Clare and Alice talk to broadcasting legend and Greyhound owner Fi Glover about the joy of mega-fast park runs and unusual lockdown marriages. There is expert veterinary advice about pet health, medication and emergency treatment during the corona crisis. Clare and Alice discuss canine arthritis, identifying when your dog is in pain, prevention and treatments. Plus, Jessica Holm has some children’s book recommendations and Clare gives some computer and technical tips for photography lovers.

Archie is mainly asleep. Buttons is still enamoured with her cardboard box.

Clare Balding celebrates the difference a dog can make to your life. Today Clare and her wife, Alice Arnold, talk to Sports Commentator Andrew Cotter about his dogs, Mabel and Olive, who have taken the internet by storm.  Nearly 20 million people have watched videos of these Labradors competing for a rubber toy. 

Expert Jessica Holm answers listeners canine conundrums. Plus breed focus:  we hear about the joys of sled-running in Suffolk with Alaskan Malamutes.

Also, Clare and Alice peruse costumes to make your dog the sensation of any Halloween party, and share ideas to dress your dog at home. Archie is not impressed.

Clare Balding celebrates the difference a dog can make to your life.  

Today’s podcast focuses on the impact on dogs and on dog owners of the CORVID 19 pandemic. Clare speaks to Adam Clowes from the Dogs Trust about the impact of the pandemic on dogs in care, fostering  and rescue centres. Jade Statt, the ‘Street Vet’ tells Clare how her team are working to support homeless dog owners. We hear about the struggle to home litters of puppies during the lockdown; and ‘Toff’,  star of ‘Made in Chelsea’ and ‘I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here’ shares with Clare and Alice the difference that her new King Charles Spaniel puppy ‘Monty’ is making to her life.  

Clare and Alice Arnold continue their pursuit of fitness during the lockdown and Archie enjoys s-l-o-w walks and long naps, Button, the cat, likes to play in boxes.

FIRST VET

To help stop the spread of COVID-19, FirstVet is offering their video vet service completely free for all UK pet owners between the hours of 12pm to 5pm, 7 days a week, until April 30th.    Www.First vet.co.uk

Please tweet questions, photos and comments to @ClareBalding

Producer: Lucy Dichmont