kiesha09

Right at the start I thought it was a seal

Yes, but a big male mini would come close. This game is hard, because I would need to question the person to determine their priorities. Sometimes people have conflicts in their requirements. Eg. Non shedding but only wants to groom once a week? You're welcome to question me if the game will allow? LOL. Ok. What is the grooming schedule of your current dogs, talk me through that. Do you want to brush the new dog each day? No For how many minutes? Once a week? Yes How many minutes? 20 max Want to wash it in the laundry tub each week? NoVisit a hydrobath each week? No See a groomer for a clip every six weeks? Every six months? And pay $45? Pay $80? What is your tolerance for dog hair on carpets, clothes etc? It doesn't really bother me that much, but certainly don't want tumbleweeds down my hallway constantly. Something that doesn't shed like a golden retriever or a labrador would be fine. Any known allergic reaction to any type of dog? No Current dogs are clipped short every 2 months or so. Brushed when they need it, they really don't get that many knots so luckily not too much of an issue, and I like it that way. I'll do about 20 minutes each dog each grooming. They get bathed when they are dirty or smell.

Yes, but a big male mini would come close. This game is hard, because I would need to question the person to determine their priorities. Sometimes people have conflicts in their requirements. Eg. Non shedding but only wants to groom once a week? You're welcome to question me if the game will allow?

As there has been 10 posts I think the rules of the game means there can be a new set of criteria. Hope thats correct, otherwise just ignore the below:

The only time my two have ever had a scrap is when they are both way over aroused (my fault for letting it get to that point). It certainly sounds like for these dogs the arousal level is extremely high when she gets home - bouncing and running around. I would start with working on techniques to lower the arousal level of these dogs upon arrival home. So NO attention until everyone is calm! A way to manage this behaviour is to retrain greetings where they all go to their seperate mats as the door is approached. That way no dog can be running into the other etc. I would also work on some games with multiple dogs - when mine were younger they would jump all over each other if I was patting one of them so I played games where if dog B sat quietly while I patted dog A then dog B got a treat and vice versa.

Sorry not much help. But what a CUTIE!!!

It always makes me laugh when Chip dog is sleep barking or having dreams where he is obviously chasing something. He lies on his side and his little legs move so fast. I'm sure they go faster in his dreams then in real life It's also quite funny when my two play chasy up the hallway into the lounge room. The hallway is tiles and the lounge is the only room with carpet. Kiesha will chase Chip all the way down the hall, through the kitchen and dining rooms and back up the hallway to the lounge where he finally has some traction because there is carpet. Most of the time poor little Chips legs are going so fast, but he's not moving very far because he slips on the tiles. It also makes him look like a bunny rabbit with his ears flying in the wind. Just his face and how hard he tries to move on the tiles when Kiesha first barks and starts chasing him is priceless!

I did a quick google search and frontline appears to work for them which is good since this is what I used. I've also called the pest control man who is coming next Monday to spray the yard. In the meantime I'm just going to wash and wash and wash!

I just looked up some images on google and thats exactly what they look like. Although I'll take some to the vet asap. I'm in the inner suburbs so wouldn't think there would be foxes etc too close to me (especially in my back yard) although we do have cats that run through so who knows they could be bringing them in. Sounds like this isn't going to be such an easy fix

No I'm in Adelaide so not rural but I do go to my parents place in the Barossa alot with the dogs although haven't been in a while. Do you get rid of these fleas the same way as normal fleas? No poultry here either. Are stick fast fleas black? THese 'things' are black.

Thanks. Good idea re taking some to the vet.

Just after I was thinking I was finally flea free after two months with no sign of the buggers I think they're back! A few times after Chip has come in from outside he has had these black things on him. Probably about 20 or so. But they are normally in just one spot Eg this morning he came in and had them all over his left ear. It almost looks like he has rubbed against a bush as he walked past and collected these little black bugs. The wierd thing is they are only in the one spot and not all over him. Also they seem to be really huge. I can see them on him half way across the room (may be because they are clumped together in one spot). Close up they range in size from really big to quite small. He has been itchy ever since he came back from the groomers on Saturday but I thought he might have had a reaction to the products they used but then Kiesha got itcy too. Yet I haven't actually seen one on her. SO I'm thinking there are fleas outside and they are being infested by them that way or these outside black bugs are not fleas at all but some other thing in the garden. Yet I can't tell, they look flea like bug are really big! When you squash them red (blood like guts) squires out I'm going to treat them like fleas just in case. THey are on regular monthly doses of sentinel spectrum and I frontlined them last night. I've also bought some comfortis to use going forward. On the weekend I'll completely clean the house from head to toe and flea bomb and wash everything. But how do I get rid of them in the back yard? Also is there some kind of spray you can use specifically for things you can't put in the wash eg the couch? Has anyone else found a magic cure yet? I can't even stand walking into my house with these little pests around.

I had a dog that had this exact same problem except that it got worse and he started marking inside the house too. I just changed tactics and made sure I rewarded as often as I could when he was peeing in the right spot with some really yummy treats. Also every time he went to pee inside or somewhere inappropriate I would remind him with an 'aahhh hhaaa' and take him to the right spot. WELL... it almost worked! Whilst he never actually pees anywhere inappropriate anymore, he will still cock his leg and pretend

Sorry abit off topic here - but Mrs Rusty Bucket could you please tell me what you know about The Dog House kennels? I have searched for a website but can't find one and Im looking for a kennel over Christmas this year.

Thanks for the update Ness on Artemis... woohooo Adelaide finally catches up :D

Hyde Park is a great place to live, lucky you! I don't think there is anywhere in SA currently that stocks Artemis so you'll probably have to buy it online and have it sent over from Melbs. As for somewhere to buy meaty bones etc. there will probably be some butchers around your area which would sell you some otherwise there is a small shop on Glynburn Road (near Tranmere, about 20 mins away from you) called Canine and Cat Caterers which are fantastic! As for doggy daycare here is a link doggy daycare which is close to the city in Kent Town. Hope this helps and welcome to Adelaide :D

Thanks - I wanted to give them the leftover corn from dinner too rather than it go to waste but thought I would double check first.

Does anyone know if corn is poisonous to dogs? I don't mean on the cob but off it from a tin.

Just thinking the OP mentioned that looking after a Keeshond coat looked like a lot of work (and therefore I got the impression wasn't too keen on lots of grooming). So the poodle may be out, although they would be my recommendation for your situation but be prepared to learn to groom them or the cost of sending them to the groomer. I also just want to add that you should be making part of the choice dependent on what YOU want in a dog. As your daughter gets older things like boyfriends, friends, shopping, going out, parties, school work, etc. are all going to become much higher on the priority list than looking after the dog. The parents often end up looking after their parents pets. Also part of what you mentioned eg daughter wanting dog to follow her around, be walked off lead etc. is very dependent on the training the dog recieved. Is your daughter happy to do this on an ongoing basis? I think its great that she wants a dog but recommend that you as the parent make sure she is fully aware of the responsibilities that having a dog includes. Good luck with your selection!

I would be seeking the help of a veterinary behaviouralist. If he is doing that much damage the problem sounds quite serious. A VB can help you develop a program to help your pup to cope while your gone so that this problem doesn't develop into a much larger scale problem.

Are you sure they even took the puppy back to the vets after it had died? There may not even be a death certificate in that case.

My two just bark AND bark AND bark!!! I wish there was some way of shutting them up! It would be a godsend if they would just get into bed with me and be silent.

Are you serious? This actually happened?

I know someone who bought a doggy pram for her Chow Chow. It looked a little bit like one of those bike carriages people put their children in but was actually a doggy pram. I think it was fairly expensive though, but worth every cent I'm sure.

JMO but rather than fashions changing I believe we have become more educated in ways to effectively and efficiently train our dogs. There is alot more science behind the way we train now than in the past.