Pound Cottage Cavapoos

14/09/2025

🌧️ RAIN IS HOUSE TRAINING HELL 🌧️

I've had several puppy owners asking for advice as the weather has suddenly changed out of all recognition!!
This was my advice:

Unfortunately, rain is house training hell with Cavapoo's 🙄
Just remember - you are not alone. We're all going through it.

Welcome to the world of dog owning 🤷🏼‍♀️

Recently, I have had to herd my lot out every couple of hours - stand at the top of the garden with an umbrella, ignoring them so they sniff around and make sure they stay there long enough to go!!

I went out food shopping this afternoon and came back to find a massive wee at the back door 🙄
It happens to most dog owners at one point or other.

We have a cat flap which has always worked well with all my lot however, since April the back door has been open all day every day until late at night and my two 6 month old puppies (Daphne and Chino) have no idea how to use it 😑

For those having trouble with their puppies or older pooches - I would definitely recommend a catflap or bell system.

🔔🛎️🔔 🔔🛎️🔔

BELL SYSTEM

These should be hung on a hook by the side of the back door - (not on the door handle as this means they are jostled every time the door is opened for anything, not just house training).
Tap puppy’s paw on the bells each time you go out and puppy will get the idea quite soon.
Use lots of praise when they do it and open the door immediately so it’s an obvious cause and effect scenario.

* Hi Claire, we use bells by the lounge door for Wilf to nudge if he needs the loo. We did this as our lounge etc are on the first floor so we wanted a clear way of knowing if he needed to go out. It took a few weeks to get it, we'd nudge the bells with his foot every time we took him down to the loo, but he picked it up really well! He'll now go over and nudge them if he needs to go out. It works most of the time, but he cottoned on to the fact that it gets him our attention, so sometimes he'll nudge them to get us up and then grab a toy as he wants us to play with him instead! 😜

* Hi Claire. We got the training bells for Fudge but he wasn’t interested. It worked much better sticking to a routine of keeping an eye on him at all times and anticipating his needs whilst training and taking him outside after food/drink. Our cats liked the bells though 🤣

* We use bells on our back doors, it was the first thing she leant and she picked it up so quickly. When she went to the back door I tapped them to start with before opening the door, then I used her paw, then within a day she was happily whacking them to go out!

* We used bells on the back door for Louis. He worked it out really quickly (on the first day). We used them for a few months and then no longer needed them. The only downside is that you have to respond every time they make a noise - especially in the first few weeks. 🙄

* We used bells from the beginning. Just every time we took her out we would bash her little paw on them and say “wee wees!” and she got the hang of it quickly. Now that she’s older she still uses them for toileting but also if there’s a fat pigeon that needs chasing or if she just wants to bask in the sun in summer so a little judgment is necessary. 😂

* We also trained Maisie with the bell. It worked really well for the first 10 months or so whilst she really mastered toilet training. It was particularly useful if we went away or somewhere new / unfamiliar as we would take the bell and put it on the door she needed to go to if she needed the toilet so it gave her some familiar sign of where to go and minimise accidents. After 10 months or so, being the clever pickle she is, she started to use it just to get the attention of a human and it became more about her requiring our attention/ to play / do something for her so we removed it. If we got another puppy we would use it again.

* We tried several things but eventually decided to put a catflap in and it has been great. She takes herself in and out whenever she wants and we don't have to watch her all the time. It took a bit of convincing my husband but was definitely the best decision.

UPDATE FROM A WONDERFUL PUPPY OWNER
* Just a possible handy tip…. I found it better to hang the bells on the actual door to start off with as it seems to be the natural instinct to jump at the door if he wanted to go out and the bells get hit because of this! He then put two and two together and now it’s on a hook next to the door.

17/07/2025

‼️⛔️ BRAVECTO QUANTUM ⛔️‼️

There’s a new chemical cocktail being pushed on pet parents, please don’t fall for it.

It’s called Bravecto Quantum - a 12-month injectable flea and tick treatment for dogs.

One jab. 365 days. A full year of insecticide pulsing through your dog’s body. This targets the nervous system of fleas and ticks, but often of the dogs too.

What is Bravecto Quantum?
This is the injectable version of Bravecto, part of the same class of flea and tick products (isoxazolines) that’s been linked to seizures, tremors, unsteadiness, vomiting, and even death in thousands of dogs.

And now they’ve put it into a 12-month injection, which means:

You can’t stop it once it’s in

You can’t detox it out quickly

And if something goes wrong, you can’t reverse it

It’s a neurotoxin designed to paralyse fleas and ticks. But for many dogs, especially those with existing sensitivities, inflammation, or toxic load, it can have serious neurological effects.

Safe and Effective?
The phrase “safe and effective” is thrown around far too lightly in the pet industry.

Safe for whom? A lab-tested beagle in a short-term trial? Or your individual dog, who may already be dealing with food sensitivities, itchy skin, vaccine damage, or whose health is already compromised?

You can read the official VMD product sheet here:
https://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/productInformationDatabase/files/SPC_Documents/SPC_2808659.PDF

This will now be on offer as part of preventative care packages alongside annual jabs and checkups.

The side effects can include:

Chronic itching
Disorientation or confusion
Head tremors
Seizures
Sudden behaviour changes
Digestive upset
Lethargy - and more

🌱 NATURAL SOLUTIONS DO EXIST
You don’t have to choose between fleas and chemical cocktails.

Supporting your dog’s internal terrain is the key. A clean, species-appropriate diet reduces the appeal of your dog to parasites. Add gentle natural repellents and real food, ditch the toxins and you’ll be amazed at what the body can do.

If your dog is already itchy, ye**ty, inflamed, anxious, or has had vaccines, antibiotics, or parasite treatments, this injection is the LAST thing they need.

Our dogs deserve better.

09/07/2025

Hello,
My waiting list is now open for late summer and autumn litters.
I am a holistic breeder and do things in a more natural and, I strongly believe, healthier way.
Please private message me for more information.

08/06/2025

13/03/2025

To neuter or not to neuter?

For a few years now, experts have agreed that it is no longer possible to recommend blanket routine neutering of dogs. The days when all it took was a quick call to book a spay or castration because Molly or Spot were now 5-6 months old are definitely over. Owners considering the procedure must be informed of the risks and understand that the dog’s health will in some cases be harmed as a direct result of neutering. To quote a recent study: ‘It has become clear that canine go**ds (sexual organs i.e., ovaries and testicles) are not merely reproductive organs, but are critical to endocrine, musculoskeletal, behavioural and anti-neoplastic health.’
Cultural differences play a big role when new dog owners decide whether to have their dog neutered or to leave him or her intact. In some parts of the world neutering of healthy dogs is considered unethical. In Norway routine neutering is actually illegal meaning that around 99% of all dogs in Norway are left intact. At the same time, there are countries where neutering has historically been strongly encouraged and perhaps even regarded as a prerequisite for responsible dog ownership.
Until quite recently many vets certainly considered routine neutering a fairly benign procedure. The most serious side effect was believed to be the risk of urinary incontinence (‘spay incontinence’) in bi***es. Then, in 2013, a bombshell was dropped in the form of a major study from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The study revealed what no one had previously suspected, that neutered dogs of both sexes have a much greater risk of developing joint disease as well as several different types of cancer compared to intact dogs. In the frenzy of studies that have followed, increased risks of allergies, autoimmune disorders and thyroid disease have been added to the list of side effects and though research is ongoing, it is certainly safe to say that this startling new evidence should make anyone think twice before neutering.
If you would like to know more about this important health issue you’ll find a very informative article in Honey’s magazine: ‘The Alternative Dog’. Link below.

Another article worth reading:
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/long-term-health-risks-benefits-spay-neuter-dogs/

To neuter or not to neuter?Health For a few years now, experts have agreed that it is no longer possible to recommend blanket routine neutering of dogs. The days when all it took was a quick call to book a spay or castration because Molly or Spot were now 5-6 months old are definitely over. Owners c...

08/03/2025

I have a new toy poodle called Aoife (eefa).

Unfortunately Aoife was vaccinated by her breeder for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis 4 and Kennel Cough at 8 weeks. As she was so very tiny at that stage I was concerned that her immune system could have been compromised and so, instead of giving her another round of DHPPi (I never use Lepto or Bordatella), I decided to give her a titre test first to check her antibody levels. (My vet does an in-house Titre test for £59).

Thank goodness I did.
She has high levels of antibodies for all!

Really really pleased.
No more vaccines needed EVER 🤩

26/02/2025

🔆💠 INTRODUCING ME! 💠🔆

I AM A HOLISTIC BREEDER.

I look at the whole body rather than parts of it.
For example: there are far reaching implications when using prescription flea medications. The toxic impact of a product meant to kill fleas is on the entire dogs body not just the pests.
Whereas, a natural flea prevention product is far kinder to the host and additionally often also promotes good skin and coat health.

I FOLLOW MORE NATURAL PRACTICES.

I am passionate about using less Vaccines (I'm not anti vax - I just practice using common sense and moderation), natural pest control wherever possible and a great 80-10-10 raw diet (with good alternatives if this isn't possible).

I use less plastics and promote reusable, more sustainable practices.

MY PUPPIES AND DOGS LIVE AT HOME

These beauties are my pets - brought up in my home with my family - not in kennels - as I believe this is how companionship breeds should be raised.

I AM ETHICAL

With a license and health checks for all my dogs.
I have a waiting list and people will have to wait for one of my puppies - please don't contact me if you want a click and collect puppy! (Pets4homes, FreeAds and Gumtree are for this).
You will get a great deal of information before you even join my waiting list and this doesn't suit everyone.
I am opinionated and passionate about raising dogs in, what I believe to be, an ethical manner.

💠🔆💠🔆💠🔆💠🔆💠🔆💠🔆💠🔆💠🔆

20/02/2025

A good friend of mine is asking for help.

Hello, please, please could you share this link with anyone you know who might consider donating. I am desperate to make a space for Oliver, Jerry, Peonie and Honey, my adopted special needs Cretan cats, to play outside safely now spring is on the way; secure and well built catios are so expensive and so I started this fundraiser to try to make this a reality for my new cat family because they truly deserve it. Thank you 🙏🏻

In October 2024, myself, my husband and my three children, ag… Nichola Hetzel needs your support for Help create a safe haven for my adopted Cretan street cats

23/01/2025

THE BEAUTY OF BLACK

I am forever being asked for red puppies and whilst red, in its various shades, is lovely I truly love a cavapoo that is slightly different!

Here is a collection of my black puppies.

07/12/2024

🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴 DOG TREATS 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

Thinking of buying some Christmas treats for your Cavapoo? Here's my advice and what I've learnt over the years.

The easiest thing to remember when buying dog treats and training incentives is - one ingredient only.

Good examples:
Dried lamb, kangaroo, venison, liver, pork etc
Rabbits ears, ostrich tendons and lambs ribs.

Some dog treats are made with natural preservatives like ginger, lemon, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, oregano, and star anise. These are also acceptable.

However, there is a MASSIVE amount of choice available and most of the products are full of ingredients that are very unsuitable and in some cases toxic to our dogs - usually marketed as being natural and good for them!

Here is a short list of just some ingredients to avoid in dog treats:

* Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
- A lab-made chemical that's also used as a preservative in dog food and has been linked to liver damage and cancer

* Potassium sorbate (PSG or E202)
- An artificial preservative that can irritate the skin and eyes, and may also irritate the digestive system

* Refined sugars and artificial sweeteners
- Can be addictive for dogs and aren't a natural or healthy part of their diet.

* Meat Meal
- This is made from the parts of animals that aren't consumed by humans. It can contain hair, bristle, feathers, horn, hoof and skin and of the contents of the stomach and viscera.

* Raw Hide
- Not natural, not fit for consumption and very likely to cause intestinal blockages, poisoning from chemical residue and choking.

'All About Dog Food' is a useful website that gives the ingredients in most dog food and treats on the market and explains what the jargon means:

26/11/2024

This is Daphne’s advice for a longer hairstyle!

20/11/2024

COLD WEATHER
My advice is - if it’s too cold for you it’s too cold for your dog and a game of chase or ball in the garden a few times during those really cold days is best. However, it’s rare in the UK to have weather that is that cold for long and so I’d say pop a coat on your dog and venture out. A brisk walk and a quick run around off lead is great - if you’re ok they’re ok.
Don’t hang around talking to anyone with your dog standing around waiting at the end of a lead or if you’re on your phone - walk and talk!

Paws are usually fine in cold weather but, if walking in snow or on icy ground regularly, then use paw balm (sled dogs use it!)
And if walking by the side of the road rinse paws off afterwards as salt and antifreeze are toxic to our dogs.

Also - a good bit of mental stimulation is an excellent idea to exercise dogs who can't go outside for long walks. So play hide and seek games or do some training.

SNOW CLUMPS
There’s a good link here which shows how to use a whisk to remove snow clumps from fur:

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdY4t6d1/

WINTER COATS
I have never put mine in coats as I feel this breed have their own wonderful coats and are so toasty running around off lead. The exception would be after a particularly brutal hair cut!!
We dog owners are big business for people trying to guilt us into spending money on our pooches!

Having said that - some people find their dogs are less muddy when they have certain coats on so it’s completely your call.
Be aware that some coats make mid to long length fur matt in certain areas.

OVERNIGHT
Our houses are not so cold that we freeze so our dogs are absolutely fine also - a cosy fleece blanket to sleep on in their box / bed and a big blanket over the crate in a draught free room is perfect - just be aware that the heating going on in the morning might disturb a younger puppy if they aren’t used to it.

PS
Kerri lives in Switzerland with her beautiful Cavapoo, Gracie. She says,
“Yep paw balm is a must here as the salt is brutal so we always do a quick rinse off after a walk. Gracie isn’t a fan of coats but in super cold spells she doesn’t complain about wearing one and then she can frolic in the snow without the snow clumps forming”.

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