In 2008, a blind man called Dave and his sighted guide became the third and forth people in the world to run seven marathons in seven days, on seven different continents. They embarked on this near impossible feat in aid of Guide Dogs UK – their goal was to raise one million pounds for the charity which had changed Dave’s life a few years previously by providing him with a seeing-eye dog. (For those who are wondering, no, the dog did not run the races with him, but he was waiting for his master at the final finish line in London.)
We all know, I am sure, about the great work that Guide Dogs UK does in raising and training dogs and puppies to assist the blind and partially sighted. These dogs not only provide a service that allows the user to be far more independent; they also give the user a lifelong friend and companion, which is often just as valuable (if not more so). Having a dog to care for gives them a reason to get up in the morning, and a trained assistance dog allows them to lead a full and varied life without having to rely on human carers. And the dogs win too; they get to spend their lives working and using their brains, which is what dogs love best, and they also get to play hard when they’re off duty, often being much loved members of the family and usually staying with them after they have retired from active service. (more…)
Hey guys, sorry for the lack of updates, but exciting stuff has been going on! I’ll attempt to give you a rundown of the news before I head off to bash out some articles – hopefully there’ll be a plethora of new stuff up here over the next week or so, so do check back.
The big news is that I was headhunted, and am now the new freelance proofreader/editor of a local magazine! You may not have heard of it, but you’ve probably seen it around. CityLife is distributed on the new Greyhound buses, as well as at ferry terminals, hotels and so on, as well as places like Cascades and Gunwharf. From the next issue onwards, my name will be on it, so do pick up a copy if you spot one. (more…)
I am happiest when I am busy, so I have started a new side project!
When I joined Twitter, I followed all the key dog press outlets in the UK, hoping they would update regularly and that I could get all my canine news from them. However, none of them tweet half as much as I would like them to, despite there being a lot going on in the world of dogs. This is probably because they are busy putting out papers and magazines, writing high quality articles longer than 140 characters in length; but I get most of my news from a Twitter feed these days, and I know other people out there do too. (more…)
I’m on work experience!
The nice people over at K9 Magazine were kind enough to offer me some experience researching and writing articles for their website and magazine, so while I am still doing what I love best (writing about dogs), I will not be doing it here for a while.
However, you can check them out and see some of my articles over there – I have posted the links to the two that have gone up so far below, and will post the rest shortly.
I am really enjoying the experience so far, and am looking forward to the rest of the week. They are keeping me busy though, so I’d better get back to it! Wish me luck!
What I’ve done so far:
“12 Greyhounds Free to Good Homes”
Well, it’s over for another year; we have our new Best in Show, the Hungarian Vizsla Sh Ch/Aust Ch Hungargunn Bear It’n Mind, known as Yogi. They’ve crowned the agility champions, obedience stars and flyball winners: awards have been presented, displays have been put on, Mary Ray has danced again. And I was lucky enough to be there for the final two days to see it all in person.
So what did I think, then, about Crufts 2010? Well, overall, of course, I had a wonderful weekend; the things that were always good about the show were the same as ever, and a few new touches were added bonuses to enhance the experience. The BIS winner wasn’t my personal choice (or even in my shortlist for the Gundog group, if I’m honest), but then they always say you can’t tell just by looking, and the short coated Vizsla does lack in the glamour that some other gundog breeds possess. I do think he was a deserving winner, though, and he looks stunning in his photo. (more…)
Well, Crufts has finally begun, and I cannot even begin to say how excited I am about that. Let’s just say, I am usually a night owl and stay in my duvet as long as I can in the morning because of it – today I was up at 8:00 and the laptop was on streaming Crufts FM within the half hour. I only get four days to get my fix, so I am trying not to miss a minute!
Today, as I’m sure most of you know, is Working & Pastoral day, which means that the dog breeds from the Working and Pastoral groups will be strutting their stuff around the rings, and by the end of today we will have two contenders out of the seven for Best in Show on Sunday. Both groups have had winners in recent years (a Giant Schnauzer in 2008, and the absolutely stunning Australian Shepherd back in 2006), so our winner could well be found among one of the many dogs that will be showing tomorrow. (more…)
Anyone who knows me knows that Crufts, whether I am going to the NEC in person or just following the coverage on the TV and radio, literally is the highlight of my year. Why is this exactly, I hear you say? Or rather, not – I have tried to explain this wonder to people year after year, and no one quite yet has quite gotten it, probably because they tune out as soon as I get going. But it really is a wonderful long weekend, so I am going to try one more time to explain the love.
Firstly, the obvious reason. I am a huge dog nerd. After watching ‘101 Dalamatians’ and ‘Homeward Bound’ and so on as a kid and nagging incessantly for a dog thereafter, my mother bought me a Dogs In Canada Annual to keep me entertained after a minor operation, which kept me in bed for a few days when I was eight. I think she thought I’d enjoy flipping through it and looking at the pictures – but I read that thing cover to cover. Therein were details of over 200 different breeds of dog, articles on caring for a puppy, behaviour and training in the adult dog, and a myriad of other doggie delights; therein lay the sparks of a lifelong passion. (more…)
Well, it’s March, and that only means one thing to me. Not the beginning of Spring, not my Mother’s Birthday, not Mother’s Day (though, yikes, actually, now that you mention it…), not St David’s or St Paddy’s Day, not even the UPSU Elections. Those, while important, are all by-products of March, as far as I am concerned. March, for me, is all about CRUFTS!
It’s the world’s biggest dog show, in case you are typically ignorant, and it starts up in just ten days now. Four solid days of doggie goodness; six hours of TV coverage on More4, DFS TV live streaming on the web, and 12 hours a day of my dear dear friend, Crufts FM radio. Dog nerd heaven? You bet. (more…)
It is the highlight of my sad little year; the one weekend where I get to indulge in my ultimate nerdiness, sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for the winners to be announced.
No, I’m not talking about the X-Factor final; I’m talking about Crufts, the world’s biggest and most prestigious dog show. But before you yawn at the mention of the words “dog show” and head off to read the reviews page, stop a while and I will try to explain this marvel to you.
Firstly, to clarify, while the very heart of Crufts lies in the Best in Show final on Sunday night, and all the pedigree showing leading up to that, there is a lot more to the show than snobs running around with blue blood poodles. There are many other events and competitions going on at the same time which are fun and sometimes even heart warming. And mutts and crossbreeds are more than welcome! (more…)
(Written February 2009)
Two unrelated but sadly similar incidents occurred recently which have spurred me to put fingers to keyboard and type furiously.
Before I go any further with my views on the dangerous dogs debate, let me state emphatically what sensible people have been repeating, mantra like, for years: there is no such thing as a dangerous dog, only an irresponsible owner. (more…)
