Fred, my chocolate and tan english cocker spaniel puppy playing with his ball / first puppy training tips and advice / things to teach puppy / first published on Perfect cocker spaniel blog (C)
by Natalia

5 things to teach your puppy

Puppy’s mind is like blank canvas. You can paint anything you like on its surface. The better skills you have, the better your masterpiece will turn out. If you leave the canvas untouched & neglected, they’ll lose their pristine qualities & require a lot more effort to achieve the art work you’ve dreamed of…

Now, away from the imaginary gallery and back to the reality of puppy life, so we can use every minute of it to our advantage.

Cockers are naturally very intelligent & easy to train at any age. However, puppy’s brain is information-hungry & still developing, so it’s the best time to mould it.

I teach my pups from day one. Those aren’t really lessons. It’s more like a game. Of course, nothing is forced & the “games” are kept short. And here are the first 5 things the pups learn…

His/her name… because it’s the easiest way to grab your pup’s attention;

“Come”… because right now pup will follow you at all times allowing you to set the foundation for future success;

House training… takes time, so the sooner you begin, the quicker you’ll achieve results;

Wearing collar & walking with a lead attached… because wearing ANYTHING is not natural for any animal. It’s important for the little pup to understand that his collar is not scary & the lead is not a toy. You can also teach him to follow you (while the lead is attached) and build foundation towards successful no-pulling on the lead routine;

“Leave” or “Spit”… to stop him from hoovering up everything in sight (& spitting things out when asked) to avoid obvious problems.

The rest of the lifestyle tasks can be taught alongside or later on

I didn’t include the how-to’s because I’ve described details in my book, Perfect cocker spaniel. And lets be honest, any article longer than 1000 characters can send even the most dedicated puppy parents to sleep…

What things did you teach your pup when he joined you? Which ones are most important for you?

Photo source: Fred, photographed by me

 

H2O4K9 portable water bottle to keep your dog hydrated on the go / must-have dog accessory for all cocker spaniel owners / review first published on Perfect cocker spaniel blog (C)
by Natalia

We Love | H2O4K9

Do you remember the time when getting ready for a walk required a rucksack full of bulky dog ammunition? Among all the poop bags, treats, tissues, combs, leads etc.etc.etc. there was always a plastic water bottle and some kind of drinking bowl.

The longer was the walk the heavier the load… Beside the weight it was always a bit messy because the bowl would eventually be used and become wet and dirty…

Honestly, I know I’ve perfected the British art of complaining by now, but I found the whole affair frustrating.

Then the H2O4K9 was released. And since that day there was not a walk when we wouldn’t carry the bottle with us.

Why I love it so much? Because it allows me to carry a plentiful water supply. It’s made from stainless steel, so much more hygienic & health-friendly than plastic. It’s reusable – unlike plastic. And the lid is shaped to be a drinking vessel completely taking away the need to carry any extra paraphernalia.

I noticed that there’s also a new option available now. It’s designed to keep the water cool for longer. It lasts for years.

The bottle comes in several sizes, I use the large one because my boys prefer the shape of the lid and I can carry enough water for both of them.

The only negative is that the coloured bottles can be scratched when you put the lid back on taking off the pretty painted finish. If you think it’s going to bother you, get the plain stainless steel version. It looks perfect after years and years of use.

This post hasn’t been sponsored or compensated. The bottle is one of my personal must-haves when it comes to dog products. All opinions are my own.

by Natalia

A matter of choice

The reality check kind of post. It hurts to write it but I’m going to share my thoughts anyway.

Over the last few years (and especially after joining Instagram) I’ve seen so many posts about dogs that have been stolen, abused or poisoned by creatures who call themselves “human beings”.  And I know how much it hurts to be separated with your dog in such a cruel way.

No dog parent deserves it. But even more, no dog deserves it.

You know what makes me hurt the most? In 99% cases it happened to dogs who were left unsupervised… Alone in their garden, alone – tied up by a corner shop, alone – in a car. .
The dogs did not have a choice. It was their owners who chose to leave them “for a sec” or “for a few hours”… These people are still here, heartbroken, but alive and here.

Nobody knows (or would even dare to imagine!) what could possibly happen to those dogs.

So please, hate me or not, but don’t leave your dogs alone in public places, your back garden or the car. Especially dogs as small and friendly as cockers. Stay with them – and if you can’t, leave them at home, safe and secure.

Because dogs can’t make a choice. But you can.

Photo source: image by Pexels from Pixabay