You have come this far – you’ve chosen the breed, found a reputable breeder you can trust, and now you have to choose a puppy from the litter. Always ask the breeders for advice, as they will most probably know the puppies’ temperaments the best. But there are a few things to look out for
Look for these qualities before you choose a puppy Read More »
Q: My dog is scooting inside the house and outside in the garden. What could be wrong, and what can I do? A: Immediately take your dog to the vet, as it can potentially be serious. Some dogs may empty their anal sacs by scooting or grooming themselves, but if left untreated, a simple irritation
Q & A: Scooting dog Read More »
Puppy classes are more than just teaching your dog a few tricks. Both of you will learn so much about each other, how to communicate and understand each other, and what to expect of each other. This will also help you to build a stronger bond with your puppy, which is why it is so
What puppy school is all about Read More »
Imagine the following: you wake up during the night with a throbbing pain in your jaw. That tooth you have been ignoring is finally getting its revenge on you. You will have to go to the dentist. While the pain is preventing you from going back to sleep, you think about getting injected in your
Why dental care is vital for your dog’s health Read More »
Sunny South Africa experiences a good few thunderstorms every year. While those are great, we also experience loud bangs in another form: fireworks. These can be extremely traumatic for our dogs, with thousands of dogs getting lost, injured or even killed every year in their attempt to escape from the noise. Fright night You are
Fireworks and thunder: how to help your dog Read More »
My dog enjoys lying in the warm sun. I am concerned as he has a white coat. What can I do to keep him safe? The main danger is the harmful ultra-violet (UV) radiation in sunlight. White dogs can go through life safe from the sun if their coat is dense enough to protect their
Q&A: White dog getting a tan Read More »
Let’s have some fun for a change and look at the brighter side of life – dogs! We love dogs so much, so let’s see if you knew these facts about them? Expensive pet Remember Butkus, the large dog who starred as Rocky’s pet in the movie of the same name? Butkus was Stallone’s pet
Things you (probably) didn’t know about dogs Read More »
Having pets is the most natural thing in the world. Most of us grow up with pets and cannot imagine our lives without them. Pets fulfil various roles in people’s lives, some in the most natural forms. But in other cases, an owner’s relationship with their pet can become a bit unbalanced, or as some
Can pets replace children? Read More »
Dogs: the universal stress-buster. That’s the claim increasingly made for ‘man’s best friend’ as dogs find their way into all kinds of unexpected medical situations. Last year, my own institution, the University of Bristol, teamed up with the Guide Dogs charity to offer stressed students a puppy play session. This was by no means the
Dogs make us healthier Read More »
Whether you groom your dog yourself or get the professionals to do it is a personal choice. Either way, proper grooming is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. The frequency of grooming depends on the breed’s coat requirements – while dogs like Poodles have to be groomed often, other dogs like Labrador
8 home grooming tips Read More »
Often in human relationships, you can get to know someone so well that you understand them, know their likes and dislikes, and on a deeper level can pick up on their moods without conversation. Spending quality time with your dog is the best way to get to know him better. Once you have established a
Know your dog for a stronger bond Read More »
The first visit to the veterinarian with your puppy should ideally be two or so days after he arrived at his new home. This visit is to start a relationship with the vet, and also to take your puppy for his first health check. Don’t stall his first visit to the vet because of the
