Radio presenter Anton Savage on his dog Sandy: ‘Fetching? Let's just say he is a Golden Retriever who has yet to retrieve anything!'
Sandy is the spitting image of my last dog, Jack, who died about three years ago. Jack lived to be an old dog, but even though he had bad hips and bad elbows in his final years, he was stoic. In physical form, Jack was a Golden Retriever, alright, but in character that was only half of it; the other half of his mindset was something like that of a German Shepherd. He was always protecting his perimeter wherever we went, especially if we were off camping somewhere. Right to the end, Jack was still powering on as best he could. He was fierce noble.
After he died, like with any dog you've been close to, you're left with the feeling that you don't want to be disloyal, so it was a year or so before I got Sandy. He is such an athletic dog. I live near St Anne's Park in Dublin and we go there a lot. I cycle, he runs.
Golden Retrievers were bred as gun dogs. The invention of the rifle meant that game could be shot from further away. Using spaniels to retrieve was all very well, but after about 80 yards they were wrecked. Golden Retrievers were bigger, tougher and could run for longer. I know that when I run the legs off Sandy, he really loves it. It's like he thinks we're out in the wild and I'm saying: 'Go grab a duck!'
I didn't have a dog as a kid but I always had a vaguely romantic notion that it would be nice to have one. It's not until you actually get a dog, though, that you realise the difference between romance and reality. I mean, the sheer amount of excrement in any given day from a dog the size of Sandy is an absolute revelation!
And then there's the hair; it's everywhere. Even in the dishwasher. When I took it apart recently, I discovered that the insulation layer was no longer black — it was white, thanks to Sandy's hair!
Never underestimate the level of responsibility involved in looking after a dog. Some people are born consistently reliable and responsible. For those of us who aren't, it's a bit of a wake-up call. Dogs have to be walked and fed, day in and day out, for the rest of their lives. And they need to be very well trained. I find it amazing, though, just how well dogs are able to read you; they can pick your mind.
Sandy certainly looks like my old dog Jack, but he has different ways about him. Jack loved fetching — he'd have dug up a tree to get himself a stick. Sandy is an affectionate dog; just leaning against me is his version of a hug. And he has a small green dinosaur toy that he loves; if anything disturbs him, he picks it up and carries it around with him.
But fetching? Well, let's just say that Sandy is a Golden Retriever who has yet to retrieve anything!
As told to Roslyn Dee
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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Radio presenter Anton Savage on his dog Sandy: ‘Fetching? Let's just say he is a Golden Retriever who has yet to retrieve anything!'
Sandy is the spitting image of my last dog, Jack, who died about three years ago. Jack lived to be an old dog, but even though he had bad hips and bad elbows in his final years, he was stoic. In physical form, Jack was a Golden Retriever, alright, but in character that was only half of it; the other half of his mindset was something like that of a German Shepherd. He was always protecting his perimeter wherever we went, especially if we were off camping somewhere. Right to the end, Jack was still powering on as best he could. He was fierce noble. After he died, like with any dog you've been close to, you're left with the feeling that you don't want to be disloyal, so it was a year or so before I got Sandy. He is such an athletic dog. I live near St Anne's Park in Dublin and we go there a lot. I cycle, he runs. Golden Retrievers were bred as gun dogs. The invention of the rifle meant that game could be shot from further away. Using spaniels to retrieve was all very well, but after about 80 yards they were wrecked. Golden Retrievers were bigger, tougher and could run for longer. I know that when I run the legs off Sandy, he really loves it. It's like he thinks we're out in the wild and I'm saying: 'Go grab a duck!' I didn't have a dog as a kid but I always had a vaguely romantic notion that it would be nice to have one. It's not until you actually get a dog, though, that you realise the difference between romance and reality. I mean, the sheer amount of excrement in any given day from a dog the size of Sandy is an absolute revelation! And then there's the hair; it's everywhere. Even in the dishwasher. When I took it apart recently, I discovered that the insulation layer was no longer black — it was white, thanks to Sandy's hair! Never underestimate the level of responsibility involved in looking after a dog. Some people are born consistently reliable and responsible. For those of us who aren't, it's a bit of a wake-up call. Dogs have to be walked and fed, day in and day out, for the rest of their lives. And they need to be very well trained. I find it amazing, though, just how well dogs are able to read you; they can pick your mind. Sandy certainly looks like my old dog Jack, but he has different ways about him. Jack loved fetching — he'd have dug up a tree to get himself a stick. Sandy is an affectionate dog; just leaning against me is his version of a hug. And he has a small green dinosaur toy that he loves; if anything disturbs him, he picks it up and carries it around with him. But fetching? Well, let's just say that Sandy is a Golden Retriever who has yet to retrieve anything! As told to Roslyn Dee
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
I'm a gardening expert – why using a kale leaf is a key DIY hack to keeping pests out of your gardens this summer
SUMMER is the perfect for enjoying your garden - but it's also when unwanted pests start to show up. However, former royal gardener 6 If you want to banish slugs from your garden, you may wish to try a kale leaf hack Credit: Alamy 6 Jack Stooks, who worked as a gardener for King Charles for two decades, has shared his top pest tips Credit: Twitter/X Speaking to SEO experts at According to Jack - who worked his gardening magic at 1. Kale leaves Jack shared how a 'useful and cost-effective way of getting rid of slugs is to use kale leaves. More on gardening Alternatively if you've got any cabbage, brussel sprouts, or anything similar growing in the garden, you can use the leaves off of the bases of those. So you're not wasting anything, you're using leaves that you wouldn't use anyway. The former royal gardener explained: 'You put those onto the surface of the soil in areas where you know slugs are coming. 'And then you put a tile or a sort of large flattish rock over the leaf. Most read in Fabulous 'Then in the early morning you go and you pick up the stone and the leaf will normally be covered with slugs - big and small. 'You can then either get rid of that leaf or obviously pick them all off and, and pop them in compost or use them as animal feed.' Keep It Clean: How to stop pests from taking over this summer 6 Use a kale leaf to lure slugs to one place, and then remove them in the morning Credit: Getty 2. Torch light Another hack doesn't cost a penny but may take some time. Jack explained: 'At night, another good hack is to go round and look for pests with a torch. 'So you simply go out with a torch and just hand-pick them. 'Slugs and snails are usually good ones to go out and remove.' 3. Beer/yeast traps Another way to hinder pesky slugs is using a beer trap, also known as a yeast trap. King Charles' former gardener shared: 'You simply put a glass jar into the soil, making sure that it's ground level. 'Then you put a little bit of beer into it (usually around a quarter of a jar). 'You can then cover it with a rock to stop any bigger animals like mice or similar from going inside. 'Slugs will tend to go in, through the sides, as well as snails.' 6 You could also try setting up a beer trap Credit: Alamy 4. Soap spray Jack also suggested that you make a soap spray to get rid of pests on flowers such as roses. He added: 'Now is probably the perfect time to be doing this as well. 'For the mixture, you simply mix soap with water, and pop it into a little sprayer. 'Then you can just spray it onto the plants of choice.' 6 A soap spray could help remove pests from your roses Credit: Getty 6 Jack worked at King Charles' Highgrove House for over 20 years Credit: PA 5. Garlic spray His final tip was to make a spray using garlic. Jack explained: 'For this, you mix garlic and water to make the mixture. 'If you have any rabbits or similar types of animals that are eating your herbs and other things in your garden, you can spray this garlic spray over the plants which usually works to deter animals from said plant or flowers.' Tips for keeping pests from your garden Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats. Place Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs. Spray plants with Dust your flowerbeds with Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds. Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails.
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Small boat migrant's DOG looked after for four months costing YOU thousands in latest borders fiasco
TAXPAYERS are to fork out thousands of pounds to put up a DOG that crossed the Channel in a packed dinghy. The German Shepherd made the perilous trip with its illegal immigrant owner. The fiasco is believed to be the first time a canine has been picked up in this way. 3 Taxpayers are to fork out thousands of pounds to put up a DOG that crossed the Channel in a packed dinghy 3 The dog's owner is believed to be staying in a hotel for asylum seekers Credit: AFP 3 Kent's only quarantine facility, The Animal Inn in Deal, is five miles from Dover Credit: Gary Stone The German Shepherd was taken ashore to spend at least four months in quarantine at taxpayers' expense. Discussions were under way about adopting the hound — whose breed is easily trained — as an official Border Force dog. But there was also anger at what was seen as the latest border fiasco. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said: 'This country's open borders policy is so porous even household pets are arriving.' READ MORE UK NEWS The dog was among 1,183 human arrivals on 20 dinghies since Saturday last week. Thousands of pounds are now likely to be spent on the pet to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as rabies. Meanwhile, its owner is believed to be staying in a hotel for asylum seekers — also courtesy of the British taxpayer. Shadow Home Secretary Most read in The Sun 'Their pledge to smash the gangs lies in tatters. 'Since taking office, we have seen nearly 36,000 illegal arrivals and now even dogs are making the crossing. The Sun watches as hundreds of illegal migrants arrive at Dover 'The cost of quarantining this dog will run into thousands, all paid for by the British taxpayer. 'It is barking mad.' In what is believed to be a first for Border Force, officials discovered the German Shepherd last week near the end of its perilous 21-mile trip at Dover, Kent. A source said: 'Search and rescue teams are always prepared for the worst, often helping newborn babies, and elderly pensioners requiring wheelchairs. 'But they were astounded after finding a pet dog nestled among a group of migrants packed into an unsuitable inflatable in the Dover Strait. 'It was a first. 'Border Force officials couldn't believe their eyes but treated the animal with the same humanity they show any individual. 'The dog will now need to spend up to 120 days in quarantine. 'It's unbelievable. 'No one truly knows where this animal has come from or its back story so every precaution has to be taken to protect the public. 'Vets will need to give it a full check-up with jabs and vaccinations to ensure it poses no risk before it can be allowed out of isolation. 'Asylum applications can take years so the pet may need months of further care in kennels until its owner is processed.' This country's open borders policy is so porous even household pets are arriving Richard Tice The dog is understood to have been taken to one of six Government-approved quarantine sites across the UK. Kent's only facility is The Animal Inn in Deal, five miles from Dover. Dogs were heard barking there yesterday but a worker did not think the cross- Its arrival coincided with the PM's immigration White Paper to 'take back control' of UK borders. A Government spokesman said: 'The UK takes biosecurity very seriously. 'Where an animal comes from an unlisted country, it is placed in quarantine to prevent dangerous diseases like rabies coming into the country. 'We all want to see the end to
