Brace, Brace, Brace!

In one weeks time, my husband and I shall be picking up our new puppy….I am bracing myself.

Helping others with problematic dogs is wonderfully rewarding. To see a troubled dog happy and balanced is a feeling like no other. However, it is quite nice sometimes after a consult to come back to a relaxed household, which I suspect is all about to end….and I cannot wait!

I thought I would share my journey with weekly posts of tips and advise which hopefully will make any puppy parents journey a little easier in raising a happy and balanced dog.

How should I prepare for my puppy coming home ?

It is just amazing just how much stuff this little one will need! Bowls, bed, toys, collars and leads (I always have two nylon sets that can go in the washing machine after our last sweetheart was a poo roller and muddy puddle lover!) But, it’s important to think a little about some of the long term effects your decisions have now.

Keeping puppy safe

Baby gates provide safety when denying access to stairs, usually until they learn how to climb up and come down safely. However, it is very important that puppy shouldn’t be negotiating stairs until at least 6 -7 months old, especially for higher energy or larger breeds. The stress on joints climbing up and running down stairs can see splayed elbows and joint problems later on so baby gates if you have stairs really is a must.

Fast track toilet training

Crates are a multipurpose tool too. They are a godsend for keeping her safe when you need that 20 mins worry free soak in the bath and fantastic for teaching her how to cope alone. But they are also a great tool for fast tracking toilet training (all of this will be covered in the coming weeks) so they too are an absolute must.