JAG

Usually a pup will shed its baby teeth between 4 and 6 months. You can usually see when a k9 tooth is going to be shed as it starts to change colour inside (like it is dying) It will go a very slight red or purple colour in the middle. If the baby tooth is still there I would think that it is not going to come out of its own accord. It may have a large root that is holding it in - although most baby teeth don't there are the few occasions that this can happen. It quite often happens in toy poodles where they retain their baby k9's in which case they need to be surgically removed. This is usally done to stop crowding of the top teeth, ruining a bite and stopping food getting caught betwen the two etc. I would suggest you consult with your vet as to the best course of action.

Natashja, I would think you and your OH have fallen into the trap that most new poodle owners do. Please don't take this post the wrong way but as most new poodle owners so often do fall for that cute, fluffy, naughty bundle of fun - the puppy poodle!! They are smart and they work out very early on who is the boss - THEM!!! I bet he has been picked up and cuddled and told how beautiful he is and how wonderful he is and how cute he is etc.... Well how big can ones ego get?? By picking him up all the time you are elevating him up the pecking order. He is at your height not dog height. Is he sleeping in your bedroom? Is he sleeping on your bed? Does he sit on your lap watching tv? All things that give him power. I remember you saying you thought crates were not appropriate in your house because they didn't look nice so I am not sure if you bought one for him to sleep in and use as his time out area. He is first and foremost a dog!! He needs to learn how to be a dog and that dogs have rules. We as pack leaders need to teach them what the rules are. The first one being you do not toilet in your own den! (house). If he has been crate trainined then this should be easier. A poodle is very bright and they do learn very quickly - it is us that are slow. You need to be taking him out to the lawn (or where ever he needs to do his stuff) consistentaly. You need to give him a toileting command (mine is toilet). When he gives you the correct response praise him and taken him back inside and continue playing etc. You need to do this every 2 hours at least, after he has eaten, during play time, after a nap anytime he looks like he is going to wee/pooh inside. They give you hints that they are about to do something. A slight limp of the back leg, sniffing, running in circles all are different but you need to be aware of what his cue is. Take him out and praise him. You may have to stand in the cold for up to 15mins but this will only be for a short time as he gets to know the routine. Do not just put himout byhimself as he will not understand what is required of him at this age. My now 16 week old baby was taking himself out to wee and pooh at 13 weeks of age. He will wee on command and I know he needs to do a pooh first thing inthe morning and last thing at night before bed. I wait until he has done it and then he goes into his crate which he has not messed in since day 1. His crate is his home, he loves it, it has toys and food in it. It is located in my family room where he is a part of the family but also has his own space. Once he is put to bed I put a throw rug over the crate and I don't hear a peep out of him until he is let out the next morning. All of my poodles have their own crates to sleep in in another room, Because he is a baby he is in the main part of the house but soon will go in with the others which he will accept with no trouble at all as his home is with him. Sorry to hijack thread Mitzy. :rolleyes:

No never too late to train them. With your fella it may just be a matter of getting a crate to fit him that is portable enough to fit in your car. Just start slowly during the day and make it fun for him to be in it. Put his toys, a comfy bed and feed him in there. Leave the door open at first so he gets used to being in it and work towards closing it when he is comforatble with the idea. It doesn't take long and they really love them when they have been introuced to them correctly.

Hi PB, The trick is to be consistant with your training. Everything Erny has said is correct but you need to put in a little to get a lot out at the end. I currently have a 14 week old pup who is fully crate trained. He will whimper if he neds out during the night (has only happpened once since his arrival). When he was very young he spent a fair time in the crate for his protection from the others. I let him outside to the toliet every 2 hours, or after he had his meal, a drink a play. I always took him to the same spot (without the other dogs around) and I tell him his tolieting word. This can be anything you like I use toilet. I praise him after he has done his thing and he knows that is the correct place to relieve himself. I will stand outside before bedtime usually 11pm until he has done a wee and most times a pooh, and he will hold on all night with no accidents. I have not had an accident inside to date. Using this system of total emptying out before bed I did not have to get up during the night becasue he could hold on until around 5 30am then I have stretched this out as he is sleeping longer. Other indicators you need to look for when she is out in the house is sniffing, maybe a slight leg hop in the hind end, circling. Also stop playtime to take her outside to do a wee - most accident happen at this point. Like your kids she needs rules and guidlines. she looks at you to guide her and teach her right from wrong. It will take time but it is only a few nights of inconvienince for a lifetime of happiness. Oh is there any reason why you take her to the toilet with her lead on? This would restrict her from doing her natural sniff the ground to seek the right spot to wee on.

If the new family he is going to live near by get them to come over and get to know him. He will also see that you are friendly with these people so he will feel more comfortable around them. Also take him for a visit to their house. They too can give you a toy or blanket so he gets used to their scent. With my fur kids I usually get the person to send a top or singlet they have worn and not washed so the puppy has their scent on it. It will take him a few weeks to adjust to his new environment but he will be fine. As long as his new family understands that he needs time to adjust and they don't push him he will be fine. Lots of love, understanding and food will win his heart. Dogs really do adjust well to rehoming - I think it is us that have a bigger problem with it. It never gets any easier though. :rolleyes:

Excellent representations guys - well done! Your kids look fantastic! Beautiful teeth, shiny coats and obviously happy dogs. Look forward to seeing the new thread SMS. Cheers JAG

Yep I am all for it although when you have a few dogs it does get harder and more expensive to feed this type of diet.. My kids are on a raw diet plus kibble and they all do very well on it.

Hi Guys, Sorry to hijack but can you post pictures of your fur kids since being on BARF please. Or if you have before and after pics that would be great. Would love to see how these kids flourish on the diet. May also encourage others to join in.

Jag does to. Jag could do with a break from scissoring. Ohh Sivaro - you have been watching me groom my show dogs.. They are all square Why do you think Zip has a flat top?? Hmmm thinking which poodle I could torture with this new do..... Will work on that one. ;)

Love the photos guys!!! Keep em coming. Hijack schmyjack Sivaro.... no problems this end. Thanks Siv - Macy certainly scrubbed up well for the ring. No the brown girl is an Elire one, sorry!! Very naughty to groom so I was very pleased we got through with a nice do today. Ahh your Mum's photos remind me so much of my Mum's. Although back in the 60's hair , hair and more hair. LOL!! Great pet photos too. Love the cowboy hats! Mum's first show dog. A whiteoaks mini boy. Macy after a bath (sorry photo is not that great she was on the move) Love the photos PW. He looks so proud of himself with all the sand stuck to his coat. LOL! Can't wait to see you give the flat top a go. Just remember to blowdry his top knot first so you get the hair really straight. This will help to get the straight sides and flat top. It will take a few cuts to settle in so don't be too worried if it doesn't look so good first time out. You boy looks like he has a nice think coat to work with.

Thanks PW. Fortunately I am able to do them myself which makes life a lot easier. The photo of the brown girl I did today for my friend. She lives on acerage so the short body and legs work very well for her. We want more poodle photos.... Where is Poodle Fan with her 2 boys and Princess? Capanash? Palane? You to Poodle Wrangler. I am sure there are lots of you that have a poodle at home. Would love to see your little guys. It doesn't matter if they are a bit hairy - they are all gorgeous.

Thanks Sivaro. Love your photos too. Actually I negated to put the show ones on there as I thought some wouldn't like them. As mentioned before I am a traditionalist and LOVE the show trims although it does take me some time to do them. I am still wet behind the ears in that regards (grooing) although I have been showing for a long time. Always had someopne else to do the do for me. Pets, now that's a different thing. Have been grooming them for many years.... Hey Zorro, I appreciate your comments as many people don't like the Poofy poodle trims but hey - each to thier own. I think it is wonderful to see a well groomed poodle in a lamb trim going for a walk with their owners. Nothing wrong with that!

Following on from another thread, as promised, here are a few of my kids in their different trims. Depending on how I feel when I start to groom is what dictates the trim of the week. Oh and also the mess they have gotten themselves into before their baths. Generally they are bathed once a week with a full do every 2nd week.

Thanks PW. Zip has been in the Marines since he left the show ring. His son also joined as it seemed to suit him as well. If you have the rounded top knot trim it in a bit closer to hs head. Don't leave it so full. May make him look a bit more balanced. I will dig some other photos up and start a new thread. Sorry to hijack Natashja.

I have a poodle with the same problem. I get her to lay on her side with her head on my lap with a side lamp tilted on its side so it isn't shining directly into her eyes but so I can see the tiny eyelashes. I use blunt ended tweesers to pluck the eyelashes out. How I do it is : I put my finger at the bottom of her eyelid and apply a small amount of pressure this pushes the eyelid outward enough to be able to pluck the offending eyelash/s out. Also you can pull the eyelid dowwn and outwards if you are a bit worried. (Always pluck away from the eye in a quick motion like you would do with your own eyebrows). The hand I am using to push the eyelid outwards is also the one I use to restrain her. Although now she is used to the operation and finds it a big relief so is more than happy to lay still while I do it. Take up the offer of help - if it isn't satisfactory then do the op.

Natashja you may change your mind when your boy grows up and starts doing his own personal grooming. Nothing like having that pee smell all over that cute little fluffy face that comes up and gives you a doggy kiss. ;) As for his teste it is not just a poodle thing or more common in poodles. It happens in every breed and can happen at any time. Some say it is a gene carried by the bitch others by the dog... Unless you are intending on keeping him entire then it really shouldn't be of a concern to you. The worst part is if the vet can't find it and he has to go hunting during surgery for it - that can then cost you more. If left unattended it may turn cancerous.

Call me a traditionalist but the poodle should have its face shaved - or at the least left with a moustach. That is what makes a poodle a poodle. They have a beautiful face with such elegance to leave it hairy and unkept is awful. Maybe a bishon would have suited you better for the full face look. As PF knows I have several poodles all sporting a variety of trims from the traditional lion trim for the show ring to a flat top and shaved ears. They all have a different do but none have a full face. I leave that for the bishons.... As for ears, I have a couple of poodles that have double coated ears. Which is to say they are as hairy on the underside as they are the front. It is quite difficult to see the ear canal. I usually shave the inside of the ear with a 30 blade to remove all excess hair and then gently tease out the hair in the canal a little at a time. The trick is little and often as it is no different to pulling out hair from your own head or legs etc. It hurts!!

I am glad you bit the bullet and bought one. Cage/crate/kennel whatever you want to call them is for the dog to feel safe and secure in. It is their little private space where they will feel comfortable. A bonus of having one is if you need to travel or stay some where with your dog he will feel like he is at home. His crate has travelled with him. Well that is if you would take it with you. Mine all have their own to travel in the car and sleep in them when I stay at Mum's house. No problems. Well I am glad you have the poodle to go with the house. Nothing nicer thatn seeing a well maintained poodle with his styled hair do, poms and all. Ummm actually there is a difference.... A crate is a crate, Usually plastic with a wire front, has holes in the top half for air, approved by airlines for travel. A cage is usually wire, the new ones fold down when not in use, can be used ofr car travel and are excellent to use when away from home. A kennel of course is the "dog house" thing that we all remember from days of old, outside where fido lives. There are so many varieties these days but there is a difference.

Hi Natashja, Don't worry about the crate being too big for him now. He will need the room when he grows up. The little ones don't last that long as they grow rather quickly. He will find his crate appealing and good fun to run around in and learn it is a safe place to be. JAG

My husband made me a tyre jump as you can see below. It was initially screwed together and he put the tape over the screws and painted it. It has now been welded together at the bottom as it was getting a bit wobbly. But it works fine. It was the only piece of equipment my little poodle hated to jump. Now he flys through, but he is too old to compete..

Molasseslass I asked about the Lepto part of the petplan insurance and this is the response I got. "After discussion with our Consulting Vet, we find that most Vet's in areas where Lepto is prevalent are giving lepto vacc's with normal 6,12 & 16 week programme. But we find in area's where it is not prevalent, that is not the case. So were are taking the approach that we will treat a claim for lepto on the basis of what is normal for the location and pay according." Gwen Ford (Q.P.I.B) Dip. Fin. Services (Ins Broking) Director Petplan & Petplan Equine Cheers Jag

One of my girls had to have her front dew claw removed after it grew back. The operation involves removing a slice of the bone together with the claw as the claw is attached to it. Much easier and less painful when the kids are a few days old. On the other hand she is much better off without it as it was growing at a bad angle. Also being a poodle with hairy legs you can often forget to clip the nail at times.