Useful Information

Choosing Your New Puppy

Are you considering getting a puppy but can’t decide which breed you would like, or have you narrowed it down to a choice of a few breeds but need help deciding? Then why not give us a call and we can come to you for a visit, and go through your life style and dog needs to help you come to that final decision of which breed would suit you best.

At Home with Your New Puppy

So you’ve picked up your new puppy and have to wait a few weeks before you can take him out and about. Do you need help with initial training for the pup? If so, why not have a new puppy visit to help you settle the pup into the right life style you’d like for your dog. We will go through everything from help with toilet training to feeding the right foods and how to stop your puppy nipping.

Please call to arrange a visit.

Feeding Your New Puppy

So you’ve now bought your new puppy home, the fun starts here!

You may have decided which food you’d like to feed your new puppy; however your breeder should have given you advice about your puppy's diet, and given you enough food to last a few days when you take your puppy home.

If you want to change the food it’s always best to wait at least a week after bringing your new pup home and they are settled before messing with their food.

When you change over food always do it over a few days, 75% old food to 25% new food then gradually changing amounts to slightly more new and less old food until transition is complete.

However if you are changing from kibble to raw feeding this does not work so after their initial settling in week start on raw feeding in the morning and continue with raw food for each meal.

It is not advised to mix kibble with raw as they digest these foods at different levels, so please do not mix both types of food together.

At eight weeks old you would normally be feeding your pup four times a day; this can be reduced to three times a day at around four months. Then depending on your dog’s needs it would be reduced to twice a day between six months and a year old.

We always advise adult dogs are kept on two meals a day.

Do your research before getting your puppy where possible and decide on the best quality of food you can possibly afford for them.

Microchipping

Since April 2016 it has been law for all dogs over 8 weeks old to be microchipped. This can be done at many local vets who will insert a small chip, the size of a grain of rice, under the skin of your dog between the shoulder blades. This chip contains all the details needed for the return of your dog should he/she become lost or stolen. The procedure is quick and simple and does not hurt your dog.

The chip should last for the life time of your dog, though in same cases the chip does fail. It is worth getting your chip checked on a regular basis.

The responsibility for keeping all details up to date falls on the owner so remember to change your details should you move or change your mobile number, etc.

For more information regarding getting your dog microchipped please click on the following links: Dogs Trust - RSPCA - Government Website - Pets at Home

other information

Basic Training Commands

Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs

How Hot is Too Hot