Vivien
Website: http://www.dreamdogs.co.uk
I have loved dogs all my life, ever since I used to work with the border collies and Shire horses on the farm down the road when I was at school. Aged 14, I got my first dog – a black miniature poodle called Susie Wong. Since then, I’ve owned dogs all my life, including miniature poodles and shih tzu, and have over 30 years’ experience of caring for and breeding dogs, having cared for more than 30 dogs in total over the years, and countless gorgeous little bundles of fluff.
Nowadays, I no longer breed puppies and live with my beautiful, black shih tzu called Ouzo – yes, she’s named after the Greek alcoholic drink!
Dog obedience training
If you have a very naughty or unruly dog, it can be quite stressful trying to train them yourself. You will need to have the patience of a saint and lots of time to invest in training a stubborn dog. You may find that, despite having exhausted all of the dog training books in the local library and having read up on all of the internet advice that you can find, you still need some additional help. Thinking about dog obedience classes can be scary, especially if you are worried about controlling your pet alongside all of the other dogs that need training. However, dog training classes can be very beneficial, giving you the confidence to take your (more) Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
Puppy-proof your home
The first few weeks of a new puppy’s life are all about socialisation and exploring and no doubt your puppy will be in every nook and cranny of your home. You will need to have eyes in the back of your head to watch your puppy as much as possible, but obviously there will be times when you cannot be by your puppy’s side. Therefore, you need to make sure that your puppy is safe in your home when you cannot be there to supervise. Make sure that any household cleaners and any other kinds of chemicals are (more) Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
Spoiling your puppy
When you first get a new puppy, you will no doubt want to lavish all of your attention on it and buy it numerous toys and treats, spoiling your new pet. However, like everything else in life, it is important to have a balance when it comes to treating your puppy, though it can admittedly be difficult when you find your new pup so adorable and cute. Rewards and treats are great for showing your puppy kindness. However, you need to set some boundaries to avoid overwhelming your puppy. For instance, they will need some toys to chew on and play with, but do not (more) Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
In praise of the good old fashioned mutt
In praise of the good old fashioned mutt. Much has been made recently of various dog breeds, large, small and ridiculously tiny. There is also a growing interest in specific cross breeds such as the labradoodle. Has the poor mongrel been forgotten in all this made-to-measure designer dogdom? There are many great looking pooches out there of mixed parentage and each one is going to be unique, some of the most engaging looking pups are the result of a chance meeting and rescue centres are overflowing with great dogs passed over in favour of the pure breed in the next cage. Dogs that can trace their ancestry back are often related, some diseases and defects have become inherent to particular breeds, and mongrels often have a better resistance to doggy diseases. Mongrel or not, the same principles apply when it comes to finding your ideal dog. See the parents (if known), or if you are going to re-home a rescue dog, talk to the staff at the centre. Be wary of small ads that are offering dogs “free to a good home”, make sure that the dog is not a problem animal that the present owners are trying to offload. A word of caution if you are taking on a pup of unknown provenance, pups grow and there is no telling how big your new friend will be when fully grown, as you will have no point of reference. Beware of throwbacks, mongrel parents of small stature have been known to produce much larger offspring. If a large dog is going to be a problem play safe and get a pure or cross breed. Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
So it’s time for the vet
Most dogs are not great fans of going to the vet, in some cases it can be a real problem but that behaviour can be changed. Make time for some fake trips to the vet. Drive some way towards the vets and park the car, get out and put the dog a lead. Now go for a walk rewarding your dog for good behaviour, do this several times. After a few walks, extend the route so you go past the vet’s surgery, again rewarding (more) Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
Supplies needed for house training a puppy
The essential tool for house training a puppy is lots and lots of patience. House training a puppy is not straight forward and there will be lots of accidents as you try to teach your new little friend the rules in your home. However, to help with your patience and aid you in your training there are a number of supplies that you can get, before you bring your puppy home, which should make the training go more smoothly. Crate-training a puppy can help with easing your pet (more) Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
Avoid punishment when training your puppy
There are various ways to train a puppy and depending on the books you read or the training classes that you take your puppy to, there will be different schools of thought on how to raise an obedient dog. One of the ways that you should avoid training your puppy is through punishment. Remember the dog is only young and your pet will not necessarily equate a punishment with the action that they have just done. Particularly if you find dog mess on the floor that you did not see the puppy make, it may not necessarily understand that a clip on the nose is as a result of (more) Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
Getting your puppy to sleep through the night
Once your puppy is old enough to leave his mother and you are allowed to bring him home, it can be an exciting time for you – but a time of great upheaval for the puppy. Leaving the mother, all the new surroundings and people, means that the puppy has lots of new nooks and crannies to explore but will also be looking for comfort and reassurance. During the day, your puppy will probably be surrounded by a constant stream of companions looking to play with and pet (more) Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
What to expect at dog training school
When you go along to a dog training class, check a few details beforehand of what the trainer might need to see. A reputable organisation will want to see your vaccination certificates; some will also request that your puppy has been wormed. You may want to bring a few things along with you such as titbits for rewards, poop bags, toys, a collar and lead and a water bowl with a supply of water. A full list should be provided when you enrol. Your puppy’s training class should offer a fun and friendly atmosphere in a comfortable venue. The whole family can go and everybody can learn together the signals and commands for the pup. Remember, your puppy has a lot to learn, it will be a lot easier if he or she is happy and stress free. Don’t worry if he or she (more) Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
Top three areas to check on your dog’s hygiene
Dog hygiene is important for your pet as basic hygiene can keep your pet healthy and avoid most little problems developing into anything more serious. Although it is important to give your dog a regular bath, do not think that a quick splash is enough to maintain your pet. Although your dog will smell nicer and their coat will be shinier, bathtime is a good time to check that your dog is healthy in other ways as it’s a good chance for you to give him a quick once over. Clean your dog’s ears. There are special solutions to do this, which you may (more) Share» Post Ad Purchase: Intext Link Read More →
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