Month / November 2018

Fred, chocolate and tan English cocker spaniel puppy
by Natalia

The miracle of Fred

Well, I raised another pup. And boy, I am so proud of my Fred! My beautiful, smart Fred.

When I rewind the memory tape inside my brain I can’t quite believe it’s been a year. I still remember last November so clearly… A message from J about the litter. I texted back not even knowing the numbers or colours simply asking for a chocolate puppy. A picture of a tiny chocolate and tan boy with a quick “he is yours” note came through next – and we grabbed Coop and danced around the kitchen like lunatics… Things could not have been more perfect.

And then the messages stopped… Two weeks passed by before I got enough courage to ask if our puppy was ok. I just had a feeling something was not quite right. Eventually J replied to say that the boy wasn’t doing well… and unlikely to make it. I felt numb for a moment. Another text came through asking if I’d like to have another pup from the same little, the big chunky and healthy pup.

“But Fred is my boy” I responded. “He is still in this world and I am not going to give up on him just like that…” Somehow, no matter how broken I felt inside, I hoped that believing in Fred’s survival was what going to keep him here, for us.

J said she’d do her best to help him but warned me not to keep my hopes up. And so we agreed that we don’t bring the subject up until we know, one way or the other…

I may sound mad, but Christmas was around the corner and for once I wanted to believe in miracles! I simply could not go through another loss… Couldn’t…

And Fred made it. He really pulled through. Just a couple of days before Christmas we got the best update and an invite to come and see him in a couple of weeks. I could not have hoped for more…

When we first met he was the tiniest cocker puppy I’ve ever seen. I called him “my rat baby” because he was so ridiculously small… Yet he had the attitude, so much zest for life, the most adorable grin and… that puppy smell, the heavenly scent of happiness….  I sat there on the floor, holding my baby and melting inside…

The rest is history. And the scent might have gone by now but the happiness is here, in those puppy eyes, paws and every tiny bit of the little wonder called Fred.

Happy birthday, baby! We are so lucky to have you!

Photo credit: photo taken by me

Wet dog paw print. Why it is important to wash cocker spaniel paws after each walk / English cocker spaniel grooming tips and advice / cocker spaniel puppy / first published on Perfect cocker spaniel blog
by Natalia

3 reasons to wash your dog’s paws after a walk

I know many people who think that it’s not essential to wash dog’s paws after each walk unless they are covered in mud.

Well, my pups get a paw wash or rinse as soon as we get indoors. Funnily enough, they love it and often refuse to do anything else until the paws are clean and dry.

I am not a germophobe. But I do have my reasons. And here are the three main ones…

Actual mud and dirt. Even if the paws don’t look soaked in mud, they are still dirty. Having dogs running around the house and sleeping in my bed is the same as me sleeping in my bed with my shoes on. Not particularly hygienic.

Parasites & harmful bacteria. Some larvae, viruses and bacteria that are harmful to dogs can survive in the soil for months and stick to dog’s paws once walked on. If the dog licks his paws afterwards he is at higher risk of ingesting these and developing anything from intestinal parasites to infectious diseases.

Toxic substances. In spring and summer the grass may be covered with pesticide residue that is toxic to dogs and can be lethal. In autumn and winter the path is often sprinkled with salts that can cause irritation, cracked paws and, if the dog licks it off, upset stomach, vomiting and even death.

What about do? Do you wash your dog’s paws or leave it au naturel?

Photo source: image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay