persephone

Cosmolo explained it well. My rule is NO canine teeth on humans. It is dealt with very swiftly and firmly the first time.

Crate training does NOT mean leaving a puppy locked in a crate most of the day, or while you are at work A`puppy needs to learn and experience its world ..a puppy needs to run & play & chase the wind and roll in grass . A`puppy needs to walk on all sorts of different textures/touch and smell different things ..follow its humans and learn their body language .... A puppy in an apartment needs some sort of toileting set up - as a small pup will need to toilet many many times during the day and a few at night. You need to train the pup to use whatever you are providing ..as puppy can NOT 'hold on' ....and will quickly get into a habit of toileting anywhere if training is slack. I suggest you put puppy's crate next to your bed ..the poor little thing is in a strange place-- no other dogs ... no Mum ... she needs company and reassurance . It would also teach her to soil her bed. it would also probably make her VERY anxious about the crate ..and Lord knows what other things This is not a thing which will do anything to help the pup's development. I hope tonight you can show your puppy that you are close and make sure she has a toilet opportunity ..and that you both get some sleep. Did you thoroughly research staffords? I wouldn't pick a stafford puppy as a good apartment dog ... they are active and strong and ,as you've found, can be noisy ;)

wow! great caterpillar !!..I have a similar one - no caterpillar magic, tho

*nods*

thankyou for that update ...I was also wondering how she was going, Steve

It means pretty things to look at! ;) Anyone else have some rainy /droplet shots?

Thanks Woof It's interesting ... yep . I guess with young growing dogs , strengthening ligaments would def. help hold things in place - so a worthwhile plan !

I'd also be interested in looking at results of that study

I think she is gorgeous!! I love those stocky little legs ...small is good (she can still be a lapdog :p ) if her ribs are really easily felt ..then she may be a bit underweight - but she looks Ok to me in those photos!

Little puppies are like any baby - most of their day is , or should be, sleeping.

is it the angle of teh photo- or has she small hindquarters? Any pics of her standing side on ? She looks lovely!!!

it may be useful for you to get a second opinion .. luxating patellas can be of varying severity ..and have varying effects on the dog. if it were me I'd be off to another vet or uni clinic and have him properly checked out - and have someone answer your questions ..like : Is it bad? What can we do so my dog isn't in pain? How can I help fix it? Does he need surgery soon, if at all ? all that sort of stuff ;)

My Kieran always used to smell rain coming he would be outside and up would go the head/nose and a couple of decent snifffffs into the wind ..and sure enough .. it would rain very soon after he was a staghound . He wasn't normally a sniffer - but maybe he liked the smell?

yep. the first test is an easy one .. and will certainly tell you if the dog is producing swimmers . "going thru the motions" may just mean he is inexperienced and needs help ..or it may mean the bitches weren't ready/

hey, Bundyburger..to avoid oldies like me having heart attacks about dogs in the boot - maybe adjust the title to 'rear of wagon' or somesuch?? Sorry ....

As I understand it ..the chemical composition of bone changes when cooked. This product then becomes brittle ..and also not able to be properly digested ,as can raw bone. there is no 'goodness' left in a cooked bone ..only a risk .

Has the dog has been tried with multiple bitches who have previously produced pups ?

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8626/javertkimbaxshahrazad.jpg Wow! Now that is a determined little individual .

It depends on the pup, and the owner ..and the type of biting You may get some ideas from THIS THREAD .....

what foods/supplements are consistent in these diets,W&H ? It would be an interesting study .. are there large dogs involved, or only littlies?

i would think so ... the newest 'fad'

yep surgery to repair it ...or at least a second opinion from an orthopedic vet . There may be exercises to help strengthen ligaments..BUT surgery to put it back where it belongs does work

That means it hurts to walk on it I don't think glucosamine will do much to help - as the patella is actually loose- not fitting in its groove properly ...and glucosamine can not tighten ligaments or deepen the groove in the bone.

From what you've posted... definitely an instinctive reaction to the pain! (and remember puppies bones can crack very easily) perhaps the kids would benefit from some simple rules ..like NO turning your back on Roy when he's playing ...Always finish a game properly..then leave .. play gently & quietly around Roy ...that sort of thing. 4 kids + a very active puppy! ;) You may like to have read on THIS SITE all about safety with kids& dogs. There are pages especially for kids as well There are games listed HERE

That's good. So your dog never comes inside ? Hopefully with a good trainer and lots of work.. you may be able to get him settled enough to spend time inside with you have a look at this website... made by parents who lost their little boy to a bite from their own dog ... CLICK HERE