A common reason for neutering given by some vets is the reduced risk of cancers. In bitches this could be mammary tumours and male dogs testicular or prostate cancer. Ask your vet to talk you through this. What does the research say? Charlie Dore, Julian Littman and Karl Johnson – the singing trio who replaced Telltale in 1974. They stayed with the show before being replaced by Rod, Matt & Jane in 1975. Charlie Dore and Julian Littman went on to have hugely successful music careers, while Karl Johnson became a well-known actor. A visit to your vet should answer this question, right? Well, no. You are likely to get a range of opinions from your vet. In my experience some will say do it as soon as possible, some say wait until about six months (or after the first season for a bitch), some will say only do it if required for veterinary reasons. No consensus at all! I asked the question “At what age (if at all) would you neuter your dog” on a Facebook Group that advocates positive dog training methods. The group is used by trainers and dog owners interested in training. This is not a scientific study but just a snap-shot of opinion!

There have been various changes in the law in the UK over the years with attitudes to safer car travel following. So, the answer is probably NO!

What not to do

Dogs are one of the most adaptable species on the planet and have evolved to live in most countries of the world. We therefore do not need to over-react and keep them inside once the sun comes out but we should use some common sense. Hot Surfaces Besides the old age, there are many reasons that can cause the loss of a dog. Accidents, such as car accidents, can occur suddenly and take your pet without warning. Those are rare and in most cases, you have some warning signs if your pooch is going through a disease stage, or old age; you know your dog may be coming near its time here. What Goes Up Must Come Down, Abracadabra, Breakfast at Rainbow's, Where Did You Get That Hat?, Big, Bigger, Biggest Small World (1), Caterpillars and Butterflies, Looking After Baby, Small World (2), Going Out to the Circus, Going to a Toy Museum, Journey on a Narrow Boat, A Visit to a Safari Park Is your dog a sex pest? Does he try to hump everything in sight making life stressful for other dogs and owners? What do other owners do?

Zippo – Zippy's cousin, identical in appearance to Zippy but slightly brighter in colour, who would make the occasional guest appearance throughout the 80s and 90s seasons. Originally portrayed as an eloquent Frenchman, but a later episode depicted him as an American-accented rapper with loud, flashy clothing. Operated by Valerie Heberden, and voiced by Roy Skelton. I always try to take a pragmatic view in dog training so that seems like a reasonable way to approach the sometimes emotive question of neutering.

Christopher – played by Christopher Lillicrap, a semi-regular guest star who would guest on the show from time to time since the 70s, at first to read stories and later to perform songs, which the main cast would join in with. This is usually what someone says when their over-boisterous dog is terrorising yours. In this situation trust you instincts and walk away. You need to show him who’s boss Georgette – a pink female hippo, identical in appearance to George except for her longer eyelashes and floppy hat. She appears in the 1986 episode "Falling Out and Making Up" in which she moves into the house next door to the Rainbow House and immediately gets along well with George. Despite her close resemblance to George in appearance and name, this appears to be nothing more than sheer coincidence. George – a shy, pink and slightly camp hippo. He broadly represented sensitivity and introversion. (puppet; voiced by Roy Skelton and operated by Malcolm Lord, Tony Holtham and later Craig Crane). George first appeared in 1973, introduced as a shy friend of Zippy's who was afraid of being seen or heard, usually crouching very low behind the window pane and rarely speaking, preferring to make funny noises. In subsequent seasons George gradually became more extroverted and spoke more, though he remained predominantly shy and timid. The most generally well-behaved and well-meaning of the puppet characters, George often found himself caught between Zippy and Bungle's squabbling, and his good nature taken advantage of by the other characters. Although mostly introverted, several episodes reveal that he aspires to be a singer. Most dogs will show signs of fatigue when they become ill. However, when it comes time, your dog will feel an even more extreme form of fatigue. Your dog may seek out a comfortable corner or quiet area to lay down, or may not be able to move at all.

Many animals, including dogs, choose to draw into themselves or seek a place to be alone when it comes time to die. Your dog may even choose to ignore you when you call, and start to ignore its favorite people, toys, and food. Perhaps your dog has lived a full life and you may have just noticed that your Fido has slowed down in its walking, has some trouble standing, but still enjoys life and you are worried about the signs you should be watching for when the time is near. Your vet can give you some guidelines, but there are some basic signs to watch for: 1. Extreme Fatigue

Am I a responsible dog owner?

Rainbows form when drops of rain act as prisms, breaking sunlight into a multitude of colors. Sundogs appear when sunlight passes through a thin veil of ice crystal clouds (usually cirrus or cirrostratus), and the ice acts as a prism, refracting thelight. One of the best things about staying in a holiday let is that you get to take the dog! These are our top tips for a successful break with your dog. How do I find dog friendly holiday let properties?

Prepare for the worst. You have a legal responsibility to have a tag on your dog and have him microchipped. Make sure the microchip details are up to date with your current mobile phone number before your trip. A Sun halo, a circle of light that creates a circle 22° wide around the Sun, is a related phenomenon. As with sundogs, hexagonal ice crystals suspended in cirrostratus clouds refract sunlight to create the halo, sometimes also called an icebow, nimbus, or gloriole. Unlike sundogs, which generally only be seen when the Sun is near the horizon, the halo is visible even when the Sun is high. Sundogs appear along the 22° halo and disappear as the Sun rises. If you are looking toadopt a dog from the Rainbow Rehoming Centre please visit the centre where you can see all ofthedogs thatarein our care. Our staff can help determine which is the right dog for youand your family. Asking your trainer or behaviourist should give you an answer then? Again, there is little consensus between different trainers or behaviourists. Rod, Jane and Freddy – a group of musicians who regularly featured on the show. When they debuted in 1974 they were 'Rod, Jane and Matt', Matt being Matthew Corbett (of The Sooty Show fame). Matt was replaced from 1977 by Roger Walker, before Freddy Marks, in turn, took over in 1981. Although initially confined to the song segment of the show, gradually Rod, Jane & Freddy began to feature more heavily in the episode's storylines during the show's run, often playing significant roles in the plot. Some of the early 80s episodes stated they lived in the Rainbow House and they were shown to have a bedroom of their own, although later episodes implied they lived next door. Rod, Jane & Freddy were very well-respected and looked up to by Zippy, George and Bungle, who admired their singing and rarely ever got into any conflict with them.How does your dog cope with being left alone at home? If the answer is he is never left or he barks, chews, or messes then you can almost guarantee he will we worse in a strange new place. Consider getting some help with his separation anxiety now before you even consider going away and leaving him in a strange place. A car seat helps to keep your dog more contained, it may also be more comfortable, and helps keep your car cleaner. You can help your dog by carefully assessing its pain levels and under your veterinarian’s guidance, administer NSAIDS or other prescribed medications that may alleviate pain. 4. Incontinence You may have the idea that you cannot live without your best friend, but going forward with a healing heart can be what is best not only for you, but you may have other family members or animals to think about. Some animals bond deeply, and even though you may feel a great loss yourself, your other animals are feeling it too. Hopefully things like The Rainbow Bridge poem and other readings you can do will keep you stronger. Further information: List of Rainbow (TV series) episodes Characters [ edit ] Zippy and George at the National Media Museum