pennyw74

i do hope you DIDN'T pick her up If she learns that you will carry her........she is then being the one who calls the shots!! She is the DOG you are the HUMANS. Humans make the decisions, NOT dogs Spot on persephone. Stop carrying her There is no need to worry about that anymore. The only time we carry her is from the front door to the street (we live in a townhouse and have to because she's not allowed on common property). She loves her walks now.

Thank you to everyone who replied here. I will check with my vet in a couple of weeks when we go back for her 16 week vaccination to see what he recommends. We do spend a lot of time with our puppy and I'm always checking her skin for anything unusual.

He did mention other symptoms but said that being unsteady on her back legs happens after a couple of days of the tick attaching itself.

At puppy school, we were warned of the dangers of the paralysis tick. It was drilled into us how bad it can be and it's quite frightening. I live in Sydney and he suggested some suburbs that have a lot of ticks, more along the northern beaches area and surrounds. My question is, should I treat my puppy for ticks with Advantix or something similar just in case or not worry and just check her? I never want to get to the stage of finding her wobbling around on her back legs. What is the best tick treatment out there?

Izzy is doing so well at puppy pre-school. She was the star student this week, she learnt stand and stay and made me so proud. She's not too keen on getting trampled on by the border collie puppy, though. She is walking really well now, she just wants to run, though. I think we're learning how to stop her pulling on the lead next week at school. Such a huge different to her planting her little bottom on the ground and digging her heels in. She really has come a long way.

That's what I did, got her to sit and do a couple of other things and then gave it to her as a reward (that's what she's learning at puppy pre-school). I'll try again next month.

I tried to give my puppy the Sentinel tablet on the weekend. Well, she played with it, pounced on it, backed away from it, nibbled it, spat it out, licked it, chased it and did everything but chew and eat it. We eventually had to "force" it down like other tablets. I thought the whole idea of a beef flavoured tablet was so that she would actually eat it. Any suggestions?

So much for eating the Sentinel tablet...

The vet did give me a sample - Sentinel. She's having that today now, so I think I'll stick with that. Thanks for all your help.

Great news. You'd think I had a different puppy. I took Izzy out the front yesterday and we walked right to the end of the street and back - no problems. My fiance did it through the week but she kept stopping but did much better. I was so proud of her yesterday. I could see people pointing at her as they drove past. Now we just have to practice staying on one side instead of tripping me up.

Izzy did very well at puppy pre-school. She has lots of new friends now, everybody is bigger than her. She had two mini fox terriers, a weimaraner, a border collie, a jack russell and a cavoodle. She played well with them all at the beginning but after the lessons, she was so tired and just wanted to hide under the chairs. The border collie was way too big for her at 9.00 at night. She did most of what she was asked and made us very proud. We have a long way to go and will continue to practise what we learned. She ended up very dirty after getting wet from the grass and then dusty. Funny thing is that at home, she is very good at "sit" but there, she sat right up on her back legs with her front paws in the air, like a kangaroo. I'm thinking...she never does this at home... She came when called and also walked around the back of the legs and sat. Next week, another lesson. All this learning wore me out, too. I was exhausted.

Ok, a little bit of success. My fiance carried her up to the bus stop yesterday afternoon to wait for me to come home. He took some treats. She was sniffing around and quite excited about being out. Another dog passed her and she was very interested in what he was doing. We walked back home. She would sit every now and then but with a little bit of encouragement, she would get up again. The walk is only about eight minutes up the street but already, it had turned into about 20 minutes. Eventually, she had enough. It was progress, though and we were very proud of her. She came in and then she learned how to fetch. Puppy pre-school tonight, so we'll learn a little bit more so she can, too.

No, she won't walk anywhere if somebody is holding her lead. If it's attached but nobody is holding it, she's ok. As soon as she sees that it's attached to a hand, bum goes on the ground. I have tried to entice her with a toy and food while my fiance holds the lead but she's no silly puppy. I have held food in one hand and the lead in the other. Eventually she will come for the food but will go the very long way around, avoiding my hand that is holding the lead. They're funny little things.

She could take or leave her food. The only thing she really loves is chicken necks. I will try it with that. She does like her reward treats, too, though but not enough to move on the lead. Hopefully pre-school will help her tomorrow night.

I tried the half a block away from home thing but that didn't work, either. She doesn't want to go home, she doesn't want to go anywhere.

We tried the half a block away thing. We headed towards the park but it was blocked off because of construction, so we put her down anyway. She still wasn't interested. It's hard to push her along when her bum is on the ground. She'll end up with gravel rash on her bum.

Also, this puppy is one stubborn little puppy. If I walk away and not hold the lead, she is fine with it. She will drag the lead behind her and then sit down and chew it. No problem. As soon as I pick up the lead again. That's when she plants herself. If I hold the lead and take one step. She will not move and this went on for not just a minute but say five minutes - she would not move. I think she is quite happy to be uncomfortable, as long as she doesn't have to walk on that lead. I don't give in, it just depends on how many hours I have in the day...and I mean hours.

Ok, we live in a townhouse, so we are not allowed to let her walk on common property. We have to carry her to the front footpath and then put her down. When she plants herself, I try to make it exciting for her. I try to get her excited about coming to me. She won't even look at me.

I also asked this in the puppy section but thought I'd ask here, too. Ok, my 12 week old Cavalier, Izzy, just won't do it. I have tried treats. I have tried just the collar, then letting her walk around with the lead attached. I have tried little by little. As soon as you put her down and she sees that the lead is attached, she plants herself and doesn't look at me, almost as if she turns her back on me. She just doesn't want to know about it. At first, she'll sniff around and chew sticks and leaves but then she'll catch a glimpse of that dreaded lead and that's it. She's starting puppy pre-school tomorrow night. Will this help us both out or should she be able to do it before she gets there? Has anybody else got any other suggestions for me? I know the outside world is just so big for her. I know she doesn't know what I expect her to do. I mean, why should she be attached - she doesn't understand that. She is such a good little puppy at home, will come (most of the time) when you call and can sit on command (most of the time). Help????

Izzy at 12 weeks:

Ok, my 12 week old Cavalier, Izzy, just won't do it. I have tried treats. I have tried just the collar, then letting her walk around with the lead attached. I have tried little by little. As soon as you put her down and she sees that the lead is attached, she plants herself and doesn't look at me, almost as if she turns her back on me. She just doesn't want to know about it. At first, she'll sniff around and chew sticks and leaves but then she'll catch a glimpse of that dreaded lead and that's it. She's starting puppy pre-school tomorrow night. Will this help us both out or should she be able to do it before she gets there? Has anybody else got any other suggestions for me? I know the outside world is just so big for her. I know she doesn't know what I expect her to do. I mean, why should she be attached - she doesn't understand that. She is such a good little puppy at home, will come (most of the time) when you call and can sit on command (most of the time). Help????

She slept for four hours straight. She just seemed so sad. A chicken neck seemed to bring her to life a bit. She didn't eat a big breakfast this morning, then, I guess, the whole vet experience was just too much for her. She's completely back to normal now, pouncing around with her toys - still scratching her collar, though. That will just take time to get used to, I suppose.

Izzy was fine at the vet. She behaved herself and I was so proud....until he put the needle in. She yelped and I got teary (I'm hopeless) but I didn't let her see me get upset. After that, the vet wasn't her favourite person and she crawled away from him, almost off the table. She has been sulking ever since. I'm not sure if it's because she's wearing her new collar or from the vaccination. Has anybody else's puppy "lost" their personality after their vaccination?

I bought Izzy a new collar today, a small, lightweight one that is perfect for her. She has been sulking for about seven hours now. I'm not sure if it's because she had her vaccination or just the collar. She keeps scratching at it and won't walk properly because she is constantly aware that the collar is annoying her and wants to use her back legs to scratch it.

She's off to Lindsay Hay - thanks for your help.