Having a Puppy

Day One - you pick up your eight week old puppy and the first thing you want to do is to take you pup out for walkies but thats not possible as your pup needs that 2nd vaccination before they can go out.  There is still much you can do, you can take your puo out on a bus or train as long as you are holding them whicb they will love the cuddles,  or take then to friends and family and meet other dogs who are fully vaccinated to have a run around in the garden.

Puppies are full of energy but you meed to monitr the exercise, the rule of thumb is usually 5 miutes per month, twice a day so an 8 week old pup only needs 10 minutes exercise twice a day, play time is great always remeber they should always win at tug of war until they have their adult teeth The key to socialisation is get them out and into your environment as much as possible!

We are strong advocates of crate training, the crate for a puppy is a safe haven, it's like their little den in the wild they go there for peace and quiiet but also for you, you can toilet train them and use the crate to put your pup away whilst you are out and about, busy or for night time. 

The crate size is very important you dont want something too small as it's not good for your pup but, too big means that pup will create their own sleeping area and their own toilet area and we want to encourage pup to toilet outside and not inside.

Our pups love their crate and as I am writing this they have both gone into their crate for some quiet time without any prompt.

The key is to start them in the crate from day one and to bring them out for toilet and for meal times and play times and pop them back in for sleepy times as pups they do sleep a lot like young children.

You've just trained your pup and all is going well, they walk on and off lead great are brilliant with strangers and on transport then....... yep they hit teenage stage and like all teenagers want to rebell against the entire world including you!

This can involve anything from barking at strangers, to pulling on the lead or toileting in the house, one of our girls I wont say who (Annie) started to toilet in the house which is not pleasant.  The key is to go back to basics and restrain, with the Entlebuchers they are clever and know what they are doing so the reestablishment of who is in charge is very important, you have to tell them hey I;m boss here and then they settle down again.  

After this stage you end up with an amazing dog who loves you devotedly for years and is such an amazing companion.  At 11 months old my Emma just adores me and I adore her she is always by my side as is Annie and Lia which can be a handful but a lovely handful!