Poodle wrangler

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but debarking is only a last resort i.e. if the dog would be PTS if not for the operation. Most vets won't do it, otherwise. It's definitely NOT the first thing to try. The dog will still have a soft, raspy sort-of "bark".

Haven't you posted about a pup with arthritis? Jumping on-off a lounge is no good for their joints. My breeder advised no jumping on-off lounges, beds etc. while pup less than about 14 months old as too hard on their growing bones. He has no signs of arthritis, either. The arthritic one will appreciate a mat. "On your mat!" . Mat you can put outside and shake hair off for the benefit of your allergic wife. Did wife or dogs come first? Labs for someone with allergies? What were you thinking? I'm surprised she allows them in the house at all :p .

If prongs are more widely used in Europe, can you find out more about the legislation over there? Has anything changed recently? I thought the EU was strict on dog welfare issues e.g. no docking (NB not saying prongs or docking are cruel, but some have that perception). Could save you reinventing the wheel?

My dogs are used to going outside and the younger is 6 months, so still remembers what "wee wee" (as in now) means :p . I just towel them off a bit when they come back in after rain++. I think it's preferable to teach them to go outside ASAP. It means going back to rewarding them for peeing on cue, much as you do when toilet training pups.

I'll sympathise with your wife. My OH is allergic to dog hair also- so we have poodles- perfect, no shedding . What is her objection to the beds- the look, the hair, the smell, the space taken up? Once you know that, you've got a place to start. An indoor mat is a good alternative- not as cushy, but easy to slot away behind a door somewhere when not in use. They make some good-looking ones that are fully washable. Our smaller poodle took a liking to our cream coloured Ikea chair- we flip up the cushion so it's no longer comfy to sit on when we're not watching. I've caught him on there at night despite having a comfy dog bed nearby. Evil! I suppose it's not very practical to move all the lounge cushions, but it would stop them sitting on them.

Renal failure can cause itch. I know in humans, calcium tablets ('Caltrate') and 'Alu-tabs' are prescribed to help with this- they're phosphate binders. I'm not saying cortisone is the answer, but an ointment, as opposed to tablets, might help your dog be much more comfortable.

Sorry, I've not used those herbal products. Do you have a vet diagnosis for your dog's rash? Has flea allergy been excluded? If you tell us what area you're in, perhaps someone can recommend a holistic vet to help you look at everything, including dog's diet etc.? I think you'll get better results for your dog that way and avoid wasting money.

Found out what these do: 1. Fortekor: ACE inhibitor 2. Vetmedin: Calcium channel blocker 3. Flusaplex (Frusemide): Diuretic They all work together to manage the heart failure. Humans use a similar mix with very good results- you can see the enlarged heart size shrink if you look at before treatment vs.after treatment (for weeks) Xrays. Can you talk to your vet and ask if there are any cheaper, generic brands that you can substitute for brand names? Flusaplex is a common, inexpensive medication used for people = Frusemide (brand name: Lasix). Can the Vetmedin be substituted for a "beta blocker" (older drug, cheaper, does similar job)? Our local vet is will sometimes suggest substitute human medications, if appropriate. This gets complicated, though, unless you work in a hospital or are a GP with lots of samples.

From Wikipedia:

I agree. Pup will not see it that way. It sends the signal that he/she is equal to you. Pups really need you to be the leader and teach them how to behave well as part of the family. More stubborn or intelligent breeds need you to be especially clear who's the leader. Jumping on and off beds and lounges can also damage the bones of growing larger breed pups and most breeders recommend you don't let them do this. Coming on to the lounge/ bed by invitation only also involves your pup knowing how to "sit" and "wait" which could be asking a bit much initially.

My vet also said it's OK to use the human type for SOME drugs e.g. Clavulox, Keflex and Metacam (Mobic). Dosage is similar for antibiotics for large dogs. I'd always check with my vet, first: "A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.."

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I usually give my guys at least a bit of raw food each day. Personal preference. At least a few times a week would be good, I think. I prefer to give them it all raw. Cooked pet mince smells pretty awful and nothing to be gained by cooking IMO. Just be careful with the veges as dogs can have some trouble digesting them. A few people cook, then mash or puree them. I don't feed mine veges very much, but give them bits and pieces sometimes. I'd feed whatever the breeder's feeding at the same times (if possible) for at least a few weeks. Later on, make any diet changes slowly e.g. new dry food- add a little to the old until it's all new food over about 5 days.

An 8 week old pup should have 3-4 small meals a day. They just can't digest larger amounts, but need the food for growth. A puppy is not unlike a baby- you wouldn't feed yourself, let alone a baby, one meal a day + snack? Many people feed their adult dogs once a day which is fine. Raw foods like chicken necks, chicken wings and bones are great for puppy teeth. I'm sure he'd love a couple of chicken necks for a meal each day. You'll find lots of disagreement over which commercial foods are best. Decide what you can afford, as some are $80+/ 15kg bag. Your breeder should have an information pack including exactly what to feed, when, how often, worming, vaccination next due etc. It's stressful for pup to go to his new home and this can cause stomach upset. It's not a good time to change his diet. Good luck with pup .

The staffies in our obedience class all wear jumpers or jackets. The owners say their dogs actually like them and one even seems happy when they see the coat . The short-haired breeds get cold. My sister's RidgebackX Staffy feels the cold, too. My rufty-tufty poodles don't need woolly jumpers- inbuilt

All medications and many herbal/ natural remedies can have side effects and need to be given according to instructions with review by a vet regularly. I'm amazed to see and hear how people don't give medication properly (e.g. double doses, omitted doses, not following directions) then complain about side effects, it "doesn't work" or is a "nasty drug" . You have to give it as prescribed. I'm not saying this is the case for those who've posted about problems: Metacam has side effects and many people do the right thing and follow vet advice correctly. If I had a dog with severe arthritis, I'd prefer to keep him more comfortable with medication than not treat because of fear of side effects. It can involve some trial and error to see what medication(s) work best for your dog in consultation with your vet. Metacam may not suit your dog, or your dog have a pre-existing problems making it dangerous to give.

It could be connected with a sting or infection on that side of his mouth. How did he go at the vet?

You can only do your best, with her best interests at heart. Hope it turns out to be something benign.

That the waxy stuff is black sounds suspicious to me. Probably better to go to the vet before it worsens or you try treating it. Don't you love the floppy eared breeds ?

While I wouldn't want my dog to take medication for the rest of his life, I think treating incontinence is a very valid reason to do so. It's not something I'd like to live with with a dog who spend time indoors . Can a DOLer recommend a good vet in your Nan's area? Then, she can discuss the situation with them. Many medications require some trial and error, and it also depends on cause of incontinence. Best wishes :p .

Yes. A beautiful boxer who was about 8 years old, died with bloat. Ginger. Wish I'd known what it was at the time (was a teenager) .

That's what I was thinking. Great he's into the training, though.

Was that the vet's explanation when you took her in for the vacc Monday? They've done studies trying to get humans to catch a cold by exposing them to "chills" e.g. they're wet, cold and sit in front of a fan. Doesn't work. My dog sleep outside, walk and train in cold air, get wet, get excited and never had what you describe. Very mysterious How does that account for her, "rubbing her head"? Oh well, as long as she's OK.

I use a slicker brush on my sisters Ridgeback cross. I find it does a good job getting rid of excess hair. If you go for one, just make sure it's labelled "SOFT". I'd assume everything else to be "FIRM" i.e. too harsh for your dog. Don't bother with the supermarket ones- they'll scratch too much (been there ).

My dogs will sometimes bark when playing, too. Spotted Devil had lots of great ideas and I really like the idea of videoing and keeping neighbours informed- 'nip in the bud' any problems. I have a neighbour that must have complained about every dog in a 500m radius of their house- they have no tolerance for barking whatsoever. They also both work full-time . Another neighbour blamed my dog for barking- hers never barked when they were home- and she just wouldn't believe her dog could be at fault (I reckon he was exhausted from barking all of the time they were out ). Some videoing can help you see exactly what they're up to .