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I have three long haired cats (2 white, 1 ginger), plus a poodle/maltese cross that doesn't shed. I've got several hair removal strategies, depending upon the fabric you're trying to get the hair off. A damp sponge is good for furniture upholstry. A regular clothes brush is fine for cotton fabrics (e.g. the doona cover, sheets and pillows on the bed). And the best pet hair roller I've used is the Aussie roller, available from Petbarn and I'm sure other places. It's about the size of a small paint roller and it works REALLY well on all clothing. Much better than the regular sized rollers you buy from the supermarket and small petshops etc. It's a bit expensive to buy - about $30, from memory - but the refills aren't too bad. Animal hair is considered a condiment in my house - I'm surprised I'm not coughing up hairballs! *LOL*

I say "BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" in as low a voice as I can manage, and get increasingly louder if Max (22 weeks old) doesn't stop. This usually works for every correction. It really does sound like a growl! And yep, they do grow out of it, if you perservere! At the moment, Max only mouths/bites when he's REALLY excited.

Yes, it does confuse them a bit by giving them your old stuff. But I just make sure he can't have anything of mine that I don't want him to have - that's where the baby gate comes in handy. As soon as I get home from work, I just chuck my shoes over the gate where he can't get them! As you said, your pup loves thongs etc. and so does mine - if you're lucky, Ruffy won't do too much damage to your shoes if he gets hold of them. But giving him his own thong whenever he goes for your shoes may deter him a bit. If that makes sense! *LOL* As I said, Max doesn't actually do any damage to shoes when he does get them, he just carries them around - my Maine Coon cat chews shoes far worse than the dog! Hope you're both surviving ok in the heat down there. It was pretty hot in Sydney on the weekend, but NOTHING compared to you guys! Message me any time you need to vent about your hairy little wee machine, LOL! And remember that all will settle down very soon and you'll start being able to enjoy the hairy monster properly. Cheers Annie

You're doing all the right things, mate - it's just perseverence and time from now on! I found that it just 'suddenly' seemed to get better with Max. Like I was one day wondering why I got a dog and sick of cleaning up after a wee machine, then he just seemed to get the hang of it. I think it's also got a lot to do with their own confidence and familiarity with their own surroundings. I absolutely laughed about the puppy pen - that's exactly what happened with me! Max HATED being in it from day one, even if he could see me. So, I used it to block off the kitchen when I went to work, figuring that lino was easier to clean than carpet. That didn't work, coz the little sod climbed over it and I found him running round the flat when I got home from work!!! It's a full sized pen, too - about 2 ft high! So, I bought a baby gate to block off the bedrooms and bathrooms, giving him the kitchen and laundry, loungeroom and dining room. More than I wanted, but still damage control! The puppy pen is now stretched across one end of the lounge room, to stop him chewing on all the electrical cables... Just a couple of things to remember. The more puppy pads you put down around the house, the more spots you have to 'break' him of later. I know it seems easier now, but it'll be harder than necessary later. If you can maybe use your puppy pen to block off a section of your flat, to maybe limit his space more and keep an eye on him more easily. Then you can just use his crate for when you want a bit of time to yourself. Don't let him chew on anything you don't want him to. Max loves shoes too! I think all pups do. I gave Max a pair of my old thongs when I first brought him home - he's allowed to have those, but no other shoes. I'm lucky that he tends not to actually chew on shoes - he just likes to carry them around! Hang in there, Ruffydog - you're doing great! If you're in the Sydney area and would like to meet up for a doggy play date when you're little one is older and vaccinated, Max would love to meet him! Cheers Annie

Hello Ruffydog! I feel for you - I have a 21 week old poodle/maltese cross and also live in an apartment. But without the front yard!! I also use puppy pads and I've pretty much got Max toilet trained on them. He has the occasional accident, but only once every couple of weeks or so. He's been really good for about 6 weeks. Because he's an inside dog and I work, I decided to pick one toilet spot (the laundry) that I eventually wanted him to use as his inside toilet. I also put pads down in a couple of other places that he habitually went to, with the intention of weaning him off them later, when he had more bladder control. I've done that now with all but one spot, plus the laundry. I also encourage him to go out on the balcony as much as possible (he's only a small dog and it's easy to clean), but I close the door at night because otherwise he barks at stuff. Can't do that in a flat! He tends to poo out there and wee on his pads inside now. Which is probably better for the people downstairs, who may end up with a wee shower one day! Lol! In the beginning, I felt like it was 2 steps forward, one step back. Every time I thought he was getting better, he'd have a couple of days of piddling everywhere again! Drove me crazy...but he did eventually get the hang of it and now he very rarely slips up. You'll get the hang of his 'patterns' eventually - I found I could tell when Max was going to poo, but not when he was going to wee. He doesn't squat or really sniff around before he wees, he just stands there and lets rip! Lol! He did occasionally go by the front door, as you mentioned your pup is doing, but I never caught him in the act. So, I just cleaned it up and persevered. He stopped doing it within a couple of weeks. I reckon it was a touch of seperation anxiety, when I went to work. Just keep doing what you're doing, even if he looks at you like you're bananas when you constantly plonk him on a pad or take him outside. He'll get the hang of it. And if you catch him in the act, just admonish him verbally, pick him up and take him to where you want him to go - even if he's already finished - then clean up the accident and move on! It's really frustrating for you at the moment, I know. But hang in there, because it WILL get better!! Re. the "nasty look" - Max does that too. They don't mean anything and if you keep doing what you're doing when he bites, he'll eventually stop. Max is 100% better than he was. Just be consistent and he'll understand in time. That's all it is - consistency and time. For the first few weeks with Max, I kept thinking "what the hell have I done???" and would my house EVER stop being a giagantic toilet??! But now, he pretty much does the right thing and I'm absolutely loving having him in my life. The way I've trained Max is probably not the 'right' way, but it's worked for me and I have a happy, healthy puppy and a clean house. And that's what matters! Please don't hesitate to message me if you'd like to know any more of the 'apartment-related' stuff I've been doing. Having an inside doggy has been much harder than I thought, but it's also way more fun than I expected! Good luck with Ruffy! Cheers Annie

Persephone, would this work with a much older puppy? Max, my 21 week old, tends to hide from me when he's got something in his mouth and I call him. 80% of the time it's something he's allowed to have, but then there's the other 20%. I'd like to not have to chase him and drag him out from his hiding spot when I want him to give me whatever he's got. Would this approach with toys/bones swapped for treats etc. work in reassuring Max that it's not a bad thing to give up whatever's in his mouth? Thank you!

I live on Pacific Highway near St Leonards in Sydney - if you know the area, you'll know it's always zooming with traffic! Before Max was fully vaccinated, I decided to stay off the footpath and walked him around the property for about 15 minutes each day. There are lots of dogs in the area and I didn't want to take any chances. I'd take him with me when I took the garbage out, when I got the mail, via the front of the building when getting in the car (instead of walking directly downstairs to the carpark) etc. Or, I'd just let him look/sniff around the small garden we have out front. All this was just a few feet away from some MAJOR traffic. Max now completely ignores the traffic on walks - unless a particularly big truck goes past and even then, he just looks around at the noise. Perhaps you could just let Rodney hang out on the footpath and watch the traffic go by for a while. Or, find a park that's on a major road and drive him there for a play, but at the same time get him used to the noise.

God, I wish I could go for a "slow stroll" with my pup - he's only a poodle/maltese cross, but at 4.5 months old, he's a little speed demon! Dogon, I think Rodney might be objecting to the traffic, as you said. If he's fine to zoom around the park once you're there, then there's obviously something about walking along the footpath/road that bothers him. Unless you're letting him off the leash at the park? If so, it might be walking on the leash he's objecting to. *sigh* It's so hard to know, isn't it? I've never had problems walking Max, but I've given in a put him in a harness rather than a collar for the moment. He was pulling SO much with the collar, training and walking was just miserable for us both. So, I'll keep trying to teach him to heel while he's in the harness using the same training methods I've been shown, but I'll give up on the collar until he's 6 months or so, I think. Hope Rodney decides to get off his bottom soon! (He's very cute, by the way!)

I've had Kongs that stink too seems to go away after a few washes and a week or so 'airing' Hi, SecretKei I'm absolutely giggling my arse off at this conversation! Heaven forbid that at 38, I'd actually be able to discuss dog 'stiffies' without cracking up... Max sounds EXACTLY like your boy - he does the bear humping right after tea, too. Drags his bear from wherever it is to somewhere I can't see him, because I laugh my head off at him and he HATES it! Then he'll reappear about 10 minutes later, looking between his legs and appearing to be very perplexed over the whole thing. First time it happened, he had the most hilarious look of shock on his face and wouldn't raise his tummy from the carpet until it went away!!! I couldn't stop laughing! Yes, he 'cracks a fat' over just about everything these days too. *sigh* I see males are all alike, no matter what the species...*hehehehe*!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm glad the Kong will lose it's Pong...*hehehe* I couldn't resist that! I've been dying to leave it for Max one morning when I go to work, but I don't want to do this until I can't detect an odour from it. I don't want Max to smell it and get turned off Kongs.

G'day, Mini_M You're probably right. I guess it just depends upon what happens in the next few weeks and when I get him 'snipped'. God, it sounds so dreadful - I have really bad teeth problems myself and since I was a child, I've had approximately 19 teeth extracted. (Sounds like I have no teeth - I grew a partial second set of adult teeth as a child and had to have them pulled.) I can't imagine inflicting that on my puppy!!!

Hi Catandgrant My dog Max (poodle/maltese cross, 21 weeks) bites his legs and feet a fair bit. Not a flea in sight on him and never has been. I use Frontline Plus every 2 weeks at the moment, because I'm scared stiff of paralysis ticks! Our last family dog, a poodle, used to bite and lick his feet ALL the time. The vet said it was boredom! He stopped doing it as much as he got older. With Max, it seems to be something he does when he's 'relaxing' or calming down from a big play session. I don't think there's anything for you to worry about. If you can't see any fleas or flea dirt and are using a flea treatment, Caspar should be fine.

There's a vet at Lane Cove that does it - they did my cats for rabies. No idea of the cost, sorry!

Hello Everyone and thank you ALL very much for your advice. I've decided to keep Max at his current vet (Ku-Ring-Gai Animal Hospital) for the desexing - that's the $252.50 +++. I'm then going to move him to North Shore Animal Hospital in Crows Nest. You're all correct that the area in which I live is largely responsible for the high cost of veterinary care. Unfortunately, I don't feel right about seeing a vet on a regular basis that isn't close to my home, because if there is an emergency I don't want to have to travel far with the animal in question. I grew up in the Ku-Ring-Gai area and my family has been taking animals to that vet for nearly 30 years. They are a fabulous, caring vet, but simply too far away in an emergency. I've occasionally taken my cats to North Shore Animal Hospital and they've always been wonderful. Additionally, I use a pet minding service run by a lady who used to be a vet nurse there. She's always telling me how good the vets are! So, that's what I'm going to do - basically, suck it up and wear the fact that my place of residence means high cost vet care! *LOL* Thank you all again for your advice. Cheers Annie

Do you think there is any permanent psychological damage done to animals when they fly to new homes? I flew two of my cats to and from the USA when my ex and I transferred over there for work for 2 years. One cat was 13 months, the other just 16 weeks. Both cats were terribly traumatised when I picked them up at the airport in Chicago, but settled down as soon as I got them home. On the way home, we had quarantine to deal with - I met them at the quarantine facility and again, terribly traumatised, but ok once they saw me. They also had no lasting effects from the quarantine stay. 8 years on and I still can't get either cat in a travel cage. They go MENTAL when they see one, and despite me leaving it out for several days prior to them going anywhere just so it's not a big shock, they'd rip me apart if I carried them near it. And these are VERY placid Ragdolls. Both cats were shown as youngsters, so they were no strangers to both travel and cages, strange/new places etc. They still love going in the car, only in harness and never a cage. I can't help but think the plane trips had a terrible and lasting effect on them. I'd be very interested to know if anyone has a puppy with similar issues.

I'm lower north shore. I just did a ring around to 4 vets in the area and they all quoted $330 - $340. And three of them said an overnight stay, basically to monitor the animal and to make sure that he's kept quiet. i.e. no chance of bolting round the house and opening the wound, as my Max is prone to do! They said that the only animal they sent home same day after desexing is male cats. Interestingly enough, I rang the $400 vet and asked for a quote over the phone. They quoted $252.50 on the phone, plus $40 for Metacam if needed. I then 'unmasked' myself and said I was a client and that the vet Max had been seeing had quoted me over $390. The person I was speaking to said that sometimes dental extractions are necessary and that the vets often quote for them without telling the clients. Now I'm totally confused!

I just read the DOL thread on cost of dog neutering. I'm in shock! *LOL* My vet quoted me a fee of just under $400, providing Max doesn't have an undescended testicle or any other problems. Reading the thread has shown me that that's a pretty high cost! Particularly for a male...And also, the place I bought Max from gave me a discount certificate for desexing for this particular vet. So, the just under $400 is including a discount! The vet also said Max would have to be in overnight. I've had many animals desexed and have never had this happen before, when there were no complications from surgery. I'm also guessing that this is partly the reason for high cost! While I agree that the animal's health is of utmost importance, I had planned to switch vets after neutering Max anyway. The vet I'm currently taking him to is a loooong way from where I live - it's in the area I grew up, near the pet shop I purchased Max from. I'll be moving him to a vet much closer to home. Does anyone know of a GOOD vet clinic in the Sydney metro area that has more reasonable rates? Please don't get me wrong - I'll pay anything when it comes to my animals' health. I just don't want to get ripped off for a standard procedure that seems to be done for MUCH less money elsewhere.

Thank you - I'll have a look tonight. I've noticed that he has some adult teeth coming through (molars, I suspect) into a previously empty part of the gums, somewhere between the canines and back molars. He's been a big chewer since day one and I've bought him loads of chew toys, which I rotate on a regular basis. Plus pigs ears and other chewy things. Actually, that's another question - I bought him a new Kong the other day and it absolutely STINKS to high heaven. An awful new rubber smell. I rinsed and rinsed, then eventually ended up running it through the dishwasher. Did absolutely NOTHING to get rid of the smell. I haven't given it to Max yet, as he was given some other new toys the day I bought the Kong. Do you think the smell will bother him and has anyone else had a problem with this? Most plastic chew toys have some smell when new, but nothing that can't be washed off and certainly nothing like this Kong!

I hear ya - Max had a reaction to a worming tablet a couple of weeks ago and I spent almost 7 days cleaning up runny poo. Living in an apartment with a dog with the runs is a nightmare. I'm lucky that 90% of the time, he made it to his puppy pads or the balcony to do it. But I went through a 30 pack of puppy pads in one week and I had to almost chisel the stuff off the balcony after it dried! *LOL* Ewwwwwww!

*hangs head* Cross breed - poodle/maltese. And he extremely clever - picks things up VERY quickly. Sounds like you're implying cross breeds are incapable of such a thing I don't have anything useful to add I'm sorry, I don't have a male dog! *cringes* at the pet shop comment Ah well, live and learn! I'm still horrified at myself that I bought from a pet shop. I own three pure bred cats and I learned all about kitten/puppy farms back when I bought them 11 years ago. I had even been corresponding with 3 different breeders when I decided to get a dog, finding out about the three different breeds I was considering! But one day, on my way to buy kitty litter, I walked past the window of the pet shop and there was Max...I had a brain fart and fell madly in love with him! I grew up in the area where the pet shop is and have known the owners for many years and know what their practices are for animals they sell. Everything larger than a bird or guinea pig is taken home by staff members every night, on a rotation basis, never left in cages until they are sold. The puppies are very well socialised, toilet training commenced etc. Anyway, there's no excuse for buying a pet shop animal and I know it. End of story. I'm just SO lucky that Max is healthy (according to my vet) and that he has a GREAT temperament. Loves absolutely everyone he meets.

*hangs head* Cross breed - poodle/maltese. And he extremely clever - picks things up VERY quickly.

Can't get rid of the puppy pads, we live in an apartment. I've managed to 'break' Max from peeing anywhere but the laundry, which has puppy pads covering most of the floor. There's really no other options.

Hi Mini M My vet said that it should really be only after the 16 week vac. too. He said that I could take Max for short walks on the footpath outside my apartment building, but not to let him sniff around any grassed areas - or really sniff around anything for more than a second. Which is damned near impossible when you have a curious puppy! I took Max for the occasional walk but I did let paranoia get the better of me and waited until 16 weeks. Because there are a fair few dogs in your area and not much parkland, I'd be a bit careful and go by the "better to be safe than sorry" philosophy. It's only another few weeks til Milo is fully vaccinated. As you know, I don't know a lot about dogs, but from what I've been reading on here there's a lot of Parvo virus about at the moment. Cheers Annie

Hi Everyone I have a feeling that Max has entered 'teenager-hood'. His hormones are DEFINITELY getting the better of him at the moment! Trouble is, he's only 20 weeks old and I'm thinking it's a bit early for all this to be happening. Here's what's been going on in the past week or so: - I have a friend staying with me at the moment, who has been taking him for walks during the day while I'm at work. He rang me a couple of days ago and proudly announced that Max had cocked his leg next to a tree for the first time, rather than weeing with all 4 feet on the ground. My limited dog knowledge tells me that's marking, not just peeing. - Max has a big, stuffed bear that he loves. He's always 'humped' it nightly *LOL*, but he's now getting erections (and worse, but I'll spare you the details) while he's doing it. He also gets them sometimes when I play 'rougher' games with him, or when he's excited to see me. (God, there are SO many one liners in there...I never thought I'd be embarrassed to talk about pet sexuality!) - Yesterday, my houseguest didn't close the baby gate properly and Max shot through and pissed on my guest's bed (it's one of those Aerobeds on the floor). Max isn't allowed down that end of the house, so I can only assume he was territory marking. I've always had my pets desexed early - usually 10-12 weeks - without any problems over the past nearly 40 years. But the vet I'm taking Max to won't do it before 6 months. I've been a bit nervous about this from the start because in my experience pets tend to mature sexually well prior to 6 months, but because Max is the first puppy I've been entirely responsible for, I'm listening to the vet on matters medical. So, Max isn't due to be 'de-balled' for another almost 2 months! I don't know if I can cope with a sometime adolescent dog who starts pissing on my furniture etc.!! He's been really good with his toilet training (we live in a large apartment), but I know that territory marking has nothing to do with needing to pee/poo. I'm thinking of ringing the vet and begging him to 'snip' Max early, but I'd appreciate any advice. Things are fine at the moment, but I don't want it to escalate into a pissing war at my place. I have a huge Maine Coon cat who is also rather territorial - he never marks, but that's because he hasn't had to. But since I got Max, he's become a little insecure and although he doesn't actually pee outside the litter tray, he does roll all over Max's used puppy pads to try and get his own scent on there. Charming, I know... Max also hasn't lost any baby teeth as yet. Well, not that I can see. He's obviously teething, because he goes bananas with his chewy toys, pigs ears etc. and when I looked at his gums last night, they seemed slightly inflamed. I've read a few threads about teething on here, but because I committed the cardinal sin of buying Max from a pet shop (yeah, I know, major brain fart), I can't ask the breeder (aka puppy farmer) what's normal in his litter. When should I start being concerned about dental issues? Thank you in advance - this website is absolutely AWESOME and I'm learning SO much about dogs in general! Cheers Annie

Heh heh...I've always been considered a littlewierd as I too love the smell of my dogs feet and the puppy smell is to die for. so don't feel lonely...I'm with you Guilty! I love the smell of my dog's feet - I also love the smell of one of my cats' feet, they smell like warm toast! The other two cats don't seem wash their paws properly and they stink of kitty litter... I think animal paws are the cutest things ever - I can't leave them alone!

Hello there I had a discussion with the vet last Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, it seems that the Revolution spot on treatment no longer treats for worms - there are separate tablets in the box for worming. I have to be a bit careful with spot ons, because I live in a paralysis tick area and need a treatment that does ticks as well as fleas. And I can't use Advantix because I have three cats (it's lethal to cats). The vet gave me a few sample worming medications and said that quite often it's the coating on the outside of the Drontal pill that puppies have a reaction to. So, I'm going to try different meds and see how Max goes. Thanks for your note and good luck with the pups!