My name is Clare Boyle and I am currently the owner of the Lupanast Dog Training Centre in Castlefinn, Co Donegal.
I have been training my own dogs for over 20 years and decided 2 years ago to become a professional trainer.
As my passion is for agility and flyball, two fabulous sports, I have undergone several important instructor courses and also competition coaching!
With this weekly blog, I hope to cover many of the issues we as pet owners deal with every day. Also, if anyone feels they need advice on anything canine related, I will do my upmost to help or point you in the right direction.
As I am starting classes in Petland, Letterkenny next week,(13th October) I would like to discuss puppies and training.
All puppies are cute and cuddly and with the amount of varying breeds available, how do we choose the right one for us? Well, first of all we need to consider our families lifestyle… Are we out all day or is there someone in the house the majority of the day? How many hours can we commit to the puppy each day? What about toilet training? Do you have someone able to look after the pup in holidays or who is going to be responsible for taking the puppy to training and socialisation classes?
What about the breed of the dog? A large breed such as a German Shepherd or a Labrador needs some space and regular exercise. Being such intelligent breeds, they tend to become stressful if left for long periods on their own. What about a designer breed? A Shih Tzu perhaps or a Chihuahua? Are you prepared to have these in your house and on your furniture? No? Well that’s where good training comes in.
Whatever breed of dog you decide to get for your family, remember it will possibly live up to 8 years or more and therefore you and your family need a dog which is well trained and a pleasure to have around. No one wants a dog which barks all the time or chews the furniture or even jumps up at every one passing.
So if you are thinking of getting a puppy and are unsure of what breed to get, please ask advice… and then when you do, enrol in training classes after the pups 2nd vaccination and start to enjoy the real pleasures of having a dog!
Any questions?
Email info@donegaldaily.com
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