For example, if the puppy displays fearful behaviour in reaction to the vacuum cleaner and you ‘reassure’ the puppy, telling him/her “it’s okay” and generally making a fuss of him/her, the puppy then learns that this is how you would like him to react each time he encounters this situation. Ignoring the undesirable (fearful) behaviour is the correct way to react, however if the puppy becomes unduly distressed, quietly remove him/her from the situation and try again later.

What is the best age to neuter my dog (Castration or Spay)?

Small to Medium breed dogs <20-25kg predicted adult body weight These can be desexed from 6 months of age Large to Giant breed dogs >25kg predicted adult body weight

Females it is recommended for large mixed breeds, (over 25kg adult weight) after 12 months old, when most of their growing phase has completed to minimise the risk of orthopaedic issues later in life. If you have a pure-breed dog, your veterinarian will discuss any important breed predispositions and susceptibilities (e.g. orthopaedic diseases, or certain types of cancers) which should be considered before desexing.

Males it is recommended for large mixed breeds, (over 25kg adult weight) to castrate them once they have reached skeletal maturity after 12 months of age to minimise the risk of orthopaedic diseases (Giant sized mixed breed dogs after 12-24 months old). However if you are having any concerns over your male dog's behaviour this can be brought forward.

If you have a pure-breed dog, your veterinarian will discuss any important breed predispositions and susceptibilities (e.g. orthopaedic diseases, or certain types of cancers) which should be considered before desexing.

Small breeds, male and female can be desexed from 6 months old. We advise you speak with your vet regarding the best time for your breed.

Get your puppy’s full attention by saying his/her name and ensure their focus is on you. Hold a treat at nose level then slowly move the treat backwards over the forehead, encouraging the puppy to follow the treat with their nose. Be sure to give the command “sit” repeatedly while performing this exercise until your puppy fully understands the command. As soon as the puppy sits, give the treat and praise. Avoid pushing your puppy into a sitting position.

Always use your puppy's name before giving the command. That way you will have his attention.

Train your pup by positive reinforcement. Initially always reward him with a food treat until you know that he understands what he is expected to do. Then only give the treat randomly, but ALWAYS give him lots of PRAISE when he does the right thing.

Train your pup at different times and in different places so that he doesn't become a dog who is only obedient in the kitchen at dinner time.

Stand with your puppy at your side and give the “stay” command and hand signal. Initially do not move at all but reward your puppy for staying still after a few seconds. When you feel your puppy is starting to understand this command, give the “stay” command and take one step away from him/her, then step back and give praise and a reward. Gradually increase the distance and time away from your puppy.

Always use a ‘release’ command (such as OK, Finish, or Free) when you have finished this exercise so your puppy knows it is okay to move away from you.

Be vigilant – remember every ‘accident’ is a result of your own inattention

Recognise the signs that your puppy needs to go to the toilet – sniffing the floor, circling, tail posture

Use a ‘toilet’ command when you see your puppy relieving him/herself in the correct place so he/she learns what you want him/her to do

Remember to praise your puppy when he/she toilets in the correct place

Never rub your puppy’s nose in their urine/faeces – this will make your puppy reluctant to relieve themselves in front of you and can lead to behavioural problems such as eating their own faeces

Ensure you clean up any ‘accidents’ with non-ammonia based cleaning products to avoid your puppy returning to the same spot.

Have you got his attention? Try clapping your hands or changing the tone of your voice. You don't need to shout, you just need to be more exciting than the distraction.

Is he getting tired? Puppies have very short attention spans.

Does he understand the command or what is expected of him?

Select a diet that is designed for large breeds. Do not overfeed or over exercise large breed dogs, this can lead to bone and joint problems later in life. Exercise little and often no more than 20-30 minutes at a time for the first 18 months of age. No jumping!

Supplements such as calcium added to an already balanced diet can be detrimental to your puppie's health. Too much calcium is just as bad as not enough.

A puppy fed solely on meat is not receiving a balanced diet.

A constant variety can create a finicky eater.

Supermarket dog foods are generally vegetable or cereal based. Stomach capacity cannot consume enough canned food to meet nutritional requirements.

Premium food brands have been developed through years of clinical research.

If you can not afford to feed a Premium diet for the whole of your dogs life it is best to feed one up to a year old and for large breeds some times up to 18 to 24 months.

Puppy diets promote healthy growth with the correct balance of carbohydrates, fibre, protein and calcium. The premium brands contain chicken, turkey, fish and egg as their protein sources.

Every single ingredient in these products is of nutritional benefit to your puppy. There are no fillers and each diet is formulated to provide everything required based on age and breed.

Many brands at the supermarket include cereal based protein not animal based.

Animal based proteins are found in the natural diet of dogs and are easy to digest.

These act as an energy source, promote growth, normal metabolism, shiny coat and improve the foods palatability.

Large breed puppies are more susceptible to developing conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia (an abnormality in the hip or elbow joint). Large breed diets are designed to promote a steady even bone growth. Feeding the correct diet at this stage is very important.