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Most of my dogs fast themselves. At least one night per week they don't touch a feed. I have just helped them along a bit by regulating that and having them all fast on the SAME night. Less food wastage and nobody is carrying on because somebody else still has their dinner in their crate.

Yep, moisture magnet is one of the name they are known by. Another alternative is to go to a large sports shop and look at the chamois that swimmers and divers use. They come in different sizes and have the same effect. I find with the yanks, it's best to concentrate on one area at a time. I start at the head and do the ears a couple of times each and then the chest, then front legs (one at a time) then side and belly coat and then back legs (one at a time). It does take a bit of time with the squeezing and then wringing out but it does save time on the grooming table in the long run.

This thread would possibly give you some ideas.

I use them on the American Cockers when they are still dripping in the bathtub prior to putting them on the grooming table to be dried. Certainly help but wouldn't rely on them totally.

I would be walking very quickly away from that puppy manufacturer indeed. Find a caring and responsible REGISTERED breeder with whom you feel comfortable. You may need to wait a while longer for your puppy but good things come to those who wait. Good luck and hugs to your teenager who sounds like a very wise and responsible person indeed!

I had always thought that I'd probably end up in Cavs as my "retirement" breed. But I seem to have found my way back into American Cockers. Think I need my head read. Wash-n-wear Staffords back to stressing over coat! Might still end up with a Cav one day but at this stage am definitely leaning more towards Pugs.

See that could be half the problem. By not physically taking him outside yourself, he isn't completely clear on the ground rules. You have to virtually hold his paw each and every time until it is as clear as glass to him that outside is where you wee. Leaving the backdoor open when he's older will be fine, but until he completely understands that wees are done outside an open door is just an invitation to go out, or come in. It doesn't TELL him that he needs to wee outside and that weeing outside makes YOU his pack leader very happy.

Firstly, is it possible to confine him to just one area. Like for example a puppy pen in your loungeroom for when you're there and for your bedroom at night (if that is where he sleeps). Or a very large crate? This will help make it easier on you for a start. Puppies are like children. They eat - they go to the toilet. They sleep - they go to the toilet. They play - they go to the toilet. Even if you think he doesn't need to go after any of these events...take him out anyway. Don't play with with him whilst you are there, it is business time not play time. And praise him HUGELY when he performs as requested. You need to be vigilant as well and watch for the body language. Most puppies will tend to wander around sniffing or looking uncomfortable before they squat....when you see this, you need to act quickly and take the puppy outside. Take him to the same spot each time and praise him loudly and effusively when he pees outside. Don't EVER chastise him for going to the toilet unless you physically catch him in mid-piddle. And even then, only make growly correction noises at him and pick him up (even if he is dripping) and take him out to HIS spot and then praise him when he finishes. Make it obvious from your body language when you are happy with him and conversely, when you aren't. If you are consistent and the puppy understands this new game, it could only be a matter of weeks before your puppy will be reasonably reliably trained. This is one of the reasons when I place puppies in new homes, that I always suggest that if possible, a family member should be at home for the first couple of weeks with a new puppy....get a headstart on the loo-training and you're off on a good footing from the start.

Unfortunately, being "up-sized" means a distinct lack of good show clothing, secondhand or otherwise. I tend to stick to some old favourites and just keep my eyes and ears open. Some of my very BEST show clothing came from a seconds shop in Riverside, California a decade ago. Wish I'd bought more now! And wish I could remember the name of the darned place too!

I was always told that giant breeds need to have their bowls elevated to reduce the risk of bloat but I don't have a giant breed so I can't say too much on that subject. On the subject of potato. I think raw potato could be an issue because of the way that it ferments (after all potatoes are made into a pretty heavy-duty alcohol in Russia!). Also wise to know that any potato given should NOT include the potato from immediately under the skin. People shouldn't necessarily eat this either. If you've ever had any experience with the Failsafe Diet (elimination diet for humans) it says that the concentration of salicylates is highest closer to the skin.

My guys fast once per week as well. They do tend to drink more when fasting though so I make sure the water supply is up to them and ensure it has fresh ACV in it. There's a bit of kerfuffled and gnashing of teeth initially, but once they realise that dinner isn't forthcoming they're happy to settle. On the rare occasion that they won't settle - they'll get a 4 x 2 biscuit to crunch on at bedtime.

4 legged cleaning machine Wish it would work for my Yanks. Problem is that after they had swum in their milk, even their own mothers didn't want to know 'em! Nothing WORSE than a sour milk smelling Yank puppy, even IF mother has lowered herself to try and clean them (you want me to do WHAT?) and licked it further into their hair. URGH....I think I'll have nightmares now.

Forgive me for laughing....but oh dear.....Cordelia, you have SUCH a way with words!!

Sounds a bit like my Dolly - Stafford. Doesn't do much wrong. Doesn't do much right. Doesn't do ANYTHING much!! BUT....you didn't mention despatching stray cats in your criteria....she's good at that.

Do you have skinkids? If so, treat it like a skinkid with a cold and you can't go wrong.

Yep, I don't do the milky cereal bit with my puppies any more either. They do get milk, but not to swim in! Nothing worse than milk and cereal-encrusted American Cocker puppies!

No, it's more like the Flu Vaccination. You have it done and then get sick with another strain a week later!

It could quite easily be kennel cough I'd imagine. Incubation period would be about right and dare I say it (flame suit on), vets surgeries really are a hotbed for infection, especially for dogs whose immunity might be supressed due to surgery and other stresses. Is she coughing anything up, or is it just the coughing? Personally, given that she has had surgery recently, I'd probably be taking her back to the vet pronto, just to be sure. Hope she's better soon.

Working on it!!

I used to groom a malt x. She used to have a teddy bear head with her undercarriage clipped close underneath. Virtually from "wrist to wrist" on her front legs, "ankle to ankle" on her back legs and a line straight down the middle from between her front legs up to her tail which was left long but trimmed in a setter style. Back and sidecoat allowed to part but scissored level with her belly. She had enough long hair left so that you could see what she used to be, but short enough to allow easy care and swims at the beach without heaps of drying and no long hair left to mat up.

But aren't you kind of missing the point? Morgan it is YOUR thread and relates to EARLY desexing...not desexing in general which you have already stated you are in favour of. So what is it? Desexing or NOT desexing?? :p

Good on you for your beliefs Morgan. You are obviously passionate about your stance and I see that as a good thing. HOWEVER I don't agree with what you have stated about the breeder. They have obviously done their homework and have decided to weigh up the pros and cons and desex early. How many puppies were in the litter that this girl came from? How many had issues? If it were 1 in 8, I'd say that is a positive thing. If more than that, I'd certainly not so much be questioning the breeder as the vet perform the procedure! To me,t you saying don't do it because of the risks of problems is akin to saying to somebody, don't get your tubes tied because it might fail and you will fall pregnant or don't vaccinate your children because the risks of getting a childhood disease is slight. Chances are you will be fine, but you won't know that unless it happens. We can't all live on ifs, buts and maybes.

Excuse me, but in some areas, the procedures you mention are NOT available to ALL breeders! I'm sorry but you can bag the breeder as much as you like however I feel you will not find much support here where there is such a large population of responsible and ethical breeders who try very hard to maintain the integrity and purity of their breeds and breeding programs whilst at the same time ensuring that to the best of their ability their dogs have long and healthy lives. Given the slight risk of problems after such surgeries (which can occur at ANY stage in a dogs' life) vs the very LARGE risk of a dog falling into the wrong hands entire, I believe that the breeder has done NOTHING wrong. Desexing at 8 weeks may not necessarily be an ideal scenario, but I would think that a litter of crossbred (or even purebred) puppies at 6 months and then possibly every 6 - 12 months after that, is pretty much comparable Yes, the internet is a valuable tool. However it can also be very damaging when people who have TRIED to do the right thing by their dogs and their dogs' breed are bagged out without right of reply. And no, you really shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction!

And of course, the breeder just HAPPENED to have a crystal ball to know that this would happen? Sheesh....I take my hat off to them for desexing early. Anything that happens after that is what I would class as a "sh!t happens" kind of thing. Same thing COULD have happened to an older bitch, particularly if they don't begin to cycle early and I am well aware that this is the case with many large breeds. And I am aware of many large breed girls who decide to pop a silent heat for their first one and end up in whelp anyway! Cut the breeder some slack. At least they TRIED!!!

Yep, I've got a Staffordshire Bull Terrier like that....he was juvenile until he was old enough to go senile!