Puppy biting is normal - but that doesn’t make it hurt less. When it ends, why it happens, and what actually works, from a behaviourist who’s raised many puppies.

“He just picks everything up.” “She steals socks, shoes, anything she can find.” “He won’t listen outside, he’s just too distracted.” And at some point, someone will have told you, “that’s just cockapoos.” But here’s the part most people don’t realise: your cockapoo is a gundog. Yes, really - your cockapoo is a gundog Cockapoos are a cross between two gundog breeds, the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle. Poodles were historically used as retrievers, particularly for waterfowl lik

Safety tips for Fireworks Night Fireworks season can be a tricky time for puppies, especially when it's their first experience of loud bangs and flashing lights. For many, the first time might pass uneventfully, with no signs of fear. But even if your puppy seems fine, it's important to help them associate these sounds positively, to avoid fear issues developing later on. Here's how to make sure your puppy's first fireworks are a positive, or at least manageable, experience.

Tips on choosing a good breeder for your new puppy You are getting a puppy! 🐶What an exciting time! You have made the decision to get a dog, considered the time and financial implications and meticulously researched different breeds. You may have already chosen a name - all that's left is to choose that perfect bundle of fluff to bring home! Now, having worked with several hundred puppies over the last few years, I know that something that is equally, if not more important t

Should I crate train my puppy? I am a big fan of crate training (training being the key word!). Some of the benefits of crate training a puppy (or an adult dog) are: It helps with errorless toilet training – for those short periods when you cannot watch your puppy, having them content and resting in the crate really helps. It gives your puppy a portable "safe place" you can take anywhere: try staying with a teething puppy in a hotel room, in a tent, or at the in-laws (where e

I hate my puppy, or Puppy Blues are real! And it’s ok to feel that way! If you’ve ever found yourself sobbing into a tea towel because your puppy’s drawn blood again with those tiny crocodile teeth, or Googling “is it normal to hate my puppy a little bit” at 2am — you are absolutely not alone. I’ve been there. With my youngest, Napa, I vividly remember standing in the kitchen, crying in pain from another bite, frustrated beyond belief, wondering how on earth something so smal

Help! My puppy turned into a shark! Puppy Biting 101 Meet your puppy's needs: Sleep – young puppies need to sleep 16-18 hours a day (tired puppies are cranky!) Food – does your puppy become more "bitey" close to meal times? Check the amount you are feeding is adequate to your puppy's age and weight; how many times a day do you feed your puppy? Puppies under 3 months old would benefit from 4 meals a day, puppies 3-6 months old will benefit from 3 meals a day. Thirst – puppies

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time, but it can also be very stressful, even for experienced owners! One of the reasons is that when it comes to puppies, everyone seems to have an opinion. The internet is filled with conflicting advice, which often makes it difficult for new puppy guardians to know what the right thing to do actually is when it comes to teaching your puppy to spend time alone. Do you let your puppy sleep in the bedroom, do you sleep downstairs with

As someone who’s raised several puppies and works as a behaviourist, I get asked all the time what you really need before a puppy comes home. So here it is - my honest list. There are so many cleverly marketed gadgets out there that it can be genuinely overwhelming for a new puppy guardian. Do I need this? Do I need it right now? With so much “stuff” available and so much conflicting advice, it’s easy to feel swamped - even if you’ve had dogs before. This isn’t one of those..