taffydog

I can recommend Wagtails for either some group training or one on one training. they are at Sumner Park which would be handy for you. Tabitha is excellent. They are at: http://www.wagtails.com.au/ cheers taffydog

Poodlefan gave a rather detailed description on how to clear the glands so if you're game I've cut and pasted it below - can't work out how to do a link. Brace yourself: QUOTE: Ok Yappy and V.A.H, here we go (here's a post I never thought I would do) However, I would caution that this is something that you really need to see done a couple of times... nothing like hands on experience Get your vet to show you.. Gloves are for sissies by the way! Dog into washing place, run the tap warm. Feel around the dog's anus with your thumb and forefinger.. do this gently or you might get a nasty "spontaneous" surprise.. At around the four o'clock and eight o'clock position (think of a clock face) you should be able to feel two slight bulges..probably about a centimetre or so from the opening of the anus - these are the glands. What you want to do is put your thumb and finger on the outside of the glands and push in behind them and then up towards the opening of the anus in a kind of 'milking' movement - the trick is slow and steady pressure not hard or sharp. If you get this right you will get a secretion from the anal glands. The secretion will vary in consistency from very liquid (kind of looks like coffee) to almost like tooth paste. This can almost erupt out or arrive more slowly. When I do it it basically deposits on my hand which I then rinse under the tap and do the dog's bum while I'm there. Some people do it into a tissue but I prefer to rinse if off. I don't find it particularly smelly or unpleasant - but I'm probably used to it. Safety tips - have the dog's bum facing slightly away from you - this stuff ain't nice in your face as a friend of mine can attest to. You will be doing this by feel and not by sight anyway. If nothing arrives under gentle pressure, STOP. You are either squeezing the gland and not opening it or there's nothing in it. Some books provide explanations of this practice with pics BTW Oh, by the way, Teddy will tell you if you're not getting it right. This is a very sensitive area on a dog - too much pressure and it hurts them. OK V.A.H - how did I go! [i'm picturing readers feeling their dogs bums ] END QUOTE oh the joys of dog ownership.... taffydog