Amy Hatcher answers some of our readers’ queries about their pets.

Q: My dog and I are really enjoying the extra daylight in the evening. My dog can spend hours sniffing around in my garden at dusk. I have noticed recently that he has taken to chewing the heads of my daffodils. Is that normal?

A: Dogs eat grass to help them digest – it adds a bit of roughage to their diet, but daffodils and other bulb-type plants are very dangerous. They can be deadly. Make sure your dog is not left unsupervised in your garden if you have a lot of spring flowers.

Q: With Summer coming I am looking forward to taking my dog on holiday with me. Have you got any tips on how to get her to behave in a pub for those summer nights?

A: The sooner you start the better. Try to do lots of short trips to the pub, allow your dog the opportunity to settle down. If your dog is not used to laying on hard surfaces bring a blanket with you to help her relax. Also a hide chew will help keep her busy and does not smell. You can teach her at home to settle down so that you are more prepared when you do take her to the pub with you.

Q: My dogs is always hyper and panting, no matter how much I walk him. Is there anything I can do to calm him down?

A: There is no such thing as a hyper dog – it’s simply a dog whose individual exercise requirements are not being met, or an unsuitable diet or lifestyle. I have four very active dogs but they are always fast asleep at home. This is because they are on a good quality food with no additives or colourings and they get several hours of off-lead exercise every day.

Certain breeds require more exercise than others. An environment such as Doodley’s may help your dog to use up his energy in a controlled way as socialising can be more tiring for a dog than just running around after a ball.

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