Trainer Tips

How to stop your dog chewing:

Buy a shin bone from the butchers (the ones with marrowbone in).  Scrape out the marrowbone so the bone is hollow and push inside something like fish paste, pate etc.  making sure that it is difficult to get out.  Each time you leave the house give your dog this bone, but make sure you take it away when you return.  This is important as it gives the dog something to do and something to look forward to when you go out.  This little trick has a number of uses;  it can also stop them barking when you are out of the house.  The filling should be changed to fresh each day.

Being frightened of fireworks or other loud noises:

The dog needs to associate noise with pleasure, not with fear.  This is especially useful for puppies.  One way to do this is to use an aluminum bowl at mealtimes and when he knows he is getting dinner and is excited, bang the bowl to make a loud noise before putting the food in.  You could also bang something else noisy while the dog is eating.

Picking a Puppy:

When choosing from a litter, pick the one which keeps coming to you not the shy one in the corner you feel sorry for.  Apart from the obvious things like good conformation, you need the bold and friendly one.  Lastly turn it on its back on the floor and give it a rub on its tummy in a dominant, but playful, way.  If it shows any sign of aggression, which even small puppies can do, then choose another because this is the dog that will grow up more dominant and therefore, more difficult to handle and train.

Being clean through the night:

This can only be started at about 6 months old.  Be consistent.  Don't feed the dog before you go to bed.  Take the puppy out last thing at night, settle him down and remove the water bowl.  Do not chastise the puppy if he has urinated in the night, with patience and consistency he will become dry.  First thing in the morning take the puppy outside, then give water and food.  Take them straight outside again after food.  Prior to 6 months, the puppy needs more or less constant food and water so put down some newspaper!

Fleas in the summer:

If you want a natural method of flea control give the dog a clove of garlic in his feed each day.  Fleas hate the taste which come out in the dog's skin and will soon go looking for a more tasty meal.

Feeding:

The most natural way to feed a dog is fresh meat and biscuits, not tinned meat.  Most butchers sell meat suitable for dogs quite cheaply.  If you want more convenience, get a good complete dried dog food.  Be careful with specific puppy foods for dogs which are no longer puppies, the protein is very high and will make older dogs hyperactive.  The most expensive is not necessary the best and you should check the protein content.  Stublach Kennels sells their own complete dog food, at £10 for 15Kg bags, which is ideally formulated for the averagely exercised pet.

Buying a gundog breed:

Lots of people like labradors and spaniels and if you want a working gundog the pedigree is all important.  However, there are major differences between labradors and spaniels which have been bred from "working" stock and those which are "show bred".  They look different and their temperaments are very different.  Pet owners do not want dogs bred from working stock, as they will almost definitely run into problems.  This is especially true for spaniels, both Springer and Cocker.  Any sign on the parents pedigrees of FTCH or FTW means working stock and should be avoided if you want a pet that will be happy to be just that.  The motto is "don't buy a Ferrari when you really want a Mini".

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