Cheryl Murphy

Why do owners wait until their dog becomes anxious when alone at home, before investing time in teaching him how to become comfortable alone? Owners often assume that their dog will sleep, yet many dogs suffer from anxiety and stress when left alone – and some owners only discover this when their dog becomes destructive, or a neighbour complains about his barking. Home alone and happy! was born out of the need to educate pet owners before the problems of separation anxiety arise. Written for those who wish to maintain their dog’s emotional wellbeing, and those who want to take action before a very mild issue grows into something more serious. Kate Mallatratt shows you the problem through your dog’s eyes when he is alone at home, and offers you valuable insight and advice to help make his time alone pleasant and stress-free. Beautifully illustrated, with worksheets to evaluate your dog’s level of contentment and chart his progress, you’ll learn how you can both spend quality time alone, despite being apart.

There are many books that celebrate our canine friends, but few so colourfully and evocatively demonstrate the sheer enjoyment they experience just from being a dog. The photographs in this book are not about the bond between us and our canine companions, the results of dog training, or the ever-expanding canine wardrobe. Rather, the focus is on how dogs behave when they are freed from everyday constraints, and can indulge their natural instincts. The unsung heroes here are the owners, who, after ensuring that their beloved best friend would be safe, let him or her run free to interact with others for the photoshoot. The resultant images showcase pure doggie delight – as the expressions on the dogs’ faces demonstrate! Whether chasing balls or other dogs, mud-bathing, swimming, or rolling, this is a joyous celebration of dogs simply enjoying themselves!

"The Story of Phillip Westover" is a short story of historical fiction. It is told through a series of letters between a son and his mother. Although it takes place just prior to the Civil War many of the issues are still part of the family dynamics.