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The quote of the month is from the late Sir Patrick Stewart. Jean-Luc Picard is my favourite Star Trek captain! Sir Patrick was also an advocate for dog adoption and took on the cause of promoting pit bulls as a misunderstood breed - even choosing a pit bull as his Number One canine sidekick in the spinoff, Picard.

“Puppy Live” is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a 24/7 livestream of newborn puppies - something like “The Truman Show” for a litter, raised from birth to adoption in front of an adoring public. I'd watch if we had something like this in New Zealand!

In the Canine Corner for October, I discuss the instinct for dogs to unstuff and ''gut" their soft toys. A dog who methodically de-stuffs a toy is doing exactly what evolution build them to do!

Heart of the Beast is a survival story that pays homage to the human-animal bond. Odin, the tripod German Shepherd, fights to survive with his ex-military partner, James Belmont (Brad Pitt). Filmed in New Zealand, it's well worth seeing on the big screen to appreciate the scenery. Not a relaxing movie, you can safely watch it because the dog doesn't die - something you learn in the first scene.

The quote of the month is from author and editor, J. R. Ackerley. If you are a German Shepherd lover, then his memoir, My Dog Tulip, is a must-read.

In the September 2026 issue of NZ Dog World, I discuss the TCVM practice of food therapy. Foods are considered warming, cooling and neutral but it is not about temperature - but about the food's energetic properties.

There are two groups of home buyers: those with dogs and those without. Buyers with dogs value certain amenities and, in a buyer's market, sellers can prioritise these aspects to receive offers and confirm a sale.

Stroke patients who completed rehabilitation exercises with a therapy dog worked harder than those who did the same exercises alone in this small study. More research is needed!

I love books. This month's quote is from author Gail Honeyman. "“You can’t have too much dog in a book.”

People experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence and economically vulnerable people are at higher risk of social exclusion. For them, pets are an important source of emotional support.