poodlefan

Darcy's potassium levels were out of whack both times.. on the second visit it first thing I asked the emergency vet to test after doing a PCV. They ended up x-raying him for a possible bowel interception but fortunately found nothing.

Geeze people! Dog in jogging stroller - off you go!

Darcy has been through two bouts of HGE... it's stressful stuff. It tends to be a young dog disease - not sure why. I'm sending positive vibes. If she's at the vets on a drip, its the best treatment she can get. Once she pulls through this, I can highly recommend the Hill I/D canned food for the recovery. Just remember to follow vets instructions and feed small amounts often initally, increasing meal sizes as you decrease frequency. Darcy's first bout was the worst... 3 days on a drip and about 2 days on liquids only (anti-scour mix) before he could have solids.

I use Pro Heart. Half a tablet from the blue packet (dogs up to 10kg) would do the trick.

People stand out in front at the end of the triangle then pretty much everyone kneels in the line ups.

Round here, everyone kneels for Whippets.

Ooops wrong thread.

Durack is the place for shows. It would be worth ringing show/trial secretaries a few days before your trip to check the breeds you want to see are entered. Plenty of GSPs up you way!

Where are you?

I am starting to wonder if my older dog is incontinent as I was sure I was watching puppy all the time last night!! Wouldn't be the first time an adult dog has overmarked a pup's 'accident'.

They vary widely. Ring a few local vets. Don't you already own a dog?

If you've got your heart set on a sports dog, either (from the right breeder) would be a good bet. But they ARE different. I find the Brittanys are more easily distracted, less people focussed but once you've got it very trainable. As larger dogs, they are faster for agility. The poodle grooming is a bit of a drag but you get used to it. Not having your car/lounge/clothes covered in dog hair is the advantage. Will this be an inside dog? How much daily exercise were you planning on giving it. If it rains here for 3 days, the poodles can cope without a run. I'd imagine most Brittanys would be climbing the walls. When my friend walks her Brittanys with my dogs in the forest, my dogs are rarely out of sight. Her dogs are rarely seen. They range a lot further. That could also be owner related though. I rate the poodle as the "easier" of the two from a training perspective but choose your breeder carefully. If you're not a tough nut who's prepared to be pretty firm with a dog, go the poodle. ETA: My poodles enjoy the water but they aren't "into" it in the way my friend's gundogs are.. or my Whippet is for that matter. I'd not write off a GSP or a Vizsla until you to to some shows and see the dogs. Visit some agility trials too!

Again, two VERY different breeds. As a noob they both seemed to fit my loose criteria of size, good with kids, good with other dogs (so could be taken to beach/parks etc). Still not sure what the main differences are, but don't regret the decision at all. Sometimes I do wonder whether a poodle would've been a little less crazy, but then again that's part of puppyhood I guess! He is coming along nicely all things considered Are you leaning a certain direction Emm? My friend's Cockers are twice the weight of my poodles. Their heads are much larger. Their feet are about 4 times the size of the poodle paws. I find the Cockers are more highly strung and vocal than the poodles. Cockers "fuss" a lot. Their flews get water everywhere when they drink. Not my cup of tea at all. But no doubt many feel the same way about the poodles

Again, two VERY different breeds.

x 2 There are plenty of good stafford breeders who'll sell you a pet outright. The idea of having a bitch entire for years, of dealing with seasons, of having her absent from your home for months at at time and being at a breeders beck and call is not what I'd aim for in a pet. You would be looking at a first season at around 7-9 months and then one every six months from them on. By the time they breed her twice, you may well have gone through 7 or so seasons. Even if you kept your bitch at home between mating and just before whelping, she'd still be gone for at least 8 weeks. I have a friend who took a bitch on a "two litter" deal. The breeder delayed the second litter until the bitch was 8 years old.

I have two Mini Poodles. I have a friend with two Brittanys. I find the breeds quite dissimilar. Mini P's tend to be very people focussed. Brittanys are what they were bred to be - hunting dogs. I don't find them particularly soft natured. The Brittanys are much bigger than a Mini, more inclined to distracted by birds. Poodles don't shed. Believe me Brittanys do! What is your aim for this dog? Will it be a family pet or a sports dog. Do you have children and if so, how old are they? My guess is getting to know both breeds better will make the choice between them a lot easier.

x 2 There are plenty of good stafford breeders who'll sell you a pet outright. The idea of having a bitch entire for years, of dealing with seasons, of having her absent from your home for months at at time and being at a breeders beck and call is not what I'd aim for in a pet.

I would train the dog door now.. If she's having accidents in the house because she can't get out, it's derailing the whole toilet training effort. Teach her out to use it now and take her out ONLY by that door after waking, eating, playing etc. If supervision is an issue then think about introducing a crate. If you can't watch puppy, she goes in there.

Yep, he's a big boy now.. 17 months old. How quickly it happens. Still waiting for him to grow a brain though You mean they grow a brain? :D Hope springs eternal. Oh, and this was the "prey"

Yep, he's a big boy now.. 17 months old. How quickly it happens. :D Still waiting for him to grow a brain though

From the weekend: Whippet in drive.

Yep. I use Jointguard.

I'd never recommend chasing balls as the primary method of exercising dogs.. it's not the running that creates the issues, it's the hard stopping. Ruthless is Chopper on any form of joint supplement? If he isn't, now might be a good time to start him.

Only toss balls into water. My youngest poodle lived to retrieve. With a spinal problem, he can't do it unless its a soft stop. So he can only retrieve from water now. It took months for him to stop looking for his ball everytime we got to the dog club. We got there though. Sometimes you've got to make a tough decision in the dog's interests.

Can you install a dog door?