poodlefan

Quite a few DOLers have been recommending the Evening Primrose Oil Shampoo from here for dryer coats/itchy skin. I would also recommend you review your dog's diet to ensure he's getting plenty of Omega oils. Has he been clipped?

I'd do both. The DNA test would only have to be done once. But I'd defer to experienced Lab breeders on this one anyway. Any heart issues in the breed?

Morgan: Same as human vaccs I suppose - they aren't 100% effective on us either. I still rate them as a better bet than homeopathics though.

I can't answer the breed specific side of your question but if you leave him with some boredom relieving activities and give him plenty of time and attention when you are home, he'll be fine - that's the life most Australian dogs live. He'll enjoy the company of a second dog when you add one to the family though. However, realistically this is the first time he's been on his own in his short life - he will take some time to adjust to it.

No. I was at a seminar recently where the vet said she'd had dogs treated with nosodes die of parvo in her clinic. Homeopathc treatment can't prevent it and really, why would you subject your dog to the disease when you can prevent it. You did the right thing refusing your friend - I'm sure your other clients would be relieved.

TW: Where is he sleeping now? Where did he sleep with the last family? My guess is that he's sleeping outside now and he was inside before? I think this is probably due more to a change of sleeping situation than missing his last family but studies seem to indicate that most dogs bond to a new family in about 3 weeks. On a 5 month old puppy with growing bones, I'd consider this amount of exercise to be excessive. If you want to tire him out as effectively but with less stress on his body, I'd up the amount of training you do. If he was mobbed by strange dogs who were bigger than him, you did the equivalent of turning a toddler out into the local rugby game. If he meets the wrong dogs his behaviour may get less confident, not more. He is a baby and he needs to be carefully socialised with well mannered dogs who aren't going to over face him. Dog parks can be a very mixed blessing for puppies - he could get monstered, hurt or even attacked - be careful around dogs and owners you don't know. Personally I avoid them like the plague. I'd suggest you find your nearest dog obedience club and join up. He and you can learn more about dog training and find good buddies for him to mix with.

Do you want a physical eye exam or the DNA test.. or both? There is a Sydney Veterinary Eye Hospital around Parramatta? I think.

Buy two pups together.. lose two old adult dogs in quick succession. That can be heartbreaking. You also tend to have issues with the puppies bonding more closely to each other than to humans in the family. You won't find too many trainers recommending pups be aged more closely than 12 months apart. Dogs equal in age, size and gender also may tend to have issues with establishing who is dominant. Fighting can result. Your first puppy may be an angel.. what happens if No. 2 is a demon who teaches puppy one the ropes? 14 week old puppies tend to be quite easy. Wait till she hits adolescence and you may have cause to reconsider how easy it is!

You could put it in the classifieds on this forum.

There was a tread pretty recently about this I think. Vitamin C, and any good source of antioxidents like Bilberry or Goji Berry spring to mind.

While ever you try to do the right thing by your dog Honeysmum, you will find support here. But where are the photos??? :D

That dosnt surprise me much, thanks poodlefan . I was only repeating what I was told, she actually turned around and told me it was a pedigree teacup schnoodle And this at CDC.. oh let me at her! I nearly died when she said it, honnestly I think I'd have laughed. But I'm sure that's what the website/petshop/puppy seller at Hall Markets told her. And like many buyers, why would she disbelieve it. It's probably going to have a challenging coat to groom. But hey, at least she's brought it to training.

That dosnt surprise me much, thanks poodlefan . I was only repeating what I was told, she actually turned around and told me it was a pedigree teacup schnoodle And this at CDC.. oh let me at her!

Slight hijack Wolfsong.. there's not such thing as a "teacup poodle". They are just small toy poodles.

*waves* Me too! No tme, I learnt my lesson with human babies! Give me an adult dog anyday (and an adult human ) Chicken!

Did you get Sean as your instructor? He's very good (and an instructor at CDC also) Wolfsong I'm glad your experience at CDC has been a good one - that's my club too.

There would be very few members here who haven't sat down at one point with every puppy they've had and thought "OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE". I know because I'm one of them.

She's not "destroyed" just developmentally slow. She CAN be a happy healthy dog. I have a friend who bought a pup in a similar situation to yours. She was successfully toilet trained and is obedience trained.. it just took more work than it might have done with a puppy from a better situation. Good idea.. but locking her in with it wouldn't have been how I started.. at a distance with an opportunity to get away would be better. You "flooded" her.. and that's probably a bit full on for this pup.. baby steps.

1. Take a few deep breaths 2. Have a stiff drink or a good cup of tea 3. Read everything you can on here and practice it. 4. If that doesn't work, summon a professional to your home. I'm sorry but if you paid money for the puppy from a pet shop you didn't "rescue" it. You've bought a dog out of pity - and you're one of many people who do it. But it's done now. It's time to suck it up and turn a puppy who's had a bad start in life into the adult dog she can be. All puppies, wee and poo everywhere, whine and make their owners wonder if they've lost their minds. You're starting further behind the 8 ball than most because your puppy has had its natural instinct NOT to wee or poo where she eats or sleeps eliminated by being forced to eat, sleep, play and eliminate in the one totally inadequate space. She's been stuck there through the most critical period of her life.. and now she's suffering for it. It's not insurmountable but it will take work. Work you can take very considerable pride in doing when that impulse buy becomes a dog you are proud to own. And no, please don't buy another pet shop puppy.. learn from this experience and tell others too.

My advice would be to join Belconnen at the beginning of next year. CDC (Symonston) would allow you to to obedience with a 5 month old starting next month.. they only have one more session this year starting then. Given that it's only once a week, that could be an option even though it's further. Then perhaps you could look at Belconnen after that. Some of the private trainers do group classes. I know Dogtech do but I'm not sure where they conduct them. RSPCA also have ongoing classes but the dog clubs will be the cheapest option by far.

White boxers are disqualified from exhibition in the show ring, not obedience or agility. If your dog has ANKC rego papers it can compete as a Boxer. If not, register it as an Associate (dog has to be desexed) and you can still compete.

No, but they're wasted on them. Slice and freeze those mangos JBBB and send them to meeeeeee! ETA: On a serious note too many would probably give them the runs.

My club accepts titre results.

What does this mean dogdude? Is there something about lead lengths in the 'rulebook' for Australian Obedience? My guess is that dogdude's club rulebook requires dogs to be on lead unless they are actively obedience training.

Mine does.