People often talk of the importance of socializing your puppy, but what exactly does that mean? And how does one put it into practice? This article will help to explain exactly what socialization is and how to implement it to minimize behavioural problems later in life and to ensure that your German Shepherd is able … Read more
Puppy mouthing is one of the most frequent causes of concern among new puppy owners. Let’s take a look at what it is, why puppies engage in mouthing and what you can do to manage this behaviour with success. The first thing you need to know is that mouthing is normal, almost every puppy will … Read more
I want to get the message out there that you can socialise your puppy before they have completed their course of vaccinations, in fact, you must socialise your puppy as soon as you bring him home. Too many people are keeping their puppies completely shut off from the outside world because they are receiving incomplete information. Part of being … Read more
Every dog should have a daily walk, these walks should start as soon as you bring your puppy home. These outings will give your puppy opportunities for socialisation and training to prepare them for all the things life has to offer. Daily walks also have the added benefit of redirecting energy into more appropriate avenues … Read more
Bringing a puppy home is a scary and exciting time, there are many decisions to be made about how you manage this new addition to the home, and one of them is sleeping arrangements. If this transition from breeder to your home is done with proper care you will be giving your puppy the best chance to … Read more
Puppy temperament testing began many years ago to determine a puppy’s suitability for a particular sport or service. Over time it has crept into the pet dog domain. This post is going to examine the validity of such tests for choosing a pet dog. Is it a waste of time for you to puppy test? … Read more
Dogs have litters that are sometimes very large. When you see a litter of puppies (even for a seasoned professional) it melts your heart. How do you choose between all of these cute critters? Well, there are a few things you can do to make the choice a little easier. Ideally, you should visit the … Read more
Typically, adolescence occurs anywhere after five months of age and often if you are having a problem with any of your dogs’ behaviour and have done nothing about it, adolescence is the time it becomes worse. Living with an adolescent dog can be tough, and you will find that most dogs are re-homed or dumped … Read more
Phew, I am so tired. I had forgotten how exhausting having a puppy is. The first few weeks home for your new dog is such an intense time. There is so much to teach them and you really need to be on your toes to develop good habits in your dog. I am only just getting to … Read more
I often reflect on my work and am always questioning how and why I teach certain exercises. In doing so, sometimes my recommendations change. An example of this is why teach stay? I began by considering the ‘stay’ to be purely an obedience exercise that should be reserved for trials and formal obedience classes. However, over the years … Read more