What your dog breed says about you: As Labour minister claims black labradors are part of a 'far-Right fantasy', how are people judging your beloved pet?

 By MAANYA SACHDEVA, ASSOCIATE LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Updated: 16:30, 30 September 2026

Labour's nature minister Jenny Riddell-Carpenter risked alienating a nation of dog lovers when she suggested black labradors are part of a 'far-Right fantasy' that no longer exists. 

In fact, labradors are the most popular breed in the country – last year becoming the most registered dog in the country with nearly 30,000 additions to the Royal Kennel Club's records. 

'It's the typical, British middle-class dog,' etiquette expert Julius Smith told the Daily Mail, adding their owners are more likely to be outdoor-loving nature enthusiasts than radical Right-wingers.

Royal dog lovers such as the late Queen Elizabeth and even Queen Victoria have given dachshunds and corgis a distinct air of nobility, while chihuahuas symbolise all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood considering Paris Hilton and Demi Moore are known to favour the breed. 

Meanwhile, the labradoodle has come to represent Britain's 'modern middle-class' while the 'tremendously loyal Staffie' belongs with 'straightforward' owners who are wary of dog trends. 

So, if Ms Riddell-Carpenter's assessment was off the mark, what does your favourite dog breed say about your standing in British society today? 

Queen Elizabeth II walking some of her beloved corgis at the Windsor Horse Trials in 1980

Monty Don with his beloved golden retriever Ned at the Chelsea Flower Show last year

Labrador

There is nothing more iconic than a labrador rolling around in the mud, jumping into ponds and then happily bringing half the countryside back into the house with it.

Julius told the Daily Mail the breed is 'the typical, British middle-class dog' and its owner is likely to 'be outdoorsy, practical and not terribly precious about a bit of mud'.

'I picture wellington boots by the back door, country walks at the weekend and a labrador taking up most of the boot of the family car,' the etiquette expert added. 

'They are friendly, dependable and generally delighted to see everybody, and I suspect labrador owners like to think they possess rather similar qualities.' 

Chihuahua 

Considering Paris Hilton is one of the most famous chihuahua owners in the world, it's difficult to associate the breed with anything other than what Mr Smith calls the 'bling class'. 

He said: 'I would put the chihuahua firmly in "the bling class". I tend to associate them with ladies in their late 20s and 30s who enjoy fashion, accessories and being noticed.

'You often see these little dogs dressed up almost as much as their owners, and I sometimes wonder whether people buy them partly as an accessory rather than simply as a dog.' 

Mr Smith said the breed can also become extremely attached to one person and rather jealous when anybody else demands their owner's attention. 

'If you own a chihuahua, I suspect you enjoy making an entrance and don't particularly mind being noticed.' 

Dachshund 

'The dachshund has become a very upper-middle-class dog in my eyes,' Mr Smith suggested. 'I see an extraordinary number of young couples with them. I suspect part of the attraction is their size. You don't need an enormous house or acres of land, so they fit rather neatly into a comfortable urban lifestyle.' 

Stars including Adele, Fergie and Emilia Clarke all dote on the breed, while Queen Victoria was among the first owners of dachshunds in the UK after they arrived from Germany in 1840. 

'Their owners strike me as stylish, considered people who like nice things but also think practically about how a dog will fit into their lives,' Mr Smith analysed the typical dachshund owner.  

However, he cautioned that anyone choosing a dachshund because it happens to look fashionable 'must remember that its distinctive shape can bring health problems'. 

David Beckham, 49, with his four dogs at his £10million countryside home in the Cotswolds on Sunday

Music mogul Simon Cowell on holiday with his Yorkshire Terriers, Squiddly and Diddly

Staffordshire bull terrier 

The Staffordshire bull terrier (the staffie) has traditionally been associated with the working classes and 'unfortunately has acquired a rather tough reputation over the years, often because of certain owners' rather than the dogs themselves, said Mr Smith. 

In reality, they can be tremendously loyal, friendly and affectionate family dogs that are known for forming very strong bonds with their owners. 

'I associate their owners with being straightforward and loyal, with less of an interest in having a trendy or fashionable dog,' he suggested. 'There is something quite honest about the staffie. What you see is very much what you get.'

Old English sheepdog 

Perhaps it is because of those 'wonderful' old Dulux advertisements, but the old English sheepdog immediately evokes a picture of country life.

'I would put its owner among the country middle classes. I picture somebody with plenty of space, muddy boots and perhaps a slightly chaotic household,' he said. 

'You would have to be fairly relaxed to own one. They are large, shaggy dogs that require considerable looking after, so I suspect their owners are good-natured, outdoorsy and perhaps just a little scatterbrained themselves. 

This is not the dog for somebody who panics at the sight of muddy paw prints on the kitchen floor, Mr Smith declared. 

Yorkshire terrier

The Yorkshire terrier has made quite an extraordinary journey through the British class system, according to the former royal butler.  

'They were once proper working dogs, bred to catch rats, whereas today you are far more likely to find one sitting comfortably on somebody's lap,' Mr Smith said. 'I still associate them with Britain's traditional working classes, although they have certainly become much more pampered over the years.' 

He speculated their owners tend to want companionship above everything else, adding: 'They like having their dog close, fussing over it and treating it as another member of the family. 

'There is something rather amusing about such a tough little working dog becoming one of Britain's great lap dogs.'

Cavalier King Charles spaniel

The cavalier King Charles spaniel is decidedly upper-middle class, with perhaps a little aspiration towards the upper classes. Even the name sounds rather grand, Mr Smith pointed out.  

The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman with her beloved cavalier King Charles spaniel, Skip

'They have become something of a status symbol. They are beautiful, traditional-looking dogs with an unmistakably aristocratic association, and I suspect some owners rather enjoy that,' he added. 

'Their owners strike me as people who appreciate tradition, beautiful things and a certain polished appearance. 

'There may even be a little element of Keeping Up with the Joneses about it. If somebody in the neighbourhood arrives with a beautiful cavalier, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if another appears six months later.' 

Labradoodle

If there is one dog that represents the modern British middle classes, it may well be the labradoodle. 

'I associate them with comfortable family homes, children, muddy country walks and a reasonably large car,' Mr Smith told this paper. 'Their owners want something friendly and suitable for family life, but I think there is also an element of following what has become fashionable.

'They have certainly become something of a status symbol over time. They are also wonderfully scruffy characters and have a habit of taking over the house. 

'You may think you own the labradoodle when it first arrives, but give it six months, and you may discover the dog owns you.'

Corgi 

It is almost impossible to see a corgi in Britain without immediately thinking of the late Queen Elizabeth. 

'That association is so strong that I suspect anyone walking a corgi enjoys, consciously or otherwise, a little of that reflected royal glow,' Mr Smith said, crowning the breed the 'ultimate upper-class dog'.   

He added: 'Their owners are likely to appreciate tradition, heritage and Britishness and perhaps enjoy doing things a little differently from everybody else. 

'Dare I say it, there may even be a tiny part of them that imagines themselves in that royal world when they take their corgi for a walk.' 

https://www.dailymail.com/lifestyle/article-16172215/What-dog-breed-says-you-Labour-minister-claims-black-labradors-Far-Right-fantasy-people-judging-beloved-pet.html

Little big cat is the first new feline species found in a century: Tiny Tilcayo is seen prowling around Bolivian cloud forest

 By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 01:31, 18 September 2026 | Updated: 08:12, 18 September 2026

A tiny wild cat living in Bolivia's cloud forests has been identified as a new species in a remarkable discovery.

The feline, known as the tilcayo by local communities, measures just 18 inches (46cm) long and weighs around 3lb (1.4kg), making it smaller than the average domestic cat. 

It was found in Bolivia's lush Yungas forest, a mountainous region of humid forests that are often shrouded in clouds. 

Researchers used genetic analysis to confirm the animal was a previously unknown species and named it Leopardus tilcayo, retaining its local name. 

The discovery marks the first time a new living feline species has been formally named and described in more than a century. 

The tilcayo belongs to a group of small South American felines known as tiger cats, which are found across much of the continent. 

Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National Geographic explorer and one of the authors of the study published in Current Biology on Thursday, said: 'Its fur is light brown … with irregularly shaped rosettes across its body.' 

Scientists still know relatively little about how the elusive cat lives. 

Small rodent remains discovered in scat samples suggest they could form part of its diet, while camera traps indicate the animal may be more active at night. 

A tiny wild cat living in Bolivia's cloud forests has been identified as a new species in a remarkable discovery

The feline, known as the tilcayo by local communities, measures just 18 inches (46cm) long and weighs around 3lb (1.4kg), making it smaller than the average domestic cat

It was found in Bolivia's lush Yungas forest, a mountainous region of humid forests that are often shrouded in clouds

Tiger cats are considered 'cryptic species', meaning different species can be extremely difficult to distinguish based on their appearance alone. 

They were once thought to comprise a single species, but genetic research later suggested there were several distinct groups. 

Study co-lead author Jonas Lescroart, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, said researchers currently have information from just two living tilcayos and a small number of camera-trap sightings.

One of the animals studied is a ten-year-old male now living at the Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia after previously being kept in the home of a local family.

Scientists became intrigued because the animal's features did not match existing descriptions of tiger cats, which were largely based on animals from Brazil.

The researchers analysed DNA from 38 cats collected across several South American countries, including eight museum specimens. 

Their findings suggest tiger cats actually comprise five genetically distinct species.

'We never expected this Bolivian tiger cat to be a separate species, and no one had ever proposed it as a different animal, subspecies or otherwise,' Lescroart said.

Genetic analysis indicated that the tilcayo's lineage split from other tiger cats around 1.4million years ago.

The researchers also identified a new tiger cat subspecies in Peru's Yungas region, which they named Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo after Antisuyu, the region of the Inca empire that once included its habitat.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently treats tiger cats as two vulnerable species with declining populations.

Researchers have now shared their findings with the IUCN, which is expected to consider the five lineages separately in its next review.

Scientists said this could reveal that individual species, including the tilcayo, face a greater threat of extinction than previously recognised.

Bolivia's Yungas forests are under increasing pressure from deforestation, expanding agriculture, human-caused fires and mining.

Eduardo Eizirik, an evolutionary biologist at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil and senior author of the study, said the discovery showed how much of the natural world remains unknown.

'There are many undiscovered species out there in the world, and they are at risk of disappearing before we even discover them,' he said.

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16140795/New-species-cat-spotted-time-century-Tilcayo-cat-Bolivia-seen-prowling-cloud-forest.html

Syrian man finds his secret library untouched 15 years after he concealed it behind a wall and fled Assad and civil war

 By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 12:37, 18 September 2026 | Updated: 12:43, 18 September 2026

A man who fled the Syrian civil war over 15 years ago returned to find the secret library he had hidden behind a false wall intact. 

Abu Bilal had been living in exile in Kuwait ever since his country descended into a civil war. 

But now that dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime has been overthrown, Bilal finally returned to his home city of Homs and tore down the wall. 

In footage filmed by his son, Bilal is shown swinging a hammer and battering the structure as dust rises. 

When he finally knocks down the entire structure, he unpeels sheets of cardboard, revealing his vast collection of books.

Among the leather-bound copies and intricate covers are biographies of the Prophet Mohammed and works of Sunni Islamic scholarship, as well as a complete set of Jami' al-Usul fi Ahadith al-Rasul – a medieval compendium of the sayings of the Prophet.

'Thank God, everything is fine so far, apart from some dust,' he says, admiring his library. 

As he runs his fingers through his books, he stops as he discovers something tucked between the pages. 

Abu Bilal is shown in this video grab breaking a wall with a hammer as he tries to uncover his hidden library 

Sheets of cardboard begin to emerge as the Syrian man knocks down a wall 

When he finally knocks down the entire structure, he reveals his vast collection of books

'And the money – we placed money here too,' he says, tugging out the brown cardboard he had wedged in to shield the cash.

 He adds: 'Thank God, it's still here and still in good condition. A thousand praises to God.

'God bless us and allow us to return to our homeland.'

'Even in the smallest space, we found room for a book, making the most of it as we ran out of room,' Bilal says in awe.

His son, Bilal Alloun, shared the video on social media, writing that his father had refused to leave Syria until he had 'secured' the library. 

'The way my father took the books out tells stories we'll leave for another time,' he added. 'Praise God for this clear victory.' 

The clip, which has since gone viral, has resonated with Syrians, with many commenting that the library is a symbol of resilience. 

Under Assad, books were highly policed after the government banned works about the country's prisons, radical Islamic theology and politics. 

Among the leather-bound books from the hidden library are biographies of the Prophet Mohammed and works of Sunni Islamic scholarship

Following the fall of Assad's regime in 2024, scores of Syrians have flocked back to their homes. 

The country has been trying to rebuild and improve its economy after the lengthy civil war that killed nearly half a million people and caused widespread destruction. 

More than five million Syrians fled the country as refugees, most of them to neighbouring countries.  

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16141451/Syrian-man-finds-secret-library-untouched-Assad-civil-war.html

Dark chocolate, fruit and nut coins recipe

 

Ingredients

200g dark chocolate

Topping

Chopped dried apricots, toasted almonds, glace cherries, pistachios

Method

Mix topping with squirt of maple syrup

Melt chocolate over a pan of simmering water

Using a spoon put circle of chocolate on greasproof paper

Add topping and put in the fridge until set.

Topping can be any variety of fruit and nuts you have.

Healing and Growing

 

Welsh history

 

Welsh Histories

 

Here is a Welsh alphabet poster titled "Y Wyddor" ("The Alphabet") which dates all the way back to 1900.

The contents of the poster is based on the alphabet of the great antiquary T.C. Evans of Llangynwyd (unrelated but a home of the Mari Lwyd). It was also illustrated by his son, Christopher Evans... and I think he did a fine job!

The poster was a staple of Glamorgan schools throughout the early twentieth century, a time of mini revival for the Welsh language within classrooms following the previous Draconian measures (such as the Welsh Not) to eradicate it in the preceding decades and centuries.

(Image Credits: Amgueddfa Cymru)

#WelshHistories #WelshHistory #HanesCymru