Hints & Tips

Can I feed puppies and kittens on BARF (Bones And Raw Food)?

You most certainly can. They can be weaned onto a raw food diet straight away, after all this is what they did for 300,000 years ago before 'puppy and kitten' diets became available. Of course, you won't want to feed that little puppy huge marrow bones! So use common sense in your feeding and ask in store for advice.

How do I start?

We recommend that your dog goes without food for a 12 hour period, so the BARF diet can be fed without weaning. This is mainly because this food takes a different amount of time in the digestive system then a dry food diet would. Many people would start with the minced meats and veg, then when the animal is used to this, they would add in a raw meaty bone eg. chicken wings.

I fed a raw meaty diet and my cat was sick immediately - should I continue or revert back to the food that I have fed for years?

Try introducing the raw meat more gradually. Also, the cat may have a problem with one meat more then the another, so vary what you give it.

Isn't it dangerous to feed dogs chicken bones?

Never ever feed cooked bones to your dog as they are more likely to splinter and cause problems in a dog's digestive system. People have been feeding dogs raw bones for years and rarely report problems. Chicken wings are the best bet, also a minced chicken with bone content. Try Prize Choice minced meats or the wings from the Chunks range.

It is very important to socialise your puppy with other dogs and people, from an early age.

> Turn your puppy into a socialite! The more different and unusual places he visits in his first few weeks, the better.

> Fear of loud noises can make life a misery for many dogs. Fire works cause distress, along with thunder storms, gunshots, heavy traffic and even a baby crying. Desensitising a puppy to this wide ranges of noise will help them become a confident adult.

> Puppies want and also love to learn, so why not join up to puppy classes.

Puppies only toilet indoors as they do not instinctively understand that it is inappropriate to do so! They will, however, naturally move away from its eating and sleeping areas to toilet which makes them easier to house train.

> When you are not able to supervise them, restrict the puppy their own area like their crate. This area becomes the puppies den, providing him with comfort and security. Dogs rarely soil their den so this will discourage toileting until you present an appropriate opportunity and location and a change to reward his successes.

> Your puppy needs to be taken to his toilet area frequently. These times should include whenever he wakes up, after eating, after playing, and at approximately hourly intervals. Use a specific word to be associated with toileting, and always reward him afterwards.

> Never punish if a mistake occurs indoors. Rather than associating your displeasure with him going to the toilet indoors, the puppy is more likely to develop a negative association of toileting in your presence.

>Areas in the house that have been soiled should be thoroughly cleaned to remove odours that will otherwise attract your puppy to the same area. Use non ammonia-based cleaning products.

It is normal for puppies to use their teeth to carry things and to explore their world, including your hands! You do not want this type of behaviour to continue as the puppy nips could turn into dog bites. You need to ensure the following:

> No play fighting. Encouraging a puppy to bite your hands and clothes may be fun but you are teaching him that biting people is acceptable. Use a toys at play time.

> Should a puppy nip you, cry 'ouch'. Most puppies are shocked to hear you cry of distress and will naturally back away. When a puppy does this, wait a moment or two and then ask him to come over and make friends again.

> If your puppy nips again, repeat as above. If this behaviour continues, simply exclude and ignore them by putting him in another room or move him away from yourself. This is not a punishment, just a 'time out' opportunity for your puppy to calm down.

> Do not over-stimulate or over-excite a puppy. This is an common mistake in most people and children.

> NEVER smack a puppy. Hands should always be instruments of kindness.

> It is important to remember that a puppy is unable to differentiate between individual people in his behaviour. Do not allow your puppy to exhibit any behaviour you would not like to be directed at young children or anyone outside of your family.

Your puppies first teeth are only temporary and, as they are replaced by adult teeth, their gums will become sore through inflammation and the eruptive process. Chewing provides relief from teething pain. The following points may help:

> Offer toys into which sharp puppy teeth can sink, thereby providing friction on the gum surface. Soft ropes or rubber safety toys are ideal. Teething toys must be tough, so small pieces cannot be chewed off and swallowed.

> Cold and damp toys often provide temporary relief to the pain of teething gums. Wetting, chilling or freezing ropes are a great idea to help the pups sore teeth. One toy we recommend is the puppy KONG where you can fill it with watery gravy and freeze it to aid this problem and it also helps with entertainment.

> Chewing of unsafe or unsuitable materials, be they household or personal items, garden plants, or most dangerous of all electric cables, will all have consequences. Keep these items away from puppies. Always have an alternative puppy chew toy to occupy them instead.

> Don't forget to praise your puppy when he is playing with his own toys as reinforce the desired behaviour.