puppies Archives - Pet Sense

Finding a responsible breeder

So you’ve decided it’s time to start thinking about a puppy to join your household – exciting times! Hopefully you have done lots of research regarding an appropriate breed choice and have narrowed down your options, but where do you start in terms of finding a responsible breeder? What do you even mean by ‘responsible breeder’? Well, someone who has the medical and behavioural health of the parents and puppies as a priority. Someone who recognises that their puppies are going to pet homes where they will hopefully thrive for the next 10-15+ years. Someone who breeds with the [...]

By petsense|2022-11-10T18:00:31+00:00November 10th, 2022|Dogs|Comments Off

Puppy Biting

You’ll often read it as “play biting” but this is a gross assumption in terms of diagnosis and what is actually motivating the puppy to grab, bite or mouth. For some owners, it is a real problem. Those needle teeth hurt, for a start. It can negatively affect the bond formed from the new owner towards their puppy and can result in owners using methods the puppy finds scary or unpleasant to try to stop the behaviour. This then has a detrimental effect on the relationship from the puppy's perspective too. There are different motivations underlying puppy biting, grabbing [...]

By petsense|2021-02-20T18:19:35+00:00February 20th, 2021|Dogs|Comments Off

Puppies who pick things up or eat things they shouldn’t…

Puppies explore with their mouths. They don’t have fingers or opposable thumbs to investigate items, so everything goes in the mouth. Most of the time, if the environment is enriched enough with appropriate items for the puppy to play with and chew on, including novel items to maintain interest, they will choose to interact with these objects or return to them quickly after investigating other things. If we respond to them putting items in their mouth or stealing things either verbally or by trying to take the item from them/remove it from their mouths, we risk creating problems. The puppy […]

By petsense|2020-05-01T12:28:20+01:00November 22nd, 2019|Dogs|0 Comments

Bringing your new puppy home

Bringing a new puppy home is a very exciting time but it’s also important to aim to set the environment up for success from the start, with the aim of preventing potential problems from developing. Young puppies are amazingly versatile – in the space of a few hours they have to experience: – Being separated from their siblings, mum, familiar people and possibly other familiar dogs. – Being taken away from their familiar environment & scent profile and put into an alien one. – A car journey with unfamiliar people. – Introductions to new pets. – Being introduced to a collar […]

By petsense|2020-05-01T12:30:42+01:00November 22nd, 2019|Dogs|0 Comments

Thinking about buying a puppy?

Buying a puppy is a long-term commitment. It’s important to research breeds and breeders thoroughly and consider what would happen if your circumstances change at any time during the dog’s lifetime. Some things to look out for in a reputable breeder: – All health tests relevant to the breed have been done in both the Sire and Dam, and they are only used for breeding if the results are acceptable. “Vet checked” does NOT mean health tested. – Kennel Club registration is not a guarantee of quality nor that the breeder is reputable. However, reputable breeders of pedigree dogs will […]

By petsense|2020-05-01T12:31:37+01:00November 22nd, 2019|Dogs|0 Comments

Raising puppies to prevent behaviour problems – Crufts 2019 article

Understanding common dog behaviour problems is the first step to preventing them, writes Rosie Bescoby, Clinical Animal Behaviourist at Pet Sense. Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time for the family but can be an overwhelming experience for the pup – it is usually the first time the puppy has been separated from its mum, littermates, familiar people and surroundings. The first few days and weeks in a puppy’s new home are significant in terms of emotional development – a puppy’s perception of the world can be permanently influenced by new experiences at this stage in its life. […]

By petsense|2020-05-01T12:34:26+01:00March 7th, 2019|Dogs|0 Comments

Thank you very much Rosie for all your helpful advice. It was really very interesting and useful and has given me lots to think about….

Pica - kitten problem prevention phone consult

Harry was a rescue dog. Whilst in kennels he became very stressed and was constantly barking at other dogs. Rosie assessed him for us and…

Andy & Harry

Brilliant advice on my cat troubles, so quick, helpful and thorough. Thank you very much!…

Auden & Becca

This is sending a MASSIVE “Thank You!” to Rosie Bescoby, for all of her support with our feuding bulldogs! (I have been recommending Rosie’s expertise…

Enid & Stella