People often ask 'how old should my puppy be before I let him off the lead'. The answer of course is 'let him off the lead from day one'. The reason, I hope, is made clear in this short … [Read more...]
Meet Rachael
It has been over four years since my last gundog puppy was born. And I would like you to meet my new puppy Rachael. This young lady is a bit special, and a step into unknown territory for … [Read more...]
Rachael’s fourth night: Crying puppy
Last night was Rachael's fourth in her new home. The progress of the previous night was not repeated. I put Rachael into her crate at 11pm, a little earlier than the night before. And set my … [Read more...]
Rachael’s Fourth Day: Changing a Puppy’s Diet
Our dogs are all fed on a diet of raw meaty bones. Rachael on the other hand, like most Labrador puppies, has been raised on kibble. This is simply the standard dried and pelleted commercial dog … [Read more...]
Third Night Waking for Rachael the Puppy
Here is my third morning report on the night before, for those that are also struggling with sleep deprivation! Last night was a bit better. Rachael went outside for her last wee at around 11:30 … [Read more...]
Day Three: Puppy Socialisation Begins
It would be lovely to allow our little chocolate labrador puppy to settle in to her new home for a few weeks before taking her into lots of potentially stressful situations. But unfortunately we … [Read more...]
Rachael the Puppy’s Second Night
Rachael woke at two to three hour intervals throughout last night. Which is a bit draining if you like your sleep as most of us do! Anticipating the moment I do like to try and anticipate the … [Read more...]
How to avoid noise in a gundog puppy
This article is adapted from an excerpt from 'The Right Start' - a guide to raising a gundog puppy for fieldwork. You can buy The Right Start directly from the Gundog Club bookshop. Noise is a … [Read more...]
Rachael’s Room
House-training can be tricky. It's a stage that some dogs pass through far more smoothly than others. Over the years we have found ways to simplify the process. One way is to restrict the … [Read more...]
Day Two: Rachael’s first vaccination
Many pups nowadays have their first vaccination at seven weeks old, with the second one at around ten or eleven weeks. My own vet does not like this policy as he believes the final vaccination … [Read more...]