Bluefairy

Great news that you talked to your mum and even greater news she listened.....thats most of the battle to begin with I actually think that without your mum being there, and you setting rules for the dog, this dog may in fact like living with you. Some dogs, like children, are better behaved when away from their parents. Plus with rules to follow I think this dog is going to be a pleasure to have around. After all its your mother who has pretty much set the dogs in its way, its now up to you to say "I'm boss and you will do what "I" say" I think they'll love it. Good luck BF

Michelle, There's nothing under Weeping Cherry Tree, only Weeping Fig Tree. But under the Cherry Tree name it says this: Prunus Genus are a group of approximately 430 deciduous or evergreen, trees or shrubs which include the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots, almonds and laurels. Common Names are: Almond Tree Bitter Almond Apricot Bitter Cherry Black Cherry Carolina Cherry Laurel Cherry Choke Cherry English Laurel Laurel-cherry Peach Plums Wild Cherry It sounds like anything to do with the Cherry is toxic. Maybe look it up online or ask your nursery. I mentioned to my vet that my last pup had been eating the cherries that fell from the tree, and all they said was don't let her eat them....they never mentioned about it being poisonous. Our pup was showing signs of toxicity with vomiting, stress, and continually attempting to urinate. Unfortunately we didn't get this book until later, she was PTS as the vet diagnosed cancer.....but now I wonder 'if' she was being poisoned from the cherry tree could they have saved her???? I'll never know and will always wonder. She was only 11 months old poor thing. Oops forgot to add, the poisonous parts is the entire plant; especially the seeds and stones. So even a pup chewing on the branches can be lethal. I recommend getting this book. I had to search for it as most places are out of print. BF

Michelle ~ I bought the book Poisonous2Pets we too have been getting rid of plants because they are poisonous to the animals. We just had to cut down our 10yr old 12ft high Cherry Tree, these are also highly toxic to animals....I cannot believe the amount of plants that are poisonous or cause severe allergies in dogs. What we have left are fine ;) OH was worried there wouldn't be any plants left we could have in the back yard but its better to be safe than sorry. BF

When I went to pick up my pup, we spoke to the breeder while Zoe was outside with us, running around and exploring everything. I watched her as I listened to what the breeder was saying.....and you can tell mostly how a pup reacts to different things. Like Zoe went up to a broom and started chewing on the bristles, this caused the broom to fall over with a loud noise, Zoe jumped back out the way and then went over to sniff it and find out what it was, she then continued to chew on it. There were a lot of noises, trucks going past (it was a farm and well away from the road and fenced off) birds screeching, sheep, etc and Zoe ignored it all. She went up to everything and everyone to sniff and explore. Now she is home, we have found her to be a gutsy little thing. She isn't afraid of something new, and will go up to it and see what it is. She learns very quick, and will always stop what she is doing when you say no or click your fingers. Unlike my last pup who was afraid of everything and anything, and it took a lot of socialisation to get her used to simple everyday things. If I knew then what I know now, I don't think I would have picked her. But she was the last of the litter, and we just fell in love with her on sight. Some traits like the fear ones are either inbreed or come from treatment early in life. It takes a lot of time and effort to make a pup trust that what you are showing them isn't going to hurt them. But I wouldn't chose a pup that had fear issues. Like I said though, watching the pup the whole time is a good example of what the pup will be. A nervous pup is not going to suddenly get better, just observe what the pup does the whole time you are there. BF

Thank you Nic ;) I have used the crate once or twice during the day when we do stuff outside and no one can supervise her. She is pretty good about it that way, especially with treats. Last night she only cried for just over an hour....so she is improving and woke up again as 6am. So not too bad. I had to strip the crate today as she tore the towel I had in there apart, and the mess but its all cleaned, washed, and hanging on the washing line, though the towel has to be disposed of as there were little bits of it everywhere. I'll persevere with it....I just think like your pup they need to know its not a bad place, and that they do get let out in the end. Thanks for the tip though, and whatever you do in training your pup is right if it works for you. BF

I never said I wouldn't be socialising her. I said before they were vaccinated. Of course she will be socialised and experience all sorts of things, from noise, people, cars, trucks, farm animals, etc etc etc I would never dream of shutting any dog away from everything.... BF

PF ~ Living rurally sucks sometimes, the only Puppy school in the area is too far away. I only have a daughter who I can go to, but she has 2 Australian Terrier pups (6-7mths old) who I feel might gang up on her....they can be food aggressive, and they fight between themselves....I just don't want her to get caught in between that. Other than that there is no one else. I have met a lady that lives in the next town, and when she gets her puppy we are going to have a puppy play date. There's just not a lot more I can do.... BF

2PSINAPOD ~ I love the username....very clever :D your right of course. I never except anyone telling me how bad someone is, I have to judge for myself, but thats in real life. In cyber space its different, I tend to expect everyone is telling the truth and I have been knocked down several times for my naivety As a breeder I understand your only way to protect your puppies is to use your gut feeling and the knowledge of others. It must be hard trying to weed out the good from the bad....and it goes in reverse too ;) I have met some 'unusual' type breeders in my time, that I am also glad I didn't buy a puppy from. Thank you though for coming in and explaining. BF

Lisa, I am so sorry your pup and you had to experience this. It sets the mind for you both on it may happen again....and according yto you it already has several times... I have a 10wk old Pug pup and there is no way in hell she is going out of the house or back yard until she has been fully vaccinated and will never be off leash until she is fully trained and even then you just never know. Your pup has been nearly attacked lots of time, and the pup has obviously been out and about for a while, so why are you still risking your pups life? I just don't understand your reasoning at all Your vet is an absolute moron, but its your choice....your choice to allow your pup to be put at risk of death or maiming, your choice to set up fearful traits in your dog, your choice to raise your dobe as you see fit...which as a fully grown adult may also lunge and attack other pups and dogs, simply because it was done to them..... BF

Jodie, will definitely do a puppy play date Michelle ~ I am trying to ignore her, I only ever went to her twice, once to see if she was OK and the second to stay with her.....its just...have you ever heard a Pug cry? They have the loudest, highest pitch cry in the world it just goes through you....though my girls sleep through it every night.....I can't. But I am not going to go to her anymore. Hopefully she understands...one day that when she goes to bed its for the night and thats it.....I'm just hoping and praying it won't take months I have been hoping she will lose her voice from the crying she does.....she has breaks of a few minutes sometimes and she has dropped down to 2hrs now..... :D I'd laugh if I wasn't so tired. Well at least your puppy with get great socialisation with being at the breeders for longer. Thats more than most pups, like Zoe, will ever get. BF

BB ~ Don't let other peoples comments turn you away I hate it when people have to re-read every single thing you wrote previously and then comment about it....things change, people change, dreams change. So what if you where thinking about a particular breed, so what if you found a breeder and where on a list....hey so was I, but that changed when I got offered a pup sooner than expected. Please don't go and stay here with us, we'd love to share your puppy with you. Jodi ~ I so get where your coming from....it IS exciting I don't think we will be able to make into the Show tomorrow. Its going to be warm and Pugs don't tolerate heat very well, plus I have lots to do here. So we might give it a miss this year. Sorry about that Lauren ~ ;) yes they do look big don't they, especially compared to tiny puppies :D But good thinking about turning it on its side. I have our crate in the lounge. It is in the way, but it just adds to the rest of the clutter thats there Michelle ~ How exciting, how old will she be then? What a great Easter surprise I hope she is all what you wanted Nic ~ Poor Oreo....I hope he gets better quick. And yah on the no crying......I am a zombie at the moment.....the 1st night wasn't too bad at all. The 2nd Zoe cried for 4 hrs, I got up to check on her in case she was crying for help....but nope everything was fine. I ended up getting up and staying in the lounge with her all night watching TV, and her on my lap....funny how she slept like a log 3rd night she did the same thing.....but I tried to ignore it, so I read all night in bed, unable to sleep with the noise. 4th night, she cried for about 2hrs, then was quiet until 6am, when my oldest daughter got up to take her outside. I hope this doesn't go on for much longer, I have bags under my eyes and I am hoping the neighbours can't hear her too much I get tired and cranky at night with lack of sleep, but during the day she's an angel I'm not sure what else I can do to stop her crying for so long..... Well as you can see she is a Jekyll and Hyde pup ;) but great every other time. OH suggested I tire her out so she will sleep.....with how active she already is I don't think that will work but then he's away working, and hopes that she stops doing this before he comes home.....the cheeky sod I gave Zoe her dry food for dinner last night, and I added some sardines.....OMG does she love them she never stopped licking her lips for ages after. I'm glad she likes it. I am hoping to get some more pictures of her today, so I'll post them later. Oh and the cat has now excepted her now, when Zoe gets too excited the cat jumps away. But its nice to see the cat laying on the floor and Zoe comes up to sniff and the cat doesn't run away anymore. I think it has helped heaps with Zoe being smaller than the cat BF

May the light in Gherkins eyes shine forever in your hearts :D I am so very sorry, I am still shocked at the suddenness of her ending BF

Nic ~ We placed Zoe into a soft crate in the car trip home (4 1/2hrs long). I never thought to wonder if she liked it or not now at night she is just picked up and placed in the crate. She won't go in it on her own, but thats fine as I only want it for sleeping or sometimes like tomorrow morning she will be in it for about 2hrs while I take my daughter to the Drs. I haven't tried to get her into it by herself...yet anyway. Not sure if I am doing it right or not, I want her to know this is bed time and she goes it it for that. Do you have a cover on it? If so try taking it off, if not put one on. I made a cover for Zoe's crate, its supposed to make it more den like. Jess ~ a huge congratulation on being on the puppy list. I hope you get what you want from this litter. And now you have to make another ticker Marns ~ hopefully Lola is now with you home safe and sound. Lots of photo's....which reminds me I'll have to take some more BF

Jodi ~ Yes we are going to the Port Pirie Dog Show. Its at the Vertus(?) Soccer Oval in Afford Road. I will be taking Zoe with me to show off I think we'll go on Saturday, so should be there about 9 or 10am. If your going to be there, I'm the short harrassed mother with 2 girls, Nicole aged 20 and taller than me, and Kimmy aged 13 and just a fraction shorter. One of us will be holding an extremely excited Pug in the pink puppia harness Nic ~ Don't worry your not the only one. I won't say Zoe dislikes the crate, as the only time I am using it is when we go to bed. She cries and howls until she settles down about 10 minutes. She will wake during the night and start to cry a bit, but if you leave her alone she goes back to sleep. I get up at 6:30 - 7am and I take her out then. I must admit she has excellent bladder control. In 3 nights she hasn't soiled the crate yet, though I have made it so her blankets are up one end of the crate and newspaper and water bowl are at the other....just in case. She has had accidents in the house, but its just a matter of finding out what her signals are. Only once has she scratched at the back door and when she was taken out she did it outside Would be nice if she did that all the time Lauren ~ Ask the breeder for more photo's, you as the new owner are entitled to them. Tel them you need more photo's to tide you over until you have your pup in your arms Millie ~ Not long to go now Marns ~ I too am dying to see pictures. We want all the details......so exciting. Well I am now into training Zoe to sit and stay before being allowed to eat her meals.... :p yeah right.....Zoe is food orientated.....its like OMG food food gimme gimme...... She see's food and must have it....NOW!!!! It is funny to watch this tiny thing trying to get food whenever someone has something, she can smell it a mile away and she zooms in on it like a heat seeking missile.... The cat isn't as skittish as she first was, and will now allow Zoe to sniff her before jumping on top of the lounge....but she will hang her tail or leg down to get Zoe to come to her, then when she does she jumps away. Zoe usually barks at her when she does this, otherwise she ignores her, though she can get excited if the cat stays around a little longer as all Zoe wants to do is play. Zoe is just a little too hyper for her just yet. BF

Jodie ~ Zoe's harness is a Puppia one, this is a small size, and its absolutely tiny. If Zoe's head gets any bigger it won't fit her, I was told a small size wouldn't fit a Pug pup....but Zoe is so tiny, that I use it for a while anyway Lauren ~ Not long now Lily ~ A huge congratulations. I too hated the waiting.... Blue ~ I bet you end up doing what I did when you get the crate, you set it up just to see what its like Marns ~ As mentioned above its a Puppia Harness. I got it from ebay. Then when I realised it would be too small I got a large size. Just be careful and check the size on the Puppia web site as they are a small size all over. I small would fit a Chi, which is what Zoe is wearing now. I must admit though its a beautiful fit. It doesn't rub anywhere under the arms or the neck. I love it. Not long now JaxD ~ Yes she is definitely spoilt. She usually sleeps on the recliner with me at night. At the moment she is sleeping on my daughter Nicole's lap while she is reading text books for Uni. When I got her breakfast out the fridge.....I thought as its freezing, I'll heat it up for 10 seconds in the microwave.... she wolfed it down...normally she takes her time eating it. I guess she likes her meals to be served hot..... now I am wondering if I have made a rod for my own back Magstar ~ Welcome and YAH!!! at the 8 weeks and counting stage. As you can see we have all been there, and got through it fine. If you have any questions just ask, we are all shopaholics, dogaholics and just plain insane....but we don't bite so ask away. Ok I better go as its lunch time Yumm baked potatoes with sour cream and cheese..... Mmmmm BF

I have been badly bitten by a German Shepherd, but I love the breed, always have I think dogs personalities are like humans, you cannot rely on someone else telling you that joe blow down the road is a horrible person without ever meeting or speaking to him. I know some people listen to others and make decisions from assumptions by word of mouth. Luckily I am not one of those people, I love all dogs until they show me they aren't nice.....I don't blame the breed if one is vicious. BF

Hi, I just wanted to wish you luck in getting the older dog or pup for your family. Every dog I have ever had I got as a young pup....so I am used to all the toileting issues and training. But from my experience with other family members and myself....I would go with the younger pup....why? A young pup comes into a family with no expectations, mostly not afraid, open and wanting to learn. They can be easily trained to your way (everyone does things differently and always will) of training and routine. An older dog/pup comes into a family wi some expectations, can be fearful, and may take a while for the dog to open up. It may take them a little while longer to train them, or retrain them to your way. Some of these dogs may have habits you don't like, or may have never been trained....for instance to sit and wait until the command is given to release it so it can go to its bowl. It may be food aggressive, it may be obsessive about toys.....you really don't know what you will get. Though you may get the most pleasant dog in the world....but you just don't know. A young pup comes into your family with a clean slate and its up to you and your children to make it one of the family. Its a great experience for the dog and the kids. My children are older, the youngest is 13, but I wouldn't like to get an older dog. I like training and caring for a pup from the start....yes its time consuming, but you end up with a perfect member to your family....one that just blends well. Good Luck BF

Belgian Blue ~ I'm not sure of the price, our last dog cost us about $200 to go from Sydney to Adelaide, but that was 2 years ago. I'm not sure about prices now....sorry. Michelle ~ Thank you her tail has the tightest curl....though when she runs her tail is straight. Weird how that happens BF

I'm here It took us 4 1/2 hours to get home, that’s with stopping at Port Wakefield for dinner. Zoe was either asleep or playing with her Wubba toy all the way home. She never had an accident in the car at all. We went to bed early last night at 10pm, I put Zoe in her crate with a special wheat bag dog (RCBG, its the same one you have, its great and works a treat), you heat it in the microwave and it is suppose to make Zoe feel warm and snug. We put the radio on softly (breeder recommended this) and she cried for about 5 minutes and then went to sleep, she woke at 6:15am and I took her outside. She never had an accident in her crate either. I love how Zoe is not afraid of anything. She confronts it first. Annie, our last dog, was afraid of everything. Zoe is just so different. She has met the cat, Shadow, and she keeps trying to play with her, but Shadow is mesmerised by her, and just watches everything she does. Shadow is jumping down on the ground to have a sniff, but changes her mind at the last minute. I think she is trying to get Zoe’s attention...lol but is not sure what to do when she gets it. Zoe fits into our family perfectly and everyone loves her....she is certainly going to get spoilt rotten with affection here. She has found that its fun to chew on the things dangling from the cat tunnel... she runs through it, around it, and even tries to get on top of it....crazy dog....Ok you asked for pictures Zoe not happy she was made to stand still. Zoe checking out the boxes. Opps I think I surprised her... Zoe standing guard against that huge cat. Zoe loves to cuddle and she fell asleep in my lap twice last night. I had to get up once, so I handed her to Kimberly, and Zoe wouldn't settle down. When I came back, and after she stopped nibbling on my thumb, she laid down and fell asleep again, so lots of snorting and snoring boy can she get to sleep quick....one minute she was awake, next she was gone....lol BF

Brooke, I read every page of your thread, though I didn't contribute to it, sorry. I do feel for you and your situation, and I commend you for coming on here and asking advice. I hope the advice you got far outweighed the cynical replies of some people. I was left speechless by some of it, and I was glad the thread got closed. But I will second you on having moderators check out the direction some of these threads head in. I'm glad to say most of them are great in the non critical way of replies.....but mention anything about rehoming or PTS a dog and it will breakup and crumble quickly. I can understand why no one mentions it.....they are afraid of the backlash, but surely if people can come on here and talk openly about it, without fear of reprisals, they might find there are alternatives that they may never have thought of. But instead they are forced to bite their tongue and do it all behind closed doors.....and sometimes all they can think to do is humanly put the dog to sleep. I feel unless everyone can come on here and ask a question about anything whether you agree or not, we will see more people dumping their dogs, putting them to sleep, or sending them to the pound. They might not know that the breeder (if its a pure bred) is the first one to contact, they might not know there are rescue groups for most breeds, there may even be someone willing to adopt the dog.....they will never know unless they know a place they can come and ask...... BF

Costa has the most gorgeous and intelligent face. I love his eyes. I never knew what a Vizsla was until coming into this web site, they are a wonderful breed...though too big for me now. Its funny my first dog was a Doberman, then a Rotti, German Shepherd, then they started to get smaller, Aussie Bulldog x 2, now a Pug I think as I am shrinking so is the dog breed How did his name come about? In fact thats a question for everyone: How did you pick your dogs name? I wen through a baby name book. I know your supposed to pick 1-2 syllables in a name, to keep it short and after picking lots of names we liked, and saying them out loud like I was calling the dog, we came up with Zoe. Its short and sweet :p BF

I bought the Rogz collar and lead the puppy ones for now and a larger collar for later. I thought it best to buy a good quality one, and the Rogz brand ones are gorgeous. The play pen I got was $45 for 8 panels. It is easy to set up and connect the panels, it uses a large metal pin that goes all the way down the loops on the ends of each panel, and there's a nut to tighten to secure it. I got mine from GO-LO. Its very well made. I also bought a Kitchen cabinet from Cheap as Chips, it has a tall cupboard, 2 drawers and 2 wire baskets. The table top is metal, and has a towel rack at the end. I have the cat litter try on top of this. The cat loves it. Oh and the wheels lock into place so it doesn't move, but can be wheeled where ever you want it to be. 2 more sleeps to go.....I guess I am getting very excited now ;) I'll have to make up a bag of puppy goodies.....harness, collar, lead, puppy treats, travel water bowl, toy to chew on, travel carrier.......oooh its another list to do. Ok better go plumber is here. BF

I bought from a registered breeder and got burned ;) BF

My last pup Annie, loved her canvas Wubba, but she chewed the material to bits within 3 months. So just a heads up to keep an eye on it. ;) BF

Arjay ~ I have a soft sided pet carrier I use for the cat, which I will be using to pick up Zoe on Sunday. But after this I will be using a harness and seatbelt connection, so she can sit between my two girls in the back seat. I just need to see if the small harness I have is too small or the other one is too big. I don't know what size 9 week old Pugs are I also have a pet blanket on the back seat in case of accidents. BF