Vital Pet Health

The consideration is why do we want a dog? For most of us the answer is simple, a loving friendship that will last for 15 years, hopefully more. Dogs can be the most rewarding pets you can let into your life, yet they can also be the most demanding.

When deciding to take on a new dog many people for a variety of reasons opt for a rescue.

Taking on an adult dog may well be better than taking on a puppy. The advantages are that as an adult it will probably be house trained and more settled. The chewing and destructive phases that dogs demonstrate may be over, yet habits for better and for worse could be well formed.

Nervousness is usually an inherited trait. The socialisation of a nervous puppy is therefore essential if you are going to help them build confidence in order for them to cope successfully with new situations and people.

Regular exposure to situations that will offer the dog a positive experience will build his confidence yet be mindful not to overwhelm or scare the dog as this could re-start the socialisation process.

Whether your dog has lived with cats before or this is the first time these precautions must always be followed, as every new encounter can be different, and the cat not necessarily be tolerated.