Are you a new or first time puppy owner?
Ginny was my first puppy. She came to us at 11 weeks old. I had wanted a boxer for years, she was literally a dream come true!
I had read up online about what to expect and what equipment I needed. I bought food, a crate and some toys, but I was clueless! I certainly wasn’t prepared for the feelings I had when she arrived. which weren’t dissimilar to how I felt when bringing home a new baby!
Puppy Blues
I didn’t know it at the time but ‘Puppy Blues’ is a thing.
During the initial weeks, it can feel as if your life has been turned upside down, there’s extra mess to deal with, puppy crying and possibly difficulty settling.
Then there’s anxiety about whether you’re doing things right, depleted physical and emotional energy which can lead to overwhelm.
Add sleep deprivation into the mix and it’s not surprising that some new puppy owners regret getting the puppy.
What to do when you get a new puppy
Hiring a trainer for support during this period, can be a real help, and our Puppy Training Bundle package (2 sessions) is ideal for new puppy owners.
The first session can take place before your puppy comes home, if you wish, and can help with things like setting up the environment and choosing equipment.
If you have no experience of having a puppy this will give you an opportunity to ask questions so that you are better prepared for your new arrival.
If you prefer, the first session can be soon after your puppy comes home.
The second session is usually 2 weeks after the first.
Hopefully by this time, you will be feeling more confident; however, your puppy will be growing and changing, with new challenges to consider.
The adventures of an urban gundog
This morning I took Bruce, my english springer spaniel, to Lloyd Park in South Croydon, together with our friend, Sue, and her cocker spaniel, Rosie.
Lloyd Park is a popular spot with dog walkers, it’s easy to find and has its own tram stop on Route 3, New Addington to Wimbledon.
There is a free car park, you can stay for 3 hours but you must obtain a ticket from the machine and display it on your windscreen or you could get a penalty notice.
The park can also be accessed from Deepdene and Mapledale Avenue in the north.
The park is 114 acres, a mixture of grassland, trees and woodland and there is plenty of space for you to walk and play with your dog.
Prior to our visit, there had been a lot of rain and some areas were quite muddy.
Towards the northern edge of the park there is a line of natural springs which emerge during wet weather, this area is known as the Squashes because it can get really wet - a pair of waterproof boots is useful.
There is a café which sells a wide variety of sweet and savoury snacks and meals.
There is also an ice cream parlour which also sells ice cream including a dog friendly variety.
There are plenty of tables both inside and outside.
We visited during the school holidays on a lovely bright morning and sat outside, it was busy but not too crowded.
Fresh water is provided for dogs and there are toilet and baby change facilities available during café opening times.
We recommend Lloyd Park for a lovely walk with your dog.
Dog Hydrotherapy
As a young dog Lex, my english springer spaniel, had a painful orthopedic condition which affected his left shoulder (humeral head).
He had surgery in 2020 and recovered well.
One day, last summer, after a training session when he had been retrieving over a fence, he was very dejected and off his food.
The vet diagnosed him with a painful shoulder and said as he was such a young dog, we shouldn’t restrict his exercise, instead we should let him do his usual activity and treat him with pain medications if and when required.
He also thought it would be beneficial to do some hydrotherapy to enable him to exercise without impact on the joint and help maintain muscle mass and build fitness.
We had a referral went along to Gem & Evie's Hydrotherapy for dogs in Surrey (gemandevies.co.uk)
What we got from hydrotherapy
Lex is a high drive working springer and he finds everything exciting and the same was true for hydrotherapy!
The way it works is the dog is showered before swimming to warm up the muscles and remove any dirt from the coat to prevent contaminating the pool.
The first few visits, Lex wouldn’t stand on the shower tray so he was showered on mat on the floor.
Siew Lian was very patient and did not rush him.
After showering, Lex had the buoyancy aid put on and he was ready to go.
He loved the water and he loved swimming.
During the course of the sessions, he became much more comfortable with the environment, once he was showered and ready, he was up the slope and into the pool.
He also adjusted to taking short breaks between swimming and began to enjoy staying still while Siew Lian gave him a massage
Hydrotherapy was very beneficial for Lex both in terms of his physical and mental wellbeing.
Your Dog and the Law
I went to a meeting hosted by Croydon Companion Dog Club with Tara Boswell, from the Croydon Council Dog Warden Service
It was a really interesting and informative meeting and I learnt a lot about how the law applies to dog ownership.
Your dog must have a collar and tag
A dog must wear a collar and tag stating the name and address of the owner when in a public place, an owner can be fined up to £5000 (yes, that is correct!) if the dog is found in a public place without a collar and tag with these details.
Your dog must be microchipped
Any dog over the age of 8 weeks should have a microchip. There’s a fine of £500 if a dog doesn’t have a microchip or if the dog is registered on a database that is not on the government’s list.
Remember to keep the details on the chip up to date so that if your dog does go missing there is a better chance of being reunited.
Sometimes the chip can move, it’s a good idea to check the chip every now and then to make sure it’s still in place. A vet, dog warden or dog rescue centre can do this for you.
Read more: Get your dog microchipped
Your dog must be on a lead
Dogs must be on a lead on all roads.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applies to all dogs, no matter the breed, and covers a dog’s behaviour in both public spaces and private property including at home and in the garden.
It is a criminal offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control, the dog does not need to bite or injure someone to be deemed out of control. It may be that someone is worried it might injure them.
Read more: Dangerous dogs
What is expected of dog owners
It’s good to know what is expected of us as dog owners. Training our dogs to stay close when out and about and to come back when called are great ways to reduce the likelihood of an untoward event.
If you need help with training, please fill in our contact form for a free 15 minute consultation.