A puppy's growth is divided into 2 phases. This first phase lasts for the first 8 weeks of a puppy's life and is full of exciting developments, new experiences and above all incredibly rapid growth.

Puppies have very high needs for both energy and nutrients during this initial growth phase. Providing high quality nutrition, right from the first milk, through to weaning and beyond is essential, as the diet must provide everything they need for ideal growth and development, in a palatable and digestible format.

The second part of your puppy's initial vaccinations will signal that they can now start to venture out and about and learn about the wider world and their role in it, helping them to become confident, sociable and well behaved memebers of the family. Don’t forget that your puppy will need regular booster vaccinations throughout their life to keep them protected.

Your puppy's digestive system is approaching maturity, but this is not a reason to suddenly start feeding more treats or titbits.

Dogs view their food quite differently to us, their priorities are that it smells good and meets their nutritional needs, what it looks like is irrelevant and they don't have our desire for variety.

Many Veterinary surgeries offer a check up for adolescent dogs and it is a good idea to take them along for a health check, you will be able to weigh them and discuss preventative health care such as worming and flea treatment options.

From six months, your pup will be in the final stage of growth and development. During this period, they will be full of energy and learning tremendously. It is important to remember that even if your puppy is beginning to have the appearance of an adult dog, they are still a puppy.

Teething can cause some fussy feeding behaviours, and lasts until around 7 months of age, by which point the final molars should have fully arrived.

Neutering is a surgical proceedure which prevents reproduction. It is important to speak to your Vet as they will be able to give you all the information you need including when to neuter your puppy and the cost.

Adulthood arrives between 8 months for the very smallest breed to 2 years for the very biggest, and should be a time of maintenance with minimal needs. However, there is such diversity within the canine species that complete adult food is no longer a simple one size fits all option. Doing the best for your dog means taking into consideration their size, breed and neutered status.

No one likes to think about ageing, especially not for our pets, but early anticipation and taking action can help to support our pets through a healthy ageing process.

At around half way through our dogs expected lifespan we should start considering them as mature, even if they are still bouncing around like a puppy!

The senior stage of ageing is much more visible with noticeable, physical changes as well as alterations in activity and behaviour. Generally this life-stage starts from around two thirds of the way through the dog's lifespan and it is now that we need to take particular care of our dogs.

Additional health checks by your Vet or Vet Nurse might be beneficial. Many veterinary surgeries run specific ageing clinics to support the health of older pets.