Raw Food for Puppies: How to Feed Your Puppy on Natural Raw Food

Basic Health Tips For New Dog Owners

If you are new to the world of dogs, there's a lot to think about before you make your final decision as to whether you have enough time to commit to a canine companion because dogs need to be given lots of love and care. Whether you are a new dog owner or not, there are certain “rules” worth noting down which will go a long way in keeping your furry friend happy and healthy.

Read article

8 Tips to Socialize Your Dog

With Other Dogs & Humans

It’s your golden retriever’s world and we’re just living in it—but that doesn’t mean your buddy gets a free pass on being prim and proper. Make sure your dog is an upstanding canine citizen with the following steps.

Read article

Things Every New Dog Owner Needs To Know About Their Pet

It's all too easy to fall in love with a dog and it's just as easy to forget how much they will rely on you for direction because without this, you could end up with an unruly character. It doesn't take much for dogs to develop behavioural issues and for things to get out of hand. The thing to bear in mind is that it's much easier to spend a little time every day training your new dog than it is to address unwanted behavioural issues.

Read article

Attention!

In high summer temperatures dog paws could get burned!

The ground can get much hotter than the surrounding air

How to avoid burn:

"Five seconds test": If the back of your hand can't stand the heat on the asphalt, it's too how for a walk.

Walk your dog on grass or in meadows.

Walk your dog at times when the ground is cooler - early in the morning or late in the evening.

What should you look for when buying a dog:

Can I see the puppies with their mum?

It is absolutely essential to see the puppies with their mother. Be sure mum is a nice, friendly dog because temperament can be inherited. She might be defensive of her puppies so take that into account. If you’re not allowed to see them together, it might be that they’re not really her puppies! Some unscrupulous people claiming to be breeders might in fact be dealers who have bought the pups in. They are likely to be poorly bred, might be ill and are usually too young to leave their exhausted, ill-treated mothers. If they survive, these puppies rarely make good pets, and you will be fuelling this cruel trade where money is the priority and welfare of the dog is ignored.

Have the puppies had any vaccinations? If so, when is the next dose due?

Puppies should be vaccinated at 6-9 weeks of age and then again at 10-12 weeks. Most puppies will become fully protected two weeks after the second vaccine. Rarely, some puppies will require a third vaccine at 16 weeks. You will need to do this if the breeder has not and your veterinarian will advise you if any further vaccines are required.

What sort of socialisation or experiences has my puppy had so far?

Puppies should preferably be raised in a home environment with all the noise and through traffic of a normal home. Those raised in kennels away from the house will need more intensive socialisation training to ensure they can cope with daily life as a pet. If puppies have already met other dogs, domestic animals and people they will have more confidence than those that have not.

Is the puppy Kennel Club registered?

If so, make sure you are given the registration certificate and pedigree when you pick up your puppy. You should also get some free health insurance for the first few weeks.

How old are the puppies?

They must be at least eight weeks old to leave their mother.

How old is mum?

She should be over a year old, but not obviously very old.

Are the puppies weaned?

At seven weeks they should be fully weaned. If they are not, they could be younger than the breeder claimed.

How many litters has mum had?

It is against the law to breed a bitch more than Four times in her lifetime. If the breeder breeds frequently they are required to have a licence.

Does the puppy look healthy – clean eyes, ears and bottom?

If the puppy is unwell, ask the breeder if you can collect him when he’s well again. If the breeder will not allow this do not take him and try another breeder.

What should I feed my puppy? Do you have a diet sheet to take away?

A good breeder will give you enough food to continue exactly the same diet for a couple of days. They should also give you a diet sheet that shows how feeding should change as your puppy grows.

Have the puppies been wormed?

All puppies have worms at birth. Worming should start with the breeder at about two weeks old, be repeated every two weeks and be continued by you.

Can I return the puppy if there are any health problems?

You should take your new puppy to a vet for a health check within 48 hours. A good breeder will offer to take the puppy back at any point should you be unable to keep him.