Category: Pets

Queen Elizabeth was rarely spotted without one of her royal Corgis by her side. Some sources say she relied on the Pembroke Welsh Corgis to make her feel more at ease in public and social situations, especially political meetings. Other sources report that the 30 Corgis that she cared for throughout her lifetime were descendants from a Corgi named Susan that Queen Elizabeth received for her 18^th birthday. Queen Elizabeth is also credited for breeding the first Dorgi, a Corgi-Dachshund cross.

What we can all agree on: The Queen’s Corgis have impacted the public’s view of the dog breed, driving their popularity over the decades, and their connection to English monarchy.

From herders to royal corgis

Pembroke Welsh Corgis were bred to be herders, to move cattle. They are fearless, independent thinkers — an intelligent dog breed that picks up on skills and tricks easily.

“They are feisty little dogs,” says Linda Thompson, with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America. Linda, who cares for four Corgis of her own, has watched the Pembroke Welsh Corgi rise in popularity since she started working for the Corgi club three decades ago. Then, the Corgi ranked in the 100s in AKC popularity, she says. In 2021, the Corgi was listed as number 11.

Linda attributes this popularity spike to their size. The Corgi weighs up to 30 pounds, which is acceptable for most apartment dog weight restrictions. Corgis can also thrive doing agility sports and herding on farms. “They are such a versatile breed,” Linda says.

Corgis are loyal and were the Queen’s true companions, Linda explains. One member of the PWCCA has family who lives in England and told Linda that they often saw the Queen walking around in the fields with her dogs.

“She was hands-on,” says the Queen’s former dog trainer Dr. Roger Mugford in an interview with CNN. The Queen would often drive her Corgi pack — on her own without security or staff — on the highway between Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, he recalls.

She took them for walks and even picked up their poop, he adds.

However, when it comes to the Corgi’s heavy shedding, Linda says, she assumes that’s one area the queen did accept help to handle the hair cleanup.

Royal Corgis on the big screen

Corgis have been included in many shows and movies that feature royal life in England.

TV shows and movies that have featured royal Corgis include:

• The King’s Speech (2010)

• The Queen’s Corgi (2019)

Who will care for the Queen’s Corgi’s?

Multiple news outlets have reported that the queen’s Corgis, named Muick and Sandy, will live with the Duke and Duchess of York, Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. The Duke and Duchess are divorced but both live on the Windsor Estate and bonded with the Queen over their shared love of dogs.

Dr. Mugford says that the entire royal family are dog lovers, including Princess Ann, Prince Andrew, who has Terriers, and Prince William, who has a Labrador Retriever. Dr. Mugford is confident the Queen’s Corgis will be in good hands.

On Sept. 24, Linda will join other Pembroke Welsh Corgi lovers at the 2022 PSWCCA National Specialty in Wilmington, Ohio, where they plan to honor the Queen and her Corgis.

Properly size your dog’s collar to keep him comfortable and to avoid serious injury, which can happen if a dog collar is too tight or too loose.

If a dog collar is too tight, your dog could suffer from:

• Strangulation
• Neck and throat damage
• Skin irritations from rubbing
• General discomfort

If your dog’s collar is too loose, that can also cause problems like:

• General discomfort
• Limb injuries due to your dog’s foot getting stuck in the collar
• Mouth injuries due to the collar slipping over his mouth
• The dog collar getting caught on fences or dog crates
• The dog collar getting caught on furniture

Even after ensuring your dog collar has the correct fit, experts agree that a dog collar should be used only for holding dog ID tags and that a harness is best for walks (unless your veterinarian or trainer has a compelling reason otherwise). A 2020 study revealed that even the slightest tug on a collar can cause harm to a dog’s neck.

How do you measure a dog for a collar?

Most companies provide a measurement chart to help you choose the right size collar for your dog. These guides typically reference your dog’s neck girth and his weight, with the suggested dog collar sizes. Dog collar sizes typically range from extra small (XS) to extra large (XL). When measuring your dog’s neck girth, use a cloth measuring tape to avoid injury.

Once you’ve picked the correct size, the collar will allow you to adjust to your dog’s specific neck girth. The rule is that you should be able to at least fit your thumb between your dog’s collar and his neck. Or at most, fit two fingers.

What are breakaway dog collars

Breakaway dog collars can help avoid any serious injury to your dog’s neck, throat or other parts of their body. A breakaway dog collar has a buckle on it that’s designed to “break away” or unbuckle when it senses too much pressure pulling at it. It’s a safety measure that can save lives when your dog is playing independently outside and his collar gets stuck on a fence or tree branch or he and another dog are playing together and the collar gets stuck in the other dog’s mouth. (Note: Take off the collar if two dogs or more are playing together.) The collar unbuckles before your dog chokes or get a limb stuck in his collar.

Although it’s recommended to use a harness for walks, there is a double ring feature on the breakaway collar that allows a leash to be attached without the collar unbuckling from the pressure during a walk.

Other than ensuring the dog collar is the right size, having up-to-date information on your dog’s ID tags is important. But in case they break away from their collar, it’s also a good idea to make sure your dog’s microchip is up to date.

Popeye, a 9-year-old mixed breed dog, had a ruff start as a stray puppy in Los Angeles. Now, the formerly homeless dog is a full-on dog influencer, best known on social media for dining at dog-friendly restaurants and checking into dog-friendly hotels, too.

Popeye’s superpower? His restraint for food.

“He just sits there and people watches,” says dog mom Ivy Diep, of the photos she snaps of Popeye in front of tables covered in a variety of typically slobber-worthy food options.

Together, they’ve gained hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, who love sharing in their Southern California foodie adventures. Ivy’s — and Popeye’s — favorite dog-friendly establishments have special pup perks: menus for the dogs, treats, water and toys, nearby parks and even dog-runs on the grounds.

Dog influencers are wagging

These dog-friendly restaurants and dog-friendly hotels offer special pet perks. Bone Appetite!

• Yelp reports the Morrison Atwater Village in Los Angeles is the number one dog-friendly restaurant in the country. Pups meander on shaded grassy areas, while choosing from three entre options served on a silver platter.
• Enjoy a cappuccino and a puppachino on the rooftop of the Thompson hotel in Washington, DC., while overlooking the city.
• At Rock & Brews, a national rock-inspired restaurant co-founded by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS, the dog side of the moon menu offers three meaty options for fido.
• At Hotel Drover in Fort Worth, Texas, pups can expect a custom dog bed, water and food bowl, pet bandana, leather leash and a treat-filled goody bag.

Ivy’s tips for a pawsitively successful outing:

• Yelp and Google are the best resources for finding dog-friendly restaurants and reviews
• Come prepared with your own dog food, water bowl and treats
• Bring something that reminds your pup of home. At hotels, Ivy brings Popeye’s favorite blanket for sleeping
• Avoid misbehavior by socializing and training your dog before hitting the restaurant and hotel scene
• Comfort your dog if he feels overwhelmed out and about. Ivy travels with a pet carrier bag that’s cozy and comfortable for Popeye to hop into.

Cherese Cobb

Cherese Cobb has written a wide variety of content for promising pet startups and Fortune 500 pet companies. When she’s not digging up the next viral dog influencer or interviewing the best and brightest canine experts, she serves her cat overlord Queenie.

That cat food smell might be enticing to your pup, but just because your dog wants to eat the cat’s food doesn’t mean he should eat it. Dogs and cats have different nutritional needs, which is why their food is created and balanced differently.

Dog food vs. cat food

Cats are carnivores and need a high meat content in their diet. Their food is meat-based and has much more protein and fat than dog food. Dogs, however, are omnivores, which means they eat meat, vegetables and fruits. Dogs require more of a balanced diet of these ingredients.

Dog food is nutritionally deficient for cats. And cat food is typically much too high in protein and fats for dogs — which makes it smell great, but unhealthy for dogs to eat cat food over time.

Can dogs eat dry cat food?

Unless directed by your veterinarian to do so, you should not feed dry cat food or wet cat food to your dog. Although eating it on occasion wouldn’t be toxic for your dog (like if your dog gets into the cat’s food), eating cat food in place of his balanced dog food diet or as a treat would be bad for your dog’s health.

However, there are certain situations where a veterinarian may recommend cat food to a dog who has cancer and has lost too much weight or muscle mass and isn’t eating well. Always check with your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet.

Is cat food dangerous for my dog?

Cat food is too high in protein and fat for dogs to eat — even as an occasional treat. When dogs eat cat food, it can lead to the following health problems:

• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Obesity
• Pancreatitis
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease

How to stop your dog from eating cat food

1. Keep your cat’s food in a separate room from where your dog eats, with the door closed.
2. Feed your cat at regular two to three meal intervals — just like your dog — rather than leaving their food to sit out all day.
3. Place your cat’s food up on a high perch or countertop where your cat can eat it out of reach from your dog.
4. Keep your cat’s food in a sealed container, like the Yamazaki Home Airtight Pet Food Storage containers,  throughout the day, so that your dog isn’t smelling it and tempted to eat it.

It can be very painful when dogs split their nails, but preventive measures and proper dog split-nail treatment helps them heal smoothly and comfortably. Understanding the different types of dog split nails lets you manage these injuries effectively, along with always seeking necessary care from your veterinarian.

Types of dog split nails

There are three ways a dog can split nails:

• Vertically: occurs when the nail splits down the middle
• Torn hangnail: with the dog split nail underneath
• Ouch!

Dogs can split their nails because of numerous reasons, including overgrown nail length, awkward movements onto a hard surface or carpet, age or even illness. Even the smallest tear is agonizing and must be treated immediately, especially if the quick, or the dark park in the center of the nail that contains blood vessels and nerves, becomes exposed.

Preventing dog split nails

To prevent dogs from spliting their nails, trim nails regularly and monitor nails for bleeding. Keep nails short to prevent injury or discomfort. Overgrown nails develop cracking, says Kristie Thompson, owner of Paws & Claws Pet Spa in Anza, California.

Dog split nail treatment

Here’s a list of items — your split nail emergency kit — to use if your dog splits a nail:

• Styptic Powder (like KwikStop)
• Gauze/Q-tips
• Vet Wrap
• Soft Sock
• Nail Clippers (minor cracks)

If your dog splits a nail:

1. Apply styptic powder to stop bleeding, holding a Q-tip or gauze to nail for 45 seconds.
2. Once controlled, the nail itself should be treated and removed only at your veterinarian’s office. Never remove the split nail yourself due to increased pain or infection!
3. Until arriving at your vet, temporarily wrap your dog’s paw with gauze and vet wrap (or sock).

Medical treatment for a dog split nail may involve sedation, pain medication, antibiotics and bandaging. Don’t worry, your dog’s nail does grow back in time.

“I recommend a doggie shoe with Velcro over the bandaged foot and keeping it clean and dry, says Kristie.” An example is the medical bootie by Healers Pet Care.

Split nails are as painful as they are “cracked up to be,” but rest assured! Maintaining these safety techniques and veterinary support will bring your dog much relief and ease.

That cat food smell might be enticing to your pup, but just because your dog wants to eat the cat’s food doesn’t mean he should eat it. Dogs and cats have different nutritional needs, which is why their food is created and balanced differently.

Dog food vs. cat food

Cats are carnivores and need a high meat content in their diet. Their food is meat-based and has much more protein and fat than dog food. Dogs, however, are omnivores, which means they eat meat, vegetables and fruits. Dogs require more of a balanced diet of these ingredients.

Dog food is nutritionally deficient for cats. And cat food is typically much too high in protein and fats for dogs — which makes it smell great, but unhealthy for dogs to eat cat food over time.