Welcome to this week’s Scoop! (Okay, we admit it, we’ve missed a couple of weeks. We’ve gotten rather excited by the Dog-friendly Pub Awards, which this week hit the 10,000 vote mark! Learn more about the Dog-friendly Pub Awards and find out how to vote for your favourite pooch-welcoming drinking hole here.)
In other dog news this week, a supermarket’s choice of promotional gift puts dogs in danger. Plus, meet the cutest family of Pugs ever and watch Alexandria Horowitz talk about small dogs versus little dogs.
Supermarket’s promotion puts dogs in danger
UK supermarket Sainsbury’s is facing criticism from vets and dog lovers alike after it sent a promotional chocolate bar to dog owners’ houses, causing several pooches to become dangerously ill after eating the confectionary delivered to their houses.
Sarah, dog mum to Jarvis the Cocker Spaniel, was one of the dog owners affected by the supermarket’s poor choice of postal gift. Her parents came in to let Jarvis out for a lunchtime walk and found an empty packet that the dog had broken into after it had been delivered through Sarah’s letterbox. Poor Jarvis was rushed to the vets and was given fluids and drugs to empty his stomach of the chocolate he had eaten.
Chocolate is poisonous for dogs because it contains theobromine, a chemical that’s found in cocoa beans, which humans can eat but dogs cannot metabolise. Several distressed and angry dog owners have raised complaints after rushing their dogs to the vets to have their stomach’s pumped. Thankfully Jarvis should make a full recovery.
Pug-gy love
Introducing possibly the most adorable Pug-loving family you’ll ever meet. Kennedy is a little girl who has a pack of three Pugs to keep her company in all her adventures. In the heart-warming video above, shared on The Dodo’s Facebook page, you’ll get to meet Barnum and Bailey and witness the very special place that Tahlulabelle, a senior rescue Pug has in Kennedy’s heart. When Kennedy and her family welcomed their third Pug to the gang, Tululabelle was malnourished with very little fur. Now the enjoying a life of love lavished upon her by an adoring child. Could there be a sweeter story?
Why are small dogs so yappy?
Ever wondered why small and apparently cute looking dogs are often the ones that make the most noise? In the video above Alexandra Horowitz, the author of “Being a Dog”, gives her take on why people often choose small dogs over larger pooches such as Jack Russells, Pugs, Bichon Frises. However, larger dogs such as German Shepherds, Great Danes and Bernese Mountain Dogs are often mellower and calmer.