So your dog has a repertoire of a dozen different barks and each has up to 40 different meanings. But are you bothered by the difference between a ‘yelp followed by a howl’ and ‘three grunts plus a whine’ when his incessant noise is driving you up the wall?

For some dogs, a journey can be an exciting adventure – something to share with the family, with the promise of a walk on arrival. For others, it can be a terrifying and thoroughly uncomfortable experience.

How do you make sure your dog reaches his destination safe, well and happy? In a car or on a plane, it’s all a question of being properly prepared. Motion sickness can be dealt with if you know how to prevent it. And, with the right precautions, not even the most nervous canine traveller has to be a stay-at-home.

Your dog can be a wonderful companion but ownership brings its own responsibilities, both to him and to society. And the basic rules of behaviour stay pretty much the same.

It starts as soon as you get your puppy home with basic training and it’s never too early to get into good habits like regular grooming. You need to teach him the art of being a good neighbour and a great playmate for the kids. Then there’s cleaning up his mess after him, making sure he doesn’t stray and knowing what to do if he does.

Regular grooming is important to keep your dog looking and feeling his best. It’s also an activity that can create a special bond between the two of you.
How often should your dog be given a bath? What equipment do you need and how do you ensure that it’s an enjoyable experience, for both of you? Regular brushing and grooming is essential to keep his coat in peak condition but there’s a right way and a wrong way.