At 8 weeks of age we have established your puppy on the following feeding regime:

Breakfast
Puppy Formula Dry Food (Science Diet Original) moistened with water.
Quantity: ¾ of a cup 3 times per day


These meal times may be varied to suit your lifestyle e.g. If the pup is alone during the day you may need to feed breakfast, dinner and a late supper.

At 12 to 14 weeks of age the puppy can be reduced to two meals per day. Quantities, however, will gradually be increased as the puppy grows. During the first 12 months your puppy will eat more than an adult dog. Be sure to feed Puppy Formula until your dog is 12 to 14 months of age. At this age he/she may also be reduced to one meal per day.

Fresh water should be available at all times.

Table Scraps may be introduced gradually, but prepared dog food should provide the bulk of the diet in order to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet. Additives are therefore not necessary.

Bones will provide entertainment for the puppy as well as being good for teeth.

WORMING

Your puppy has been wormed several times for round worm. He /she is due to be wormed again at 10 and 12 weeks. Thereafter your dog should be wormed at three monthly intervals with broad spectrum worm tablets which may be purchased from the supermarket or your Veterinarian. Drontal is recommended.

It is recommended that you also start your puppy on heartworm treatment. This may be given in the form of a daily or monthly tablet. An alternative is an annual heartworm shot (ask your Vet at what age this can be administered)




BEHAVIOUR

Your English Springer Spaniel is an active, fun loving dog who loves nothing better than human company.

It is particularly important that your puppy spends considerable time with your family, in a variety of situations, in the early months. It is also important that your puppy learns to spend some time alone. During these times provide “toys” for entertainment e.g. bones, old plastic pots, shoes etc. Time spent with your puppy in the early stages will be well rewarded when you have raised a socially well adjusted, well behaved companion.
English Springers love to carry things in their mouths. Make sure that you provide these things, otherwise the puppy will choose his/her own. In the early stages do not leave the puppy alone with anything that you do not want chewed or carried!!

It is easier to prevent bad habits forming than to break those already formed. As your puppy grows and spends time with you he/she will gradually learn what is acceptable. Meanwhile some people find that a small puppy enclosure prevents unwanted destructive behaviour in their absence.

From the moment your puppy arrives home let him/her know what is “off limits” by using a firm “AH!” Reward desired behaviour with pats, verbal praise and or food.
Dogs are naturally hierarchical animals and are happiest when they know where they come in the family hierarchy i.e. below every other member of the family. It is important that firm messages are given regarding this position. The following are examples of showing the pup that all family members are superior in dominance:
• biting people should never be tolerated, even though puppies naturally do this in play. When this occurs, firmly push the puppy’s head to the ground or sit the puppy down and hold, whilst saying “AH!” in a strong, firm, ‘growling’ tone. Alternatively, roll puppy on to back, hold firmly and say “AH!”
• jumping on people is also unacceptable. Once again, push the puppy to the ground or raise your knee and push the puppy back whilst saying “AH!”
• barking or whining when left outside or waiting for a meal should not be permitted. Squirting with a water pistol or hose can assist in prevention.

Once again, time spent in the early stages, preventing patterns of undesirable behaviour from forming, will be well rewarded.

If this is your first dog or you have not owned a dog for many years, consider joining an Obedience Club where you will receive ongoing assistance and advice.



EXERCISE

Your English Springer Spaniel has two great loves, besides human company; food and exercise. Whilst the puppy is small he/she should not be over exercised, although getting used to walking on a lead and running free in a park and returning when called are important early lessons. Let your puppy off the lead to socialise with other dogs whenever possible. Puppy schools are also great for socialisation. Most Vets have information about those in your area.
Only call the puppy’s name when you actually want the him/her to return to you. Reward the puppy with a tidbit when he/she responds to your call. It will take very few lessons before he/she is consistently responding to your call. English Springers tend to naturally “keep an eye” on their owners when exercising off lead. They are not natural wanderers.

As your puppy matures exercise periods may be increased.
Daily exercise is recommended for fitness and mental stimulation.

GROOMING

Being a well coated dog, the English Springer requires regular grooming.
Recommended pieces of equipment are:
- fine metal toothed comb
- broader metal toothed comb
- pair of scissors
- pair rubber gloves
- brush (optional)
- nail clippers
The rubber gloves, when rubbed firmly over the back or used in a plucking motion, are more effective at removing dead hair than is a brush. Removing hair in this method will reduce shedding on your clothes and furniture over the summer months.
As your dog develops a full coat in maturity, he/she will need to be kept tangle free. The combs are more effective at achieving this than a brush.
Your puppy should become accustomed to being groomed from the earliest age. A thorough weekly grooming is sufficient. Particular care should be taken to remove tangles from the ears to prevent matting. Begin with the broad tooth comb and move to the finer toothed variety. One great way to keep tangles to a minimum is to use a product produced by Plush Puppy known as “Sea Breeze Oil”. Following a bath, mix a ½ teaspoonful in a ½ bucket of warm water and pour over coat and feathering. Do not rinse out.
Hair should be trimmed around the feet. If your dog is inside, this prevents excess dust and dirt from being brought in on feet. You may also wish to trim some length off leg, tail or ear feathering to enhance a neat appearance.
If your dog is only exercised on soft surfaces, it may also be necessary to trim nails.

You may prefer to use a grooming parlour but this is an expensive alternative, particularly when grooming times are occasions that your dog comes to enjoy with you.

You should always check for fleas (at base of tail and on stomach) during grooming sessions and treat promptly if necessary. Various effective products are available. Fleas are more likely in areas with sandy soil. They are also the cause of other difficulties you may encounter eg. skin irritation.




HOUSE TRAINING

Your puppy is already aware of going outside at the necessary times and naturally wants to keep his/her living quarters clean. In a new environment he/she will need to learn a new procedure. The key to this is timing! Always take your puppy outside to the chosen spot at the following times:
- when he/she wakes from a sleep
- immediately following a meal
It is pointless to chastise a puppy if not actually caught in the act of soiling inside.

VACCINATION

Your puppy has received a temporary vaccination. Please refer to Vaccination Certificate to determine when next vaccination is due. It is important that an annual booster is given.

ADVICE

As breeders we are always happy to assist with advice at any stage during your dog’s life.


If you ever need to dispose of your animal for whatever reason, we ask that you contact us first as we may be able to assist with placement.