Puppy encounter evenings – Fun at the vets!
A complimentary ‘one off’ evening for puppies under 12 weeks of age that have just completed their course of vaccinations.
Monthly, usually on a Thursday, 6.45pm – 8.30pm

This complementary service offers an opportunity for young puppies to meet and have fun at the vets whilst owners pick up tips on the socialisation, health and care of their puppy.

Fun activities keep the puppies busy and encourage them to remain relaxed and happy at the vets right from the start, making future visits easier and more enjoyable.

Early booking is advised for this popular service, as places are limited. Please call the clinic to book - 01539 721344.

Social visits

Drop-in, no appointment necessary. Monday - Friday 11.00am-1.00pm & 3.30pm-4.30pm

All dogs, especially puppies, are encouraged to call in for regular social visits to help them feel relaxed and happy at the vets. By having lots of good experiences with us, they will be less likely to become fearful of going to the vets when they are unwell.

If your dog is already frightened of coming to the vets, there are ways that we can teach him to relax and make it less of an ordeal. It’s no wonder dogs grow to dislike visiting the vets if they only go when unwell and are then handled by strangers in an unfamiliar environment.

Call in with your dog at the above times to enjoy a dog treat with friendly attention from veterinary staff. Before long they will look forward to visiting the vet!

Good patient visits
Complimentary service to teach your pet to be a good patient
Monday – Friday, 11.00am-1.00pm & 3.30pm-4.30pm
Please call the clinic to book your visit - 01539 72134

We can arrange for your well puppy to go into a consulting room and onto the consulting table where veterinary nurses will give your puppy nice friendly attention with treats to help get him used to gentle handling.

Equipment that he might encounter in the future (such as stethoscope and nail clippers) can be introduced in a relaxed, non-threatening way. It is much better for all concerned, especially your dog, if he is relaxed about consultations, happy about being handled and has learnt to be a good patient.

Behavioural advice
Please do not hesitate to contact us with your puppy queries or problems such as house training, chewing, biting, exercise, feeding and training. Tel: 01539 721344

Puppy socialisation

Socialisation can be said to be the ‘immunisation’ against fears, phobias and aggression!

Early in life, between of 3 - 12 weeks of age puppies have a ‘critical period’ when they are more ready to accept new and different things that they experience and are less likely to react in a fearful way.

Aim to take an active approach to gradually introducing your puppy to different people, other dogs, various objects and places - indoors and outdoors. Your puppy therefore becomes familiar to the different sights, sounds, smells and sensations of his world. Also in the process your puppy will learn to cope better with any new or novel experiences that he comes across in later life.

Make sure you avoid overwhelming your puppy. Ensure that your puppy remains happy and relaxed by introducing things in a low key and non-intimidating way. Include adequate periods of rest and sleep between experiences and try to arrange for quiet days after busy or stressful days.

Continue to include a variety of experiences regularly for the first couple of years of your dog’s life for best effect. These help ’top up’ previous learning.

Thoughtful socialisation along with positive reward based training will help your puppy grow into a sociable and well-behaved adult dog. You will then be able to enjoy each other’s company for years to come.