poodlemum

My 2 boys are Harrison - named after George Harrison Dylan - named after Bob Dylan ETA - KHM, Eric Clapton is my absolute GOD but I wouldn't saddle a dog with either name :laugh:

Don't get a poodle if you don't want your husband stolen and to be simultaneously evicted from the bed?? OK - you got me there :laugh: Mr.Poodlemum had never had a dog of ANY sort till he met me - now he bends people's ears with the wonders of Poodles.

:laugh: as a former GSP owner, I can certainly relate to that I loved the look of Poodles from the get-go. I would just say Don't get a Poodle if: - ummmm,as a veteran of 30+ years of Poodle owning - can't think of ANY thing :D

Sorry I didn't post this yesterday - Happy Birthday gorgeous little man - you share the day with my Mother :D

Hey poodlemum, I have bought 2 of his books The BARF diet and The pup one, looking forward to them coming :-) .. I feed our boy Leading Raw Guide Dog approved patties mainly due to this is what the breeder had him on and it is convienent for me at this time and I'm a bit scared to go it alone lol.. Hoping after reading his books I will feel more confident :-) But I joined a yahoo group raw feeding puppies and bloody hell I got slammed for feeding patties and and got slammed for getting the books lol so I left the group ... Glad someone else has read his book and I am hoping to get a lot out of them :-) some of those people on Yahoo are pretty intense :laugh: The only reson I never went for the patties was because, with 5 Standard Poodles, it worked out a bit exxy

I bought "Give Your Dog A Bone" back in the 90's and have fed my dogs according to Ian Billinghurst's recommendations ever since - they are certainly a lot healthier for it. I don't get the commercially-made BARF patties, but feed main raw meat, raw bones & veges.

I know they WERE affiliated when I was trialling - went to a couple of trials there.

Have you looked here? http://www.northcoteobediencedogclub.org.au/

What a gorgeous litter! Don't feel too bad about losing one - my Vet told me a long time ago that there's always a reason when 1 doesn't make it. Be glad you have 7 healthy pups & mum is coping well. '

One thing I forgot, once the whelping is finished & mum & pups are settled - please take a photo so we can see them! Oh, and I can't count - it's NINE litters of pups I've raised :laugh: & I've got zillions of pictures.

My main bit of advice - as The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy says: DON'T PANIC I have now seen 8 litters of puppies whelped & the best thing you can do is be relaxed so the bitch is relaxed. Stay with her, talk to her & encourage her but don't assume that you are going to have problems. The 1st litter I bred was 18 years ago - I had read EVERYTHING possible and was a real mess - the 2nd was much easier :D. If the breeder of your bitch is mentoring you, ask if it's ok if you ring her when the whelping starts. The breeder of my bitch was great - she was in NZ, though, so we ended up with a BIG phone bill! As others have said, good to ensure your vet will be available after hours - my bitches always seemed to whelp at some ungodly hour of the morning.

I suppose you have tried to email her? http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/member.asp?name=STRIKEAPOSE

:laugh: Although, there are SOME dog owners.....

We are not going to be in any rush, my hubby actually said if there is no medical or behaviou reason we will leave him be.. There is, I believe, a slighly higher risk of prostate problems in entire males who are not being "used". My ex & I had a stud dog who hadn't been used for a couple of years & got an abcess on his prostate gland. Unfortunately, the abcess burst and he died I would not recommend de-sexing a large breed dog, such as a GR, before 12 months, however.

I like to hang around a certain Pet Shop chain's shops wearing my "Poodle, the only REAL Oodle" T shirt :laugh: