NOCTRL

Thanks for the reply persephone - i should have been clearer, i certainly do mean castrated. Arby was left till this point (though we did intend to have him done 6 months ago, he got sick with a claw problem and OH has been away on course since) as he was very slow to mature, he is wonderful now though. It was never our intention to breed and he's never been in a situation where it was possible for "accidents" to occur. We feel very strongly about that. It breaks my heart when they do it (though its only been 3 times in 6 or so months, i'd prefer it didn't happen at all). Normally they get a long so well, they play with "non favourite" toys together quite happily, aren't possessive over my other half or myself. They probably could use some more exercise in all honesty, we have been contemplating giving the local dog obedience club a go and now show (horse!) season is winding down that's something we can try.

Hi wise folks of DOL! It's been a while since i've popped in here! We still have our lovely STB Arby and back in feb we added a new family member to the brood - a pitty X ridgeback pup, Cisco. A little background - Arby is still entire - though as soon as my OH comes back from the course he's on they will both be getting the snip. He's 3 years old and mostly the lovliest soul, a real big snuggle bug that loves everyone including strangers. He has never shown any guarding aggression towards myself or my other half. Over christmas he stayed with another staffy and showed no guarding aggression with her either - they happily ate side by side with no problems or fights over toys. Cisco is now 8 months old, we got him at 6 weeks from a local rescue after he and his two brothers were dumped. He is also entire currently. Initially he showed some aggression towards us at meal times, but that was quickly snipped in the bud and he hasn't done it since about 8 weeks old. He is timid of strangers (a mixture of growling and running away) but we are working hard to improve that. We can happily put our hands in both their bowls, take out their favourite coveted chicken wings (though we try not to take out often) etc, can take their most loved toys, pigs ears and bones they're eating no worries, absolutely no aggression towards us. To start with we were feeding them together (outside, supervised with 6 or so feet between them) and for the first month or so it was ok, even when little Cisco went over to Arbys bowl while he was still eating to see what he had, Arby bless him would just back away and let him check it out. About a month or so after we got him Cisco went over to Arbys bowl, growled at Arby and then all hell broke loose and we had to pull them apart. Cisco had a small puncture wound on his neck which was thankfully only loose puppy skin. (And my finger trying to pull them apart). Since then we always feed one inside and one outside. Scrap two occurred when i let Cisco out too soon after Arby had finished eating outside (i was in a rush, silly me!). Since then we always leave inside dog in for 10 minutes after they both finish, and pickup bowls and put them away as soon as they're done. Scrap three (the most recent one) occurred when Arby was playing with the sprinkler (Which he LOVES) and Cisco wanted to play too. Arby didn't want him to and we had to pull them apart again. No damage this time but it sounded like hell breaking loose. The food thing we can control reasonably well - but i don't want it to get to a point of them guarding everything from each other. I'm not quite sure how to tackle it as they're not guarding from us, just each other. I would greatly appreciate advise on how we can tackle this. Many Thanks, NOCTRL, Arby & Cisco

A tip from some one with show horses - one of whom is about 80% white (i think you can see him in my signature picsture) Horses are big, i can't afford to be buying $18 bottle of shampoo that last 2 -3 washes when you show every weekend! The best thing for a snow white coat is wool wash. It is gentle on the coat, and on your hands, and i have not come across anything that gets them as white (tried all the glo-everything, champion tails, show pony colour, cowboy magics you can poke a stick at over the years).

Popping in to share our story with you - We got our staffy pup and at around 16 weeks he developed a rash on his tummy. I gave him antihistamines initially and it seemed to make the rash go away mostly (but not completely). As soon as i missed a day the rash was back. It was bumpy red raised "pustules". We took him to the vet who diagnosed a minor infection from him scratching the rash. He was given a course of antibiotics which made the rash go away for a little while. It came back and he was given antibiotics again, with the same result. We began an elimination diet to determine what was causing the rash, contact, food, bedding, we spent a fortune trying to work it out. I wish we had of just got the test done..... Several weeks after this we noticed what we thought was the same rash appearing on other parts of his body, starting on his head, neck and chest. We bathed in antibacterial and fungacidal shampoo but made little difference. Off to the vet again and eventually diagnosed with demodex mange (great!). We all believe that his immune system was weakened by the antibiotics initially given for the "rash". We do not know if the "rash" was the beginning of the mange, or if it just developed because of the compromised immune system. He went on a course of oral daily Ivermectin as advised by the vets. This cleared it up, though it did take several months for it to be gone completely. He has a lovely healthy coat and skin now at 14 months old. Maybe yours isn't the same, but your story was freakily similar to the beginning of mine. Be very very carefull and get your pup tested for demodex mange (much cheaper than allergy testing and you should rule it out first) Please speak to your vet about it :)

Please don't take offence to this, but it really is much kinder for the pup to have human contact and companionship throughout the day when you're not there. I dont think it'd be right to confine her inside just because you want her to be 'your dog'. Yes, your partner should also be backing you up, not disagreeing with that, but i do see his point. I know that's easy for someone to say who has no emotional attachment to the situation. Just be the best alpha dog you can be, and try to think that Penny is happy, that is the main thing.

Congrats on your pup, he is very cute! At 10 weeks we were still working on bite inhabition with our staffy pup Arby (who looks a lot like Chief!). Teaching them that if they bite they must realise and back off, in order to teach it you have to allow some level of biteyness, but with age you reduce it until they know they're not allowed to bite. Not everyone agrees with this, but i personally think it's important. As we moved to not being allowed to bite, a sharp UH-AH! If it continued, we got up and walked away ignoring him. Only for a minute or two but enough to make him realise play time is over when he is too rough. I did read somewhere, though i cannot remember where, about putting them on their backs when it all got too crazy-puppy. We would hold him half leaning back on his back against our chest while we were sitting. Hold (gently but firmly) until the wiggling and trying to escape stops, give it a few seconds then let them go. Arby is now a smidge over 12 months and still now if he's 'wigging-out' we hold him against our chest on his back and he instantly goes limp and calms down! Neat tool to have but of course every pup is different :) Good luck and more pics please!!

So good to hear! Id been wondering about her just the other day X

Your pup is adorable!! You love it, you're here to learn and do whats best for your pup within your limits (Which we ALL have, though varied) I got given grief when i got my Staffy pup at 6 weeks and i came here asking questions much as you have done. Take the advice you want, take others with a grain of salt. Whilst it's all well and good to say return the pup and take the moral high ground against Backyard Breeders, the reality is, even after a short time a bond is formed with the pup and its going NOWHERE. Leasson learned for next time (as im sure you won't be able to stop at just one staffy, they're like pringles!)

Would pineapple juice sloshed through maybe do the same job? (It would for me, i love pineapple juice, but then again, i don't eat my own poo (nor does it eat me :laugh: ))

RIP Bailey pup. Too precious for this earth X

Just thought i'd update. Arby went to the vet on Saturday arvo. His hives had gone down after a day on antihistamines. Vet agrees with you all that it was more than likely he rubbed up against something, or perhaps was laying on his side and got bitten by something. The other delightfull matter of the runs, Whilst he hasnt begged me to go outside at ungodly hours in the night, i have not seen a solid poo either. He is hiding them on me. It's like the cruelest easter egg hunt ever. So he is still on rice and chicken (which he LOVES) i think he might be hiding his poop so he gets to stay on the rice and chicken :laugh: But he's eating, playing and is crazy as always. Ill be able to stop worrying when i can find a dog damn poo though.

Me too EI. had a bit of a giggle :laugh: Me three. Mental image of a giant poo consuming a puppy whole

I did a quote online with PetPlan and it was more per month than my LIFE insurance (which is nothing to sneeze at). With the excess - do you pay that every time you claim??

He has Black Hawk kibble, but hes been on it since he was 12 weeks, and has been on this bag for at least 2 months, maybe 3. The antihistamines i gave him at lunch look to have helped, he still has some hives but they're a lot less and a alot smaller than what they were. No poop yet to report, i have never been hanging out so bad for poop!

I swear little (not so little anymore, he is almost 12 months now!) Arby thinks up ways to get to go to the Vet, he loves going there, he loves the ladies and the vets, the dried liver treats, all the other animals. (In half seriousness, i know he's not doing it on purpose!) Wedesday night Arby wanted to go out to poop, so i took him out, it was very runny but not actually much poop. He strained to go a couple more times but nothing came out. He ate most of his dinner, but not all (which is unusual for him) Thursday i fasted him for 24 hours, so no breakfast and made him up a dinner at 6pm of boiled chicken breast, white rice and some steamed pumpkin i mashed up as i heard that was good for firming up the stool. He has had the rice and chicken before with upset tum's and never had a problem. The pumpkin is new however. Still got the runs later that night. We went to bed about 10 and he woke me up at 1:30 to be let out to poop (still runny, and not much in volume)(he sleeps on the bed with me). And OMG the poor little chap has a bunch of hives on one side of his body and a few on his tummy. They are itchy! I know there were none there when we went to bed as he gave me puppy cuddles while i patted his tummy hoping it'd make him feel just a bit better. This morning he got breakfast of just the chicken and rice. I went home at lunch for a "poop hunt" to see if he'd gone and couldn't find anything fresh. Still lumpy with hives. Got him some antihistamine and gave that. Im crossing everything they've gone down a bit at least when i get home in an hour. My question is this: Can dogs be allergic to pumpkin? Can it take hives that long to show up? (Min 4 hours) Can hives from food cause them to be only on one side? Or is it more likely a contact allergy? Is there anything i can wash him in to ease the itchyness? The only other thing i can think of is he was wormed with sentinel spectrum on Sunday. And had a lepto vacc the Tuesday before (I dont over-vaccinate, but being in Darwin the vets strongly advise it due to the stagnent water sitting around and the rats) He seems his normal happy hyperactive puppy self, and has the whole time. He's drinking the usual amount and isn't dehydrated. He has a Vet appointment tomorrow just in case he's not back to normal. Has anyone experienced pumpkin allergies before? Please cross fingers and paws for Arby, hes my little buddy and means the world to me, it breaks my heart when something is wrong X Arby & his mum