Why you don’t need to discipline your puppy

Q: How do I stop my puppy stealing items and chewing things they shouldn’t? A: Fill your home with appropriate items for your puppy to pick up, chew on and play with that are far more satisfying than anything that doesn’t belong to them (and if it would be self-reinforcing to the puppy, keep it well out of access). Give the puppy loads of attention (and even drop some food in front of them) when they choose to pick up one of their own items. Ensure you introduce novel items regularly to prevent boredom. I have a mixture of toys, […]

By |2020-05-01T12:14:09+01:00November 22nd, 2019|Dogs|0 Comments

Puppy classes

Studies have shown that attending puppy classes may be important for social exposure with other puppies and people which could have a positive association with the dog’s long-term behaviour. However, the setup of the classes and the training methods used are likely to have an impact on these results. The priority for me when looking for an appropriate puppy class was that all the puppies have enough space so that the atmosphere is generally calm and relaxed. No barking or puppies pulling on their leads trying to get to each other. It doesn’t matter if the content is great if no […]

By |2020-05-01T12:22:47+01:00November 22nd, 2019|Dogs|0 Comments

Crate training a puppy

Sometimes I think that crates are used purely because new owners think it’s the ‘done thing’ and too often puppies are just put into the crate and expected to be ok. I crate train. The main reason is for transportation. For 90% of the time, I expect my puppy to choose to take herself into her crate and have no reason to shut it. Some advantages of a crate are that it provides a clear boundary for people so that it is harder to disturb a sleeping dog; it can create a cosy dark cave; some puppies and dogs prefer a […]

By |2020-05-01T12:29:15+01:00November 22nd, 2019|Dogs|0 Comments

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