A Dog's Life with Anna Webb

This week we're joined by singer-songwriter and dog lover, Nick Celino, talking about his new music and his King Charles Cavalier, Charlie, who is the latest in the line of previous doggies, Tino, Billy, and Prince.

Check out Nick's music on Spotify.

And this week is the first in our new partnership with the good people at Antinol. We're super proud to be collaborating with them and you can enjoy at 10% discount on your purchase by using our promocode ANNAWEBB.

For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.uk

Music and...

Our Archive Wellness season continues, again focusing on the Microbiome. Anna is joined by CEO of Ingenious Probiotics about what represents an explosion in the science of healthy bacteria.  We discuss probiotics in an external environment rather than an internal one. Based on our knowledge, albeit recent and expanding, we understand the vital role of probiotics as balancing bacteria in our microbiome. Joe discusses how we can use probiotics as a cleaning product to kill pathogens indoors with out adding chemicals. Too many chemicals in the home environment can make your indoor environment 100 times more toxic than outdoors. The i...

Carol Hughes is back for part two of her chat about the Microbiom as our archive wellness season continues. Carol’s journey began being commissioned by the Welsh Government to research plant compounds, in particular natural occurring steroids. Carol explains how this naturally moved into researching animals microbiomes as part of her parent company Phytorigins. It was this research that brought Carol into focusing on the Microbiome. With technology advancing particularly with Artificial Intelligence. We discuss how working with leaders in the field at Aberystwyth University, how her team has conducted the first in-depth observation of different ‘biomes: cats, hors...

As we continue our Wellness season we bring you another classic from the archive when we’re joined by Carol Hughes talking about the Microbiome. Carol’s journey began being commissioned by the Welsh Government  to research plant compounds in particular natural occurring steroids. Carol explains how this naturally moved into researching animals microbiomes as part of her parent company Phytorigins. We discuss how science namely Artificial Intelligence has moved forwards combined with working with leaders in the field at Aberystwyth University, how her team has conducted the first in-depth observation of different ‘biomes: cats, horses and of course dogs. W...

Our archive wellness season continues with this classic episode where Anna is joined by Dr Nick Thompson, known as the Holistic Vet. We chat about vaccines, but also about minimising chemicals in your home. Science proves that indoor environments can be 100 times more toxic than outdoors. With this in mind Dr Nick talks about his experience using ‘probiotic therapy’. We chat about his experience with his own dogs in terms of Dental Care and with Dog Dental Month upcoming, it's a timely reminder that tooth brushing is not always the full proof answer in dogs or indeed humans. This why...

We kick off our wellness season with this classic from the Dog's Life Archive. Dr Lise Hansen talks about the benefits of the Titre Test.

Order Lise's book:
https://www.hubbleandhattie.com/shop/HH5415/

And follow her on:
@alternativevet

Find out more about Earth Animal and order your No Hide Wholesome Chews today! Tell them Anna sent you!
https://www.earthanimal.com/our-products/uk-no-hide-natural-treats

Follow Anna on:
https://annawebb.co.uk

Music by Mike Hanson
Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits<...

As we continue our short literary season, we replay one of our favourite shows: Anna's chat with Dr Zazie Todd - CompanionAnimal Psychology -  talking about her book Purr. In our conversation on cats , the lack of science on their behaviour (compared to dogs), she recount several hilarious anecdotes on Gremlin, which will make you realise why she named him Gremlin, the lengths he went for to help Molly when she was poorly, and why Gremlin was quite a cat for someone’s first feline! He is so missed, but we hope is he is reunited with Molly across tha...

As our Literary season continues, in this classic episode from the archive, children’s author, Jane Elson, joins Anna to discuss why animals, especially dogs, feature in her books. Dyslexic herself, Jane writes for those with reading difficulties, highlighting how animals - dogs in particular - help children in so many ways, not least in learning to read out loud. In her multi award winning ‘Moon Dog’ , she depicts the  horrors of the puppy farming trade. Raising awareness for the next generation of dog owners, she worked with the charity All Dogs Matter to convey the horrific details, and the eff...

As we continue our Literary season, Anna talks to best selling author, Marika Cobbold, in this classic episode from the archive about her latest novel, On Hampstead Heath, where a small dog, Gillie, plays a central role in driving the plot. Gillie is based on her own dog, Gilbert, who was stolen and later found dead in another part of London in 2019.

Find out more about Marika here

Or follow her on Twitter on @Marikacobbold

Get your copy of On Hampstead Heath

For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.uk<...

To launch our Literary Season, we revisit our chat with author Simon Garfield about his book Dog's Best Friend, from January 2020.

If you want to move your dog to a raw diet or even switch brands we wholly recommend Paleo Ridge

For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.uk

Music and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

Cover art by Jaijo

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff Pawtraits

To advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: info@theloniouspunkproductions.com

To mark the start of flea season we bring you this classic episode from the archive. Vet and Environmental campaigner, Andrew Prentis is also  a ‘fellow’ at Imperial College. He is amongst the team of scientists that have advised pet owners to be more sparing in their use of toxic flea and tic treatments, warning that they are entering watercourses and damage aquatic ecosystems. Reviewing 160 scientific papers on the impact on aquatic ecosystems of imidacloprid, a pesticide used in 138 pet treatments sold in the UK. They found that “one monthly flea treatment for a large dog contains enough imidacloprid to kill...

When we’re chatting to Dom Burke, Behaviour Officer at Dogs Trust about the Charity’s  advice for dog owners wanting to travel safely and responsibly on trains with their dogs. 

New research, from Trainline, has found 11% of people in the UK now travel to work with their four-legged friend, rising to 20% among Gen Z. Reasons for this include relaxed attitudes towards dogs in workplaces, the high cost of dog care, and the rise of hybrid working.

Two-thirds of people say their dog dictates their travel habits. Almost a quarter (24%) of people now make daily journe...

This week we’re discussing dysplasia in dogs with Orthopedic surgeon Gordon Maclellan. He is highlighting the Pupscan project which has studied whether dysplasia is congenital or caused by environmental factors.  The research studying over 70 breeds , hundreds of litters suggests in line with ground breaking studies in Sweden that the evidence reveals that there is no genetic influence on dysplasia in dogs as has already been confirmed in people.

For more information click here.

Follow Anna on:
https://annawebb.co.uk

We encourage you to feed your dog raw and beli...

I’m chatting to Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today Magazine and Patron of the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance. Pet Detective, Wayne May, Police Liaison officer for Dogs Lost, about these worrying statistics and that clearly the legacy of dog theft and the thousands of tragic cases that peaked in 2021 with 2,760 dogs stolen with barely 19% of dogs ever being reunited with their families.

The Pet Abduction Act in May 2024 has clearly played a positive impact, resulting in a 21% decrease in thefts. But the fear and the horror stories of theft have left their legacy.

De...

This week Anna pops back briefly from this year's Crufts in Birmingham to update Mike who couldn't make it up there himself (again!)

It's all sold out but for next year or more information click here

Follow Anna on:
https://annawebb.co.uk

We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!

Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

https://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/

Music by Mike Hanson

Cov...

This week Anna chats about one of her favourite subjects - Bone Broth!

She's joined by Dan Gulliver and Danny Smith from Axels Elixir , talking about their journey to bringing their brand to market.

Aware of Bone Broth’s enormous health benefits from a young age, Dan was determined to bring up his Mastiff called Axel on the best natural whole food diet which would include Bone Broth.

We chat about how Dan made so much broth that he ended up giving it away to friends and family for their dogs. Receiving positive un...

We’re joined by the Cinema Journalist, Toby Rose who is the founder of the FIDO Awards, which celebrates the roles of dogs in film.  The FIDOS 2025, staged today on February 23rd will unleash the winners of the best canine capers in cinemas at a special ceremony held at British Film Institute in London.

                                                                 
At its heart, the FIDOS (For Incredible Dogs On Screen) are more than an awards ceremony; they celebrate the powerful bond between dogs and humans, dedicated to making the world a more dog-friendly space, one paw at a time. As the sister ceremony of the famous Palm Dog Awar...

As it was Valentine's just the other day we thought we'd share again this episode from 2021.

Follow Anna on:
https://annawebb.co.uk

We encourage you to feed your dog raw and believe Paleo Ridge is the best place to start!

Produced by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

https://podpeopleproductions.co.uk/

 Music by Mike Hanson

 Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd @gruffpawtraits

Art work by https://jaijo.com

We’re joined by Esther Logue from Paleo Ridge talking about the company’s latest additions Paleo Puppy and Paleo Senior - both of which are industry firsts by containing Reishi Mushroom tincture along with a host of health boosting ingredients, not least the brand’s ethical and sustainably reared meats. We chat about why feeding a natural whole food unprocessed diet is peace of mind in a bowl as a way of boosting cellular function. Fulfilling a demand for a puppy choice, Paleo Puppy also contains added superfoods like wheatgrass and butternut squash, simply to add additional antioxidants  that ca...

We’re joined by Catriona Lowry from The Hilltop Sanctuary in Ireland. Catriona gave up a career in fashion to dedicate her life to helping animals. Not just dogs, but pigs, donkeys, chickens and a lot of horses. In a country where there appears to be an abject negligence to the health and welfare on many animals, it was a Fortune Teller that predicted Catriona’s journey. Setting up the Hilltop Sanctuary has changed Catriona’s life, and made her realise the importance of helping creatures with no voice. Whilst a baptism of fire for her, this episode certainly highli...

We’re joined by award winning Animal Physiotherapist, Donna Wills (RVN, PgCert A Physical, MIRVAP(VP), discussing her book, The Best Goodbye, which is a true story of love and farewell. Written as a life tribute to her dog, Logan, a rescued Border Collie, Donna talks about why it was so emotional to write but cathartic at the same time. It is a book about Logan and Donna’s special journey together, like a journey that all dog owners experience, but for Donna Logan was her ‘heart’ dog.  Having been her constant companion through relationships, her marriage, and the birth of...

When we’re exploring why the New Year triggers thoughts of new interiors and maximising space.

We're joined by Gemma Glover, Business Development Director at The Pet Carpenter, talking about the family business that specialises in creating bespoke pet furniture that is tailored to the unique needs of any pet - dogs, cats, rabbits , even tortoises!

As a family business the team prides itself on taking an idea and turning it into a reality. Specialising in a new concept of the crate that delivers all the practicality in space saving solutions, perfected with craftsmanship and a...

We’re joined by Savita Nutan who is discussing her own educational organisation ‘Medicine without Cruelty, the aim of which is promoting non animal testing as animal testing is outdated, ineffective and needs to be stopped. The big question being why is it still going on?  Savita explains why the law is regulated by ASPA Animals (Scientific Procedures) and it licences the use of animals despite there being so much information highlighting that there are other ways! The obvious question is how can a rat’s metabolism be compared to a human's? And with the rise of Artificial Intelligence could i...

We’re joined by Interior Designer and TV Presenter, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, giving advice on top home improvement ideas transforming your home in 2025. We chat about Heat pumps as a an energy efficient way to heat our homes. We chat about why the New Year inspires interior changes and suggests opting for some colour and bold stripes. As a huge animal lover we chat about his cats and dogs, and why up-cycling can be beneficial to your budget and the health of our pets. Laurence is aware of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can emit from pre-fab furniture, and why pl...

This week we dive into the archive where Anna is joined by Will Green MA, Executive MBA Programme at the University of Winchester and Sales and Marketing Director of Paleo Ridge. We discuss sustainability in the pet industry, focusing on the model adopted by Paleo Ridge as a raw food firm supplier, setting eco-standards in terms of making feeding raw not only ‘peace of mind for your dog', but also for the planet. In an age where Veganism is being suggested for dogs we discuss why ethical farming is needed to save the planet and maintain the bio-diversity without wh...

We’re joined by Lizzie Charnock, Dog Matching Officer, at Wood Green Pets Charity, talking about Christmas and its impact on impulse puppy purchases that often lead to young adults being handed into the charity. We chat about the rise in abandonment since the pandemic, and why Wood Green’s service to match the right dog to a prospective owner is key. Since 2019, Channel 4’s The Dog House has been capturing hearts across the nation. We chat about the programme and why it's helped so many understand how the Wood Green teams turn dogs’ lives around, and the prospective owners w...

We’re joined by Denise Elphick, co-founder of Pets Pyjamas, the UK’s dog friendly travel agent. We chat about the concept of dog friendly, the power of the ’Hound Pound’, and why the hospitality industry is opening their doors to dogs.  Denise explains that every listing from a self catering cottage, a 5-star hotel or a pub has been curated by the Pets Pyjamas’ team.  Offering clients peace of mind and assurance that their dog will be welcomed, not  just tolerated. As stay-cationing has soared in popularity, with over 50% of all dog owners wanting to holiday with their pooch, hotel...

We’re joined by Les Ward and Debbie Wilson from the International Animal Coalition discussing  the breach of animal welfare in Morocco all in the name of football!  Les and Debbie explain why campaigners are calling on FIFA to strip Morocco of its World Cup bid after grisly footage has emerged showing the inhumane public slaughter of street dogs in preparation for the event. Dogs can be seen screaming and in pain in the harrowing footage, which shows the 'cleansing' efforts being carried out to support the World Cup bid.  This announcement due on December 11th as to whether Moroc...

Keef Yap the founder of YapYap.dog joins us this week to talk about her hugely successful events. Inspired by her own MaltiPoo called Buttons, Keef reached out to like minded people four years ago and has built a community of modern ‘pet parents’ who want to enjoy outings and events like the hugely successful Winter Woof with their dogs. We chat about the organisation that goes on and the creative thinking to make fun  interactive features for the dogs to enjoy as much as the humans.  We chat about what’s lined up for 2025 as well as the ups and...

We’re joined by Caroline Allen, Chief Veterinary Officer, RSPCA and Rob Denman, Head of Professional and Field Services Gas Safe Register discussing the silent killer that is carbon monoxide poisoning in our pets. Raising awareness as part of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week (Monday 18th-Friday 22nd November 2024), the Gas Safety Register and the RSPCA have joined forces to raise awareness of the vital signs your pet has potentially been exposed to carbon monoxide, saving not only their lives but yours too! New figures show almost all pet owners (99%) are not able to correctly identify all the signs that indicate th...

Vet and Clinical Supervisor, Lara Howe, at Pet Blood Bank joins us to chat about this life saving charity. Founded in 2007, Pet Blood Bank is a charity that offers a blood bank service for dogs who run very similarly to the human blood service. Owners bring their dogs along to donate blood at one of their many sessions across the UK. The blood is then processed and stored ready to be sent out to vets when they need it. Every donation a dog gives can help to save the lives of up to four other dogs. Before Pet Blood...

With firework now upon us, we bring you our chat with Dr Sam Gaines of the RSPCA from 2022 about how you can start preparing your dog now to deal with fireworks that now start at Halloween, through Bonfire Night, Dwali, Christmas and New Year by learning to see the signs of stress in your dog and to create a safe space for them. Anna and Sam also talk about the progress (or lack there of) of various animal welfare bills currently in Parliament, the increase in dog biting, and a new media campaign to add more breeds to the...

For more about Anna go to annawebb.co.uk

Music and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

Cover art by Jaijo

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff Pawtraits

To advertise on or sponsor A Dog's Life email: info@theloniouspunkproductions.com

We’re joined by Chloe White (RVN BVNA Certsan ) discussing National Black Cat Day! We unpick all the myth and folklore surrounding these mystic cats , not least why black cats remain in rescue longer than any other coat colour! Discussing Chloe’s role at with Antinol, we chat about the fact that arthritis affects between 60 and 70 percent of all cats. The problem with cats is that they’re so good at disguising pain.  Chloe discusses why Antinol’s Green Lipped Mussel is a supplement that provides a solution . As a new concept offering very clever minimally processed Green Lipped Mussel as...

What is the difference between fear and anxiety?

This week Anna discusses this with author and animal behaviourist Zazie Todd on the release of her third book called BARK. Add this to her own book shelves along side Zazie’s critically acclaimed books Wag and Purr (see previous episodes).

In Bark, Zazie decodes the latest science on fear and anxiety, bearing in mind that 75% of all dogs express some form of anxiety through their life stages including: biting, resource guarding, shyness or aggressive barking.

Bark is divided into sections weaving in commentary from le...

Dr Dan O’ Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at Royal Veterinary College, joins us to discuss the latest research from VetCompass on comparing three ‘designer’ cross breeds namely the Cavapoo, Cockapoo and the Labradoodle on whether they are healthier than their ‘pure bred’ parts. Revealing to some surprise that these three mixes are indeed no healthier than their pedigree parents, we chat about bias, stigma and trends that influence dog owners.  We discuss the shift in dog ownership towards these new ‘breeds’, in the wake of much discussion on the health limiting over-exaggerated features of some pedigrees that has caused...

We’re joined by Dr Paul Koudounaris talking about his book ‘Faithful until Death’. As a first in terms of investigating Pet Cemeteries all around the world, Paul admits this was a labour of love of 11 years. Revealing the history of pet ownership as in the late Victorian era industrialisation meant more folk moved into cities, creating a new kind of pet husbandry, which included giving them a ’good’ death. Paul explores Cemeteries, and tombs from as far afield as Thailand, across Europe, in the UK and across the USA. We chat about the ridiculous thought that animals do not have s...

We’re joined by Microbiologist, Dr Carol Hughes, and Rachel Down, the founder of Boil and Broth, to discuss the ground breaking research project called the Biome Broth study. As a world first, the aim is to put Bone Broth to the test to see if adding this age old remedy to dogs’ diets will enhance their microbiome. With 29 dogs taking part, none of whom had had broth before, and on taking this powerful food for only four weeks, their biomes were tested again, and in all cases a remarkable improvement has been seen in this short time-frame. Notably the...

We’re joined by Pen Farthing is an ex Royal Marine Commando who founded the charity Nowzad to help dogs and cats in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. We chat about the amazing work the charity achieved in sterilising dogs and cats and the vaccinating programs against rabies. Also in re-uniting soldiers across the world with their beloved dog or cat they’d befriended during their tour of duty. Not only that but offering education at a local level about dogs, and helping women realise their dreams in becoming vet nurses and vets at their centre in Nowzad. In A...

This week Anna returns to Battersea to visit the cats at Battersea’s London HQ as the second in our double bill raising awareness for Wear Blue For Rescue at a time when the charity is at capacity for its cat residents.  Chatting to JoAnna Puzzo , Cat Behaviourist and Training Manager  to find out more about the growing number of abandoned cats in the Charity’s care, how they’re rehabilitated with behavioural and veterinary care. Particularly as Battersea  is currently at capacity with the most abandoned, gifted and stray cats ever! With a look inside their new cat facility...