lucylotto

I read last nite on vetnet type site that you shouldn't either. Their reason was that the pores where the hair had been plucked from oozed a fluid that created the perfect environment for breeding baddies. Also, the hair is supposed to keep water out of the middle ear during swimming. Whenever I have tried to pluck my dogs yelp so I am inclined not to. My boy dog won't let e near his ears now. (but i do insist on reg inspections much to his horror)

Hi Misslotus, I toileted our pup at MN, set alarm for 3 and got up at 6. This worked well and as he grew, so did his bladder in size, capacity and neurologically. I gradually spread the times to encourage this and eventually only had the 12mn and 5-6am times...which is a lot easier to live with. I had to keep these 2 times for quite a few months to form the habit. Sounds like you are on the right track. Good luck.

cesar demonstrated dog volunteer dog using treadmill yesterday at sydney show...I think treadmill sales about to skyrocket!

I would switch to one type of food and gradually add the next so if the farts etc restart you can identify which is causing the problem eg. my dogs cannot have lamb as the fat content makes them fart machines. However they do well on chicken necks/wings.

Yes, I've heard this as a reason to NOT clean up when the pup can see you, but never believed it makes any difference. I wouldn't be too concerned, consistency works well, pysco-analysis will just drive you nuts. yep

My dogs really love dinner time so theyHAD to go thru to get dinner as it was on the other side. My big boy was scared at first. I held door open for them few times and then progressively let go and they had to push it open if they were to get fed at all. They love it now and use it all the time. It seems we are now completely housetrained now they know they can come and go at will. It took 2-3 weeks. Don't know if this is helpful at all but good luck.

it is aggressive responses brought about through fear the dog has irrespective of the object causing that fear. that makes sense, thanks nekhbet

everyone/anyone, does the term 'fear aggressive' strictly refer to dog being fearful of other dog or can it be fear of people ?

I use advocate plus capstar. No fleas at all for two weeks then the occasional capstar tab when they start appearing. (we have a hefty flea problem in our area plus I have 2 cats and possums) I have just this week searched for discussions on same topic as I was due to purchase again and ended up staying with advocate.

I haven't put one in as it looked tho you lose the width of the panel in opening space. Is this correct? (my door opening is only 1 m even tho sliding glass) please can someone confirm for me?

agree. one of my dogs is well socialised in that he is very used to being around other dogs and relaxed but just ignores them. He is not at all interested in them and only 'plays' with his live in pal - our other dog. She is interested in checking out other dogs and will have the occasional play but again is more comfortable playing with our other dog. Socialising and playing not necessarily the same thing.

'penaten' zinc cream, used for nappy rash. great barrier and zinc for healing. Sounds like when shaved the skin has been grazed and infected with staph. The reason we don't shave skin directly prior to surgery on humans anymore in cases such as arthroscope - more chance of inviting unwanted bugs into knee joint.

our pup was dark choc brown with a white star on his chest. He is now latte in places, gey in places and the white star is gone. His main coulour is lighter brown with bleached tips! nothing like what we started with!

The lamb plus Artemis might be too much. Lamb is pretty fatty, and I think it's Artemis' fat content that has disagreed with one of my boys. He's been Mr Farty since I switched so I'm going to switch back to Royal Canin Maxi/Eagle Pack. mmm... my dogs fart like crazy if ever I give them lamb...must be the fat content Mine did really well on RC. They are on purina selects for the veges in it and rice barley opposed to corn. is OK too. Havent tried artemis as i feed raw as well.

Happy to hear all is working out! I hadn't heard of crate training before and have partly crated my last 2 pups also as a result of DOL I realise in hindsight I did it with my previous lab but it was a very big 'crate'...a dog pen enclosure with a kennel inside. But to her it WAS her special bedtime place. She would stand at the door when she wanted to go to her bed and run up to the pen and sit until I would let her in for the night. At the moment, we have gone back to 'crate' training where my boy dog sleeps on his bed in my room with door closed so he cannot roam the house. He was playing during the night and waking us by tapping on the arm to go outside and play with possums...didn't even wee. We realised he was out of control and now is back into a routine again. Interesting the 'crate' this time is the bedroom!

Lots of people are going to give you lots of good advice on here which you will find extremely helpful. One thing to remember is that a puppy is a baby and in some ways similar to a human baby, toddler, teenager and that its needs are met by you. It will grow faster than a human baby which is great news but a hell of a lot slower than what many people anticipate and requires lots of patience and training and love with consistency being of paramount importance in all these areas. There will be many things you will want to happen fast, say in a few weeks and it may take months instead of weeks, but it is worth it all if you are prepared for a journey. Good luck and soak up all the great advice.

what? how? whoa! 5 months? one ear?!? I have since stuck my fingers in each of my guy's ears to make nothing wet or sticky...so far so good. Got the scissors tho and trimmed close to the orifice. But am unable to pluck!

same as humans . what joy we have to look forward to

ah, thank you. Will try as having same problem with our rescue as she has been in kennels and a flat. If its dark or cold or raining in particular, she goes on back door step.

they are adorable!

How do you pluck without causing pain and discomfort? I sent mine off to a groomer and said to pluck (they were pups) as I had been told it was essential (never had heard of it before) but they cane home looking pretty much the same as before going. My understanding that the hair is protection of the canal from water. Since both my dogs swim regularly I haven't persisted in finding someone to pluck (I'm not game) and so far so good. My past labs have always had ear trouble as they were swimmers too but no hair at all in ears.

what on earth are they training it to do? How cruel!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't had first hand experience with yeast infections, but lots of dogs coming to the boarding kennel are on ear drops due to yeast infections, and a few pups I've sold got nasty ear infections. Plus a former neighbour had a dog whose ears got so infected that it got into the inner ear and she ended out having to do surgery and a long course of followup treatment. 1. You don't say what antibiotics. Are they ear drops? I find that lots of dogs don't respond to ear drops because people don't put them far enough into the ear and don't put enough in. I've sent a few dogs home from kennels with clear ears whose owners put them through many courses of treatment without success. When I showed them how the vet told me to apply drops they were amazed. 2. If you're unsure of your vet, use your nose. Yeast is smelly. 3. Ear infections can be serious . . . do keep on top of it. Personally, I don't think diet greatly affects yeast infections. There may be cases where it does . . . . Is the yeast being treated as well as the antibiotics for the bacteria?

I can vouch for this. We got one then another rescue who is 2 months younger. Much harder to play and train as you have to separate them and they always competing. AND SO NAUGHTY!!!!!!!! DOUBLE TROUBLE!!! They have just been released from hospital after sharing a whole box of nurofen tablets (long story but gist is visitor dropped pkt) Not to mention the undies, shoes, glasses, furniture, pens etc they keep stealing and destroying. It is getting better but lots of work. The plus is the fun and antics and they are great mates and company for each other. The challnging time is not the first few months but I found from about 6-7mnths on. Mine are now 9 and 11 months. Good luck!

currently feeding royal with some raw but is a bit exi. like the sound of albers and barko but they come in bags too big to carry and store. thanks ellz, gonna try