Episode 49 – Caring for our canine companions

In this episode we look at the ways farmers can get the most out of their four-legged farm workers, and give them the best care possible. Learn about a Massey University project looking at the DNA and behaviour of working dogs in New Zealand, and hear advice from a Hunterville vet on how to best care for your working dogs throughout their life, from a pup through to old age.

Guests include:

1. Jaime Watters, Mixed Animal Veterinarian, Hunterville Vet Club
2. Matt Littlejohn, Professor of Animal Genetics, Massey University

Hosts:

1. Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide
2. Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, CountryWide Media

Hunterville Vet Club mixed animal veterinarian, Jaime Watters, discusses providing your four-legged companions with the best care, including giving your puppy the best start, the importance of diet, and what to check for regularly health-wise.

Massey University Professor of Animal Genetics, Matt Littlejohn, discusses a study that hopes to shed light on the origin of the Huntaway and heading dog breeds, and identify predispositions to genetic conditions, such as twisted gut. They’ve teamed up with Ancestry to provide testing kits to sample dogs taking part in the study, and you can get your farm dogs involved in this study too.  

• Read more about the study here.
• Read the Summer issue of Country-Wide Magazine here.