𝗗𝗨𝗠𝗕 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗣𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦

When you get a puppy it's an exciting but nerve wracking time! So many people want to give you advice, much of which went out of favour with the alpha roll🤪

There is some seriously dumb advice out there that can be super detrimental to your dog, so let's look at some of those...

🤯𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗘𝗫𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗣𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗬 𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝟭 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗢𝗟𝗗

Dumb rating on this one is 10/10

This advice is usually rolled out to large breed puppy parents, it's dumb, uneducated and dangerous.

#1 Environmental socialisation is extremely important, dogs need to get out there and experience different environments.

#2 Your puppy needs to know how to loose lead walk and manage distractions.

#3 Appropriate exercise builds good muscle that keeps the skeleton together and lays down good quality bone. Did you see the key word there? "Appropriate". Puppies can go for walks at the rate of 5 minutes per month of age.

Puppies can run and play with other puppies and dogs that don't physically hammer them and who are appropriate around them. Puppies free running on uneven safe surfaces is great for their developing hips. Dog Parks however may not be an appropriate place for your puppy.

Running alongside a jogger or bike or similar is not appropriate until growth plates close at around 16-24 months of age - speak to your Vet about more guidance on this one.

#4 Puppy swim classes are often held by doggy swimming pool companies.

#5 Slipping and skidding on tiles/floor boards etc. is dangerous and can damage growing joints and needs to be avoided. Rugs will help this.

🤯𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗨𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗪𝗔𝗥 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗣𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗬

This is usually said because someone thinks that it will create a "dominant dog". BS rating on this one is 10/10.

Now in saying this, there is a correct way to play tug and in incorrect way. With puppies, we simply hold the tug and they can do the pulling. I would recommend avoiding tugging during teething, they have pretty sore mouths. Some show dog handlers don't want to tug at all as they're worried that their conformation of the mouth itself can be compromised - I have no factual comment on that one.

We don't tug on slippery surfaces ever.

Teaching a puppy to let go of the tug is a great thing, be sure to reward them with another game of tug or a treat if you're finishing the game - your own trainer may have a different way of interacting with a tug.

🤯𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠 𝗔 𝗥𝗔𝗪 𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗧 𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝟭 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗢𝗟𝗗

Once upon a time, I used to say this - regret rating 10/10.

There lot's of ways to balance a fresh food diet that your Vet will approve such as feeding a base mix such as Vets All Natural Complete Mix Puppy or Inner Winner Baby Bark OR add a balancing supplement such as Wellbeing for Dogs, Bestie Kitchen or Predamax for example.