Raising An English Puppy

As our summer wraps up,

we have punctuated it with

a new puppy!

Meet Millie,

our eight week old
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

She is sweetness wrapped up in a ball of fur :)

Besides having a bark with an adorable English accent (ha!),

I have found that dogs are much better behaved here than in the US

Here are a few differences I've observed...

Someone recommended buying a padded kitten collar for our puppy

Not only is it comfortable, but it has a secure bell attached

which lets us know where she is

I am using a 'Puppy Aid Training Spray' outside

which has a special scent to train puppies where to go potty

Believe it or not, it works!

Puppy training classes are held in church and village halls

or in a local field by individual dog trainers,

not in big box retailers

In my puppy training class, we'll be using treats 

and a whistle (I'm so intrigued)

I found these dog bowls 

with a wider base than its opening

to prevent big ears from falling into food & water

(perfect for spaniels and hounds)

- clever! -

They use static leashes here, not retractable ones

Dogs are off-leash when in the woods

and on-lead when on streets

(in the US, dogs must be on lead in public
except in a few designated areas)

In the US, dogs are neutered/spayed at 8 weeks old
however in the UK, vets like to wait until they are 6 months old

Dogs should be on medication to prevent lungworm,
contracted by eating snails or slugs

My veterinarian is housed in a barn circa 1820s
that still feels very farm-y

Lastly, in America we have the impression 

that England is even more pet friendly than the US

I'm not sure where this myth came from

because I find the attitudes and practices to be the same
(i.e. no one is grocery shopping with a dog in tow)

Have a lovely weekend,
Woof!
:)

- photos by me -