During the colder and wetter winter months it is easy for us to keep ourselves warm and dry but what about our pooches? We can pop on an extra layer if we are cold and change into lovely warm and dry clothes if we are wet, our dogs need us to do this for them.

One of the most important things to remember is to dry your dog off throughly and not just after the rain either, your dog can become quite wet walking through grass covered in frost and for many dogs the urge is too great to resist a good roll in the frost! Also a dog covered in snow will become wet too so it is imperative that your pooch is dried off after its winter walk. Always dry behind the front legs well, at the tops of the legs and between the back legs, take extra care with older dogs as they may well be suffering a little from arthritis so require gentle handling but also need drying throughly.

(more…)

Most people enjoy bonfire night, all the lovely fireworks and warm flickering fires but for many dog owners the night itself and those leading up to the event are dreaded each year.

Many dogs are absolutely terrified by all the noise and at times it feels as though there is little you can do, as an owner, to help them. This is not strictly true, there are measures you can take to help your dog through this difficult time.

(more…)

If you watch puppies at play, you’ll discover they interact with one another in a number of different ways their body language is quite remarkable to observe.

There’s no mistaking the adorable ‘play-bow’ position that dogs and puppies adopt when wanting to play but do you recognise any of their other many poses and their vast array of noises? It helps if you can as this is an insight in to your puppy’s little world.

(more…)

Most people think that their new and fluffy puppy shouldn’t be walked on a lead until it’s quite a bit older and bigger. This is true to a certain extent but you can certainly introduce your pup to the lead prior to his/her initial walk.

Whilst your puppy is still indoors pop a very soft collar on them. Leave it literally for about five minutes and if there is no major reaction praise and offer a treat as a reward. By major reaction I mean throwing a bit of a ‘wobbly’ whining and running around etc, etc. Most puppies will display minor signs of discomfort or slight concern at the strange object placed around their neck. You’d expect some indication of knowing the collar’s there. Perhaps scratching at it or zooming around in circles whilst trying to remove it or rubbing their head against an object or along the floor.

(more…)

Just because you already share your home with other furries doesn’t mean that you can’t also welcome a puppy into your world. You do have to be sensible though. You can’t simply assume that every other animal is going to adore your new bundle of fluff as much as you do!

It might well be that your furries are housed in their cages away from your pooch and that they’ll probably never actually meet nose to nose but you still need to be certain that your puppy isn’t startled by them and begins to lunge at their cage. The best solution with cages is to purchase some sort of partition to place up around the cage. It doesn’t have to be strong as such but just simply something to let your puppy know that crossing that line and moving the partition is wrong.

(more…)

With it being Easter time and us all consuming fattening chocolate and cakes it’s only natural for us to pile the pounds on but what about your pooch? Now is the perfect time to be thinking about losing some of that extra weight in time for the long summer days.

So what can you do to help your canine chum if he has indeed become a bit chubbier than normal? To begin with hunt around for a lighter food as this will assist with the weight loss but still provide your dog with all the required nutrients and vitamins. If you’re feeding your dog treats as a reward for training then this needn’t stop completely but simply change the treats you’re using for a lighter alternative.

(more…)

Sat in front of you looking up with huge saucer-like eyes sits your new canine companion looking as innocent as ever, your task now is to transform this cute little puppy in to a well-behaved adult dog. Now the main question new owners ask is, ‘so when do I begin with the training?’ and the simple answer is, ‘now.’

If you don’t begin a training regime with your puppy now you’ll regret it later when you’ve a fully grown adult dog that’s completely disobedient and out of control.

(more…)

Going to the vets with your puppy needn’t be a struggle and the easiest way to ensure that this remains the same way even when your bundle of fluff becomes a fully grown dog is to start whilst your dog’s still young.

It’s always a good idea to take your new puppy along to see the vet when you first acquire them just for a quick check-up and their initial injection. The vet will examine and weigh them. The examining part’s the important part to introducing your puppy to being handled and you can begin this at home with your puppy.

(more…)

Is there such a thing as an easy dog to care for? The simple answer is not if you do it properly. There are certainly easier breeds than others to look after in different ways and this is a very important factor to consider when thinking about welcoming a canine chum into your life.

For instance a long-haired breed will take a lot more time grooming than a short-haired breed so to home an Afghan Hound with its luscious coat will take considerably more effort than a Jack Russell with its shorter coat. Yes Afghan Hounds are truly stunning dogs but to maintain their flowing coat takes a daily brush. Most breeds are generally the same with other aspects of grooming such as claw clipping and showering/bathing these tasks aren’t daily or even weekly unless of course your pooch is involved in the show-world where appearance is everything!

(more…)

Puppy and dog toys come in all shapes and sizes, so much so that it can be quite a daunting task selecting a toy from the huge array available in pet shops today.

Now your initial task is to decide what you want your canine chum to actually do with the toy, and don’t just say ‘play’! There are puppy and dog toys designed more towards fetching, chewing, swimming, training and even toys to make your doggy friend think and interact. The last group come mainly in the form of board games for dogs, yes you did read that correctly, the general concept’s the same for each one. Your dog has to work out what to do in order to receive a tasty treat, they actually have to use their nose or paw to move objects.

(more…)