The Alternative Dog

The magazine for creative, open-minded dogs and their human companions

Download the latest print issue

The Alternative Dog

The magazine for creative, open-minded dogs and their human companions

Download the latest print issue

The Alternative Dog

The magazine for creative, open-minded dogs and their human companions

Download the latest print issue

NUTRITION

Don’t be fooled: dogs are not omnivores!

It is in the interest of the big, processed dog food producers to promote the idea that dogs are omnivores, but the science says otherwise. Jonathan looks at two crucial bits of research…

FEATURES

Behaviour problems? Behaviour solutions!

Some dog training or behavioural issues are more common than others. The good news is that in most cases they can be resolved relatively easily. Well, to be more accurate, resolved with knowledge and effort, as behaviourist Ross McCarthy explains....

FEATURES

How to photograph dogs

Taking great photographs of dogs (or anything else) is less about technical know-how and more about learning how to see. We asked the well-known pet photographer (and longstanding Honey’s customer), Sharon Bolt, to offer a few dog photo shooting tips.

FEATURES

Three great, dog-themed letters

Browsing in our local bookshop this week, I was delighted to come across a copy of Shaun Usher’s excellent little anthology: Letters of Note: Dogs. As I am an enthusiastic collector of what might be called ‘dog lit’ I can’t think how I missed it before. Anyway, I have found it now and am happy to recommend it. Shaun Usher, by the way, is the founder of a very popular website called Letters of Note – the place to go if you are into reading other people’s correspondence!

NUTRITION

Raw Feeding on a Budget

You may have heard that a natural or raw food diet is more expensive than feeding, say, kibble or tinned food. This simply isn’t true! Jonathan Self and Dr Charlotte Gray explain how to cut the cost of feeding raw and offer tips if you are on a really tight budget.

NUTRITION

Diet and older dogs

As dogs become older, they generally seem to actively resist the aging process. Still, there is no doubt that the passing of the years can bring physical and mental changes to our four-legged family members. Diet has a huge role to play here. It can help prevent and alleviate illness and all the other symptoms of aging.

FEATURES

A tribute to Barbara Woodhouse

The 1980 television programme, Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way made its star, seventy-year-old Barbara Woodhouse a household name all over the world. When she ordered us dog lovers to bark out ‘sit’ or ‘walkies’, we all did as we were told. Her methods have since fallen out of fashion but have we thrown the puppy out with the bathwater?

OPINION

Why we should question scientific research

There is a great deal of truth in Mark Twain’s famous quip (‘lies, damned lies and statistics), especially when one looks at how the results of scientific research are often twisted. We consider a canine study that was poorly constructed and wilfully misinterpreted and yet was widely quoted in the national media.

NEWS

Welcome to the new Alternative Dog

Interested in dog nutrition, dog behaviour, dog health, dog art, dog literature, dog photography, dog sport, dog holidays, dog equipment, dogs and the law, dogs in religion… in fact, anything to do with dogs? Concerned about ethics and sustainability? Believe in complementary and alternative medicine? You have come to the right place.

HEALTH

Treatment tips for Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

Sometimes referred to as ‘doggy dementia’ Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome affects as many as one in four older dogs. Dr. Charlotte Gray, one of the UK’s best known and most respected vets, explains how a simple change of diet can help to alleviate the symptoms and improve the condition. 

SUSTAINABILITY

Why compostable packaging may be worse for the environment

Compostable packaging is all the rage amongst ‘green’ companies, but the truth is that it may be more damaging to the environment than the plastic it generally replaces. We look at the pros and cons and offer tips on how to evaluate the packaging used for your dog’s food. 

FEATURES

Photographing canids

Steve Darling, a British wildlife photographer, has travelled all over the world to watch and capture wild dogs and other canids. In this exclusive article he tells the stories behind some of his best photographs and talks about how hard life is becoming for the world’s undomesticated dogs.

OBITUARIES

Remembering beloved four-legged family members

In addition to publishing obituaries for Honey’s fed dogs in the printed version of The Alternative Dog we will also be posting a selection online. If you are a Honey’s customer and have lost a dog (even if it is some time ago) and would like him or her included please email info@honeysrealdogfood.com.

About

The Alternative Dog is published by an artisan, raw dog food producer called Honey’s Real Dog Food. In addition to our digital version, we publish a print issue three or four times a year. The print issue is available free to Honey’s customers and by request (please email info@honeysrealdogfood.com).

Learn more about Honey’s