Why Cornwall wins Daniel the Spaniel's Vote

No, nothing to do with the elections today (although it's always a good idea to exercise your right to have a say!), but a subject I think we're all wanting to think about at the moment: holidays! Here Wag! Editor Deana Selby tells us all about a recent family trip to the south west of England, and why Daniel the Spaniel gives it two paws up:

I’m not in the habit of extolling the virtues of most holiday destinations, but the holiday my family and I just spent on the south coast of Cornwall was really worth breaking the habit for.

As the proud owner/parent of a lively dog and two equally lively children, it’s essential that our annual holiday ticks these boxes:  Are the kids welcome?  Is the Spaniel welcome?  Bitter experience has taught me and my husband that holidays very quickly descend into a smog of grumpy mayhem if one or both parties are not welcomed with open arms.

I am delighted to report that Cornwall, specifically the area around Polperro and Fowey, is not only great for children but is terrifically mutt-friendly too.  Never before have we been greeted by smiling faces and offers of a chewy treat and big bowl of water before we’d even entered the café;  No sooner had we tied Daniel to the dog hitch outside than the fish and chip shop proprietor came out and insisted that dogs were very definitely welcome in her restaurant;  At the museum, Mr D was welcomed as a long lost friend.

In fact, pretty much everywhere we went people were delighted to see Daniel and had to be politely dissuaded from feeding him yet more treats.  At first we were stunned, then, as the week progressed, we saw more and more signs around Cornwall proclaiming “Dogs welcome”.

The children were thrilled that other grown ups could see that Daniel was part of the family.  Daniel was thrilled that he was actively encouraged to sample delicious Cornish pasties.  (He disapproves of the government’s new pasty tax.)  My husband and I were thrilled that for once, our kids and our dog could enjoy a holiday doing fun things together, instead of being left outside with just a resentful adult for company.

With the post holiday laundry done and the suitcases packed back in the basement, it feels like it’s already time to start planning our next trip.

Cornwall – consider this a warning.

Don't forget that you can book a pet-friendly cottage in the UK this summer and help our dogs at the same time. We get 10% of the holiday cost automatically when you book online and our partnership with Welcome Cottages has raised over £320,000 over the years! Dogs always stay free.

VIDEO: Pamper Your Pooch with Dogs Trust Products

We promised more information about our grooming products... and here it is!

For starters, we think you'll enjoy watching this soapy, sudsy, wonderfully silly video of dogs trying out the new range.

Among the new additions are shampoos, a conditioner, soothing balms and spritzes and even extra-mild puppy products for our smallest, most delicate four-footed friends.

All the products are specifically designed for dogs, and do not contain parabens, sulphates or any ingredients tested on animals (check out the 'leaping bunny' logo).

Best of all, a minimum of one thirds of the profits will come straight to Dogs Trust and help us care for and rehome thousands of dogs ever year; so not only will your dog smell as sweet as he looks, but you'll be making sure other dogs get just as well looked after.

You can find out more about buy now at www.dogstrustproducts.com - you'll also see them in store at selected branches of Pets at Home from the New Year,

Does the direction a dog's tail wags tell you more about their confidence?

Here's an unusual story that appeared in the Daily Mail online over the weekend; researchers at the University of Victoria, Canada claim to have found evidence that if a dog wags its tail predominantly to the left, it might be more confident in that situation than one wagging to the right.

The team used a robot dog-like model and tracked the behaviour of over 500 random dogs approaching the robot in a public park. Over half (56%) of those who wagged to the left approached the robot without hesitation, whereas only a fifth (21%) of those wagging to the right did the same. When they removed incidences where the owners might have influenced behaviour, the numbers changed to 41% and 28%, but still showed a marked difference.

Although the team stopped short of concluding whether it was an experience-driven or inherited trait, it did suggest some interesting consequences for training and communication with a dog. You can read more about that in the original article.

That got me wondering... have you ever noticed if your dog wags in a particular direction? Do they wag more in one direction than another in different situations? Obviously a really nervous dog won't wag at all, but do they change the direction of their wag if they're happy but a little hesitant? Having read the article I'm fascinated to know what dog owners think from watching their own four-legged friends interact with the world!

Since I have only cats at home, I can't observe for myself (reading a cat's tail is a whole other - equally complex and contentious - science I can tell you!).