TOYAMA, Japan: Is Fido looking a bit frantic? Is Mittens moping? At your wits end trying to work out why?

Well don't worry, help is at hand. A company has come up with a way of determining whether your beloved pet is suffering from that blight of our fast-paced society - stress.

TRIESTE, Italy: Dogs may be playing favorites with their owners when they wag their tails, according to new research.

Indeed, there may be more to the simple tail-wag than meets the eye.

A study undertaken by scientists in Italy now suggests that dogs show pleasure by wagging their tails more towards the right, while negative feelings get a left-swaying wag.

ROCKVILLE, Maryland: Pet owners are living in fear after a third ingredient used to make domestic animal food was found to be contaminated with an industrial chemical.

It is now more than a month since a wave of domestic animal deaths forced the recall of more than 100 brands of dog and cat food containing contaminated wheat gluten.

BELTSVILLE, Maryland: Afraid your Beagle may be a Bulldog? Suspect your guard dog is more Golden Retriever than German Shepherd?

A breakthrough DNA test means dog owners will never have to face an Anna-Nicole Smith-style situation and be left questioning the pedigree of their family pooch.

Pet news stories. Reference articles. Expert columns. Welcome to the new-look Pet Shed!

For years the team at Pet Shed has prided itself on providing our customers with the best-value pet products and levels of customer service they will find.

Well, now we're taking it to a whole new level.