SmoothieGirl

How typical is this of our dogs. I just spent a quick five minutes with Bronte doing to training to break her boredom and to try out the tips you gave me. The damn dog (good girl though) never once chewed the object, she held it then gave it to me like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. Oh well, I'll put those tips into action another time I guess.

Thanks all, great tips. I'll definitely incorporate a non reward marker, being a soft dog I think she'll pick that up really quick. I'll play with the other hints too.

If you make it, I'll see you there, I'll be volunteering.

Hi all, just wondering if I can pick your brains of some wisdom and experience. I'm teaching Bronte the broken down aspects of retrieve (all the stationary bits anyway as she has a leg fracture in a splint). But we have a little problem that I want some tips on now to prevent it becoming a big problem. She takes the object (plastic piping/dowel/end of wooden spoon) fine and gives it back quite nicely too. She will even hold onto it (most times) until I ask for it back, but she thinks its awesome fun to chew the object she is holding at the same time. Now while this doesn't seem a problem at this point, she's only been working on this a week, the last thing I want is for her to keep it up and then when we get to dumbells she thinks its okay to have a munch while holding onto it. Do you think its just puppy play and will go away, or is this unusual? Any hints, tips, tricks to get her to just hold and not fiddle or chew?

This is probably personal preference, but at baby puppy age if its outdoors, best to make sure its not on public land. If it is, you will need to consider that after their first vacc they are not fully immunised. Indoor may be a more controlled situation, especially if they manage which dogs come into the area, I imagine they will all have had their vacc cards checked. Indoors is nicer when they are this little too, they get to play and socialise in a safe and more controlled environment. As for training post all vaccinations, probably when you get to puppy obedience classes again its personal preference. Some people like to minimise distractions, but I prefer to have them there and work with them during training. Its a more natural environment too and I think you end up with a more reliable dog, even if it is a little more challenging training them in the beginning. The last thing you want is a dog that pays attention beautifully when there are no distractions, like traffic, wind, outside sounds etc, then when you are out and about and you have a situation where you need them to behave they are so over stimulated they don't focus. My girl is only five and half months, but I know that I can easily get her focus on me it most situations.

Ok, my girl is slowly growing out of this, but my god its a horrendous habit, I'll take horse poo any day. She's tried that too, but decided its too boring. The worst, the absolute worst is when you take your pup in the car to the park, after not giving her breaky (cause she gets car sick) and then you discover that she has eaten cat poo while in the back yard for her morning constitutional. How do you discover this? You discover it by the cat poo vomit that she ejects into the foot well of your Alfa Romeo. I have NEVER smelled anything so putrid in all my life. I have a very strong stomach and I was dry retching when trying to clean it up. As you can imagine the five minute trip home was done with all the windows in the car far far down. It took many days and many shampoos of the car interior to get rid of the smell. Oh jeez, I feel sick just remembering the experience. Luckily she doesn't throw up now either. Good luck!

The Hobson's Bay Vet Clinic run them very regularly if your vet doesn't run one. They were happy to take puppies that had had their first vacc's. Generally on Tuesday or sometimes Monday evenings. There is also a puppy course you can do at Hairy Hounds in Williamstown, but I've never been there so can't comment on its quality. Its a longer course with the intent on starting the pup on its way to being a good community citizen, think they run their classes on Sundays. A little drive for you, but not far at all really.

Cheap/easy amusements that my pup LOVES: Soft drink bottle (no lid or branding labels left on) and food inside, just dry food, sometimes a bit of liver or natural dog biscuits. She does woof a little at them because she is so thrilled with the challenge Used kitchen or toilet roll with similar food bits as above and the ends folded over. Yes, you do have to pick the bits up of the garden for days, but man they love ripping them up. I'm going to give the cardboard box idea of Persephone's a try, I'd lay money that my girl would think Christmas arrived early.

Not that I've ever experienced. The bones will help them removed pupy teeth and strengthen their jaws as the new ones grow. Like people babies they like something to grind when teething, pups just like something harder and bones are a good option.

Hobsons Bay Vet Clinic. Lovely nurses and vets, very pragmatic and kind too. They do the 10 week vacc.

I found a puppy molar on her doona on the weekend. But like some others I have kept it, thinking 'cute' but no I don't know what to do with it. Silly human.

At his age its totally normal. Young puppies will naturally be submissive towards older or more dominant dogs, its their way of saying, 'don't hurt me I'm just a baby'. Depending on his personality he may stop this, or not as he gets older.

Vet trip first port of call. My vet suggested cleaning eyes with a cotton pad dipped into Chamomile Tea (cool of course). Bronte has one eye that can sometimes get teary. Apparently eye specialists use the tea regularly as it has soothing qualities. Nope my vet isn't 'barking' mad, she was serious.

Not sure where you are based Kristina, but my vet may use this too, they are in Newport - Hobsons Bay Vet Clinic. My girl had a 10 week shot and then the nasal spray. It seems their standard approach to vaccinations. Didn't find it particularly expensive, but I'm used to equine vet bills - now that's where the $'s come into play.

Yep really that fast. I'm going through the same. On Thursday morning both bottom canines were gone, by Friday both were clearly visible above gum level. Can't wait for her top canines to go now, they are so super sharp, I'm looking forward to the adult teggies.

Awww, cute description.

I haven't read all of this post, but my pup is an itchy girl too. We have just come back from the vet and we are on a chicken based diet only for 2 months. The vet said that food intolerances are common in pups and they often grow out of it, but often not until around the 12 mth mark. Her itching sort of ebbs and flows, its never a consistent level more than about two days running which leads me to think its treats and things, hence the chicken only diet. Apparently if she goes well, then after that time period I can introduce a new food once every fortnight to see what the reaction is. Fingers crosssed, here we go...

Thanks gang, I'm up to speed now. I'll have to see if I can get them at the local market or butcher. I'm sure Bronte would go wild for one.

Ok, so what doe puppy breath smell like. Both my former and current dogs, well pup, have really neutral clean smelling breath, is that what you mean? Calling it puppy breath makes it sound like it should have a distinctive smell about it. Can't use baby smell as a reference point, I'm allergic to babies. Or maybe they are allergic to me, anyways I tend to make them cry.

So I generally feed Bronte chicken wings, lamb flaps or lamb necks. I see many references on the site in regards to chicken frames or chicken carcasses. This has confused me some, is there a difference and if so, what constitutes each? My definition would be that a chicken carcass is one with all the meat on, like you would roast, and chicken frames is a stripped carcass, so with almost no meat. Can you let me know what you guys believe each are and also which is better to feed.

Thanks peoples, there is certainly plenty of information to think about.

Lillysmum, stupid question but is the canned fish canned in springwater or oil? I say its a stupid question because I'm sure you have already considered that, but just thought I would check - some small hope it might trigger a connection.

Does anyone know of any natural antihistamines or used any with success? I'm interested in one with a herbal base rather than vitamin or mineral.

Hey Shelle Well this baffled me too. My Dobe was a very sharp girl and she was toilet trained the minute she got home. It took her about a day to figure out that if she sat by the back door she would get let out. She never had an accident in the house. She was 10 weeks when we brought her home. Now Bronte has been a bit more challenging. I'd say she is quicker to learn most things than my Dobe, BUT only in the last week (touch the wooden dining table) have I started to think she has finally got it. Mind you for wees she still doesn't ask to be let out, just kind of holds on until I go out anyway. For poos she sort of hangs around the back door, but isn't real clear in her intentions. Go figure. But I'm with you 100%, its a relief when their toilet training is solid. They really settle into the family then.

Hey Shellectra I just bought a water bowl that fixes to the side of the crate, its awesome and only about $13. The woman at the pet shop said it was a bird seed bowl (must be for some seriously big birds), but the box did mention it being a travel bowl for crates. Its stainless steel, made by Prestige Pets and is really secure. First night for us tonight with it, but she's been drinking out of it already. Bronte wasn't getting up for drinks, but I was a little worried about her not having access to water - your post inspired me to just sort it out.