First Time Puppy Owner

Hi - I also have a very itchy dog! between his hind legs and a hot spot. I have put him on Advantix as well as Advocate as I believe it is the sandflies and mozzies getting to him - yet it could be anything - environmental, allergies to grasses etc. Yesterday he was still attacking his hot spot and licking at the irritation between his hind legs so i took him to the vet. (If you are not sure what hot spots are here is a link http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/hotspots.html ) The vet gave him a shot of Dexafort to calm the itching and tables to fight the bactrial infection from the hot spot. She said should we have any repeat itching in the next month or so he could have sensative skin issues and there are special creams and medicated shampoos that can help and possibly even be put on tables that act similarly to the injection he had. So I guess it's best to try to figure out what the cause could be and eliminate it from the environment if possible or other wise consult a vet!

I have seen the little add up the top of screen - bu not sure what it's for - here is the link from DOL advert page! http://www.naturevet.com.au/ edit - under all products I found this http://www.naturevet.com.au/ProductMainPage.aspx

Good Point! I think I'll try that tomorrow and see how we go! Seriously to make sure it is nothing worse- keep it up for a minimum of three days!!! :rolleyes: Otherwise go to the vet! I was told that one day will not do as they have so much food in them they will not notice for a day or two - but by day three or four. either they are back to woofing down their food or there are underlying issues! Seriously everyone in the house must be under strick instructions not to give puppy anything else - maybe make a chart and pop it on the fridge and tell them she has to stick to this for just a few days to make sure she is not sick! That way they may understanf and not be "like whatever " Additionally of this works - keep her on that food plan and only up it if she is starting to get a little to thin!!! P.s. Benson is on a diet at 9 mths :rolleyes: because of me

Benson is also a great deal leaner than alot of Goldens we see, yet I was told bu my mate (that is a vet) that he could loss 2-3 kgs to be much healthier!!! :rolleyes: opps :cool: Oh well at least we caught it early - so hard to know when you have never had a dog before and the packets tell you to feed so much when it is generally a cup or two less if you are giving them bones and treats for training. Also reduce dinner by a bit if they have had lots of treats during a training period! :rolleyes:

Easy done isn't it amypie!?!?! We think they need sooo much more than they really do - we forget that they are on 'super premium foods that are much more concentrated' as a wise person said to me and we look at the portion and think - nah that's not enough!!! But even the packets make us think more is better but each dog is individual and some need the specified amount (very few that are not worling dogs) and some need sooo much less if they are not super active Oh well we live - we learn and puppyhood is the easist time to make sure they are lean, as I have been told getting the kgs of an adult is really hard! You are looking for a girly hourglass shape from their ribs to their hips and a thin layer of skin over their ribs - but not so much you can seen each rib! I am still looking for the hour glass shape but we will get there! :rolleyes:

You are probably doing what I was - overfeeding! Cut back both meals for two - three day and I bet you will see a massive difference! So if you feed 2 cups now of dry food and a bone or two, plus kongs for instance - reduce it to one cup a day split over the two meals and only a bone and if kongs are involved then take the biscuit out of her meal portions and add a tiny bit of cheese to plug the top. See i found out I was feeding Benson way too much and every morning (before I found out) he would not even glance at his food bowl.

If they get do not understand "ahaha's", pushing them away, screams or shoving something else into their mouth to chew on - then the puppy school teacher we had told us to spray ourselves with areoguard and once they taste that, they will generally never go there again! Not advised long term - kind of a shocking type of taste to make the puppy think other things are much more pleasurable to chew on! Also foil I understand is equally as disgusting to a pup!

I totally empathise! Mine is going through two stages at once - • Selective deafness? (5-9 Months) It's no surprise to see puppies pretend not to hear your known commands at this age. It's at this age we introduce more formal training including consequences for disobedience. Dogs often chew & destroy things that have your scent on them at this point too, many pups are dumped before 9 months... why? Because they now have strength, they getting bigger, faster & less reactive to a simple "no"… By now they have either been taught to walk on a loose leash or pull on the leash.. • Second Fear Period (8 - 16 Months) As puppies become what is called gangly, long legs due to growth spurts, they seem to become a little weaker in nerve than previously noted. It's strange sounds, new sights that often spook a dog more easily than just a week ago... It's at this time we need to be good leaders, when your dog baulks at a stairway, keep walking at full pace to show your pup all is ok. Coddling him when he shows fear will re enforce that fear & you will have to work to get over it later. Not only does he not listen but I think he may be a little frightened of me as well - or I think to aptly describe it, is he totally suss of my motives *grrrr* (He has a skin irration at the moment from mozzie/sand fly bites that got him before I started him on permoxin, which he also hates *sigh*) I just wish I could rationalise with him!

Ok I have just spoken to the vet as (Golden Retriever) Benson's inner hind legs are getting worse from insect bites and him licking at them constantly. I have been applying permoxin but I think he has an irrations from the bites that have gotten through - def not fleas - either mozzies or sandflies. So they said clean with diluted Betadine and then apply Aloveen conditioner and leave it on try to soothe the itching. Has anyone tried this before??? Thank you for your help in advance!

Hi here is an exert from this web site - hope it helps! http://www.iams.com/en_BI/jhtmls/nutrition...=PN&qi=2445 Five Easy Steps to Leash Train Your Dog Begin by placing the collar and lead on your dog while she eats, letting the lead hang loosely by her side. This allows your dog to associate the lead with something pleasant (food) and helps her get used to having a collar around her neck. After two or three days, take the lead in your hand and follow her around the house for a few minutes after she's eaten. Do this for longer and longer periods, until your dog is used to both the lead and having you walk beside her. Next, go outside and let your dog drag the lead around, occasionally picking up the lead and following her. Offer her a treat while showing the lead. While walking, hold the lead in your right hand and coax your dog along your left side by holding a treat in your left hand. As you walk, repeat the phrase, "Let's go!" Praise your dog when she does well. If your dog starts to pull forward, do a clockwise turn and walk in another direction; the lead will pull her head to the side so she'll have to hurry to catch up with you. Repeat this exercise until your dog learns that if she wants to walk beside you and receive your praise, she'll have to stay by your side.

Is your Border Collie a working dog or in the suburbs? Eagle pack I know have a power formula for working dogs and for suburb dogs they have a holisitc range! You will feed less of these types of biscuits as they are much more concentrated - so don't get scared of the price k! http://www.eaglepack.com.au/Store/tabid/54/Default.aspx Also I'm no expert but our puppy school teacher said that tinned food from the supermarket is equivalent to big macs. I would go with dry food, bones, chicken necks/frames, bit of mince, sardines occassionally, eggs occassionally and vegies On this thread there are things that are toxic thought so make sure you don't feed things like onion or garlic in significant quantities etc. http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=81686

Thats even better,didn't reliase Leonards sold turkey,thats how much i take notice Thats even better,didn't reliase Leonards sold turkey,thats how much i take notice Me too - I thought they were just chicken people! Whoops my brain must be blond or I need glasses but I read it as Chicken Necks :p Really don't know how I made that stuff up I admit I have done that before too! Shame though as I thought what a bargin!

Thats even better,didn't reliase Leonards sold turkey,thats how much i take notice Me too - I thought they were just chicken people! :p

Yeah that's right from Woolies!

I say get a mars coat king and run it through more than necessary if that is the issue as it also cuts a little of the top coat - but the bonus is that it get the undercoat out, yet leaves enough for insulation from heat and sunburn!!!

Eagle Pack

Miranda - is it ok if they are frozen!?!?!

Not to mention that : the closer ages are together, the more likely you might have heirarchy issues when the dogs reach adolescence. what one dog learns, chances are so will the other. This is fine and dandy when it is "good" things they learn off each other, but more often than not, they pick up on "not so good" things faster and more prevalently. Working through with one - making the mistakes as we do (and fixing them, as you are doing ) is a learning curve. Further down the track, if you then chose to take on a 2nd dog, you'll be able to apply the knowledge you've gained through your experience/s. Of course, every dog is an individual, so they normally throw in a 'curve ball' just to keep us on our toes ............... and just when we thought we knew it all! SO TRUE!

I think that the place I mentioned before petz food company also stocks royal canine - they are open on weekend sometimes.

PETZ FOOD COMPANY (For Brisbane areas only) Ph. 07 3200 0498 I know she runs a kennel from there so don't be suprised she doesn't say the company name. Also its a hyrdrotherapy place. I know she does Eagle Pack for sure and I got a 15kg bag of large puppy for $85. I think she does a few other brands as well just not sure which ones. Personally I have never been there myself the first time I got it couried and the next time my friend picked it up for me as she works right near there! Hope that helps you guys out!

I understand that one then 12-18 mths later is a better way to go. That way at least one dog has already learnt all the basic obedience and if not more and I have also read that the new puppy then will generally pick up basic training faster as the watch what the older dog does!

Benson picks his up and drops it several times until the stuff starts falling out - mind you I have gotten a little more crafty and use a combo of devon, cheese and his kibble and really squish it in now and freeze mince or natural yoghurt in another. He has 4 kongs now as sometimes he hides one or two of them on me *grrr*! :D

Where are you Spanner? I know in Vic there is a website you order from and it's free delivery, but if you are in QLD there is a great place in Browns Plains that sells super premium really cheap!

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...&start=4305 Come into the GR thread - link above! ;) Also read the link below http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...olden+Retriever

I know that a GR person on this forum has a Furmi and then got to try a coat king of a friends and said the coat kings was quite a bit better - yet I don't know much about cav's - do they have a significant underciat!?!? If not perhaps a furmi is the better choice!?!?! Yet the other arguement would be to get a coat king as that they have so many different blades for their brushes to suite all different breeds - so perhaps check out the one best suited to a cav!?!?! Edit - my gr would snap at me if I used a normal slicker so I think either is a better alternative LOL!