Inside This Issue
Five summer health risks that catch dog owners off guard
Summer is the finest time of the year to have a dog.
How to build a beach recall that actually works
There is a particular species of dread known only to dog owners, and it arrives the first time you unclip the lead on a beach.
Britain's best dog beaches: where to go this summer
The tide is going out at Bamburgh, and a golden retriever is already chest-deep in the water before her owner has finished…
How to actually enjoy a dog-friendly summer holiday
There is a version of the dog-friendly summer holiday that works beautifully.
Around the Dog World
The world's smallest police dog is a Pomeranian. From Japan.
In December 2025, a two-year-old Pomeranian named Haku passed the official police dog exam in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, competing against 51 other candidates and qualifying on his first attempt in the tracking discipline. Haku is believed to be the first Pomeranian to join a police dog unit in the Miyazaki region. He is now based at Hyuga Police Station.
In Tokyo, Sony holds an annual blessing ceremony for robot dogs
Each November, Sony brings Aibo owners to Kanda Shrine in Tokyo for the Shichi-Go-San ceremony. Aibo owners, many of them elderly adults living alone, dress their robot dogs in kimonos and attend as they would with a real pet. Sony has organised the event annually since Aibo's relaunch in 2018.
A rescue dog won the most prestigious film award that only dogs can win
Yuri, a stray rescued from the streets of Chile, won the Palm Dog award at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Established in 2001, the award recognises outstanding canine performances in competition films. Yuri stars in La Perra, directed by Dominga Sotomayor, in which a woman living alone on a remote island takes in an abandoned puppy.
Mexico's unofficial World Cup mascot is a rescue dog on a bicycle
Osito, an eight-year-old poodle mix, became one of the likelier stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after attending Mexico's opening match in the back of a customised cargo bicycle. His owner, Jorge Rangel, built a special compartment so Osito can ride with him on his daily rounds. Rangel adopted Osito two years ago during a difficult period.
Breed Spotlight
Full profile →French Bulldog
On paper, the French Bulldog makes no sense at all.
Editor’s Picks
View all →This month's picks all have one job: making a summer trip to the beach easier and safer for your dog, from keeping cool and hydrated to staying visible in the water.
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