poodlefan

Speaking of the pink and purple palace, I set it up at Cooma and wondered if I should ring and tell my show buddies where I was so they could set up with me. Then I looked up.

oooh I like. All I'd need would be a pink sun lounge and a drinkie with an umbrella in it

Bitter Apple saved my coffee table and Darcy's show coat from his sister.

Gorgeous!!!

What breed are the dogs?

The nose is definitely depigmented. The angle of the photo keeps the light from illuminating his most distingusihing feature. The colour (lack of colour) is clearer here. How is a dog that has lack of colour in its nose supposed to deal with being outdoors in sun and snow? That would be a recipe for skin cancer here or in Italy. My guess is that's why its a fault - it goes right to fitness for function.

I've got an aging white toy poodle girl with thinning hair, lots of freckles and some lovely lumps I've had some fetching little cotton coats made for her summer outings so she still looks her best.

There is no "RSPCA Australia". Just all the state/territory ones and some national administrators.

Ta da!

Nah, hadn't really thought about no rear pasterns before. It's especially confusing, because horses do have rear pasterns. Who named these things, anyway?! I'm blaming my horse background then. In my quest to become the 3 minute google expert I did hit a very interesting article linking early desexing to valgus problems in larger breeds. That's one to add to the list of issues to raise wrt mandatory desexing.

Nah, hadn't really thought about no rear pasterns before.

OK, thanks - will definitely try this. He will stand still for us to smear ointment into his eyes but having the physical object of the saline dropper would be good practice. Are there special saline drops that I can buy for dogs? My vet says ordinary (plain) human ones are fine.

constant and frequent handling by strangers would help. Teaching a 'steady' or 'stay' might assist. for this particular issue, I'd suggest you practice putting ordinary sterile saline drops into his eye. It wont' hurt him and its good practice for him to remain still until released and rewarded.

OK that makes more sense. Valgus just means that the pups legs are bending outwards more than they should. I think the breeders would call it cow hocked. I'd contact the breeder, firstly to check that this isn't just a stage that her pups sometimes go through (some pups do), and secondly to check what she recommends feeding (so you can feed that). If it doesn't get better quickly (or gets worse) I'd be heading back to the vet to check there's nothing more sinister going on, like an angular limb deformity (growth plate trauma) or etc. Can be growth plate or pastern issues too. (3 minute google expert here ) I'd want an ortho vet view before I'd be adding more calcium to the diet. I'd want some x-rays too.

The vet said the puppies back legs are pointing a bit outwards (its called vigor??) and its important he gets enough calcium as this can be corrected with food. Cow hocked maybe? If you're feedng a balanced premium puppy food it should contain loads of calcium. Can you post a pic of puppies legs? Id have it to a chiropractor ASAP.

Read the food analysis table on the side of the bag. Or if the manufacturer has a website with food analysis (Advance does) read it there.

That's a desexing tatt alright. In the ACT its illegal for a vet NOT to tattoo if a desexing procedure is performed.

No matter what sort of dog you get, I'd have two gates/doors between the dog and the guinea pigs at all times. Kids can forget and you need built in safety measures.

It makes arguing to make rescue groups a special case for licensing exemptions very bloody difficult. Lets hark back to the recent 28 day rule thread where this was posted. When you've got the likes of PH failing to be able to comply with council requirements after 18 months of council working with them and treating them pretty damn well, then it plays right into the argument that rescue groups need to be regulated because they can't be trusted to do the right thing any other way. I keep saying this. Rescues will be judged by the worst of their number, not the best. Right now, PH appears to be making a very good case for the need for licensing and regular inspection because it appears they cannot be relied on to comply with current requirements on numbers or paperwork. That's not good for the wider rescue scene in Victoria. If it turns out in the future that the longest PH can house a dog is 28 days before compulsory euthanasia, then the seeds of that situation lie with them.

LMS if he's not your dog and he lures well, why not just continue to lure him? Want him outside? Toss a treat out there. Its hardly ideal in terms of a long term training method but if it works and that's what his owners do then I'd do that.

I'm confused. He chewed things outside so he can't come inside?? Why not sleep him inside in a crate?

Try some Bitter Apple Spray - tastes dreadful and won't hurt the older dog.

I have poodles and a Whippet - and love both. A well bred Miniature Poodle (a bit bigger than the toys) would thrive in a devoted family home. They love outings, can be great with kids and love a good cuddle. Go for black or brown - most common colours and less maintenance than the paler ones. They do tend to be gentle dogs but love a romp. Coat wise you don't have to have them in a fru fru clip - my boys have shaved ears and tail. They do need to be brushed and clipped regularly though. They'd also need to be an inside/outside dog - they don't do well isolated from their families. They're smart as whips and do benefit from some obedience training - as do all dogs. If your kids were in to teaching tricks, they'd love a poodle. Choose your breeder carefully - a good poodle is a great dog but there are some pretty dodgy ones around. If taking a dog to the dog park was high on your list of things you'd like to do, I'd drop the SBT and poodles from your list. I dont think either breed is at its best in the free for all that dog parks tend to be.

PF, second line says the current dog is a boxer :D A fox terrier would be a perfect fit if the fences were fixed up a bit I think :D ;) Funny about foxies - they were one of the most popular family dogs of my father's generation. He still has very fond memories of his family's Fox Terrier. I think they deserve to be more popular.

I'd fix your fencing, make the guinea pig run like Alcatraz and get one of the following: * Staffordshire Bull Terrier * Smooth Fox Terrier * Whippet (I think you've just described my Whippet Howard's version of heaven - he loves kids) But the Whippet would need to be an inside dog as they just don't cope with extremes of heat. How much training would you give the dog? What breed/s is your current dog?