Test Your Pet

The Test Your Pet website allows you to uncover your pet's abilities and find out how your pet compares to the rest of the nation by putting it to the test.

You can also see the results of the biggest ever survey of the UK's pets and discover which pet was the cleverest, how much people spend on their animals, and how pets responded to Pet TV.

Pipsqueak

My friends John and Judith are helping a baby greyhound with a broken leg. You can read about Pipsqueak here.

Smiling dog

Tickle my tummy, please

Temptation

You would think that, if people cook this in my bedroom (which they call a kitchen), I would be given some of it to eat...... But you would be wrong!

A dog's life for priest with pup

Studies show that keeping a dog as a pet reduces stress and makes people feel good about themselves - unless you're a Roman Catholic priest, apparently. Last year, research from the University of Wales, Bangor, and Ulster University has revealed that dogs and dog collars are not a happy combination. In fact, academics have found that a pooch in the presbytery can increase the likelihood of professional burnout in the priesthood as the strains of walking, feeding and caring for a dog could prove the final straw for many priests. More research is planned on the clergy in other denominations, with male and female Anglican priests being surveyed.

Visit to Crossing Cottage

Paul and I went back to Crossing Cottage Greyhound Sanctuary today. I was a bit worried that he didn't want me any more and was taking me back! But we just visited to get more food for me.

It was lovely to see John and Judith again - particularly when they said that I should be given bigger dinners!

Canine translation programme

Do you struggle to know what your dog is saying to you? While I am always pleased if my communication is interpreted as a desire for food, it might be useful if humans could understand the canine language a bit better. So I'm pleased to find that Hungarian scientists have developed a computer programme that can discern the nuances of a dog's barks, howls, yaps and growls - see the article Yap-lication unlocks canine moods. The software analyses 6,000 barks and aims to determine when these mean that a dog wants a walk, has seen a ball, or it is fighting, playing, or meeting a stranger. You can also check out this audio clip BBC tests 'translator'.

Wag Podcast

I recently asked is a canine podcast called a barkcast or a woofcast? I've now discovered a weekly programme featuring stories from the world of dogs and cats: the Wag Podcast. You can tune in every week to hear the latest tips and trends affecting your canine and feline companions.

DoggySnaps

I have just discovered DoggySnaps, from the Dog's Trust. You can post pictures of your favourite dog on the site and chat with other dogs and their people.