When should I desex my dog?
Because the sex hormones play an important part in a dogs growth, it is now reccomended to wait about a year. Girls should have had a heat. Your vet will have their own opinion about exact timing on this one.
When can I start socialising my puppy?
If your puppy is over 16 weeks old and is vaccinated, it is safe to socialise them. It is a bit of a sliding scale however: some places are safe earlier if vaccinated. The NZVA has a very good leaflet that can be viewed here.
What is a ‘Fear Period in a puppy?
Between 8 and 12 weeks, and again between 6 and 14 months, puppies can become fearful. This last about 3 weeks, and is similar to a baby becoming clingy. Useful information from the AKC can be found here.
How often should I feed my puppy?
Because a puppy only has a small stomach, it is good to feed smaller amounts more often, two or three times a day. The main thing, however, is to feed the right amount daily.
Do you reccomend a particular pet insurance?
We do not have a exhaustive knowledge of pet insurance, however make sure they are covered from the day you pick them up. Southern Cross will insure from six weeks, SPCA from eight (at time of writing). There are many more.
How often should I groom my puppy?
Labs do not take a lot of grooming. Brushing once a week will reduce the amount of dog hair in the house, bath when necessary only as bathing will wash oils out of the skin, trim nails as necessary and check ears are dry after swimmimg/bathing to avoid infections. Only use dog products.
Does my dog need registering?
In New Zealand all dogs must be registered with the local council by 12 weeks of age. Microchipping should be done first.
Do I have to microchip my dog?
All dogs in NZ have to be microchipped (with the exception of working farm dogs). Some councils will do it for free. You will need the microchip number before you register your puppy,
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