What Breed Is My Dog?

It has been estimated that there are over 400 breeds of dogs in the world, this does not include mixed breeds. In the past it has been almost impossible for mixed breed owners to know exactly which breed types make up their dog. This is only possible through DNA analysis as this is where the dog’s genetic information is stored.

What Breed Is My Dog? can now tell mixed breed owners which types of breed make up their canine companion. By knowing this information it will allow the owner to become more familiar with the dog’s genetics and can help owners to understand their behaviour. Breeds can suffer from genetic disorders, knowing the ancestry of the dog could give owners the knowledge to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

See below story from Tracey:
I am delighted to let you know that I have just received Axel's breed results and while they are surprising, they are so very accurate.

The results state that Axel's ancestry is primarily Staffordshire Bull Terrier with some Papillion and some Collie.

In fact Axel is a red & white Staffordshire bull terrier with huge erect ears, which is why everyone was so curious. When axel was younger he looked like any other Staffie pup, with perfectly normal 'rose ears' but after a couple of months they had grown totally out of proportion. This prompted much hilarity and many comments and arguments as to what secrets his ancestors held. I asked at my vets about DNA and they could not help, so I searched the Internet and found your email.

So now we know, his ears are from his Papillion ancestors. I read the breed descriptions and characteristics and I can see bits of all of them in Axel. He's a real handful, exactly as his certificate warns; also I am alerted to any problems with his health. I have now added this photo to the certificate and am in the process of getting it framed.

News Story!

I found this story and just had to write about it and share. A seven year old cat named Charlie who lives in Falkirk climbs a 13ft wall unassisted.

The building that Charlie regularly climbs up the side of is made of roughcast and he starts by climbing this 13ft wall from the back of the house to get to his owners balcony where he is then let in. Charlie’s cat friend on the other hand isn’t as brave and is happy to wait at the top for his over ambitious friend.

It is normal for cats to climb up trees and along walls but I’m sure you will agree that this cat is truly remarkable. Most cats just have to walk up to their cat flaps where the flap reads their tag and lets them in but Charlie would rather have an adventure before going home.

Annoyed With Pet Smells In You Home?

Selling your home in this current climate can be difficult enough without the added problem of lingering pet or smoke smells! Prospective buyers have more choice than before when it comes to buying a house and just one whiff of a bad smell is enough to help them make their decision.

Taking this into account and from personal experience of selling my home just a couple of months ago I would like to share with you how the Micro-Airoma Air Freshener Starter Pack has helped. This device can be set to spray whenever you wish it to and as many times as you want. I found the mango fragrance was the nicest.

Follow The Bleep!

My black Labrador named Rebel is an extremely fast dog when he wants to be. There has been a couple of times where someone has came to visit me and he has sneaked out of the door and flew past the visitors before they get the chance to grab him. Most of the time he comes back straight away but there’s always the initial state of panic when you think,“where has he gone?” I used to take him down to the park after work and in the summer time it is perfect but in the winter it is quite dark and sometimes because of the colour of his coat I couldn’t see him.

This winter I am going to be organised and won’t panic as much as I have invested in a gadget called the Loc8tor where you can track your pet up to 400 feet away. This gadget won’t stop him bolting but it will allow me to determine where he is and all I need to do is follow the bleep to find him again. When using the Loc8tor at least I know if I am going in the same direction or not.

I’ve used it a couple of times now and it has worked perfectly for me, I’ve started using it on my car too when I park in a large car park as I had a terrible habit of forgetting where I had parked. I think this gadget is a very good safety measure to invest in.

Essential Information For The Flea & Tic Season

This time of year can be a real pain for our pets as it’s the season for fleas and tics. These creatures are more than just an irritation to pets as these parasites can cause skin allergies and other diseases.

Having the knowledge allows us to make informed choices to control the infestation and keep our pets protected.

There are different stages of the flea cycle, listed below:
1. The adult flea attaches itself to your pet
2. They will then lay eggs
3. As your pet moves around the eggs fall off your pets coat whether it be outside or in your home
4. The eggs hatch within 2-10 days and this is what is called the larval stage, the larvae will grow and moult
5. The final stage is known as the pupae stage, this is where the flea spends around 8-9 days growing inside their cocoon and will emerge when the time is right. This is also known as the indestructible stage where it is very difficult to get rid of them.

3 Simple Essential Steps To Take:
1. Protect your pet
2. Protect Your Home
3. Ensure clearance of any infestation by washing bedding and vacuuming regularly

Shocked By Realising The Importance of Bees

Shocked By Realising The Importance of Bees

After watching BBC Four’s ‘Who Killed The Honey Bee’ programme I was shocked to realise how important bees are to us. This programme was full of interesting facts and figures explaining how the UK Government have announced a £10 million initiative to investigate the decline of the worlds bees, butterflies and other insects. I find it amazing how easily everyone can get involved in saving bees, by planting flowers such as Lavender or Rosemary this can help encourage bees to your garden. Another necessity for bees is housing, you can add a Ceramic Bee Nester to your garden and this will give them a safe and dry place to rest. In the past I have always disliked bees because I was fearful of them but now that I actually know the facts and how we can do our bit to help by changing our behaviours I will indeed be doing my bit to save the bees and hope others will to.