Edition Dog Magazine

05/03/2025

Britain’s Oldest Native Toy Dog Breed Pushes for Best in Show with Dog Lovers to Avoid Extinction.

As the canine world gears up for Crufts 2025, The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club is appealing to would-be dog owners to consider sharing their home with Britain’s oldest native toy dog breed, the English Toy Terrier, to help protect the breed from extinction.

Originally bred as working dogs who kept buildings rat free in Victorian times, the English Toy Terrier is mini but mighty - a small dog that packs personality and adaptable to city living or country life. A fantastic companion and family dog yet the English Toy Terrier is one of 35 vulnerable native dog breeds1 in the UK.

Whilst there are 13.5 million dogs in the UK2, and last year the Kennel Club registered 38,000 Labrador puppies3, there are only around 100 English Toy Terrier puppies registered each year4. Despite their potential to perfectly fit into someone’s lifestyle, the English Toy Terrier is an example of a vulnerable native breed over-looked by British dog owners mainly because the public doesn’t know that the breed exists, even though English Toy Terriers are Britain’s oldest native toy breed with their ancestors going back to Tudor England.

Standing at around 12” at shoulder, with short, glossy black and tan coats, candle-flame ears, and distinctive tan spots on their eyebrows and cheeks, English Toy Terriers are low maintenance when it comes to grooming, with very few genetically inherited health issues, and their diminutive size and adaptable temperament means that they are dogs that are easily accommodated as a member of the family.

In a bid to ensure the future of their beloved breed, the English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club is raising awareness of the breed in the Discover Dogs Zone at this year’s Crufts, offering visitors the opportunity to meet these personality-packed small dogs in person. Over 80 English Toy Terriers will be at Crufts over four days, along with their owners for dog lovers to meet the breed and get an insight into every aspect of life with the breed.

The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club Chair Derfel Owen says: “The English Toy Terrier is such a loyal companion and a great family pet. It’s a shame that so many people are missing out on the joy of living with these fantastic dogs because they are not very well known. The ETT Club has a committed crew of champions, and they’ll present at Discover Dogs at Crufts, ready to answer questions and raise awareness to help would-be owners decide whether the English Toy Terrier could be the perfect match for them.”

The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club was established in 1938 to protect and advance the interests of this rare and vulnerable breed, promoting good health and well-being in these beautiful dogs for generations to come. The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) Club and their four-legged representatives can be found in the Discover Dogs Zone at Stand TY11 at this year’s Crufts, which takes place 6 to 9th March 2025 at the Birmingham NEC.

27/02/2025

Does your gundog not give you what they retrieve? Find out why in our latest Conversation. Join Anna Webb and Nina, The Holistic Gundog Specialist, as they discuss gundog training, emphasising the owner-dog relationship, unique gundog traits, and the role of energy in training. They cover noise sensitivity, differences between working and show lines, and recall improvement through engagement. The conversation highlights mindfulness, energy work, and mental stimulation, exploring how stress affects both dogs and owners. They also discuss scent work, purposeful activities, and adventure, emphasising the deep human-dog bond and the power of olfactory communication.

27/02/2025

Launching today.... the second in our conversation series.
In Conversation Two, Anna Webb and Nina discuss the intricacies of dog training, particularly focusing on gundogs. They explore the importance of understanding the relationship between the dog and the owner, the unique traits of gundogs, and the significance of energy in training. The discussion also covers noise sensitivity, the differences between working and show lines, and effective techniques for enhancing recall through engagement and fun activities. In this engaging conversation, Nina and Anna explore the intricate relationship between dogs and their owners, emphasising the importance of mindfulness, energy work, and mental engagement in dog training. They discuss how stress can affect both dogs and their owners, and how transforming that energy can lead to positive outcomes. The conversation also delves into the significance of scent work and the various ways to engage dogs mentally, highlighting the need for purpose and adventure in their lives. Ultimately, the discussion underscores the profound connection between humans and dogs, and the potential for deeper understanding through olfactory abilities and communication.

22/02/2025

Heading to Crufts? Here’s Some Essential Dog Etiquette! 🐾✨
Whether it’s your first time or your hundredth, we want to remind everyone to respect the dogs and their handlers.
✅ Let sleeping dogs lie – Don’t touch a dog resting on a bench.
✅ Ask before you pet – Always get the owner’s permission first.
✅ Give exhibitors space – When handlers are preparing to enter the ring, avoid distracting their dogs by touching or approaching them.
The best time to chat with a handler about their dog? After they’ve been in the ring or at their bench. Let’s make Crufts enjoyable for everyone—especially the dogs! See also the Crufts post below for more essential advice .

🐶💛

Tickets ✅
Show Guide ✅
Controlled excitement ❌

If its your first time to Crufts, here's our handy little guide of must-have's and good-to-knows!
We can't wait to see you soon 🤩

👉Read more tips and tricks in our blog: crufts.org.uk/blogs
⏰Grab your tickets here, there's just under two weeks to go: crufts.org.uk/tickets

The Kennel Club UK NEC Birmingham

19/02/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that ITV’s This Morning vet, Dr Scott Miller, will be spending the day at this year’s Edition Dog Live and he’s bringing his adorable dog Mango along too! 🐕💛
Dr Scott will be meeting visitors, taking part in our fun dog show, exploring our interactive hubs, and getting plenty of cuddles in our Breed Village! Plus, he’ll be joining our expert panels to share his insights on dog health.
Don’t miss the chance to meet Dr Scott and Mango in person!

17/02/2025

Calling All Gundog Owners!!! Do you have a Gundog in your life? Whether they keep you on your toes every day or have put their incredible skills to good use, we want to hear from you!
Our editor, Jennifer Dow, is looking for a few passionate owners to join a fun, informal chat for a podcast about the uniqueness of this amazing group. Share your stories, tips, and advice with fellow Gundog lovers!

📩 If you’d like to take part, email [email protected] with:
🐾 Your dog's breed
🐾 Any fun or special stories about them!
🐾 Any other relevant information that we can chat about.
Let’s celebrate these incredible dogs together! 🐾✨

13/02/2025

💘 Keep Your Dog Safe This Valentine’s Day! 💘

We know you want to shower your loved ones (including your dog) with love this Valentine’s Day! But before you bring home that beautiful bouquet, make sure it’s safe.

🚫 Flowers to AVOID (toxic to dogs):
❌ Lilies
❌ Tulips
❌ Daisies
❌ Baby’s Breath
❌ Hydrangeas
❌ Anemones
❌ Peonies
❌ Buttercups
❌ Carnations

(Calla lilies & Peruvian lilies aren’t true lilies, but they can still cause mouth burning and stomach upset!)

🌸 Pet-Safe Alternatives:
✅ Roses
✅ Orchids
✅ Sunflowers
✅ Gerbera daisies
✅ Freesias

This Valentine’s Day, we wish your dog a day full of love, belly rubs, and safe sniffs! ❤️🐶 Stay mindful of your floral choices and keep your dog happy and healthy.

13/02/2025

At HQ, we love hearing stories about the incredible impact dogs have on our lives and the many ways they support and enrich us. As a society, we don’t celebrate their talents and unwavering love enough, but their contributions deserve to be recognised and shared. So we would love to share the story of Support dog Luna’s never-ending TLC for nurse Caroline.
Nurse Caroline Fielden has spent the past six years tending to patients, most recently despite her own health battles.
Now she has a personal carer of her own – in the furry form of her four-year-old pet Springerpoo, Luna, who has recently qualified as a support dog after just over a year of training.
Caroline, who lives in Chelmsford, Essex, has mobility problems, which leave her unable to carry out everyday tasks most people take for granted.
But thanks to Luna, Caroline is not only able to continue to live independently, she can also carry on her work as an advanced nurse practitioner. “She comes to work with me to a local GP practice, on house calls or up at the hospital,” said Caroline.
“She’s a little superstar, and so sassy.”
Luna was trained by the national Support Dogs charity, which trains and provides assistance dogs to help autistic children, as well as adults with epilepsy or a physical disability.
For Caroline, 28, having a support dog is not only a practical help, it also enables her to face the outside world. As well as carrying out a string of day-to-day tasks for her human, Caroline is grateful that Luna –also provides a talking point.
Little Luna’s tasks to help make Caroline’s life easier include helping her to get dressed and undressed - pulling her trousers off, for instance; picking up anything she drops, loading and unloading the washing machine, fetching the post and closing and opening doors and drawers.
Luna is a familiar face to staff and patients at the Silver End Surgery, in Witham, Essex, where Caroline works.
Caroline said it was a “huge relief” for Luna to have graduated from Support Dogs’ training programme, enabling the pair to be a successful partnership. She applied for the course in early 2022, and attended an information day and an initial interview.
Following assessments, Luna began two months of training at Support Dogs’ centre in Sheffield, before going back to live with Caroline so the pair could put into practice everything they’d both learned. Caroline described the work of Support Dogs as “amazing”, adding: “I couldn’t have done it without them – they have been really supportive.”
To find out more about the work of Support Dogs, or if you can help source hypo-allergenic dogs, please visit www.supportdogs.org.uk or call 0114 2617800.

08/02/2025

Something big is coming to Edition Dog Live 2025… actually, make that two big things. Exciting news is on the way, and trust us—you’ll want to be part of it. Fame, surprises, and a whole lot of tail-wagging excitement… stay tuned!

06/02/2025

Nice to know they are just doing their best to look after us...

03/02/2025

Edition Dog Conversations - First episode launched.
In this episode of Conversations with Anna Webb, Dr. Lise Bang Hansen discusses the landmark WSAVA guidelines on dog reproduction and neutering. The conversation explores the historical context of neutering practices, geographical differences in norms, and the health risks associated with neutering. Dr. Hansen emphasises the importance of responsible pet ownership and the need for updated information in veterinary care. The episode also touches on the behavioural implications of neutering and the necessity for pet owners to be informed about their choices regarding their pets' health.

📍Key Points
🔹Neutering practices have evolved significantly over the years.
Geographical differences influence attitudes towards neutering.
🔹The WSAVA guidelines provide crucial insights into dog reproduction.
🔹Neutering can lead to various health risks in dogs.
🔹Responsible pet ownership is essential in managing intact dogs.
🔹Behavioural issues in dogs can be exacerbated by neutering.
🔹Updated information is vital for informed pet care decisions.
🔹Pet owners should challenge outdated veterinary advice.

Watch our full video on You Tube or listen to our Podcast on Spotify.

31/01/2025

Edition Dog Live VIP Experience – The Ultimate Day Out! 🌟

For those who love a little extra indulgence, our exclusive VIP package is designed to make your day truly unforgettable. Enjoy full access to the event, including all areas, activities, and performances, plus an array of VIP perks!

VIP Package Includes:
✅ Luxury VIP Gift Pack – Worth over £40, delivered to you before the event.
📸 Free Professional Photography – Capture the moment with an exclusive keepsake keyring featuring your dog(s).
🐶 FREE Picnic Pack – A delicious treat for your dog to enjoy at the Innocent Pet Doggie Picnic or take home.
🎟 Exclusive VIP Lanyard – Show off your VIP status in style.
🎁 Special Gift – Courtesy of Edition Dog Magazine.
💰 Exclusive Perks & Discounts – Enjoy VIP-only offers with participating traders.

Make your day extra special—book your VIP package now!

31/01/2025

FREE WEBINAR EXAMINING HEART DISEASE IN DOGS

In partnership with the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society (VCS), The Kennel Club’s Health team is hosting a series of free webinars – open to owners and breeders of all levels of experience – to explore heart problems in dogs.

The first webinar will be an introduction to congenital (present from birth) and acquired (developing later in life) heart disease. It will take place from 7-8.30pm on Wednesday 12 February and will be led by specialist veterinary cardiologist, Dr Hannah Stephenson.

The webinar will enable participants to learn more about possible causes, clinical signs, methods of diagnosis, treatment options, and opportunities for future research. It will include a one-hour presentation followed by a 30-minute question and answer session, giving attendees a chance to put forward their queries and experiences for discussion (questions can also be pre-submitted at the time of registration).

The development of heart disease in dogs is influenced by various factors, including age, genetics, lifestyle, and other health conditions. While it is not fully understood how heart disease is inherited in the majority of dogs, it involves multiple different genes and environmental factors, and the hereditary component of heart disease is part of ongoing research.

24/01/2025

Today we recorded the first in our Conversations series. Our first guest is Dr Lise Bang Hansen and Anna Webb, our host, discussed the topic of neutering and spaying in relation to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association report published in May. The new guidelines completely flips our previous understanding of the topic on its head. Full episode coming soon.,

24/01/2025

The wind howls like a restless ghost, shaking the trees outside my front room window as Storm Éowyn sweeps across Scotland and the rest of the UK. I sit here, warm and cocooned, in my favourite chair, working on this month’s issue of Edition Dog Magazine. The advice from officials is clear: travel only in cases of dire necessity. Yet, as I glance up from my computer, I see a procession of determined figures battling against the storm—dog owners clutching leads with white-knuckled grips as their dogs strain forward into the wind, ears flattened, tails tucked, some nearly airborne.
It’s a scene both comical and concerning. The gusts, so ferocious they threaten life. The dogs, some small enough to be mistaken for tumbleweeds, seem uncertain whether to leap forward or cower close, while their humans press on, their faces set in determined grimaces. Observing this, I can’t help but wonder: why is there such an unspoken pressure to brave these elements, as though skipping a walk might be some grievous failure in pet care?
Let me say this plainly: it is okay—more than okay—to not walk your dog in weather like this. In fact, staying indoors might be the wisest, kindest choice you can make.
Read more and find out some indoor activities you can do with your dog today. Stay safe....

The wind howls like a restless ghost, shaking the trees outside my front room window as Storm Éowyn sweeps across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

22/01/2025

🌟 We’re thrilled to announce that Innocent Hound will be hosting the Dog Picnic at Edition Dog Live! 🐾🐕

Come join the The Innocent Hound team and pick up your FREE picnic pack for your dog – because they deserve a treat too! 🦴🐶

Stay tuned – more details coming soon! 🐾✨

21/01/2025

Snowdrops are mildly toxic to dogs if ingested. While they are less dangerous than some other spring plants like daffodils, they can still cause harm.
THE RISK of dogs eating snowdrops is generally low for most dogs, as they are not particularly attracted to these plants. However, a few factors can increase the likelihood:
1️⃣ Curiosity: Puppies and younger dogs are more likely to chew or dig up plants out of curiosity.
2️⃣ Boredom or Playfulness: Dogs may nibble on or dig up plants when bored or left unsupervised in a garden with snowdrops.
3️⃣ Bulb Exposure: If snowdrop bulbs are freshly dug up, dogs might be tempted to chew on them because they are novel or resemble other objects they enjoy exploring.
4️⃣ Individual Behavior: Some dogs are habitual plant chewers, while others completely ignore plants.

Why the Risk is Low:
➡️ Snowdrops are mildly toxic, not highly palatable, and don’t have a strong smell or taste to attract dogs.
➡️ Most dogs will naturally avoid eating plants unless they’re particularly curious or food-motivated.

Mitigating the Risk:
➡️ Supervise dogs in areas with snowdrops, especially puppies or curious dogs.
➡️ Remove snowdrop bulbs if you notice digging behavior in your garden.
➡️ Provide appropriate chew toys or enrichment to prevent plant chewing.

Overall, while the risk of a dog eating snowdrops is low, it’s not impossible. Supervision and keeping an eye on behaviours can further reduce the chances.

20/01/2025

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 We’re thrilled to announce that The Scent Work Hub is returning to Edition Dog Live 2025! 🐾✨
Scent work is a fascinating activity where dogs use their incredible noses to detect and identify specific scents—just like real-life detectives! 🕵️‍♂️👃 For dogs, this isn’t just fun—it’s their superpower. Using their natural sniffing abilities taps into their instincts, stimulates their minds, and keeps them physically and mentally fulfilled. Plus, they absolutely LOVE it! 💕

At The Scent Work Hub, you and your dog can experience the magic of scent work firsthand. Whether you’re a complete beginner or already a sniffing pro, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

📅 Mark your calendars and join us for this incredible event. Let’s celebrate the amazing power of a dog’s nose together!

📍 Edition Dog Live 2025
📆 6th July in Hall 2, NAEC Stoneleigh