for healthy happy puppies
Grooming
- Which shampoo should I use?Back to Contents
- Choosing the correct shampoo for your dog is essential. At www.puppyluvsme.co.uk we have arrange of tried and tested grooming products.
- If you have a new puppy we would recommend using a Baby Puppy Shampoo which is suitable to use from six weeks of age. This shampoo is ideal as it is delicate, mild and will not irritate your puppy’s skin. It gently cleans your puppy and does not over lather.
- From six months we recommend using a shampoo and conditioner. Shampoos such as the Royal Jelly Shampoo or the Evening Promise Shampoo are an excellent choice as both are mild, delicately fragranced and very effective. They will not irritate your dog’s skin. Our shampoos contain 1% of cold pressed Evening Primrose Oil which is a fantastic natural aid for improving coat and skin condition.
- As a coat conditioner we recommend using the Tropical Cream Conditioner or the Avocado and Cucumber Conditioner. Both are mild, delicately fragranced, will not irritate from dog. These conditioners help to make the coat more manageable and leave your puppy smelling wonderful. The Avocado and Cucumber conditioner contains Avocado oil which is high in essential fatty acids to help condition the skin and coat. The Tropical Cream Conditioner contains Watermelon and Vanilla extracts to help moisturize the coat and skin.
- From 12 months old you can give your dog’s coat added sheen and vibrancy by using one of our Colour Enhancing Shampoos. All of these shampoos contain 1% Evening Primrose Oil for coat and skin condition. The shampoos are delicately scented, do not over lather and kind to your dog’s skin.
- The Blue Pearl Shampoo is highly effective at removing urine and tear stains from the coat and is designed for breeds with white coats such as the West Highland Terrier and Bichon.
- The Copper Shampoo is designed for red and brown coated breeds such as the Irish Setter or the Springer Spaniel.
- The Ebony Shampoo is ideal for black coated dogs such as the Flat Coated Retriever or the Rottweiler.
- Which type of brush do I need?Back to Contents
- You should begin brushing your puppy as soon as you get him home. A short daily brush gets the puppy used to being handled and groomed and is more about training for the future than actually grooming the coat, although it will remove dust and small amounts of dirt. A soft bristle baby puppy brush is ideal for this.
- Depending on the breed you have, the coat may begin to change at 6 months and knot more regularly under the chin, under the legs and under the chin. Different breeds require different brushes. Our medium pin brush and medium comb are ideal for double coated breeds and used by professional groomers. The slicker is great for short and wire coats. You may find that in heavily undercoated breeds such as Old English Sheepdogs, the undercoat rake will be the best tool for helping to remove mats.
- Which Plush Puppy products do I need? Back to Contents
- The differences between Quick Fix, Puffy Dog, OMG and Ruffy Tuffy? Quick Fix is a conditioning product as well as giving light lift; Puffy Dog
will give strong lift and hold helping the coat to look fuller and to stand up or out. OMG is an effortless disentangler which repels dirt; Ruffy Tuffy is a coat texturiser. It leaves a harsh feel to the coat with light hold.
Sleeping
- Do I need to buy a crate?Back to Contents
- A crate can help with house training, chewing and provide a safe haven for your dog when sleeping and traveling. Puppies have a natural instinct to sleep in a den, and they have the natural desire to keep their dens clean. Given the opportunity a puppy would find an area to relieve themselves other than in their den where they have to eat, sleep and play. Using a crate can therefore help teach your puppy to control itself in between trips outside of its crate.
- During the first few months your puppy will require constant supervision, a crate is ideal to help prevent accidents around the home when you are unable to watch your puppy every minute. By using the crate as part of your house breaking training routine, it can make the process a great deal easier as your puppy will be naturally reluctant to use the bathroom in their own den. Combine this method with a regular feeding and exercise routine and the house breaking training will become a lot easier.
- Which size crate do I need?Back to Contents
- It is essential that your dog has enough room to lie down comfortably, turn around and stand up. The crate should be long enough for your dog to stretch out on their side to sleep. Buying a crate for a growing puppy can be an expensive task, as not everybody can afford to buy a crate for each growth stage. At www.puppyluvsme.co.uk we only stock a select range of premium quality crates, all of which have divider panels. The divider panels can make house breaking a great deal easier, so you can expand and shrink your puppy’s space. Our crates are collapsible, and collapse into a convenient size making storage simple.
- This is an approximate guide only as the size of an individual dog in any given breed may vary considerably.
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| Size of crate |
Dimensions |
Typically Suitable For: |
| Small |
22 x 13 x 16” |
King Charles, Pug |
| Medium |
24 x 18 x 21” |
Scottie, Cocker Spaniel |
| Intermediate |
30 x 21 x 24” |
Bull Terrier, Bulldog |
| Large |
36 x 24 x 27” |
Border Collie, Chow Chow |
Walking
- Which type of collar should I buy?Back to Contents
- We stock a huge selection of collars from colorful fashion statements, to deluxe designers and high quality hand sewn leather collars. The choice is up to you and your pet, but you may find the follow guidelines of some use.
- Leather collars look extremely smart, they are also strong, hard wearing and water repellant but if your dog is spends a lot of time swimming in the sea or river, or is know to chew to may be a better option to purchase a Nylon collar.
- All of our leather collars are made to a high standard and made from quality bridle leather. The natural oils in the leather can act as a wonderful water barrier.
- We also stock a range of leather collars which are specifically designed for the Whippet and Greyhound Breed, as they are shaped specially for that breed.
- Our adjustable collars are all made from nylon material and can be adjusted to fit a variety of neck sizes. A quick release catch will fix the collar.
- How do I choose the right size?Back to Contents
- If you are not sure how quickly your puppy will grow then you should buy an adjustable collar such as those in the Paparazzi range. Most of our collars come in two or three sizes and you should buy according to whether you own a small, medium or large breed. As a guide small breeds are toys, most of the terriers and some utility breeds. Medium breeds are spaniels, poodles, beagles, corgis etc Large breeds are the majority of the working, gundog and pastoral breeds. Long-necked hounds benefit from having whippet collars or greyhound collars which are especially designed for neck support.
- Which type of lead do I need?Back to Contents
- From 8 weeks you really only need a lead for practicing lead control in the garden. Following second vaccinations and when your puppy can go out of your premises, to training classes and on pavements, you need a lead that is soft, strong and provides a level of control and comfort for you and the puppy. The Paparazzi range of matching leads and collars are perfect at this stage.
- As training progresses you may find it better to switch to an extending lead. These allow bigger breeds more freedom of exercise in a controlled manner that avoids danger, joint damage and loss. They are also perfect for training, especially for practising recalls. The Optima range come in plain and sparkle colours.
- Once you and your puppy are trained and lead confident, why not splash out on a designer lead and show your individuality and personality.
Feeding
- Which type of bowl should I buy?Back to Contents
- At 8 weeks the puppy pan is perfect for any breed and a placemat helps to prevent lots of spills and splashes from damaging flooring. As your puppy grows you can change to a plastic, melamine or stainless steel bowl, depending on your personal preference. Spaniel bowls are especially designed for long-eared breeds to keep them out of food and water. Fro good hygiene around the home we recommend you buy your puppy his own feeding utensils.
- As your puppy grows, and with long necked and larger breeds, you may find that a raised feeding bowl can help reduce strain on their muscles and joints. Also raising your dog’s bowl can aid digestion as eating in an upright position benefits this. We recommend the designer range of Scissal bowls.
- The healthy portion bowl is another raised bowl that you can adjust as your puppy grows. It will also help you to control portion size too in breeds which are greedy and like to over eat or those that tend toward obesity.
- What height should a raised bowl be?Back to Contents
- We suggest that the bowl is positioned about 15cm/6inches below your pets wither height. (The wither is the top of its front shoulder). This is where the top of the bowl should be located.
- What Should I feed my puppy?Back to Contents
- You should firstly refer to your breeder and the diet sheet you were given. You should always change a food gradually, over the period of a week. Different breeds have different growth rates and different nutritional needs and no one food will feed every breed or every dog within a breed. We stock Proplan, which is a premium food and Berties Nature's Harvest, a wet food, and Berties Complete dry puppy food. You should always feed a bespoke puppy food until your puppy is at least 12 months as he needs the correct balance of nutritional value for growth. Larger breeds may need to be fed a puppy food for longer. The larger breed puppy food has bigger kibble than the other ranges.
- How much food should I feed?Back to Contents
- The amount of food your dog needs varies according to its breed, size and level of activity. The manufacturers have provided guidelines for each type of food and all packs carry detailed feeding instructions for you to adjust your dog’s feeding amounts to their individual needs. Always supply plenty of clean, fresh water.
Training
- Which size teething chews should I give?Back to Contents
- We recommend that chews are large enough that your dog has to chew them from the side rather than from the top and bottom, this is because the pressure exerted from the jaw is considerable. When this pressure is directed straight down onto a chew this can place incredible stress and strain on your dog’s teeth. We stock two types of chew - the Nylabone Puppy Starter Kit which contains non-edible and edible chews and the Quest Dental Chew Kit.
- Nylabone Puppy Starter KitBack to Contents
- Contains one each: Flexible Puppybone, Durable Chicken Flavor bone and Healthy Edibles Bacon flavor bone.
- It’s important that you get to know your dog's chewing style. You have a responsibility to select the proper size and formulation for your dog’s breed, age, weight and chewing strength.
-
| SIZE OF DOG |
SIZE OF NYLABONE CHEW |
| Up to 30 lbs. |
Regular or Medium |
| Up to 50 lbs. |
Wolf or Large |
- These sizes are only GUIDELINES. Many little dogs are powerful chewers and may need a larger size! If your dog is between sizes always choose the larger size.
- If you have a number of dogs in your household then we recommend that you purchase a chew, for the strongest chewer.
- Puppybone® and Puppy Teething Keys™ are specially designed ONLY for young, teething puppies. They should not be given to a dog with ANY of its permanent teeth, regardless of age.
- No dog toy or chew is totally indestructible. Frequently inspect your Nylabone before giving it to your dog to make sure it's whole and intact, with no missing pieces. Replace your Non-Edible Chew when knuckle ends are worn down, or if it becomes too small for your dog to chew safely. If you think your dog swallowed a piece of a Non-Edible Chew larger than ¼ inch, promptly take the chew away from the dog and contact your veterinarian for advice.
- To clean Nylabone Non-Edible Chews, scrub with a brush under warm water, using mild, non-toxic detergent, and rinse thoroughly. Inspect for wear while cleaning. Nylabone Non-Edible Chews and Toys should not be autoclaved, boiled, placed in a dishwasher, washing machine, convection or microwave oven.
- Your dog's health and safety are your responsibility. Remember to supervise the use of these all chews and toys!!
- Quest Dental Chew KitBack to Contents
- Each product in the Quest Multi-Care Dental system is designed to provide a great tasting way to help maintain healthy teeth and gums, while keeping breath “up-close” fresh.
- Edible Chews are “treat” bones, not long-lasting chews. Their “lifespan” depends on how determined a chewer your dog is. These all-natural chews are edible and highly digestible - no added sugar, salt, plastic or preservatives. Be sure your dog does not break off and swallow large pieces. Natural color may stain light colored surfaces.
- Nylabone Edible Chews are best enjoyed by a dog with all of its permanent teeth. They are not recommended for the immature digestive systems of very young puppies. It’s important that you get to know your dog's chewing style. You have a responsibility to select the proper size and formulation for your dog’s breed, age, weight and chewing strength.
-
| SIZE OF DOG |
SIZE OF NYLABONE CHEW |
| Up to 30 lbs. |
Regular or Medium |
| Up to 50 lbs. |
Wolf or Large |
- These sizes are only GUIDELINES. Many little dogs are powerful chewers and may need a larger size! If your dog is between sizes always choose the larger size.
- If you have a number of dogs in your household then we recommend that you purchase a chew, for the strongest chewer.
- Your dog's health and safety are your responsibility. Remember to supervise the use of these all chews and toys!!
- Which size Kong Toy should I buy?Back to Contents
- The Puppy Kong range of natural rubber toys are irresistible to dogs and provide hours of fun. The taste and smell encourages chewing and the unpredictable bounce deflects the dogs hunting instincts into joyful pursuit and harmless chewing.
- A Kong stuffed with tasty treats and foodstuffs turns a safe toy into a stimulating and complex food dispenser keeping dogs amused for hours! Larger sizes and more than one type are recommended for variety. As a guide, the small puppy Kong is suitable for toy breeds and small terriers 1- 10kgs, the medium puppy Kong is for puppies from 5 - 15 kilos in weight , large for all large and giant breeds. Puppy Kongs are suitable for use up to 9 months of age.
