Genabee

I love hearing stories like that!!! Days like that make up for the crappy days we sometimes have early on!! Well done!

Well, I sent an email off enquiring! Then I read on the website that the classes were on Tuesday evenings.... and I work then!!!!!!! This whole working evenings is really interfering with my dog schooling!! Why doesn't anyone offer things on Sundays? Let's wait and see what the reply is! I might go and check out the August trials. Are randoms allowed to watch?

If it is of any help.... They opened a new one in Hawthorn a couple of weeks ago and Dr Harry Cooper was there visiting last week! It might be a bit of a drive for you though... We happened to call past (wasn't planned, was on the way home from Bunnings) and managed to get her food, 2 bags for the price of one.... we bought up big! And as you can imagine, every man and his dog (literally) were lined up to speak to Dr Harry. Maybe Dr Harry will come and visit your new Pet Stock when it re-opens?

I know in humans, there are several different types of seizures... some times they look like mini strokes in some people. I hope it doesn't happen again!!!! I know I would be mortified. I'd still get the vet to check him out.

Some kind of seizure? I'm not vet, so really it is just a guess.

Only every morning!!! Genevieve has a run outside in the front yard... I might have a potter in the garden.... And then some poor innocent pass-buyer, hears me waffling on to her, about my phone conversation in the middle of the previous night to her Dad (my OH), and his daily dealings in where ever the hell he is (he is currently away for work in Europe, every time we speak he has moved to the next city, I rarely keep up). I'm sure my neighbours think I have lost my marbles.

I had never heard of it before tonight! I think it is cool - I hadn't watched it and my first thought was that the dogs would be all kitted out in costumes etc. It bought back memories from my stage mother, counting me in during dance practice as a child! Maybe I should have Little G enrolled!!!! Anyone know of a dance school for dogs, local to me? Maybe I could carry on the stage mum gene!

My Mother In Law saw this on ABC Online and I thought you might be interested: Take your pawtners: dog dancing the new rage http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/11/2950411.htm Is this cool or is this cruel?

Don't beat yourself up! You're a good puppy parent!! Like children, all dogs come with their own personalities and as parents, we generally make the best decision we can on the day. It isn't always the best one when we look back on them.... but you live and learn. You did the right thing by calling in help when you thought you needed it. If more people did that, there would be less scary dogs around!

Got any old clothes of theirs? Something with their sent on it. Even an old beach/bath towel will work.

Aren't most puppies hyperactive? Our family dog Aurora, has always eaten the Eukanuba (she is now 8) and still has hypo moments. We just always thought she was a 'happy to see you-lick you to death' kinda dog! But maybe there is something in the food!

Is it the same (or very similar) to the ones supplied by Jet Pets (AAE recommended supplier)?

She doesn't bark, that is the problem! She often paces and that is when I take her out. And usually she goes. When the weather is nice and I can leave the door open, she trots in and out all day and we don't have accidents inside, so I am reasonably confident she knows that she is to go outside. I have noticed in the last couple of days she has started to scratch the door and when I open it, she runs out! So I am happy with that. But I am still going to find a bell and give that one a go! Thanks everyone for your help!!

It's not for everyone I know, but maybe try some 'Puppy Essence' drops. My mother in law is into homeopathics and flower essences etc, and when I was ready to kill Genevieve after a few days, she sent me some Puppy Essence and some Rescue Remedy. I have never really been into this kind of thing, but at the time I was desperate! I noticed within minutes of giving them to her, she would calm down straight away. I give her the rescue remedy whenever we are going in the car now, as she never used to be so keen on it. Now, she hops in and sits there. It also helps during those puppy moments when they seem to have more energy that a fizzy bottle of champers! Check this site out http://animalhealthstore.com.au/ They also have flower essences for other pets and specific conditions.

Alienating her family from you, is part of the greater plan. A book called 'Men Who Hate Their Wives and the Women Who Love Them' may offer some insite. And when she is strong enough and ready, give it to her to read, in conjunction with a supportive therapist. She will need one, otherwise she will find herself in another relationship exactly the same. It is a bit of an onion, with many layers. Each layer needs to be pulled back, one at a time. This kind of emotional abuse (which is what it is), is often seen by some as worse than physical abuse. There are no bruises to indicate something is going on. I bet all his friends and a lot of hers think he is the ducks nuts for buying her not one, but two puppies!!! They aren't aware of the sacrifices and compromises (perhaps of her own sense of self) that have gone on behind the scenes. My thoughts are with you and your daughter. And the puppies.

Definitely being draped across the ducted heating vents, in whatever room I am in. If I am showering, she lies on the heater in the bathroom. If I am cooking dinner or eating it, she is in the dining room. If I am in the lounge room, she starts on the heater, then sneaks up into my lap!

Tell him to go to the library and get out a few books on owning dogs, training dogs, and different breeds. I'm sure there are some online quiz things if you google puppies. I was nagging my husband for ages about getting a dog. I grew up with one as a kid, he didn't. He had an idea of what he wanted in a dog - a big slobbery type thing - while I wanted a small lap dog that wasn't going to mault!! Needless to say, we had different ideas! For us, there was also the consideration of children being around, size of the house, work commitments etc. Once we started reading, we agreed on a Cavvie. It was a compromise on breed for both of us, but I don't regret it all. She is the best dog in the world, and my husband (who was anti dogs for a while), thinks it was all his idea!!!!! I am glad we did our homework though. Because we got what we expected and know what we are dealing with.

oooohhhh, that sounds alright. I wonder if that is really high in salt though? I bet she would love it, little guts that she is! I don't know if you can ever completely get rid of it.... Our family dog was a white malterse x shit zu with her big chocolate eyes, she had them real bad! When her fur grew long enough and she went in for a groom, they would often cut it out. Bit different with the cavvies though, as they are fur and not hair!

Genevieve is on advance.... I looked into it a bit before we bought her home and I thought that would be the way to go, given the amount of money I wanted to spend on her food, what I felt was important etc. Previous family dog always ate Eukenuba and did very well on it, that would have been my second choice, only because I was familiar with it. Genevieve also came home with a bag of advance as that is what the breeder had been feeding her. Great! I thought. BUT... she didn't want to know about it when I gave it to her! And if I moved away from her, she would abandon her food and follow me!!! I was really worried as I had all this food and she wasn't eating it! It took her about a fortnight, but now she guts the stuff down! I was really worried that she wouldn't eat, or just pick at it, because I had been led to believe that Cavvies are little piglets! When I spoke to the breeder, she said that I shouldn't worry, it is because she is used to eating with the other pups. Sure enough, now she lives up to the reputation of piglet and will guts down anything we give her! And her poop is how it should be... So my point is, he could still be adjusting to his new home, it may not be that he is completely off his food! Try giving him a bit of puppy milk, they seem to guts that up!!! Changing food prematurely may make for a fussy dog.

Maybe try crating Link the next time you come home from a walk? We used to have that problem, she would run circles around the furniture, panting and barking and acting like a crazy thing. We would crate her and five minutes later she was snoring!!! Now she comes inside, has a drink, goes back out to relieve herself, then follows us into what ever room and goes to sleep! Can't really help you with the shift work thing.... I work evenings, but I come home and I am up for a while before I go to bed, so she is up with me. And my hours don't change... But I sometimes find sleeping on the lounge with her settles her down (surprisingly fast. They just want to be with you!). Maybe you could do that for 20 minutes before you go to bed? Don't forget to toilet her though!

There is such a thing???? Aren't they mini enough??

Hi Lamber, I use baby oil on Genevieve's eyes.... she is a tri-colour though, so any staining probably isn't as obvious. But I find the baby oil takes away any build up or dirt she gets in her eyes rather easily. I just use a make up wipe. When I take my make up off at the end of the day she usually follows me into the bathroom. Mummy has her turn, then Little G gets a go. She just sits there and waits while I do it.

Just a question that perhaps someone with a bigger dog may be able to help me with... If opting to feed a 'cheaper' brand of dog food (ie. perhaps one available at a supermarket) over a 'premium' brand, do you need to feed more for each meal? And if so, does it really work out to be cheaper?

That is just irresponsible. Regardless of cross breeding or not, no one should leave puppies or dogs to their own devices, and/or abandon them. All pooches deserve to be loved... That being said, we had a few friends accuse us of being 'dog snobs' when we decided to get Genevieve. They couldn't understand why we wanted that particular breed of dog and why we wanted her from puppy age, when we could go and rescue one from the pound/shelter. We have/had our reasons for why we didn't adopt an abandoned dog, but that doesn't mean that I don't support the re-homing of abandoned or abused doggies. Little G is one of three purebreds on the street. There is a black lab and a golden retriever a few houses up. The rest of them seem to be designer dogs.

My husband went away for work yesterday, for 10 weeks. I need him home. The last time he was going away for a long time, he bought me.... yes, you guessed it! A puppy!!! This time I was considering asking for a brother for Genevieve, but I decided I would like earrings to match my engagement and wedding rings... I got a dining room setting instead. Close enough. I'm sure there will be other trips to work on the diamonds!