Meet Buddies breeder Sonia. We caught up with Torquay based Sonia, to find out more about her passion for the Papillon. How long have you been breeding? ‘Over 30 years now. I started out with Australian Shepherds. I showed them and enjoyed training and competing at working trials and obedience.  My first Border Collie joined me just after and got hooked on showing. My first dog won 5 reserve CC’s and 2 CC’s. I have had Papillons for 5 years now. As I’m now older and have arthritis, I changed breeds because I can’t run around the show ring like I used to. Why this breed? ‘They are smaller ..read more

In this waggy tale we meet Wes, and his 4-year-old Black Labrador Retriever, Monty. Wes first noticed something wasn’t quite right when he spotted Monty scratching his head and ears more than usual one afternoon. By that evening, the scratching had increased. It was clear that something was bothering Monty. ‘He has never wanted to come upstairs and sleep on the landing or in our bedroom. Instead, he prefers to sleep downstairs in one of his many beds/cushions. Overnight we heard him pacing to and fro and could hearing him scratching a lot.’ Explains Wes. After checking Monty’s ears and attemp ..read more

Dogs seem to have varying tolerance levels when it comes to the noises and lights that bonfire night brings. Some dogs are able to snooze through all the commotion, while other dogs are left in a state of panic. In this blog, we share our top tips to ensure your fur-baby is as safe and as comfortable as possible during firework season. Before Do your research- Check local display times to ensure you’re not out walking or in the garden when they begin. Check in with your neighbours too. With current lockdown rules, its likely that families will choose to celebrate at home this year. Create a h ..read more

In this waggy tale we meet Fiona Venters and her 4-year-old Cockapoo, Teddi. Fiona first became concerned something may be wrong with Teddi, when she noticed her passing blood in her urine. ‘She had not been unwell at any point, but we did notice she needed to pee a lot.  She has had a hysterectomy so we knew the blood she was passing must be from her bladder.  We contacted the vets and she was given antibiotics for a suspected urine infection.’ Explains Fiona. The antibiotics seemed to do the trick and Teddi was back to her regular toilet trips. However, two months later, Fiona not ..read more

Meet Buddies breeder, Cerrie. Hampshire based Cerrie Gray has been breeding Golden Retrievers for 4 years now. We caught up with Cerrie to find out why she chose the Golden Retriever as her breed of choice. Why this breed? ‘As a mum, I wanted a breed that would make a great family pet. They are easy going, gentle and amazing with children. They are just a joy to have in the home.’ What is the best thing about the breed? ‘I would have to say their expressive eyebrows.’ What is the worst thing about the breed? ‘Definitely the moulting! What is the best thing about being a breeder? ‘There are so ..read more

Meet Buddies breeder Sam Soper. Sam is a first-time breeder, and we caught up with her to find out more about her love and knowledge of her breed of choice. What is your breed of choice? ‘Irish Red and White Setters.’ How long have you been breeding for? ‘I’m actually a 1st time breeder. I have been the proud owner of Irish Red and White Setters (IRWS) for 7 years. I have 2 bitches aged 7 and 4. When I found the breed, I had a two year wait for a litter.’ Why this breed? ‘They are now listed as a vulnerable native breed within Britain and Ireland. The breed are not well known, and they are ju ..read more

Every dog owner wants their dog to be as happy and Healthy as they can be, but are you aware of the subconscious things you do which fill your dog with happiness? We look at the little things that make your hound happy and why. Smell The smell of a dog’s human family can instantly fill them with joy. Dogs have a heightened sense of smell and it’s reported that they have up to 300 million receptors in their noses. This is huge in comparison to a human’s measly 6 million receptors. Leaving a worn item of clothing with your pup when leaving them for a period of time can help comfort and soothe t ..read more

The likelihood of your puppy being toilet trained when they join the family is very slim. It’s best to be prepared and understand that accidents will happen. Often, a puppy will have an accident in the home because they are given too much freedom, too soon, and are unsure of the appropriate place to toilet. Our top tips to help get your new addition toilet trained as quickly as possible- Your puppy needs to understand that outside is where they go to do their business. Take your puppy for regular trips outside, and be sure to praise them if they toilet. This will reinforce that outside is th ..read more

There’s a window of around 16 weeks when a puppy is wired to try new things and get used to its surroundings. This is a great time to get a dog used to a range of experiences so it won’t feel nervous. Use this time to build a relationship with your puppy and build their confidence. Their trust in you will mean the outside world won’t be as scary when the time comes to explore it. Our top tips Allow your puppy to find comfort in their new home. A mix of treats and praise when puppy explores a new area, or ventures off alone will help build their independence. What seems like a quiet home to y ..read more

Having a new puppy is very much like having a new baby, and as any new parent will tell you, sleep deprivation is an issue! Many new puppy owners, underestimate the difficulties of sleep training. We take a look at some sleep training tips that may help your puppy sleep through the night. Bedtime Snacks Ideally, you should look to give your puppy their evening meal and drink around three hours before bed time. Feeding your puppy any later than this may result in them needing to go to the toilet during the night, which makes for an unpleasant wake up call. Walkies The less energy your puppy ha ..read more