From sensible canine taking part in homeowners off in opposition to one another to feeding a snake

HE is on a mission to assist our pets  . . . and is right here to reply YOUR questions.

Sean, who’s the top vet at tailor-made pet meals agency tails.com, has helped with homeowners’ queries for ten years.

He says: “If your pet is acting funny or is under the weather, or you want to know about nutrition or exercise, just ask. I can help keep pets happy and healthy.”

Q: WHEN I inform off my canine Oreo for being naughty he runs straight to my husband Peter, then ignores me for the remainder of the day.

Are dogs clever sufficient to play their homeowners off in opposition to one another?

I really feel like that’s taking place.

Steph Carlisle, Edinburgh

Sean says: Maybe not, however dogs develop individual relationships and guidelines of engagement with members of their pack, whether or not they’re human or canine.

If you’re the dangerous cop, then it’s extra nice and preferable to spend time with the great cop.

This might be avoidance on Oreo’s half moderately than straight attempting to play you each in opposition to one another.

But not directly, if it means Oreo will get extra cuddles and a spotlight out of your husband, you would possibly really feel Peter and Oreo have betrayed you and the sensation of distance turns into magnified, because it’s two in opposition to one.

The essential factor in any dog- human family is that the folks deal with their pet persistently, with agreed routine and guidelines that they apply collectively.

Dogs thrive after they know what’s anticipated.

If one proprietor applies the principles and the opposite breaks them or makes exceptions it may possibly trigger points and confusion.

Q: MY Norwegian Forest Cat Sasha has beautiful lengthy hair however she hates being brushed.

What can I do to make this a greater expertise for her — and me?

Mary Morgan, Cardiff

Sean says: Use reward-based coaching and affected person, gradual desensitisation to the method of grooming.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it?

But nothing actually is with cats, particularly those that have made up their thoughts about one thing.

Start slowly and in a peaceful, stress-free setting.

You won’t get a full grooming session in a single go, so begin with little brushing motions round Sasha’s head and neck the place she likes to be stroked.

Slowly build to extra time brushing, together with on different areas of the physique along with her favorite meals deal with rewards and many reward.

Get her used to the comb being round and ask her to come back for fast classes in trade for treats.

If her coat is already matted and you might want to yank the hair or make her uncomfortable, it’s best to get her professionally groomed first, then proceed ­upkeep at home.

Q: SHOULD you feed corn snakes exterior their enclosure?

I’m going to get one for my eight-year-old son, Ethan.

I’m studying up on every little thing so we do issues proper.

But there appears to be a giant debate on-line about the place to feed them.

What do you advocate?

Mark Thomas, Herne Bay, Kent

Sean says: As far as I can see, there’s no want or cause to place them in one other container for feeding.

It’s overcomplicating one thing easy.

I had pet corn snakes after I was younger, and all the time fed them of their enclosures.

Snakes don’t prefer to be moved or dealt with within the few days after a giant meal, and it may possibly trigger regurgitation, in order that’s one good cause for starters.

You can even use feeding as behavioural enrichment, hiding the meals merchandise in numerous areas of the enclosure for them to seek out.

The finest recommendation I’ve for any reptile proprietor is to imitate the life they might have within the wild, with a big, complicated, enriched enclosure, giving them new objects and furnishings to discover, and a pure temperature gradient to decide on the place they wish to be all through every day.

Feeding must also be a part of that stimulation, so get artistic.

In the wild his meals can be present in his habitat and in captivity it shouldn’t be any totally different.

Star of the week

TYSON the Maine Coon is a two-stone cat that thinks he’s a DOG.

Owner Karen Murray, of Royston, Herts, mentioned: “Tyson is lead-trained and goes out for a half-hour walk each day.

“He also does some tricks including ‘paw’. He is a real character.”

Karen, 48, who’s a member of breeders and trainers group Dollzuki Maine Coons, added: “Tyson and our different 4 Maine Coons have been in adverts for Lexus and John Lewis and work with pet expertise company Urban Paws.

“They also visit a local old people’s home to cheer up residents.”

• See Dollzuki_ Maine_Coons on Insta.

Retrievers go for gold at Crufts

GOLDEN Retrievers are the preferred entrant to this 12 months’s Crufts, the Kennel Club has revealed.

The present, from March 7 to 10, is predicted to draw 24,000 canine contestants, with 538 retrievers hoping to bag a title.

This is simply forward of the Labrador with 519 entrants and Cocker Spaniel at 421.

In distinction, solely three ­Belgian Shepherds, three Foxhounds and two Turkish Kangals will vie for glory.

Fifty nations could have dogs competing within the occasion at The NEC, Birmingham.

The Netherlands is high canine in numbers, with 382 within the operating for glory.

Show supervisor Helen Kerfoot mentioned: “Crufts is an iconic British occasion with a very worldwide really feel.

“It is a great celebration of dogs, whether that’s seeing which breed wins the Best in Show title, watching fast-paced agility, hearing the stories of our Hero Dog Award finalists, seeing the UK’s top family pets compete in the Scruffts final, or meeting your match in the Discover Dogs area – there is something for everyone.”

The Cocker Spaniel has gained essentially the most Best in Shows, with seven titles, adopted by the Irish Setter, Poodle and Welsh Terrier which have triumphed 4 instances every.