There’s nothing worse than a puppy that won’t stop pulling on the lead. It can be extremely tiring for both you and your pup and can turn a simple walk into a complete nightmare. If your dog is straining at the lead, or your puppy refuses to walk without pulling with all their strength, it means that you are only controlling them with physical restraint, rather than with the training that should keep them happily trotting at your side. Not only that but, as they get older, the physical effort involved in controlling your dog could be overwhelming, especially if your canine friend is one of the larger, stronger breeds. To make life easier for you and your dog, all it takes is a little training and they’ll be overjoyed at the sight of their lead in no time. Keep reading to find out how to leash train a puppy! Why lead training puppies is important Exercise Being able to walk your puppy on a lead provides an opportunity to exercise your dog and keep them healthy while they grow and mature. Mental stimulation Exposing your puppy to new environments is essential to their growth and development, and walking on a lead is essential to exploring many new places. The act of training itself is also great mental stimulation for your dog! Further training Lead training also improves responsiveness to overall obedience training, and it may become easier to teach other commands such as ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ once your puppy has learned to be walked on a lead. What you’ll need before you start puppy lead training A collar or harness Buy a collar or harness that fits your puppy appropriately, never too loose or too tight – you should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your puppy’s neck. Treats Use treats to reward them for good behaviour on the lead.

There are many reasons why your dog may be aggressive, and some of these may need professional help, and in some cases, veterinary advice. Read about some of the main causes of aggressive behaviour in dogs here. Your dog has a personality completely unique to them – and like all dogs, they have different moods ranging from joyful to scared. If your dog is behaving aggressively however – either to people or other dogs - you should address it as soon as possible. Aggressive dog behaviour can include:Aggression toward strangers Aggression against family members Guarding resources (such as food, treats or toys)Aggression to other dogs in the household Aggression to unknown dogs If your dog is showing any signs of aggression – especially if this is a new behaviour, first of all, consult your veterinary surgeon. Your vet will conduct a full examination to see if there is a clinical reason for your dog’s aggression such as pain, discomfort or any other physical cause. If no medical explanation or treatment can be found, the vet can refer you to a professional behaviourist for help. Take a look at your pet insurance policy - some will cover these fees for your added peace of mind. Although taking your dog to see the vet or behaviourist might seem worrying, you should never attempt to treat your dog’s aggression yourself, or ignore it and hope it will go away. If your dog’s aggression is not tackled quickly and appropriately, the problem can escalate and may result in serious injury to yourself and your family, other people or other animals, and even legal issues – and of course, you want to get help for your dog long before it gets this far! This is a problem that is far better - and far easier - tackled straight away.

If you have a dog that's constantly digging up your flower beds it can be incredibly frustrating. Find out why your dog digs and how to stop them doing it in the wrong places with our helpful guide. Dogs can develop the urge to dig at any time in their life: it could be a behaviour they’ve had since being a puppy, or something that comes on later in their adulthood. Find out more about what drives dogs to dig in order to determine how to prevent a dog digging in places you don’t want them to. The occasional scuffle in the soil isn’t a problem, but digging as a repeated behaviour – especially in your flower beds or if you are garden-proud - can be a behaviour you want to discourage. Find out more about what drives dogs to dig in order to determine how to best deal with this natural, but sometimes annoying behaviour.

Most cats will be perfectly happy being left alone during the day, but if you need to leave them for longer, you may need to look into some different options such as boarding catteries or cat sitting services. As cats snooze for around two thirds of their day (and even more in their senior years) and are happiest in their own homes, they should be fine left to their own devices for shorter periods of time, as long as you give them plenty of love and quality playtime when they’re awake! However, if you’re going to be away for longer than a day, you’ll need to make sure that your cat is properly cared for. If you can’t find a willing friend, you could try use a cat sitting service or even consider a boarding cattery.

Find out everything you need to know about puppies and their grooming needs.

It’s no secret that cats love to scratch. This is a natural urgebehaviour, as cats need to maintain their claws and keep them sharp, trimmed and prevent splitting, so should be encouraged. Yet many new cat owners can be at a loss when it comes to how to prevent their cats from scratching the furniture or tearing cushions with their claws. The answer is, of course, their very own scratching posts dedicated to your cat’s daily pawdicures. In this article, we will offer you a guide on how to choose the best scratching post for your cat.

Everything you need to know about setting up your puppy with healthy eating habits to last them well into the adulthood. Feeding your puppy Your puppy seems small now, but they have a lot of growing up to do in a short space of time! In just 12 months (up to 24 months for larger breeds) they'll become fully-fledged adults. In the meantime their bodies and brains have to develop incredibly quickly, and plenty of high quality puppy food helps them to get there. They definitely need it, as a healthy, energetic puppy can burn through up to twice as many calories as an adult dog! Feeding your puppy is also an important part of taking care of their health and happiness. Once they are old enough to eat solid food – usually when they are six to eight weeks old – it’s time to introduce a diet specially formulated to meet their needs. What to feed your puppy Specially-formulated puppy foods are the ideal diet for the newest member of your family. This is because they are complete and balanced, which means they contain everything your puppy needs to help them grow up healthily. There’s no need for extra supplements or pieces of human food – in fact, these might do more harm than good, no matter how insistently they show you their puppy-dog eyes! Here is what to look for in the best puppy food:

Why is my dog chewing excessively? If your dog is chewing furniture, or excessively chewing their toys, it may be time to review their dental health. Discover possible causes for inappropriate dog chewing below, and learn how to help stop your dog chewing furniture and other items.

If you find yourself working a lot or going on a trip where you can’t take your pup with you, you might be wondering about what dog sitting and daycare services are available. Maybe they can’t come on a short holiday with you, or perhaps your working arrangements mean you need regular dog or puppy daycare. Your dog is lucky (and probably very happy!) if you have the freedom to work from home, or if you’re allowed to take them into the workplace. However, it’s completely normal for people who work to need extra help to give their dogs a happy and sociable life. Most healthy, mentally active dogs will be able to amuse themselves for a short while on their own, and if you have two or more pets, they can usually keep each other occupied for longer. But pets need human interaction, and on the occasions when you need to leave your dog alone for longer than four hours at a time (unless they have access to a secure garden via a dog flap or outdoor kennelling to relieve themselves), you should look at puppy or dog sitting services and arrange for someone to take care of them. Some owners rely on the help of a family member or friend when it comes to dog sitting, but of course not everyone has this option! If you need extra help, there is a growing industry of professional carers, including dog and puppy daycare and sitting services. Keep reading to find out what is dog sitting and boarding exactly and the average boarding and dog sitting rates you can expect to pay.

After months, sometimes years, of planning the perfect breeding, we can’t think of anything more exciting than finding out your dog is expecting! As dog pregnancy only last for around 2 months, you can look forward to bundles of fur filling your home very soon! When your dog is pregnant, you may find yourself wondering “what happens when dogs give birth?”. You don’t have to panic as the due date approaches - dog labours are usually much less dramatic than ours, and your pet should be able to bring her puppies into the world without any worries. Mum should be more than capable, but she will need you there during labour for support and in case of any complications. Speak to your vet if you have any concerns about pregnancy in dogs or about your dog giving birth. Their advice should help to put your mind at rest. Here are some helpful tips from our Pet Care Team to help you be as prepared as possible for when your pet becomes a new mum.