Her Majesty Dogmad

Try getting a doggie door so she can come and go, it's what stops my dogs from barking all day because I have a whinging neighbour too. They mainly sleep!

I work for a group that would not rehome a puppy to this situation. 10 hours if far too long I'm afraid. Some breeds feel it more than others but it really is not good enough. Simple as that.

Just to add that JF did say to eat first to ensure you are established as pack leader. I do this with my own dogs and I can also put my hand in their bowls and remove food but that's not because I've trained them that way, it is because they are not food aggressive. Wouldn't put my hand in every dog's bowl and if I had kids I would discourage them from going near any animal whilst it was eating/sleeping, just as my parents did. I'm not saying she was 100% right in every category but a lot of what she said made sense. I think it is worth reading her book and any other information before embarking on dog ownership if you are completely inexperienced.

I have a mobile groomer I recommend to everyone but Shmoo is right, their are faults in every situation. I have been told of a salon where dogs are smacked around. That's why I have a mobile groomer - so I can watch what is going on and how they are with my dogs, you can't always do that with a salon.

Jan Fennell suggests you befriend your dog and get it to cooperate through love and kindness rather than dominate it and force it to do what you want. She also recommends not taking the dog's food away from it, not making it sit before it eats etc etc. She has gained her knowledge over many years of observing dogs in the wild. I also agree with Showdog, I think you are expecting too much of a puppy. They do chew and need time and effort putting in. Any owners that don't want to do that and don't have patience by the truckload should not start out with a puppy of ANY breed.

skwo2 - I saw Jan Fennell - the Dog Listener last night, can I recommend you read her book "The Dog Listener". It was a very informative evening. Certainly explained to me where I am going wrong.

Get a doggie door.

Try reading Jan Fennell's book, the Dog Listener. Saw her speak in Sydney last night, she was great.

My friend found her dog in a similar state and he actually had a bit of chicken bone (from uncooked chicken) lodged in his throat. Never give a dog cooked bones, ever but raw bones can still cause a problem. You have done the right thing - puppies go downhill very quickly so don't take any chances, hope puppy soon feels better!

I actually saw Jan Fennell speak in Sydney last night - she was inspiring. Her book costs $25 or the DVD is $35. There are quite a few things there that would help you train your dog. As for toilet training, I didn't realise it but I use her method (all about kindness and reward) and have housetrained 40 foster dogs of all ages in the last 3 years. Except for 2 dogs (females), it took only 2-3 days to achieve with each dog!! I also manage foster carers for my rescue organisation and this is the info I give them: 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.

So sorry Peibe, this is so unfair. I'm glad they didn't end their days in the pound and they found some love with you. So sorry you've had to experience so much pain through an act of such kindness. Thinking of you and them, wishing it would have been different.

Advantix is good. I also use Advocate plus a Preventix flea collar.

Mine go about twice a day but I do have a small terrier girl who feels obliged to poop, even if we're only going a short distance so I always have to carry bags for visits to the vet etc. Walk = poop in her mind!!

I'm not sure if they can find evidence of a dog having had it, that's an interesting question. Maybe we can find out from someone who knows?

I would rather be safe than sorry. My friend just fostered a dear little fellow from Renbury Farm - lovely looking dog, seemed fine but tested positive to heartworm. He's had the treatment and looks like he will be rehomed this weekend. It's important to remember that if they've had heartworm, they can never have the heartworm vaccination as it can be fatal.

My foxie has awful problems with this too, seems worse if the grass is wet, eg his legs get redder/sorer. I've tried the cortisone which is no good for the longterm, the special baths, homeopathic remedies, creams, herbs. I've just been told that Evening Primrose Oil may work so he's been on it for 3 days, too early to tell but he gets so sore it's miserable.

I'm sure mine come from my neighbour's dog .... try some different products, put garlic in the dog's food too.

Rosi - I hope you are not keeping your dog in the garage most of the time?

I'm so sorry, this is an awful thing to happen to you and this lovely girl. Pls call me if you need to talk.

Puppies are like babies, why can't he be with you when you are home?

I have housetrained about 35 dogs in the last 3 years, mostly within 2-3 days with the following method - you need to focus on it so I prefer to start on a Saturday morning as I work. 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.

Am going to do a separate post on this issue. My foster dog has terrible ears that were neglected for years which caused the ear canal to almost close over. She has gunky ears and holds one downwards. Very difficult to deal with, have been operated on twice now - March and then last week. She had perforated eardrums which haven't grown back and both ears were filled with pus, both times, causing her dreadful pain. Have had a 6 month daily antibiotic drop/ear cleaning regime to no avail. Vet is now recommending removal of ear canals. If only she'd been looked after properly this would not have happened. I'm devastated because this is VERY MAJOR surgery but the ear infection is within the bones and will keep returning, in spite of all the antibiotics she is on.

A dog trainer told me that breeders often train their dogs to go in the one spot. She said that you lead the dog to the same spot and repeat the command ???? (whatever you call it). Reward the dog. Do this a few times and they learn to go in that spot. I let my dogs go where they like (and some poo on my patio too which pees me off, I clean with disinfectant and brush then wash off with boiling water) but they are all housetrained and wee on command - handy for long distance trips etc. I got my housetraining tips from the same dog trainer and have had heaps of success (I have fostered many times). Here they are: 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.

I can't believe you think smaller dogs are harder than big dogs to housetrain? I don't think it's got anything to do with size. I have successfully housetrained 30-40 foster dogs within 3 days in the last 4 years. The only 2 exceptions were an old female silky terrier but she obviously got it because she went to a unit and was fine. The other was a young papillon chi x I had and it took 2 months but she was a cruelty case and I believe had lived in a shed or garage for all her life before I got her. The quickest dogs have always been male foxy or JRT types, so smart they've often been trained after 2 days. I have a kindness method which works for me, I rarely get a housetrained dog which says something about the ownership out there - scary. I haven't got access to it right now but check out my recent postings, I've repeated it several times or PM me.

Words fail me.