Scattered cushions Dear Patches, The other day, I got bored and jumped onto the couch. I swear I smelt some treats in the cushions and I started to dig, but I couldn’t find them. I was certain Mom had hidden them from me, so I flung the first cushion through the air. Then I attacked […]
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Q: Our four-year-old Dachshund, Alice, has started to poo in the lounge in the middle of the night. She goes out into the garden before bedtime, so we can’t understand this new behaviour. A: As this is a new behaviour at four years of age, the first thing you need to do is make an
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No need to get bored, there are a few games that you can play with your dog, like playing fetch. You can even play the game inside your home. Fetch seems to be the most natural game to play with your dog – a game that only requires a ball or a toy. Ensure that
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When you train your dog, there is no doubt that you will need treats to reward him for his hard work. But certain questions often arise about the treats we use while training. This article will address some of those questions. 1. What is the ideal size of treats used in training? The size needs
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Q: Does my dog miss me when I’m at work and what can I do about it? A: This depends on the individual dog, the relationship you have, the circumstances, whether there are other people or other dogs at home when you are at work, whether there is activity in the home during the day,
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A reliable recall is one of the most important things to teach your pup, to the point where it can even save his life if you ever need to call him back to you, away from a potentially dangerous situation. Consider the following scenarios: Your dog accidentally gets out of the gate and takes off.
Q: Why do my dogs insist on following me into the bathroom? A: Having a dog means you never have to visit the bathroom alone again and, according to some dogs, it’s the perfect place for an intimate family meeting. But why would dogs want to share such a private place with you anyway? Humour
Q & A: No privacy allowed Read More »
Time flies by so fast and, before we know it, another month has passed, and then another year. With our lives filled with meetings, deadlines and challenges, we sometimes miss important dates and things we were supposed to do, but just didn’t get round to. Planning ahead and making actual notes somewhere, will help a
Pet planning: what to do and when Read More »
Dogs are more susceptible to heatstroke than humans because they can only pant to cool off, where humans sweat. Pets can’t ask for water and they can’t say that they are too hot either. And because dogs are pleasers, they will continue to play in the heat – just to make you happy. What to
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Q: How does the colour of my dog’s tongue and gums tell me whether he is ill? A: A healthy dog’s gums and tongue should be pink, just like yours, from all the tiny blood vessels running close to the surface. Common changes in gum and tongue colour, and what they could mean, include: Pale
Have you ever wondered what is the rave about puppy schools and why puppies should attend these classes? Behaviourist Samantha Walpole explains why it is important for your puppy. The general socialisation stage for a puppy is between three and 16 weeks. This is a critical one-time window of opportunity. We never get this
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Q: What is the easiest way to teach my puppy his name? A: This is an important first step in building a relationship between the two of you. As your pup learns to respond to his name and focus his attention on you, teaching other basic commands becomes much easier. Be consistent in always using
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