Puppy Dog Hotel Advice Line
Calling our Advice and Help Line maybe the best investment you make regarding your dog or puppy. To get the correct advice is very important and in the long run can not only save you money but much heartache and potential problems.
We can now offer you the chance to telephone us for advice on a broad range of subjects such as those briefly detailed below. This is often useful for clients who may be becoming an owner of a Dog or Puppy for the first time and need advice on general items to buy and those NOT to buy, advice on what to do and what to expect when your new pet arrives home. Our advice line is also useful for clients who do not live near enough or have the time to visit us personally, or who simply need advice on a training method they wish to use themselves as they may be unsure about the correct procedure. We specialise in Training dogs of all ages and in the rehabilitation of those who have Behavioural problems. Many Dog(s) and Puppy(s) develop problems simply as a result of the wrong training and advice given earlier in life. The problems more often than not are a result of the owners approach and methods rather than the Dog or Puppy not responding! Once an owner knows how to approach a training routine or a behaviour problem the results are often very dramatic with a positive outcome. Almost without exception most problems can be resolved with the correct advice/training and approach. The lists below are only a brief indication to the subjects we can answer for you regarding your dog / puppy, if you have any General Care, Training or Behavioural query relating to your dog / puppy we can generally help##.
Our telephone advice line is normally open from 10am to 8pm Monday to Friday and Midday to 8pm Saturdays and Sundays. If there is no answer please try later, due to our long experience and success we are often giving private Training/Behaviour sessions to clients and their dog/puppy.
Puppy Dog Hotel Advice line 09066 110011*
*Calls to this number are charged at £0.60p per minute. Network extras apply. Calls may be recorded for training purposes.
Not only are we able to offer your dog(s) or puppy(s) a loving and caring home from home environment whilst you are away on Holiday or business etc but due to our many years of experience and work with UK Assistance Dogs we are proficient in resolving both Behaviour Problems and Training Dogs/Puppies. Often we can advise on how to approach a problem correctly. Our advice line now makes it possible for clients Nationwide to contact us directly without the need of a visit; the cost of the call may be the best money you have spent! Of course we are more than happy to either visit or bring the dog(s) / puppy(s) back to the Puppy Dog Hotel if preferred.
Behaviour Problems.
We can offer advice on all types of behaviour problems including Aggression, Excessive Barking, Mouthing, Aggressive Food or Toy possession, Nipping, Biting, Stealing Food, Eating Poo, Eating unwanted items, Pulling on lead, Not wanting to go for a walk on a lead, Jumping up, Anti-Social Behaviour, Recall Problems, Chasing, Alpha Dog Problems, and Separation Anxiety etc. Some of the most common statements we hear is ‘I have watched many Dog behavioural television programmes and read many books and followed the same methods without success why is this and what else can I try’. Or ‘I have tried other behaviourists without solving the problem how can you help’. The answers quite simply are we can help. To be able to help solve a behavioural problem you need to be able to read ALL the signs given by the dog and know its way of thinking, there is no point in trying to resolve a problem if the dog is in the wrong state of mind, this may be projected as aggression or excitement for example. You must firstly be able to recognise these signs to have this understanding of a dog’s way of thinking, this in turn empowers you to take control of the dog’s life and thus resolve the problem. This brings us to probably the most important part of resolving a problem and that is to train the owner(s)! Many problems are simply caused by the owner not truly understanding the dog(s) requirements. For example as many as 90% of new dog / puppy owners will buy an item that they see as a necessary item and is often readily recommended by pet shops, however this item can cause significant behaviour problems later in the dogs life and under normal circumstances should NEVER be purchased. We see so many dogs both old and young whose owners have unfortunately made this mistake, once we explain the situation and problems it causes they almost all without fail throw the item away and the change in the dog(s) behaviour will then change significantly with the right advice. As much as we love them one of the most important things to remember is a dog is a dog; it is not a human being! The dog is naturally a pack animal and as such requires balanced structure in its life, a dog with behavioural problems is often a stressed out dog, and this then escalates the problem and in many cases can lead to additional problems. The owner will normally be aware that their dog is stressed at certain times and this will often be a lead up to the behavioural problem whether that is aggression, excessive barking or separation anxiety for example. A stressed out dog is not a happy dog, and like people research has shown that unfortunately a stressed dog will not generally live as long as a happy dog. In being able to look at the overall picture of a dog’s life and the way situations are handled by the owner are the first things to look at, very often it is the small things that to a human are insignificant but mean a great deal in a dog’s world. Often addressing these minor issues can have a tremendous overall effect of what the owners see as the main behavioural problem. Trying to solve the main problem without looking at the overall picture and understanding the reasons behind the problem often end in either only a very temporary fix or more often than not a complete failure to resolve the problem. Often owners live with a problem because previously they have unfortunately been given the wrong advice on how to address a particular problem, this is a great shame because often the relationship with the dog becomes strained and as such the happy companionship that was originally sought by obtaining a pet dog and the joy that often brings such as walks, cuddles, holidays etc are simply not possible. Many breeds can live an active healthy life for many years; the thought of having a ‘Problem’ dog for many years is something many owners dread. We are often asked if a dog is beyond help because they are no longer a puppy or are over 5 years old. This is NOT the case and a problem can be resolved at any age by looking at the overall picture and giving the correct approach. We have dealt with dogs that were in the later stages of their lives with excellent results in addition to young dogs. The choice of how the dog behaves is ultimately down to the owner, they have a choice with the correct guidance and advice to empower themselves in restructuring the dog’s life and therefore making both their lives and the dog’s life happier.
Training.
We are able to offer advice on all aspects of training and training techniques as used with the UK Assistance Dogs we have including Heel Work, Recall, Jumping Up, Toileting, Waiting, Feeding Routine, Come, Sitting, Down, Rollover, Speak, and Paw etc. When should I start to train my new puppy/dog? How should I train my new puppy/dog to go into a dog crate? I have watched many Dog television programmes and read many books and followed the same methods on Dog / Puppy training without success why is this and what else can I try? I have tried other trainers or training classes without success, can you help?
Help and Advice on subjects such as...
What to look for when selecting a new puppy from a litter. What questions do I need to ask the breeder? What Equipment to buy before bringing home your new Dog or Puppy, what to do when you first get your new pet home. From the basic equipment required to the things you should NEVER buy including one of the most popular items nearly always purchased by new owners that often causes problems and should NEVER be considered for a Dog or Puppy! Should I ever smack my dog or puppy? Will a choke or Pinch chain stop my dog or puppy pulling? Does my puppy require a special diet? Do different breeds of puppies need special diets? Will my puppy be fully developed at about 12 months of age? Advice on when and type of Vaccinations required, Flea and Worming treatments, why can I not get rid of fleas on my dog. Leaving your dog or puppy at home, Avoiding Car sickness, what to do if a dog is sick when travelling in a car? Finding a licensed boarder or kennels to leave your dog or puppy while on holiday, and what questions should I ask them and what will they ask me? Travel, how do I apply for a Pet Passports and what is involved. Is my pet passport accepted in all Countries? Taking my dog to another country. Why Should I Microchip my dog. Nutrition and Supplements. Everyday Foods that can be poisonous to your dog. I think my dog has been poisoned what immediate action should I take? Should I make my dog sick, if so how do I make my dog sick? Hip Scores and what they mean, what is the Breed Mean Score range for each breed and what minimum score you should look for in the breed you are considering? How do I find a good Vet? Should I get my new puppy/dog insured? How much exercise should my puppy/dog have? Why does my puppy keep mouthing me and should I stop it? Should I bath my puppy? What body temperature should my dog/puppy have? How can I take my dog’s temperature? How do I know if my dog / puppy are ill? Medication, what is it for and what are the side effects for my dog / puppy? What is kennel cough and should I get my dog / puppy vaccinated regularly. In an emergency what should I do what first aid can I administer? What should I do before and after my dog / puppy has surgery? I have found a lump / bump on my dog, is it cancer and what should I do? My dog / puppy have bad breath what does this mean? My dog is overweight should I worry / do something about this? I think my dog / puppy has picked up a tick, should / how can I remove it? I would just like to know about routine health care for my dog / puppy? My dog is getting older what can I do to help them? We will only ever suggest items of equipment etc that we have personally used ourselves and as such we can happily recommend.
New Dog or Puppy.
We are considering a dog or puppy where should we get it from? How can I tell if it is going to have a good nature? What questions should I ask the breeder/Rescue Centre? What should we think about and what equipment should we buy? Should we get a crate and how do we get the puppy to go into it willingly? We have just collected a new puppy or dog what do I need to know? How can I find a good Vet? Should I get the dog or puppy vaccinated and if so when? Should I get kennel cough vaccination? Do I need to get my puppy insured? Should I consider neutering and if so when? What common foods are toxic to my puppy? What other common foods can I feed my puppy?
Why does....?
Why does my puppy/dog chew and should I stop it? Why does my dog pull me when on the lead but not my partner? Why is my dog hyperactive? Why does my puppy/dog eat poo? Why does my puppy/dog gulp their food? Why does my dog/puppy have bad breath? Why does my puppy keep mounting peoples legs? Why does my puppy keep mouthing (Play biting) me? Why is my dog aggressive?
Vaccination.
Does my dog really need to be vaccinated? Do I really need to have booster vaccinations? Should my dog be vaccinated against Kennel Cough? Are vaccines safe? How will the vaccines work to help my dog? I have heard some Vet’s feel booster vaccinations are not always necessary, is this true? Can vaccinations cause tumours in my dog? Can a vaccination cause a bad reaction? Can vaccinations damage my dog’s immune system? Is vaccination more dangerous to certain breeds? My Vet has suggested Homeopathy instead of traditional vaccinations is this a good idea? What are diseases like Canine Infectious Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Distemper and Parvovirus?
Separation Anxiety and Phobias.
We can offer advice and guidance on the best way to tackle separation anxiety and phobias which affect many Dog(s) and Puppy(s). Common phobias are loud noises such as Thunder, Cars, Home Appliances etc. Many phobias and separation anxiety can in time be over come using a gentle and loving approach towards the Dog(s) or Puppy(s).
Neutering.
Should you consider neutering your Dog and if so when. What are the risks involved, what are the benefits for both Sexes? Can my dog be neutered at any age? What can I do if I cannot afford to have my dog neutered?
Bitches.
Coming into season, The 4 Stages of a season, False Pregnancy, Contraception, at what age should I consider Spaying and what the advantages and risks? Termination of unwanted pregnancy. Is there a ‘Morning after pill’ for dogs?
Pregnancy.
What are the signs of pregnancy and what should I look for? How long is the gestation period? Do I need to see my Vet? How can I help to keep my dog healthy during pregnancy? Do I need to change or supplement my dog’s diet whilst she is pregnant? Should I increase or reduce my dog’s exercise while she is pregnant? Should I have my dog vaccinated whilst pregnant? Should I still worm/flea treat my dog whilst pregnant? What should I do during labour and the birth and the delivery? What are the warning signs I need to look for both before and after the birth of the puppies?
Euthanasia.
When this should be considered. I am worried whether I am doing the right thing? Will my pet feel any pain? What will happen? Will I have to stay with my dog? What will happen afterwards? Should I get another dog or puppy? I have had to have my dog/puppy put to sleep and I feel very sad, is this normal? I just need to speak to someone who has experienced the same loss.
Pet Passports.
What are the rules and regulations? What is in the passport? Where do I get a passport for my dog? Which Countries qualify for the scheme? Where can I get more information? What will immigration require? What certificates will I need and who can I get them from? Do I need ‘Holiday Insurance’ for my dog? What else do I need to know before travelling abroad? What is DEFRA?
General Health Care and Emergency Treatment.
What routine care should I give my dog or puppy? How do I know my Dog is healthy? How much exercise should I give my dog or puppy? How can I tell if my dog or puppy is not well? I think my dog has been poisoned what should I do? How can I stop my dog from being poisoned? My dog has been burned what should I do? My dog has a lump is it cancer? My dog has a tick how can I remove it? My dog has wind can I do anything?
Flea & Worming
How can I tell if my dog has fleas? How can I get rid of them? Will the fleas harm my dog if I don’t treat the problem? Should I treat my dog if my cat has fleas? How can I tell if my dog has worms? Can worms be passed from my dog to members of my family? What does a roundworm look like? What does a tapeworm look like? How can I get rid of the worm? How did my dog get the worms in the first place?
General questions.
How do I introduce a new dog with another one in my home? What is an Alpha dog syndrome? How do I socialise my dog/puppy? Is a dog/puppy from a rescue centre a good idea? I am no longer able to keep my dog/puppy/puppy litter what should I do? What is the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991? I need to leave my dog/puppy alone how should I approach this? What are the stages of my puppy’s development and what should I expect? Bringing a new Baby home what should we do so our dog/puppy accepts it? My Vet has diagnosed my dog has diabetes what will this mean? My dog is just getting on in years what can I do to help? My dog/puppy needs some special care like hydrotherapy and massage can you recommend anyone? How often should I groom my dog/puppy? My dog has a lump and I am frightened it might be cancer what should I do? My dog needs to have surgery what do I need to do before and after the operation? My dog keeps mounting other dogs should I stop this? Can you suggest other licensed home boarders?
These are just a sample of the type of questions or queries we can answer. With well over twenty years experience of dog / puppy care, training and behavioural issues we have seen most things and can often offer advice even if your query is not listed above.
##We do not offer advice on any medical problems. If you have any medical concerns about your Dog or Puppy you should ALWAYS seek the advice of a Veterinary Surgeon.
Puppy Dog Hotel Advice line 09066 110011*
*Calls to this number are charged at £0.60p per minute. Network extras apply. Calls may be recorded for training purposes.
For General Enquiries or Booking Availability please contact in one of the following ways:
Tel: 01494 771494# Mobile: 07790 852351# karina@puppydoghotel.co.uk
Sorry but we can no longer offer any Care, Training or Behavioural advice on these numbers.#
Please Note: Clients who have taken a Residential Training, Visiting Training or Behaviour Problems sessions in the past or in the future will still be given further advice on any matter on our general enquiry numbers without further charge if required.
