Many people right across Greater Manchester will have woken up to a covering of snow outside this morning.
And for those of us with dogs, this can be a pretty exciting time.
While some four-legged friends will no doubt be having the time of their lives frolicking around in the snow without a care in the world for how cold it may be, for other dog breeds, their furry coat just isn’t enough to keep them warm, and are therefore “vulnerable” in the winter and may need a helping hand to regulate their temperatures.
With the winter weather only set to stick around for a couple more months, leading pet supplies retailer Pets At Home has released a list of the 14 dog breeds most vulnerable to the cold at this time of year.
It’s also released some top tips to help dog owners best keep their pups warm.
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“Lucky for some, certain dog breeds have naturally long and well insulated coats that help keep them warm when the weather gets tough,” Pets at Home says.
“Unfortunately, lots of other types of dog are more vulnerable to the cold weather.”
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According to Pets at Home, when temperatures drop below 10⁰C, some small to medium-size dogs might need to be walked in a jumper or coat dependant on the length of their fur, activity levels, and how long they’ll be outside, and when it gets to below 5⁰C, certain larger dog breeds can begin to become affected by the cold weather too and may need to wear a coat.
Dog owners are always advised to pay close attention to the length of their dog’s fur, the time spent outside, and their behaviour when in the cold to help them come to the decision as to whether they may need to wear a coat.
These are the following dog breeds most susceptible to the cold, and the most “vulnerable” during the winter.
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Small and Short Coated Dog Breeds
Jack Russells
Poodles
Whippets
Dachshunds
Chihuahuas
Basset Hounds
Yorkshire Terriers
Large and Short Coated Dog Breeds
Dalmations
Staffordshire Bull Terriers
Greyhounds
Doberman Pinschers
Yorkshire Terriers and Dachshunds are two of the dog breeds most “vulnerable” to the cold weather / Credit: Unsplash (Sebastian Pociecha & Dan Smedley)
Pets at Home says that it is typically small breeds with short coats and toy breed dogs that will struggle to keep warm during the winter, however, some larger breeds can also get chilly, despite their size, due to their thin coats, and it’s important to keep this in mind.
“All these breeds are more susceptible to the cold, however, any dog will get cold if left in the cold or wet for too long,” the retailer says.
When the temperatures drop to – 5⁰C or less, Pets at Home also says owners should be wary when walking any breed or size of dog, as there is a chance that sub-zero conditions can cause frostbite and paw injuries.
Dog owners are always advised to pay close attention to the length of their dog’s fur in the winter / Credit: Unsplash (Paje Victoria)
Besides canine coats, what are some other top tips for ensuring dogs are warm in the winter?
If the ground on your usual walk is particularly icy or cold, you could try introducing ‘booties’ to your dog’s usual walk wear, and while most pets aren’t used to having their paws covered, these can prevent those painful injuries caused by ice, snow or slush.
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To help your dog get used to them, you could try putting children’s socks or mittens on their feet when they’re comfortable and happy at home.
You should always thoroughly dry your dog when you return from too.
We rediscovered an old Boddingtons advert and now we’re gasping for ‘the cream of Manchester’
Danny Jones
If you’re from Greater Manchester, the name Boddingtons likely needs no introduction, but if you’re new to the area or part of the generation that’s young enough to have never clocked the legendary logo before, the ‘Cream of Manchester’ was known for making a good advert or two.
Answers on a postcard? Yes, we of course are referring to the classic ice cream van ad that featured a young Melanie Sykes serving an ice-cold pint of Boddingtons to a thirsty athlete, played by former EastEnders actor Ken George.
In fact, the recognisable TV presenter and British household name went on to feature in a few of them, including a contemporary recreation back in 2017, but it isn’t any of her appearances that recently re-captured our attention.
The old ‘Boddies’ ad that we stumbled across in 2025, more than 30 years on from when it originally aired, is the Gondola/’Just One Cornetto’ spoof filmed right here in the city centre along Manchester’s famous canal network.
Circa 1993. Recognise where it is?
Just as beautiful as Venice, if you ask us – and that’s just the pint…
As you can see, not only did the once beloved Boddingtons advert capture a glimpse of the River Irwell near the old Granada Studios and how Manchester’s waterways used to look back in the day, but it was also a pretty modern, ironic take for the time.
Inspired by arguably one of the most famous ads of all time, the Boddies marketing team and director Jeff Stark didn’t just imitate or poke fun at Wall’s Cornetto ice cream: they played on the genuine nickname and imagery drummed up by locals who drank it week in, week out.
The famous frothy white head and the ‘do you want a Flake with that?’ is the kind of joke you still hear to this day when someone overdoes it with a Guinness, but turning the glass into a golden ice cream was a bit of genius.
In fact, the old Boddies ad even helped launch the career of stingy ‘Gladys Althorpe’ herself, Anna Chancellor, who went on to appear in What A Girl Wants, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and many more.
She and Sykes weren’t the only ones either; another admittedly sexually-charged campaign released roughly a year later featured another familiar face in Sarah Parish (Doctor Who, Trollied, The Wedding Date) – again, always ending with a stereotypically Manc, if not at least Northern, punchline.
It was smash hits like these that saw Boddingtons dubbed not only Manchester’s most famous beverage but ‘the Cream of Marketing‘ for a time as well.
The beer may not be as prominent as it once was, but its legacy as part of classic UK telly is up there with R Whites Lemonade, Dairy Milk, Compare The Meerkat, and so many more.
You can see a super-cut compilation of some of their retro ads HERE.
Oh yeah, and if watching all this has made you get a thirst on like it did us, you’ll be glad to hear that while it may be difficult to locate these days, there are still a few places you can find a pint of Boddies in and around the area.
Featured Images — advertarchive (screenshot via YouTube)
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Nearly 60% of Brits are too ‘uncomfortable’ to use the toilet at work, new survey finds
Emily Sergeant
The UK is currently in the middle of a toilet aversion epidemic, it would seem… or at least if the results of a new survey are anything to go by.
For some people, nipping to the loo at the work seems like a simple task as any, perhaps even a welcome break from the busyness or the monotony of their day-to-day duties, but for others it’s a much less pleasant experience – for a whole multitude of reasons, we might add.
Whether it be below-par facilites, a cleanliness choice, personal health reasons, or even something as simple as avoiding bathroom small talk with colleagues, a new survey by Victorian Plumbing has discovered that there is a widespread reluctance among UK employees to use workplace toilets – with more than half saying they find the experience ‘uncomfortable’.
The company’s new findings – taken from a survey of 1,000 Brits – uncovered that, overall, 57% feel uncomfortable using their workplace toilet.
Nearly 60% of Brits are too ‘uncomfortable’ to use the toilet at work / Credit: Point3D (via Unsplash)
As a result, two in five employees say they’ll only use their work bathroom when they are absolutely desperate to go, and more than one in 10 (13%) of employees admit that they avoid it at all costs, preferring to hold it in instead.
There was also some gender disparities in the results, as the study found that 26% of women admit they never use the workplace toilet for bowel movements, compared to just 9% of men, as for many women, it apparently comes down to the fear of being judged or feeling embarrassed (57%), encountering colleagues (55%), and being overheard (54%).
More than 4% of women said they’re more likely to use the toilet at work while on their period, however, and 18% cited that they have to due to medical conditions like endometriosis.
But do these actions have consequences? Of course they do.
Around one in 10 people will avoid going altogether / Credit: Victorian Plumbing
With the average employee spending more than 36 hours per week at work, according to recent statistics, avoiding the workplace toilet could likely cause some real damage, so it’s no surprise that 41% of Brits say holding it in during the work day causes them physical discomfort or pain.
A further 39% confessed that the habit leads to stress and anxiety, and three in 10 have found that it reduces their focus and productivity.
The results from the survey are what prompted Victorian Plumbing to create the ‘Superior Stalls Policy’, which aims to inspire employers to reconsider their workplace bathroom setups so employees are more comfortable.
“Brits feel far less comfortable using workplace toilets than their own at home, and this doesn’t sit right with us,” commented Alex Woods, who is a bathroom expert at Victorian Plumbing.
“Yes, there’s no place like your own toilet, but with the average Brit spending over 36 hours a week at work, everyone deserves to feel at ease – even in the loo.”
Featured Image – Possessed Photography (via Unsplash)
Emily Sergeant -
7th January 2022 
