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Battersea to run virtual dog skills classes
The four-week Skills for All course costs £55.
Classes to teach owners new tricks for mental stimulation.

A new virtual training class for dogs has been launched by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to teach owners skills and techniques to keep their dogs stimulated.

Named 'Skills for All', the sessions will be delivered live and online by the charity's behaviourists to teach dog owners beneficial new tricks for their pet to learn, such as backwards walking, leg weaves and high fives.

The four-week skills course is geared towards dogs aged six months and over, and will be held with no more than six dogs per training session, so each participant will receive plenty of personalised guidance. 

“Lockdown showed just how special the bond between pet and owner can be,” said Rob Bays, Battersea's canine behaviourist and training manager. 

“As we spend more time out of our houses in the summer months, our classes offer owners the chance to spend much-valued quality at-home time with their dogs, strengthening those existing relationships whilst teaching them fun tricks that the whole family can get involved in.

“One of the great things about running these classes virtually is that we’re able to teach dogs fun and mentally stimulating tricks within their familiar home environment, free of any potential distractions and with the support of our expert behaviour team.”

The next Skills for All sessions will begin on 18 July and 27 July, and three classes will be held on each day. Any interested dog owners can find more information, register interest or book a place on a session on the Battersea website.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."