General health

With all dogs, it is important that you maintain regular periodic healthcare.

 Keep to a regular worming and up to date vaccination programme with your dog (according to current protocols) - especially if intending to use Boarding Kennels, travel abroad etc - and as advised by your Vet.    

 Keep teeth clean by regular brushing with a proprietary tooth brush and toothpaste, and ensure that the dog can massage its gums and clean its own teeth by providing chews specially made for this purpose (available from all pet shops/dog shows/veterinary surgeries etc).

 Keep ears free from excess debris by maintaining regular checks and gently cleaning out with the use of proprietary ear cleansers. Make sure that the hair underneath the earflap is kept short to enable as much air as possible to circulate around the opening of the ear canal.

 Keep to a routine for brushing & combing, so that you can make certain that the skin and coat are kept in a good, healthy condition. As your dog will need some trimming, you should find out the best place to go to keep your dog's coat free from knots and excess feathering (especially around the feet, ears, and neck, underneath legs and rear end). The breeder of your dog should be happy to advise or show you how to do this.

 Keep to a fixed feeding schedule best suited to your dogs needs. (e.g. Complete, tinned, natural feeding), making sure that at all times your dog has access to clean, fresh water.

 Keep to a regular exercise/activity programme, attributable to the age of your ESS and for maintenance of both correct body mass/weight and mental stimulation (working and/or play).

 Keep an eye open for any signs of problems (e.g. excess urination or blood in stools or urine, loss of appetite, excessive drinking, severe coughing, breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhoea, changes in behaviour or temperament or any signs of lameness). If you are able to give accurate descriptions of any problems, this will assist your Vet to give a more accurate diagnosis.

 Pesticides  and pets
A pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or otherwise control a pest. These include insecticides, herbicides, fungi­cides, rodenticides, and disin­fectants. Because pesticides are designed to be toxic, they can pose a risk not only to children and adults but also to pets. Dogs are ex­posed to pesticides when they inhale, ingest, or absorb the product through the skin. Animal studies have shown that some pesticides can cause cancer, reproductive problems, birth defects, central nervous system disturbances, liver and kidney damage, and skin irrita­tion.
 Although many pesticides are beneficial, poor planning or improper use of a pesticide prod­uct can be very toxic to pets and dogs. Of course the best way to avoid toxicity is to avoid using chemi­cal products. However, if these chemicals must be used be sure to read the labels, use the prod­ucts properly, and be extremely careful.
If you decide that the best solution to your pest problem is to use chemical pesticides, then be aware that these products can be hazardous to you and your dog, especially when handled, applied, stored, or disposed of improperly. The following are some basic steps to avoid risk­ing the health of your dog:
- Choose the pesticide that is least toxic.

- Every time you use the pesticide, read and follow all label directions.

- Keep your dog in a safe place while you mix or apply pesticides.

- Always keep the pes­ticides in the original container.

- Store pesticides in a ventilated, dry and cool place, preferably where your pet or dog cannot gain access.
Keep your dog away from treated areas until the pesticide is com­pletely dry. Always read the pesticide label for specific instructions as to how long to keep the dog out of the treated area.
Wrap empty, rinsed con­tainers in newspaper and dispose of them in your trash can. However, any unused pesticide product that can no longer be used should be taken to the local house­hold hazardous waste disposal facility.
Different types of fertilizers have different levels of toxicity. When applying fertilizer to your lawn or garden, it's crucial that you read the label carefully and determine if the chemicals are a threat to your pet's health. If in doubt, assume that the fertilizer is dangerous.

Lawn Fertilizers Typically Not Dangerous
Not all fertilizers are dangerous. Fertilizers that don't contain herbicides or pesticides won't harm pets. But regardless, as a rule, it's always a good idea to water a lawn thoroughly after applying fertilizer to help wash granules into the soil and off the grass blades.
The situation is different with garden weed killers, which work by sticking to the leaves large and small. To work, they can't be washed off for at least 48 hours after application and during this time, pets and children should be kept away .
Slug and snail bait with metaldehyde
It can cause tremors, seizures, and even death and again, it tastes mighty good to dogs. If you've got a dog, use something else. Baits containing ferric phosphate are a less toxic version. What to use with caution
Herbicides
Roundup and similar herbicides aren't as dangerous as disulfoton and snail bait, but they can still cause vomiting if eaten. Put your dogs inside when applying herbicides--along with their chewtoys, food bowls, and anything else they might put their mouths on--and make sure they stay there until the treated area is good and dry. Once it's dry, the chemical has been taken down to the root of the plant and the lawn is considered dog-safe.

What about the long-term effects of garden chemicals?
There hasn't been much research to find out, and for the moment the answer is a frustrating, "We don't really know." One 2004 study did find that Scottish Terriers living in homes where phenoxy herbicides were applied were about 4.4 times more likely to develop bladder cancer. Unfortunately, no one has followed up on the study, and because the research didn't look at the other, healthy dogs living with the dogs who developed cancer,  it's not conclusive.

What we do know: Cancer is the leading cause of death in many dog breeds, and playing it safe is never a bad idea. "I would certainly use the least amount of garden chemicals possible and use organic options when you can," . It's definitely better for the planet, and it may be better for your dog.
( The points in this section are my personal opinion)