The Happy Puppy Handbook: Your Definitive Guide to Puppy Care and Early Training

by Pippa Mattinson

Pippa Mattinson, dog-training specialist, tells you everything you need to know about training and caring for your new puppy. From preparing the house and garden before the puppy arrives, to introducing your new friend to all the family (including children and other animals), and solving problems like crying, night waking, feeding, upset stomachs, biting, chewing and jumping up, this book is packed with all you need to know as a puppy owner.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Self Help, Reference, Animals

345 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2014

About the author

Pippa has a degree in Zoology and is the founder of the UK's national graded training scheme for gundogs.
She is passionate about helping people enjoy their dogs and a strong supporter of modern, science based dog training methods.
Pippa lives in Hampshire, England with her husband, sons and five dogs

Reviews

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one book you need when getting a puppy. Incredibly informative with a great layout and lovely glossy photos!!! Everything from choosing the right breeder to problem solving! I'm sure I'll be dipping in and out of this book as I go through the challenges of a brand new puppy!

[A]

This book is pretty comprehensive. I only had a couple of qualms:
- the fictional puppy referred to in the book is a boy puppy
- the fictional breeder referred to in the book is a woman
- the section about taking your puppy to meet children at the school gates was very odd

That said, I have followed much of the advice detailed by the author and found it to be good. The layout also makes for an easily digestible read. I would recommend this tome for my fellow dog owners.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative! This British author knows dogs, especially labrador retrievers. Wish I’d read it BEFORE getting a puppy!! I also recommend her website, The Labrador Site.

[Lydia Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can watch my review of this and other books on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/hm3kOSK_BS8
This was a great book for anyone preparing for, or getting to grips with a new puppy.
It was nicely laid out and very easy to read. Mattinson had a good balance between information and her own personal approach. Mattinson gives a lot of clear, succinct information without being bossy or pushy about it, and I liked what she advocated. She covers lots of areas of puppy care and what to expect with a new puppy such as how puppies learn, how much exercise they will need and their maturity phases as well as healthcare and food. Mattinson gives some good advice about what to expect when you collect your puppy including the journey home and arriving home as well as meeting all the family. She also discusses house training, sleeping, feeding, socialising and playing and there was lots of clear useful information.
There was also a problem-solving section which covered barking, chewing, food guarding and coprophagy (I can’t wait for that one). Mattinson’s approach is based on positive rewards, consistency and developing a strong relationship. If you want to know exactly what to expect with a new puppy and what you need to do, but not in a boring or overly-controlled way, then this book is ideal, particularly if you’re not experienced in dog ownership.
This was a great book and the sort that I was looking for to read before we get a dog so that I know
what to be aware of and what to consider. I feel much more prepared for our puppy after reading this book and I have ordered my own copy as well as Mattinson’s other book, Total Recall. You can watch my review of this and other books on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/hm3kOSK_BS8

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely a fantastic resource for puppy owners. Covers everything from basic training and obedience to troubleshooting, nutrition and diet (even teaching readers how to do a balanced raw diet for their pup), exercise, and so much more. I've been reading a lot of puppy books lately and this one is by far the best I have come across. My only sticking point was the section on vaccines, which although the author was fair in stating that they may cause side effects, ultimately rules in favor of their benefit, sadly grossly understating (in my opinion) just what and how big those risks really are. Perhaps vaccines are different in the UK, but here in the US they have been proven to cause tumors at the injection site (vets are taught to administer them in a limb or tail which can be amputated), autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders, allergies, behavioral changes, and even the very diseases they are supposed to prevent (Fort Dodge recalled a live virus rabies vaccine in '06 which was causing rabies in dogs). I would caution any dog owners to first research the works of Dr. Jean Dodds and Dr. Ron Schultz regarding vaccination, as well as reading The Mark of The Beast by Dr. Patricia Jordan (you can read it free at pdfdrive dot com) which is truly a must-read. Beyond this, this is a really worthwhile read that I will be recommending in the future to other puppy parents looking for help. :)

[Magdalena Golden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book about a year before getting my dog, at which point I wasn't sure yet whether I'd be getting a puppy or a grown dog. We ended up adopting a ca. 2-year-old stray and I read this book right before we brought her home, but even though it deals with puppies, a lot of the information that I found here was still very relevant.

I loved Mattinson's here-are-the-facts approach. She's great at explaining different choices regarding food, living arrangements, and veterinary care, presenting the pros and cons of each and showing what works for her and why. It made making choices that are right for my situation much easier.

Sometimes, though, the book sounded unintentionally funny as the underlying assumption seems to be that most people live in British-style homes with a front and back yard, the latter accessible through the kitchen, upstairs bedrooms etc ;) Obviously, the book was written for the British audience and I guess statistically her assumptions are correct, still, it sounded silly sometimes ;)

In any case, I'm definitely planning on reading her other book - Total Recall.

[David Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being unwell whilst welcoming a new puppy into the house wasn’t how I expected the first couple of weeks to go, but we adapt 🤷🏼‍♂️🤣
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It’s been interesting going back to basics again and realising how lucky I am for having Loki; and appreciative of the effort I put into his training. There’s still a long way to go with Thor, but he’s doing so well already, and even a bit of reading like this came as reassurance!
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One thing that this book has also made me appreciate is the influence having an older dog already, has on welcoming a new puppy in. Don’t get me wrong, Loki is still pissed off and grumpy at times that he’s being climbed over by the little terrorist, but in 2 weeks I’d say we are 95% toilet trained (only an accident every other day or so), and if he does wake in the night for a pee, it’s only once and he goes straight back to sleep…so from 10.30/11 til 5.30/6 I don’t hear a peep 😍
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So yeah, still a long way to go, he’s only 10 weeks, but thank god he’s letting me rest too 🤣🫶🏼😍
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Book 25 of 2024 ✅
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#readmorebooks #2024readingchallenge #readingchallenge #bookworm

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We got a puppy for the first time. After he was born (before we brought him home) I read this book. If you have never had a puppy before, and haven't done a lot of research, this book will be a very valuable tool for you! I plan on keeping this book for the next puppy I get just as a refresher. There are a lot of wonderful tips for all dog owners out there, and it saved me from having my puppy destroy much. So far, after listening to the advice about kennels, my baby only chewed a couple books. And that was because my back was turned.

[Luca · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, you can find a wide range of topics and interesting information that is going to prepare you for having a puppy. What I like about this book, is the fact that the author tries not to impose her views, but often shows different ideas backed up by research. The book seems also to be inspired by real-life experience and hopefully covers all the problems you are going to encounter.

The book is easy to read, the chapters short and precise and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about puppies.

[Caroline "Carrie" Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've got a beautiful 8 week old Beagle/Springer Spaniel puppy, and I've already used some of the information in this book training her since she came into my home. So far so good, and it's helped me a lot, but there's a LONG way to go. I haven't trained a puppy for 11.5 years since I trained my late dog (RIP, miss you so much) so I'm a bit rusty.

I've given this book 3 stars currently because there's a long way to go with training. But I'm hoping, with this book's help, she will become a very happy adult dog.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful and have referred back to bits already, sure I will keep doing this over the next few weeks and months too. Covers every topic you need for the basics, goes in depth enough but in a simple, easy to follow no nonsense way

Wasn't expecting to give this 5 stars because the first part is badly laid out, almost every paragraph says "more about this later", so frustrating! But I'm glad I kept reading and overall I can see why this book comes so highly recommended

[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advice and it fitted in with everything we experienced with our puppy! As a new puppy mum, it initially felt rather overwhelming but the books layout and easy language made it less so. It helped us prepare ourselves for her arrival, book her in early to puppy classes, and when the unexpected happened - get the answer we needed stat! Lots of colour, cute photos and summaries at the end of each chapter.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely first rate book on raising a new puppy. Covers all the bases in a clear and straightforward fashion, everything from preparing for the puppy, to picking up the puppy, to Life with the new puppy, and how to help him grow into a confident and well behaved adult. It is excellent to read straight through and will be a valuable reference book as you go through the process of bringing a new dog into your life.

[Miss V · Rating 5 out of 5]

We brought home our new pup 4 weeks ago. Thank goodness we prepped ourselves with this book first, otherwise we would have been lost. Tells you everything you need to get ready beforehand, on the day of collection, and what to do after that. Really easy to dip in and out of the necessary chapters as and when you need them in your journey.

[Emma-Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book but I am feeling pretty overwhelmed right now, if I’m honest! A very informative book - I had no idea there was so much needed to do all at the same time... Yikes! Just over 5 weeks to get myself sorted before we bring him home 🐶🐶🐶

[P.F. Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of top tips and repeatable exercises - each broken down into undaunting simple stages, to help instill the desired behaviours. Having recently become a first-time dog owner, I will use it plentifully and the book recommendation came from friends with an amiable well-behaved dog.

[Daniel Schotman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this before you decide to raise a puppy.
Extremely useful. So many interesting tips and advice.
Really a must before you embark on something so wild and unpredictable as raising a puppy.
Which is a day task :-)

[AA_Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Experienced dog owner, about to get my first puppy.

All seems to be common sense and good advice, well presented and written in an easy to follow style. Having read this I’m equal parts reassured and terrified about our new arrival, but feel much better equipped for potential issues.

[James Horgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

More text book in style than Steve Mann. It covers more serious problem areas and suggests solutions but is not so creative on the basic training. A fairly quick skim particularly as not all chapters will apply to all dogs.

[Bro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. If you are looking for a highly detailed guide on how to train a young puppy from the time you get it into adulthood, this is for you.

[Samuel]

So far, so useful!

[Aliya Steed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview

Excellent introduction to the topic. If you’re only going to read one book on puppy training, you’ll be fine if it’s this one.

[JaLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, informative book for new, first time puppy owners.

[Susan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep going back to this book for the help

[Nik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful & informative

[Giorgio Gristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great practical reading

Very easy read with many practical examples and step by step instructions. Gives a very clear look into puppy psychology and basic training methods.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has helped us twice as we have two dogs. It’s a great book to dip into when needed. It has a clear layout, pictures and easy to follow information. I would recommend it. Thanks

[Would you rather be a fish? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! If you’re getting a puppy (or have one already) you definitely need this. 100% recommended.

[Rochelle Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't recommend enough

This book helped to put the conflicting online advice to one side and allowed me to understand my puppy so much better

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, especially for prospective and new puppy owners. Recall training may have saved my dog's life. Fun also.