Daily Mail - Daily Mail Weekend Magazine
Puppies need more than love
An irresistible TV show reveals why introducing a young dog to new experiences in its first months is crucial in moulding its character
Cupid the rescue pup has the softest, snuggliest bed in the world. At just four weeks old, there’s nothing this little mongrel loves better than to stretch out and snooze on top of his sisters – Aphrodite, Cuddles, Venus and Rose. The litter was born on the eve of Valentine’s Day this year, and staff at the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in Basildon, Essex, couldn’t resist giving them their loved-up names.
They’re just one of four newborn litters seen in a fascinating – and very cute – two-part documentary series, Puppy Secrets. Cupid doesn’t know it, but his behaviour is moulding his brain, even while he’s asleep. It’s crucial for pups to learn to mix with other dogs – and the outside world – during the first two months of life.
To ensure Cupid and his sisters are introduced to as many sights and sounds as possible in a safe and loving way, carer Lizzie takes them outside for the first time when the pups are just five weeks old, cradling them in her arms while they discover not only the sunshine and the sky, but the noise and vibration of traffic rumbling past the dogs’ home. ‘ We take 21st- century machinery for granted,’ says vet Mark Evans, who presents the show. ‘But dogs aren’t hard-wired to deal with this stuff. When you get a new puppy, you’re much more than its owner. You are its life coach, its friend and mentor.’
On a Gloucestershire farm, eight pedigree border collies are getting their first original experience. Breeder Angie carries them from their soft bed of wood shavings when they’re five weeks old and lets them explore the straw on a barn floor. ‘They were mystified at first,’ she laughs, ‘but then they got more excited.’
The puppies leap gleeful ly through the crackling straw, pouncing on each other. Sturdy Thumper, the biggest of the litter, is especially eager to enjoy the rough and tumble. ‘One of the first things they learn,’ says Mark, ‘is called “bite inhibition”. About 80 per cent of early games involve nipping, tugging and chewing, but they quickly work out how rough they can be. It’s an essential social skill.’
Other, much gentler activities can be just as scary. In Devon, Chihuahua breeder Dan is giving his sixweek- old litter of three, Cheeky, Snuggles and Smiley, their first bath, in a bowl of warm water. It isn’t that the tiny puppies need a wash, but that Dan wants to ensure their first experience of water is reassuring. ‘If they’re frightened now, they might not feel safe around water for the rest of their lives,’ he says.
The fourth litter, Evie, Freddie, Barney, Lucy, Molly and Betty, are highly intelligent Labrador/ retriever crosses who are in line to become assistance dogs, aiding people with disabilities. They will need to learn to open doors, help their owners get dressed and perform other vital tasks. For staff at the charity Dogs For Good who do the training, it’s important to tell the pups apart from the first day, to identify the ablest animals. So each puppy is marked with a different coloured dab of nail varnish between the ears.
‘An adult dog’s personality is created by a mixture of genetics and life experience, which means everything we do has a massive impact on how they develop,’ says Mark. ‘Many new owners think that they just have to feed their new pet, teach it to sit and the rest will look after itself. Nothing could be further from the truth.’
Puppy Secrets starts on Wednesday at 8pm on ITV.