Basil Barkarama has had a busy schedule of late what with training, walks with fellow squishy facers and hanging out with world famous male models so we called upon our favourite Basenji Anubis to review one of London’s hottest hound tickets in town. Over to you Anubis ….

It may come as a shock to any dog owner who’s ever had to fish chicken bones, mouldy bread or muddy sticks out of their pet’s mouths but we dogs appreciate fine cuisine. Yes, really! Thankfully, Argentinean restaurant Gaucho in beautiful, leafy Hampstead understands this, and has created Doggy Sundays, a monthly canine event with a varying theme, and this month’s was a Doggy Fashion Show.

So it was that after my walk on nearby Hampstead Heath (beautiful place for a dog walk), this lucky Basenji found herself surrounded by over forty pups of all breeds and ages, savouring homemade cakes in a personalised bowl (notice my name and the Egyptian symbols), while my humans enjoyed their lunch by my side. The place was beautiful, the team welcoming and dedicated, and no detail too small - there was even a photographer outside, waiting to take snaps of me as I arrived on a mini red carpet set up for the event.



After the meal, all canines were invited to appear on the dogwalk and have our outfits judged to win a series of prizes. I was dressed rather casually, so I didn’t win anything, but it was a fun thing to do. To top it all off, before leaving I received a wonderful doggie bag filled with goodies including delicious cupcakes (of the pupcake variety of course), a chicken-filled pastry and the latest issue of Dogs Today.

Doggy Sunday takes place the first Sunday of each month at Gaucho Hampstead. Humans are also catered for with a three-course meal including steak, and £5 for each dog is donated to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. If you see me there, come and say hi - we’re hoping Basil Barkarama will be there over summer too! For bookings contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

See more of Anubis over on Facebook at AnubisTheBarklessDog.

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In this month's breed focus we turn our attention to the dashing Dachshund a.k.a. the sausage dog, wiener dog (for our American fans), the Doxie or the Daxie Originating from Germany, they were first bred to scent, chase and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, or in the case of the miniature dachshund - to hunt smaller pray such as rabbits. However, in today’s world he has a much easier life kicking back as a family pet but that's not to have they have surrendered their digging instincts – their large and paddle-shaped front paws are often used to dig into a blanket or an enticing patch in the garden.

In the UK the Dachshund comes in six varieties, two sizes – Standards and Miniatures - and three coats: Smooth-haired, Long-haired & Wire-haired and in a variety of colourings and patterns. The Dachshund is playful, intelligent and highly devoted to his owner. On the flipside, the breed can be very stubborn (have fun with your training), is known for their loud bark and can be standoffish towards strangers and other dogs. Health troubles tend to relate to their spine due to their elongated make-up, which may be worsened by intense exercise, excessive jumping or being overweight so be careful not to indulge him too much with servings from the treat jar. Notable Dachshund owners include Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Adele and fellow dog blogger The Stately Hound dog-father to Archie and Brewster a.k.a. the Sausage Brothers. If you are interested in getting a Dachshund pup, visit Thekennelclub.org.uk for more information and a list of assured breeders.

Indulge your love of the Dachshund with our product picks …



Add a dash of Doxie to your wardrobe. Clockwise from left: Dachshund Silk Twill Scarf, £90.00, Cuckooland.com; Dachshund Handbag Charm & Key Ring,  £69.00, Aspinaloflondon.com; Dog on Wheels Necklace, £30, Tattydevine.com; Ezmoro Orchid Printed Matinee Purse, £99, Tedbaker.com.


Give your interiors a mutt-over with this selection of Dachshund delights. Clockwise from left: Rory Dobner Hot Dog Bone China Mug, £16, Liberty.co.uk; Dachshund Dog Bookends, £46, Notonthehighstreet.com; Hound Armchair in Dachshund Red, £899, Johnlewis.com; Sausage Lover Daxi Print, £28, Notonthehighstreet.com; Sausage Dog Cushion Grey, £95.00, PetsPyjamas.com.



Own a Dachshund? Send him off in his jollies to the Sausage Dog Hotel in Hertfordshire, where he can hang with his fellow Doxies. Specifically tailored to dachshunds, this hound hotels offers a range of services including long and short term stays, regular day care walking and more.

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Image via Animal.discovery.com

At first we found the cushion and then we discovered that you can gift, wear and accessorise with Jamie Mitchell’s ‘Rejected’ line, and now we’re head over paws for his playful Pug and posh Poodle illustrations.

Jamie’s style is deeply rooted in hand drawing and conveys his preoccupation with nature and humanity, having always been fascinated by the personality of certain animals and we think he’s hit the mark with two doggy duo.

The ‘Rejected’ range includes a Greeting Card (£2.50), Phone Case to fit iPhone & Samsung Galaxy (£20), unisex Sweatshirt (£28) and Cushion (£30). Fetch your preferred item or the whole ‘pack’ from Ohhdeer.com. 

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Taking the dog out for his daily exercise is not always a ‘walk in the park’ what with dodging fox poo, swerving discarded takeaways or avoiding a bark off with an angry dog. But what about the dangers you can’t see such as ticks – those vicious blood-sucking parasites! Are you clued up on ticks and their risks? Would you recognise the problem if your dog caught them? Is your dog protected against them?

If you answer no to one or all of the above then keep reading …

What are ticks? Irksome external parasites ranking second only to mosquitoes in disease transmission to both pets and humans. The troublesome ticks attach themselves to their host via their mouthparts and then commence their blood-fest until they are full, which can take several hours or even days. Their favourite feeding spots tend be in crevices where it’s nice and warm or areas with little or no hair such as where the legs meet the body, between the toes, within skin folds and ears. They can vary in shape, colour and size but generally pre-feed, they are oval, flat, small and the size of a sesame seed; post-feed they are fat with blood and become the size and shape of a coffee-bean.

What symptoms and diseases arise from ticks? Should a tick select your dog for their feeding ground, he’s likely to suffer from the three I’s – itching, irritation and inflammation, and are at risk of contracting Lyme Disease – a bacteria, which affects the muscle and nerve cells. Lyme Disease is characterised in dogs by intermittent lameness, fever and lethargy. Left untreated, it can result in debilitating and chronic illness, which is why it’s important to be aware and ensure you have taken out the necessary measures to protect you dog from catching them.

Where can my dog catch ticks? In all the places where your dog likes to enjoy his outdoor time – the garden, beach, forest and parks, however, they can also be found in urban areas. With recently relaxed Pet Travel Scheme rules, it’s no longer mandatory for pets entering the UK to be treated for ticks, so the risk of foreign tick-borne diseases is also on the rise. Attracting by your dog’s warmth and motion, ticks are at their most active in Autumn and Spring - that long forgotten time when the weather is milder, sunnier and more pleasant dog-walking (here’s hoping).

How do I stop my dog from getting ticks? Prevention is most definitely better than cure so it’s important that you treat your dog regularly with a tick control product such as FRONTLINE Spot On or similar as advised by your vet. Such products are applied to the back of the dog’s neck where it then distributes itself around the skin and hair follicles. A regular approach will help to kill most ticks before they have the chance to transmit the disease. You should also check your dog’s fur regularly for any small bumps. Should your dog get a tick, it’s best to seek advice from your vet on treatment and how to remove the ticks.

This post is sponsored by FRONTLINE® Spot On, as part of their nationwide campaign – ‘Be Tick Aware’ - designed to increase dog owners’ awareness of ticks, the diseases they transmit and how to treat them. The campaign is backed by celebrity DJ Sara Cox and dog-mum to Bassett Hound Snoop and TV vet Marc Abraham. For more information on the Be Tick Aware campaign and how to prevent ticks, visit uk.frontline.com or @BeTickAware on Twitter.

A pack of dogs (spot the Boston Terrier), ditsy dots and a renowned British designer; what’s not to love about the Paul Smith Dog Print Wallet? This pale blue leather wallet features beige polka dots, multi-coloured dog print and has a zip top closure, an accordion style opening and plenty of space for the cashola and cards. It’s yours for £358.44 from FarFetch.com and ours if the other half is feeling generous with the forthcoming birthday gifts.