If you’re a dog lover, the chances are you have a particular breed that just makes you go weak at the knees. You probably even own one of that breed or would one day love to. This week we’re going to take a look at some of the UK’s most popular dog breeds and try to work out why that is! Read on to see if your perfect pooch is part of the party!

1. Labrador Retriever – aside from this being a very pretty pup, the Labrador retriever is one of the most loyal, most loving, caring and affectionate dog breeds out there! Their good nature make them wonderful family pets. They do require training from an early age like most dogs and can be wayward, but if given the right amount of love and attention, they make friends for life.

2. English Springer Spaniel – this dog is very gentle and even-tempered. Not only that, but they are incredibly intelligent animals capable of learning very quickly. Their tails never seem to stop wagging, making them one of the most cheerful, life-loving dogs out there!

3. German Shepherd – a lot of people might think ill of this misunderstood pup, but German Shepherds make excellent companions. They are very active dogs, are keen, courageous and also very strong. If owners make it clear who is in charge, they make for excellent family pets and will guard and protect their loved ones with their lives.

4. Boxer – these are exceptionally loving and friendly dogs, despite their slightly intimidating appearance. They are very curious and energetic and will keep their owner as fit as they are! They bond with their family and are very affectionate and sociable.  They are also very well known for getting along with children, making them the perfect family pet!

These are just a few of the UK’s most popular dog breeds, but if you’re interested in finding out about more, visit the UK KC website.

With the people of Britain having spent over £27 million on their pets last Christmas, it comes as no surprise that there are some exceptionally weird and wonderful products out there for your animal companion to get its paws, claws, talons or fins on. This week we’re going to show you just some of the craziest pet products we have ever seen and we’ll give our honest opinion on how useful they are.

• You probably weren’t aware you can get prozac for your pooch to help perk them up if they spend a long time alone while owners are out or at work. The drug, called Reconcile, apparently works the same way as the human version, increasing the level or serotonin produced in the brain to improve mood. If you ask us, this is taking things a little too far. If your dog is suffering from some kind of mental disorder caused by separation from their beloved owner, you have to wonder if they should have gotten a dog in the first place. Not everything should be solved with pills, least of all where animals are concerned.

• This next product is actually a pretty nifty little gadget. The Litter Robot is for those people who squirm at the thought of cleaning up after their moggy. This handy, spacecraft-esq machine does the job for you. Not only does it quickly hide away the cat’s undesirables, it also prevents odours. The inventors also claim it will save you 50% of the cost of buying litter and the only other thing you need is a regular old binbag to line the tray. You will, however, have to get off your lazy backside to empty that.

• So, this isn’t exactly a product for your pet. This is, in fact, a product made out of your pet – no animal cruelty here, of course. Or at least, we hope not. The Fur-Ever Keepsake can be anything from a glove to a coat made entirely out of – you guessed it – the fur of your pet. So if being apart from your darling little chihuahua Tootsie is just too much for you to handle, have a pair of gloves knitted from her fur and take her with you everywhere you go. You can even get that fresh, wet dog smell when you get caught in the rain.

• One of the most pointless inventions out of all of these products is probably the Goldfish Walker. Basically a fish tank on wheels that allows you to show your marine critters the sights. Like we said, pointless.

• Now, despite being yet another utterly useless item, if you’re a big beer drinker it is actually kind of quaint. Beer….for your dog. Happy Tail Ale, it’s called. Luckily it contains no alcohol, is non-carbonated and, unlike beer for human consumption, is actually pretty healthy. It’s also flavoured with drippings to make it taste like a dog’s favourite food, given the choice. Beef. Mmm…yum…

• So, we’ve saved the best for last. This is also the most risque of our featured products and it goes by the name of the Hotdoll, a doggy shaped doll that keeps your rather affectionate dog away from your leg. We’re sure you have vivid imaginations. You can work out the rest for yourselves.

Both you and your pup have a lot to learn when it comes to good training. It’s best to get started the moment your puppy’s little paws touch the carpet otherwise it may end up picking up some very bad habits and breaking every rule in the book. Disciplining a puppy isn’t going to do it any harm. In fact it’s much likelier to be a happier dog in the long run if it learns what good behaviour is and what bad behaviour is at an early age. It’s very tempting to give in to that sweet, wrinkly face filled with such love and adoration that it seems cruel to deny it the chance to sleep on your lap, or that tid bit from the dinner table. The trouble is, dogs are far too clever for their own good and once you start, they’re going to learn to expect it in the future.

One of the most important things to do is ensure that anything you don’t want to be chewed to teeny tiny pieces is well out of harm’s way. Dogs, young or old, love to tear things apart no matter how many hundreds of pounds it cost you. Puppies have no concept of value. You have to establish the boundaries and most importantly you have to stick to them, otherwise the poor thing is going to get confused and you’re going to get angry when he or she doesn’t understand what they’re doing wrong.

Give your puppy plenty of toys to chew, a warm bed and of course, food and water. It’s also a good idea to place newspaper or any old paper on the floor until the puppy is well potty trained. Make it feel safe and secure. For the first few nights it’s probably going to whine and cry, but it will get used to the idea of being alone and learn that this is not something to be frightened about.

Patience and understanding are the most important things. Your pup might not get things straight away, but remember to keep trying. It will get it eventually!

There are also plenty of puppy books and accessories to make puppy training just a little bit easier.