Royal Watch News

Queen Elizabeth seeks help for dogs

Aug 28, 2012, 12:02 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has hired a therapist to treat her pet dogs.

The monarch has sought the expertise of animal psychologist Dr. Roger Mugford to calm her beloved corgis Monty, Willow and Holly and dorgis - corgis crossed with dachshunds - Cider, Candy and Vulcan after they recently 'savaged' Max, a 14-year-old dog belonging to her granddaughter Princess Beatrice.

A source told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: 'Her Majesty keeps her dogs disciplined, but she recognises that sometimes they have problems that require professional help.'

Though Roger - who has previously worked with Princess Anne's dogs - refused to confirm he had been hired by Buckingham Palace, he admitted he is 'not unfamiliar' with Max, who almost lost an ear in the attack, and he has 'an inkling' why the incident happened.

He said: 'There is a pack mentality that a group of dogs can develop which means that they regard any newcomer as a threat that has to be addressed.'

Dr. Mugford previously worked with one of Anne's bull terriers when it attacked one of the queen's corgis so savagely the dog was later put down.

He also testified when another of Anne's terriers, Dotty, attacked two children and saved the pet from a lethal injection.