poodle proud

I have used sentinel spectrum and interceptor spectrum for worming without an issue. I have used advantix for fleas and ticks but as I posted in another thread my dog had seizures because of the permethrin in it which kills the ticks. Bayer have sent me advantage which is the same but without the permethrin but I havent tried it yet. A little nervous.... I switched to advantix from sentinel (which is an all-wormer and flea treatment) because the way sentinel works is the fleas have to bite the dog before it kills them., Advantix kills the on contact with the dogs skin. So if your dog isnt white and fluffy advantix could be good for you. I dont know about frontline but have also heard several people say its useless.

Hi IggiePiggie, I recently did the switch myself from wet food to dry food. The post was "do fussy dogs eat eagle pack". If I mixed the wet food in they ate around it so I just had to do tough love. They didnt eat for 2 days but eventually cottoned on to the fact that this was it. I didnt give treats for about a week until I knew they would eat the dry food. I also got a tip from someone at work to heat their dry food in the microwave briefly as it brings forth the smell of the ingredients and it works much better. I have a very fussy mini poodle and I have to put his food down and then completely ignore him before he will even look at the food. He would choose attention over food any day of the week. And I now give treats after the evening meal and dont do it every day so they dont refuse the dry food and wait on treats. Hope it goes well! My two are doing better on the dry food. Better poos, better teeth, and much more infrequent bursts of 'fragrance' if you catch my drift

Ok, great. Thanks to all. How do you tell if their muscle mass is what it should be? And can every dog have a shiny coat or does it depend on the breed? I have mostly been around poodles and while they havent been show poodles I havent seen a poodle with a shiny coat. I have noticed on DOL'ers signature pics the dogs with the shiniest coast are short-haired generally.

Hi, Could someone explain exactly what is meant by a dogs 'condition'? I have seen this term used a lot in the dry food posts. Is this just referring to their weight or something more? I have recently switched my dogs to eagle pack and wondered what I should look for in terms of the effects of the new food on their condition. Thanks for enlightening a newbie on the jargon

What a beautiful pup. Hope your baby is settling in well!

Thanks Tassie, thats handy to know!

Thanks t-time. I will look that collar up. I think we will switch back to sentinel spectrum and use that spray as you suggested. He looks fine but I think I'm still recovering. We went from thinking his tummy was upset to a seizure and in the wee hours no less. My poor OH got the fright of his life. My thought about it was that he has the 4-10kg does and he is a bout 6 kg. The toy poodle (who seems fine on it) has the under 4kg dose and is 2.5 kg. I wondered if perhaps the dose was just too much for him. Needless to say I'm not prepared to try it again to find out. I hope this thread helps others in the future. I would have liked to avoid this from happening in the first place.

Thankyou so much t-time. I'm so annoyed with myself but I switched them for that exact reason and because sentinel spectrum only kills fleas when they bite your dog. My dog was constantly biting/licking around the base of his tail and backside and so I thought that fleas biting him was annoying him. I'm a bit scared after seeing this. I dont know what to use. I will call them today. Funnily enough I called them yesterday to tell them one of the vials wasnt sealed when I opened it and I didnt want it to harm my my dog by using it. What a joke. He got harmed anyway Do you know if those dogs you mentioned are ok?

I have recently switched to using advantix to control fleas and ticks on my dog. Within 24 hours of application last time my 5 year old poodle had a sezire that made him lose his balance, not be able to open one eye and was just plain scary. I asked the vet at the time if perhaps he had licked it of my other dog (knowing full well he wouldnt have) could this be the cause and she said it was unlikely. I used it again yesterday on both dogs. My husband came home and found vomit on the lounge, my boy (avitar picture) had a gurgling stomach all night and was off his food. After going to sit outside on the grass at 2am he came inside and lay down with me. Then his mouth started twitching uncontrollably and he just wasnt there when you looked at him (Hope you know what I mean). It passed within a couple of minutes but again was so scary. Despite reading that advantix is only absorbed in the hair follicles and not absorbed systemically my gut tells me otherwise. Ive also been told smaller dogs have thinner skin. Could he be absorbing it systemically despite what they say? We were previously using sentinel spectrum and this did never happened. And my smaller poodle appears to be fine with it. I dont want to badmouth a product but as a nurse myself I know some people react adversely to medications that other people have no trouble with. Any information about this or advice for my beautiful boy would be so appreciated.

Hi all, Thanks again for your input. I appreciate all the advice and experiences of all here. Ideally I would like to be able to sleep in but I wouldnt want my pup to hold on longer than she could. I had a feeling it was fair for her to need to go at 5am after having been asleep since 9 but just wanted to check. I'm a shift worker and cant afford to go to bed later so I'll just keep taking her out when I hear her stir and see her standing on top of her crate in her pen. I just wish she'd learn to then sleep past six and not go all mountain goat on me and climb out of her pen and onto my face! I really should put a lid on that pen one of these days Thanks again.

Hi all, Our household goes to bed fairly early (9pm) and our pup is taken out before bed. She tends to wake at around 4am. I take her out to the toilet and she usually goes straight away. I then bring her back inside where she may sleep for another couple of hours. My thought was that because she has slept between those hours it is not unreasonable for her to wake at 4am to go to the toilet. Is that right or should I be making her wait longer as she is older now? Thanks for the advice.

I have pet insurance with both bow wow meow (BWM) and petcover (have 2 dogs) I was in the process of transferring the dog insured with petcover to BWM but he got sick in the waiting period. We claimed with petcover and aside from the wrong claims number on their website, once we sorted that out we got the claim paid very quickly. Also didnt need to provide a medical history prior to the claim being paid which most do. I pay 30.85 for him per month but I know it has gone up since I took cover out a few years ago. I was able to access the PDS easily on BWM and spoke to the girls on the phone a couple of times. Havent claimed yet with them though. What I did notice when deciding to go with them is that they cover genetic and herediatry problems which most others (including petcover) dont. Edit: Have just checked the petover site who now it seems offer hereditary cover for an extra $5 a month.

My pets vet (also known as bald hills veterinary surgery) at bald hills have been good. I have heard from others that they also had good experiences there. good luck with your pup.

We go to PADS. (Pine Agility dog sports club) at the South Pine sporting complex. As their name suggests they focus on agility but do a fabulous puppy class (not sure what day this runs) and a basic obedience class which runs in 8 week classes from 8-9 saturday mornings. I have done the obedience with both my dogs. I hear what the pups learn in puppy class sticks with them forever. They also have the 'motivation and control' class which you can go to after you finish obedience whenever you want its $4 a week. They have a fenced off area members can use anytime. (No worrying about being harassed at the local dog park by dogs with owners who laugh off their dog mauling yours ) www.pads.org.au Where are you based Arjay? I have been to a few vets around strathpine over the years. Happy to reccomend some if that area is close to you.

Until our pup is big enough to go outside every time on her own we have a mat that she can pee on with a piece of lino underneath so it doesnt go through to the floor. We have two the same and one gets washed daily so we cant smell it but as others have said it still holds that scent and so she heads straight for it to do both wees and poos if we havent been able to get her outside. It is slowly being moved closer to the back door so that she will end up going outside every time anyway. She's already getting the picture and is starting to stand by the back door when she wants to go. I know everyone says that you should take them outside every time but if you arent there (working, out, or even in the bathroom yourself!) there can still be accidents. And like you I have stood out there for half an hour and no pee and 5 minutes back inside and she goes. But at least in those times she went on the mat. I would rather my pup pee in one spot inside than go anywhere and everywhere. We got my older dog as an adult and he had some housetraining issues but as soon as we installed a dog door we lured him with some treats to teach him how to use it and he has never looked back. I have no doubt this pup will be the same. We just have to wait til she gets a bit fatter and a bit taller and can get down the stairs to the backyard safely And I dont tell her off for going inside or if she misses the mark. I just clean it without making a fuss. Although not easy when she tries to eat whatever Im cleaning it up with For accidents I dilute biozet washing powder in cold water (hot water destroys the pee smell-killing enzymes) in a spray bottle and spray it where she pees. I use another damp cloth to rinse the carpet a bit and use a towel to absorb the excess and then let it dry. Smell and doggy scent goes and dog is not enticed to pee there. Not a training solution I realise but as others have said it may at least stop your pup peeing twice in that same area. And at around $10 for 2kg thats a lot of anti-pee spray for your buck! Hope things improve.

Hi, I have been through something very similiar since getting our pup 3 months ago. Our older boy does correct her at times but like you I was worried things were getting out of hand and that he was just way too tolerant of her being a real brat as Sas said. She even barks really loudly at him to play, jumps on his head etc. On advice from the dol'ers every time I see her getting to rough or just being plain rude I step in and gently but firmly push her away saying "OFF". She rarely tries to come back at him after that but still tries it on when she gets too hyped up. I have also put her in time out (in the boring bathroom with the door shut) the instant she barks at him or if when I go to move her away she snaps or growls etc. Every time. Then I only let her out when shes quiet and do not acknowledge her, I just open the door and walk away. Its ongoing. And like you I doubt that my OH would ever justify getting a dog behaviourist. Im sure they would be able to tell you exactly what to do. But if thats not an option just keep getting advice. DOL is fabulous and there are lots of other sites that have good tips too. allexperts.com have a huge dog question library and if you want a reply specific to your situation they get back to you within a couple of days. Its kind of like raising kids, often not one right way but lots of roads leading to Rome. Puppy school should be great for your baby. good luck!

I'm sorry, I am of no help either but just want you to know I'm thinking of you and praying for you both. I hope one day the trauma of this will be a distant memory.

Most vets on the northside I contacted recently will do it between 5 and 6 months. Eatons Hill vet did our girl at 5 months.

Thanks Pockets. I plan for them to stay together but do separate them at times like when she goes to puppy school or taking them for separate walks etc. Nothing has really been an issue of late as she was spayed on friday. I contacted the breeder and mentioned how she had been acting and she seemed to feel much of it was hormonal and to get this done asap. So she has been a fair bit quieter in recent days, poor pup. The breeder also told me her father is quite strong-willed so hormones or not she will need continued firm direction, which is fine. She did bite me once yesterday but it was my own fault. She was chewing a pigs ear which I thought was a great distraction so I could change the bandage on her wound. Note to self: not smart. served me right It will be interesting to see if her temperament changes once the hormones have settled down. Thanks again

Thanks again to all. I too feel she is not a 'monster dog' but does need some more direction. In the past couple of days I have refused her access to the lounge and for those who were wondering no she is not allowed to sleep on the bed. I have been tougher with her and put her in the bathroom after unacceptable behaviour until she is quiet (Thanks pockets ). I am also teaching her the off command which is also working for when she gets in the other dog's face. There is a change in her already. She is a lovely dog but is still very much a puppy and much stronger-willed than our other dog. I just needed to know what she would understand in terms of discipline that was effective but not cruel. I dont mind being firm but our first dog was abused and it has affected him. Im not prepared to do anything that makes her fear me. For whoever asked yes she is going to obedience school and does well provided the grass isnt wet . Just one other question. Is it reccomended to give the pup time out? She doesnt have unlimited access to the house but she is free to roam around in a few rooms. Should I be confining her for certain periods (aside from naughty time-out) during the day? And if so is this confined to an area near me or out of sight? Thanks!

Thankyou everyone for your input. I really appreciate it. I certainly dont set out to spoil her. We have the older dog at home and from day one she was not treated like a princess. We wanted them to settle in well and so gave the older dog attention first, food first etc. Brushing: pretty good, a bit mouthy towards the end. Boundaries: several rooms off limits, barricades/doors shut etc. Not sure if thats what you mean by boundaries settrlvr Lounge: Does get up on her own (but that can be changed. I guess I have let her because the older dog does it and is well behaved) I can identify a few challanges that crop up daily where I have probably just given into her or not addressed issues appropriately as I wasnt sure what to do so if anyone could help me with these Id be so grateful. These are the major questions. 1.Is it still reasonable to take her out to the toilet if she wakes in the night (I do every time because I dont want to make her soil her crate)? 2 Should I ignore her cries at 5:30/6am just because she wants to get out of the pen and play or is that just life with a puppy and I should get up then too? 3. If she does something unacceptable that I deem worthy of timeout but then runs away is she still going to understand what the timeout is for once I finally catch her or is it a waste of time? 4. Is it ok to give her periods of time away from us and the other dog or is that unfair? 5. What do you do for minor infractions like her barking at or harassing the older dog wanting to play? Do you still grab them by the scruff of the neck for these? Im wanting to be a good and fair leader to both dogs but because I doubt what I am doing its hard to be consistent which I know full well is whats needed. Thanks again for all the help.

Then she is not asleep and just being a dominant little bitch. Either remove her from the couch and don't allow her back up for a certain period telling her that she is a 'bad girl' or do the time out in a room or outside. You have to show her that you are the boss. Others may suggest that she might be sore somewhere. Check her all over for sore points. Thanks, I will check her for sore spots. She is FAST asleep next to me at the moment so Im not game to check just yet... Its funny puggy puggy. I know thats the accurate term but those exact words have come out of my OH's mouth . Im afraid she is just being a brat. Is it ok to grab them like that? I certainly dont want to be walked over but I want to make sure Im communicating that what she is doing is not ok in a way she understands.

Huski, thanks for the advice. He actually doesnt do well on raw food, seems to really aggravate him. The latest case of gastritis came after I increased the amount of raw food he was eating. But heres the update- they cracked. They ate a tiny amount yesterday morning, refused dinner, refused breakfast. I got a tip from a colleague to heat it up slightly in the microwave to bring out the aroma. Worked a treat! I dont think they love it but at least they ate it. Lets see what happens .

We dont grab her when she is asleep or anything. I think the older dog spread out slightly when he was lieing near her but he didnt even come close to squashing her. But I think she was asleep when he did this. Shes more drowsy when she does this. If you move near her she just starts growling and if you keep moving thast when she snaps. But no she is definitely not fast asleep. As my OH told me today she just started growling at him because he wouldnt make more room for her. So definitely wide awake when she snapped this time. charleswentworth, what exactly do you mean when you say back to training? She is doing basic obedience but stopping her biting is not something we have been good at. I usually redirect her to a toy or walk away. We tried yelling ouch but it seemed to egg her on. At a loss currentlty If I am doing something wrong Id like to change it.

HELP! Our 5.5 month old toy poodle pup has recently started growling and snapping ferociously at the older dog and my OH. It happens when she is sleeping and you either try to move her or if she is lying next to the other dog and he goes to lie a bit on her (like she often does to him) Today she got on the lounge next to my OH and when he didnt move over for her she started growling at him. he went to move her off the lounge and she bit him. Not enough to puncture but he was really upset and angry about it. After this she goes to her crate and goes back to sleep. What can I do to address this? I feel she is getting gradually becoming more pushy and more aggressive as she gets older. All opinions gratefully received.