Charles Dickens dog collar sells for £7,340...

A dog collar that once belonged to Charles Dickens' dog has sold at Bonham's in New York for £7,340.  It's a lovely old leather collar, with a large brass plate engraved with his address: C. Dickens Esq, Gad's Hill Place, HIGHAM.

Dickens adored his home at Gad's Hill, and loved his dogs just as much.  An article in the Atlantic magazine shortly after his death mentions some of his dogs:

'Quite a colony of dogs has always been a feature at Gad's Hill. When Dickens returned home from his last visit to America, these dogs were frequently spoken of in his letters. In May, 1868, he writes: "As you ask me about the dogs, I begin with them. The two Newfoundland dogs coming to meet me, with the usual carriage and the usual driver, and beholding me coming in my usual dress out at the usual door, it struck me that their recollection of my having been absent for any unusual time was at once cancelled. They behaved (they are both young dogs) exactly in their usual manner; coming behind the basket phaeton as we trotted along, and lifting their heads to have their ears pulled,—a special attention which they receive from no one else. But when I drove into the stable-yard, Linda (the St. Bernard) was greatly excited, weeping profusely, and throwing herself on her back that she might caress my foot with her great fore-paws. M.'s little dog, too, Mrs. Bouncer, barked in the greatest agitation, on being called down and asked, 'Who is this?' tearing round and round me like the dog in the Faust outlines.'

www.merrydogs.co.uk

Are we letting Springers down?

Springer Spaniels are fabulous working dogs, and make great pets.  But according to the Gundog Club more Springer owners are struggling to manage their dogs than any other gundog breed, and more Springers than ever are being rehomed during their 'teenage' years.

Like all breeds, Springers have their own individual character traits and therefore they need handling and training in a particular way.  The Gundog Club are running a series of online articles, which you can read here, to help owners understand their Springer Spaniel and handle them correctly.  They also offer advice for all owners of gundog breeds who experience training and management difficulties – click this link to find out more.

Given that breeds are so distinct in personality and character, we at Merry Dogs are convinced that they benefit from specially tailored training, and for all gundog owners, whether your dog is just a pet or will be a working dog, the Gundog Club is a good place to start.

'Teenage' dog years can be a challenging time for the most experienced owner, so don't hold back – get help and advice if you need it.

Ziggy in a Pickle

Ziggy Webb, star of Dragon's Den, The Alan Titchmarsh Show and Animal Planet's Top Dog, called into the Merry Dogs studio today sporting his latest collar and lead combo, the Pickles by cool San Fran designers Paco Collars.

Wondering if it's true that a Paco Collar can change a dog's life, we asked him how things had been since his latest transformation. A hint of a smile played around his muzzle as he answered, "A star needs to look the part, and that tatty nylon collar just didn't cut it.  Real leather feels great on my fur, and my girls just love it."  And with a wag of the tail and a wiggle of the butt the boy was gone, leaving a sprinkling of stardust drifting in the breeze.

Paco Collars – strength, love, style.

Get your paws on Paco Collars in the UK at Merry Dogs.