Please don’t wait until after you have your puppy to research and book into puppy classes.

Many puppies now have had their first vaccination with their breeder, as puppies should be microchipped, before being sold so some breeders do both at once.

The second vaccination is usually within the first four weeks of life with you, some vets will give a full set of vaccinations even though the pup has already had one because they stock different makes of the vaccines and the vet wants to be sure that your puppy is protected.

When your dog chooses a behaviour, we need to think about the function of that behaviour. Your dog chooses behaviours to suit their emotional state. Sometimes, a dog will use a behaviour that has previously made them feel better - like helping them gain what they wanted at that time. They then start to use that behaviour each time they have a change of emotion in an effort to feel better or to gain what they are seeking.

Socialisation of your puppy is introducing your puppy to a new stimulus, both living and environmental. Puppy classes will guard your dog against a number of behaviour issues and are the training foundations for a long and contented life with your dog.

Canine enrichment is a fun way to train and tire your dog, when at its best it uses your dogs nose and brains to figure out how it can get the food set up in it.