pebbles

Cavalier, 30,000 dogs in your area, the mind boggles Guess your lucky that you've never had a full immunised adult with parvo - I had an 19 month old Gordon Setter get it even though she'd been vacinated as a pup and boostered at 14 months. Fortunately due to a marvellous Vet, she survived. Friend's Shiba died from parvo at 2.5yrs and he was vacinated as a pup, booster at approx 13 months and again 12 months later. Haven't heard of distemper for many years. May I ask approx. what region you are in? eta - I'm another who only does the puppy vacs, then boosts at 14 months. Guess I'm lucky, in 50 years never had a dog with any problems.

C3 - 8WKS C3 - 12WKS C3 - 16WKS. That's it. Have done this for about 40years, showing for longer than that and only once was there a case of kennel cough at a show, many years ago. None of mine caught it, maybe it wasn't KC but sounded like it and the exhibitor left early.

We can all teach our dogs the correct behaviour but is it fair to curtail the natural energetic playing of a young pup? They love to bounce, run, leap, roll around etc. the only way I'd let a large breed pup with an older small breed is after the pup is totally worn out and they are inside where it's a 'no stoopids' time. Even bringing a young pup in with the same breed/size I carefully surpervise the interaction for some time as some pups are 'over-the-top' and don't heed a warning from the older dog. I don't practice any of the 'pecking order' thing, I'm the boss and who I pat/feed/etc first is my choice.

Over the years I've had big dogs, Afghans, Gordon Setters, and small dogs, Miniature Pinschers, Border Terriers, and have never left them together unsupervised. As I worked during the day they were all kenneled separately and when loose in my houseyard were still run according to size as play got too hectic to have big and small together. The only time they ran together was when we went for a paddock walk as the smells, etc were too interesting for them to worry about playing much. When they were inside in the evenings everyone had their own spot (never much room left on the couch)and didn't mess around in the house. Even without any domination IMO there's way too much chance of accidental injury just through play between vastly different size dogs particularly if the older one is the smaller. A big older dog can learn to be gentle with a littlie but a big pup doesn't know it's own strength and it's hard to curb puppy exuburance (sp? that one never looks right. lol).

Can I ask what is the difference? I can understand a separate one for Toy breeds as against Giant breeds but Labs and Goldens?

Oh durn, missed out on the prize - I predicted 'September'

With the Toy breeds I've been involved with, not Poms. though, often those pesky canines just wont move and I've always had them extracted when the adult teeth are just through and the canines are really firmly entrenched. Seen some awful mouths when the baby teeth are left too long. eta - and I've had to insist with some Vets as they don't realise that Toy's can have this problem.

I used one a few years ago for my old girl. She loved it but one night after heating it in the microwave I smelt a burning odour. I cut the bag and some of the wheat was smoldering. Maybe I used the same one too often or left it in the microwave too long? Last time I used one, scary

I've found that the Min Pins were either 'baby Dobes' or 'Chis'. Had my first Affie at a river swimming hole some years ago, first Affie in the district, two men were discussing what breed he might be - some way out guesses - then Kush went for a paddle, came out with his lower leg hair stuck to his legs and with certainty he was declared - a Poodle which hadn't been clipped yet'

The Vet suggested an investigation but son didn't want to put the old girl through anything more, reckoned she was as traumatised as he was, although I think she's sick of this burly 6ft guy tipping her over and doing the 'tissue' test nearly every week since

Natural birth - son phoned me worried that the girl appeared distressed, panting, restless, thrown up her tea, lying down and cleaning the vaginal area - my first thought was having pups. When son assured me she was speyed I suggested Vet trip. Vet confirmed she was in process of birthing pups much to the son's horror!

Girl had been speyed by another Vet in another State so now guide there. Three pups were fully formed but all born dead. Son's current Vet had no idea what happened. This was about 12 months ago and son has kept a close eye on the girl and no sign of any season nor dogs bothering her since. Mystery!!!

Never say 'never'. Does anyone remember my son's bitch? Speyed at an early age, at 8 years old had 3 pups. This girl showed no signs of seasons in those years, had run with entire dogs, nothing! Then suddenly son phones me re the bitches behaviour - 'having pups' said I. 'Impossible' says son. Takes the girl to the Vet and she produces 3 pups.

I've had a couple of small dogs which would just swallow the chicken neck whole - scary watching their neck expand as they struggle to get it down. Now I always start pups on necks by holding the neck while the pup chews, then try them after a time with the neck on their own. Haven't had a 'swallower' since but I always supervise.

Sam arrived at my place a quivering, terrified 5mth old bub. Never been out of the breeder's place and the big world was scary. Lots of patience and tlc brought this little Min Pin to a confident boy who loved going out and strutting his stuff in the show ring. At home he was the most delightful Min I've ever had, always wanting to please and loved his cuddles. 12 months old. 11 years. Forever in my heart - my little Aussie Champ. Sweet Sammy Bo. 13yo.

A friend does all the immunisations of pups. Just has a sheet typed out with the type, date etc. and sticks the label from the vial on the sheet. This has been accepted by at least one boarding kennel that I know of.

Just been sorting through the old dog stuff to find dates - In May 1975 I had a litter, 6 weeks old, of Afghan pups and 4 out of 5 adult Affies came down with Kennel Cough. Lots of coughing and some discharge, rather like a bad case nowdays. Thankfully the pups were well away from the Adults and were OK. Not often I can pinpoint dates but I well remember the panic over that litter. I don't remember getting any treatment from the Vet. It's the only time I've had KC, cross fingers! eta - I was living in Gippsland, Victoria at this time.

i'd maybe not bath them as this will only embed the matts further and you will have a heck of a job to get the dog dry. Reckon I'd just leave them and give the rellies a firm lecture when they come home. Maybe offer to take them to the groomer as long as the rellies pay.

Eekk Mrs Tornsocks, don't envy you one bit having those two at your place. I still have a set of clippers from when I was doing grooming and just looking at those pics. my fingers are itching to get at them :D

I'd hate to weigh what the boys are eating at the moment. Girl has just been in season and combined with the cold weather the Min Pin boys are looking like stick creatures but it's slowly coming back on again. I just go by look and feel.

The decision that breaks your heart Thinking of you.

I've, touch wood, never had a dog with an allergy but a friend's Border Terrier had a bad case of the itches. Vet tried all sorts of things, nothing worked for any length of time then someone recommended Missing Link and her dog was practically itch free for most of the year. It would flare up a bit during summer so a short course of cortizone was used. I'm not sure if Missing Link is still available.

I haven't done any vacs. after the first 3, never use any regular flea treatments, don't do heartworm, worm only after a sample is tested by the Vet. so maybe once in 2/3 years (worm babies till 6 mths) and never had a dog of any breed with any allergies in 50+years so maybe there's something to it?

An elderly crippled friend of mine moved from a secluded country property into a surburban area with her three dogs. These dogs had never been 'over-the-top' barkers as there wasn't much to get them going on the farm but once in town every slight noise set them off, day and night. My friend tried a lot of different approaches that she was capable of with her reduced movement. Fortunately her Vet. understood the problem and organised for the dogs to be debarked. Happy friend and happy (alive) dogs

Get rid of that cat. The only time I had a flea problem was just after I moved here, fleas in droves. Turned out there had been feral cats living under the house. Got the exterminator in, bombed the house, washed everything not nailed down, haven't had a flea since and that was a lot of years ago. I don't use any of the preventatives as I wont give my guys chemicals.