take their dogs on holiday with the family.”

Customers should look out for promotional bags of Vet’s Kitchen natural dog food bearing eye-catching on pack stickers which will be available in over 1700 UK retail outlets including Asda, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and independents. Each promotional bag will contain a special card with a unique code which customers enter online at www.dogfriendly.co.uk/vetskitchen. The campaign is forecast to run for up to six months.

After Janet received requests from dog owners who were worried about the fact their pooches went after sheep the minute they saw them, she approached Michael for help. The recent shooting of a dog near Ulverston that was worrying sheep shows that owners fears are justified, and they can end up losing their dog.

As the law currently stands, it is a criminal offence for a dog to chase and worry sheep or livestock even if not actually attacking them. Seen to be even worrying his stock,
a farmer can legally shoot your dog, safe in the knowledge that he is legally protected from prosecution.

“Michael’s attitude was very positive”, says Janet. “With public footpaths running across his land, he’s seen at first hand the problems an uncontrolled dog can create and
the damage it can occasionally cause to livestock”.

Working with a flock of Michael’s sheep, she retrains dogs using a variety of humane methods, which have proven to be both very effective and popular.

In one lesson, she can change the behaviour of nearly all “chasers”, regardless of age or breed. “Very occasionally however, and when all else has failed, I can use
an electric collar although this is only done at the owners’ request”, Janet says.

And if you own a puppy, Janet’s advice is simple – socialise your dog with livestock as early as possible.

For more information, contact Janet Ardley 01768 361057 or visit http://www.cumbria-dog-training.com

Unlike a domestic cat, the Savannah cat can take 3 years to reach maturity. Their bodies tend to grow during the first 2 years and they develop their muscle in the third year. While this is the norm, there are exceptions to the case and they have been known to continue growing for 4 years.

You can never really say for definite what size a Savannahcat will grow to,  but the general rule of thumb as that they will be approximately double the size of a domestic cat and weigh around 25 pounds. Unlike other cats, it is also very rare for them to be in any way overweight, as they are pretty much solid muscle, without any excess fat accumulating around the gut.

The appearance and demeanour of a Savannah cat gives the impression that they weigh more than they do. They are also incredible sleek and flexible for their size, and can slip into spaces you would never think possible, and from the kitchen floor can easily stretch to get their front paws onto the worktops.

The main reason they never develop a gut is their excessive energy. Get out of the way if your kitty is pleased to see you and comes barelling towards you. Their energy is boundless, and they will run and climb endlessly, most of the time for no other reason that because they can.

If you are looking for a quiet pet, you may want to reconsider acquiring a Savannah cat, they are one of the most vocal cats you will ever come across. Their vocal range far exceeds a typical meow, and if you think you can hear a bird close by, chances are it’s your cat chirping. If you try and make them do something you don’t want to, you will be treat to a range of around 100 different meows in varying pitches.

They are very cautious around new items, so anything new you acquire place it in the centre of the room. They will eventually come up and sniff it, stretching their neck way out from their body. They will be so intent on examining this new thing that if you make it twitch, they will spring a good 4ft in the air, which can be very funny to witness.

Savannah cats have enormous back feet, akin to a rabbit, they also have large ears and teeth. The latter can be painful when they are kittens, as they have no bite inhibitions. If they do actually catch you, their teeth are so sharp they will invariably draw blood. This needs correcting from an early age, similar to training a puppy, as they are highly intelligent and can be trained to be great pets.

It is expected that the lifting of these regulations by the government is going to save people who own pets around £7 million every year. When animals are being brought into the UK from outside the European Union they face around £2500 worth of these costs to make sure that the animal is free of diseases as it has to go through a lengthy quarantine period. The figure for animals coming from inside the European Union is much less at around £100 per animal.

For dogs who are going to travel outside of the United Kingdom the treatment for ticks will now be necessary and the tapeworm treatment is still part of the regulations. Lord Taylor is the animal welfare minister and he has commented, “Quarantine was initially introduced in the 19th century and since this time medicine has made a huge number of leaps forward and now we feel it is unnecessary to burden owners with the extensive amount of quarantine that was happening before.

This will allow those with pets to travel more cheaply but there will still be the protection required through vaccines and immunisations.” Battersea dogs home has welcomed the change and has also urged the government to consider important other factors relating to animal health and safety. It has said that micro-chipping of animals should be a legal obligation in the UK as it will allow health authorities to monitor the travel of animals anywhere.

Defra is responsible for animal welfare and they have commented, “We are trying to reduce the problem the country faces from irresponsible dog owners. There is not an easy solution but the efforts are expected to make the streets of the UK a safer place.” The Home Office has commented, “We have recently introduced new measures that allow councils and the police to enforce the law against dog owners in an easier way so people will take more responsibility for their pets.”

The risks of your pet being poisoned

How safe is your pet? The Kennel Club, RPSB, the Dogs Trust and the Feline Advisory Bureau are warning pet owners that over the past decade, at least 22 cats and 56 dogs are known to have died in pesticide abuse incidents. The majority of these come from poisoned baits that had been placed illegally with the intention of killing wildlife and birds of prey.

The problem is that these baits have been placed so indiscriminately that many pets have become the unintended victims. The animal organisations have warned the public to watch out for poisoned baits being left in areas where pets can get to them. Those who need to be particularly aware are cat and dog owners who live in rural areas, or walk their dogs there.

Martin Harper is the RSPB’s Conservation Director. He said: “To lose a pet is heart-breaking, but it must be unbearable to know that a pet has died because someone callously wanted to kill foxes or birds of prey and that your companion was just an unintended casualty in the war on predators.”

Employees on rogue shooting estates will illegally douse rabbit or pheasant carcasses with poisons. These poisoned baits are then carelessly left out in areas where foxes or birds of prey may take the bait, with the inevitable consequences. The use of poisoned baits was outlawed in 1911, but the practice still continues illegally.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: “Behind every one of these incidents is a tragic story, which could have been avoided. Whether it’s a red kite or a red setter, there are too many victims of illegal poisoning and it’s time for the law to change. We urge dog owners to avoid letting their dogs go out of sight when they are out for a walk, so that they can try and prevent them from picking up potential poisoned bait.”

Claire Bessant of the Feline Advisory Bureau, said: “We believe that too many pets and threatened species have died and it’s time this deplorable practice was brought to an end.”

Dogs Trust Veterinary Director Paula Boyden added: “Illegal baiting is a despicable practice that causes unimaginable suffering to wildlife and domestic pets. Should a pet owner have any suspicions that their animal has eaten something that might be toxic; they should call their vet for immediate advice.

“Although it is not always easy to do when walking a dog off-lead in rural areas, we strongly recommend that you prevent your dog from scavenging on animal remains and ideally encourage them to leave carcasses alone.”

The RSPB is campaigning for a list of the most widely-abused and lethal poisons to be added to the legislation, so that only those with a legitimate use for them can have them in their possession.

Jeff Knott, the RSPB’s bird of prey policy officer, said: “It is illegal to poison a bird of prey, but in a bizarre quirk, it is not illegal inEngland,WalesandNorthern Irelandfor individuals to possess some of the most deadly poisons capable of killing these species, even though they have no legitimate need to possess them.

“Currently it is only a crime to use these poisons to kill wildlife, but by making it an offence to hold stockpiles of these chemicals, we believe we can lower the threat to wildlife and pets.”

The previous Government accepted in 2006 that it was sensible to make it illegal for unauthorised people to possess these poisons, but despite the law being in place, the Government hasn’t listed the banned pesticides. This is despite the controls being in place inScotlandsince 2005, where police find it a very useful tool in the fight against wildlife crime as 10 convictions have already been secured. The RSPB is asking the Government to add a list of chemicals to Section 43.

The RSPB Birdcrime 2010 report reveals there were 128 reports of illegal poisoning in theUK, and the early figures for this year suggest a similar pattern. In 2010, 20 red kites, 30 buzzards, two goshawks, eight peregrines, five golden eagles, one white-tailed eagle and one sparrowhawk were found poisoned in theUK. The RSPB believes that the number of recorded incidents is way below the actual number.

The cat in the position of attack or defense, is also able to growl, hiss and spit to alert or terrify the opponent. Some researchers think their breath mimics the behavior of the snake.  When they’re aggressive, especially in relationships with others, the cat can emit a growl at a very low, deep tone, which is considered the last warning before the attack.
The mechanism of the release of purring of cats is not yet known. The cats do not seem to have a body dedicated to purr. A first hypothesis assumes a very rapid contraction of the muscles of the larynx, which compresses and expands the Glotta vibrating the air that passes. A more ancient, evoking vibration of the vena cava, is amplified by the bronchi, the trachea and nasal cavity.

These sound vibrations are found in most cats, but their mechanism and their usefulness is not yet fully explainable. Cats are the only animals that can inhale and exhale, without “interrupting” the typical sound.   Purring begins at the age of two days.  Purring of the mother, in turn, reassurs the children that they are safe. The issue of melt also occurs during the cleaning of small cats, but can also occur when the cat is ill, injured or dying. In the latter, purring calms the animal and is also used to request assistance.