Like us, dogs are social creatures that thrive in company so being home alone can be very disturbing for them. There are many reasons why he might not cope. Some just have frustration of missing out o

Daisy Lindlar knows she’s very lucky. The 32-year-old and her partner are looking forward to spending their first Christmas in their private rented home with labradoodle Gizmo, who is eight months old

Let’s start with the numbers. There are about 13.5 million tame wolves (we call them pet dogs), 12.5 million cats, one million rabbits, 700,000 tortoises and turtles, 700,000 guinea pigs, 600,000 hams

A furry hot-water bottle? Or a restless snoring pest? Sharing a bed with a dog isn’t ideal for everyone, but it certainly warms the soul, says Bethany Stone

Didn’t get quite the present you wanted from Santa? Well, there is probably someone else, somewhere, who will want it. If you can’t return it for a refund or replacement, why not help out a good cause

Living with a small dog can be a joy, but does require both sensitivity and strength, says Carolyn Menteith