The Countryfile farmer recalls how the dogs of his childhood led to a lifelong affection for canine companions
Trudy (Labrador) was the first of the house dogs of whom I have clear memories. I loved taking her for long walks and she was a perfect companion for a small boy.
Most of all, I was really happy when Dad went pheasant shooting and I was allowed to go along, holding on to her until the order came for her to retrieve. It was wonderful to be trusted to be Dad’s companion, and to spend time with him, and Trudy was the ideal gundog for me to learn with.
Before Trudy died, Mum and Dad returned to their first love, black Labradors. They bought another puppy, Jemima. She was a very traditional-looking Lab, with short legs, a barrel chest and an insatiable appetite. Labradors love their food, but it’s really important for their health not to let them become overweight. Carrying extra pounds creates all sorts of health problems for dogs, from arthritis to diabetes, through to breathing and heart problems.
LIGHT ON THEIR FEET
A study of Labradors over many years has shown that slimmer dogs live on average two years longer than their overweight peers, have fewer visits to the vet because of health problems and need less prescribed medication. The fatter Labs have an average age of 11, the thinner ones of 13.
That alone is a good reason to keep their weight down. But it’s not just the length of life, but the quality of it. I feel so sorry for fat dogs waddling along with their owners. They are not enjoying life to the full – they are unable to run and jump, miserable on hot days because they find it hard to regulate their temperature and can struggle to breathe.
Denne historien er fra December 2017-utgaven av BBC Countryfile Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra December 2017-utgaven av BBC Countryfile Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Guilt-Free Meat? - Should the world stop eating meat to tackle the climate crisis? Chris Baraniuk meets an experimental farmer who says we don't all have to become vegetarians
Should the world stop eating meat to tackle the climate crisis? Chris Baraniuk meets an experimental farmer who says we don't all have to become vegetarians. Livestock farming around the world is facing scrutiny because of its greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, the sector contributes somewhere between 11.1% and 19.6% of total emissions. Meat production is roughly twice as bad as the production of plant-based food, according to some analyses. And beef is the worst of all. Study after study has suggested that, in order to curtail the devastating effects of climate change, we ought to shift to a diet containing less meat - or even go vegetarian or vegan.
Discover Cider Country - Explore mellow golden countryside, pedalling between medieval villages, historic inns and fruitful orchards, on a delightful Herefordshire Cider Circuit adventure with Julie Brominicks
Explore mellow golden countryside, pedalling between medieval villages, historic inns and fruitful orchards, on a delightful Herefordshire Cider Circuit adventure with Julie Brominicks. I'm cycling Porter's Perfection, one of three cider circuits developed for Visit Herefordshire over the past few years. Each showcases a section of this bucolic county's loveliest villages, pubs, orchards and cidermakers via lanes suited to bicycles - e-bikes for hill-averse cyclists like me. The idea is to allow you to appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of cider country while traversing roads never meant for modern cars. If you have dodgy knees, or are keen to indulge in the local adult apple juice as you go (remember, it's illegal to cycle while under the influence), Visit Herefordshire also promotes cider bus routes.
TOP 10 WILD AUTUMN FOODS
Make the most of seasonal abundance with foraging tips and recipe ideas from wild food expert Liz Knight
The taste of England
Amid pastures farmed by her family for more than four centuries, Mary Quicke is reviving forgotten dairy traditions to produce delicious Devon cheeses
How to eat 30 plants a week
As science proves the many health-boosting benefits of eating at least 30 different plants each week, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall shares recipes to help you meet the magic target
RARE RAFT SPIDER MAKES A COMEBACK
Thanks to dedicated conservation work, this impressive but vulnerable arachnid is resurgent in East Anglia
SPECTACULAR STONEHENGE FINDS
Following the latest astonishing revelation about the Stonehenge Altar Stone's Scottish origins, Dixe Wills looks at recent discoveries that have changed the way we view this impressive and enigmatic Neolithic monument
GALLOWAY NATIONAL PARK DEBATE
Would this protected status bring welcome recognition and attention - or overcrowding and problems for farmers?
Farmers are valued, so why do they feel we don't care?
For farmers out in their fields in all seasons, worried about the future as dramatic levels of rainfall blamed on climate change damage their crops, inflation and uncertainty push up their costs and what they see as unfair imports threaten their livelihoods, here's a spot of unexpectedly good news: the rest of us think you are doing a good job.
Pumpkin patches
Find the perfect jack-o'-lantern for Halloween at a pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Some are simple affairs in tranquil countryside; others offer activities ranging from ghost trains to spooky mazes.
