Eukanuba’s Veterinary Expert Kellie Ceccarelli shares her top tips to support new puppy owners...

The summer months are officially the most popular time of the year when it comes to puppy registrations with the Kennel Club providing a huge opportunity for retailers to educate new owners on the lifelong impact and care of dog ownership to ensure pet wellbeing, cement relationships with consumers, boost sales and encourage repeat visits.

For those consumers who may be thinking about getting a puppy but still haven’t decided on the best breed for them, retailers can offer their advice to ensure potential owners select a breed which is suited to their lifestyle.

Asking questions about your consumers’ living arrangements, work hours, social life and experience of keeping pets will help you to advise on a suitable breed.

If you or your staff don’t feel 100% comfortable with your knowledge on the various breeds available Eukanuba recently launched Breed-o-pedia, an online tool which provides a wealth of options from those most suited to smaller homes and families with children to owners with limited mobility. 

Once your consumer is confident with the breed that’s right for them you can help ensure their puppy receives a great start to life by covering off the following areas:

Providing premium nutrition for visible benefits with a lifelong impact

Many factors in a puppy’s life will have an effect on their overall well-being and future with nutrition being one of the key factors that needs to be considered. That’s why it’s crucial that retailers provide pet owners with the advice they need in order to help give puppies a strong nutritional foundation.

Eukanuba’s Puppy range provides a 100% complete and balanced diet with high-quality animal protein so there is no need for any additional products or supplements. The special formula nurtures smooth digestion through natural fibres, contains tailored levels of calcium to encourage healthy growth for all breeds and through the inclusion of DHA from fish oils supports brain development. In addition, the natural blend of antioxidants helps to build a puppy’s natural defenses, and omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids promote a healthy skin and coat.

For new owners who chose their puppy from a Eukanuba Breeder Club member, they’ll also receive a special Eukanuba Puppy pack which includes a 1kg bag of puppy food together with a measuring cup, puppy information book and money off voucher.

Microchipping with Petlog
It is now the law for all dogs to be microchipped and the correct contact details regularly updated helping owners to be quickly reunited with their pet should they lose them. Remind consumers this needs to be done by the time their puppy is eight weeks old to avoid being fined. Microchipping is available for free through Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Blue Cross centres and Dogs Trust but encourage pet owners to seek advice from their vet if they have any questions.

Creating a safe and comfortable environment

This will help to settle a puppy into its new home whilst allowing you to boost sales in store by highlighting the equipment needed. Puppies always need to have fresh water available so encourage new owners to purchase feeding bowls which are not easily tipped over during a puppy’s more playful moments. A comfortable dog bed is also essential as it’s important for owners to ensure their puppy feels happy and safe when they are not around.

Choosing a name

This can be the most exciting part of owning a new puppy however, there are a few tips you can provide owners with to ensure they select a name that won’t confuse their pet. Encourage owners to pick a short, two-syllable name and instruct the rest of the family to be consistent with the same name to avoid any confusion.

Visit your local vet

Providing pets with the appropriate care they need to live an extraordinary life is an important part of ownership. That’s why it’s hugely important to encourage pet owners to visit their local vet with their new puppy as soon as possible. Not only will this introduce veterinary visits to puppies from an early age but also gives the vet the opportunity to check for any health issues, abnormalities, or birth defects.

Overall, getting a new puppy is extremely exciting but during this time new owners can quickly become distracted causing them to forget some of the more important steps of responsible pet ownership. This is where it’s crucial for retailers to share expert insight and advice to ensure owners have all the information they need to keep puppies happy and healthy right from the very start and throughout their life. 

For more information on Eukanuba please visit: www.eukanuba.co.uk