Odin-Genie

That's great. Thank you so much. I am feeling relieved.

Yes, we found this also! It occured if a poo was left for just a few days.... Do you think this could be caused by the irradiation? Or is it just a result of high meat content? I have two bags of Orijen. If it's a problem, I'm not sure if I should continue to use this. But apart from this, Orijen seems to have suited my dog very well.

No. Most days, he just gets Orijen. He sometimes gets pig trotters as treats on weekends.

After recently moving my dog to Orijen, I found that if his poo is left out in the sun for long, it turns a whitish colour. It's normal otherwise. Has anyone else seen this?

Do you know why they won't supply to Australia?

I have recently moved my Elkhound to Orijen after reading about it on DOL. It's done wonders for him. He has a sensitive stomach and would often get soft poos. Now they are all tiny, hard and healthy (can't believe I'm discussing the texture of poo :D ) He is also more energetic (as if he didn't have enough already), loves the food, poo smells less. So I am extremely happy with Orijen and am glad to hear there is no recall. Once I finish the Hills Science puppy food bag for my retriever, I'll move her to Orijen as well.

I never had this issue with my Elkhound, but when we got our golden retriever, she used to growl if we approached her when she was eating. We used the method Odin's trainer had suggested, which was to add some tasty bits to the bowl while Genie (retriever) was eating, or offer some treats. This way, she would associate your approach with positive things, not a threat to her meal. Within a week she was over the growling. Now the two of them love to be patted during meal times. In fact, I do a lot of the grooming when they are having their pig ears, and they look absolutely content.

Are there? I am fully aware of the proposed Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008, but not of the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act. Although I did here talk somewhere along the line that it would be changed and I recall one of those changes was that the name of the Act would drop the "Feral and Nuisance" words out of its title. Steve might be right, although I would suggest confirmation be obtained by reading the Act itself rather than taking someone else's word for it. The Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act is proposed to be amended by Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Bill 2008. Given below are excerpts from teh explanatory memorandum: Some parts of the Animals Legislation Amendment (Animal Care) Act 2007 No. 65 which amend the DFNA have not been proclaimed. This includes changing the title to Domestic Animals Act 1994. However, there are no proposed amendments to s 34A.

My 1 year old and nine months old play fight most of the time, frequently rolling on their back and making funny growly noises They have been doing this for the past seven months that we have had the second dog. They've never hurt each other. In fact, quite often their play ends in them licking each other.

I got my male pup desexed at five months. The vet asked me to limit his play but didn't ask me to keep him inside. He went out as usual to do his stuff. There wasn't any change in his behaviour. Unless your yard is unsecure, I see no problem with their being outside, particularly after six days.

Set up the place for your puppy. Get toys for him. Go and visit the puppy. I still remember the day I got Odin. We had his puppy pen all set up next to our bedroom with his little bed inside. I remember every moment, including how he slept on my lap all the way home It's a special day and worth the wait. Enjoy it.

My male puppy didn't have this issue (peeing over us). However, he used to have most of his accidents when we would get back home since he was excited. But this stopped when he was about four months old. However, someone who got her puppy at the same time as I did tells me that her dog continues to do that (now about 1 year old). If it doesn't stop within a month or so, your puppy should have a vet check.

Where does he sleep? He might be doing that to seek attention. I would suggest training. When he barks, ask him to be quiet in a firm voice but don't go to him. When he stops, wait for 30 seconds then go to him and give him a treat, lots of praise. It's a killer to do that at 3.00 am though I recently had to do that when my 1 year old started to bark at the sound of thunder. I was sleepwalking at work the next day My dog's trainer told me that biting is natural in puppies. But they have to be taught to do that gently. You are doing the right thing by yelping and ignoring. But it will take a while for him to get the idea. I used to have scratches all over my arms when my Elkhound was a puppy. Now I can take food from his mouth without a worry.

Clean the floors thoroughly and spray something like Urine Off wherever she has had accidents. If the smell stays (normal cleaners don't eradicate the smell), your puppy will think it's ok to go there. Also, try putting a pee post outside where you want her to go.

Mohican, he is absolutely adorable.

My sister's 9 year old lab, who was desexed as a puppy, still marks territory every time he goes out, though he doesn't do it inside the house!!

I agree with this suggestion. I left Genie with the breeder till 10 weeks ebcause I could not take leave at that time. When I got her home, I took a week off, but made sure that I didn't spend all my time with her. Your pup is used to having littermates around. Leaving her alone in a new place for long hours suddenly may not be a good idea. She has to get used to it gradually. I know how hard it is to wait to get a new puppy, but if you can wait, do so and get her when you are on leave so that you can get her settled in.

I have read that this works well too. But doesn't the smell make them poo there instead of their regular area?

She's adorable By the way, have you tried comfort toys? There are these soft toys which emulate heart beat. Supposed to be good for new pups, though I've never had to use it.

Does anyone if gulping has anything to do with litter size or breed? Odin takes him time chewing his food (from a litter of four) while Genie gulps down her food (litter of nine). Odin's littermate also eats slowly.

It's important for large breeds to learn how to behave around small dogs, and for small dogs to get used to large breeds......I won't allow big dogs to jump on little dogs, but they can learn important lessons on how to behave around smallies without being allowed off lead play with them. I had only 3 pups in Odin's PPS. He was the biggest and most boistrous one. However, the trainer handled the sessions so well that Odin never had the chance to bully the other puppies (who were half his size). All play was closely supervised, and this trained Odin so well that now when I take him to the dog park, owners of small dogs tell me that Odin plays so well with their small dogs. So, yes, a mixed group is definitely better. Needless to say, I was extremely happy with Odin's PPS, and took Genie to the same trainer and recommend her to everyone.

A normal harness secures the dog and allows the dog to use the strength of his entire body for pulling. A Lupi (it's a brand name) works by converting forward motion into an upward lift and so stops pulling. However, unlike Halti (which is a head harness), Lupi is difficult to get out of since it has a figure eight structure and goes over the chest. Here is a link to the product: http://www.petsunleashed.com.au/Product/lupi-harness

My vet asked me to wait 10 days after vaccination as well. That is quite a standard practice.

Practice leaving him alone on weekends while you are at home. You could leave him in the yard with a few toys, or in his favourite room (wherever he is likely to be all day) while you watch TV or do other things around the house. If he starts to howl, wait for some time, then go in and ask him to be quiet. If he quietens, wait for 20 seconds, then give him a treat. Keep repeating this exercise till he gets the idea that howling is not good, and that it is ok to be alone. You do have to be careful though that you don't end up giving the idea that he can call you by howling. Last weekend, my elkhound suddenly started barking each time there was the sound of thunder (he has never done that before). I and my husband got up at 2.30 in the morning, and trained him for half an hour to be quiet by following the above procedure. Next day, we played the sound of thunder all morning while he was with us. He started barking initially, but then soon got used to it and stopped.

One product that has worked well for Odin is "Stop Chew" spray. You can get it from most pet shops. I have to spray it everyday to discourage him from chewing. Though none of the bitter products seem to deter Genie (retriever) from chewing So I am at a loss with her