Your puppy’s first year

by Lianne Wilkinson on January 31, 2012

With all the excitement of bringing home a new puppy, you probably cannot think past the first fun filled few days as your puppy gets used to you and its new home. However, the first year of living with your puppy is important if you want to train your dog properly. Of course, most homes just want a fun loving loyal companion, but all dogs need to be taught a few commands in order to fit into family life and avoid chewing the furniture.

Teach your puppy that good behaviour is not always rewarded with a treat. Of course, it is nice to give your puppy (more…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 8.5/10 (2 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Supplies needed for house training a puppy

by Vivien Richardson on January 19, 2012
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…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Avoid punishment when training your puppy

by Vivien Richardson on January 17, 2012

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…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Getting your puppy to sleep through the night

by Vivien Richardson on January 15, 2012

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…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Teach your puppy to sit

by Mark Glenning on January 3, 2012

When you first bring a puppy home, he or she will be a complete bundle of energy and bounce, into all of the nooks and crannies of your home and generally causing havoc. This can be adorable but after a while however, you will want to begin to teach your dog a few commands that will make your little puppy a lot easier to control.

One of the first commands that you should teach your puppy is to sit. If your dog is sitting, they are a lot more attentive than when running around. If your dog is taught to sit, you will be able to easily put the collar on when it is (more…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Should you take in an older dog or a puppy?

by Vivien Richardson on January 1, 2012

When thinking about bringing a dog into your home, most people think about buying a puppy. Puppies are cute and cuddly and it is not difficult to see how easy they are to love. However, there are thousands of dogs who have been abandoned at shelters because they have been abused or unwanted. Many of these dogs would make excellent companions in spite of all that has happened to them in the past. If your situation is suitable, it is worth considering visiting a shelter before choosing a pet, because there may be a once neglected dog who will capture your heart and make a good house pet.

Dogs are abandoned for many reasons. For example, greyhound dogs who have been bred for racing are often discarded as they grow older, cannot run as fast and are no longer profitable. Animals with disabilities can also be (more…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Make sure your new puppy gets some space

by Vivien Richardson on December 20, 2011

When you first bring your new puppy home, your family will probably be really excited and everyone will want to fuss the puppy, hold him or teach him new tricks. However, you must try not to put too many demands on a little puppy when they first arrive in their new surroundings – even all the cuddles and attention can be too much for such a small animal. Whilst an enthusiastic hug might be genuine affection for your new pet, your puppy may not be accustomed to this and may feel a bit threatened.

Make sure there is a quiet space for your puppy to retreat to when they want to be quiet, whether it’s a basket or a dog cage. When they are in this space, ensure the whole family understands not to disturb the puppy. Some people use a (more…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

First steps of puppy training

by Vivien Richardson on December 17, 2011

The ideal starting point for training a new puppy when you bring him home is to practice getting your puppy’s attention. Your puppy may respond to you when you speak in a kind tone to him, but to really enhance future training you need to command a puppy’s attention and get the pup to understand when his name he is called; this way you’ll gain the ability to control his behaviour.

Teaching your puppy his name and therefore practicing how you grab his attention can take some time, so you will need to persevere. When you bring your puppy home, several times a day you need to take a few (more…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Buyers beware when it comes to dogs

by Vivien Richardson on December 10, 2011

Having done your research and decided on the kind of puppy that you want to buy, it is then important to consider researching reputable dog breeders and be mindful of any warning signs when it comes to buying a dog. A puppy can easily worm its way into your heart but be rational when it comes to choosing a dog breeder.

If you buy a pedigree dog, regardless of whether you plan to breed your dog or compete in dog shows, a responsible breeder should have the appropriate documents and pedigree information for your puppy. A good dog breeder should also provide you with a full (more…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

What to consider before buying a puppy

by Vivien Richardson on December 3, 2011

Before buying a puppy, there are many considerations that you need to take into account. What is your idea of how you and your pet will get along? Do you imagine quiet nights sitting with your pooch curled up on your lap in front of the fire or are you looking for a dog to be a companion as you live an active lifestyle in the great outdoors? Research or a good breeder will help you decide on what might be the right breed with the kind of temperament that will suit the way you live your life.

Of course, you will not be able to spend every waking hour with your pet but you should consider how many hours you will be in the home or as (more…)

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
Older Posts »
Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes