Episode 8 - barking dogs, doggy weddings, dangerous dogs and more

The Dog News Show

In the eigth episode of The Dog News Show the first story up for discussion is the Cambridge woman who faces eviction because she has failed to cope with her barking dog. This is a worrying case, but Debbie would like to point out that eviction is a last resort for a council to take, and that dog owners would be given lots of warning and many chances to deal with the problem before it got to such a serious stage. Debbie has advice for those who are dealing with their own dog barking, or being troubled by a neighbour's dog on her SafePets UK website.
Next up we have another worrying story, that of the Northamptonshire woman who will marry dogs to each other for £150. That's the minimum price, but apparently many pet owners opt for expensive extras - chauffeur driven cars, catering and so on - and can end up spending £20,000 on their canine ceremony. Is it morally wrong to spend that much money on a dog "wedding" when it could change the live of dogs in rescue? And what could be worse than doggy marriage? - Debbie and Julie reveal this and more on a subject that has them simultaneously amused and outraged.
It wouldn't be The Dog News Show if it didn't mention dangerous dogs at some point, and show 8 is no exception. There are new proposals from the Sentencing Council for tougher sentences for dangerous dog owners, but will it tackle the real problem or will it just allot blame and punishment after the event? And why should it make any difference who is bitten by a dog? - the proposals refer to elderly and blind people, but surely they are not the only ones in need of protection? Debbie has useful insights into the law on dangerous dogs, and again has advice for anyone experiencing problems with approaching the police on this matter.
Meanwhile the next story transports us back into the mists of time, with news of how one archaeologist is claiming that by teaming up with dogs modern humans gained an advantage over the other primate species they were in competition with. Early humans also included dog teeth in their jewellery, and occasionally depicted dogs in their cave paintings. To learn more about dogs in cave paintings check out Tamsin Pickeral's article 5000 years of the dog in art on the DogCast Radio website.
To send you off with a smile on your face the show finishes with Schmaltz Corner, which this week features Briard called Norman who can perform many impressive tricks, including riding a bike. However what's really heart warming is that Norman is using his fame to promote the message the adopting a rescue dog is a great way to bring a dog into your life, and that if you do buy a dog you should avoid puppy farms and pet shops completely. Find out more about talented Norman on his Facebook page.