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No idea of show groupings- but I love seeing stories like this , of poodles doing what their breed used to do :) They are sturdy , can think independently, .... it's great! LINK

Thank you folks :) Its given me something to work with.

Oh Dear ..I do hope she can now find somewhere safe to live ...how awful :(

just for the photo :) She's now 12 mths old- going on 6 mths!

5kg dog + flexi lead = YO YO

But, but .... they can be a godsend used ON small children! ;) Yes, I have ....clipped onto a belt at the rear ... and everyone was totally safe . This was the original Flexi leash ..strong and reliable as!

I am so sorry ...Herbert looked just so at ease with his world :)

:) Thanks.

My apologies- I didn't read properly and note age of pup. cnsunshine Definitely hold off on trying aversives ..and get some professional help.

some natural yoghurt , yes :) or a probiotic ..to help increase the 'good' bacteria in his gut , and get rid of the bad . Depending on what normal' food is ..you may need to decrease grain etc for a while to give the bacteria less on which to feed ..?

:) and she gets the attention !! To everyone who is getting bitten ...just keep hands away , perhaps? IMO pups really don't NEED to be cuddled and patted lots ...and then only when they are doing the 'right' thing :) It is their way of playing ...and they must think humans are SO good ..providing wiggly things and fun noises all the time !!! I suggest people don't use hands to play with a puppy ..use toys - do tug ..throw balls , hold treats and squaeky toys ... IMO Hands are for feeding from , for scratches/pats when there is a QUIET puppy with FOUR FEET on the floor , and a puppy who has responded well to a command :) ..hands are there for a secure pick up when necessary ..and a soothing comfort when hurt or sick.... hands help with grooming , and with cleaning ....but not playing. ;) What games does one play using hands ? I have no idea....

I still have my original old green retractable FLEXI_LEASH ..used for around 25 years .... with labs ..... ratbag Koolies, and a PIG or two :) and still going strong . There are so many cheap and shoddy ones to be sourced now. The users of these mostly have no idea of how to train their dog to use one the best way .... and owners let dogs roam and pull. Not the retractable lead at fault at all.... just another example of dog owners not understanding their dog and how to use training tools

..if you have some spare money ..something like THIS would be perfect -worry free and secure and sheltered :) Ooohhh ..I like the look of these- shade AND shelter and look good :)

Mind you .. The breeder may take her back to board for a week , while you get organised ..... sounds less stressful for you both :)

:) thanks ... South Australian person is interested -but I am trying to talk her out of it :p She has two small dogs already .... much loved and cared for ,but is no longer as agile as she once was ..has lots of steps/some very steep stairs and I am concerned about a gangly pup zooming about .... BUT I said i'd ask :)

Well until I went back and read the 'Boxer' bit in the sub-heading, I thought it was maybe very much in the wrong forum!

Just wondering? female/young pretty well bombproof .... where can I ask?Thanks. NOT for me .

the diet stated gives plenty of calcium, it doesn't need a supplement. I agree :) add good treats , and some large recreational bones, the odd slipper and toy .... :p

It IS hard work , raising a puppy :) BUT relax your expectations - she is a baby , and will do baby things until she is more experienced ... She possibly has no idea what to do with toys ....and her concentration span will be a few seconds!!!By all means leave her outside ... make sure she has a meal to eat ..a BIG RAW bone - almost her size ..sh she cannot try & swallow it whole ..and her bedding, plus an item of clothing you have been wearing. When you leave ...it is much better for you both if you do NOT fuss..or say 'mummy will be back soon - give me an extra cuddle ' Just have everything outside ready well before you go ... take her out - give her a bikkie or her meal ..and , dont look back - just out the door and go . Same when you get home ..no excitement or anything ...just walk without speaking striaght outside and get her to toilet ..THEN praise, and hello, and walk inside.... This helps teach babies that humans leaving and returning is just an everday thing ..like walking from one room to another :)

:) as well as your post grad work - I suggest you read up on what makes a puppy tick!! Did you do any research before getting your little girl? I find it seems to make things run smoother - a bit like being faced with a Uni test paper, and suddenly realising you have forgotten the recommended reading list ! ;) here's some more IMPORTANT reading for you - you are now totally resposible for a living being , whose welfare is in your hand :) http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-should-I-do-when-I-bring-home-a-new-puppy_18.html http://www.training-your-dog-and-you.com/puppy-development.html http://www.petplace.com/dogs/what-to-expect-from-your-8-week-old-puppy/page1.aspx

OK... is your backyard puppy proof, with good fences? No reason she cannot be in the backyard . for some time when you're busy, .playing with toys, sleeping in a cosy kennel/basket ....exploring...chewing leaves and grass ... Puppies learn much about their world by using theor mouth- as they have no sensitive fingers ;like human babies :) SO.... puppy proofing your home is a very important project ! pretend you have a 12/18 mth old human baby in the house . The potential for injury/damage is high! make sure all electrical wiring is out of reach ..don't leave shoes etc lying around , NO rat poison /chemicals/cleaners anywhere she can get to .....put bins up high or behind a gate ...that sort of thing. I always like to START as you mean to GO ON. teach pup that 'alone time can be fun ..and no, you are NOT going to nurse it much on your lap as when it weighs 30 kg it will be TOO big: NO you are NOT going to be there to amuse it all the time ...instead , a VERY LARGE bone with meat on ...or a rope toy , or a sandpit will do nicely :) Finally ..remember it is a BABY ,,and it needs to BE TAUGHT ....not just either expected to know, or be physically locked out, etc all the time :) Pup needs to be SHOWN which are the things which get it a reward .... and which not :)

Good Update :) Thanks!

That is way too long if you have a backyard ...she can be out there for some time during the day . Crates are NOT meant for keeping a puppy in a lot .. .. pens/backyards are better for that :) you may need to go shopping for a pen tomorrow ..or baby gates ....

ooPS... There are lots of things it helps to know BEFORE you get a little poo machine in the house Here are some posts from old D O L threads which may help . REMEMBER you have a new baby . The new baby is stressed the new baby has NO idea what "housetraining " means , as it has to go when it needs to....NOW ..babies have little/no control. The new baby needs a setup which means it cannot make mistakes ... the new baby needs YOU to be its brain and its legs for now ... to allow it to toilet every tome it needs to .,and where the human wants it to :) :Puppies need to pee as soon as they wake from a sleep, after meals and any time they get excited. There is no real time schedule as it depends on the feed times and activity. Sometimes they will pee three times in an hour and sometimes not for 3 hours. They usually poo within 10 minutes of eating a meal then about 9 hours after the last meal at night so if you don't want them needing to go in the middle of the night give the last of their 3 or 4 daily feeds, 1 hour before bed, let them toilet then play with them until about 15 minutes before you want them to bed down as they need to wind down, not be hyper to sleep. Do not leave food with them even in a kong overnight and I take the water up as well unless it is really hot but not until the last minute. Night time is for sleeping not eating or playing. Leave a safe soft toy in with them to snuggle up to. The best time to play with the puppy is after it has toileted but not in it's pen. This is the time to give them fully supervised access to the house as further reward for going to the toilet outside. Most of they time they will sniff around if they need to pee again but sometimes they just get a bit hyper or head into corners of the room. Any sign of distraction from you and play can be a sign to take them out. I like to let puppies have access to outdoors when playing with them and encourage them to go out if need be. I teach them to toilet on command by using a word then praising once they start to go, both on and off lead. If they need to toilet during the night, offer the same praise but no gamesFinally, puppy will need a variety of toys, not just a kong. I have never had a dog show any interest in them but some dogs love them. I use a toy basket and praise the puppy for taking anything from it but give a little growl if they try to chew anything that isn't from the toy basket. </b> <b>The only solution is to confine him to a crate, pen or an small area, when you cannot directly supervise ( this includes night time ) and to make sure that he is taken out for very regular toilet stops and that he goes while out there. Praise, praise and more praise for getting it right. You will still need to get up at least a couple of times during the night, as he's going to go whenever and wherever he needs to Pups of that age basically urinate within a few seconds of waking up and taking the first couple of steps out of their bed. You need to be quick to catch him and get him outside. If he's downstairs and you're asleep in the bedroom, you have virtually no chance of that happening. </b> <b>Little dogs are a bit slower to toilet train generally, but not always One thing is that people expect it to happen almost instantly & sometimes it can just take a bit of time. Those that crate train say its instant but that's not a way I like or would do. \The puppy needs to know what you expect & where to go so you need just the one word that means toilet for wees or poo. Put puppy on the pads or grass or where you want her to go after food, when she wakes up & maybe every hour at first & say the toilet word When she does go lots of praise & fuss Takes a while for some but dogs are smart, she will get it eventually.= If you can leave a pad that she toileted on down so she knows the smell & goes there againYou want to remove the dirty one & put a clean one down I know but sometimes this helps for just a few times. </b> and some crate training links... http://www.dolforums...crate-training/ http://www.dolforums...ning-new-puppy/ It will take work and time until you get to understand how your puppy works ...... then you can start the education :)

precisely :)