Dog Lovers Manual

Games that involve more mental than physical agility are best. You can play your dog’s favourite activity games too, but on a more gentle scale so as not to tax his body too strenuously and risk injury. Reduce the length of walks and find new ones to maintain his interest. Gentle tug games and training [...]

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Yes, for two main reasons. The first is to prevent unwanted pregnancies in females, the second to help prevent both sexes wandering off in search of mates. A bitch is in season (receptive to mating) twice a year in most cases and can have up to eight or more pups per litter. With unplanned pregnancies [...]

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Provided he is fit and healthy, and is happy going into boarding kennels at holiday time, this should not present a problem. A good, caring kennels will take into account an elderly dog’s needs and provide for them accordingly. If your pet is not used to being kennelled and is not outgoing, confident and sociable [...]

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Know as coprophagy (and sometimes, incorrectly, pica), this is quite common in dogs, although it seems disgusting to us. Other animals utilize food differently from dogs, so their faeces contain nutrients that the dog finds palatable or that his body craves. Dogs usually come to no harm from eating faeces, but the habit can lead [...]

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Eventually, the older dog sleeps more and is increasingly reluctant to exercise. Which he is able to function normally, if only in this modified way, he is probably quite happy and contented. If your pet’s bladder, bowels and limbs begin to fail, and he is unable to function without mental distress or physical pain, the [...]

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