PoppyDog

I never realised that owning a dog would be as serious and important as having children! The research that people do into everything from feeding, vaxx'ing, medication and grooming is amazing! I really admire that! Poppy has only ever had her puppy vaxx's! She hasn't had her 12 month booster yet. Will look into Petplan insurance. I really hope I can stop the itching by switching to a flea treatment that is more effective. Having a puppy that is allergic to everything from chicken to grass really scares me. I'd hate to think that Poppy would live the rest of her life being itchy and uncomfortable! Mason - What level cover do you have with Petplan??? Do you pay an excess each time? Do you pay the upfront vet fees and then recieve a refund from Petplan or do they pay they vet directly?

Thanks Stormie. Will look into Pet Insurance. Any suggestions of good companies/policies? I don't think we have any wandering jew. Will double check the back yard though. We have a flower bed in the front yard (un fenced to Poppy never goes there) but if there was wandering jew in there could it effect her anyway? Will also trial treating her worms/fleas differently. I have always used Spectrum Sentinal but in the past few months have had to give her a Capstar table as well (about 3 times now) because I've noticed fleas on her. So I might switch to a heart and intestal wormer tablet/chew and then use a flew spot on. Does that sound about right? As for the mange, are there any visual symptoms of this? I thought dogs with mange went bald? Or is that only in extreme cases?

The more I read about symptoms of dogs that have skin or other allergies the more I wonder if Poppy could be suffering from something like this or of what she does is normal? She scratches. Everyday, a few times a day. She drags her bum and is regularly wormed and has also had he anal glands checked over by our vet! She chews her paws. Probably about once a day. Is this normal behavior or not? If not what can I do to find out what is causing her to itch and scratch and drag and chew? Do I start with an appointment with our vet and tell he my concerns? Thanks :D

Poppy at 4 weeks. Poppy at 8 weeks - her first night home! She still sleeps in this spot! And at 10.5 months, taken this Friday, after her first trip to the grooming salon!

Thanks everyone! The weather report says it's going to be raining tomorrow so not sure we will go anywhere! Just have to say... Asti is too cute!!!

It's so hot today! I'm thinking of packing Poppy up tomorrow and going somewhere for a nice cool swim! From what I've found from googling there is Nudgee beach. Not sure what its like for swimming though! Wish you could take doggies to the man made beach at Southbank! I know Currumbin is great for dogs AND people so might just head back there? Hmmm...

Are there any places to go swimming in and around Brisbane that you can take your dog with you? Either a pool or a beach? I don't do rivers or dams! Call me a princess but if I can't see the bottom I freak out! :D We usually go to Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast but it is a bit far! Any suggestions?

Well Pooch Avenue was AWESOME!!! Would definately reccomend it! They were very obviously passionate about their dogs. Poppy LOVED the attention and cuddles. She came out looking beautiful, tail wagging and so happy! They trimmed her perfectly to make her cooler for summer while also leaving her coat feathery like a CKCS coat should be. Her paws are trimmed perfectly! As are her ears! And best of all she smells AMAZING!!! Definately worth the drive!

Just talked to OH! He was sure that he had the sheet in the box with only 2 night tablets in it. He is positive it didn't have any of the 4 day tablets in it! PHEW!!!! I didn't think she would eat the day ones if she didn't eat the night ones! Plus she is super fussy and won't even eat her Sentinal chew!

I left Poppy (CKCS X) at home for 1.5 hours while I ducked out to a meeting. I didn't want her outside in the dark because I'm paranoid about cane toads! I checked that the places she has access to were puppy proofed. But she out did me! She got UP on the high kitchen bench, got OH's Cold and Flu tablets down and chewed the packaging. FAAAARK!!!!! There were 2 night tablets in the foil sealed pack that she got to. One she didn't even get out the little bubble seal, the other was on the carpet with a TINY bit chipped off. The chipped off bit was also on the carpet. So I don't *think* she ate any of them. But I'm still worried. I can't get hold of OH to ask if he had taken the 4 day time tablets today (I suspect he did!). Any advice???

Thanks! Have found a place at Slacks Creek called "Pooch Avenue" It looks lovely on the website but so did the last groomers website I looked at! And she turned out to be terrible!!! Look forward to hearing from you!

Has anyone used "Pooch Avenue" at Slacks Creek? Or does anyone have any reccomendation of groomers in Brisbane. Southside, western suburbs. Probably not northside. Poppy is a CKCS X CKCS X Poodle. Her coat is VERY CKCS. There is no poodle in it. I've read some horror stories about groomers going to town on CKCS's and owners being really unhappy so would love a groomer who had experience with the breed. Thanks in advance!

Bump!!! Really in need of s good groomer! Willing to travel. Was just feeling around Poppy's hind legs and commenting to OH that she needs to go to the groomer when I came across lots of matts in her fur on her hind legs! Feel like a terrible Mummy! Want to get her bathed and clipped a little ASAP!

We use Spectrum Sentinal Chews once a month as a heart/intestinal and flea treatment. During winter I found it great. But in the past two months I've had to also give Poppy a Capstar table 3 times because I have actually spotted fleas on her. I had never seen a flea on her until recently so I can't help but thinking the Spectrum Sentinal isn't working as well as it used to? I'm thinking maybe we should get Poppy the 12 month heart worm shot now she is older? And then just focus on monthly intestinal and flea treatment? Any advice with regards to this? I find that there seem to be SO many products on the market!

What is Rescue Remedy? Is it the same stuff humans take that you can get from the Chemist? How do you know how much to give? How does it help? Poppy has been fine and happy in rain, thunder and lightening but the wind howling and the banging really got to her! I don't mind that she snuggles up to me! She is one of those doggies that just LOVES to be with us and it really suits us. But I can understand why some people might find that really frustrating!

Last night we had rain and strong winds which also meant out back gate (although locked) rattled and banged in the wind. The garage door also made funny noises. Of course it was annoying for OH and I trying to fall asleep with all that noise but Poppy (our CKCS X) totally freaked out. She sleeps on our bed but she did this jumping up, jumping down thing which usually means she needs to go to the toilet. So I took her out but she literally stuck her head out the door and ran back to our room. She was so unsettled. Everytime the doors made a noise or the wind howled she would look around trying to figure out what was going on! Eventually I picked her up on the bed and she was shaking. She settled down next to me but literally slept RIGHT next to me and didn't leave my side. She also tried climbing up on top of me and sleeping ON me. Not sure if that was a protective thing or what. Right now she is sitting RIGHT next to me on the lounge and watching out the window because the door is banging again. I don't know how to make her settle down. It's obvious that she is a little distressed by the while wind howling banging doors situation and she doesn't want to leave my side. Any advice?

Lyndsay - Thanks for that link! Great read! I just posted it on my Facebook in reply to a friend who was talking about not having their 4 month old microchipped yet. Another friend said to wait till they got the puppy desexed as the chipping needle was quite big. And she replied saying she had thought of that but they want her to have at least one litter!!! Eeek!!! I hope she thinks twice after reading the link!

Eeep! I hope it wasn't a bite! We live in a new estate and so tend to have more than our fair share of spiders. Put they are mostly daddy long legs ones which are harmless. When she was a puppy she was bitten by a green ant and reacted the same way she did last night only worse! Lol! Maybe she is a bit of a drama queen. Thinking back to last night she definately wanted that reassurance from me. As soon as I was patting her and talking to her she calmed down. I might try and discourage her from going around the corner onto the stones. I'm hoping it was just this. She seemed fine this morning. I left her sleeping on the bed with OH and told him to keep an eye on her! Lol!

Thanks Graysmum! I'm up and getting ready for work now and she seems fine. I guess she can be a bit of a wuss! Lol! She came right back to me and put her head in my lap wanting cuddles. She's never done that before though so it did give me a scare! Might get the OH to go see if there is anything around on the stones that might of caused her to act the way she did!

Not sure if there will be anyone here at this hour but here goes... I just took Poppy out to toilet. She rarely needs a late night outside time but will wake me if she does. I opened the back door and she trotted out just like we have always done. She went onto the grass then onto the stones which seem to be one of her favourites pooing places! Lol! I'm still standing at the door and can't see her now. Next minute she flies back inside crying and whimpering! I check her over, pat her, reassure her and she stops. I'm wondering if it was just her poo that got a bit stuck and she freaked out or if it was something worse! She's back on our bed now, all curled up snoozing and I'm awake worrying about what hurt her! I

When we walked past this afternoon it barked and barked but I could see that they had moved the place they tied it to and patched up the place it got out. So maybe they know it is an excellent escape artist and maybe the are struggling with it like we did. I didn't knock on the door... Am too shy! But maybe I will write a note explaining that I've noticed their doggy and offering to walk him/her when I walk Poppy and then go from there. I agree with luvmycav that I would want to know the dog really well before leaving my dog with it. Especially if it is a digger! Would hate for Poppy and this dog yo get out of our yard!

YES!!!! I want to scream from the roof tops.... YESSSS!!! I think people need to know that you don't get a nice, frienly, loving, gentle dog just by buying it from the petshop and sticking it in your backyard!!! In terms of dog knowledge and education I would consider myself a novice but even my parents comment on how lovely Poppy is and how obedient she is. My Mum is not a dog person and they are staying with us for a week. They have a 8 year old Corgi at home and she commented on how impressed she was that Poppy actually "listened"! I told her it was because we (fiance and I) were such great parents! And I do believe that. Poppy is obedient because we have taught her to be that way and because we take time to train her, walk her, socialise her. Puppy Preschool should be a compulsary part of buying a puppy!

Okay, will go knock on their door this afternoon. I seriously considered it on Monday afternoon but I was sure no one was home. If Poppy barked like that and I was home I would go out and see what on earth she was barking at! I'm glad I'm not the only one who had thoughts of pity for this poor doggy! I know that it's hard when your dog is an escape artist but I would never dream of tieing Poppy up! We have spent a lot of time and money patching up gaps under our fence and I will admit its taken a few months to make our yard 100% secure as everytime we thought we had found all the possible gaps Poppy would find a new one! Oh and just to clarify...the dog didn't get lose. It got under the fence which still tied up so wouldn't of been able to bite anyone or run away and get hit by a car. A part of me also thought about offering to walk it with Poppy but I don't know how I'd go walking two dogs at once. Guess there is one way to find out! Lol! I secretly hope the people are nice and maybe Poppy and this dog can have a few play dates! Does anyone leave their dog with another (not your own) for company during the day? Or is that a recipe for disaster?

For the past four days I have been taking Poppy for walks around our neighbourhood. Moreso for my benefit than hers! Lol! Needless to say she has been loving it even if she isn't the biggest fan of the new walking harness I got her! Anyway about 3 blocks down in a black and tan CKCS who barks and barks and barks! He/she is tied up in his yard but yesterday managed to get out (still tied up)! It's bark isn't agressive (I don't think) more just an attention bark? Would you alert the owners to it's ability to get out white still tied up? Or do nothing? I feel bad for th poor thing! He seems like he just wants some friends! Lol!

The RSPCA has been contacted by more than one person. They are aware of her and it has been confirmed that she DOES NOT work for them! She is a real piece of work! :D