BC

Also remember a slicker will not get all knots out. It can miss them easily, so I would go through him with a pin brush , and then a metal comb after that just to make sure he is completely knot free. I find some dogs do hate the slickers, so depending on the breed and the coat type I will use a pin brush instead. Most dogs enjoy this and enjoy the feeling of the metal comb.

Cooper didn't left until he was about 12 months old, and even now, if he's busting, he will just run outside and squat ;) No humping is good. I would be glad he hasn't done this

Thanks, he is due for his annual in October, so I will speak to the vets about it again, and mention Melb Vet Referal Centre. Everyone has been a great help, thanks so much. I have a few option here I can try so I will let you know how I go.

Thanks PW and MV I might give it a try. It just sounds deadly, like I'll poison him or something I shave in between his pads, and when it flares up I bath his feet in Malaseb every day until it comes good. I use 2 containers, one with malaseb, and then 10 minutes later the other to rinse it off. He doesn't really appreciate standing in little containers with me mushing to solution into his feet but it has to be done, and I know there is no quick fix. I might give Iodine a go though.

No wandering dew etc. I have no idea what caused it. When I first took him to the vet about it 2 years ago they said he most likely has a irritation, and as he must have continuously chewed and licked his feet, it turned into a fungal/bacterial infection. I have thought of dog booties, but I dont know how he would go training and trialling in them That would be a sight. I manage it at the moment, but I would love a preventative or cure instead of just treating it when I see him chewing. Maybe it is something I will just have to continue to manage. I just feel for him sometimes, it must be so irritating.

Has anyone used these sprays before ? I am looking at Pets on the Park website, and in the first aid section, it mentions these products help heal and prevent fungal and bacterial infections. Cooper, since about 12 months old, has a fungal/bacterial infection in his toes, and I have been using Malaseb as per vets advise to help stop the itching for the poor little bugger. It flares up at different times of the year and drives Cooper boy insane. I am willing to give anything a try to help stop his discomfort, but dont want to just apply anything.

I am wanting to make my own Broad jump, Solid jump and bar jump (I can make my own box OK) and was wondering whether anyone has made their own and if you have pics I could follow from and materials used to make them. Cheers

Use number 10 under armpits, tummy from navel down to groin, all of groin area and anus. You can use on the paws and between toes if you're wanting poodle feet, just be very careful of the webbing in between the toes. I prefer to use scissors around the eyes and face. If you just use 10 around the mouth, it will leave him looking odd, with a shaved mouth and long face !! Just trim the face from the front of the mouth, in a half moon shape upto the inside of the ear, so the side of the face is in a nice curved shape, if that makes sense. You can take this as short as you need, as long as you keep the shape. To do his eyes, just hold him around the muzzell for more control and pull up the hair around his eyes and give a quick snip with the scissors, with the scissors flat against his face. Never point the scissors at him. Also, to do a nice little visor so the hair from his head is not hanging in his eyes, just brush it all forward over his face, and on a 45 degree angle, snip as short as you would like from just outside one eye all the way around to the other. The hair is now out of his pretty eyes. Just mind the eyelashes when doing this if you prefer to keep them long. I chop whiskers off if they look messy and are taking away the shape of the face. They are not important for dogs to have. If they are blended in I normally leave and just snip any stray bits. Good luck with your clipping day Just remember it takes a while to master, and hair always grows back. You will learn from your mistakes, and if you dont like something, just dont do it the same next time.

Mix in a bit of cottage cheese and see how you go !!!

Both my dogs like Optimum and Purina One on the occasions they have had it, and it was fine. Punrina One is normally around $5 more expensive than Optimum from memory, and yes, optimum is the silver bag and purina one is the redish bag.

I dont think any mobile groomers will dremel nails, but try the salons in your area. It is something you will need to ring around for if there is not anyone on DOL as it is just the personal preference of the groomer, not exactly a service that they need to offer. Goodluck

I think these ears are destined to be "downies"

I think it is possible for the dog to show no symptoms with torn ligaments. I have had 2 torn cruciates myself, but could still walk normally and do every day activities, but as soon as there was some unusual pressure on my knees, the pain was horrific, but would then go away in a day or 2. I had mine reconstructed as I play lots of sport, but as SnT said, if you are not going to do any sports with your dog, the joint may be kept stable with scar tissue.

2 obedience

No change really, just the normal distractions around the ring. At training we have people yelling accross the rings, other dogs running around the outside, clapping, whistling etc. In the next few weeks though will just reinforce Coopers attention a bit more.

What ??? Why on earth would they need to use clippers on a BC at all ?

Sorry for being a dork, but what is LSA ?

I know of a pap's coats that has gone mad in the last month on Advance Chicken and ?? (the one in the green bag)

I would never clip a clients dogs nails too short at their request. It bloody hurts them and will make them more and more petrified of having their nails done, as they associate it with pain. (just imagine your own nail bed was too long, and someone deliberatley ripped your nail back to short same for the dog) I would try grinding them, but if you cant manage that, either find a groomer that does use a dremel, or take a trip to the vet that will take them back short under sedation and make sure you keep on top of it from then on

Thanks Puggles, from the description sounds like a real possibility. He has sensitive eyes and they are often red after he has been running around or it has been windy, so I avoid this now. It is about a 3mm blotch and it hasn't increased in size as yet, but I will definately get the vet to check this out next month. I will make sure to right the name down so they can check for this and get whatever it is fixed. You're a wealth of information

In the last couple of months Cooper has developed brown clouding on the white part of his right eye. It is on the outside corner of his right eye. When he looks straight ahead, all you can see is brown where it should be white. It doesn't seem to affect him, and his check up is due in October, but I was wondering whether anyone has any ideas ?? Cheers

Hey, I dont laught at the Dally's. There are a couple at Werribee that are successful in trialling, so amongst all of their energy and exitement for life, there is a nice little working ability hidden in there

This may be a tough one for you. Both clubs I am a member of you must go through the classes 1-5 or whatever it is with all of the other dogs, and the extended heel work etc, before you can really get any ring exposure. I think this is the case with most clubs. One of the clubs is very flexible in the way you train your dog so that is not a problem, and there are many distractions ;) , but they require you to do the hard yards first. If you are wanting to obedience train your dog and also have ring exposure right from the beginning, you may want to look at a private instructor. Otherwise, if you can put in the hard yards at the start, and persist in the class work, I can recommend Werribee as a large, friendly trialling club, with flexibility, and a great environment to start your obedience training. They also offer agililty training too.

I have no hesitation in advising a client if their dog needs to see a vet for any particular reason. I have told a couple of clients to take their dogs to the vets for nails, usually because the dog goes absolutely crazy which ever method I tried to clip the nails back. Its to do with the dogs health and safetly. I dont care whether I am being paid to do it, if it is not safe for the dog or myself, I will always advise a trip to the vets. I have also done the same for clipping. Some dogs have been that aggressive I could not even pick my scissors up from the table without the dog lunging at me snapping the whole time. I could not even get near the dog to restrain or muzzell, so I much rather have them taken to the vet and be sedated, than to cause any further harm or stress to the dog or myself.

I do on Thursday nights, as I have a big training day every Friday, which means lots of treats, and I need to keep them keen to work.