slk

Doh. Clever clogs you lot are! Never occurred to me to use a treat. He is VERY motivated by food (show me a puggie who isn't) so yep, that'll probably work. Off I go - back with an updated

I agree with everything that has been said except one thing, and that's the parents not getting a history. That may not be the case, they may have been told the dog was ok with children (I'm not saying that makes it ok for the dogs to left with children unsupervised, no way, but they may not have been warned the dog was not socialised with children). I'm talking from experience. We took in (from a 'friend of a friend') a 3 year old maltese/pappilon dog. I was told she was raised with their 3 year old daughter without incident - she even sent me a photo of her 3yr old daughter & dog in the cubby house together. Said dog went from sitting position next to my daughter (who was not even touching the dog) and latched onto my daughters lip - full snarl, quite vicious & very very unprovoked. I put the dog outside, tended my daughter and straight onto the phone to the previous owner .. response. "oh no, not again" Yep, they ACTUALLY got rid of the dog becuase of aggression towards their daughter, and in fact all children. I asked the right questions - I just got given untruthful answers. Sad, but it happens. Still, would i leave my 4 and 6 year olds unsupervised with a dog I've known less than an hour, who is probably stressed from arriving in a new environment - HELL NO.

He loves to play fetch. He loves his tennis ball. But how do I get him to drop it when he brings it back. ATM he races after it, races back to us and then stands just out of reach and we can't grab him OR the ball, and we only get it when he accidently drops and it and we scramble for it. Tips???

That's a good result. Sometimes people only learn when it hits their backpocket. We have neighbours like that - but it has taken a summons to court to get them to keep their dogs (aggressive) contained on their property. Hope the outcome favours the dog!

oh dear - everyone is so advanced. Max & I are doing "sit". Wouldn't mind if he would drop the ball wheh he retrieves it either. But I'd be happy with a sit that lasts longer than a nano second

Hmmm, this is something I may look into. I know that the Medibank Private one is quite good, a friend has it and find their claims speedy & easy. And it covers her 100% at the vet, vaccinations, etc. She has a no excess policy. Not sure how much it costs though. I'm going to look into for Max, for peace of mind.

Ohhhhh, they are just beautiful pictures and even more beautiful poochies ..... just lovely.

Apollo Armand Baxter Benny Brock Brockie Brody Bud Charlie Chip Coco Cooper Cowan x 2 Cuba Dash Digger FlashBazil Gandor Greedy Hudson Ivan Jack Judd Juggie Kasper Kiba Kyzer Lestat Lukas MacKenzie Max Maxie Merry Milosh Minook Mistral Onslow Payton Piikki Raffy Reeve Riku Rupert Scout Shadow Sterling Storm Tazz Tusca Tye Ulf Watson Willy Zedley Zephyr

Hi all. I am new new new to any training and reasons behind doing something. Our new addition, Max (10 month old pug x) LOVES two things - chasing/retrieving a tennis ball and playing tug. Now, I know that tug is a positive thing to play with them - is it because it's just a game or are there 'benefits' to playing this with them? Just curious

My husband got creative. we installed our dog door in the hard wood door. And then he modified the screen door by cutting a dog door slightly bigger than the one in the hard door and getting some perspex cut to size, attached with hinges. So - when both doors are shut we just open the screen door dog door between the two doors and the dog uses the dog door in the hard door. When the hard door is open and we want to use the screen door dog door we just unclip the perspex flap and voila ... another dog door. We found that without the perspex in the hole in the screen door we had a fly invasion. But - if you are renting and you can't cut into your screen door then this is no good to you.

RIP little girl. She sounds delightful.

Of course I haven't gone away - I'm thicker skinned than that I take all advice on board. And I would rescue an older pug in a heartbeat. Actually have sent a pm through. And we are willing to wait for the right puppy, or older pug. Everyones advice is always welcome, I can weed through the comments and am happy to gain from everyone's experience, positive & negative. Thanks for all the input - it's going to be a slow and well planned, thought out process - my girls hearts have been broken 4 times in a row and want our dogs to be our forever dogs .... Thanks again

I'm learning that I need to be careful how I word things, because they are being slightly misunderstood. Our rescues did not work out through lack of caring or just not wanting to put the time in. We went for breeds that are known to be good, family dogs. Our pug x passed away far too young (heart related and not diagnosable and so no-one is to 'blame'). The aggressive dog was PTS. I got her from a collegue of my husband - she was going to be surrerened to the RSPCA because she killed one of their hobby farm chickens. She was 'raised' around a young (3yr) old child. She assured us that she was very stable and sound with children. 2 serious dog bites in 1 day and I called her and her response "oh no, not again - I was hoping she wouldn't do it there". She had bitten their child. Rightly or wrongly, I marched her up to the RSPCA and more than likely she was put to sleep becuase I had to write on that surrender form that she bit my child. I couldn't rehome her myself, because I was far too concered that she could be passed on again to a family with children. Our schnauzer, she was a puppy farm girl and we knew that she had behavioural issues and we were willing to put in the hard work to help her. We had a visit from one of the lovely behaviourist on here and would have gone to any length to help her settle into family life and would have worked with Judy for as long as it took (and she would be our first point of call if we every needed dog help again, she's worth her weight in gold!). But her hearing defecit (a result of no vetinary care while she was breeding and an ear infection left far too long) made her unsafe and unstable to have around young, impuslive children. She was rehomed caringly and appropriately. I think that perhaps this may be the wrong forum to discuss this. I have been deemed, from my history, as someone who shouldn't adopt, regardless of circumstance. I'm sure that we will be able to adopt a puppy as a pet, that doesn't have to be pedigree. Geez, growing up our family dogs were all 'bitzers'. No papers in sight. Raised from puppies and all fabulous family pets - they were either neighbourhood giveaways or pound puppies. I'll keep my eye out. I'm sure the right one will come along. I have spoken to SAD organisation and got some helpful information. I'll wait, and watch, and if the right puppy comes along then we'll have a look.

Please, give some credit. "small puppy" in not my only 'criteria'. I don't want a large dog (even small puppies can grow to large dogs). I will wait for the right breed / mix. I will do my research. Our first loves are pugs. Our boy was from a breeder. But in all honesty, I can't justify spending $1500 on a puppy for pedigree when there are pups ourt there (albeit mixed breeds) in need of a good home. Believe me, I will spend any amount of money on a dog to keep them healthy and happy (our last rescue cost me thousands to get to the point that she needed to be rehome, don't begrudge one cent of it). What I'm asking is, has anyone had any experience with Save-A-Dog, what should I be wary of when adopting a puppy from shelter/rescue.

After much discussion, hubby and I have decided that we are going to get a puppy for our family. Our Pug passed away 5 years ago. Since then, we have adopted 3 rescue dogs, each failures in varying forms (a pugx that passed within months of having her, a small white fluffy thing that had aggression issues that weren't picked up on until she took a chunk out of my middle daughters lip and my sons ear and only recently a mini schnauzer who was found to be deaf and just wasn't suited to small children and we rehomed her appropriately). So. Given our family is young we have decided that an older rescue dog may not be ideal for us. But, I still like the idea of getting a dog from rescue and have noticed that Save-A-Dog get the occassional 'puppy'. I am thinking that under 16 weeks would be ideal for us. We are not fussy on breed or pedigree - although we don't want a large dog (probably small to medium). I am going to call the organisation today and just have a chat. Part of me feels 'guilty' for wanting a puppy over a dog, but I do have to look at my current situation and make the safest and most practical choice at this point for our family. I am not rushing into anything - my children are 9, 7 and 3 - good ages but each passing month that we wait gives them a little more maturity (oh, the puppy is not for them, we are the ones wanting a dog and they get to enjoy him/her but it's certainly not a case of getting a puppy for the children). I'm assuming it's a reputable organisation - any feedback or warnings anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated :D

Am I being mean or rude by not liking my invited dinner guests to bring their dogs? We have a particular friend who we socialise with. Both having young families, we find it nice to get together at alternate homes and this years we have new years here. Nice and laid back but given the horrid heat here in Vic today we are pretty much staying indoors. Now here's the catch. They just assume their 9 month old pup. And I have issues ;) He is not housetrained so you need to watch him like a hawk. He has no matters (he jumps up, he playfully nips, he is allowed all over the furniture). All of these things I don't let my dog (past or future) do. We don't like animals on our furniture, our dogs have always had beds which is there sitting place and they always seem happy. But I'm a bit annoyed because I feel rude in calling her to say that perhaps the dog is best left at home but I don't think that I should have to do that - I think that common sense says that when you go to someone's house you leave your dogs at home. Or is that just me????

Awww great. I have been watching this thread with interest, waiting for an update. I am so happy she is home

Of course it not up to the hairdresser. But doesn't anyone think that perhaps the mum wasn't expecting a dog ??? The kid wasn't worded up - don't touch the dog because she wasn't expecting one to be there ???? I choose not to take my 2 year old to the vet because of that reason. It's too tempting for him to pat all the animals. I know there will be animals there and if I know I'm not giving him 100% of my watchful eye because I'm distracted with my animal - then I leave him home. Same for the dog groomers - not necessarily the right environment for children unattended. But the hairdressers? Perhaps the Mum was distracted with, I don't know, paying or talking to the staff and just wasn't expecting a dog in that environment.

Just love how this thread has become about the child being in the wrong place ??????? It's a human establishment. Mum's get haircuts and not everyone has babysitters on tap (me for one!). Jeez, perhaps the child was there for a haircut - perhaps we should just legislate that children are not allowed out in public because they are a menace and touch stuff.

As a mother of a toddler, I am appalled at the "support" this dog is given, the blame placed on parents and toddler by some and the downplaying of the incident. This dog is reported to have bitten a child, which required medical treatment. I don't care if the sirens were on or not, it doesn't change the fact the dog bit. I take my toddler (nearly 3) the hairdressers with me all the time. It's safe. Because he's given clear boundaries and obviously some of us can control our children more than others can control their dogs. And in my opinion - hairdressers are for HUMANS. Dog groomers are for DOGS. I don't take my child to the hairdressers to teach them how to socialise with dogs. I get so peeved with dog owners who think that we should all love their dogs as much as them, their dogs are taken to places where people (and children) are. My daughter was once nipped by a dog in a coffee shop. She wasn't even looking at it - she was sitting drinking her drink and it came under her chair from behind and nipped the back of her leg. Since when do dogs go to coffee shops. And hairdressers. Seriously, love that we all love our dogs, but keep them in appropriate places. Dogs today have almost become accessories. When I was a kid, the dog was what was found in the backyard, or in the park. Not the sodding shops !

SchnauzerBoy - how did Aubrey go??????? Did everyone survive the visit of a 3 year old ??????

Yay for Lucy !!!!!!!!!! It's so nice when they have a win. My win was the improvement from when J arrived to when she left !! When she arrived Mitzi did her usual nutty barking and after just over 2 hours she was laying/sleeping at my feet while J and I chatted. Brilliant

An update. And a very positive one. We have had our consult from one of the fantastic behaviourists here and oh my word. I was very impressed, learnt a lot about both myself (like I tend to talk to my dog way too much - I was threatened with tape over the mouth !!!! LOL) and my dog. Mitzi has a way to go. But given the big steps she took yesterday I think I see light at the end of my journey. I feel so much more confident in 'reading' her now, handling her and know what I can do to ensure that she feels like I have the situation in control. Thank you Megan, for passing on the information and pointing me in the right direction. I will probably ask you lots of questions as you are further down the path than me, and we sound as though our Schnauzer ladies are similar in temperment. Thanks all.

Thank you all so much for your advice. Yes, her ears are very swollen & spongy, resembling cauliflower on the inside. The vet is hoping that the steroid in the drops will help to ease that. We are also hoping that the damage is, in fact, reversable. As I said, we don't know how long she has had this infection. As for her history - I don't know too much. She came from a 'breeder' who had 'finished with her' (her cash cow had dried up I think). She is not very well socialised and is a very nervous dog (I have a behaviourist coming today). Thank you for the tips on diet. She is eating 4legs, Science Diet dry food and raw chicken wings/drumsticks/necks. I will talk to the vet about her diet when I take her back for review. On a side note - I have a daughter recently diagnosed with food intolerances, wheat being a big one!! I can't eat it either - evil stuff

We have only had Mitzi for 4 weeks. The vet said that she has had this yeast overgrowth for quite some time. We noticed her scratching & rubbing her ears, that's why we took her to the vet. Our vet gave her a good 'going over' today, clipped her nails, etc so I am assuming that if she felt she was in any other way 'yeasty' she would have picked it up? I have noticed that she is very 'smelly' .... she's nice when she's bathed but smells again very quickly, but now I'm assuming that this could be the ears. I have to take her back to the vet in 2 weeks to ensure that the drops have done their job and I'll speak to her in greater detail then. **edited to add - I haven't had her groomed yet - I have trimmed her myself - will get our vet groomer to look at her ears in 2 weeks.