MyMontage

If she does not eat what she is given, then take it away and give it to her for her next meal. She will eat whatever she is given if she is hungry.....Don't worry, she won't starve in the meantime! I had this problem with my dog, he just wouldn't eat, so I would just pick up the bowl, cover it, and put it in the fridge and give it to him for dinner. He got the picture!

Yep had this experience with our old OES Monty....by the time I got to him he was already arthritic in his back legs, so much so that I would have to help him up sometimes. We did the cartrophen injections which worked really well. Took him for short strolls just as you do, and just made sure that he was warm and had a nice bed to lie on rather than hard floors. He was also on glucosamine and fish oil. Plus I always made sure he was not too heavy. It was something he would just cope with, nothing that made him unhappy (or so it seemed)...he had all the love he could get. Lived till the was 13!

I took my OES to the vet the other day for his annual check up and the vet asked me "have his eyes always been like that" as in one blue and one brown! I wasn't very impressed! Shouldn't vets know things like that are NORMAL! Sheesh!

Don't let it make you feel guilty. Your pup might even be used to the routine you have of walkies, home, coffee, shower etc. and just knows what is coming so doesn't feel anything and is just content to lie there. I wouldn't complain. Maybe just vary the routine a little bit from day to day and just not fuss the dog around or anything so she gets used to things just happening around her and won't feel anxious. I'm sure she is fine.

Would never use an electric collar...that is just mean!!

I know how you feel, my dog does this! He gets so excited, and you really want to be able to have them off the lead. What I am trying to do, is tell people to not pay my dog any attention....(which is REALLY hard work), and other than that, trying to teach better recall, so if he sees someone in the distance, I can turn around and walk the other way, and he will follow ME and not launch himself at strangers. I have initially been practicing the better recall in the back garden, and been using sausage treats...then I have ventured out onto the streets, then use a longer lead etc. etc. until he listens better to me and can be off the lead and respect that I am in charge.

I use Sentinel Spectrum once a month. What is the difference between that and Interceptor???

In reply to Tiger_Bluez - Charlie is actually quite lean under all that fur! That pic was only taken a couple of weeks ago.

Yay this is fun! Name: Charlie Name meaning: No meaning for him.....just a name!! Sex: Male Date of birth: 29/5/06 Age: Almost 16 months Colour: Grey & White Breed: Old English Sheepdog Hobbies: Scrounging around for toys in his toybox and then throwing them at you in anticipation that we might just go play outside. Loves: Food, playing outside, watching doggies and ball games on TV, going in the car, sleeping, cuddles, posing. Hates: Having his feet brushed, and when his ponytail falls out.

Awwwwwwwww, the poor girl. Good on you for taking her on. My suggestion is eat first, then just drop some on the floor and see if she wants it too. Maybe if she sees you eat it first, she might start to trust people again! GOOD LUCK

Hello Doggie_lover... This happened to my dog a while ago and it was due to having lots of bacteria in his gut (he'd been running around and drinking bore water that we didn't realise at the time was coming on during the day while we were at work). My vet also said that the bacteria can come from bird droppings if the dog ate some or even stagnent water. That was diagnosed after the vet took a swab from his bottom and examined it under a microscope though. I am with the others and wondering about the urine sample 3 weeks later....seems a bit strange for the vet to want to do it like that. My pooch was fine after he had some tablets and I just fed him boiled chicken and plain rice for a couple of days as well to keep his tummy settled. Hope your puppy feels better!

My dog does that...I think because he doesnt' want to get his feet wet! I wouldn't say it's such a bad thing, it's easier to pick up from cement!

I worked full time when my boy was a pup and he survived on 2 meals a day. I just gave him a bigger breakfast than dinner. Regarding the toileting at night....I had this same issue. My boy was not in a crate but he did used to wake me up to go outside to the toilet. He would have his quick 'wee' then come back inside and go back to sleep until the morning. He probably did this up until he was 5 months old (mind you, we only got him at 4 months) when we went on holiday overseas (was planned way before the dog came along...please don't shoot me!) and he stayed with a lovely lady who also has OES's. She knew that he was going to the toilet once at night, and basically said to me....NOT ANYMORE! She just stopped doing it, and he learned that way that he would have to stay in at night and hold on till morning. We have NEVER EVER had a problem with him! So I guess what I am saying is, reduce the times per night you take the dog out, until you don't have to anymore. If she makes a whoopsy don't yell at her....only if you catch her in the act GOOD LUCK

I think if you want her to stay outdoors at night, then you can start to leave her outdoors at night. But if you eventually want her to be crate trained inside, better to just start that now, rather than change any routines in the future. My puppy was inside at night, no crate training though. We just ignored him (yes it was very hard) when he cried etc. He QUICKLY learned that he would get no attention at night and ended up just sleeping when we slept. He stays just outside our bedroom door or in the bathroom (go figure he has the comfiest bed ever!). Turned out to be a pretty sweet situation! Good luck, hope it works for you the way you want.

I found a great toy while I was helping clear out our office.....a post pac! I have to take the ends off mine because Charlie eats them, then throws up, but he loves them being in there, and you can even put stuff inside for the dogs to get it out. Charlie ends up ripping up the cardboard. It makes a bit of a mess but he loves it! They last a while too! Probably isn't good for an itty bitty dog!

As a mother to be with a very big dog I can see that this would be a difficult situation. At the moment my opinion is that I would more likely teach the child what not to do with an animal rather than reprimand the dog for defending itself. As human beings we understand eachothers language, animals do not understand us. You can teach a child from a very early age 'no' or 'gentle' which is what I intend to do and of course I will always be watching my dog to make sure that he pays the same respect to my child. I think that as long as you are seen as the leader in your dogs eyes and the leader in your childs eyes, then you should be able to grow together. I guess we will see in October when my baby comes along!!!

Maybe he is Wolfie cross Old English Sheepdog? I have an OES and he has a nature just as you describe....and his coat sounds similar too. As far as the grooming goes. I just use a pin brush on Charlie every couple of days (obviously he is a bit more hairy....plus bindi's get stuck everywhere) following him in lines and brushing from the skin and up the hair...so it goes all the way through. I have a comb for near his ears and his beard and nether regions...and just bought a slicker brush for his neck and legs.

I did the same thing as you when my boy was young. He was confined to a room inside the house where I left water, toys, etc. but I also put paper on the floor, and he had a crate which was open so that was where he slept. I was lucky though i didn't have to train him to go on the paper, he just did it! Slowly as he got a bit older, I started letting him have more rooms of the house (still kept the paper in that room) then we slowly introduced him to staying outside during the day. (we are lucky though as we have the shelter and a big back grassy garden!). Same with the waking up..... he would wake me up in the middle of the night to go outside for the toilet, so I took him. Then we went on holiday and someone else said 'no way am I doing that' so he got used to holding it until we got up. Now all he does is wake me up to get on the bed for a cuddle in the morning for an hour before we have to get up. He can hold on all night and all day if we have left him inside. I guess you have to slowly train him....not let him train you. If you don't want to get up at 4am, then maybe slowly you should just not do it. Sure you might have a couple of accidents, but he might get the picture. Another suggestion as far as peeing on his bed is concerned, I think a large crate would be fine (2 adults could fit in charlie's one!) and put his nice bed in that. Then leave something else for him to pee / poop on. You aren't going to be able to stop him from doing it at the moment, but you can at least try and get him to do it in a spot where it is easy for you to clean up!

Hi all Took Charlie to the vet today and he didn't seem to think there is any major problems going on in Charlies joints. Both his knees and hips are clicking but he mentioned that because he is growing rapidly things just have to settle themselves back into place. He is not lame, walks normally and isn't in any pain when the vet manipulated his joints. He suggested that once Charlie reaches 1 year I get a hip score (and other joints) done...which I will do. I have now also got him on Sashas blend.

Charlie was pooing blood and vomiting a little while back and it was caused by bacteria in his guts so Lillysmum could be right about the food poisoning.... just get it checked though. Charlie was put on antibiotics and is fine now. Hope he is OK!

Yeah I hope it is nothing.... My Old OES had arthritis in his hips and he was in a lot of pain which is why I am a bit concered. Thanks for your advice, I will ask the vet about it

My dog is a mixture of both an indoors and outdoors dog.... When we first got him he was inside while we were at work, and then we gradually started leaving him outside during the day. If it is a horrible day outside though, we can leave him in. (he does have shelter but he likes to play in water so it doesn't mean much!) As far as sleeping arrangements go, at first, I would close the passage door and he would sleep in our bedroom on the floor, then he decided it was too warm for him (he was getting furrier!) and slept on the wooden floor outside our bedroom door or in the bathroom on the tiles. Sometimes we even leave the back door open at night time now and he goes outside on his own accord and sleeps out there. He usually comes inside in the morning for a cuddle up on the bed! We are lucky though that our boy is happy in his own skin and is very laid back. If he was highly strung and whinged and wined all day or all night I would get him a companion.

I looked a couple of these up on the internet today and they sort of seem that they are associated with pain etc. He is not phased at all. Is not in pain, walks normally etc. I know everytime I get up something on my body clicks and I'm not bothered. I will keep an eye on it though and next time he is at the vet I am going to get it checked. Thanks for your help all

Cool Thanks

My 7 month old has a clicky knee...... Could this just be growing, or is it something that I should get checked? Also, is it OK to give glucosamine to young dogs, or should it only be given to dogs that already have joint problems to relieve it? Thanks