shells

Beautiful, clean and blow dryed . The blade was included as bonus so I *didnt* actually pay for it but maybe thats why it was a freebie. I will email the place - their customer service the other day was fantastic so I am sure they will help me out. Do you usually have to send the blades away to be sharpend or what type of places locally do it?

After thinking I had broke my new clippers - it turns out the #30 blade must be blunt already (after only a little use on 2 dogs feet and face) - as the other blades which are Wahl and Andis are working fine. The #30 is a generic blade so obviously not as good quality - Does that sound right?. I am suprised it wont even cut at all they the others are fine.

I cant get into obedience until January when my dogs will be 10 months old (I missed out on a spot this term). We did do puppy pre-school and I have borrowed some books and done some reading/training with them. Everything has been going well except for the last 2 days. We regularly walk in an offleash area. After getting a good recall with them and meeting some other people and their dogs(who I have got to know and trust) I can let them have some offleash time BUT they have now discovered that there is a lake at the park and the last 2 times we have visited they have run off on me (a good 200 meters away) to go for a swim. They are obviously having the time of there lives and I have become meaningless. There is now no more off leash time but what can I do to retrain a reliable recall? Is there a DVD or training package anyone recomends that will get me started until January? Thanks

I bought new clippers - they didnt really have detailed instructions LOL (well what I would have liked to have read). By reading the guide I figure oil blades before use, after 10 mins of use and let blade cool down and at the end of grooming - is this correct? Is there anything else I should be doing? If the blades are too oily will they not cut? My number 30 blade wouldnt cut again after I oiled it and let it cool earlier (it had been working fine before that). How much oil do I put on the blade? I have Wahl KM2 and am using a metal snap on comb with #10 blade on the body, a #30 on face, chest and feet and finishing the feet with a toe blade. Both dogs have survived my first attempt (and they dont look awful - which is a bonus LOL). My male wouldnt really let me do his face and my female isnt too good with her feet but I did the best I could.

Thanks Clyde. I have seen that set and was wondering what the difference between the plastic and metal were. Rysup - I dont feel confident enough to get a reasonable all over cut by hand yet LOL. Maybe some where in the future.

I was hoping someone could give me advice on what size snap on comb you would use on a minature poodles body to give it a nice medium length coat? I dont want them to be too short. I have some clippers on order with and they are coming with a #30 and #10 blade but my usual groomer uses a snap on comb on their body which gives them a nice all over length. Are the combs the same ones you get with human grade clippers or are they a different size? This is a whole new experience for me (and the dogs) and am a little nervous. I have got them used to me touching their ears, tails, feet ect.

RIP Cujo

I have been thinking of you since I heard the news. I am so sorry for your loss. My little girl still talks about the time we had to hold him on our lap and how he was so big he couldnt fit. He was the boss of "Puppy Pre-school" Take care Michelle, Angel and Tricky

LOL I had a 5.5 month old baby when my husband turned up with 2 puppies (we were getting 1 - which I didnt really want and ended up with 2 ;) ). Baby is now 9 months and puppies 6 months. I love them and wouldnt give them back. They are Poodles so always under my feat, plus I have the baby on me and a 5 year old - I really have my hands full LOL BUT *touchwood* they arent really biters/chewers/barkers (which is great) And middle of the night toilet trips were easy as I was up doing midnight feeds, the baby weight melted off with all the extra walking I was doing and puppy/obedience school is a great childfree break

Thanks for all your advice. Puggy Puggy - Your post was really helpful. I will get reading. A friend of mine has offered me her books to read so I will have to get started on them. I really think they would prefer a raw diet. Thanks again

No We have been giving Advance puppy kibble with a chicken wing each day and have just introduced the mince. I was just interested bascially in knowing what it would take to put them on a full RAW diet as they really arent to fond of the kibble (I have tried an other brand)

We are able to access some chicken pet mine which is made from the frames and organ meat. I have 2 6 month old miniature poodles who both weigh close to 6kgs and was wondering how much of this I should feed them daily? Also can I still give a daily chicken wing/frame? I do give lambs bones as well (I find Beef gives my female an upset stomach). Thanks Michelle

I supervise now and and if she starts to make a move for it I stop her and tell her off - she wont take it if I stop her and am there watching so she is getting the idea that its not on so. I have also started separating them out of each others view (which is helping). It would be easier if they werent so different when it came to eating - she is super fast and wont stop until the "job" is done and he likes to take his time and have a break and a wander.

I have 2 nearly 6 month old miniature poodle pups - I am feeding, walking, training and sleeping them seperately and trying to let them develop their own personalities (which they definately are). Everything is great except for 1 problem. When I give them something like a pigs ear or bone they both take it to their mats and have a good chew, if my male pup gets up and walks away and trys to go back to his pigs ear his sister ( who is happily chewing on her own) will run over and growl and bark at him which makes him back off and "too scared" to take it back. When this happens I go and take it off her (she has no problems with me taking, touching her food ect) and give it back to him but he usually doesnt want it back. I dont have this problem when I am feeding them their "meals" just "treat" foods such as pigs ears, bones ect How should I handle this situation? Is there anything I can do to stop this from happening? Thanks Michelle

Thanks everyone for your advice. I will compare the Interceptor to some other brands. I have been buying online - I have been able to buy flea and worm treatments for nearly $20 less than my Vet! I always supervise - I want to make sure that it is taken - especially with 2 young kids in the house that love "puppy kisses".

As the subtitle says What is the difference between a worming treatment you get at the vet compared to the ones in the supermarket? At the moment my guys are on monthly Interceptor chews (from our Vet) but my male pup doesnt like them - the female takes them no problems and was looking at trying something else. Any advice would be great

Excellent. I might buy a small bag and see how they go. I have seen the ingredient list online and Artemis looks good too.

Thanks. I might keep them on the Advance. They regularly get a chicken wing and some mashed veggies and the vet (on thursday) said they look great. The first ingredient in the Advance is chicken and chicken meal so I was hoping it was the main ingredient.

I have 2 quick questions Is the first ingredient listed on dry food packaging the "main" ingredient of the dog food? and If you had a choice of feeding Advance or Innova puppy which food would you choose? I can get them both for roughly the same price. My puppies are on Advance now (and like it - as much as they like dry food) but they also enjoyed the free sample of the Innova I got. I know Advance is Aussie made and I also know buying the Innova means I am supporting Pets Paradise but the ingredient listing on the Innova was very impressive. Eagle Pack and Artemis is very hard to come by here in Canberra and $$$$. WDYT????