karen15

Someone had suggested a cat as an alternative to a dog if the owner wasn't going to be around much as "they can find their own amusement". I was merely pointing out this "amusement" can be as destructive as that of a bored dog. They may not bark, but cats can cause mass ruination if the mood strikes. Love cats, love dogs and personally think a cat would provide much better protection than the toy breeds suggested.....

Wow, you've got a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever:) you don't see many of them around. Good friends have had a couple, lovely dogs.

Cats can be destructive if they don't get enough attention. They can also be vindictive. Both of my cats at one time or another,toileted on belongings of people they did not care for. I had one ex ask me why the cat only ever peed on his things. Saw him having a go at her one day when he didn't expect me there and told him that was why.

Dogs with long coats require regular grooming so they don't end up with mats. What would the dog do while you aren't around? I work but my dogs go out for an hour of a morning to puppy park and for a walk and then we play when I get home of an afternoon and spend evenings together, with them sleeping in my room. While I'm at work (8hrs in total) they have bones and toys to keep them amused. If you only intend to spend a few minutes a day with the dog, then that's not really fair on the animal.

Thanks for the suggestions. I did see the cheap no brand ones on eBay and wondered how they would be. I emailed clipperworld before posting here, thinking there would be people who show on here who would have hands on experience with hopefully a few different brands. I know the names of the better brands, but have read some poor reviews eg about the Walh Show pro, which was around the $100 mark.

Lots of views, no replies, which is a bit disappointing. By inexpensive I'm thinking around $100 if that helps. I've seen a few cheaper Wahls with a little trimmer included, but not sure how either would go. Probably prefer mains power to cordless, but overall to do 8 paws and ears and neck, that's about 20 mins, so cordless would work fine I think.

I'm looking for an inexpensive clipper to do ears, face, pads of a cocker spaniel and pads on a westie. I've got a friend who currently clips for me, but the hair between pads grows really fast, so it would make more sense to do it myself. Their coats are stripped with a mars coat king and I use the book Theory of Five to groom them the way I like, which I call a sports version of a show trim. They still have a nice tight coat, but shorter feather suitable for outside play. I do not want their bodies clipped, so don't need clippers suitable for that sort of work. Just something nice for small areas and what I would think is relatively light work. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Just call your council and lodge a complaint. Much better than your dog getting attacked and then wishing you'd done something. If it's the same time, same route, same people, they should be able to patrol and fine offenders. Don't engage with people, they can be loonies and you already know they have no respect for others by their actions. I have no issue having a go at a dog that rushes me. My demeanor generally gets the point through to owners, as does a comment about using the dog as a football. Was riding my horse one day and encountered an offlead dog that decided to start trotting towards us. I gave my horse a pat and told him not to worry, he was allowed to kill it if it came near him...... Never seen a dog put on a lead so fast :D

I hate dogs rushing up. Had some rush my staffy at the beach once. Their owner goes, but you're dog looks ok. I very quickly replied it's not my dog you've got to worry about, it's me. Dogs were quickly removed. Any off lead dogs that come near me get loud angry voice telling them to p**s off. Makes it very clear to their imbecilic owners that not everyone appreciates their off lead mutts. My dogs go to off lead park, which is fine, and they love playing with the other dogs. I call it baby park, as it's for puppies and small dogs only. Given white fluffies are pretty much dog bait, I like to keep them safe. So I get really ticked off being accosted by off lead dogs in the car park. So much so I've asked council to watch and ticket dogs off lead. My staffy got attacked by a wolfhound on one of our walks, which is why I'm so paranoid about loose dogs. Totally out of the blue and unprovoked. Luckily he didn't become dog shy, quite possibly because I'd spent years ensuring he was well socialised. I fully understand that naturally nervous dogs may not be as resilient as my guy was.

I use Don't Fret Pet. Your dog goes to stay at someone's house and gets doted on. I know that's not a kennel, but my dog loved his holidays with his sitters.

There was a lab poodle cross at puppy preschool. Not a nice looking dog at all. Poorly put together. Owner seemed pretty clueless when desexing was discussed, asking if it was necessary for a female dog... Apparently this glowing specimen wasn't going to be desexed as the breeder wanted a litter from her - due to her colour..... She was caramel according to the owner. ETA there were other designer crosses there that were pretty gorgeous and nice looking little dogs. Mostly shitzu crosses.

I've found my westie self cleans. He can come in black with mud but next morning he's white again. Have a great before and after picture but can't seem to post pics here for some reason.....

Simply grand, why wouldn't you give the dog an instruction while doing the physical activity? It's the same as looking at a person and expecting them to know what you're thinking. Giving the command and doing the action to get the behaviour surely is a faster way to train? When I say "no" is not a command, I mean when a dog is jumping, "no" gives it no direction. If instead you give the dog the command for the action you want eg sit, then you can reward the dog for sitting, this coincides with the dog ceasing to jump which is what you were wanting to stop. Being consistent will mean the dog will sit on most occasions instead of jumping. If your dog is running after something, "no" is meaningless. "Leave it" is much more useful and again can be rewarded when the dog does it. All of my animals have a "with me" command, that means stop what you're doing and assume your designated position - dogs at heel to the left, horse at heel to the right, cat infront. Currently new dogs are learning "with me". Tell the dog what you want it to do, not "no".

I can't say I think that hard about training. I like my animals obedient, but I love them to be able to express themselves. The two aren't mutually exclusive. If you establish consistent rules and boundaries the animals know what these are and can then comfortably express their personality within those boundaries. This is immensely helpful when training as there is no wrong answer, only tries. If an animal stops trying, you've done something really wrong. The most powerful thing I've learned in training is "no" is not a command or direction. "No" what?? Once you get your head around that it is very easy to train as you stop focussing on what the animal is doing and actually direct it to do what you want, which you can then reward. I have lovely obedient animals, the dogs learn cool tricks as well. They're all happy, outgoing and confident. People really like them.

My dogs don't bark at other dogs, I won't tolerate it. That's not to say the don't yip to encourage play, but barking at passing dogs is not on. MRB not sure why you've had more success with a flat collar than slip lead, which I'm presuming is a choker? The cocker spaniel I got six months ago pulled so badly in a collar she'd give you blisters. One burl on the choker and she's a different dog. Her last owner cannot believe she walks on a loose lead for me. Correction is usually only ratcheting the chain not engaging it. Rarely do I need to engage the chain. I find flat collars give them something to lean into and they can pull to their hearts content.

When my dogs engage in unwanted barking, they are given a timeout on their beds. Duration depends on how fixated they were. Has worked on all dogs I've had, including the westie puppy. Very pleased I had three months at home with him when I got him as he would have become a nuisance barker and I despise those. I really sympathise with you. I lived next to two barking mongrels for ages (spoke to owners who would do nothing). Moved onto a main road and the peace is utter bliss!

They have a toilet command, but that doesn't help when I'm not here :) I don't want them locked outside as it is too hot and I'm still slimming the cocker down as she was exceedingly fat when I got her, so she really feels the heat. They have the fan on all day and inside is significantly cooler.

We have success. I spent all day yesterday praising her for going outside to the toilet and no poop inside today :) Will see if it lasts, but looking up.

I second a horse lunge line. They're made for animals 500kg+ to walk, trot, canter, buck fart and carry on - so would hold a malamute. My cocker spaniel is happy to lunge like a horse. Go figure. The trick to using them is to hold the lead in loops in one hand and feed it out and gather it in in the other. Never let the lead touch the ground.

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Just had a thought. I'm unwell at the moment. Getting weekly injections, third of which was 23rd Dec. Is it possible she can smell or otherwise notice that? If so it might explain why she is worried.

Little gifts, I only prepared to leave after coming home on the morning of the 25th. There was absolutely no change to routine. The dogs came with me and were very happy visiting. Blink blink, the vet gave her a health check when I took puppy for his shots. You're correct in I don't know her breeding, I'm her fourth home i can't even find her microchip with Qld canine council - I think that's what they are - they searched for me. would eye issues happen that fast? The neighbours love the dogs. We are on a main road so there could have been noise. I had a stack of palm leaves in the yard that I removed yesterday, thinking that might be the issue. Doggy door can't get stuck. It's soft plastic with a weighted bottom. It may have hit her, but she is using it happily throughout the day. The day she weed inside I think it was raining and she doesn't like getting wet. But Christmas morning, and yesterday and today, I've got no idea. She was perfect while we were away, but I didn't leave her like I have when she's pooped inside. The dogs are left every morning while I feed and ride my horses. It's been like that for 6 months. So I doubt it would be me leaving that is the issue. I'm not trying to make excuses but have considered a lot of things before posting. She is quite attached to me and unlike the puppy prefers to be by my side instead of fawning over new people. The vet said she's probably quite unsure given the number of homes she's had in her short life but once she let her guard down she'd bond strongly to me, which she seems to have done. Puppy isn't centre of attention, puppy hasn't been taken away and cocker left at home.

Ps #2 nothing has changed in routine, food, house......

Ps, cocker is crate trained

Background. I rehomed a 3yo female, desexed, cocker spaniel in July. I got her to be a companion for a male westie puppy I brought home in August. Both get along really well. We have a dog door which is open all day so the dogs can get in and out at will. They are walked daily for at least 40mins, preceded by a visit to puppy park to run and sniff. In the week before Christmas the cocker weed on the couch. I wasn't happy but didn't make a big deal of it. Christmas day and every day since she has pooed inside. 25th -27th we were away, the poo was before we left, and she was fine visiting, all toileting done outside. Since we've been back, every morning I go out for an hr and a half and come back to poo inside. She was banished outside yesterday, but has pooed inside again today. What would start this happening and what can I do to get her back on track? Puppy is fine. He has had accidents but they are when he can't get outside.