Here are a few reasons why your dog might be scratching its backside and chewing its paws. The skin is the largest organ in the body and so it is not entirely surprising that skin diseases account for a significant proportion of dogs with allergies and visits to both the doctors and the vets.

Your dog's hair requires a constant supply of nutrients to remain anchored in the skin and reduce moulting. Nutrients that support healthy hair are the same as those that support healthy skin: vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

All dogs should be able to enjoy a healthy treat once in a while but lots dogs have specific requirements that preclude them from enjoy most mainstream treats. We have many different treat ranges for dogs with special dietary requirements so you can pick out something they'll really enjoy.

By the time your dog reaches the age of 3 there's an 80% chance they will have gum disease and tooth decay. A dental at the vet can easily cost £600 but there are easy and really cheap ways to keep on top of your dog's dental health, without stressing you or the dog out

Neem oil - the organic, pure stuff - is brilliant for repelling and clearing out fleas, ticks, mites, lice and flies. It will also sort out mange, but make sure there isn't an underlying bacterial infection with mange, especially if it's been there a while.

Using treats as a training tool is very common. Rewarding good behaviour (positive reinforcement) is excellent for training out undesirable behaviour. One thing to remember when training is to be consistent: if you use treats to enforce a rule make sure that rule always applies even when you take the treats away.

Sore dog paws are a real problem in winter. Parks and country walks are saturated with mud and puddles, and pavements and roads are covered in ice, antifreeze, salt, grit and snow. Avoid an expensive vet visit this winter to treat sore, itchy paws by following these three simple steps to keep them tip top.