Vaccinations for your dog

We all know that puppies should be vaccinated, but how about ongoing vaccinations? There has been a growing and ever present ‘anti-vaxxer’ movement, which includes vaccinations for dogs, sadly. This preventative approach to serious disease has been around since Edward Jenner inoculated a 13 year-old-boy with vaccinia virus (cowpox), and demonstrated immunity to smallpox. In 1798, the first smallpox vaccine was developed. Dogs have been vaccinated for over forty years.

All vaccines carry a risk, but that risk of side effect is miniscule compared with the benefits. As the AAHA says “No medication is without risk, but the benefits of vaccinating pets certainly outweigh the few risks because many common vaccinations in pets protect against devastating diseases, and even death.”

Puppy vaccinations

Traditionally, puppies were always sent off having had their first set of vaccinations.  However, when I took Sunny along to be registered with a vet, they insisted on starting the process off again, as they wanted to be happy that she had been given the same type of vaccination, from the same ‘batch’.

There are several different types and makes of vaccinations given to puppies and different vets have different practices and policies.  Some don’t want to vaccinate at 8 weeks, when puppies first arrive in their new homes.  Some say the pups can go out within a week of the second vaccination, some want you to wait a bit longer.

Puppies are covered by the mother’s immunity when they are being fed by her.  These levels of immunity from the mother come from the first few days of feeding and this can last for variable amounts of time, from 6 weeks up to 20 weeks.

Your vet will start your puppy on a course of vaccinations against the four main infectious diseases:

• Canine Distemper
• Hepatitis
• Parvovirus
• Leptospirosis

All these diseases are fatal, so it is vital that your dog is protected from these. More details about what vaccinations should be given and when can be found at KC health advice.

Can I take my puppy out before they have been vaccinated?

Yes.  You need to make sure they do not come into contact with dogs that have not had their vaccinations, or go someone where they might pick up these diseases.  However, it is really important for pups to get out and about, as long as they are carried, or you know the dogs they are mixing with.  It is great experience for your puppy and a chance to show them off to family and friends!  Use a handy Pet Sling such as this one and off you go!

Ongoing vaccinations – how often should they be done?

Once again, times have changed.  In the past, we accepted that we should vaccinate our dogs every year.  However, we have come to realise that it is not necessarily appropriate to give our dogs all these vaccinations.  Vets have discovered through scientific investigation that in fact the effect of the vaccinations last a bit longer than a year.  They have therefore reviewed their policy for vaccinating.

My vet now carries out a rolling programme of vaccination.  They vaccinate against leptospirosis every year, but other diseases are done every other year, or every third year.  I have also discovered that the dogs are covered for up to 15 months.  I therefore make sure that I don’t now take them on the anniversary of their last vaccination, but wait until a bit later.  That saves me money and make sure that my dogs don’t get done unnecessarily.

Alternatives to vaccination

Some people feel that they would rather treat their dogs another way, rather than ‘over-vaccinating’.  They might ‘titer test’ their dogs, which is a blood test used to determine the level of immunity in the dog’s system.  This is fine, on the day of testing, but it is not a reliable measure of the long-term cover the dog has.

I value the knowledge and expertise of my vet.  I believe that they have spent years training and studying to understand what is best for my dog.  It’s easy to be critical of something you don’t understand, but I would prefer to trust a professional person, than go through the hassle of learning all about it myself.  I go to the MK Veterinary Group and I am happy with their service.

People complain that vets charge too much money, but it must cost a fortune to run a practice, ensuring that they are ready and able to deal with everything that we throw at them.  I think my Veterinary Practice is great!

Weekly Focus Challenge

I hope your dog has been vaccinated?  It will be time for their first annual booster shortly.  Check with the vet whether this needs to be done after 12 months or you can wait a bit longer?    

Please share your thoughts and a photo? You can do this in the AYWYP Facebook group, or buy the workbook to keep your own record. Details below.

Buy the Workbook

The Workbook – A Year With Your Puppy is available to buy. It was written and designed to be a hands-on, interactive book for you. It will help you survive the first year with your puppy, but also act as a memento of that time and the journey you have been on. You can write notes and stick in pictures of your puppy throughout the year. Lovely!

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME, by filling in your email address below?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

NO PUPPIES AVAILABLE

NB: I am not a dog trainer, or a dog behaviourist, just a dog breeder and owner. I can only offer my opinion, based on my experience.

What is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is defined as when your dog shows signs of stress at being left, usually in the house on their own.  The dog will often bark, or howl, sometimes for long periods.  This may result in complaints from neighbours.

Can your dog stay calmly in another room?

Other symptoms can include repetitive behaviours, such as chewing their paws or over licking themselves.  Or they might become destructive; chewing furniture or even the fabric of the house itself.  Sometimes dogs become ‘naughty’ – soiling in the house, or pulling rubbish from the bin. 

Quin used to chew cushions!  It may seem obvious that these behaviours are seeking attention, but that doesn’t make your life any easier!   Basically, your dog is not happy without you.

Starting young

In order to avoid separation anxiety, you first of all need to develop confidence in your dog.  They need to be certain of your love and your presence.  You need to spend time with them, playing and petting them.  If you have obtained a puppy from a KC Assured Breeder then they should be well socialised and used to normal family life.

When you get your puppy home, it might be tempting to spend all day, every day with them, or to take them with you everywhere.  However, it is vital that your puppy is used to being left, right from the start.  I always have a Crate for my puppies and they sleep in this, in the kitchen, from day one.  They know that this is their bed and their safe space.  The puppy should be rewarded every time they are put into their crate.  Never use it as a punishment – if something has gone wrong, it was probably your fault!

Create calm

When you are in the house, try to encourage an atmosphere of calm.  Easier said than done, I know!  If you have children, there will inevitably be comings and goings, visitors and the normal hustle and bustle of family life.  But try nonetheless to ensure that for some of the day at least, the dog is able to relax, while you are relaxed.

Reward the behaviour you want

When you see your dog lying calmly, reward them.  The best way to do this is with a calm, gentle stroke and quiet verbal praise.  You can say something like “Good settle, well done”.

The next stage is to have your dog calm and relaxed away from you, while you are in the house.  Your dog might like lying at your feet, but they should equally be able to lounge around elsewhere.  Some dogs actively seek other space – Busy prefers to lie by the front door.  Again, if this is a challenge for your dog, try leaving them for a few minutes, then return and praise.  Gradually build up the time, until they are not fussing to come back to you. This will help prevent separation anxiety from building up.

Go out without them

It is hard for dogs to understand that you will be back and this is the main cause of separation anxiety.  You cannot explain to them that all is fine and you’ll be back soon.  However, if you make it seem like no big deal, there is more chance that they will remain calm when you are not around.  Try to avoid giving them a great big welcome when you come back – just walk in and get on with making a cup of tea.  Then when you are settled, give them some love.

As with all training and behaviour, you must practice if you want success.  So don’t spend all day every day with your dog and then expect them to manage without you.  Equally, going out to work for ten or twelve hours every day is a bit unfair on a dog.  I used to think that no-one should ever work full time and have dogs.  But I understand now that it is not that simple.  Dogs naturally sleep for most of the day.  So if they are given a walk or two, are able to go to the toilet every few hours (or have a run or yard to stay in), then they are probably fine.  Equally, if you have more than one dog, they will interact with each other.  NB: I am not suggesting you get two puppies together!

Provide stimulation

Dogs do need something to think about! In the wild they would be hunting for food, which they clearly do not need to do in our homes.  Having said that, you can buy interactive feeding bowls that help the dog eat more slowly, or keep them entertained for longer. 

You can also buy interactive toys for your dog.  Although having a box of toys and a few bones to chew will provide plenty of stimulation.  Empty yoghurt pots or drinks bottles can provide hours of fun! 

Dogs do like company, but there are lots of options.  I always leave the radio on when I’m out.  If we are out in the evening, I might stick the TV on – lots of dogs watch TV.   And dogs don’t have to have other dogs for company; many dogs enjoy being around other animals, such as cats. Finally, you can of course hire a dog walking service, who will come in and let your dog out, spend time with them or take them for a walk.

Weekly Focus Challenge

How well does your dog cope with being left?  What do you do to help them when you go out?  How often do you leave them?   Is there anything you think you could, or should do differently?

Please share your thoughts and a photo? You can do this in the AYWYP Facebook group, or buy the workbook to keep your own record. Details below.

Buy the Workbook

The Workbook – A Year With Your Puppy is available to buy. It was written and designed to be a hands-on, interactive book for you. It will help you survive the first year with your puppy, but also act as a memento of that time and the journey you have been on. You can write notes and stick in pictures of your puppy throughout the year. Lovely!

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME, by filling in your email address below?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

NO PUPPIES AVAILABLE

NB: I am not a dog trainer, or a dog behaviourist, just a dog breeder and owner. I can only offer my opinion, based on my experience.

When to contact your breeder

In these days of reviews, ratings and feedback, it seems important to keep in touch with my customers and make sure that the ‘products’ I have produced are up to scratch. But people contact their breeder for all sorts of reasons and sometimes this is hard to deal with. So how much breeder contact have you had and has it been helpful and positive?

Star rating for Responsible Breeding

When puppies go off to their new homes, I give owners a ‘New Owner Questionnaire’ to complete and return to the Kennel Club. This has been done as a paper form to complete and post, but the Assured Breeder reps at Crufts this year told me that the Kennel Club are emerging from the Dark Ages to put this online. I suggested that breeders need feedback from the owners and that positive feedback could be done with ‘star rating’. What do you think?

Please do contact your breeder? You have had your puppy for almost a year – how have they turned out? Are you pleased, or a bit disappointed? What issues or challenges have you had? What do you think they could have done better?

Please contact the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Service to provide feedback on the breeder. You should have been given:

• A Kennel Club Breed Registration certificate (did you change the ownership?)
• Information about endorsements to protect against future breeding
• A contract of sale, telling you to return the dog to the breeder at any point in the future
• Information to help you, including tips on socialisation, exercise, feeding, grooming, vaccination and diseases, as well as breed traits and tendencies.

You should have seen the puppy with its mother, being fed and interacting with its siblings. There should have been time to ask the breeder questions and see the breeder’s dogs and the way they were kept. You should have been questioned about your suitability to have the dog. The puppy must have been microchipped.

If you feel that any of this was missing or not done well, please provide feedback? Of course if it was done well, that’s equally good to know!

Initial support

When my puppies first go off to their new homes, I really love to hear how they are getting on. It’s fantastic to hear that they have settled well, are behaving themselves and coping with their new lives. These days I set up a WhatsApp group for each litter, so that the owners can talk to each other, as well as to me. This has resulted in some owners becoming friends and meeting up, which is fantastic.

This also provides real support when things don’t go quite according to plan! It’s easy for me to jump in with ‘helpful advice’ but I do try to let owners talk to each other and share their experiences. Anyway, I don’t always know the answer! I also have a Dentbros Puppies Facebook group for ALL the owners and lovers of my pups.

Ongoing breeder contact

Some people travel quite a distance to get their new puppy. Finding the right breeder is a real challenge, especially these days when puppies bred responsibly are in such short supply. After all, puppies are not toilet paper, as we should know!

So I don’t expect to see all my puppies on a regular basis. I have been fortunate that many of my pups have gone to homes local to me, or to family or friends. That’s wonderful, but not always possible. When they live further away, I don’t expect to see them often, if at all.

Useful feedback

With most owners, I tend to only hear if there are problems. This can be relating to behaviour, or with health issues. It is really helpful for me to know if a dog I have bred is having difficulties. This might inform my decisions regarding breeding in the future. I also need to pass on any real concerns to the owners of the stud dogs I have used.

Breeding for ‘better temperament and health‘ means constantly striving to improve the breeding of my dogs. Each generation should be better than the previous one. Healthier, with the right temperament for the breed and the homes the dogs are going to.

Breeding mentoring

Increasingly, people who own my puppies want to breed from them. They are wonderful dogs after all! This is a bit of a minefield for me, if I’m honest. I have built up years of knowledge and experience in breeding and believe I do it well. If people breed from the dogs I have produced, will they do it responsibly? I don’t want people doing it ‘just for fun’, or because ‘it’s nice for the dog’. Consider the reasons not to breed from your dog, please?

If you do want to go ahead, you will need to start off by doing the necessary health testing for your breed. You should then talk to your breeder and ask them to mentor you. This can be really challenging as the breeder; you can end up feeling as though you have done all the work with none of the reward!

Proud of my puppies

The best feedback a breeder can get is to hear of their puppies’ successes. Winning classes, in any dog activity, even if it is just for ‘prettiest eyes’ at a local dog show. It’s brilliant to see a real partnership developing and I know that some of my puppies have the potential to go all the way with their owners. One day the Dentbros name will appear on TV, with a dog I’ve bred competing at Crufts, in the main arena!

I am equally proud to see healthy, happy dogs, living their best lives. Knowing that they are bringing pleasure to their families every day, doing the job they have been bred to do. So please contact your breeder to give this feedback as well?

We do have reunions, which is wonderful, although quite a challenge! Ask your breeder if they do this and see if you can meet the other owners from your litter – it’s a lovely experience 🙂

Weekly Focus Challenge

What did you think of your dog’s breeder?   How much contact did you have with them before collecting your dog?  How much contact have you had since then?  Has it been useful and positive?  Would you like to meet up with other puppy owners from that litter?

Please share your thoughts and a photo? You can do this in the AYWYP Facebook group, or buy the workbook to keep your own record. Details below.

Buy the Workbook

The Workbook – A Year With Your Puppy is available to buy. It was written and designed to be a hands-on, interactive book for you. It will help you survive the first year with your puppy, but also act as a memento of that time and the journey you have been on. You can write notes and stick in pictures of your puppy throughout the year. Lovely!

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME, by filling in your email address below?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

NO PUPPIES AVAILABLE

NB: I am not a dog trainer, or a dog behaviourist, just a dog breeder and owner. I can only offer my opinion, based on my experience.

Let’s celebrate! It’s been a year!

Well here we are! I am as surprised as you are that we have got to a year of owning a puppy! How’s it been for you? As expected? Better? Or worse? What have been the highlights? What have been the unexpected challenges?

The year we’ve had

For me, the biggest, well really the only problem is the ‘barking at other dogs’. He is still doing it and it is still driving me mad. I call him and he comes. He stops barking and says ‘sorry mum I forgot’. Silly boy! I apologise and the other person says ‘It’s fine’. I say ‘it’s not fine, he’s annoying.’ We walk on. Oh and this morning he found some fox poo for his neck. Lovely!

Chris and I absolutely adore our boy – he’s the best. We love how he barks at random stuff on the TV. It’s so sweet to see him playing with Murmur and he’s great with all the girls. He’s such a goof. I love it when he snuggles up next to me on the sofa, chewing on a bone. And he’s so handsome!

We think he’s turned out pretty well. I feel confident taking him pretty much anywhere, as long as I watch him around other dogs. He’s perfectly friendly (no really), meaning we can walk with friends or chat to people. He just likes to shout when he sees another dog.

Let’s revisit the questions I asked you 6 months ago about your dog. Do you know them better now?

Around the house

1. What is your dog’s favourite food? Are they a good eater? Do they need to be slowed down when eating? Nothing has changed with his eating and he continues to be fine.
2. What treats or snacks does your dog like? Raw carrot is a favourite of my dogs. They all love crisps and will offer lots of tricks to win these!
3. Where does your dog like to sleep? Do they go on the sofa or your bed? Or do they prefer to find a quiet corner? I’m putting money on the fact they don’t often sleep in that expensive bed you bought? My dogs like a raised bed with some lovely vet bed on it. They usually just lie on the floor, or the sofas, of course.
4. When does your dog wake up in the morning? What time do they go to bed? Does this work well with your routine? Your dog should be happier being left for longer periods, both day and night. What arrangements do you make when you are out?
5. How often does your dog need to go out to toilet? Do they always go in the same place? Do they prefer to toilet in the garden or on a walk? I like my dogs to be able to toilet in the garden, so that I don’t have to take them out – it’s so much more convenient. But I know they prefer to toilet on a walk. So I make sure I pick up after them in the garden as well as on walks and I walk them after breakfast so they can toilet then.

Out and about

6. How often do you take your dog out for a walk? Do you go at the same time each day? For the same length of time? My dogs have an hour long walk, off lead, around an hour after their breakfast, from 7.30 am.
7. Where does your dog like walking? Do you go to different places, or do the same trudge every day? Dogs love variety and thrive on visiting different walks. My dogs love the woods! So many interesting smells 🙂
8. Where else have you taken your dog? Have they been to the pub? Or to a cafe? It’s a good to show off your dog and give them a different experience. Quin continues to get out and about and enjoys the experience.
9. Have you visited someone else’s home with your dog? Don’t be afraid to take them into new situations? Quin has carried on going into school and behaves himself brilliantly (apart from barking at the chickens).
10. Have you taken your dog away? Quin has been up to Scotland and down to Devon – he loves it!

Tricks and games

11. Can your dog do the basics? Sit, down, wait? How often do you practise these? Every few days is a good starting point.
12. How is your dog’s recall? How often do you practise this? Quin is perfect at recall – hurray! <smug>
13. Can your dog do any other tricks? We’ve done lots of tricks and Quin and I both really enjoy this.
14. What’s your dog’s favourite game to play with you? If you have other dogs, do they play together and what games do they play? Quin has a new playmate! He and Murmur play together a lot. So sweet.
15. Does your dog engage with other dogs when out on walks? Do they try and say hello nicely, or bounce into other dogs’ faces? Still annoying. Not fixed. It’s not the end of the world, but it is irritating.

Training and activities

16. What classes have you done with your puppy? Have you carried on with any classes? What did you learn?
17. Have you considered doing the KC Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme?
18. Have you tried out other types of training? Quin has started Hoopers, which he enjoys.
19. Now your dog is a year old, perhaps you could start agility?
20. Obedience training is another way to challenge you and your dog and build on your working relationship.

Health and breeding

21. What do you think of your dog’s breed now? Has your dog continued to be typical of their breed?
22. How healthy is your dog? Have you been to the vet?
23. Have you had support from your breeder? Have you been in touch with the owners of your puppy’s siblings? Each of my litters has a WhatsApp group, so they can share problems and celebrate successes!
24. Are you happy with way your dog was bred? Do you think they were given the best start in life? I have learnt that it makes a difference. A puppy that is cuddled every day likes being cuddled. It’s that simple.
25. Is there anything about getting your puppy that you would do differently?

Enjoy your puppy now

Your dog may not be perfect, but they are part of your family. You have already had them for around a twelfth of their life. Think about what you were doing 11 years ago? Not long is it? A year in their life is such a long time. Celebrate your puppy and the joy they have brought you.

Congratulations on surviving a year with your puppy.  I hope it has been a wonderful, fulfilling experience, full of joy.  I hope you have learnt a great deal about owning a dog and that you will help others to understand why owning a dog is one of the best things you can do in life.  Please do contact me to let me know how it’s been and what you have learnt?

Weekly Focus Challenge

Please take a moment to reflect on your successes and the remaining challenges? Think about what you’d like to do with your dog in future? Please do get in touch if you’d like to share any of the answers to my questions?

Please share your thoughts and a photo? You can do this in the AYWYP Facebook group, or buy the workbook to keep your own record. Details below.

Buy the Workbook

Buy the Workbook

The Workbook – A Year With Your Puppy is available to buy. This book is a hands-on, interactive book for you. It will help you survive the first year with your puppy, but also act as a memento of that time and the journey you have been on. You can write notes and stick in pictures of your puppy throughout the year. Lovely! Find out lots more by looking at the Contents page.

Remember..

Please CONTACT ME if you want to know more about me and my dogs?  And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think.  If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME, by filling in your email address below?  Then you will receive an email when there is a new post.

NO PUPPIES AVAILABLE

NB: I am not a dog trainer, or a dog behaviourist, just a dog breeder and owner. I can only offer my opinion, based on my experience.