This highly-intelligent breed with an aloof attitude and fearless spirit is an all-time favourite among dog lovers. German Shepherds have been described as the ultimate working dog and faithful companion, so they naturally deserve the best monikers we can come up with. We’ve put together a list of our favourite male and female German Shepherd names to get you inspired. Male German Shepherd names Otto Otto is a great dog name and doubles as a tribute to this breed’s German origins. It means wealth and prosperity, and it’s been the name of three German kings and many generals. We think there’s no other name that fits a military service dog better. Spencer Spencer is a beautiful name with a special meaning. It means ‘guardian’ or ‘steward’ and it goes without saying that it’s a perfect match for this breed’s protective nature. If you’re looking for a dog-approved male German Shepherd name, give Spencer a go. Rocky

According to Allergy UK, social behaviour has changed andon average, people are now spending around 90% of their time indoors. With this in mind, there’s also many of the allergens that cause sensitivities inside our homes alongside us. Our indoor environments are often poorly ventilated, causing humidity to rise and creating ideal conditions for mould and house dust mites to thrive in our soft furnishings and bedding. And as a nation of pet lovers, our pets are often living indoors too, which can also add to the allergens we contend with. Our homes should be our sanctuary, but for 1 in 5 of us who are sensitive to cat allergens¹,², the home environment isn't always so safe and relaxing.

When it comes to living with a cat allergen sensitivity, it’s not easy, but it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Some of the practices and advice you may find suggested online aren’t feline-friendly and can negatively affect your relationship with your cat. For example, bathing your cat can be a really stressful experience, for both of you. Although bathing will lower the levels of allergens present on your cat's hair, the effect is short-lived with the levels returning to baseline within 24 hours of bathing. Similarly, keeping a cat outside, particularly one that has been used to living indoors or keeping them restricted to a certain part of the house, can also result in increased levels of stress for them. Love finds a way and there are safe, easy and feline-friendly steps you can take to help manage cat allergens in your home, while also maintaining your close bond with your cat.

One of the most common infections in dogs is yeast infection. Learn what to do when your dog starts itching inconsolably and find out what treatments are the most effective. Does your dog suffer from itchy skin, swelling or exaggerated drooling? There are many underlying conditions for such symptoms, but one of the most common infections in dogs might be the culprit. While you’re waiting for your vet appointment, read on to learn more about spotting and tackling yeast infection in dogs.

Get ready for your pup's first health check with our useful tips. Your puppy’s first vet visit Before you bring your adorable new dog home, you should be planning for your puppy’s first vet visit. Register with a local vet to make sure you’re prepared and when you have your new puppy, arrange an appointment and let them know it's a new puppy health check. Your vet may want to allocate your puppy a bit more time than the usual 10-minute check-up just to make sure everything gets off on the right foot.

Dog dental care can be tricky, especially when they’re picking up different items with their mouth that may not be good for them. Knowing exactly what’s okay to pick up and what isn’t is also difficult. Carry on reading to find out what dogs can chew and what’s not safe. What isn’t safe for my dog to chew? Can dogs chew sticks? Throwing sticks in the park has been a staple of any dog walk for many years, but did you know that vets have advised that it may not be a good idea? This is because dogs may receive a splinter from carrying the stick. If your dog does begin to pick up and carry sticks fear not, most of the time they won’t receive a splinter. It may be worthwhile to always check your dog’s mouth after carrying a stick and if possible, encourage them to carry something else. Toys and balls are always a good alternative for dogs that like to carry items whilst they walk. Think of it as a great opportunity to choose some new toys for your dog! Can dogs chew stones? Many dogs enjoy playing with small stones that they find whilst out on walks and in the garden. This is because they usually have a specific scent from being outside and are the perfect size to fit in a dog’s mouth. However, if your dog chews on them frequently, it will wear down the enamel on their teeth. Enamel is the protective layer of the teeth and if it’s worn down too much, your dog may experience discomfort when eating. That’s why it is important to encourage your dog to chew safer items such as dog toys, instead of small stones from the garden. Should dogs chew plastic? Although the majority of plastic can look soft, if it splits it may become sharp. This means if your dog tends to chew toys such as Frisbees or plastic objects found around the house, they could inadvertently hurt themselves. We recommend keeping plastic out of a dog’s reach if possible, along with checking toys such as Frisbees regularly for splits and cracks. If a plastic toy is beginning to crack, it may be time to throw it away and get a new one. Can dogs have bones? Many dog owners like to treat their pooch to a real bone to chew on every now and again. Whilst these bones do make for a tasty treat, they can sometimes become harmful. This is because the bones can split and fragment, hurting your dog, and small parts may be swallowed which can cause intestinal discomfort. We recommend you watch your dog when chewing on a bone to make sure this doesn’t happen. It may also be worth limiting the amount of time they have with the bone. Better yet, if possible, you could purchase a synthetic bone made for dogs to chew. These bones are much safer and are designed for pets to use, making them a safe and tasty treat for your dog to enjoy. Can dogs chew corn on the cob? If someone asked you to name items you shouldn’t let your dog chew on, you probably wouldn’t say corn on the cob. However, corn on the cobs are best kept out of the way as they can be chewed into small pieces and swallowed. As well as potentially scratching your dog’s mouth, pieces of corn on the cob can be too big to fit through the intestines of smaller breeds. If your dog likes scavenging food (and many dogs do!) then make sure they can’t grab a corn on the cob from the dinner table, kitchen or bin.

When it comes to choosing wet or dry cat food, the information can be overwhelming. Conflicting information and the sheer amount of choice on offer can all make choosing your cat’s diet seem difficult. Go back to the basics with your cat’s diet in this article to learn all about the benefits and drawbacks of both wet or dry cat food, so you can make the right choice for your pet. What do cats need in their diet? Every cat requires a total of 41 essential micronutrients from their food each day – whether it be from wet or dry cat food. These micronutrients are ‘essential’ because they cannot be manufactured in the body, and they are necessary for normal, healthy function. Cats are obligate carnivores who need to eat meat, and as such they can’t be fed a vegetarian diet without developing malnutrition problems. A proportion of their daily nutrients must come from animal sources, specifically the amino acids taurine and arginine, the fatty acid arachidonic acid, and pre-formed vitamin A. What do cats like in their food? Just like humans, when it comes to food, cats enjoy something tasty! Although they have far fewer taste buds than other animals—a mere 475 to dogs’ 1,700—they do have some interesting appetite quirks. A cat’s sensitivity to bitter tastes is 400 times greater than that of a dog’s, but they lack the taste buds to be able to enjoy sweet flavours. Texture and the shape are also important factors for cats when it comes to their kibble. Cats’ sense of smell is superb, and is an essential part of appealing to their appetite. Food odours give pleasure, enhance enjoyment of food, and provide your cat with their own sense of nutritional information.

Whether you’re a first time cat owner or have a long term feline friend, there will be times where you wish you could know what your cat is thinking. Understanding Cats’ Body Language Sometimes you might wonder about a change in your cat’s behaviour and what that could mean, or would like to know how you can tell if your cat is happy. Although cats might seem hard to read, there are lots of tell-tale signs that will give you an insight into what your companion is thinking, and what kind of mood they’re in! You’ll probably be able to tell some of your cat’s more obvious moods already from their body language, facial expressions, vocalisations and tail movements. But looking out for some other signals, such as the following cat tail signs and body postures, can tell you even more. Cats have a wide range of basic emotions – they feel happy, sad, afraid, relieved and even frustrated, just like us humans! The key to a good relationship with your cat is learning how to recognise these emotions, and respond where needed. Watch this great video guide on cat body language from our friends at Cats Protection, presented by their Cats Behaviour Manager Nicky Trevorrow.

Anyone who’s ever spent time in the company of a dog knows that, just like people, dogs have personalities that are unique to them, and they experience many feelings in exactly the same way as humans and all other mammals. While they don’t experience higher emotions such as shame, spite or contempt, they have the same range of basic emotions as us, such as happiness, sadness, relief, frustration and fear. These feelings are essential in helping dogs learn about the world, and encourage them to behave in certain ways to protect or help them. If a dog feels fear, for example, they’re likely to seek out safety from the threat and gain a sense of relief, while the positive feelings they get from cuddles and grooming encourages good relationships with those around them. Watch our experts decode their expressions, signals, and behaviours.

Most cats are home lovers, so travelling anywhere else with them can make them stressed. Some journeys are unavoidable, so when travelling with cats it’s important to know how you can make your feline friend feel comfortable. Most cats are home lovers, so travelling anywhere else with them can make them stressed. When travelling with cats it’s important to know how you can make your feline friend feel comfortable. We’ve put together some cat travel tips to help everything run smoothly. Cat car travel Knowing how to travel with cats in the car is the most useful place to start. If you’re confident and in control, and you understand how to keep your cat calm, the journey can be relatively stress-free for both of you.