Care & Training

To keep your pet dog looking beautiful you need to trim the hair around their face. Long hair that gets into the eyes of dogs, such as the Shih Tzu, Poodle or a Lhasa Apso, can cause a beastly irritation and damage their eyes.

Owners of these dogs should take them to a local dog groomer to have the hair trimmed back on a regular basis. It is essential that you do not try to cut the hair around the eyes with sharp scissors as one sudden movement from your dog can result in permanent damage to the eye.

Some breeds of dogs have problems with their eyes in the form of drainage. If your dog has problems with drainage and their skin and fur is discoloured it could become infected. This can be a medical problem which your local vet will be able to [read more]

A dog that has not been bathed or groomed for a few weeks will probably announce his presence before he enters the room via the medium of smell. When you know that your dog is ‘smelly’ you must realise that he feels as uncomfortable about it as you do – and it is high time you gave him a bath.

Some dog owners are very good at grooming their dogs and, in some cases, bath time is a weekly occurrence. Some dog owners are not so good at it however.

If your dog smells it is time you bathed him, no matter how difficult that may first appear!

Do not show your dog that you are nervous about bathing him as he will sense you are panicking and worry. Your patience will pay off after a few attempts.

• Have the doggie towels, doggie shampoo and doggie conditioner ready with a large plastic jug
• Invest in a good dog shampoo and conditioner and do not use toiletries that are made for humans – these could harm your dog

If you have a large active dog such as a German shepherd for example, one which is always running around outside and getting muddy, then there is a chance he will [read more]

If your dog is showing signs of being unhappy, listless or continually scratching it could be that your dog has symptoms which relate to dog allergies.

Allergens, or dog allergies, can strike your dog at any time in his life. Dog allergens are very small and they can be found in a dog’s skin, coat, saliva, and urine.

Allergens move around your home and they can contaminate everything. Homes can be a mine field of allergens – settling into carpets, curtains, furniture, beds and even on a person’s clothing.

Some dogs, such as cocker spaniels, Irish setters and other breeds of dogs which are known to shed hair every three or four days may require [read more]

One of the valuable training procedures that you can use to gain more control over your dog is aptly named ‘recall’.

When you are walking your dog in a park, or a vast area of woodland, and you let him off his lead you have to be sure that you are still in a position to control your dog.

Training a dog to ‘come’ when you call him means you are in control and your dog will enjoy more freedom than he would being on a lead. Should any dangerous situations arise, such as another dog or passing car, you know that when you call he will immediately respond and come to your side.

The first thing you need to do in order to teach your dog to recognise your command is to choose [read more]

Playtime is good for both puppies and adult dogs as it gives them an opportunity to bond with you and the rest of your family. Dogs that are allowed to have play sessions in the park, or at home, gain confidence while, at the same time, their minds are being stimulated.

Some of the unwritten rules when playing with your dog include that if you are playing a game of tug of war, do not let him win every time. Winning every time will make him think that using his force allows him to take possession of items when he wants them.

One simple game you can teach your dog is to hold out a toy and use the command ‘hold’. When your pet is in the act of closing his mouth around the toy, gently say ‘drop it’ and remove it from his mouth. It is important that you give the toy back to your dog afterwards, together with plenty of praise and a treat.

One of the most popular doggie games is called ‘fetch’:

Wiggle a toy in front of your dog, when he comes [read more]

Any dog that barks excessively at visitors is in fact doing their job in letting you know that there is someone at the door. The doorbell ringing, or a knock at your front door, is a trigger to your dog that you are under threat and he only wants to protect you and alert you to impending danger.

Once you have invited a person into your home then you need to teach your dog that you are happy with him, he has done his job successfully and you now want him to be quiet.

Dog owners have different views on barking and forget to give praise when they the dog eventually becomes quiet. This inconsistency can confuse your dog to become confused.

If you are outdoors and your dog barks at a passer by, or another dog, then give him praise and [read more]

Toilet training a puppy is the one thing that can take the shine off your new dog. However, with a bit of patience – toilet training is not as bad as it first seems.

If you have a kitchen floor with tiles, or cushion flooring, then mopping up puddles after a puppy has done his business is not too much of a problem.

When mopping up puddles it is essential that you use a non-ammonia disinfectant as they are highly effective against certain viruses and bacteria that can cause your puppy to become unwell.

Pet stores will stock puppy training pads, which are a [read more]

Puppies are adorable, with their appealing ways and high energy levels. As an owner it is hard to stop them from forming bad habits when they are so incorrigible.

Some of the bad habits that you will find easier to stop include barking, biting, chewing furniture (which can be a big issue if you happen to have some expensive items, such as an old antique bookcase) and, when they are allowed out of the house, lead pulling.

At an early stage in their life a puppy will want to build up a rapport with their new owner. Vocal commands are essential and warm praise and commands in a deeper tone will be recognised by your new pal. Smacking a puppy or shouting at him is not good as it can cause him to become upset, and your dog will [read more]

When your alarm wakes you up in a morning and you rush to the bathroom, why on earth do pet dogs start to lick the soles of your feet? Most pet owners assume it is a sign of affection, but sorry to disappoint you or burst your bubble, that is not correct.

A mother dog constantly licks all her puppies from the minute they are born. Some of the placenta at birth may need licking off and ‘mum’ will do that. Placenta is full of essential nutrients and this can be passed on to a litter of puppies via the mother dog.

Puppies will learn to bond with their brothers and sisters by licking them. When they are older, they are weaned [read more]