Papillon Kisses

If you use the search function you'll find some posts from former NDTF and Delta students.:)

Pets in the Park: http://www.petsinthepark.org.au They provide basic veterinary care to the animals of Sydney's homeless.

I'd love to be able to try out the puzzle toys before purchase. I haven't bought any because they can be a lot to spend on a toy that my dog may have no interest in using.

I bought some of the Hilde Hemmes Calendula Officionalis tea from Healthy Life for my boy who has been very itchy of late. I washed him in Aloveen then used it as a rinse. He's only scratching the two parts I forgot to rinse: his face and neck! He's stopped biting his thighs and licking his front legs, and his coat is beautiful and soft. Erny/Steve: Is it ok to give a toy dog (3.8kg) a full heaped tablespoon of spent flowers at once? If not, how long can you keep them refrigerated? And do you know if it's ok for dogs with Addison's Disease to eat? I could not find any info online about interactions with his medication (Percorten) which leads me to believe it's ok, but I can ask his vet.

Could you do immunotherapy for your dog allergy? It's been great for my grass and dust mite allergies, but they aren't so bad as to need an epi pen.

Something I've never seen in pet shops near me are the Planet Dog orbee balls. Those balls are amazing. They have raised continents on them which makes them bounce every which way which is lots of fun for the dog. They can fling it around and play fetch by themselves! They have some other cool toys too, but the orbee has got to be the best. Orbee http://www.planetdog.com/orbee-tuff-orbee-ball

Papillons can make excellent service dogs. :)

My bitza comes up as 99-100% Chihuahua, except when he's wearing his blue puffer jacket with the hood up — then he's an Italian Greyhound. One of my pictures wasn't confirmed as human shot... apparently I am 70+% chihuahua. What's that about people looking like their dogs? ???? Grandma wasn't detected as a human either, with her white bouffant 'do she came back as 96% Maltese! I guess it was either that or a Bichon! And Hubby pulling a face that legit makes him look like Dug from Up comes back as a golden retriever, lol.

Does this jacket fit closely around the arms? My chi x terrier type bitza doesn't deliberately undress himself, but he likes to curl up into a tiny ball with his front legs/paws held tightly against/under his chest, and if the armholes are too large (and most are) he actually tucks them INTO his clothes and gets stuck. I've had success with the jumper below, but it may not come small enough for those of you with very little dogs (my boy is a lean/athletic 3.8kg, 11 inch back, not sure if he's wearing the 25 or 30cm coat). It looks like your average knitted dog jumper but must be cut differently. http://www.petsplus.com.au/pet-shop.asp?id=1050

I must be confused. These already exist? Google dog sensor door. There are ones where the door unlocks and your dog can push it when it picks up the signal but it otherwise remains locked, and I've just discovered one that automatically opens when your dog walks up to it so your dog doesn't even have to push! See here: http://www.jjgroup.com.au/products/electronic-pet-doors/electric-unit/

You mention that you live in a unit. Do your by-laws permit the keeping of a dog? Do you need approval from the Owners Corporation/Body Corporate? If the by-laws permit the keeping of a dog, are there any restrictions on the size of the animal? Often in strata units only small dogs are permitted, if they are even allowed at all. If you are allowed to keep a dog, by-laws relating to noise still apply, so if you want a dog who barks at intruders he or she should not be allowed to otherwise cause a disturbance. If you keep a dog without approval or if it is a nuisance you could find yourself in a lot of legal trouble — you could receive large fines or be forced to remove your dog! So, be sure to ask your strata manager what by-laws apply to your scheme before you consider getting a dog. If you are a tenant rather than an owner, you will also need approval from your landlord. A lot more strata schemes are pet friendly these days, but you still need to go through the requisite hoops and consider your neighbours.

Cute! It's not music, but my dog was once enthralled by one of those "how it's made" type shows where they were investigating the best way to snap freeze carrots. He was absolutely fascinated by it. He's shown zero interest in other tv shows, but does love his veggies.

I am sorry for your loss Pepe001. Malcolm finds Dynamic Lifter irresistible. I guess given that it contains blood & bone this isn't surprising. I don't use it in my garden for this reason, but he once ate a whole load that my Dad put down in his garden. Good grief the smell from that dog's mouth and the other end... Thankfully it didn't cause any issues, but he wasn't interested in a eating for a while, too full! Another time he brazenly climbed onto their coffee table and made off with an entire wheel of peppercorn cheese. Cheese itself if not a strange thing to steal, but the peppercorn component had me perplexed given that there was also cheddar, a camembert and some other sort of cheese (probably a blue) on the same platter. I also know a Labrador who once ate a full tub of margarine, a stick of butter and a whole loaf of bread in one sitting.

Hi WillowLane, What type of property is this? Is it in a strata complex or is it a house?

Malcolm insists on always sitting/laying on something rather than being directly on the floor, and so will create his own bedding solutions if his bed or mat is not in the room for whatever reason. More than once I have turned around after putting away the groceries to find that he has fashioned himself a little cave by crawling into an empty green bag. My personal favourite though is when there's nothing much around and I find him sitting very awkwardly on something ridiculous like a takeaway menu. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

When your mum won't let you eat your bone in her bed! And when your mum cleans out all the cabbage and carrots that you have shredded in your bed instead of letting you use them as bedding!

If your dog has other health conditions that would also bump up the price. My dog has terrible teeth due to genetics and could easily have a dental every 6 months. His vet would like him to be on Hills TD but it doesn't seem to agree with the rest of his body, particularly his digestive system. He is good on Advance Dental, though this does not have the same scientific backing as Hills TD, which is not to say that it doesn't help but that there just hasn't been a clinical trial of it. Some people will tell you that both of these brands are rubbish but it really depends on what works best for your dog; apart from his teeth, vets rave about the condition that my boy is in. So I say give Hills TD a go, and see how your dog fares. NB, my dog also gets greenies, has Plaque Off and I brush his teeth. He gets the odd bone, but they make him constipated and he tends inhale them instead of chewing! Do persevere with teeth brushing if you are up to it. It takes time and lots of patience but it's worth it. A dental specialist told me that toothbrushes for babies are best as they are softer than the ones from the pet store or vet, but do not use human toothpaste as it is poisonous.

There are too many posts about dearly departed dogs for my liking.

I do not let my dog lick my face. In fact I discourage all types of licking as he is the type of dog where it could easily become an unhealthy obsession. My beloved heart dog was a licker who would occasionally try to take pot shots at your face. He was a papillon and if you happened to move while he was taking aim you could wind up getting a French kiss! BTW, my screen name was definitely NOT inspired by those types of kisses!

Evil Windscreen Dog. Evil Windscreen Dog looms down on Malcolm when he is in the car. The only thing you can do is glare, bare your teeth, strike out, bark ferociously and show Evil Windscreen Dog just how tough you are. Unfortunately, Evil Windscreen Dog responds instantaneously in kind, with the exact same moves, intensity and all! There can be no out-barking him, he can't be stared down! When not allowed to search for Evil Windscreen Dog in the glass or strike out against him, Malcolm trembles and whines -- what am I to do if I can't attack him before he attacks me? It helps to have a jacket or blanket to put over your head. If you can't see Evil Windscreen Dog, he can't see you.

My dog had this issue yesterday, barking at workers jack hammering a few meters away from our courtyard. I gave him a bone which seemed to distract him and now he doesn't care about the noise or the close proximity of the workers. I think he has taken it to mean that when people are working with power tools, good things happen (bones). This could go the other way, though. A dog might instead believe that the food is a reward for barking.

Hi guys, I have recently moved out of home with my dog (a bitza rescue 'Malcolm', who looks like a backyard breeder's idea of that mythological 'breed' the 'deer nosed chihuahua" <insert eye roll here> but who knows what is in him). Well, a home is not a home without a dog and so my parents are now looking into buying or rescuing an adult companion dog and your suggestions would be appreciated! General requirements/info: - must like cuddles and being a lap warmer - any grooming requirements considered, however must not shed to the degree of a fox terrier, pug, etc. My mum says she is willing to learn how to clipper a dog if need be, but honestly I suspect she'd much rather brush and she does have a preference for dogs with soft fur to stroke. - desexed, probably a female as a girl may get on better with my boy dog? - not a nuisance barker; alarm barking would be tolerated - happy, friendly, social, easy-going, affectionate, non-aggressive, no tendency towards nervousness/neurosis - my parents currently have a big yard with many different areas to explore, but may downsize in the (not near) future. Their yard is fully fenced but not suitable for a houdini dog. - indoor/outdoor dog as he/she pleases - the dog must get along with my dog as I will be minding it whenever my parents go on holidays. My dog absolutely ADORES Cavaliers, his eyes light up whenever he sees them. He also loves 'small white fluffies' except those which are neurotic... He dislikes and is reactive to 'in your face' dogs and bull/muscly breeds. He does not particularly care for terriers. - my parents are quite active, so regular brisk walks are not an issue, but if the dog would prefer to lounge around that is ok too. - my parents are semi-retired, so someone is usually at home, but the dog should be able to cope with some alone time - they will do some training if required, but don't want to start from scratch with a puppy or un-housebroken dog. - does not have to be good around children (since there are none!) We had a Papillon growing up, my heart dog who lived to 17 years. Although it has been 4 years since his death, I'm not sure we are ready for another Papillon. Also while our Papillon adored being around us and would sit, gazing lovingly in our direction (honestly, he radiated love!), he was not much into cuddling, simply putting up with it for a while. I'm not sure if all Paps are like this? The only breed I can think of so far is a Cavalier. I'm sure something small white and fluffy would also be suitable, perhaps a Maltese?, but I am embarrassed to say that I have trouble discriminating between small, white fluffy breeds since so many that I see are bitzas. (please don't flame me!) Breeds which I don't think would be suitable are Pekingese (sorry, don't like their temperament!), anything terrier and Italian Greyhounds - while they are adorable, I understand that they are very cat-like and mum couldn't stand all the jumping on and off furniture etc, also while their yard is fully fenced I suspect a hound would have no trouble escaping. I am trying to gently push them into getting a pedigree or breed rescue dog as having a rescue myself, I know how hit and miss it can be with regards to their health and temperament. If going for a rescue, I would prefer a rescue where the people really know the dog. My mum was formerly thinking of something like a Cavalier x Poodle but has since been educated... Anyway, i look forward to hearing your ideas! My parents are in no rush and are happy to wait until the right dog comes along to add to their family.

I alternate between Advance Dental and Nutro Natural Choice, with the odd raw meaty bone or chicken wing. My dog does really well on them and is always being complimented by vets on his trim, well-muscled figure and shiny coat. He has terrible dental/mouth conformation (rescue bitza), but the kibble and bones really seem to help. I did a fair bit of research on dry food. One of the things I look for is for the first ingredient to be meat and/or meat meal. I also like that Advance is Australian made and owned. There are probably kibble which look better on paper, but it really comes down to what works for your dog. I have heard of dogs who do best on Bonnie over the more premium brands.

At that age (13/14yrs), I would tell the teen and his parents that if he were to pull that stunt again I would report him to the police for trespassing.

In home care. I think my dog would be too stressed out in a kennel environment.