New Milton Advertiser 18th December 2020

news@adt.press · advertising@adt.press · 01425 613384 G oodDog with JasminMason A new bundle of joy at Christmas Friday 18th December 2020 · 29

Our monthly series o ering tips and advice on keeping your pooches happy and healthy

sausage dog may not be best for an active family hiking miles a day, and the Jack Russell terrier may not be best for a household with lots of small furries. There are of course excep- tions to the rule, but most dogs will do whatever they were bred to do. When choosing the right breed for you, have a think about the typical characteris- tics of each breed, grooming requirements, potential health issues, their size, energy levels, exercise and enrichment needs and what you dream of when you think of life with a dog. Breeding Secondly, we must consid- er where our puppy is coming from. With many puppy farms coming out of the woodwork – but many still going undetect- ed – we must be really thorough when researching our dog’s breeder. If you’re lucky, you may find a puppy from a rescue cen- tre and, while they quickly get snapped up in the UK, there are also many coming from abroad that need homes. If you’re look- ing for a reputable breeder, en- sure that you meet the mother and father, if possible. Discuss the conditions in which the puppies have been raised, the diet they’ve been fed, the training and socialisa- tion opportunities that they’ve had and make sure you’ve seen proof of any paperwork for both health and breeding. Puppies raised in inadequate conditions are more prone to developing behavioural issues later in life, and it’s also criti- cal that we do not fund puppy farms or breeders who do not care for the welfare of their dogs.

CHRISTMAS is filled with ex- citement, festivity, and joy. And for some, Christmas may be a time that a new bundle of fur is introduced to the family. Lots of you will have heard the phrase “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas” – which is, of course, a very accurate reflec- tion of the responsibility that comes along with a new puppy. Most dogs will be a part of your family for around 10-15 years, and it’s ever so important that we get the first stage of their life spot-on to help them develop into a well-rounded dog and wonderful companion. Lifestyle The first critical stage of pup- py raising is finding the right puppy for you. As children we dream of our first dog, and we’d normally be happy with any kind. As adults, we need to con- sider the breed or type of dog that would suit our lifestyle. A fizzy border collie may not be best for a flat in the city, a

being present with their dog. On walks, explore together, climb, search and enjoy the adventure. Then when you’re home in the warm, it’s time for more games. Playing with their food and hand feeding is a won- derful way to bond. Set for success Finally, management. So what do we mean by this? This involves taking steps to set our dogs up for success. Practice makes perfect and whatever our dogs are practicing can eas- ily be taken along into later life. Puppy pens, baby gates and crates can be a fantastic way to prevent unwanted behaviours such as jumping up, counter surfing or chewing whilst we teach our dogs how ‘what to do’ instead. Keeping the lead on when vis- itors arrive also prevents those over-enthusiastic greetings and long-lines out on walks ensure that our dogs are able to stay safe whilst we practice recall. There are many other differ- ent management techniques that you can implement to make your dog training easier, sometimes you just need to get a little creative. Information Tel: 07935 912687 www.paragondogs.co.uk www.facebook.com/paragon dogs1 Classes starting soon: Life skills: Sunday 10th January 9am Rapid recalls boot camp: Wednesday 13th January 2pm Saturday 9th January 10am Saturday 9th January 11.30am

A dog is not just for Christmas but they need work to forge a relationship

New home When you’ve brought your puppy home there are three main things to consider: re- lationship-building, manage- ment, and time for them to adapt. An entirely new envi- ronment free of your mother and siblings can be incredibly daunting and often quite lone- ly, particularly on your puppy’s first night. Lots of people may have ex- perienced whining and crying on their puppy’s first night and the most important thing is don’t let them simply cry it out! Dogs are emotional creatures just like us and their confidence

in being alone should be built gradually and slowly. It’s important that we are there to support and care for our puppy on the first night, which may involve sleeping down on the sofa or having them up in your room. Some find that a blanket from the breeder that smells of mum, and a hot water bottle or a wheat bag can be helpful in allowing them to set- tle. This is a time for our dogs to build trust in us and see us as a supportive and caring figure. Bonding Next: relationship building! Given that we’ve taken the time

to allow them to adapt, and provided them with all the sup- port they need during challeng- ing moments, we likely already have a wonderful relationship with our puppy and it’s time to multiply that. This bonding should come before the majority of your for- mal training. It lays the founda- tion of any work that you’ll do with your puppy in the future and helps to supercharge your recall and loose-lead walking. Imagine being the best thing in your dog’s world! Forget charging after other dogs or bowling people down with their exuberant love – with a fantas-

tic relationship, your dog will choose to hang out with you every time.

So how do we get this incredible relationship?

In easy terms, simply having fun with your dog is the best way to do this. Play their fa- vourite games whether that be chase, fetch or tug. Enjoy typi- cal dog activities together like searching, foraging and ‘find it’ by setting up your own scent games. One little thing that many people forget is being simply

Finding the right breed is important