Episode 28 - Brian May at Pup Aid, Cesar Millan grilled by Alan Titchmarsh and more

The Dog News Show

Debbie opens up the show with an interesting bit of news about dogs' freedom to move - move their joints that is. Many dogs have difficulty moving and walking as they grow older, but the great news is that the conditions that cause this can be managed and their affects reduced by simple measures, such as giving supplements, feeding a good diet and limiting exercise. In Debbie's experience dogs can have symptoms alleviated or delayed by the right treatment, and Julie saw an improvement in her dog's agility and mood, even though he had previously displayed no problems, after giving him chews with joint supplements added. The message is that our dogs can stay active longer if we think ahead and take action now.
Meanwhile one dog in Worcester had his movement severely restricted, when he ended up stuck down a hole when he tried a little hunting while out on a walk. Poor Boh the Border Terrier got himself wedged in a badger sett, which presented his potential rescuers with a problem, as badgers setts are protected and must not be disturbed. Firefighters heard the heavy breathing of an animal in distress, and used a snake-eye camera to establish it was a dog, rather than a badger. Representatives from the RSPCA and English Heritage visited the site to confirm the rescue could go ahead, and eventually Boh was pulled from the hole - with the rabbit he had caught still clutched in his mouth!
Badgers are a hot topic at the moment, with their proposed cull, and its effectiveness, being debated in the news. One high-profile person who is dead set against the cull is Queen lead guitarist Brian May. He and fellow wildlife rescuer Anne Brummer attended Marc Abraham's Pup Aid where Debbie interviewed them about their opposition of puppy farming, and their concern about the relationship between humans and wildlife. Brian May would love you to support his Team Badger campaign, which you can find out more about at the Save Me website, and to find out more about Anne Brummer's stirling work rescuing and rehabilitating a variety of wildlife, check out the Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue website.
Dog breeds come in and out of fashion, and some breeds have gone so far out of fashion in the U.K. that they in danger of dying out altogether. The Kennel Club has a watch list of vulnerable breeds and have recently released new figures which reveal that even the iconic Old English Sheepdog's numbers have fallen into decline worryingly. Several other breeds have dropped numerically, with no FOxhounds being registered with the Kennel Club at all in the last year. Other breeds are very low in numbers, with the Cesky Terrier having only 25 puppies registered, and the Clumber Spaniel having just 114. Contrast that with 2,669 Chihuahuas registered, 5,496 Pugs registered, and a staggering 28,787 Labrador Retrievers registered. The Pembroke Corgi, so beloved of the Queen, have also become unpopular, with one online site speculating that her granddaughter in law, Kate, will be "devastated".

The dog world has been rocked with the arrival in the U.K. of controversial dog trainer, so called "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan. There was widespread objection to Cesar's appearance on the Alan Titchmarsh show, but in the event the objectors were delighted when Titchmarsh gave Millan quite a tough time, putting many of the questions and comments that viewers had sent in to him. With Cesar Millan set to tour the UK and record a new series the debate his training methods sparks looks set to rage for a while yet; Debbie and Julie share their opinions of the trainer, but their motivation may just surprise you.
As ever, Schmaltz Corner aims to send you away with a smile on your face and this one's a great one. But just what is the story, centering around Aysha Perry and her dog Sheba, that has Julie sticking to her guns that it's a heartwarming tale, while Debbie brands it the stupidest spin she's ever heard on a story? Listen and all will be revealed.