Bindo

Lucy loves to help me in the garden (NOT). First of all, she has to kill all the empty pots and eat the gardening gloves: Then she has to attack that terrible thing, the hose, as it might get us: But have to say, that apart from 'weeding' the new seedlings in pots, she's not destructive in other areas when left alone.

Jodie, do hope that you and Ollie are having a better day today. I can completely emphathise with your thoughts on your hubby. When Lucy was sick recently, I slept out on the lounge with her in her bed beside me (wooden floors there in case of accidents). He understands completely. And when Darcy (previous dog) was in the vet's and we knew he wouldn't come home alive, despite having a hugely important work dinner on, hubby arrived at the vet's, supported all of us and took us home and paid a whopping bill without a question. Sometimes we may complain about the lack of romance, but in my mind, this type of support makes up for it anyday! Thoughts and best wishes for you and Ollie dog.

Thanks for that - got it.

Best wishes for Ollie Dog - hope he gets to enjoy his walk soon!

I've been trying this with Lucy over the past few weeks and it's going really well - she is now happy to be tied up without whinging or pulling and she's getting better at staying longer before the command to eat. Just one question for K9 if possible: You mentioned earlier to introduce a verbal command into the triangle so that the dog will undertstand this for other situations, such as carrying on when out on a walk (ie the 'look at me' command) K9: Intro a key word for attention, then build it in the triangle, the dog just wont stare at you all the time if you dont use a command & if he has a pre existing dog problem... But in the last post, you said that the dog has to make its own decision to look at you, nothing to do with your voice control. Perhaps I'm having a blonde day here, but am slightly confused? Thanks in advance for any advice.

She looked like she was a beautiful girl - remember the good times you had together. Your post reminded me - you were one of the first people to reply when I posted my loss of Darcy in August 2004 - I was new to DOL then. I have never forgotten how kind your thoughts and words were at that time.

Aaaah - thank God for schnauzers!

I have used it with my dog. A few times as a puppy for settling those first few nights - don't know whether it was the RR or the fact we didn't go to her at all, but she settled like an angel after the third night. Use it occasionally if we have to drive for a couple of hours before she's had the chance of a good run or walk. However, she travels really well now so don't use it much for that anymore. HOWEVER, I have found it wonderful stuff for me for getting a good night's sleep when the mind is still racing at midnight (with all those things that need doing tomorrow). Have also used it when travelling overseas, when time zones are out of whack. It just seems to settle me enough to relax and sleep. I'm usually a major sceptic of alternative treatments, but I can recommend this one!

So sorry for your loss - she really looked like a 'Molly' too! A gorgeous looking girl.

So sorry to hear about JoJo - sounds as though she was a very special dog.

Ha Ha - thank God it's not a daily occurrence - just when we go up to a family property near Oberon. Were there on the weekend and she was in dog heaven, chasing kangaroos (well, their scent anyway), rumbling with the dogs next door and pretending to be a country dog!

Wow, a fussy schnauzer - that must be a first (both of mine have been hoovers!). Although I have no problems getting Lucy to eat dry food (or any food for that matter), try mixing some sardines into it. My Mum's dog was a bit fussy with her kibble and this did the trick. The sardines will be great for Clem's coat too. Just be careful with the chicken necks - Lucy choked on one when little and nearly died. Now I only give her larger bones (such as lamb shanks and large ribs) to chew on. MInd you, other similar sized dogs have been fine with them. It's just that she's such a guts, she vacuumed it in! Her latest disgusting thing to eat is wombat poo - fussy? NOT!

I can't beleive it - a year ago today since he left us, and the tears are still as fresh as ever when I think about it. Our new little girl has gone a long way to heal the pain, but I will never forget my darling boy and the joy he brought to so many people. Love you Mr Darcy - hope you have lots of great friends over the rainbow bridge. On a positive note, his death introduced me to this site (through looking for a new puppy) and the information I've gained and empathy with other dog lovers has been great. Thanks to all.

Oh I remember George as I asked a few friends about a forever home for him. Very sad news but glad that he had such a good last year with your friends.

Be very careful the first time, especially if your dog is a hoover! My puppy (at around 14 weeks) choked badly on a chicken neck (I thought she was going to die) and ended up overnight at the emergency vet to make sure she didn't regurgitate it. I have been too scared to try them since, and the vet recommended whole lamb shanks too, as she couldn't swallow them. She has since had brisket bones OK and I'm about to try chicken wings.

Sorry Chezzyr, I'm in Sydney. Have always thought the idea of a puppy playgroup is good, ie Mums/Dads get together for a cuppa and chat and let the toddlers play together. I'm trying to get some similar aged dogs from obedience together for this sort of thing, ie free range play, but we have missed a few classes lately, so will try again when we return. :D

Where are you Chezzyr? Maybe we need to start a puppy playgroup! BYO toys.

Try a cat Just suggested that as my7 month old is doing zoomies up and down the hall with the cat as I type. Cat tolerates and even encourages it for a while and then she ambushes Lucy from the lounge, gets her in a head vice and gives her a good nip! Lucy then comes running for my legs. Seriously I don't know what to suggest. I guess it's a case of trial and error. Lucy will chase a ball but not give it up in a hurry, but if we're at home, she amuses herself for hours with various toys - at the moment the favourite is a feather duster which she 'kills' and the cardboard from the aluminium foil. As she was originally for barnyard ratting, she likes the small fluffy and squeaky toys the best. One game we love playing together is chase and hide. I chase her down the hallway, she runs off and then I hide behind a door, wait for her to get close and then BOO! Of course, the rest of the family think I'm mad. :D

So glad to hear that she's a lot better Jshaytana. Lucy is back to her mad self and stitches come out on Saturday. How are your two doing Hansky Mum?

Sorry - double post

Hi Hansky Mum - they should be fine. My little mini schnauzer was done last Thursday and as described earlier, was a bit out of sorts on the first two days and looked uncomfortable, but by Sunday was acting fairly normal (although I know she's far from healed). Maybe the fact that schnauzers are such good eaters, and rarely go off their food, helps as well with the recovery? Lucy came to work with me today, so I could keep an eye on her stitches, but she probably would have got more rest at home! She had a lovely day, saying hello to everyone as they arrived and then trotting around to all the offices. Good luck with your girls and let us know how they get on.

Glad to hear that she is bascially OK. Lucy is a lot brighter again today, starting to play on her with her toys. The only time she cried was when she saw me getting my joggers on for the morning walk (and she was left behind!).

Thanks everyone for the advice. OK, no more walks (even though it was probably only 200 metres) for a while. I have always had male dogs so this is all new to me. The vets were very busy when I picked her up on Thursday and no-one gave any post-op advice apart from when the stitches come out, which I was a bit annoyed about.

Hi Jshaytana - I'm in the same boat, my girl was desexed on Thursday too. Lucy has been doing exactly the same thing, but has been a lot better today (Sunday). Like you, I cut the ends of the stitches to make them shorter, as I think this was annoying her. However, she still races to her food (she's a schnauzer after all!) and has been weeing and pooing okay, wound is clean and dry, so I haven't worried (well not too much). She gets more sooky of a night, but is gradually starting to be more active. Edit: She was not howling or crying at all. I might just use this post to ask 2 questions to everyone else: When they desex, is it a full hysterectomy (with tubes and ovaries out as well) or just the uterus? Is it normal for bitches then to wee more often, or is this just a post-operative thing? Noticed today that on a quiet walk around the block, she did at least 7 or 8 wees and also had to go outside during the night last night (we she never usually does). Many thanks for any advice.

I use to always use Aloveen, but when Lucy had a flea problem this summer, I tried Fido's and actually now I think it's better for her. Smells great, coat looks very shiny and easy to brush those feathery legs! Still use a bit of Aloveen conditioner rubbed through if tangles are a problem.