shells

I was told never to put your address on them. Our yard is very well fenced (one side is our garage) and our gate is padlocked but I figured it was a case of never say never. As someone else said most people in our area know each others dogs so if they didnt know exactly where I lived they atleast know I am local and they are not a commonly seen dog in our area either.

Tonight on my walk I picked up a beautiful Australian Terrier who had escaped from home. He had a collar with a tag and phone number which I called much to the relief of his owners (and to the disappointment of my kids - he was a beautiful dog). It got me thinking that my dogs only wear a collar when we are out walking - at home they are collar-less and if they were ever to escape they would need to have their microchip scanned for us to be found. Do your dogs wear collars all the time? Am I doing the wrong thing?

Dont feel sad. I have male and female littermates and my female was the same then at about 9 months old she wanted in on the action (My boy is a real smoocher) and now I sometimes feel smothered by their love - honestly - there are days where it feels like too much and I cant turn without tripping over one or have their sad eyes looking at me for something.

I was told it was "dead" hair. I found the powder really helped. I bought some hemostats to try and get the trickier bits but find it difficult (therefore dangerous) so a professional groom is on the cards every 6 months for us I bought the hairdryer 10 years ago for $10 LOL I had well and truely got my monies worth but it was scary yet amusing at the same time (I dont think I would have been laughing if I had burnt the house down though )

Me too except mine just blew up and burst into flames - actual flames LOL. Time to upgrade I think. As for slickers I took FruFru's recommendation (from the poodle thread) and picked up a Gripsoft from our local vet (I would love a les pooch but $$$$) and it is 10 times better than the dodgy "slicker" we got from the pet shop and reasonably priced at $15. I also recomend some ear powder for plucking - makes it heaps easier. As for the dryer. My boy didn't really like it but lots of praise, treats and using it on a low setting has got him to happily accept it. Good luck

Our dog park is a "multi-use" park but is well known in the local area as being a designated off leash area. As I have said I supervise my toddler and make sure she isnt running around ruining others enjoyment and I also make sure my dog arent randomly jumping on people to me both are just as bad just because 2 are dogs and 1 is human makes not difference both are unacceptable behaviors. Why does it seem for some people that you cant have a well "controlled" child and well controlled dogs at a dog park together - it is one or the other? Now I understand the point about others peoples dogs so to counter this I make sure I am "aware" of my surroundings and not talking on my mobile or listening to an ipod like alot of dog walkers seem to do, I also make sure that when we are in "the thick of things" she is in her pram or in a backpack. TBH I often get alot of positive feedback when with my girls and it has been a great way to introduce my older daughter to the many different dog breeds. I can see how one of those smaller, fenced dog areas could be different but still if the parent is willing to think about it - it isnt a hard situation to manage.

Look I will admit my post was over the top but honestly wait until next week and there will be someone venting about someones unruly dog jumped all over them at the dog park and how their owner should have had the dog under control. Everyone will be replying "Yeah idiot owners, you tell em" So whilst people defend their dogs being well trained I was just defending my kids for being well trained and enjoying their offleash time too

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/ You should be able to stream it from the website when it comes up.

Elsewhere online and IRL when I ask people why they bought a Poodle x they 9 times out of 10 respond that they don't like Poodles - I really dont understand it - apparently crossing them makes them "unpoodled"

LOL I love these threads. Maybe we should stop families owning dogs and then dog park people all over Australia can rejoice! Arent you meant to have your dog under control at offleash parks regardless. If my dog jumped all over someone else walking their dog I would be embarrassed. Not everyone has that option. I am a responsible dog owner and a responsible parent. My children will continue to accompany me to the dog park like it or not. Maybe I am lucky as were I take my dogs children are welcome and dogs are relatively well behaved

We have a local reserve that is "offleash" (not a dedicated fenced area but is well known locally as a offleash area) I take my 15 month old and if there is no-one around let her have wander or find a quiet spot where I let her toddle around whilst I throw the ball for my 2. There are a lot of regulars and you get to know the people and their dogs. If there is someone I dont know she gets picked up and put in the pram - not because I am overly worried about her but because I would hate for the owners to think they have to leash their dog for me. My older daughter (who is 6) knows not to run around or approach strange dogs. I often find children threads on here strange. My husband works long hours and I cant just find someone to babysit whilst I walk the dogs. I walk my dogs daily. The alternative would be to have them locked in the backyard all day which to me is unacceptable. I make sure my dogs and children dont affect anyones enjoyment at the park.

My 2 sound very similar. Both desexed (and desexed a little early - just short of 5 months) so I wonder if that has affected him. I guess he hasnt filled out either but he is happy and healthy and wins the race to the ball 9 times out of 10 :D .

Oops - just had a look and it said from 6-12 kgs. I for some reason had a weight of 10kgs in my head. 12kgs would make them very fat. I would say my female is solid now. The are oversized but look good. Going by this I would say he is quite lean and she could do with dropping a kilo . If we are at the offleash park he gallops around and she happily trots by my side. If I pull the ball out they will both run for ages tough he beats her 9 times out of 10 That worked well this morning - they both ate their kibble happily after we went and played ball for an 40 mins - I took them for a special birthday walk and picked up some treats whilst we were out

I have 2 miniature poodles. Male and Female both turning 1 year old tomorrow My male dog weighs 8.5kgs and my female 10.5kgs Both are regularly wormed and fed the same diet (I supervise meal times, bones ect) and exercised for between 40mins to 1 hour a day with lots of ball chasing. The recommended adult weight for miniature poodles is between 12-14kgs and whilst I dont doubt my female will make it I am getting concerned about my male. We saw the vet on Wednesday (who wasnt concerned) but was wondering if I should feed him something different. ATM they are on Artemis (we have recently changed 2 weeks ago and they dont seem to be taking to it but they have never been big dry food lovers), daily chicken necks/wings with a weekly lamb bone. He has recently had some ear problems (undiagnosed grass seed which was treated as a yeast infection) and been on antibiotic drops for 20 days with a 2 week break and is now back on Otomax drops plus and anti inflamitory tablet with another antibiotic tablet (one ear was ruptured the other just infected) - Poor Guy. I have some Advance and Supercoat both which they love - put away in the cupboard should I offer some of that with the Artemis? The weight difference between the 2 is quite noticeble to me.

Hi Everyone Thanks for all the tips and info. After all my worry and stress I took both my dogs for a second opinion to a new vet (after visiting the previous vet twice in 2 weeks and getting nowhere). The new vet and I decided that a sedation, pluck and flush would be best. Well what would you know - not one but 2 grass seeds. Unfortunatley one had perforated his ear drum but we have got him cleaned up and medicated hopefully to be fully recovered in 10 days. My female dog who also started displaying "gunky" ears had a dead fly in hers so she is on Otomax. Considering the grass seeds were missed by one of Canberras "premier" vet hospitals I am pretty pissed off but on a good note the new vet said I do a good job with their ear care and I was just unlucky which has given me hope as I was trying everything and getting a bit depressed as nothing was working. I will keep them on the Artemis (though they dont seem too keen on it) and hopefully in 10 days I can put this whole (expensive) experience behind me

IME only a very few. Most hide behind their computer screen feeling smug and secure. I have spend alot of time on a parenting forum where people are belittled for such things as feeding a small child hot chips never mind the hot topics such as circumcision and formula feeding- I am sure if the poster trying to shame this person in real life they would be too scared to say boo

But isnt there a saying that you catch more flies with honey? Replying to one of these posts with the first line "Your an Idiot rant, rant,rant" isnt going to get them to listen - they will press the x button and take off but a well worded non-judgemental post stating facts and reasons may get them to hang around and learn more. Like it or not but there are still heaps of people out there that think you buy a dog from the petshop and that letting your bitch have a litter will "settle them down" - these people need education not flaming but I guess if flaming someone makes you feel superior then go ahead.

We just used white vinegar (which will get rid of the urine smell) and stop your dog wanting to "remark" his scent there. Otherwise if you prefer you local vet/ pet produce place will have something called Urine off - which gets rid of the smell but white vinegar or biozet works just as well IMO

Another forum I go to had a "post a picture of your pets" thread and there was a Lahasa Apso x SBT - now that was a strange looking dog (and also made me thing WTF) but apparently it is non-shedding!!!

My 2 were taken to preschool the day after they came home LOL. They had a ball

WTF. I dont know how you manage to restrain yourself or can even bring yourself to be in the same room as them. I know they are family but I just couldnt do it. Where do they live? Can you report them to animal welfare? Who honestly ties a dog up to the letterbox and does that - I am honestly dumbfounded.

LOL Could have been dangerous with his "bits" jiggling around the gundogs http://news.ninemsn.com.au/glance/1027433/...rrupts-dog-show

I have just switched my 2 to Artemis the main reason being it is wheat free and had a resonable postage rate to Canberra. My male dog isnt interested in any raw meats except chicken necks or wings so RAW isnt going to work for us plus I am a working mum with 2 small kids and to be honest it is much easier to open a bag and know my dogs are getting a balanced diet instead of stuffing around trying to guess it myself. They still get chicken necks and wings and I still offer lamb/beef bones. He often just chews on the ones my female is finished with.

DOL has definately influenced my decision on where my next dog will come from. It is a long way off but when we add another Poodle (my eldest daugher wants a Ridgeback and she has already picked the breeder LOL) I am undecided wether it will be a rescue (of any age) or a mature dog from a Reg Breeder or even a Pup from a reg breeder but these are the only option (no pet shops or BYBer). It also depends on my family situation at the time and what dogs are available since we have small children and will already have older dogs I will definately ask discretely on the forums next time for breeder recomendations though and I wouldnt influence me either way if they advertise on DOL or not.

Thanks everyone. Showdog - I have just treated the feet with Apple cider vingar tonight and can think of a good groomer (also a poodle breeder) so I will give them a call tomorrow and see if they can help. We are on day 2 of wheat/gluten free. So far I have just been giving extra chicken wings, sardines and stuff that I have handy. The Artemis dry food should be arriving tomorrow. I have also tried giving them some ACV in their water and some natural yoghurt. Hopefully this helps.