A ZEN DOG IS A PLANNED DOG

Taking on the responsibility of dog ownership, especially for the first time, is both an adventure and a huge (but rewarding) challenge.

Owning a dog is not all fun and games.  They can be expensive, energetic, messy, strong-willed. . .  and noisy!  You need to sure that you are ready for a long-term commitment.  Depending on what breed of dog you choose (see the Breed Guide below), you're looking at anywhere between 10 to 20 years of being a pet owner.

 

IS A PUPPY FOR YOU?

Little puppies are undoubtably cute and fun, but they typically have unbounded energy, need constant attention. . .  and they don't stay puppies for long.  They'll grow up into adult dogs before you know it and will continue to place demands on your emotion, time and resources for as much as twenty years!

If you do not have a lot of time and energy to spend socialising and training an (over) active puppy, and you do not relish the thought of cleaning up little 'Woopsies!' whilst house-training, then perhaps you should look at Zen's advice on adopting an older dog.

bonus content:  the importance of early puppy training

Puppies will gain a lifetime of benefit from training received early in their development.

Reward is even more important for a puppy, with lots of praise and occasional treats.  Young dogs respond particularly well to affirmation and attention, the more fuss you make over the puppy doing something right, the more responsive it will be.

House training (or 'toilet training') can be tricky, but the secret to success is consistency, and that responsibility falls almost entirely on you, as the pet parent!  In the early weeks, your puppy will need a toilet break about 30 minutes after eating.  Take puppy outside to the preferred spot, and always be sure to use the same voice command (at the risk of sounding silly to human ears, the repetitive and percussive voice command 'go poo poo' works extremely well! ). . .  and remember to heap on the praise when the puppy obeys.

Even with the most diligent training, you will need to clean up a few mishaps in the beginning and might even lose a pair of shoes that you accidentally leave on the floor.  Above all, please remember that your little puppy is new to this world, with everything yet to learn and experience.

Be loving, patient and kind. . .  in the end, all the hard work will be worth it!


Four-legged babies love to explore, and will naturally chew whatever comes to paw!  ;o)

You must make sure that their exploration is safe.  In the beginning, it may be a better idea to keep your dog in a specific area of your house, where potential damage and hazards can be controlled and limited.

bonus content:  preparing your home for a puppy!

PUPPY PROOFING YOUR HOME

These are pretty much the same precautions you would take to safeguard a human toddler.

Make sure there are no poisonous houseplants around, such as mistletoe, poinsettia, amaryllis, lilia or holly.  Lock up cleaning supplies and medicines. . .  keep doors closed and block access to elevated porches, balconies or decks.  Also;  keep the toilet lid closed, secure electrical cords and move any plastic materials out of reach.

Never leave a puppy unsupervised if it has access to your whole house!

Buy proper chewing toys, reward the puppy for chewing the right things and start training as soon as possible, it will definitely make your life with the new family member so much easier.

VET CARE & INSURANCE

Between 6 and 16 weeks, your new puppy should receive a primary course of vaccines to keep it safe.  After that, you should visit the vet at least once a year for a regular checkup.  Another important aspect to discuss with your puppy's vet is whether to spay and neuter.

Because veterinary care can prove to be costly, especially in the event of accident, injury or unexpected illness, you may wish to consider purchasing dog health insurance.

EARLY NUTRITION

This doesn't just mean enough food!  Your puppy needs a well-balanced, nutritional, diet. . .  especially during the first year whilst their teeth, muscles and bones are growing rapidly.

Following the initial, two hour Evaluation Visit, your Zen trainer will prepare a dietary guide for your puppy, with the correct balance of fat and protein needed to promote healthy development.


 

ADOPTING A RESCUE DOG

Whist arguably the most responsible and rewarding way to bring a new member into your family, adopting a rescue or shelter dog does present its own challenges.

bonus content:  more guidance about adoption

Dogs that have spent time in a shelter will quite often retain memories of being abandoned, which can give rise to separation anxiety.  They may also have experienced traumatic events and are almost certainly anxious due to the change in their environment.

Calm consistency is the key.  Offering rescue dogs a predictable routine is a huge step on the way to combating stress. . .  helping them to feel safe and secure in their new forever home.  Zen will look to identify anxiety triggers, tailor the dog's training accordingly, and recommend ways in which you, as the new owner, can help them to settle in.

Before finally committing to ownership (whether a puppy or an older dog), you also need to decide what breed would suit you and your circumstances best. 



 

THE ZEN BREED GUIDE

If you have ever been an owner you will already know that dogs have distinct and unique personalities!  Whilst some character traits are totally individual, many are quite closely aligned to the breed.

A terrier, for example, will enthusiastically chase after a thrown ball, but is far more likely to 'kill' it on the spot rather than retrieve it!  A Sight Hound; such as a Saluki, will 'look' for a lost ball in the undergrowth (often unsuccessfully because they are highly tuned to the movement of prey), whilst a Scent Hound like a Bassett, will smell for it.

This guide is designed to give you an insight into each breed's personality traits.  Use the 'bonus information' links to open up extra guidance notes.

HERDING DOGS

These include;  Border Collie, German Shepherd, Old English Sheepdog, Shetland Sheepdog, Corgi and Australian Shepherd.

bonus content:  read more about Herding Dogs

Often referred to as the 'pastoral group' of breeds;  these dogs have been bred predominantly for herding sheep, cattle and other cloven-hooved animals.  Herding dogs are typified by their speed, endurance, intelligence and a well developed work ethic, and so make ideal agility dogs.  However, these breeds need active homes with constant stimulation. . .  long walks and runs, a varied environment and obedience training are needed to keep their active minds occupied.


GUN DOGS

Gun dogs include popular breeds such as;  Spaniels, Setters, Labradores, Retrievers & Pointers, Hungarian Visla and Weimeraner.

bonus content:  more about the personality of Gun Dog breeds

Gun dog types have been bred, as the name suggests, to assist with shooting;  whether by scaring up game, or retrieving shot birds with a 'soft mouth'.  They are very intelligent, personable, and train exceptionally well.

Although they make great family pets in active homes (they are friendly and love human company), Gun dogs can become easily frustrated.  Bred to have a job, when left alone for long periods of time with no stimulation they can become destructive in the home, much like herding breeds.


HOUNDS

Hound breeds are generally sub-divided into two distinct groups according to the primary sense that they employ in hunting prey.

bonus content:  more about both Scent & Sight Hound.

Whilst all dogs have an incredible sense of smell, and can detect the smallest of noises and movements. . .  Hounds were bred for hunting either by smell, or visually.

Handsome and agile hunters, Hounds are gentle and dignified but may appear aloof (compared to the loving Labrador for example).  Like gundogs and shepherds, they have been bred for a practical role so will need regular exercise and lots of fun activity.

The sight-hounds:  Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, Irish Wolfhounds and, by extension, any of the cross-breed variants known collectively as 'Lurchers'.

The scent-hounds:  Afghan & Basset Hounds, Beagles, Bloodhounds and, despite their diminutive size, Dachshunds!

Because Beagles were bred to hunt in packs they enjoy being with others and, therefore, make wonderful family dogs.  They do well with a lot of playtime and are eager to learn, but be aware that their strong sense of smell can distract them at times!


WORKING DOGS

This breed group includes;  the Siberian Husky & Alaskan Malamute, Boxer, Doberman, Rottweiler, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Bernese Mountain Dog, St. Bernard. . .  and a variety of Mastiff breeds.

bonus content:  read more about the various Working dog breeds

Highly intelligent, these wonderful aides are truly gentle giants if you are part of their pack and this intense loyalty makes them first-class guard dogs for the home.  Malamutes and Huskies in particular have a strong pack work ethic and are bred to cover incredible distances, so this factor must be considered realistically when planning. . .  as must the thinness of your walls, both breeds being particularly vocal!

Be aware that the larger Working dog breeds do tend to slobber quite a lot ;o)

Working dogs will require a lot of food, exercise and space, simply by virtue of their size.  Their size also makes them more susceptible to a type of heart failure (dilated cardiomyopathy), which can limit their average life expectancy. . .  in the case of the very largest such as Irish Wolfhounds or Great Danes, to as little as seven or eight years.


TERRIERS

The most popular terriers include, but are by no means limited to;  The Airedale, Bedlington, Border and Cairn Terriers, Jack Russells, West Highland (Westie) and Fox Terriers.  At the larger end of the size scale, this group includes the Staffordshire (Staffie), English Bull Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier breeds.

bonus content:  find out more about Terrier personalities

The very name 'Terrier' is derived from the Latin 'Terra' (meaning; Earth) because of their predeliction to dig. . .  so this may be a group of breeds that fastidious gardeners would perhaps wish to consider very carefully!

These, often pint-sized, hunters (including the Yorkie!) have a powerful prey-drive and were purposely bred to control rats, mice and other vermin.  They are smaller than their larger hunting cousins but sturdy, fearless and intensely loyal, with a well-deserved reputation for being clever and independent.


UTILITY (NON-WORKING) DOGS

This 'miscellaneous' group of breeds include;  Japanese Akitas, Bulldogs, Chow Chows, Dalmations, French Bulldogs (Frenchies), Schnauzers, Shar Peis & Shih Tzus.

bonus content:  more about the character of Utility breeds

Utility breeds are all fit, active, intelligent dogs who were developed for very specific sporting or working purposes.  The Poodle (French Water Terrier!) for example, was bred to retrieve ducks, the Akita as a bear-hunter, the Dalmatian as an able and effective watch-dog and the Shar-Pei was bred to be a fighting dog, protected by its excessive folds of skin!

Although this group is so diverse, they are all dogs with an original purpose other than their current role as companions.  They need activity and mental stimulation or can become destructive through sheer boredom.


TOY BREEDS

Some of the most common 'toy' breeds in the UK include;  the Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Maltese terrier, Papillion, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Pug and, of course, the Yorkshire Terrier or 'Yorkie'

bonus content:  discover more about Toy dogs

First of all, 'Toy' is not a distinct breed group; these dogs having been artificially selected for their diminutive size from several disparate root breeds, making them particularly popular as companions.  What they lack in size, however, they make up for in personality!

Requiring far less exercise than their regular sized cousins, Toy dogs are particularly suited to city living and their size makes them more manageable.

TRAINING TOY BREEDS

Characterised as strong, stubborn and aften sassy, affectionate and loyal, Toy dogs bond closely with their favorite people and like to think they are in charge. . .  if you let them!

Whilst size is not a determining factor in Canine psychology (the basic drives and instincts that govern the behaviour of a 12 stone Great Dane also apply to a 5lb Chihuahua!), however;  mega-cute Toy dogs tend to have been socialised very differently, often having been treated as human babies rather than dogs. . .  as a result, they tend to develop common personality traits despite their underlying breed differences.

This makes training even more essential, and Zen use these common traits to formulate a bespoke training plan.


MIXED & CROSS BREEDS

'Cross breed' means the offspring of two different pedigree parents, whilst 'Mixed breed' refers to a dog with three or more distinct breeds represented in its ancestry.  Cross breeds tend to be less prone to congenital diseases;  some genetic disorders are breed-specific, the result of narrowing the gene pool in order to artificially select for certain aesthetics.

The rise of 'hybrid' breeds such as labradoodles, cockapoos and jugs can help improve the health of these pure-breeds, as well as conferring new advantages from combining some well-loved characteristic.