GrumpySmurf

I have washed Kahlua myself in the laundry tub (which he's growing out of), outdoor tap (we have a vegie mixer on a hot & cold sink in the alfresco), and at those self-serve $10 for 10 minutes dog wash. All of it does get me a bit wet and weary. Today, I tried a mobile (won't name them) dog wash, which I thought advertised washing him, his ears, clipped nails and dry. The charge was $25. They turned up pretty much on time, and unloaded the tub and a couple buckets. After plugging in, and filling with water, Kahlua got a wash. I went inside and about 10 minutes later, I was surprised that he is all finished. Having got his biscuit, he is still wet and ears / toes were not checked. Seems a bit steep for $25. Is my expectation too high? Or can anyone recommend a much better dog wash? Ideally one that I don't have to book too far in advance.

I'm surprised that so many recommend a crate (which is great), but does not say that the crate needs to be secured! In a crash, a dog in a crate will hurtle through the back of your head or the windscreen at up to 110km/h. Chance of dog survival will be zero. Chance of your critical injury will be high. So, if you use a crate, the crate must be securedly tied down (not always easy to do)

Last night, no pee in the crate, and in the morning, he's back to usual. Today he's locked up inside at home so will have to wait and see how many accidents As for marking, he is de-sexed and squats to pee. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Kahlua's toilet habits are now 90% established. He is able to hold from 9pm till 6am in the crate, and during the day, if he is not disturbed, he would usually be sleeping and pee once every 3-4 hours. Today, apart from a cold front weather coming through, in the afternoon, he pees 6 times within 2 hours. All of it was outside during a usual walk (which he normally may pee once at most, and often doesn't pee on walks). He is not drinking any more than usual and no changes to his diet. His poo is as normal in consistency and quantity. Can anyone give me a clue what is wrong?

OH went home and found 2 small patches. Not ideal, but at least he looked more content in the foyer than being stuck in the crate

As we all work and school, Kahlua has had to be left alone a few days a week for 6 hours. We've always put him into his crate and he hates it. He would whine and bark and destroy the newspaper in the crate. This is despite feeding him in his crate, and him liking the crate overnight (almost goes in by command). So for today, we decided to let him roam around the house foyer. We have put in lots of toys including a Kong with treats, his crate is in the foyer now, and the stairway is blocked off. I'm sitting in the office, nervously watching the surveilence camera. He is laying quietly on a particular spot on the tiles. . Just hope there are no accidents when I get home.

I appreciate you love your Purebred dogs, I like them as well. But do you really need to put down the cross breds?

OK, I'm still trying to get over my confusion. Kahlua was born on th 12th May 2011, so he is 17.7 weeks (4.1 months) old. He is currently 10.6kg and is a Lab X Poodle. Vaccination: Done by vet on 03/08/2011, next one is due 03/08/2012 - easy enough Worming: On ParaGard. Last one was 03/08/2011, so now should be every 3 months right? Should this be given perpetually for life every 3 months? Fleas: On Comfortis. Last was 25/08/2011. So next one should be 20/09/2011. Should this be given perpetually for life every month? Heart Worming: On NuHeart. Last one was 20/07/2011. I had forgotten about this and had not given him. Is this a problem?! Should I just give him a tablet now? How could I somehow try and move the heartworm and fleas dates to fall on the 3rd of every month? Is that even a good idea as sometimes I will then have to give hime worming, heartworm and fleas tablet all on 1 day?!

That's great - now we can enjoy it without worrying he is *un-training*

Sorry, I didn't make it clear. I am just confused as to what I need to do when. Am I correct in saying there are 4 things I need to worry about (Vaccination, heartworm, worm, fleas)? Then it gets confusing which one needs doing weekly / monthly / 3 monthly / yearly! And do they all have to be done throughout the year? I am easily confused!

Is there an online program that can be used to remind me and tell me what medication I need to give my dog?

Kahlua is progressing well with his training including 5 minutes stay with "TOT". But being a puppy once or twice a day (usually early morning or late afternoon, he will go on a crazy rampage, running like mad and jumping. What would you do about this? - Totally ignore it? - Reprimand him? - Play / encourage it as it is harmless and damn cute??

As a new puppy dad, I feel I have some unrealistic expectations on many training timeframe. A lot of this, I think comes from watching youtubes and Caesar Milan showing us how a dog can be trained in 1/3rd of an episode. We've had Kahlua now for 6 weeks and he is only about 80% toilet trained (all our fault in leaving him too long and not spending the time to wait for him to finish). So, for a 8-14 weeks old puppy, that you just got, how long did it take you to toilet train?

Do you guys give the whole neck? Or do you cut a neck into a few pieces?

Just saved me a trip and costs of the vet! I was varnishing some cupboard doors and Kahlua came nearby. He didn't even sniff the doors when he had this attack.

Lashton, despite all the bickering, and the fact that I am as confused a new puppy owner as you are. I just want to CONGRATULATE you for being here at all! Just think of how many puppy owners are out there, without a single clue or even the desire to get a clue.

Kahlua has had 4 different (rubbery type) toys including a mini kong that is often stuffed with boiled chicken or kibble with peanut butter. Just then I just bought a cow-hide thing tied like a bone. With all the other toys, he *may* play with for 1-5 minutes and then lay down and do nothing or move onto something else. Even the food stuffed kong (he is very food driven). However, with this cow-hide bone - he seems obsessed with it. He has been chewing away for more than an hour and does not look like he will let up. Should I be careful and limit his access to this? If anything, he will surely break a tooth or something on it. On the plus, it looks like it will really help me with crate training

Just want to follow up on this thread so that any future search will get some resolutions. Since the post, I have been cleaning Kahlua's ears more. It is not all black and infected, but the fact that he's got a fair bit of hair in his ear canal, means it is moist and holding some wax. My bathing him probably made it wetter and cause the smell The vet had a check and put a swab under the microscope - he says all clear but got me some cleaner (Bayer Clean Ear Solution) as well as Dermotic Ear drops to be on the safe side. I have to use these twice a day for a week. So far, with just 2 treatments, smell is almost gone! I have ordered some ear powder to assist in pulling more hair out of his ear. Thanks for this forum... I mean, who in the world would know that doggy smell comes from problems in their ears?!?!

Thanks all for constructive replies. I think "showdog" may be right - my expectation may be just too high. I hadn't fed Kahlua inside the crate as I was doing the Triangle of Temptation. For the last 3 meals, I am now feeding him in the crate as well as TOT and he IS doing great with a 30 seconds sit/stay beofre I say "OK!" I also do find that, despite the slight inconvenience, a leash on him at all (nearly) times is working well. If only he would stop chewing on the leash so much

On the topic of swimming, at what water temp would you start encouraging you puppy to start swimming? We have a pool with the water temp at about 15 degrees at the moment, and can't wait for warmer months to play in the pool with him.

I know that the ideal is the puppy would go into his crate on command. But Kahlua is at the beginning of training and we all have work / school at fixed times. He doesn't hate the crate, and it has never been used as punishment. He gets huge praises and special treats (chicken in Kong) when he's in it. But he does whine (for 2-10 minutes) after being put in. We always ignores him completely when he whines, and would not allow him any attention until we get 20-30 seconds of silence. Now a new problem is arising in that he would run away a lot of the times when I try to pick him up. I vary the pick up between things such as Crate Time, Brush Time, Hug Time, Toilet Time. We've only had him for 1.5 weeks, he's 11.5 weeks old. Is there any suggestions on how I can improve on this? It does get frustrating / heartbreaking trying to chase him, and also hearing his whine. Lately, I feel as though his training is taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back

I had been talked into Advance, thinking this was high quality kibble. But the website (Dog Food Analysis) said it is not recommended.

He hasn't been to the vet yet, we plan to take him next week for his 2nd vac and checkup. I do think the smell is strongest in the ear though. He has his ears plucked of hair and is happy with it being plucked. Is there a way I can look for ear infection myself before the vet visit? Having just smelled him all over (including parts I wouldn't normally His ears do have the strongest smell, then the top of his head. He is fed on a BARF diet (Big Dog's patties ATM), but I am slowly introducing Advance kibble (for convenience and variety). Also liver treats. On a similar note, I don't suppose anything could be done about his farts?! He is THE BEST DOG in the world in that everytime I come to the study, he would come along and just sit at my feet. At 11 weeks, he can do this for 2 hours at a time. I understand some people need to train their dogs to do similar. However, this seems to be the time he really let the gas out! Sometimes 2-3 times

I have a Lab x Poodle (AKA Labradoodle) which I have read elsewhere do not normally have a "doggy smell"... I know, don't believe everything I read! He's 11 weeks old. Anyway, I have a strong sense of smell and am very sensitive to all smells. Doggy smell is not a favourite of mine. Since having him for 1 week, I've given him 2 baths (1st when he just arrived as he smelt strongly after travelling 10 hours in a crate, and 2nd time after he pooped in the crate and stepped over it). Using a dog shampoo, I still find that he has a doggy smell. Doing some reading, I see people use "dry shampoo" method which seems to be mostly talcum powder / baking soda / flour etc. So I tried Johnsons Corn Starch baby powder. I sprinkled liberally all over him, massaged into his wooly coat, then brush it through. This seems to work very well in removing the smell without introducing sweet perfume smells (which I hate). So I'm happy! But now I find that I need to do this pretty much daily to keep the doggy smell off. So, the question is, is it OK to use this corn starch talcum powder on him on a daily basis?

OMG, sounds nasty! On a lighter note, Kahlua has done 2 number 1's and 2 number 2's in 4 times of going outside today. Unfortunately, he now decides crate is no longer his favourite place. I reckon I can manage his toilet to be between the paving, artificial grass and the garden bed - so no great rush to go outside. I do hope on finding a friend with a good dog for him to meet with though. He is good so far with new kids and adults. Nipping a bit, but I think we can sort that out.