Most popular dog breed in the UK

Choosing the right breed of dog to suit your lifestyle requires careful consideration and thought. Each breed of dog will have different characteristics so it is worth thinking about factors such as how long you can spend walking the dog, the size of dog that you want and if you have a family then it is absolutely vital to choose a breed which is known for being good around children. The Kennel Club state that the most popular breed of dog in the UK is currently the Labrador and they have been a consistently popular choice for many decades. The breed is particularly known for its friendliness and patience which makes it the perfect choice of dog for a family with small children. A Labrador will also have a playful nature and will require firm training to curb their over enthusiasm but their intelligence and willingness to learn usually makes training easy. The friendly nature of a Labrador does mean that if you are looking primarily for a guard dog then a Labrador is definitely not the best choice. A Labrador may bark at an intruder but their playful nature means that they will normally greet all humans with enthusiasm as they delight in human company and attention.

A Labrador is not a small breed of dog. The Kennel Club specifies the height of a full grown male as 22 to 22.5 inches. A Labrador will require regular lengthy exercise and space to run around in during the day so they may not be the best choice for someone without a garden. Choosing a smaller breed may be the best option in these circumstances and Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers are also very popular breeds in the UK. Labradors also thrive on attention and human company so they may not be the best choice of dog if you are out at work all day and they would be left alone.

Many breeds of dog can suffer from specific genetic health issues and unfortunately Labradors are no exception to this. Many can suffer from joint problems such as arthritis in later life particularly if they become overweight so taking out dog insurance to cover potential vet’s bills is very important. Regular health checks by the vet will also help monitor any potential problems or weight gain. This is also one of the reasons why regular exercise is vital for a Labrador.

If you have the time to devote to training and to provide the exercise and stimulation needed then you cannot choose a better breed of dog than a Labrador. Their friendly nature and desire to please their owner will make them a wonderful companion and addition to your family.

* This is a guest post on behalf of RSPCA

Picture source: Labrador Retriever

Animal Wise: The Thoughts And Emotions Of Our Fellow Creatures {book giveaway}

Today's giveaway is courtesy of Random House who is giving away a hardback copy of Animal Wise: The Thoughts And Emotions Of Our Fellow Creatures by Virginia Morell.

About Animal Wise: The Thoughts And Emotions Of Our Fellow Creatures

If you're as much in love with animals as I am, then this book will make you love them even more!

Without falling into the trap of anthropomorphism (believing animals have the same feelings as humans), Animal Wise discusses the emotions and cognitive abilities of animals. Each chapter digs into one scientific study, one animal and one emotional or cognitive ability. With easy to understand wordings, Virginia Morell explains the nature of the study, how it was conducted, the devices used, the results and the most likely interpretations. A fascinating read that will have you turn the pages wanting to find out more about our fellow creatures.

Here are a few examples of what you will discover in Animal Wise:

* Rats laugh. They love to be tickled (even more than petted) and they have a great sense of fun;
* Parrots are able to count and distinguish between colors and materials;
* Elephants have memories;
* Ants teach. They can quickly communicate new insights (such as the way to a new home);
* Parrotlets give each other names;
* Fish feel pain. Some fish can make quick, complex decisions;
* Some dogs have a vocabulary of more than one thousand words.

Animal Wise will give you new insights on the emotional lives of animals and I'm sure you will be citing this to your friends and family. As one of the best animal books of the year, Animal Wise is not to be missed. Let's to hoping this book receives some sequels.

Giveaway details

To enter to win, leave a comment telling me why you want to win this book. You can gain extra entries by sharing this giveaway on one or more of your social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, StumbleUpon, Tumblr, forum etc) or by following along through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and/or Bloglovin). Six possible entries per person.

Contest is open worldwide and ends April 5th. Good luck!

Purchase
Amazon * b&n * Kobo

Games for days

You smell like love

What does your pet smell like?

Whiskers and Hairballs {book giveaway}

Today I'm giving away a copy of the book Whiskers and Hairballs: My Life As A Cat to one lucky reader of this blog.

About Whiskers and Hairballs

Whiskers and Hairballs: My Life as a Cat is a humorous, photo-illustrated picture book that chronicles the daily ups and downs of life as a house cat. With short, simple prose, this book is perfect for beginning readers or for anyone that loves cats!

Giveaway details

To enter to win a copy, leave a comment telling me why you want to win this book.

You can gain extra entries by sharing this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, StumbleUpon, Google+ and/or a forum or by following this blog through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+. Six possible entries per person.

Contest is open worldwide and ends March 25. Good luck!

Purchase

Amazon

Happy birthday, Avalon

Eleven years ago today... That's when my little Avalon came into my life. I fell hard for this cat and little by little, my focus, my love, my entire being it all shifted. Every day I am more smitten than the last and I love him more than anyone could ever imagine.
Happy birthday, sweetheart.

The Unwanted Kittens {book giveaway}

Today's giveaway is courtesy of Maranda Rusell who is giving away a copy of her book Vinny and Violet: The Unwanted Kittens to one lucky reader of this blog.

About Vinny and Violet: The Unwanted Kittens

Based on a true story. Vinny and Violet: The Unwanted Kittens is about a couple of cats who were cruelly abandoned and left for dead by their owners. One of the kittens is extremely ill, so when they are found by a little girl named Ashley, it soon becomes a life or death situation.

Vinny and Violet: The Unwanted Kittens is perfect for animal lovers ages 7-12. Not only will the story warm your heart, it will also teach an important lesson about empathy and proper animal care. This story can be read aloud or enjoyed by independent readers.

Giveaway details

To enter to win an ebook of Vinny and Violet: The Unwanted Kittens, leave a comment below about why you want to win this book.

You can gain extra entries by sharing this post on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Google+ and/or a forum. Or by following this blog on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+. No more than six possible entries per person. Open worldwide and ends March 22. Good luck!

Purchase

Amazon

Mama, I want to sing

What would you do or where would you go if you could traverse a wormhole through space or time just once? One safe round trip passage. Would you go back in time and talk some sense into a younger you? Go five years into the future and bring back the Wall Street Journal? See just how the heck the Great Pyramids of Giza were really built? View what the other side of the universe looks like? Kill Hitler?

Can I be cheesy? I would just like to go back to the day Avalon was born. I found him on the streets when he was about one and a half and I would love to know what he was like as a kitten :-)

Angel eyes

Don't try to solve serious matters in the middle of the night

Tradition in transition

A Cat Named Mouse - The Miracle Of Answered Prayer {book giveaway}

Today's giveaway is courtesy of author Anna Alden Tirrill who is giving away a signed copy of her book A Cat Named Mouse: The Miracle Of Answered Prayer.

About A Cat Named Mouse: The Miracle Of Answered Prayer

The story of A Cat Named Mouse is an adorable and heart-warming story that will touch kids especially. Mouse's owner is a precocious 12-year old girl named Annie whose family loves Mouse as much as she does. But as Mouse is napping on a first floor windowsill one day, something happens - she tumbles out and she is lost to her family. This would be a nightmare for any pet owner, and no less for Annie and her parents.

The writing is appropriate for a middle school age-group and the word pictures painted are those that animal lovers would appreciate, including the formulating of an organized plan (including family prayer) to find their lost pet that they consistently follow daily until Mouse shows up again in what is clearly a miraculous way. Annie prays for God to protect Mouse and bring her back.

Giveaway details

To enter to win, leave a comment below telling me why you want to win this book.

Contest is open worldwide and ends March 11. Good luck!

Purchase

Amazon * b&n * Kobo