Toohey

Becky, have you looked at the grooming section on this site? http://www.cockerspanielclub.com/ You are aiming to get your cockers looking as if they are naturally handstripped, so they still have their feathers, so the fronts of their front legs, the sides of their back legs are clipped, and their back is clipped. The throat is clipped from under the jaw, down to the sternal notch, and the top third of the ears, both sides, is clipped. With their sides, you are aiming to have a skirt like appearance. bring the clippers right down the side until you think they look as if they have a natural fall happening, bringin it in at the waist a little. I'll try and take some pics later to show you how I do my dogs.

Who told you that? can you provide a link to that info please?

I bought one from Babyco for about $60. Tried Ebay but they are very popular. Well worth it. It meant I could contain the pup in the kitchen where she could see the other dogs in the other part of the house, but could not annoy them. it is made of timber though, and got somewhat chewed .

Hi Bruno, best not to feed apple seeds/cores as they can be toxic to dogs. from here

My 16 month old pup had a fright the other day, and she does not frighten easily. A crawling baby of all things, which is something I did not think to expose her to when she was little. She could not work out what it was, and barked her head off, as the baby crawled towards her :rolleyes:

Common sense tells us it is not possible to completely eliminate risks, (though yes I certainly take precautions with footwear when there are young puppies at home, in fact shoes are left at the door), but risks can minimised as much as possible. After all, would you try and cross the road when the traffic is at it's busiest, or would you wait until there is little to no traffic and then cross?

Rooster have a read of this thread http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?showtopic=27340 I am not stupid enough to think that. My latest pup came to me at 10 weeks old. She did four weeks of puppy school at a privately run obedience school. She was taken many places in a bag that I fashioned and carried her in until she was 18 weeks old. Just as well as she was getting damn heavy by then And please don't tell me your dog is too big too carry... buy a smaller one next time She went for car rides every day, she went into shops in her bag, and went to watch fireworks. She met dogs belonging to freinds whom I knew were healthy and up to date with their vacc. She met lots of children and even harrassed a three year old into saying "gee that puppy is annoying" after only five minutes, and every weekend from the time she came home she visited oldies in a nursing home where she chatted and cuddled with all the residents. Not once did her feet touch the ground in a vet clinic or a public place frequented by dogs.

No, I was not feeding anything else. Have taken them off it now and put them back on their preferred natural diet. We are all MUCH happier.

I am also one who will not put an incompletely vaccinated pup on the floor at the vet's clinic. I am also not sure about this "critical period" . I had a girl come to me at 8 months old. She had never been out of the breeder's yard, but was a social butterfly in a couple of days.

Don't know what's in that Nutro, but my girl has been unbearable in the evenings to be around since she started on it. Fruit and vegie farts are far more tolerable! And my boy justs turns up his nose at it and says "where's my chicken wing?" ;)

Perhaps Troy might be kind enough to pin this topic in the puppy forum?

Bumping for all the new puppy owners.

Maybe I am having a senior moment,...... but what's EPI?

Firstly, you will NOT get a registered pup from ACA kennel. They are mass producers of all sorts of crossbreeds and I believe they are supplied by puppy farms. A cocker would probably suit your situation, they love their exercise, but can be happy with half to one hour a day, preferably off lead. If you keep them in full coat you are looking at brushing at least every second day. Would be good with cats if introduced when they are little and taught that the cat is to be respected For a registered puppy you will find plenty of available pups here http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/puppie...ker-spaniel.asp

I'm so sorry to hear this Nadine. I have not yet had to put a dog to sleep, the very idea fills me with dread... I can't offer any advice. My cat had a nasty cancer a few months back, and letting her go was completely and utterly heartbreaking. I cried for weeks. Take your boyfreind with you, you will need the support.... as far afterwards, I don't know either. I guess you just have to mourn him, for as long as it takes, and eventually you will be ready to move on and think about sharing your life with another dog, though Charlie will always have a very special place in your heart. Will be thinking of you

Nadine, I hope all goes well tomorrow for you both. Fingers crossed for your boy.

Another thought, with his liver the way it is, he would be much better off NOT having a general. If you consider that his liver has to metabolise the drugs that are needed to put him to sleep and keep him asleep, and it is already compromised by his disease. Have another chat to the vet and if you are not 100% confident that Charlie is in the best possible hands, I'd be looking to another vet.

Hi Nadine, I'm sorry to hear about Charlie. The procedure he needs is called an abdominal paracentesis and it will help him breathe easier and feel much more comfortable. I would not think it needs a general anaesthetic. Perhaps your vet is a little inexperienced and feels there would be more control and safety doing it under general. All that is required is a large needle to the abdomen, and shouldn't upset him too much. How brave is he usually? Maybe the vet has his reasons for giving a general.

Just an update here, my girl has become sore and lame and is currently being treated for a secondary infection. The latest vet she has seen is still fairly stumped, but is researching the matter for me. The amazing Steve has hit on a probable diagnosis however, and these links she gave me show exactly what might be going on here.... I have sent them to my vet. http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings...mp;Category=410 http://www.bloodaxe.com/SLO/SLO1.jpg http://www.bloodaxe.com/SLO/SLO2.jpg http://www.bloodaxe.com/SLO/SLO3.jpg http://www.bloodaxe.com/SLO/SLO4.jpg http://www.bloodaxe.com/SLO/SLO5.jpg http://www.bloodaxe.com/SLO/SLO6.jpg http://www.beaconforhealth.org/Onchodystrophy.htm this is the death stare I got after trimming the fur back and cleaning around her nails just now. They are quite sore

Do NOT buy this pup. From your previous posts I see you were recommended some very good advice. Did you take any notice of it all Frank? If you buy a pup from a petshop you have no idea what health issues are in it's lines and may be heart broken down the track when diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia show up, the dog may be crippled and needing very expensive surgery at a young age, and there is also PRA to consider, meaning the dog may go blind at an early age. It sounds very odd to me that a vet could not vaccinate in the neck scruff. It seems the pup may have had blood tests for some reason if it's leg has been shaved, so it is probably already ill in some way. Please, Please PLEASE buy from a registered breeder who has HEALTH TESTED their dogs, can prove parentage and will provide a lifetime of support for you and the dog. Out of interest, how much are they going to charge you for this pup?

Oh well, guess I am not much help then, but I find it's often helpful to get others to troubleshoot from the outside and see if you can pinpoint anything that might have changed or might be causing a problem, which is why (I gather) you posted. I was in no way suggesting he may be deprived, but not knowing your dogs and his issues (as others obviously do) it helps to know a little bit more about them before offering suggestions.I hope you and your vet get to the bottom of it.

Can you describe the diet you were using? What do you give him that he is allowed to chew? Does he get big recreational bones? When my pup was going through her chewy stage I'd give her things like raw carrot, celery and pieces of fruit. Still do.What about big rawhide chews? Maybe not his, but why has your girl got thrush? Something must be missing, her immune system must not be working at it's best.Is there any reason you can't change the raw meat to meat on the bone? What is the grain content in Nutro?

Have you tried them on a natural diet? I think you need to try something different, preferably raw bones, with no grains and some added probiotics for your girl with thrush.. have a read here http://www.psoriasi.org/psoriasis/candida.htm Your boy sounds like he has eaten something that did not agree with him and is probably much better for having removed it from his system. Just my thoughts.

Can I ask what sort of diet both your dogs are on?

No. I think you are frustrated because Dougie is not telling you what you want to hear. Sometimes people need to have the message drummed in repeatedly because they don't listen, don't understand, or don't want to acknowledge that what they they already know or believe may not necessarily be right or best. Good post Huntin Hound. If you come here and ask advice, at least be prepared to take it on board and use it to help you make your own decisions re caring for and raising your dog. A little common sense never goes astray either. If you don't like the way the advice is delivered, seek it elsewhere or grow a thicker skin.