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well Sheena, I have good news for you...the breeder has stopped. And don't worry..I didn't take offense to any of your comments. Afterall, everyone is entitled to their opinion, regardless nice or otherwise. I must say, before I got Hana, I use to think like Border Collies. But after having her, now I LOVE Border Collies...you should see how Hana tries to 'round us (me and hubby) up whenever we take her to the park...gorgeous! Oh..one more good news - I have adopted the notion of not buying pets from pet shop. Neiko, my Scottish Fold cat was bought from a breeder

Thanks everyone heheeheh....yes, Hana is a very cute dog but she can drive me nuts some times. We bought her from a pet shop which we visit almost every day..yes...even weekends when we were renting in the city. We had to pass by the shop everyday and we did our grocery shopping in the market next to the pet shop. After "checking out" the shop for a few years and not "falling in love" with the several litters, we came across Hana and her 2 other brothers. We, too, were gawdsmack by the combination but Hana was...well....we really couldn't leave the shop without her..and the rest is history. The pet shop gave us the breeder's name just in case we wanted to find out more about this very interesting breed. Hana was from a second litter. But we didn't have to call the breeder as she was really good...extremely easy to toilet train. BUT! As she grewww...she started to have this bad habit - refusal to chew on dry foods. She would chew on bones, treats and greenies but just not her dry food. Hence the search for dry food that she would chew. It has FOUR years...still the search continues :-(

So there are holistic brands, supermarket brands and BARF. I just want dog food which Hana would CHEW (if the kibble is too small, she swallows them whole!), minimize the shedding, shinny coat, no dry skin issues, and poo that doesn't have smells that brings back the dead! I have read how good is Royal Canine only to find another website saying it is terrible. Same experience with Nutro as well. I am also aware that it also depends on how Hana reacts to the ingredients (BTWS, Hana is a Chuallie - border collie cross chihuahua) My profile picture is her when she was around one years old. Right - back to my question...am I demanding way too much from the dog food producers? Artemis or Canidae or Holistic Select? Or something made in Australia? Thanks in advance ;)

Good gosh...I want to your pet! ;)

Thanks Catzatze! I'm tempted to contact them (K9) but I suspect their 'target' breed are medium to big dogs especially German Shephards *durh* :D BUt I'm sure the commands and concepts are applicable to all breeds, not sure about the collars and leashes. Hana's seeing her vet on Tuesday, I'll ask him then. I really want to start training Hana as soon as possible. She sits, drops and crawls with/without treats at home. But once we're outside, her behaviour becomes inconsistent. When she's on grass - FORGET IT! Noooo treat will entice her to leave - we always have to carry her away

Vanessa - no worries gal...your baby is soooooooooo cute!!!! Scarlet - thanks...I know..I'm struggling to be stern with her when training her because I melt when I look at her...heheheh

Vanesa - as I mentioned in my original post - border collie cross chihuahua

Just finished chatting with my vet - he said short walks for Hana will be fine...no running unless SHE runs, which Hana loves..she trot along and then suddenly does a sprint and then happily trot again. For bigger dogs especially lab or great danes, yeah- no jogging till 15months.

yikes!!! really??? gosh...okay - let me read up about this...check with my vet as wel....THANKS!

Hi everyone - I'm back! Just a quick update - Hana got better from her diarohea. Conclusion after all the expensive tests - really bad bug in tummy. Hana is now 15 weeks old. We've started taking her for walks - very challenging because she is still scared of noise from traffic, motorcycles and big trucks...AND she stops to say hello to EVERYONE who happen to share the same footpath! We're training her to manage her distractions and overcome the fear of the nosie. That's not why I'm back - I took her for walk last night, her 6th walk. Normally, she walks next to me and little ah-ahs and slight tugs get her going. But last night's walk was abnormal. Towards the end of the walk, she suddenly ran round and round and started pulling forward till she was on her hind paws. I thought some insect bit her so I checked all over her body but found nothing. We decide to end the walk and headed home. She was very hyper when we got home but we ignored her and eventually she calmed down. This morning, she didn't eat her breakfast (which she normally devours) but she's still pretty hyper. She pulled out bathmats on the floor and the cloth that covers her crate and then she pooped on the floor (she's been using the kitty litter very well). For those whose unfamiliar with Hana - she is a border collie cross chihuahua (pet shop said so). Mom is border collie. When she's out for a walk, she's best friends with EVERYONE and she is OBSSESSED with grass! Check her out on You Tube. Type in "Hana on grass" So, what is wrong with Hana's recent behaviour? Is it because her hormones are acting up? She's lonely? Insufficient exercise? I live in an apartment. I'm afraid to walk her again because of her behaviour last night. I will persist of course, but it would be assuring for me to know the cause of her behaviour. How about walking her in a place with a lot less people? But I want to expose to such environment, I'm not keen to walk in quiet places - safety issue. Advice anyone...

Hana, my border collie cross chihuahua puppy came home and got real sick. Read my posts on my experience...same title. $300 later and a 3 days stay at the vet concluded nothing..just a really bad tummy virus.

When I asked Nekhbet the question should I lock her, it was referring to Nekhbet's advice to tell Hana to go into crate to ween off whinning. If Hana whines, do I lock her in the crate and ignore her? If I do so, that means I have to watch her to ensure she doesn't wee/poo in the crate?? CavNrott - for your advice, does it mean I lock Hana in the crate when we all go to bed and then take her to toilet every 3 hours during the night? Currently, she automatically goes into her crate to sleep, gets up to her litter tray, does whatever she needs to do and walk back into her crate to sleep (she has her moments..sometimes, she just sits in her crate and whines) throughout the night.

Hana is back from the vet - feelin' mighty well. Her whining is now strong and loud. :-( Nekhbet - put it in the crate, do I lock her in? But her crate isn't big enough for her to toilet in there. So what can I do? L.B. - I'll hunt for a loud ticking clock and *heheh* I'll make sure I switch off the alarm *hehehe* Looks like we're not going to get much sleep tonight..."here we go again"...

Hana is HOMEEE!!! And she is NOT sick anymore! She has been jumping around like a jumping bean, biting and chewing EVERYTHING in sight! She highly excitable and whines and yelps! Now both hubby and I are WORRIED! Her whinning is now really strong and loud *boohoohoo* But she's well so that's good. Thanks to ALL who post words of concern.

Thanks Puppybabe...

Update - Vet called. Hana is eating *yeahhhh* But her stools are still not solid - 'softee' consistency. Lab results will be out either tonight or tomorrow morning....

One week NONSTOP??? *fainted* I hope when Hana returns from the vet, she will be more settled....*fingers-crossed*

Just a quick update - Hana spent the night at the vet as doc wanted to monitor her as she didnt eat since Saturday night. Doc did an x-ray on her tummy and found lots of gas build up in her abdominal area, suggesting something might be blocking and affecting her intestines. Her stools were green, smelly and watery. Doc did a qick test for pavro (one of those similar to pregnancy tests) came out negative but he's not confident so will do a traditional pavro test just to make sure. I'll keep ya'all posted.

Yup - she got her own crate and she goes there to sleep or "hang out". She doesn't play unless I'm in the confined area. I can ignore her but for now, because she is unwell, I go to her regardless she whines or not. I guess by doing this, she would know I wont go to her whenever she whines...even the vet suggested I go easy with her "separation" training..heheh

I sure hope so as I live in a high rise apt and I don't wish her whinning to cause disturbance to anyone studying or sleeping.

Hi cav...did that. Vet gave her half a worming tablet which she chucked (vet said she would). But she is still having unpredictable stools - watery one time, "softee" next.....Yes, she is very very...extremely sooky. All she wants to do is to fall asleep in my arms. That's nice but I have to work....I hope she settles quickly, breaks my heart to hear her whine.

Thanks Mel. I fed Hana the same food and told the pet shop what happened. They said her brothers didn't have firm stools as well. Brought her to the vet on Sunday as I felt, when humans have diarrhea for so many days, they would have to gone to the docs...vet couldn't pin the cause. It is day 4 since we got her and her stools are still unpredictable. She is now on a diet given by the vet..I think it is chicken and rice...I hope she will get better...but she doesn't eat much. She drinks though..

Hi Razzylem, I've just got a new pup too and yes, she had diarrhea as well. It has been 4 days. When I took her home, I didnt change her diet, continued what the pet shop gave her. I was told change in environment would cause puppies to have that reaction. Her stools would be watery one time and "softee" the next. But yesterday, she was very lethargic so I took her to the vet. Vet couldn't pin the cause. Gave her worming tablet (which she chucked later, vet said she would), and now she is on chicken and rice (vet gave to us..comes in a can) diet. She ate some last night and her stools were "softee" again. But this morning, watery stools made a comeback. I will call the vet later. I thought I'd share my experience with you...I hope your pup settles soon...oh, my girl is only 8 weeks when I got her.

More pictures of Hana... She has whinning the whole day. I left her alone for 2.5hours and she left me a nice 'gift' when I got back. But I'm really happy because she sleeps in her crate and wee+poop in the litter tray (still on paper sometimes). She had diarhoea but got better this morning and afternoon. But after dinner, watery stools came back. Will continue to monitor her poops. She is lively and EXTREMELY sooky.

Thanks for the advice. Pig ears give runs eh? I better take it away then. Her poo were less watery this morning and afternoon. But after dinner poo was watery again. I shall take away the pig ear. She is still very playful and still whines....I wish I am Dr Dolittle so that I know what she wants because even when she is being cuddled, she whines a bit here and there....so frustrating that I can't understand her!