Zug Zug

We have an outside kitchen area under our big pergola. It is basically a big island bench with a huge laundry trough with a hot and cold mixer tap that converts into a shower hose you hold in your hand (so I can wash my dogs standing up). The bench alongside is the perfect height to blow dry and scissor/clip do nails etc. Two power points located under the bench at that end. And of course the cupboards provide heaps of storage. I would definitely do this in my next house. Indispensible - and cheap because we used flat pack kitchen cupboards and a beautiful second hand timber bench. Best idea my husband ever had!

Thanks Helen - I agree with that. Less landing weight basically which is an important consideration. I am now talking to a local breeder with some smaller lines who is planning a litter that sounds ideal. Waiting on some health tests and then for her to make her final decision whether she is going ahead. If it happens, it will be a long wait for a very nice pup. If not, I keep looking...

Dog barking at birds on the grass - I would call this absolutely normal behaviour! Unless it is persistent barking I would not worry too much about that. The occasional excited bark is ok I think and almost unavoidable in many breeds(including yours and mine). It is persistent barking eg guarding the fenceline / gate or just barking for the hell of it that is a real nuisance. And barking due to anxiety as well. All these kinds of barking can become a real problem. Good on you for getting onto it early!

Be careful not to reward his barking. Smart dogs can twig to this and it could explain why the barking increases when you are home. So I wouldn't recommend going outside with a treat when he barks. That rewards him with a treat and your attention - jackpot! Perhaps try managing the level of stimulation he receives when you are home - to reduce the likelihood that he will bark. By that I mean have him inside with you, and have him in a predictable routine so he feels secure etc. If he barks in the house I would be telling him off and putting him either outside or into the bathroom for a short time out.

What a great idea! I have finally picked a breeder and a litter that at the moment is just a twinkle in the breeder's eye (bitch not mated yet, but litter planned). Shock horror - I will be waiting for up to 6 months!!! She's a great breeder and it will be a great pup. I will need to get super-busy until then to keep my mind off it between now and then. I know 6 months isn't long really, but right now it feels like an eternity.

Thanks poodlefan! Yes in addition to the low allergy coat (which is essential for me) it is both their intelligence and sprightliness that attracts me to poodles, to a large degree. I really admire all that athleticism - true of all the sizes I think. There are some standards that are a bit on the heavy side and I don't like them quite as much. I have spoken with Linda at Giday once before (a few years back) and she gave me some great training tips and advice. I have never asked her about structural issues and that's a really good idea I might just do that. I also didn't realise that Kellyvix did performance as well. Another website for me to go and discover! {Oops - correction - no website but definitely something to think about.}

Thanks so much everyone for your posts! I have learnt a lot from the information you have offered me. I slept on it and then contacted the breeder this morning to say thanks so much for her honest and open answering of my questions. If I were getting a pup as a pet only these hip scores would not bother me in the least. But with agility in our future (I hope) I have decided to be cautious and wait. I didn't end up asking about elbows etc. I had enough doubts that I thought I really shouldn't be wasting this person's time with more questions. She was lovely and her pup sounds gorgeous - I am sure he'll find a nice home very soon and that person will be very lucky to have him. I know there are no guarantees in terms of health for pups. I guess all I am trying to do is improve my odds of things going well. But I have to say I've never spent so much time worrying about this'n'that when looking for a pup before. I am so much more aware of health issues now than I was 12-13 years ago when I got my last two dogs. There will come a point when I just need to say 'well, it's time to take a risk' and just go for it. So far I've made enquiries about a few litter and in each case there has been something not quite right. I hope I am not being unrealistic.

Thanks very much for all your posts. No wonder I am confused - it really is a bit of a lottery. Breed I am considering is a Standard poodle. Breed average 15 for hips I think? I didn't ask about elbows but will do now. And also size (height/weight of parents). Some are light and sprightly, some are quite heavy. I prefer them light.

I don't know but I do know that a litter mate trials at 6yo in obedience still. But to be honest you could still do that with less than ideal hips. I might ask what the breeder knows about the dam's siblings and grandparents. Would dogs/bitches that aren't used for breeding even be scored?

I am looking for a puppy at the moment, since my old boy died a bit over a month ago. I have been finding the process of searching a little stressful actually. I am really wanting to do the right thing - but in the past have always chosen with my heart (so much easier!). I am talking to a breeder about a pup who sounds really lovely. I have met and really liked a close relative of this pup. I am considering a long drive to meet the two parents and the pup next week. But I am not sure about the hip scores. The father had great scores - total 3. The mother however had a total of 16, so not so great. The breeder said to me that the intention is that by putting the two of them together, the pups will have good hips. I am not sure if that logic holds true, and I'm hoping someone could shed some light on this question for me please? It is a large breed. Larger than most agility dogs. I want to do obedience, and also some agility. So from my perspective the hips will be an important consideration, although of course not the only consideration (for me, a sound temperament and suitability as a pet will definitely come first).

Writing in for a bit of moral support. I am looking for a puppy at the moment. I have a favourite breed in mind. They are brilliant dogs, but there are some health issues I need to be careful about. Anyway, the more I read the more confused I get. There is so much info on the web about health problems and temperament problems I am beginning to feel almost paralysed and it's so hard to make a decision. I have come close to saying yes to a pup from what I'm almost positive would be a really nice litter, but then got cold feet because they are interstate and I can't go and see them for myself. Do other people struggle in the same way? At the moment I'm feeling a bit silly. In times gone buy I would have just seen a dog I really liked and brought it home. I never even thought about hip scores or test scores or breeding. Please tell me I'm not the only one that finds this difficult!

My old girl can't be trusted with dogs she doesn't know unfortunately. She gets anxious and snaps at them. But with dogs we know it's great - and we have a few that we visit regularly so she doesn't get isolated. She is a bit in love with a friend's kelpies. It's good for her. We do obedience as well, but she stays with me unless she is in a formal stay situation where all the dogs are under control. I don't let her mix with dogs generally - I have learned that she is not good in these situations. My other dog (who died recently) loved other dogs and loved to play. So I gave him the opportunity to play off-lead whenever it was safe to do that. He seemed able to diffuse just about any situation - he was a real charmer! Obedience club was a great place for him to mix from time to time, but also at friends' houses and with their dogs.

Incredible!

Total convert here too! Discovered it a few years ago at a seminar by Sue Hogben. Best seminar I've ever attended. Training just got soooooo much easier from that point forward. Will never be without one again.

Looks a lot like the leads they sell at K9Pro I think you'll find it's one of theirs. www.k9pro.com.au

Spoos = standard poodles Sounds bad though doesn't it?

Oh no that really would be devastating. I hope that after a mourning period she considers getting a puppy again. It sounds like she was really enjoying having a dog as her little friend. She made a good choice too - a great breed for little people. Lots of fun to play with, clean and relatively easy to look after (so long as someone helps with a bit of the grooming etc.)

I agree with the points above, but with a few exceptions which are: - I want it to look nice. I am not going to spend that much on a belt unless it looks cool. Sad but true. - I want a choice of colours. - I want somewhere safe and secure for my car/house keys and phone as well because I don't want to need another bag as well as the belt. - definitely treats (lots of them and easy to grab), clicker and poo bags all need somewhere to go. I only need one pouch of poo bags. Hand wipes not needed (my current belt has a spot for hand wipes but I always have extra bags in there instead. Yep the latch for a lead to clip onto is also good. Obviously needs to be fully adjustable and comfortable around my hips. My current belt is pretty good really. I would only make minor changes. Hardest thing is finding enough space for keys and the phone.

I can't seem to get onto the live streaming for it. Was hoping to watch some of it online. I get to the live streaming page and it keeps trying to connect, but doesn't. Are others managing to view it successfully? Any idea where I might be going wrong?

There's one coming up at Woodville Dog Club in Adelaide. This weekend or next (I can't remember which). Details here: www.charlessturt.SA.gov.au bit too far for you though!

Are you home when they are barking? Or is this mainly happening while you are out?

Canvas feels nicer in your hands, but in the early weeks you just won't notice the difference so there is absolutely no rush. Ultimately, I think a nice leather lead is the best. Not essential of course - I just like the feel of a soft leather in my hands as the leash gets worn in over time. Don't buy the cheap leather from the shops though. The link to K9Pro you got in an earlier post is a great place to buy a nice quality, strong, soft leather leash. By the time your dog is 6 months old, you'll be appreciating the softness on your hands I promise you!

No advice but just saying wow - how exciting for you to be bringing your new pup home! I can tell by your post that this is something you've been looking forward to and probably planning for a while. Enjoy your first days with the pup. Fingers crossed he doesn't get car sick!

When I was 18 years old I lost a dog to ratsak. I was away from home that night. My Dad had left a box on an outside table, and she ate some and died before anyone noticed. Dad had to ring and tell me. We were both devastated. My 2 dogs got into some here last year when my daughter left the shed door open. She found them immediately. I rushed home from work and we had them at the vet within 15 mins. Vet induced vomiting, gave them vitamin K and both dogs were fine thank goodness (and obviously we rearranged the shed to make sure anything poisonous was no longer in reach). I think if your friend's dog got to the vet quickly, and there are no obvious symptoms, their chances are good.

There are some fantastic instructional videos online - you can google the breeds that are most similar (in coat and appearance) to your two, and they will show you through step by step. I groom my girl (and groomed my bichon as well until he died recently). I only started about 2 years ago. I had always been curious about it, but my early attempts had been truly AWFUL! But with the right equipment and a bit of practice, Zamba looks pretty nice after I groom her these days. I think so anyway! Critical thing to work out early in the piece is: - what kinds of brushes/combs suit your dog/s coats (ask people on here - they will tell you straight away. I would say for a poodley coat a slicker and a steel pin comb and you're all set) - what kinds of scissors (a lot of personal preference here, but as a minimum you need a straight pair and probably a curved pair. You may also want some thinners with the breeds you've mentioned) - what kind of clippers if you're going to do that (most do - I do - it's a lot quicker than attempting to scissor the whole dog!) - a step by step process to going over the dog (you will get this from people here and from the online videos) It does save a lot of money, but the flipside is it takes a lot of time. I have come to really enjoy doing it, and the dogs have looked SO much better since I've been doing them myself. Largely because I am touching them up every few weeks, because it's easy and the stuff is there ready to go. Previously, I would go 7 weeks between appointments so they would go from very short, to quite wooly. Now they stay pretty nice. I say go for it!