Dogs

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GROOMING

Some dog breeds need regular grooming to keep their coats free of tangles. If you are unwilling to spend time doing this then we would recommend buying a short-coated breed of dog. Long-haired dogs need grooming 2 - 3 times a week as a minimum and some need daily brushing. A pup may not need as much brushing as it will as an adult however it is important to teach the pup to be tolerant to the necessary discomfort. Use brushes and combs made for animals as they are designed to penetrate the undercoat. Soft brushes only do the surface and will not remove any loose undercoat. It is usually this soft hair that knots.

Some dogs do not shed their coats and need to be clipped every 3 - 4 months. For example, a poodle's coat continues to grow but does not shed. Some owners opt to have their long-haired dogs clipped for the summer months. Clipping is also the only way to remove badly matted coats. Small mats can be carefully cut out with scissors. Don't cut the dog. Long fur should be snipped away from around the eyes. Use scissors with rounded points so that if the dog moves you won't poke him accidentally. Breeds such as poodles, the maltese terrier, the bischon, and their crosses grow hair in their ears. The hair should be plucked. Groomers usually do this but the procedure hurts and we believe it is better to do a little every day rather than all in one go. Reward the dog for behaving after you have done this so he knows he will get a treat if he is good.

Pups also need to become accustomed to bathing. A pup may be washed if necessary from any age as long as you keep it warm, and dry it well afterwards. Young pups fall into their food and stand in their own faeces. It is important to keep them clean. As an adult often you need to bath a dog will depend very much on the individual. An indoor dog with poor skin may need to be bathed nearly every day while some dogs go months between washes. A dog like a rough collie appears to do better if bathed infrequently as this maintains the oil in the coat and keeps it in better condition. Bath your dog if the coat is dirty or the dog smells.

TOILET TRAINING

Some pups learn appropriate toilet habits very quickly while some are quite slow. The following points may help:

• Always take your puppy outside (or where you want him to toilet) directly after feeding or when he first wakes up.
• Placing your pup on wet grass appears to encourage urination.
• Reward him for appropriate behaviour. Positive reinforcement of behaviour is far more successful than punishment.
• Be consistent.

Remember you can only punish your puppy if you catch it in the act of doing something wrong. Finding a mess after the act then punishing the pup by rubbing its nose in it doesn't work as the pup doesn't equate the act with the punishment. In young pups use food (e.g. use dry dog food or dog treats) to reward them then as they get older use less food and give them more affection.

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