Mentol Blog's

By LUKE SALKELD

Border collie Ci has developed a fear of sheep


He has sharper teeth, faster legs, and is bred to be bossy.

But as he cowers in front of a flock of sheep, Ci the border collie is definitely not top dog.

His owner says four-year-old Ci, whose name is Welsh for dog, has been intimidated by sheep ever since he was introduced to them as a pup.

And although not the brightest animals, the 100-strong flock quickly realised there was safety in numbers and reset the natural order on their Somerset farm.


It's a fleece off: A nervous Ci tries to stand his ground as the flock approaches him


Now Ci’s reaction to the flock borders on the ridiculous. When faced with the woolly bullies, he simply turns tail and flees.

Owner Jane Lippington, 54, has become so exasperated she has given up using him as a working dog.

‘I have tried to use Ci to herd the sheep and get them in the right place lots of times but they are just too scary for him,’ she said at the 200-acre farm she runs at Langridge, near Bath with husband Donald, 62.


Can't we talk about this chaps? The sheep surge forward and Ci prepares to make his move


'Collies are very instinctive and they want to work the sheep and Ci wants to do it but he is terrified of them.

‘If they run away from him he will go after them and act like a proper sheepdog.

‘But the moment they turn and face him he runs away. Sheep can be quite aggressive if they think they have the upper hand – they stamp their feet and gang up and act like an army.

‘Now they’ve worked out that he can’t push them around because he is too soft.
‘He might be the worst sheepdog in Britain but there’s no way we would be without Ci, he’s part of the family.’


I'm out of here: Ci runs away from the flock as they claim victory


'Sheep can be quite aggressive if they think they have the upper hand - they stamp their feet and gang up in numbers and act like an army.

'When that happens Ci gets intimidated and runs off.

'The only way to make it work is for me to get behind them first and shoo them so they run away from you and then Ci joins in. It just means a lot more work for us to do.


Jane Lippington says she needs to give up trying to use Ci as a working dog


'He might be the worst sheepdog in Britain but there's no way we would be without Ci, he's part of the family.'

She added: 'I took some footage of it simply because I thought it was funny.

'But somebody told me I should put it on YouTube because it is quite unusual.

'I don't think he would get very far on One Man and His Dog, he's more suited to You've Been Framed.'


Sheep dog terrified of sheep


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

New York walkies: Kristen Stewart takes Bear, the rescue dog she shares with boyfriend Robert Pattinson, out for a walk in New York's East Village


Being the pet of a famous movie star may have its perks, but being left behind while your owner travels the world isn't one of them.

Luckily for Robert Pattinson's dog Bear his owner's girlfriend Kristen Stewart is happy to take over walking duties when he isn't there.

With Pattinson was in London promoting Water For Elephants, Kirsten took the reigns as Bear's carer.


Leading the way: Bear and Kristen head out onto the street for their blustery walk


Dressed in skinny jeans, Converse trainers and a grey T-shirt, Kristen, 21, and her canine companion braved the wind and rain as they made their way across New York's East Village.

Clutching his blue lead, Kristen was careful to keep a tight hold on Bear as they set out across the city together.

Pattinson found Bear in an animal shelter while shooting Breaking Dawn in the Baton Rouge area of Louisiana.


Undeterred: Kristen and Bear don't let the New York weather stop them from heading out as they leave The Bowery Hotel on the Lower East Side


The dog was originally called Yogi Bear, but Pattinson and Kristen decided to shorten his name to Bear after Rob admitted he thought Yogi was 'a bit much.'

Kristen, and her canine companion, have been staying at one of the actress's favourite New York hotels, The Bowery, on the Lower East Side of the city.

Meanwhile, the Twilight actress is set to welcome a new man into her life after it was announced today that British actor, Sam Claflin, has been cast alongside her in Snow White and the Huntsman.

The 24-year-old actor will play Prince Charmant to Kristen's Snow White.


source: dailymail

Children splash water to elephants to celebrate the Songkran festival, the Thai traditional New Year from April 13 to 15, at Dusit Zoo in Bangkok Monday, April 11, 2011.




Elephants spray water at teenagers during Songkran festival in Ayutthaya province on April 11, 2011. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13, during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other.




Elephants spray water at foreign tourists during Songkran festival in Ayutthaya province on April 11, 2011. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13, during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other.



Elephants spray water at foreign tourists during Songkran festival in Ayutthaya province on April 11, 2011. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13, during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other.



Elephants spray water at foreign tourists during Songkran festival in Ayutthaya province on April 11, 2011. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13, during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other.



Elephants splash water to children in celebration of the Songkran festival, the Thai traditional New Year from April 13 to 15, at Dusit Zoo in Bangkok Monday, April 11, 2011.



Children splash water to elephants to celebrate the Songkran festival, the Thai traditional New Year from April 13 to 15, at Dusit Zoo in Bangkok Monday, April 11, 2011.



Thai people celebrate New Year's from April 12 to April 14. The celebration is called the Songkran Festival and it is known across the globe for being a holiday where people play with water.




Thai children spray water each others during the water festival or commonly known as the Songkran festival to mark the New Year, Wednesday, April 14, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. The annual festival is a mixture of religion and chaos involving heavy drinking and water fights.




Elephants spray water at teenagers during Songkran festival in Ayutthaya province on April 11, 2011. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13, during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other.



Thai people pour water on a statue of Buddha as part of celebrations of the Songkran festival marking the Thai new year in Thailand' southern province of Narathiwat on April 12, 2011. Songkran celebrates the Thai New Year.



A Thai woman parades on a float as part of celebrations of the Songkran festival marking the Thai new year in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat on April 12, 2011. Songkran celebrates the Thai New Year.


source: Daylife
photo: AP photo, Gettyimages

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Help! Chester the West Highland terrier was trapped under a footbridge after chasing a fox - and unsuccessfully catch it


Trapped and looking helplessly out from a gap in a footbridge, you would hope that Chester will think long and hard about whether it is worth it before chasing a fox again.

The West Highland terrier was on a walk along the River Arun in West Sussex with his owner Barry Rice yesterday when he bolted off to chase the wild animal - and he was totally outfoxed.


The vixen was chased into a tight hole and Chester squeezed through a nine-inch gap between under the Shoreham footbridge.


Rescue team: Some 20 firefighters eventually got the dog from under the bridge over the River Arun


And while the fox escaped Chester suddenly realised that he could not get back out of the tiny gap

A team of about 20 firefighters spent hours trying to free him.

They eventually cut through the bridge after gaining permission from the county council. And the ordeal seemed to wear out the dog.


Daft dog: A fireman waits in a dingy underneath the bridge, while one of his colleagues attempts to coax Chester out


Mr Rice said afterwards: 'Chester's fast asleep on my tummy!

'I owe those boys a big favour. They had everything out to rescue him.'

Let's hope Chester thinks twice before chasing another fox.

source: dailymail

By MATT BLAKE

Mog-hamed Ali: The patient puss has been nicknamed Tyson after he was filmed throwing a knockout punch at a pesky dog as the pair grappled over a cushion


You've heard of a Boxer dog... but this pugnacious puss could go 12 rounds with even the toughest of hounds.

The cat has been nicknamed Tyson after he was filmed throwing a knockout punch at a pesky dog as the pair grappled over a cushion.

The 25-second clip shows Tyson preparing for a nap on his favourite spot when his Japanese owner's dog begins to play.


Patient puss: At first Tyson appears only mildly cheesed off as the mut nudges him with his nose and nibbles his ear


At first Tyson appears only mildly cheesed off as the mutt nudges him with his nose and nibbles his ear.

In a bid to stop the annoying pooch, Tyson issues a couple of warning blows across his wrinkly face.

But the dog is hellbent on having the last say and issues a yelp of protest into Tyson's ear.


Million Dollar Kitty: In a bid to stop the annoying pooch, Tyson issues a couple of warning blows across his wrinkly face


A dog's strife: But the dog is hellbent on having the last say and issues a yelp of protest into Tyson's ear


The rage descends and the irate grey-and-white cat throws an almighty left jab straight onto the chin of the unsuspecting canine, sending him flying into a heap on the floor.

Tyson stands triumphantly over the felled mutt, who gives his unlikely assailant a pathetic kick and defeated bark before swooning back onto his four paws.

The heroic cat has now become an internet sensation since the clip was posted on YouTube after being shown on a Japanese television show and has had over 37,000 hits.


The mutt's uppercuts: The rage descends and the irate grey-and-white cat throws an almighty left jab straight onto the chin of the unsuspecting mut, sending him flying into a heap on the floor


Puss off: The embarrassed dog looks up at the camera and gives his unlikely assailant a pathetic kick and defeated bark before swooning back onto his four paws


Cat lovers will probably just revel in the sight of seeing a cat dole out some serious punishment to an animal much bigger than itself.

Just yesterday MailOnline revealed a similar video of a cat dishing out punishment to a much larger dog after it nudged it with its nose.




source: dailymail

Back where she belongs: The plucky dog was finally reunited with her owner, who alerted police after spotting her on TV


The lucky dog rescued from a roof drifting off Japanese coast for three weeks after the tsunami has finally been reunited with her owner.

Members of the Japan Coast Guard spotted the stricken pet - who had drifted nearly 2km offshore - during an aerial search of the area.

The two-year-old dog, called Ban, had an emotional reunion with her female owner after the woman spotted her on television.

Ban had survived for three weeks after the tsunami when coastguards spotted her while searching at sea for human survivors.

She was found drifting some 1.8km (1.1 miles) off Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, one of the Japanese areas hit worst by the disaster.

Local television showed showed pictures of the dog scampering around the roof of the house before it disappeared inside through a hole in the roof.


The emotional reunion came after the dog survived for three weeks on its own out at sea


It is thought the roof had become detached and washed out to sea by receding waters from the tsunami, which struck northeast Japan on March 11.

Her owner recognised the dog on TV and alerted authorities, who reunited woman and pet yesterday.

The pair were reunited at an animal care centre where the dog was being looked after.
The dog's owner, a woman who did not wish to be named, said: 'We'll never let go of her.


Against all odds: The dog appears to have survived by clinging to a house that had been swept away by the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11


'I saw the rescue on the news, and knew it was her. I knew her right away, from her face.'

Toshiro Suzuki, head of the animal shelter, said: 'I'm happy for the reunion, after they were separated by the disaster.'


Japan 'tsunami dog' Ban reunited with owner after surviving at sea



source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Ever the devoted pet owner, Seyfried made the perhaps unwitting homage to Finn's beautiful colouring on a trip to doggy day-care.


It's often said that owners grow to look their pets, or is it the pets that start to resemble the owner?

And yesterday actress Amanda Seyfried apparently took a tip out of her beloved Aussie Shepherd, Finn's style book.

The 25-year-old Red Riding Hood star is rarely seen without the pooch and yesterday, she had chosen a beige and cream outfit that mirrored the dog's coat.

When not able to be by the hound's side herself, the former child model is keen to ensure that her companion is well looked after.

Seyfried adopted Finn as a puppy last year after her split from British actor Dominic Cooper, 32 , and soon decreed she no longer needed a man.


Best friends: Seyfriend drops her beloved Aussie Shepherd at doggy day care


She declared that instead, the new pup was to be 'the love of her life.'

That didn't stop her getting together with fellow actor, Ryan Phillippe, 36 , at Kate Hudson's Halloween party last year.

However, the hunky Phillippe has failed to usurp Finn as the number one male in the Big Love star's life.


Two of a kind: Red Riding Hood star Seyfried isn't afraid of her wolf


She is rarely pictured without her four-legged friend.

Finn even accompanied Seyfried and Phillippe on a romantic week in Montecito near Santa Barbara last weekend.

The break raised eyebrows as they chose a ranch just half an hour from where Phillippe's ex-wife Reese Witherspoon was getting married.

It has been revealed since that the doting dad - who has Ava,11, and Deacon, seven , with Reese - was minding his daughter's German Shepherd.

No doubt he needed some back up after hearing that there would once again be three of them on this trip.


Reunited: Seyfriend was back on a walk with Finn this morning


Today she was back with Finn again, this time capitulating to the Los Angeles heatwave in tiny denim shorts and a black T-shirt.

The pair still looked strangely alike as they trotted in the heat, however.
Maybe it's the similar glossy manes...

So much for man's best friend, this pup loves to stand by his woman.



Faithful friend: Finn protects a scantily-clad Seyfried as she enjoys the LA heatwave


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Accused: Charlie Sheen has accused ex-wife Denise Richards of stealing his two dogs (not believed to be the ones pictured under her arm in in the pet carrier yesterday)


Apart from an impromptu visit to a chat show, he's been lying low for a couple of weeks and has restrained from his daily live streaming video rant.

But clearly you can't keep Charlie Sheen quiet for too long and this time it's his ex-wife Denise Richards was on the receiving end of one of his bizarre tirades.

The fallen-from-grace actor took to his Twitter page yesterday to accuse the actress of stealing his pet dogs.

He wrote: 'We must bombard with Warlock Napalm, that traitor and loser w***e #DUH -neese POOR-ARD. A VILE KIDNAPPER AND NOW DOG THIEF. HATE.'

And he added: 'Like a Dinosaur Stampede from middle earth RAGING atop Col. Kilgore's main rotor, our assault must be EPIC. The Truth is our rocket fuel. c.'

Denise, who split from the actor in 2006 and has two daughters with him, is believed to have given Sheen the two dogs when they were separating so the animals could be with their girls when they visited him.


Upset: Richards didn't look very happy as she left a TV show shoot


But the actress denied she had stolen them back and according to E! Online, she only took them away after becoming concerned for their welfare at the start of his very public meltdown.

A source close to the actress said: 'When Denise saw the dogs a couple of months ago, they were in such bad shape, one of them died after Denise took it. She has one of them, and the other one died.'


Dog lover: Richards and a handful of her pets - the black and white dog on the far right is believed to be Lucy, the Boston Terrier that died last week


And although it is unclear what breeds the dogs were, last week, Richards took to her Twitter page to announce that their Boston Terrier Lucy had passed away.

She wrote: 'She was 12, had her since she was a pup. Been thru so much with me...we will miss her…'

Meanwhile, the source said that Sheen, who is believed to be in 'talks' with Fox about returning to Two and a Half Men, is not a 'dog lover' and Richards was just trying to 'save them'.



Napalm threat: Sheen took to his Twitter page to launch a rant against Richards over the missing dogs


source: dailymail

By HARRY MOUNT and ALLAN HALL

Cared: After he lost his mother Knut was looked after in the German capital by keeper Thomas Doerflein


The world’s most famous polar bear is dead. Knut — who won worldwide affection after he was abandoned by his mother but was then hand-reared by zookeepers — collapsed in his enclosure in front of a crowd of 600 visitors.

Scores of screaming children were among those who watched in horror as Knut suffered convulsions before falling into a pool in Berlin Zoo on Saturday afternoon.

Yesterday, crowds gathered beside his empty compound, laying down red roses and white stuffed polar bears, lighting candles and putting up pictures of Knut with personal messages for him.


Loved: Knut became the most famous world after first appearing at Berlin Zoo for the first time almost exactly four years ago


Initial theories were that the four-year-old polar bear suffered a heart attack or stroke. But animal rights groups have condemned the way he had been reared in the zoo, blaming the stresses of his ‘unreal’ celebrity-style life for his early death.

Polar bears normally live for 15 to 20 years in the wild and often longer in captivity. But animal rights campaigners fear Knut had become psychologically unbalanced, dependent on crowds — a highly unnatural state for a polar bear — and unable to mix with other bears.


Making a splash: Knut, who has died, interacts with a young visitor (left) and enjoys his time in the water


His rise to fame started after he was rejected at birth by his mother. He would have died had the zoo not taken the decision to rear him by human hand.

Keeper Thomas Doerflein moved in with him at the zoo, feeding him at night and changing nappies on him.

Soon, visitors from far and wide came to watch twice-daily shows as the keeper played with this enchanting tiny ball of white fluff. Soon, he featured on the front cover of Vanity Fair — alongside actor Leonardo DiCaprio — and made an estimated £6 million for the zoo through the marketing of pictures, key chains, sweets and stuffed Knuts.


Fame: There is speculation that the polar bear died as it was forced to live an unreal life at the zoo


But the special bond with his keeper was broken in September 2008 when Doerflein died from a heart attack. It was widely speculated he died from a broken heart after being banned from entering Knut’s enclosure because the zoo authorities were concerned the bear had grown and was too dangerous.


Playtime: dozens of people look on as Knut wrestles with a bag


However, it seemed Knut in turn had become depressed — seemingly distracted and looking lost if there were no crowds around. At this point, animal psychologists warned he was in danger of becoming a ‘psycho bear’.

A suggested solution was to put him in with three females — Tosca, Katyusha and Nancy — in an attempt to normalise his life. But the trio ganged up on Knut, biting and chasing him away.

Knut was therefore alone in his enclosure when he died. He was resting on his favourite rock when his left leg began to shake uncontrollably. He then started pacing round and round his enclosure, before falling into the water and dying.


Match-making: Knut cuddles at Berlin Zoo here with Gionvanna. But the two never mated and the other potential mates bullied him


‘He was not sick. We don’t know why he died,’ said his keeper, Heiner Kloes.

Knut’s premature death plunged Berlin into gloom. ‘His death is awful,’ said the city’s mayor, Klaus Wowereit. ‘He was the star of Berlin Zoo.’

‘I’ve been crying nonstop since I heard about his death,’ said Ingrid Rommel, a 65-year-old widow from Berlin, who said she had been visiting Knut weekly since his birth on December 6, 2006. She credited him with helping her get over the death of her husband.

Heidemarie Vogel, 58, remembered that Knut had sometimes raised his paw when she called over to him.

‘It was as if he was waving to me — so nice,’ she said tearfully.





source: dailymail