lucylotto

My friend adopted a female standard poodle from the pound 1 month ago. Friend has been home with her ever since except for the occasional shopping trip and outing. This dog is scared and skittish. She moves away if approached nearly every time. She 'tolerates' being patted, she won't come to you, tail down,most of time, she hangs on to her wee and poo to the point of total capacity full and even when walked upon waking can be taken back inside the home after x2 walks up and down the street without weeing. She won't eat and my friend has tried everything. She is very skinny, but has gained some weight since her release. The positives are: she travels well in the car, walks well on lead (runs away and is scared of lead but once is on is OK), likes cats (friend has x2), is fine with other dogs, she does follow my friend around the house and gives her the occasional nudge (friend says it reminds her of when she was nudged by a shark) The main problem for my friend right now is that when she does leave the dog at home she barks and howls the entire time she is away. It is a problem with the neighbours and my friend will have to go back to work as soon as she can find new employment. She wants to have dog settled by then. I have told her about bark collars but she also needs to know what she should be doing to rehabilitate this dog. My friend finally felt able to have another dog and was determined to 'rescue' a dog but I can see her angst at not knowing what to do to help her new friend. There is no spare $ for behavioural consult so I thought I'd ask on DOL as so many here have had experience with rescue and problems. Any suggestions on how to deal with this poor soul would be so welcome.

I cannot believe that this low life of a human being got a lousy 9,000 fine and IS STILL ALLOWED TO OWN DOGS! :)

I know how damaging GA's can be to some dogs, she wasn't well when she came into care and i felt they were putting their paperwork issues before the dogs wellbeing. (and the fact that they didn't want to have to chase it up down the track, a phone call once a month to check on her is all it would take.) I feel like they were taking the easy option so they could rehome her and forget about it. Yes, I agree. Avoid GA and wounds at all costs. Last resort only. (fraid that the nurse in me talking) I lost my beautiful Lab to GA during routine desexing. We were devastated. She was perfectly healthy, no underlying conditions that would predispose her.

Just wondering, do I need to apply to council to have more than 2 kids? I know other families that have 3 and 4! They must have a permit or does it depend on the area? Thought I better get it right before I go ahead. :D

thanks bec, have purchased

yep, my boy was desexed at 7 weeks and he still cocks his leg and marks if I take to another house where there are dogs either sex. I wasn't given the choice at point of purchase and thought it was the new trend. I would rethink if purchasing again.

Wonderful Pics!

Hi Elle, its very exciting getting a new puppy! I am sure you will have much response from DOL re food/bedding etc. Cause Im at work with limited time I will focus on the fact that your new pup will be a baby (like your human one) for a long time in spite of its physical growth so essentially you will be raising x2 babies at same time. I got a new lab for my kids when my youngest was a small statured 5yrs old and even at this age he at times had trouble coping with incredibly strong exuberant overexcited puppy jumping up at him so be ready for this as it will take about 3-5 yrs for the lab to become docile with age. You will need to be vigilant and consistant with training!

well stumpy, i don't want to giv you a bum steer (baboom) so I am not offering medical advice but my lagotto regularly eats everything and just loooves stocking socks and crutches out of undies...male and female. My son's girlfriend was horrified when he 'passed' her g string!. We constantly are putting things out of harms way but we (house of 7) are only human and sometimes miss. He has a healthy diet otherwise and seems to pass a little something different each day or so and cross fingers he remains OK. Addit: The night they both ate a packet of nurofen between them (that had been dropped out of the shopping bag) was not good tho... AND rather expensive after a few days at the vet!

would be very dangerous in my house as I know my temper would be sorely tested when I discovered the almighty mess crreated when my two larrikins chewed thru the bag !

My Mum's Chi has been in the specialist referral hospital for 10 days after developing a creeping paralysis. He can eat drink and excrete but all limbs are completely paraysed. They say he will most likely recover over a period of weeks to months. Meanwhile he needs good 24hr nursing care. I was wondering if anyone on DOL has seeen this before?

Thank you all! I had no idea what I should be doing. Sounds like I need to invest in some dog clippers and give her a good brush tomorrow. I think I'll get her clipped down properly soon even tho it is a bit cool (22 degrees tomorrow tho...yippee) Poor little thing looks all moth eaten after I have attacked her with scissors. Thank you once again.

Hi Megan, after following your link I found a home made version of nina toy - muffin tray, put a treat in each muffin hole with a ball on top and dog has to find treats under each ball! looks easy to try. - Which nina toy are you interested in?

Hi to any/all that may have advice for me. I have a large toy/small miniature cream poodle girl whose hair seems rather fleecy to me when compared to my friend's poodles very woolly coat. We got her thru poodle rescue and she looks just like a poodle but I really don't know her origins- I ramble. I also have a lagotto. This is second winter with lagotto but first winter with poodle. lagotto is easy peasy...just let winter coat grow into fine dreadlocks and clip in spring...no matting and no problem. I have let our poodles coat grow too thinking it is winter and she will be nice and warm like lagotto boy BUT today realised she is starting to matt! I started clipping out the odd cottonwool patch and now she is all patchy. I have now scissored her down nearly all over(no mean feat) and up to her legs and paws which I will tackle tomorrow. I really don't like the show style cuts for her so always keep her like a little lamb in summer (especially like her face fluffy) My question is...how often and how short should I clip her? I don't find any comb, brush or slicker that I currently own to be very effective at getting thru her fur at all. I would very much appreciate any suggestions anyone may have to offer.

:D Thanks Indi girl. I am interested in these too as my parents have a chi who as he is aging has started to bark at the slightest provocation and they (80 yr old) are about to move into a unit dwelling. He lives on the bed all day so antibarking collar will be our first step. ta.

Love your photos menacebear!! :D

mmm it might be a bit risky to groom unbeknownst but you know your brother best. I minded a cute maltese/shitzu once and she had long haired ears which I thought looked ridiculous (girl family) but mostly kept getting burrs etc stuck in them...so I cut them short....faces agasp upon return to pick her up...whoops!

I had a closer look at the older one, he is actually a bit more matted than I thought, the poor thing. They do love their dogs but then again you'd have to say there's a certain amount of neglect if a dog is matted. I am trying to get some pics but they are all so excited, it's hard and we're trying to settle them in a bit. This involves separating the more neurotic one (the barker) inside with us for now for some attention, and leaving our pup and the younger one outside, they play quite well together. We then bring the pup back inside to his crate to ensure he doesn't over do it. Phew, what a palava. I have no idea if this is the right thing to do but they seem to be alot calmer this way. I figure it's only for 4 days so we'll just do what works for us, and my primary concern is our own pup obviously. Forgot to add, we have a dog-aggressive sharpei next door, this is not helping. This bitch next door is going spare through the fence with all this doggy activity. But that is another story ! I think the oodles will need baths to be 'worthy' of pics on DOL !! :D Will post soon. edited to add: the oodles didn't want brekky this morning, so OH put the bowl up on our outdoor setting out of Archie's reach. Guess who surprised us with his agility ... and is growing very quickly !! droolll....over your beautiful labby!!

The advice re to seek another opnion is IMO sound. However, do it asap and if the prognosis is poor, don't delay the inevitable. Our lab was, long story so won't go there, mis treated for what ended up being brain tumor and she went blind overnite. the thing is she was so obviously sick but not crying or anything but as the vet said, she may be living with an almighty chronic head ache and we don't know it. Be kind.

the previous thread on this pretty much PIA was well thought of from those who had had experience with thwm.. I looked at choice who have recently examined them all and done a comparison. PIA came up well in this too. Go on to choice and have a look.

I agree that it is always wise to get medical issue ruled out as a cause. Something I should have mentioned in my first post. Dancinbcs - Some breeders are excellent in "setting the scene" to help make house training easier for the pup's new owners when they are ready to leave the 'nest' so to speak. It does make a big difference. But not all do this. All the same, whilst I don't think it is impossible for a 16 week old pup to have been "house trained", to have that expectation is a bit unrealistic for many pups. But I'm glad you raised the "rule out health issue" as it does have the potential for being the cause for the pup's lapse in its toilet training. My pup was what I consider in hindsight to be semi trained for quite a while. He has really totally 'got it' at 12 /12 which includes taking himself outside when needed via doggy door. He did the weeing whilst walking thing if excited, scared, unsure, if he had a fullish bladder but hadn't been full enough to go out and empty. So we had the odd accident for quite a while. He seemed to hang on as long as possible and if any of above occurred, would lose control. I always knew iut was him as there were no puddles but one long stream! ahhh! We just kept on timing things with him and being positive (after x3 kids are used to having to be consistent for long periods) and he eventually 'got it'. He definitely wouldn't take himself out by himself if it was dark or raining...bit of a wooz, we had to go with him. He's all grown up now and dark and rain don't scare him anymore. I remember reading that most dogs don't have real mental control over tt until 20 weeks or something like that which I found reassuring. Up until then it is more good management and timing rather than their own thought process. (Like a baby not having control over sleep until 9 mths - if they are sleeping well, it is parents good management and luck but not their control) Erny have you heard of this toileting control mental milestone?

I just cannot believe this. am speechless. so wrong.euthanasia is wrong here too but better than this torture. These people/courts/councils, every system involved should be tortured and fined and punished for this cruel act - leave the dog alone. I just cannot believe it. human beings are the assholes of the earth and will always be... :laugh:

It could be the meatloaf or the dry food. A suggestion is to cut back to x1 food eg. boiled chicken(no fat) and perhaps rice to get a gas free dog then gradually add/replace with each food you are using now, to find out which one is causing it. My dogs fart if they get a animal fat in their diet and OMG its murder if we give them lamb as its so fatty and its a saturated fat. My cousin's dog could not tolerate ANY dry food. My point being, each dog is different. Good luck.

my poodle does this. it drives me f...ing nuts! and everyone else too!. She is learning not to to me anyway....slowly. I growl at her when she does it and then pet and coo her when she stops. Now she stands on my lap head high licking her lips, dying to lick me but she knows she will only get petted if she doesn't do it. God love her!

I have never known a vet to do such a thing. They'd have to be pretty sadistic to actually want pets to come back unwell. Why do you think they say no plucking??The only way to fix a severe ear infection on a breed like the one in question is two remove the major build up of hair,Vets wont pluck unless knocked out.You cant stick drops down ears that are so impacted with hair. We boarded a dog years ago & also groomed whilst here,We had never done this mini before,We started & something was very odd with the ear,we thought it had a stick stuck there.Straight to the vet who was also puzzled,The dog had to be knocked out.The ears had never been plucked & it ad infections.During this time the crap had set amongst the hair & ended up like a stick.It couldnt be snapped it was so hard. Big vet bill & a very happy dog these owners now also pluck after realising what was cheaper & easier for the dog. Plucking done correctly on the right dogs that need it doesnt cause ear infections. I say ask your vet if they will pluck ears & most say no.Most vets & nurses have no clue how to pluck ears unless knocked out ,just like many wont cut dogs nails because they have no clue. Our vet always said they could never do ears like we can & atleast they where honest. It takes all of 2 mins to pluck,easy peasy. We deal with it with our clients . The most resent is a labradoodle.Vet blamed previous groomer for ear infection ,we have groomed the dog twice in 15 months.They ask us not to pluck ears because there vet said dont do it BUT the vet said it must come to them twice a year to be knocked out & ears plucked Hmm. Another client with 3 schnauzers vet told them the same .All ended up with big ear issues,2/3 had to be knocked out ears plucked .They now come to us every 6 weeks to get the ears done no issues. Vets say it & are also very aware of what the outcome will be ,if they arent aware then there vet skills suck because some breeds do need there ears plucked to minimise issuesIf OK, then my question is...how do i find an excellent ear plucker like you? I do it I want it to be quick and painless.