Dogs

My puppy Beau buries every bone I give him in the garden, and then digs it up two weeks later. Why does he do this?

If you have a dog it’s important that you understand the vaccines available to them and how these protect your pet’s health.

What to expect in the first year of a puppy's life.

The vast majority of dogs entering SPCA care are mixed breeds. Unless we know the parents or have paperwork, we cannot be sure of which breeds may be part of a dog’s makeup. Research has clearly shown that visual assessment of mixed breed dogs is highly inaccurate, even when conducted by experts such as shelter workers, veterinarians and dog control officers.

During extreme weather scenarios such as flooding, it is vital for households to be prepared in the case of an emergency. Prepare to best care for your animals during these stressful times.

Puppy socialisation is the process of introducing a puppy to a variety of different experiences, environments, people, and other animals in order to help them become confident and friendly adult dogs.

Training your dog to wear a muzzle is a great idea. Why? Training your dog to wear a muzzle is a responsible and proactive step for any dog owner. While many people associate muzzles with ‘aggressive’ dogs, muzzles can be actually be useful in various situations.

Dogs die in hot cars. If you love them, don't leave them.
Every year, our Inspectors receive hundreds of welfare calls about dogs that have been left inside hot cars. Over the last summer, these calls accounted for approximately 11% of all welfare calls made to SPCA. Sadly, the message around the dangers of leaving your animals inside cars doesn’t seem to be sinking in. SPCA has created downloadable resources including posters, a flyer and a social media tile to help you to share the message.

Barking is a normal way for dogs to communicate, whether they're excited, anxious, or trying to alert us to something. However, when barking becomes excessive—happening loudly and frequently—it can become a nuisance for both owners and neighbours. If your dog’s barking is causing issues, don’t worry! With the right approach you can manage and reduce it.

Your home is a safe and special space for you, your family, and pets to live in. When a baby arrives, parents will ‘baby-proof’ the house to ensure the place is safe for little ones. But paw-rents should also do a safety sweep of their home as well – as pets can be in danger from household items and chemicals, too!