Zug Zug

We returned him to AWL today. Zamba is safe and we will concentrate on getting her better before giving any thought to whether or not it would be appropriate to try again with a puppy at some time in the future. There was someone there interested in him immediately. I think they will re-assess him first. I have made clear to them I think my dog started both fights. I hope he finds a good home - he really is a nice dog but too much for Zamba to cope with.

Yes they did meet before we adopted him. They seemed to get along well at that stage. I don't know if she would still fight if the other dog stopped. I don't think she would. My old dog who died earlier this year was smaller and quite submissive.

I have left several messages for Mark Singer. I suspect he may be on holidays. Re the cause of the problems - we have kept food, toys, excitement away since their first scrap. Last night's fight happened over just being too close to each other while moving, from what I could see. They were metres from people, running past a coffee table when the fight broke out. Lightning fast.

Thanks everyone. Yes it is a hard decision but you are not saying anything that surprises me. In relation to the last question, she has mixed well with some dogs during her life and when she was younger she would adjust quickly and then just enjoy playing with them after possibly some initial hesitation. These days I keep her on lead and generally give her space from other dogs. She is snappy and in recent years she seems less able to cope with the rough and tumble stuff. So long as I have her on lead there haven't been any serious problems. Re the question why I wanted another dog - ironically it was partly to keep her company, but primarily it was for me to enjoy, play with and train. She still enjoys training but I've taken her as far as I can with that and I was wanting to have a second dog to muck around with as well. We'd always had 2 dogs - our bichon boy died earlier this year (in June). He and Zamba used to love playing and running around together. He was a very submissive, smaller dog who did not present any challenge to her. I am not sure about a puppy. I think it would be easier initially, but I also suspect that as that puppy grew up we may end up facing the same problems. We were planning to get a puppy until recently, and then brought this boy home. He seemed gentle at the time. Can't get hold of a behaviourist today for any professional advice. I have rung the Animal Welfare League again and am waiting for them to call me back. ETA: yes they are definitely separated for now. Not taking any more risks today. Feeling very sad because I really like him. Re size: she stands 18 inches at the shoulder, he is 20 inches. But she only weighs 9ks and he is 18 kgs so he is much bigger, although not much taller if that makes sense.

We adopted a 6 yo old male poodle Labrador x from the Animal Welfare League on Xmas eve. We have an older 12 yo old poodle x already at home, who has always been snappy with dogs she doesn't know. They have had 2 fights in the last 2 days. The first one left our old girl with a small wound to her throat. The second fight left her with an awful laceration across her face, which has needed 5 stitches under anaesthetic overnight. I am pretty sure she started both fights, but obviously he is retaliating and it is a dangerous situation. Today I am trying to decide whether we try to work through these issues, or return him to the pound. First priority needs to be her health and safety. She is crated today, and will wear an Eluzabethan collar until her face heals. Planning to muzzle him as an absolute minimum and seek advice from a behaviourist today if possible. She won't be able to wear a muzzle until she is healed, so keeping them strictly separated. What are your experiences?? I want to hear good and bad please. Are these problems that can be resolved? Or is the best hope to manage them safely? I think I need to make a decision today whether he stays or not. He is a bit of a goober but generally very obedient and a nice boy overall and quite willing to be trained. She is very well trained in obedience, but has always struggled with anxiety and fear aggression.

Just popping in to say hi. Got a 6 year old Labrador poodle x from the local pound on Xmas Eve, and started his training today (light duties only while he recovers from kennel cough). He is such a good boy! Gave everything a go and seemed to understand LLW by the end of our second (very brief) session today. Long way to go, but so much fun training a new dog!

Oops computer glitch. Wanted to add that the mini poodle from Sandy Creek (Mena) was the most obedient and devoted dog I have ever known. She was sold to me as a terrier cross - she was actually a poodle under a severely matted coat. I will never understand how such dogs as these are surrendered to pounds. (well, Zamba was easier to understand. She was a maniac with climbing skills and a penchant for escaping the yard. But the others have been utterly faultless)

We now have 2 poodle crosses at home - both from the Animal Welfare League. Zamba is 12 years old and we have had her for over 10 years. She is possibly pure poodle, or possibly a mix. Brown dog is 6 years old, a brown Labrador poodle cross who would have been bred at the peak of labradoodle popularity. He was dumped at the pound by his original owners just over a week ago, and had been with us for 2 days now Magic dogs, both of them. My first mini poodle (of many moons ago) came from the Ssndy Creek dog shelter.

Love Welshies! I suspect both breeds would fit the bill. I agree - meet both breeds then let your heart decide.

Actually I think it is a good thing you are giving some thought to the breed in the context of your kids. A big dog can be worrying around small kids if the dog is jumping a lot, and I can understand your concern here. I agree too that some small dogs are nippy around small children, as they can feel physically intimidated. So some careful thought at this stage is a really good idea before you take the plunge again. I don't have much experience with miniature schnauzers. I had met some really nice ones, but I've never watched them around small children so I can't advise. Most small breeds will require your protection and to be kept separate from the kids unless you are closely supervising. So not much different from the big dogs in that respect, but it is as much about protecting the dog as it is about protecting your children. And also making sure the behaviour of both with each other is appropriate and safe. I know everyone has a favourite breed, but I have to say I think the Border Terrier is a fantastic smaller dog that I think would be able to keep up with a busy family lifestyle and is generally quite a sensible dog. I have a big soft spot for this breed. Can't have one myself because of my allergies, but I really think they are underappreciated overall. Schnauzers can be a bit barky from what I've seen. So that is another training issue and something you would need to be actively managing to prevent it becoming a nuisance behaviour.

Oops missed one sorry. The pups are housed inside still, with regular visits outside.

Yes the breeder is very experienced. It is a breed in which JRD is known, and this is what the breeder suspects may be the problem (yet to be confirmed by a vet). I gather she is not at all optimistic about the pups at this stage, but the vet's opinion may change that hopefully. We are wondering what the other possibilities may be. Your other questions about diet, climate etc. I can't answer sorry. I gather the drinking is not just lots of drinking - the breeder believes it really is excessive.

A friend of mine has her name down for a puppy at the moment, and she has been told the puppies in this litter are drinking excessively and the breeder is worried. What are the possible causes of excessive drinking at this young age? The pups are 7 weeks I think. Any information you could offer would be great.

My poodle x is over 12 now, and I have noticed she sleeps a lot more than she once did. But when she's up and bouncing around, she is still very energetic and can still jump and leap for joy. My kids say our bichon was born old - he did the happy dance when you got home but other than that he was generally pretty calm.

Toys - bichon, pap, havanese terriers - border, Aussie terrier Gundogs - English setter, flatcoats, Irish water spaniel (and clumbers!) hounds - whippet, deerhound, borzoi working - kelpies, Aussie shepherds and shelties Utility - same 3 as you and also rotties and groenendael (is this the right group???) non sporting - standard poodle, mini poodle, Tibetan terrier I am not sure if I got these groups right. If not, forgive me!

so Belle can out-zoomie Arya? This I gotta see! My daughter's Borzoi Arya does pretty funny half-zoomies. Flat out, then fall over - she's still learning how to control the stop.

If I got really good, I could build the booster bath itself into a cupboard, which I could use to store stuff. So a bit like a laundry tub set into a cupboard, only bigger. But I might be blowing the budget I fear!

Great idea - I hadn't thought of the option of washing the dogs directly on the table. I don't know why not - the water would drain straight off (into the garden) and I would be at a good heigh to do feet, then a good height to do topknots as well. A few questions: - are they heavy or difficult to wheel around? They don't look like they would be, but I do need to be careful - how do you raise and lower the top? Is it something you pump with your foot? Would a dog be comfortable standing on the table (with a grippy mat obviously) while I raised and lowered it? With the booster bath, how stable are they do you think? I assume this is something the dog jumps up into, and with a standard I would need it to be pretty stable. But I do like the overall set up of these from what I can see on the web. And the fact that I can direct the water to drain away to a garden bed of my choosing, using the drain hose. I could imagine: - dog hops into booster bath, for a wash - then dog hops up a bit more from the booster bath to the adjustable table (I then adjust the table to the correct height) - when finished, I lower the table so the dog can hop off safely. All of which would need to be set up handy to plumbing and a waterproof electricity outlet, some shelving and storage. No lifting - could work!

My sympathies - you must be worried as anyone would be I think. One of the risks with living things, is that there is always a risk they may get sick. There are no guarantees I suppose. I wonder if some breeders may offer to help with vet bills if it turns out to be a hereditary problem? But I imagine that would be entirely voluntary...? Interested in what other breeders would say on that front. But I do know that show breeder or not, all lines of dogs display health problems from time to time. I doubt it is possible to breed the perfect absolutely healthy line - of pure breeds or cross breeds for that matter. But good breeders try very hard to keep those numbers (of less healthy puppies) as low as they possibly can. I hope the vets are able to help her and keep her healthy and happy and sharing her life with you for many years to come.

I have a mini poodle x and (until 6 months ago) had a bichon frise. He died at 13 years in June this year. I have recently put my name down for a standard poodle puppy, who will join us in January. I have a history of back and neck problems, and had a spinal fusion 2 years ago on my neck. So while I really enjoy grooming my own dogs, I need to pay careful attention to ergonomics. We have a great set up at our current home, but we are moving house this week so need to do something new. Current arrangement is a large (wide) laundry tub sitting in a big island bench under our rear pergola. Once the dogs are clean and wet, they just step straight out of the tub onto the bench which doubles as the grooming table. Hot and cold water, shower nozzle attachedto hose on tap, works really well for small dogs. But I had to lift them up and down, and I am unsure if it might be too high a platform height for grooming a standard poodle. What do other people do? Is it safe to have bigger breeds jump onto and down from the grooming table? Will they do it if they know a bath is comig? I am happy to spend a bit of money to get it right, but would prefer no more than 1000 dollars all up including plumbing etc. Washing in the bath at home not an option - too hard on my back. My dogs are pets, not show dogs. I am quite short - 155cm or approx 5 feet 2 inches. I love it and may just do that again.

Ignore last few paras in my post above. Having trouble editing quote from my mobile - those words are from your previous post.

"Yes he sits when HE wants to." Great! Get your clicker out and start rewarding that sit whenever he does it! Once he works that game out, you'll have a great sitter on your hands, and you can attach the sit command. Then you're ready for his next trick! I agree with others - I would be placing a very high emphasis on exercise. Which means serious running every day, and possibly twice a day. If I ignore bad behaviour like the jumping - when he tires of it, he will sit and look at me (so after he has been sitting a few seconds, I say 'sit' and pat him - not much, just a nice soft pat on the head). The way he runs and jumps on really high furniture (the table for example), I don't think he has any back problems and he often lays like a staffy (frog style)...

Have finally found the right puppy for me. My new standard poodle boy will be old enough to join me in January. He has some close relations doing well at obedience and agility interstate, as well as in the show ring. Can't wait to have him here

As a buyer (at last, after an extended search) I think that it is actually difficult to get a pedigree dog of your chosen breed at times. Much harder than racing off to a pet shop or whatever. Partly because of the wait. And partly because all of the criticism between breeders of different lines. Got there in the end. But that's what you need to fight in your marketing. That it's worth the wait. And that other lines are also good dogs. If you can, given the competitive nature of showing dogs.

I would suggest a Border Terrier, based on your list of requirements. And also their size would make a great fit with the other dogs you already have at home. They are more obedient and trainable than many terriers - a really cool smart compact dog that is quite athletic and has a lovely square body that would be great for agility as well. I really like them, and really like Australian Terriers as well. I have had both in the obedience classes I teach and from what I can see they are both great breeds for the things you have listed. I would possibly say Border Terriers a bit easier to train etc. but I reckon they are both well worth a look while you are deciding. Perhaps some of the larger breeds people are suggesting may be a bit much for your little dogs...? I've had a bichon (until earlier this year when he died at 13yo) and they are great sociable dogs too, but there is a very significant size difference between a bichon and a standard poodle or an Airedale. Another bichon may also be an option for you, although of course you already know how much grooming is required so I wouldn't call them low maintenance at all.