Your Dog – July 2026

Summary

Your Dog July 2026 (£5.99), Britain's best-selling dog magazine, leads with Hooked on hounds — is your dog too obsessed with other dogs? The cover also carries gorgeous Goldens, dogs saving Scotland's marine life, wobbly legs in senior dogs, Glasgow's Scottie street art trail, Kassie Woods on the demo ring, and perfect puppies using canine science.

The breed news is the issue's hard fact: the Royal Kennel Club recognised the Miniature American Shepherd and the Yakutian Laika, taking the number of recognised pedigree breeds to 227 from 1 July 2026. The last breed recognised was the Hungarian Mudi in July 2025.

Uisge the Labrador sniffs out an invasive sea squirt destroying mussel beds at p14, Wallace a German Shepherd and husky cross paints pictures for Mayhew at p8, and Crumpet the guide dog puppy meets ducks at p18. The DIRTBAG award winner degrades in 180 days.

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Content Guide

▸ News

p.8 · Two new breeds recognised
The Royal Kennel Club formally recognised two new breeds. The Miniature American Shepherd joins the Pastoral Group and cannot yet be registered for competitive events; the AKC recognised it in 2011 and the FCI in 2019. The Yakutian Laika, pronounced yuh-koo-tee-un, joins the Working Group with a history of more than a thousand years. The two take the total recognised pedigree breeds to 227 from 1 July 2026, against the Hungarian Mudi recognised in July 2025. Breed totals are the one number every owner quotes. Check any breed's group before you enter a show.

p.8 · The dog who paints
Mayhew, a dog charity in north-west London, taught Wallace, a German Shepherd and Alaskan husky cross, to hold a paintbrush and create artwork. Canine behaviourist Georgie Bleza calls him a "lovable fool." Trick stories are the reason people buy dog magazines. Teach your own dog one new trick this week.

▸ Features

p.14 · Snouts of the sea — Uisge the Labrador
Uisge detects an invasive sea squirt species destroying mussel beds, part of the work saving Scotland's marine life. Conservation detection dogs do work no machine matches. Look up one conservation detection programme near you.

p.16 · Demo dogs — Kassie Woods
Andrea McHugh interviews Kassie Woods on why her Labrador team draws crowds, with the quote "I love seeing all my dogs so happy." Demo teams are the show-ring side owners rarely see. Watch one demo ring at a show this summer.

p.20 · Barking mad Scotties — Glasgow's street art trail
An art trail of Scotties has taken over Glasgow. Public art trails are the summer event dog owners actually attend. Walk one trail with your dog this month.

p.24 · Sunshine at school — School dog of the year
The annual school dog award gets a page. School dogs are the therapy work nobody funds properly. Ask your local school whether it has a dog.

p.18 · Crumpet vs ducks
Crumpet the guide dog puppy meets a new companion in the ducks. Puppy socialisation is the training nobody sees. Watch one puppy meet something new safely.

▸ Behaviour and Training

p.30 · Hooked on hounds — Is your dog too obsessed with other dogs?
The cover story asks whether your dog is too fixated on other dogs on park walks. Dog reactivity is the behaviour problem owners most often normalise. Count how many dogs yours stares at on one walk.

p.32 · Why is my dog humping? — Toni Shelbourne
Toni Shelbourne explains why dogs mount and what to do about it. Mounting is the behaviour owners find most embarrassing and ask about least. Ask a behaviourist rather than a forum.

p.22 · Perfect puppies — Canine science
Getting the basics right with canine science for raising and socialising puppies. Early socialisation decides the adult dog. Book one puppy class before you collect a puppy.

p.26 · Heading off road — Canine obstacle racing
Dog obstacle racing is growing in popularity. New dog sports are the reason owners travel. Try one obstacle course with your dog this summer.

▸ Health and Care

p.36 · Wobbly legs? What senior dog owners should know
The cover's senior health page explains hind leg weakness in older dogs. Weakness is the change owners mistake for age. Film your dog walking from behind this week.

p.28 · Summer grooming guide
Summer grooming gets a full guide. Summer coats are the grooming season most owners skip. Brush one dog properly tonight.

p.38 · Flea control
Flea control is explained for summer. Fleas are the parasite that returns every warm month. Check one dog along the spine after a walk.

p.34 · What to do with dog poo
The practical guide to dealing with dog waste. Waste is the responsibility every owner has and nobody enjoys. Carry one extra bag on every walk.

▸ Breeds and Travel

p.40 · Golden gentlemen — The Golden Retriever
The guide to the gentleman of all dogs, the cover's gorgeous Goldens. Breed guides are the pages read before choosing a dog. Read the health section before the coat.

p.44 · Water wonderlands · p.46 · Dog-friendly campsites · p.48 · Harstholme Country Park · p.50 · Wales · p.52 · Roundhay, Leeds
Riverside walks, two campsites for summer, Harstholme Country Park in Lincolnshire, five reasons to love Wales, and Roundhay as a Leeds city park. Travel pages are the most-used section in any dog magazine. Book one campsite before August ends.

p.12 · Houndly histories — A ruler who loved dogs
A terrifying ruler with a soft spot for dogs gets the history column. History is the page that makes a magazine worth keeping. Look up one ruler's dog.

p.10 · Hero dogs — A retired police dog comes home
A retired police dog goes home. Working dog retirements are the stories owners never forget. Thank one handler this month.

▸ Community and Offers

p.6 · Community pics — Celebrating small dogs
Readers sent in Merlin, Jean's dog; Sue's three German Spitz, Suzuki a veteran second, Jemma first and Draya second; Sal's Molly; Sue's Loki; Danielle's Rosie and Maverick; Tracey's Dachshunds Bailey and Baxter; Laura's Bert camping at 15 for the first time; Rebecca's four-year-old Lily; Vikki's George and Daisy; Lee's puppy Freddie; Lynd's Vespa; Julie's two-year-old Brandy; Caz's Freddie; Sue's Ludi Loo; and Laura's Loca. Send your own to Editorial@yourdog.co.uk. Small dogs are the photographs owners send most. Send one picture of your own dog this month.

Editor's letter and treats
Editor Nathaniel opens with Bertie demonstrating a nap, and the Your Dog Treat Box is offered at £9.99 with Garden Grange Peanut Butter Tasty Paste, Rosewood Duck Fillets, Wagg Bars, Natures Deli Biscuits and a BetterBone Chew Toy. A separate note from Henry Hurt mentions his crossbreed Honey turning 15, doing Trickstars demos at All About Dogs in Newark and entering Scruffts Golden Oldie, and a friend's tricolour Dachshund Pepper found asleep at the foot of the bed after escaping through an open door. Reader notes are the most honest pages in the issue. Check the £9.99 box before you buy treats separately.

DIRTBAG and subscription
DIRTBAG, the 2026 Product Awards Best Travel Product winner, is 100% plastic-free and home compostable, fully degrading in 180 days with no microplastics and 80% less waste when incinerated; 18 gold, silver and bronze tickets offer three £500, five £250 and ten £100 prizes. Twelve issues cost £60 with a free Treat Box, at bit.ly/YDSubOffer or 01778 395177, code DOGS/MAG/TREATBOX26, UK new subscribers only. Check the code's expiry before you subscribe.

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Editor's Take

The two new breeds are the reason Your Dog July 2026 is worth opening: Miniature American Shepherd into Pastoral, Yakutian Laika into Working with more than a thousand years of history, 227 recognised pedigree breeds from 1 July 2026 against the Hungarian Mudi in July 2025 is breed news reported with dates and totals. Uisge detecting an invasive sea squirt destroying mussel beds is the best single feature, and Wallace the Shepherd-husky cross painting for Mayhew is the sort of story only a dog magazine runs. Weakest is the cover, where Hooked on hounds promises a reactivity investigation and the source gives the question without the answer, and most pages from grooming to campsites are listed by title only. The DIRTBAG advertising gives 180 days and 80%, better data than the features. Buy this for the breed news and Uisge; the cover story is a question, not an answer.

Strengths
• Breeds gives 227, 1 July 2026, Mudi in July 2025
• Uisge detecting sea squirts is real conservation work
• Wallace painting is the story only a dog magazine runs
• Community pics name sixteen dogs and their owners

Weaknesses
• Cover reactivity story gives no answer
• Most features listed by title only
• Advertising gives better data than the features

Verdict: Selective read — the breed news and Uisge, weaker cover.