Tag / First Puppy

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

 

by Natalia

We Love | Dug & Bitch Nose #2

My miracle in a jar… I’m sure most girls will understand me when I say that the idea of not having Nose No. 2 available is as heart-breaking as having your favourite shade of lipstick being discounted.

So I hope it’ll never happen…

I discovered Dug&Bitch in a manner of a meg pie. The bird looks for shiny pretty things – I get tempted by chic looking objects, even if they are some ordinary tins.

One day I spotted the Nose balm & decided to get it, just in case.

Back then Fred, still a pup, was suffering from keratosis on his nose. Long story short – aged 5 days Fred almost didn’t make it. His breeder nursed him back from the other side, but the puppy food had to be high in vitamins to do the trick. As a side-effect, his body reacted by overproducing skin cells. And it was my job, as a mum, to fix it.

Shea butter was the answer because it’s healing, packed with beneficial oils, which make it anti-inflammatory, and it’s brilliant for a long list of skin concerns.

Plus Nose No. 2 had the coconut oil. Which is my life-line externally & internally.

After a week of daily applications Fred’s chocolate muzzle went from dry & cracked to shiny & super-kissable.

Since the jar was still full to the brim, I continued using the balm as a maintenance treatment… From there we also moved onto paws, skin, any bug bites & minor scratches, boys bums & tums, the list went on… For example, if your pup has a light-coloured muzzle, you can use Nose No. 2 as the best natural toxin-free sunscreen. And if your dog tends to suffer from mild eczema (but only it was diagnosed by a vet!) or lip fold dermatitis (especially as a preventative measure) the balm may be useful, too.

The tin lasts me almost a year. And I always repurchase this love potion. Star product, 5-star and beyond.

Perfect.

And I haven’t been paid or compensated in any other way to say any of it. Had to say it for the sceptics.

Water Wipes, best wipes for puppies / first time puppy advice and tips on Perfect cocker spaniel blog (C)
by Natalia

We Love | WaterWipes

I’ve discovered Water Wipes two years ago when preparing for the arrival of Fred. And now I can’t imagine being without them. I know, it’s #firstworldproblems but hey…

I use them to clean my boys paws after non-muddy walks (I’ve posted about importance of clean paws a while ago, so scroll down for a read)

They are indispensable with young pups – to wipe paws, bottoms & tummies

The wipes can work as a mild disinfectant for your hands during walks, on grooming surfaces, to wipe toys, or wee spots (after you clean them first, of course!)

Unlike ANY other wipes, including the ones sold as “natural”, “organic”, “puppy friendly” etc, these are made with water and some grapefruit seed extract (it has antibacterial properties) only, so they are non-toxic & very unlikely to cause any sensitivity (skin or digestive) reaction in pups as opposed to any wipes made with essential oils, aloe vera, waxes, “odor neutraliser” (whatever it is!), preservatives, polysorbates, flavours, proteins (why?), polyaminopropyl boguanide, dimethicone, PEGs, triclosan, fragrances, parabens, zinc, SLS, DMDM hydantoin etc.

Yes, I like it simple. Because I love my dogs and I hate overloading their bodies with unnecessary chemicals, which ALWAYS carry short- and long term side-effects that go way beyond the skin reaction.

Brilliant product, absolutely brilliant.

This post has not been sponsored or gifted. I simply love this product.
Note: these aren’t biodegradable, so please bin them – don’t flush them down the toilet.

Photo source: Water Wipes UK