Her Majesty Dogmad

I'd recommend taking her to the natural vet at Russell Lea in Sydney (if you are in NSW). One of my dogs was in agony one day I came home. Myvet didn't really know what to do so the next day I went to the natural vet and they did accupuncture and chiro work on him. He was better, we went back 3 more times within a couple of weeks and he was heaps better at the end.

I had a dog like this as a foster - she blew snot everywhere all day every day .... Thought I'd have her forever. THey thought she had a serious condition but the biopsy revealed it was allergies. (Uni of Sydney did it and were excellent). She was on antihistamines but they recommended a home away from the bush (I'm nearby). I found a home in the inner city which was ideal and the new owner didn't care about the snot, as long as she was housetrained. She was so much better there, far less snot emissions.

Hormone treatment can make them more aggressive, if it is Stilboestrel. There is also Propalin medication which doesn't cause the aggressive behaviour. The other thing it could be is dementia, one of my females became snappy with other dogs and people about 2 years ago, she is 16 now but 12 isn't too young to get it.

I was thinking the dog must be bored and/or lonely. How much exercise/mental stimulation are you providing?? There was a thread in Non urgent rescues from a DOL member wanting to rehome her BC. A lot of people agreed she should with her circumstances but DOL member Boomba posted some very useful information that might help you keep your dog wanting to stay at home. Have a look, the thread was started by JungleGeorge.

I go to Angus Martin in Leonard Street, Hornsby. Have found them to be absolutely wonderful. As for greyhounds, I'm not sure about their experience with them - just ring and ask - 9477 1233. I used to go to the Kuringai Vet Hospital at North Turramurra, more expensive but they have everything there inc 24 hour care. Rob Zammit at Vineyard treats lots of greys, it's about a 30 min drive or so.

centitout - there is your problem. Raised in a shed. I believe that the dog I had so much trouble housetraining, was locked in either a garage or a bathroom for the first year of her life. When I got her, she was very undersocialised, no idea of the outside world. I feed my dogs separately and at first, I tried putting her in the bathroom and closing the door. The minute, and I mean the minute I closed the door on on her, ie in any room, her, she would pee and poo everywhere. If they are kept in that situation, just like an ex breeding dog, they learn to go where they are, there is no separation from bed/toilet and I think it makes it all the harder. At least yours is younger and should be more trainable. Are you taking him on short walks as described in my method? Or is he too young to go out?

My dog has had cancer for 4 years and I have found a hard lump on her. She is 16 years old and on chemo tablets. I don't feel anything more can be done. She has outlived vet's expectations that's for sure. Just make the most of her while she's with you. Give her healthy food and perhaps you could try contacting a natural vet or homeopath for something herbal as extra support. Best of luck.

The dog I was talking about also poo'd and wee'd everywhere, on my bed and on the sofa. I just kept going with the method above, but constantly over a few days. It can be hard when you have other dogs because you really need to concentrate on it. Another thing I did in the end, when I was desperate and had been going for a few weeks with the training to seemingly no avail, was to take the dog outside and wait until until my other dogs were weeing/pooing and hold the dog's nose closer to their backsides and say the words to my own dog "good dog, do poos/wees" etc. After a few days of doign this, this was the clincher for me. The dog was a very busy young dog and easily distracted so this focused her on what was actually going on .... I would stop his access into the bedrooms until he's got it. Your sofa might still cop it though ..

Definitely Ridgey in there!

You can rent some antibarking collars although I agree that the breed type probably has an awful lot to do with it. The two puppies I had last year barked all day as they were playing and then I got complaints from the neighbours - luckily they were rehomed that week to somewhere that the barking wouldn't be an issue and presumably they'd have grown out of it over the months following. Alternatively put him somewhere separate for early mornings?

Cavandra is spot on. Could be an infection or hormonal probs. Vet check is required to diagnose. One of mine started peeing on the beds and in the car, mainly when she was asleep. She's been on meds for 2 years and there's been no more accidents. Nasty problem but turned out to be really easy to manage!

I am printing my method here. Start right away and concentrate on it for as long as it takes. I had a difficult dog last year and it took me a couple of months to toilet train her. She went on my bed, the sofa etc etc but I just kept going with this method and it worked. I have a couple of questions though, can he get out when he needs to go? I know you are taking him out but a dog door really helps. Also, is he desexed yet? HOUSETRAINING TIPS Ok - first thing to do is decide on the command (I call it “do wees”) you will repeat over and over. You have to really focus on the dog for about 2-3 days to be successful. You have a pocketful of special treats on hand all the time for the first 2-3 days. Walk the dog several times a day and every time the dog wees, you get very excited and keep saying “Good boy/girl, do wees, do wees” – give the dog treats every time. First thing in the morning, last thing at night and every time you see the dog eat or drink (both precursors to weeing) whisk the dog into the garden and repeat the command “do wees”. Get very excited and present treats every time dog goes. The dog’s aim in life is to please you. If the dog should have an accident inside the house – say NOTHING at all. The dog soon gets the idea that when he/she goes outside you are really, really pleased and he/she gets rewarded. NB: Please note that the smell of urine must be properly removed for any housetraining to be successful. There are products on the market such as “Urine Off” but they are very expensive. A mix of white vinegar and water is a much cheaper alternative and should work for tiles and other surfaces although you should always take care with wood etc. For carpet/rugs, I use either a mixture of Napisan/water or bicarb of soda and water. I completely soak the stain using a dab on technique with a cloth. When it is very wet, I use an old towel to soak up the excess moisture. Again, be careful on any expensive carpet/rug, I have never had any problems but I cannot guarantee any method here.

I think you can probably smell a yeast infection - I'd recommend a visit to the vets for ears at any time you think it's not quite right. I say that because I have a foster dog here who's eardrums burst due to not having an ear infection treated by whoever owned her before she ended up in the pound. It's really not uncommon sadly.

Amebel - I really feel you must take him back as soon as possible. If your children are hitting him, that is abuse and the trouble is, they are only trying to protect themselves. Children under 5 just don't understand unfortunately. I recommend, when they are older and you are less committed to their needs, that you consider a mature, at least medium sized dog of around 4 years of age, they are much calmer at that age. Please don't get any working type dogs as they herd/nip. I just got an email from someone with a young child who had euthanased her young border collie because it had twice nipped her daughter's heels which is what they do.

I work in rescue and my group usually recommends waiting until kids are 5 years old before you get a dog. There are many reasons why - parents are normally VERY busy with younger children and their needs, young children don't understand how to interact with animals very well and vice versa sometimes etc. I have a toilet training method which I post on this forum all the time but I really feel this is all too much for your current situation because it requires consistency over time, this will be difficult for you I imagine with 2 such young children who would need so much attention. I'd recommend waiting until the children are much older, when you won't be as stressed, before you consider getting another dog. Getting a puppy is like having a third child - they need heaps of time spending on their needs and their training, this situation isn't good for any of you as far as I can see.

Not only staffies L&L, my foster dog Mabel, if she could talk she'd say "I'm a lady", she burps, vomits AND farts, I'll often wake up in the night to the sound of it .... I have hardly any sense of smell so I guess it's a match made in heaven - eeeekkkkkk! Who couldn't love that face!

My dogs are vaccinated to C5 level. I take in a lot of foster dogs, many of whom have had kennel cough on arrival (they have been through a 2 week quarantine period beforehand). None of my dogs have ever caught it but I have heard of the odd case where one has. One of my dogs isn't able to be vaccinated due to being on chemo but perhaps that kills off other germs anyway?

I tried the Hills diet and my dog wouldn't touch it unfortunately. I haven't met one that didn't like Royal Canin food though.

As the others have said but one more question - is he desexed?

I was in a groomer's one day when an owner came in with a pug and a foxy. I thought they must be coming in for a pamper session but no, they were both brought in to be shaved because the owner didn't like their hair loss. I was so shocked! At least the owners weren't dumping them because of hair loss I guess.

Funnily enough I was only talking to a prospective new foster carer last night and I always check about if they can housetrain or not because many dogs are not housetrained by the original owners. This guy and his wife are in their 30s and he confidently told me that he would rub the dog's nose in it!! Thank God I checked. Anyhow, he's now armed with the information I've printed above and he can come to me with any problems that occur. I can't believe how rife it is, just like the old wives' tale that a dog/cat is all the better for producing one litter of pups (or more if you are a back yard breeder/moron). In cyberspace they can't hear you scream .....

I have to feed my dogs separately. 1 is very old with only 3 teeth and takes about 20 mins to eat dinner - she'd never get anything if I tried to feed her with the others.

If it is a perspex flap, I have experienced the same problem (I have fostered over 40 dogs in 4 years) with some dogs. I saw a Dr Harry Tip to cut out a piece of patterned paper the size of the door and stick a piece to both sides. Whenever I've had a problem with a dog not going through, I've done that and it works!

I suggested Citronella Oil to a colleague whose dog was pooping on the patio and it worked for them.

Yes but in the old days, we didn't have all the information available to us now, the dog trainers that come to your home, the internet. I don't feel there's any excuse for the old barbaric ways to still be applied - we have to evolve sometime don't we?