Blue Fox 001

Thanks for that RottyLover. Good website with all the info I need. Have had a look at the Queensland Canine Council website too which has info on various shows. Not sure if we will be making the move but I am quite excited about being able to do more with the dogs if we do.

Hi all We're possibly, maybe considering a move back to Queensland at some stage in the next year or so and I was wondering if someone could fill me in on what's available for obedience, agility and possibly show training on the Northside of Brissy. If anyone is keen I would also be interested in any links for the show circuit and obedience trials eg. is it the same every year, where do you all go for competitions with your dogs. If we do move one of the main things I am interested in is pursuing dog sports as my main hobby, we wouldn't mind travelling just wondered where it was all happening. I think I have read a few posts about Caboolture show training, so any info on that or a club website would be good. Thanks in advance for any info.

We don't set an alarm - when he asks we respond

We have had our baby in a crate next to our bed since he first came home at 8 weeks. Our bed is in one big room which is also our lounge room so he can hear the TV from his crate also. His breeder had done work with crating before we got him which I think helped enormously as he cried for about 5 minutes the first night and not a peep really since. Perhaps he whinged for about 5 minutes when first put in there maybe 4 or 5 times over the past 3 months. Initially I was getting up 2 or 3 times during the night for about the first three weeks, but we're down to once now which I can handle. He does have water in his crate now as he was drinking from his bowl outside everytime we walked past to toilet so I gave in and put some in there which I am sure is contributing to the once a night trip, but what the hey I like a drink of water during the night so he might too. After about 4 weeks he would go in to his crate of his own free will, but so far he has never stayed in there to sleep while the door is open, he prefers the couch or the bed

I bath the poodle once every 7 - 10 days, the GSD usually gets one a fortnight to 3 weeks. We haven't had any problems with either of them and usually use human shampoo, but doggy leave in conditioner or rehydrater. They are my guinea pigs for new products and often I'm trying something new on one or both of them, and so far haven't had any problems. I don't feel bad about water use, have spent nearly $12,000 on rainwater tanks and collect every single drop I can. I wouldn't use the rubbish town water we are supplied to wash my dog and equally wouldn't want it going through my hydrobath!

My bold bit - this is interesting as we have been feeding our GSD on Bonnie for about 5 years now and haven't noticed any difference lately in his condition. How long ago did they change the recipe? I am aware that it is not a premium kibble but our dog has done so well on it I won't be swapping unless he shows some changes for the worse. We tried everything with him to keep/put weight on until he was about 5 years old when we tried Bonnie Working Dog and he has never looked better.

Our baby was done before he came home and I am so grateful that he was. It is peace of mind for both the breeder and the new owner. As a new owner I certainly don't mind covering the expense as part of the purchase price, you do for vaccinations and desexing (if done prior to purchase) so why not expect your pup to be chipped too.

sorry blacklab when I said cooking I meant just making up puggy puggy's recipe - no actual cooking goin' to happen If I reheat last nights left overs I say I've cooked :D

My standard poodle boy when last weighed at 16 weeks was 15.8 kilos and he is quite fine, not thin but definately not overweight. He is getting two meals per day but is left with a third meal of puppy dry food to graze through out the day. He is not a gutsy eater but certainly looks forward to the more interesting feeds of meat, chicken necks, sardines etc ... Both my vet and I are happy with his weight so I think we'll be sticking to three meals for a while yet. I suppose it really depends on the pup. Those Labs sure do like their food

Thanks for that recipe puggy puggy, it is very helpful. Lots of people say feed BARF and for the newbie it is a bit overwhelming. I have read the books and you still feel a little uncertain that what your feeding is the right mix, and should you include this or that etc... It is good to hear from someone exactly what they are feeding and a recipe so you can go right out and get those qualitites. Looks like I'll be cooking for the dogs this weekend

We are crate training our little boy at the moment and it is going extremely well (ohh I have probably jinxed us now ) We do the same thing if he cries we take him straight out for toileting, he gets 5 minutes (OK sometimes 10) and if he doesn't go then it's back upstairs and into his crate. I don't talk to him, except to encourage him to come down the stairs gently, and once we're outside to his designated spot I just stand there and wait (usually with my arms folded to keep the cold out ) Once he is actually going to the toilet I say "do wees" in an attempt to get him to one day do so on command. I would never just ignore him cause he is only a baby at 5 months and I can't stand to think he might need to go to the toilet and I have left him in his crate. He has never had an accident in his crate and almost always does go to the toilet when taken outside, I think only may be twice he hasn't.

Yep that was my thoughts. Unfortunately they are perhaps not the most conscientious (sp) of dog owners and I can't see them being bothered with this option enough to actually make it work even as you say if the citronella was enough to stop him (which having seen him chase my car I don't think it will). He will get run over if this continues and as much as it hurts me to say (cause they are family) I don't think they want to spend the time, money and effort to increase the fence. They may build a very basic tie out for the dog perhaps. Family make it so hard sometimes!

He is currently jumping the fence to get to the road. They are reluctant to increase the height of the fence - that was my suggestion too, and want to try this option - is it a waste of time do you reckon?

One of my family members has a staffy x who is constantly chasing cars, especially those with other dogs in the back, on the tray etc... He is absolutely intent on the chase when one goes past the house and seems totally oblivious to all else when he gets going. He is wondering if a remote activated citronella collar might work? I don't know if these even exist and haven't started the google search for one yet. Wondering if this or an e collar (which I have read about but never used one or seen it used) is suitable. We live in SA - can we even use e-collars? I haven't and won't recommend one to him as I do not know anything about them, only what I have read on here. Any suggestions for them most welcome. PS - We are in the middle of nowhere, no behaviourist, no obedience schools.

We're currently crate training our new addition who is 4 months old now and I love it. Last night as soon as we turned off the TV he went in of his own accord and went to sleep for only the second time. I was so proud He has very rarely whinges when crated but I think alot of this has to do with the fact that the breeder gets them use to the crate before they come home. He is allowed on the bed for cuddles when we are 100% sure that he has been toileted properly, cause I have no inclination to wash doona cover, sheets, get doona dry cleaned etc... when they don't need to be I wouldn't worry about not being home with the pup for the first two weeks. Not everyone's situation is ideal, most of us have to work or carry on lives which do not involve puppies ( but true) we can't all be home at the most opportune times, and your puppy will need to fit in with your lifestyle not the otherway round. JMO. I did have one week off when our pup come home, I could manage to get time off work, but perhaps if you can at least pick the pup up on a Saturday morning so you have the weekend together. We bought our little guy a "Snuggle Puppie" which has a heart beat and a heat pack inside it. He loves it and we really didn't see any signs of seperation anxiety, although the plane ride, different water etc.. did cause some diarrhea (sp) for the first day. Peanut butter and kibble stuffed kongs are great too for keeping them occupied and you can freeze them coming into summer.

Hi brigitta - I would definately stick with what the breeder is feeding when you first get your pup home. We recently got our standard poodle puppy and even with feeding the same as the breeder he still got a bit of an upset tummy with all the other changes eg. new home, no litter mates all that. So to make the transition as easy as possible for him/her I would stick with the same diet. As settrlvr said have a chat with your breeder about what you would like to change too, she will be able to advise you on what is best. You may get a puppy pack with diet suggestions also so that will give you some ideas. We are gradually introduced some of the raw principles and our boy is doing great. Come and join us in the poodle thread, great bunch of people with many years experience who are very happy to help us newbie poo owners

I think she'd still be happy to jump it, or climb under the rope.. she's a small girl. only 18 inches. Could cutting a square gap in the gates and installing wire so she can see stop her now wanting to jump over to see what's happening? We cut holes in both gates for our GSD to see out when he started jumping the 6foot fence and it didn't make an ounce of difference. We ended up putting a wire run along one side of the fence for him and he had to be on that during the day, he didn't seem to mind and I knew he was safe and sound when I wasn't there. We have since moved and he has access to the yard during the day, he is much more settled out here and *touchwood* hasn't tried to jump the new fence which is a little higher at 2.1m.

Just as an aside then - how young is too young to use a check chain? And is this age any different if you use a martingale with a chain? We are currently just using a flat collar on our almost 4 month old boy and this is working fine cause he is fairly compliant, but I may also like to use a martingale at some stage. We had the GSD in a check chain at about 4 months (many years ago now when obedience club recommended them for training) and he doesn't seem any the worse for having used it his entire training life. He is still walked daily in it and if we go out in public, although at the beach he has his ezydog flat collar for swimming. Anyway don't mean to hijack - but maybe others are interested as well

Thanks everyone for your replies. This dog comes to me fairly regularly so I will suss her out when she drops her back in next time after the vet and see what the verdict was. I think it is probably irritation (maybe yeast related). She is only a quite young dog (4yrs) and it has always been on her right paw but apparently in the past 6 weeks or so it is now her left as well that she is licking. Anyway thanks again.

Is there an actual condition called Pink Paw though. She seemed to think it is an infection which has now travelled to the other paw. Too me it looks like irritation (for what ever reason) which has now become the bored, itchy, lick cycle you mention persephone. It is not between her toes, more on the top of the paw.

A client of mine who's Shih X has constantly stained paws from licking, you know the endless cycle of irritation, licking, irritation, rang tonight to book in to have her clipped off before she goes to the vet next week. She saw something on TV, Dr Harry I think, about something called Pink Paw and she is taking the dog to the vet to have this investigated. The vet has asked her to fast the dog eg. no breakfast on the morning but she doesn't know why. Does this make sense to anyone? Can you tell me what Pink Paw is?

Just wanted to give you an update on the naughty pup - things went really well for the week he was with us and the owner has been following up and things seem to be improving for him. He came back to board with us a week or so and this time didn't jump all over me, sat when asked and for his food, he did rip the dog door out of the solid door but that was all he did - no ripped up blankets, toys, beds, bowls etc.. Thanks K9 - the owner is happier and calmer so is the dog I think.

What is the addition of fish oil and vitamin e (to balance it) designed to do for the dog. I know in people they think it increases brain function, has antioxident properties etc.. Is this what we're trying to achieve in dogs or is it something else? I haven't started the pup on it yet, but have been reading a lot about it. Sorry to hijack, hopefully others might want to know also.

We are doing this at the moment with our new standard poodle, 11 weeks now, and our older GSD, 9 years. Puppy sleeps in his crate upstairs with us but during the day he is in the yard with the big dog, both have access to a run and via a doggy door to an inside sleeping area. We have not actually shut them in the kennel together as the smaller space might be a bit much to ask for the older dog to put up with a hyper pup for extended lengths of time. I really think it depends on the nature of the two dogs and how they are getting along. Our older dog just loves the pup, sees him as his own personal plush toy I think. Only when we are playing with toys does the older, spoilt dog get a bit mouthy with the pup. Somedays I am unable to come home at lunch time, so it is not an option to leave him crated during the day.

I'm doing the same as Fiona and it is working a treat with our boy. His crate is only for sleeping, no food, water and just enough room to move around and lay down full stretched out. We have been moving the barrier, but he is growing so fast will have to remove it all together this weekend coming I reckon. We have also been taking him outside from the first day, no newspaper or grass inside. Apart from the first day when we had two mistakes, which were of course my fault as I missed the signs, we haven't had another one since (I've got the hang of it now ) During the day, now that I have to go to work, he is in the yard with access to his kennel and run and so far (touchwood) he hasn't even gone in the kennel. Was wondering when we could expect him to show us some sign of wanting to go out though? Not to hijack your thread Sarah but you might want to know for later also. At the moment we probably don't give him the chance to ask as we're so onto taking him out every hour, after sleeping, after eating, after big playtime etc to make sure he doesn't make a mistake. He is only 11 weeks so think we will continue this for a while longer before we expect him to ask.