Things never to give you dog

It can be difficult knowing what things are safe for a dog to eat.

Here's a list of things you should NEVER give a dog.

1. Chocolate. Dogs are allergic to the chemical in chocolate. If you want to give your dog chocolate, special dog chocolate is available.
2. Onions. They can make your dog anaemic.
3. Raisins and grapes. Dogs can't digest them properly and they may become stuck in their digestive tracts.
4. Human painkillers. Unless your vet says its okay, you should never give your dogs painkillers intended for humans.
5. Caffeine can damage a dog's heart, lungs, kidneys and central nervous system.
6. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found commonly in chewing gum and other products. It can case severe liver damage in dogs.

Note - if you think your dog may have eaten any of these things, seek immediate medical advice even if your pet pooch seems well.

Some great tips for dog owners

Cats and dogs can live in perfect harmony

A friend of mine was moving in with her partner. The thing was she had three dogs and wasn't sure they would get on with his two cats.

Another person I know was wondering whether to get a Border Collie as a family pet because they are dogs that need a lot of exercise.

As dog owners (hey, my dog Benjy says, you don't own me), we all face problems at one time or another.

The Dogs Trust, who promise NEVER to put a healthy dog down, have a range of fact sheets on their site.

They cover topics like -

Introducing your dog to cats

Caring for a greyhound or lurcher

Introducing your dog to your baby

Beating Boredom

Barking

For the full list of topics, go to the Fact Sheet list page. And, remember if you want to thank them for the amazing free advice they offer and the invaluable work they do in the UK think about sponsoring one of their dogs or buying something from their online shop.