poodlefan

ML, my friends two poodle bitches are both on Stilboestrol tablets.. one pill once a week. I don't think it costs much.

I don't feed kibble but if I did, I would still feed some raw food. Cooking any protein destroys some enzymes that are only available in raw food. If a dogs nutritional needs are being met, adding raw food won't 'undo' the balance.

A cotton pad (like you use to take eye makeup off) and warm water do the job. Let the gunk soak for a few seconds and wipe it off. Or just pick it off with your finger nails. My dogs are very relaxed about eye booga's being removed that way.

Akitaowner: Resource guarding is by and large an inherited behaviour that can be displayed as early as 3 weeks of age. It is not created by lack of training. Constant interference with food bowls or other valuable resources will not guarantee that a dog won't guard but may create increased anxiety and aggression in dogs with a tendency to guard. Yelling and "getting physical" with a dog displaying clear warning signs that it doesn't like your behaviour may extinguish the warning signs or result in an attack. That you would discipline a dog for a behaviour that YOU are creating by interfering with it's food is hardly a positive approach to the issue. I don't believe in setting dogs up to fail. The view of some experts is that resource guarding is not a behaviour that can be extinguised. It can merely be managed. It can certainly be worsened by applying the wrong "management" approach. You have concluded that this dog is displaying resource guarding behaviour. However, no one who hasn't seen the dog knows what's going on for sure. ETA: I've trained a "leave it" and a "give" cue for my dogs. If I wanted something from a resource guarder I'd be offering them something they want in exchange. I put my dogs food down, watch them eat it and remove the bowls when they're done. No dog gets to touch another's bowl or food. Eating is done peacefully and quickly in my house.

Akitaowner: Do that to a pup or dog with serious resource guarding issues and I'll virtually guarantee you'll get bitten AND make the problem worse. We were given a bigger brain for a reason. Confrontation with an animal wilth any kind of aggression issue will more often than not end in grief.... for you and the dog.

Ok.. let me break it down for you folks. OP's dog has behaved aggressively towards her friend.. and now towards her. Absolutely no one can say for sure WHY this behaviour is occuring. I don't think this is a behaviour that can be dismissed as "dominance" without anyone actually having witnessed the behaviour. An attempt to reestablish leadership in the wrong circumstances will result in the OP or another person being bitten and the dog learning that biting stops people doing things it doesn't like. Thats one lesson you NEVER want a dog to learn. Get professional help. The sooner you do, the less the behaviour may escalate.

My guess is that this behaviour has been developing for some time Paganman. To acuse someone of dog abuse is a little OTT. Rhi get a professional behaviouralist out ASAP to have a look at what's going on and to give you some professional, practical advice on what to do. No point in speculating on what caused the behaviour... better to focus on improving it.

Agree that knowledge of the law is important. So is obeying it. Its not usually successful to try and fight the law when the facts prove you've acted outside it.

40# blade. I use a 15#

Honestly PW.. I'm no expert. I groom three dogs - mine. I just prefer to leave a bit on the end...

On the end? Oh dear. I mean leave a bit

Dogs4Fun: I do clip the area too but I live a bit on the end..

If you do you'll bugger up his aim!!

Caff: [wipes cuppa off computer screen] :D :D Dogmad: That poor dog.

Other male has much smaller willy PW.. hence absence of discernable willy goo. I hope Rappie realises that I shall refer to smegma for ever more using that "vet approved" term :D

Caff: At least this PW doesn't have to share the abbreviation of her name with Puppy Farmer. :D I can't think of the word "smegma" and not think of Red Dwarf. God I love that show. :D

I use Plush Puppy and Oakwood. Both Australian made, both have websites.

PW: I reckon Smegma Theory would be a great name for a heavy metal band. I always liked Shaved Pets too. :D

Rappie: In your line of work, I'd say that's a definite plus. :D

Rappie: :D :D And thank your lucky stars you're in a small animal practice?? What a horse's willy can produce is pretty mind boggling.

Taffy you may find this thread of interest.

What kind of kibble? What kind of raw food? Check your kibble for soy (vegetable protein) in its contents. Apparently this is a very common source of flatulence. Some DOLers have reported good results from feeding charcoal biscuits - if you do a search on 'charcoal' it should turn up something.

No idea Pee Dubbya but I think it would be a very good idea to take a fresh urine sample. It may not be pus.. It could be (god I can't believe I'm discussing this) smegma.. penile lubricant which is normally yellowy white in colour. Some dogs tend to produce more than others and need to be regularly cleaned up a bit. God, the subjects we discuss on here. :D

What are you feeding them?

IF the judges and stewards are on the ball, this simply shouldn't happen. Trouble is, a lot of the time, they aren't quick enough. Last year, I had an large entire male dog get up from the down stay, wander over to my toy poodle bitch and shove his nose under her bum, not once, but twice before the HANDLER returned and grabbed the dog. God bless her, she didnt' move a muscle but the dog did it a few weeks later to a nervous little bitch that broke position and ran to her handler. Never Never Never trust the safety of your dog to another person.. I'd run the full length of the obedience ring to help my dog if necessary and screw the consequences. Mind you, it's taken me a few years to come to that view.. I was too overawed at first.