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Blue Cross blog

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Our blog is written by our team of experts who are here to help you with your pet problems. They have extensive experience in veterinary care, animal behaviour and horse welfare.

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HHP lurcher Why greyhounds and lurchers can make the best family pets Posted on 21 May 2013  Last year Blue Cross took in 126 unwanted and abandoned lurchers and 26 greyhounds – and sadly these dogs often take longer to rehome because people just don’t see them as family pets. But they can actually make the perf... Cat and young ladyWhat’s your cat really thinking? Posted on 14 May 2013  Who can resist a cute, funny or even “grumpy” cat? Moggies are an internet hit and provide us with lots of laughs – but do their online personas reflect the real musings of a cat? Caroline Reay, Chief Vet at the Bl... OllieHow Behaviour Adjustment Training helped dog Ollie and his ownerPosted on 12 Apr 2013Melissa Fletcher loved her Blue Cross dog Ollie but going out on walks left them both feeling upset and frustrated, as she tells editor Natasha Kleanthous...   Walking the dog is supposed to be a fun and relaxing way to spend tim... May deaf dog subThumbs up for deaf dog MayPosted on 03 Apr 2013Deaf dogs can often end up unwanted because they’re seen as damaged goods, but they are just as trainable – and lovable – as any other dog. Little lurcher puppy May was found tied to a tree outside a Blue Cross rehoming c... PugHarvey Nichols The New Breed ad campaign is fun – but behind it lies the harsh reality of the growing number of unwanted and abandoned ‘fashion’ dogs Posted on 07 Mar 2013 The new Harvey Nichols advertising campaign pokes fun at the cliché of the traditional “handbag dog” but is it reinforcing the image that dogs are simply fashion accessories? Mandy Jones, Blue Cross head of rehoming, re... Cat and young ladyAre Cat Cafés a good idea from the cat’s point of view? Posted on 20 Feb 2013  Plans to open a cat café in London just like the one in Tokyo might seem a New Year’s wish come true for pet lovers who can’t have a cat of their own. But is it such a blessing for the cats themselves? Not necessa... training your dogIs it time you taught your pet a new “trick”? Posted on 18 Feb 2013  We often see animals that have done amazing things in the media, but your pet could be just as capable if they put their mind to it, as Caroline Reay, Blue Cross chief vet, reveals…   Animals are born survivors, equippe... Doris How nervous little dog Doris found her confidence again Posted on 18 Jan 2013  Looking after a nervous dog can be tough – and poor little Doris was finding life particularly hard after coming to Blue Cross to find a new home. Now, a few months on, she’s a happy go lucky pooch, surrounded by love&he... HHP cocker spaniel dog play subTrick and treat – teach your pet a new skill this New Year Posted on 03 Jan 2013 If you’ve got a cupboard full of pet treats then now’s the time to use them for good, not just snacks. Blue Cross chief vet Caroline Reay reveals how pets love learning a new trick and treats are the perfect reward to keep the... PeppiA giant leap of trust for little Chihuahua Peppi Posted on 24 Oct 2012When Peppi’s elderly owner died suddenly, the Chihuahua didn’t know how to cope. Suddenly a life he’d always known had been taken away from him and he found himself at the Blue Cross rehoming centre, bewildered and afraid,... Puppies Victoria and AlbertVictoria and Albert’s journey of love Posted on 21 Sep 2012When puppies Victoria and Albert were born by emergency caesarean their future looked bleak. Could Blue Cross help them to survive against the odds? Blue Cross editor Natasha Kleanthous paid a visit to the Blue Cross Victoria animal hospita... Puppy head/shoulder shotFinding your new puppy Posted on 12 Sep 2012There are so many ways to get a new puppy, so it’s sometimes hard to know which option is best. But it’s extremely important to do your research and make sure that you get your new pet from a responsible source. Blue Cross edito... HHP horse in paddock subKeep dogs and horses safe around each otherPosted on 02 Mar 2012Some dogs have never seen a horse before, and if they are scared or nervous they may react by chasing the horse. This can cause problems for the horse, the rider, other members of the public and the dog. Blue Cross has teamed up with the Br... Christmas cat Keep your pets safe this ChristmasPosted on 14 Dec 2011Chief Blue Cross vet Caroline Reay has put together some advice to make sure that Christmas is a safe and stress-free time for pets this year… The hustle and bustle of the festive season can be overwhelming for animals and there can ... Clicker train your catPet training in a clickPosted on 08 Dec 2011Clicker training is a really great way of teaching your pet new things in a positive way and making learning fun for both of you. You can clicker train any animal, including dogs, cats, horses and rabbits. What is clicker training? Clicke... Charlie the dogHow nervous rescue puppy Charlie blossomed into an award-winning poochPosted on 23 Jun 2011After a troubled start to life rescue puppy Charlie was afraid of his own shadow. His new owner Katie Patrick worked with The Blue Cross behaviour team to help shape him into the happy and confident dog he is today… When Charlie ca... Help make sure your dog has a happy Christmas tooPosted on 07 Dec 2010Christmas is a fun time for all the family but it can also send stress levels soaring – and not just for two-legged members. For many dogs their daily routine is suddenly turned upside down, with the kids on school holidays, family an... tabby long haired kittenGently does it: adopting a nervous catPosted on 13 Oct 2010If anyone knows about adopting a nervous cat it’s Katharine Ashley. Katharine found herself taking on not one but two – Sophy and Simon. Simon was a semi-feral cat who Katharine adopted when he was run over and left for dead. So...