French Bulldogs at Peppertree Cottage

13/08/2024

There are many methods you can use to train your dogs but this is why we stand by using positive reinforcement methods.

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11/08/2024

Happy Birthday to these handsome lads 🥳

11/08/2024

Happy Birthday Bad Boys 🥳

25/06/2024

The puppies embark on their new journeys in life as they head of to their new homes with their excited families 💗

25/06/2024

PREPARING FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES

Everything they have experienced at Peppertree Cottage is preparing them for their greatest adventure - the rest of their life and on the weekend the puppies were ready to meet their new families and leave for their forever home.

Their new families go home with a folder full of advice and tips on not only Puppy Culture but additional information on training, socialisation, feeding, health & welfare. It also contains information about their individual puppy's personality, the skills they have learnt and everything they need to know about their first 9 weeks of life.

At the time they go to their forever homes there are still a few weeks left in the critical socialisation period and we encourage the puppies new families to continue with all the work we have started to do with Enrichment, Socialisation, Habituation and Love. It is also the time to amalgamate them to what life at their new homes will be like - including all the rules, places and experiences that will be a regular part of their new lives.

The puppies go home with a Lifetime Commitment Guarantee that we will always be here for advice and to rehome them should it ever become necessary. We will miss every puppy that leaves here immensely, we have loved and nurtured them through the first weeks of their precious lives but we are confident of our choice in Forever Homes. We look forward with anticipation to watching them grow and thrive, knowing they will go on to live long, happy and fulfilling lives and enrich the lives of all that know them. Little Inferno’s, raising you alongside your mummy Lola as been an absolute pleasure – now go out and set this world on fire 🔥

25/06/2024

In the last few weeks the puppies are with us experiences start to become their main form of socialisation. They spend more time out of their pen, interacting with the other dogs and animals around the house, as well as outside when the weather allows. They explore their world more and more and have lots of visitors to come and play and have snuggles with.

They have 2 vet visits, the first for their health check and second for vaccinations and microchips. We also perform their personality testing.

As we approach handover day we are busy preparing the puppies for the skills they will need in their new homes such as crate training, resource guarding prevention, engagement and loose leash walking.

A week before handover day the puppies new families receive their homework to help them get prepared for the new addition to their home. It’s helpful for even experienced dog owners to refresh and be ready to give their puppies the best possible start and these puppies have outstanding families that have done this with excitement and enthusiasm - Thanks guys 😊

20/06/2024

Last night all together for the Little Inferno’s as it’s 🏡 ⏱️

20/06/2024

Last night at Peppertree with all the Little Inferno’s together. Indy travels to her forever home tomorrow. We are going to miss these puppies so much 😻

19/06/2024

19/06/2024

Pedigree names (Dogs NZ Pending)

18/06/2024

It’s the puppies last week with us and the rain has finally taken a break so we can get outside for a play. Eric’s ears can’t decide if they want to be up or down but we finally get a look at him with both ears up.

15/06/2024

Following Raz the cat and when pick on Aunty Chica turns into the boys thinking they might find a cheeky drop of milk. No milkshake’s in that yard sorry boys 🥤

13/06/2024

Playtime with Aunty Squash

11/06/2024

Indy with her scent toy 🧸

09/06/2024

The result of several different training protocols - the puppy call 🎵, the communication trinity (charging the clicker 🫰, the box game 📦 and manding🪑) plus focus & engagement 👁️

09/06/2024

The Box Game 📦

09/06/2024

The Box Game

09/06/2024

Playtime

09/06/2024

The Little Inferno’s - 7 weeks

09/06/2024

Hugo - 7 weeks

09/06/2024

Eric - 7 weeks

09/06/2024

Indy - 7 weeks

07/06/2024

****ARE YOU REACTIVELY TRAINING YOUR DOG OR PROACTIVELY TRAINING THEM? ****

There are two big challenges dog trainers face. The less challenging is reactive dogs and the most challenging is reactive owners.

A common misconception with a lot of owners is that to train a dog we need to see or correct the 'bad' behaviour.

We have become a society of reactive dog owners. We react when they react and the way we try to train them now is reactively, not proactively.

What does this mean?

It means that we allow our dogs to develop the habits we don't want them to develop like jumping up or pulling on the lead and then we only try to train them when they are performing those problematic behaviours. It's a very inefficient way of teaching our dogs what we want them to do instead.

If your dog is already doing the 'bad' behaviour then whatever you do then and there will likely be managing them, not training them. We shouldn't wait for the problem to happen and THEN start our training. Training is designed to prevent the bad stuff. Not something that corrects it when it happens.

You need to be proactive with your training. This means anything that you want your dog to be able to do, you have to teach them that before you put them in the situation where you want them to do it. Loose lead walking is a good example. The novice owner will put a lead on their dog and then walk with them asking them to heel or whatever they're asking and expect the dog to understand. This usually ends up with the dog pulling and the owner yanking them back saying 'HEEL!' This is reactive 'training'. You wait for the dog to do the bad thing and then try to correct it then.

We've raised loads of puppies in the last 4 years and one thing that we have always done is taught the puppy how we expect them to walk when we are out and about. When we teach this, the puppy isn't outside and doesn't even have a lead on. We literally just want them to know that walking next to us pays very well and it's worth their time. We don't wait till we can get them out and about to teach them to walk nicely on the lead. We do it at home and in the garden and in the training shed etc etc.

Then once we do go out and about the pup already has a pretty good idea what is expected of them. We don't even use a word like 'heel' to let them know. We've practiced it so much that the cue to walk nicely is simply being on the lead and where the lead is attached.

Anything that your dog does that you want to change can be resolved with simple, simple dog training. For the average pet dog a well behaved dog is a dog that can do the very basics very well. And in all sorts of situations and environments. Having a dog sit and wait for their food to be put on the floor is mildly useful. Having a dog that can sit and wait in all other situations is VERY useful. Practice the basics everywhere you go and just remember your dog is always forming associations and learning.

If you keep letting them jump on people they will keep jumping on them. If you keep walking your dog and they don't know that there is another option, they'll keep pulling.

Reactive dogs need proactive owners. Don’t wait for them to do the ‘naughty’ stuff before you decide to train them. Train them now before the naughty stuff becomes a strong habit.

Little Riff will be up for adoption soon. Who wants him!?

02/06/2024

Eric - 6 weeks