LizT

Don't sweat it alyjam, you wouldn't be the first person to get a pup from a breeder a few days shy of 8 weeks. Sometimes it happens due to timing, location, family committment, illness etc. I'm sure his weight gain is appropriate, you have bought a large breed. :)

I watched Eight Below the other day. Beautiful film and stunning dogs but I did think about how many people went out and bought a husky after watching it expecting them to be just like in the film . My Husky was rescued from the pound, after being a stray for what appears to be quite a while, given her poor condition. She is called Mya, does make me wonder if she was bought after someone watched the film, as the pack leader was called Mya. Sad If she was a stray how did you know her name was Mya?

I guess essentially I am breeding for colour only... so long as I am also able to retire from breeding in thirty years knowing that I made the best efforts I could to improve the health of Australian Poms, specifically the health of Australian particolour Poms, being a "colour breeder" won't seem like such a stigma. Clearly, Australian Particolour lines need work - this bitch's sire, and the dam of my young dog, do have some lovely American and English dogs behind them, not related to my imports, but the older Australian lines do look quite different to the showline Poms in the ring now. I personally prefer Poms with longer, tapered noses, in order to minimise tear duct or dentition issues. I also personally prefer Poms of around 3kg, because I suspect minimising canines, to the extent we have, will introduce problems such as syringomyelia or other cerebrospinal disorders. "Coloured" Poms are not a product of out-breeding as the Merles are; they arise naturally and in my eyes are exciting because of the difficulties inherent in maintaining type while producing loud and flashy patterns and colours. 'Sides, how cool is the whole colour genetics thing!!! Sooooo complicated, and hard to understand! I have to ask...'cos they are cool...did the colour originate from the Papillion?

I have to say dog geek that most of your reasoning is sound , (unlike the bitch) however I am having trouble getting past breeding a grade 3 pattelar bitch, being involved in Cavaliers this puts a flag up for me. However, your true answer on the soundness of progeny won't be answerable until the next or possibly further generations.

you'd not be please to hear that the local pet store here had "miniature poodles" in it the other day. They were just 8 weeks old and already bigger than a sheltie puppy would be at 4 months old. I couldn't help myself and went in and asked them how old they were. When they told me 8 weeks, I said "There's no way they are miniature poodles - they are too big". They said yes, they knew that, but the " 'breeder' had told them they were miniature poodles, so by law they had to advertise them as that". When I said I hoped that they were letting possible purchasers know that they will be much bigger than a miniature poodle, they said that they were, when they came to actually buy them. One that had me scratching my head was the little black fluffy puppy I saw in Petshop Window labelled as a "Bichon X Maltese"...

Love the face plant!

O M doG! Just get them a Nitendo 3D each.

I know, and it is definitely a position not well thought out but surely there has to be a solution to the endless breeding of poorly raised animals that keeps the cycle going. Perhaps those who want to keep their pets whole need to request a special exemption and prove that they will be responsible. Or face tougher punishment if those people are then found to have bred when they agreed not to. I don't know, is it really this futile? This is true, however children have society in general looking after their welfare. It is much, much harder to just dump a child than it is a pet. Sometimes it seems as such, when all local council does is raise the revenue with higher rates for entires not connected with an organised group such as Obedience Clubs or ANKC members, it all about money and you know this isn't really an incentive. Thankfully no, but you all to often hear of sad situations where society lets these children down time and time again. But that's another topic.

Hi and welcome to DOL. Just try treating him as if he were a new puppy and teach him your family routine from the beginning. At least you have the advantage of more bladder control. :) Is he crate trained? He could spend a bit of time in a crate if you are busy and he hasn't emptied his bowels recently. Can you restrict the area he has access to so he can't get to the front door and always take him out back if that is what is normal for your household. He'll get there eventually, as you are aware poodles are quick learners. ;)

Yeah they certainly do pick up on "emotions" like if I'm ranting at the kids (21,19 and 11) over something and just "going off" (yeah I do sometimes ) I turn around to see where the dogs are and they have put themselves in their crates and are sitting there quietly with a look that says "We're good mum, we didn't do stuff to piss you off..see we've put ourselves to bed" ;)

They are really good for spot cleaning vet bed too!

I've known a few people who thought the purebred they were buying from the pet shop could breed registered purebred puppies.

Funny the other day I had just bathed Crystal, my beautiful Cavalier and my sons' girlfriend walked passed and laughed "haha, she said...Crissy always looks so dignified and goes about with her nose in the air and now she just looks all scruffy and bedraggled when she's wet." :laugh:

You would be surprised on how many truly responsible pet owners would disagree with you on mandatory desexing. There are different view points, all posing a reasonable arguement, on that particular hot potatoe. :) E.T.A. short of pre-natal classes there is no real 'education on parenting", any idiot can go out and have a baby. Pet ownership still comes way after many other social issues.

Yep, there always seems to be some on the Rescue site here on DOL. There are 6 today.

Cavaliers kept dozing :D

How old is she now? There are heaps of good products mentioned in this thread and most will help to some extent but age could be the enemy here. Oh so sorry to hear of your girls passing.

There's always someones bed to wipe dirty legs on!

You know Poison no one can really give "advice" unless they know the whole dynamics of your family and your relationships with each other. They can only imagine what they would do in your situation and the possible scenarios and outcomes that may result. You will know what advice best fits your particular circumstance and I think the best thing is to ask your brother what long term plans he has for the dog and is he being fair to it? Since you are close to your brother, talk to him and ask him if it is possible to rehome it with someone who will love it, then you won't really have any trouble convincing him to have it desexed first, as it will be easier to rehome. And regarding "Giving the pups away to his friends" which is how he got the dog in the first place...well that worked out real well didn't it? ;)

I'm with you rosaline, makes you wonder who the parents are.. parents that have to "please" their children really annoy me, they are teaching their children to be selfish, demanding and not very nice people by giving into them all the time to make them happy.. ugh don't get me started.. In fairness it is VERY hard to go "visit" puppies you have an option of buying without coming home with one, even as an adult. :) Especially if it is a Pet only!! If they had truly not been intending to get a puppy that day they would not have gone for a 'look' or brought the kids with them. Adults often use the "don't want to dissapoint the kids" excuse for justifying their decisions.

What surface are we talking about? A good scrub especially in the corners with very hot soapy water would be my first option. Maybe add some disenfectant like Pineoclean.

Speak to your parents first about getting him desexed and talk to them about the possibility of rehomeing. See how they feel about it. They may be forming an attachment to the dog, the fact that they walk it 3-4 times a week is showing that they are willing to spend sometime with him. This could excalate. Since he is able to stay at your parents for now, you are not under any pressure to find him the best of homes and can do so with the utmost of thought and research.

And I think this is where we go wrong. We seem to not be able to distinguish between a true professional and someone who is a promoter. People like Don Bourke are promoters. He is paid to promote things whether he knows about them or not. He vaguely has experience in the field so hence the information spewing forth seems to come from a more 'credible source'. He was always a gardener, how that filtered down to a pet professional is beyond me. I put Dr CHesty Bonds in this category because his lack of knowledge about dog care and behavior, and his riding of paid advertising/bandwagons makes him look like a commercialist douchebag. Then there are the true professionals who actually have real experience and dedicated knowledge in that field. They are usually the ones NOT pushed into our faces because they cannot be manipulated to promote the latest greatest fad and have a strong opinion. Now out of these two who do we tend to listen to ... remember the empty cart tends to make the most noise. Commercial advertising and promotion is about an agenda. That agenda is to make money not to make sure the right thing is done. Precisely the problem. But people hold onto this information barage and run with it. For some reason it really sticks with them. Oh, and 'Dr. Chesty Bonds' must be right 'cos he's "cough" good looking and a proferssional, so w'ell go with what he says. Even if it conflicts from one week to the next or confuses the shite out of everyone.

Hmmm that could be a sticking point. Is the dog microchipped? What breed is it?

Yeah, mud don't stick to Cavaliers either. :D It's just the inital shock before they dry off. ;) Yep, a bit similar coat texture I would have thought. The hardest thing is to resist the urge to towel it off. Leave the mud be and the coat drys and sheds all the mud. Rub it with a towel and it's a mess! Often whem i am walking her people comment that she's just been bathed - nope, she just looks bright white all the time. Yeah. I just towel off wet feet, blot the body and legs, no rubbing and wait. :) I've even noticed that green grass stains when they go out after the lawn has just been mown seem to disappear too? Worried me the first time I saw green paws and though Oh. no I have to rewash, but they vanished during the next few hours. lol as you well know the red dirt stains beautifully! I get so many comments about my black & pink border collie! No one notices the staining on Amber's white bits though as it sort of enhances the sable! Yes well we did tell you when you were looking at properties. :laugh: There you were with your white pony and your black and white Border Collies. I get peeved enough just riding up to Wandin Park with all the red dust/mud depending on the season. Great for vegies not for pets, horse rugs, kids etc.