katherineaw

Another yes for crate training - but definitely make sure you have the right sized crate! I have a toy poodle (13 w/o) who is just a grotty little boy (said with the utmost affection). He will pee and poo in a big crate (by which I mean the smallest sized wire crate you seem to be able to find easily in Australia) and on anything soft. But in a sufficiently small air-travel crate (a-la the KMart $22 one) he is slightly less likely to mess himself. And we have an almost habit of him trotting out of the crate and straight across to the fake grass to do his business. My older dog just went into the vet recently for her surgery, and they were so relieved that she was happy in a crate because it makes life so difficult. It also made it easier for me to keep her calm while she recovered from her surgery.

Prices and all details are public on their website, it's about $400 for the first pet? It has its advantages and disadvantages and yes, I'm sure they get their money from me along the way. It does lock you into using Greencross, but you can cancel at anytime - you just either pay back your discounts, or get a pro-rated refund less cost of services used. For me - having made the decision to do this, I'm much more relaxed about whether I should call the vet if I'm a bit worried... I just do. In the first 6 months, I've had 1 health check on arrival, 2 vaccinations, heartworm vaccinations (20% off and free consult), an emergency afterhours checkup after ingesting inappropriate things, and another one when her eyes were weeping excessively. I've more than covered my costs and I've still got 6 months in the year. I also like the peace of mind that if someone else is looking after my pup - parents, friends, doggy daycare... whatever - then they don't need to worry about taking the dog to the vet if they have a concern, because if it turns out to be nothing, it doesn't cost either of us. But these things are personal decisions, it's been a good one for me but I'm sure someone who is not quite such a big worrier might see it as less valuable. As for Greencross buying up other clinics - it's the same as doctors... you choose the individual. I generally request one specific vet, who came recommended and she's been fantastic, but no doubt as a large chain, they will have their good vets and their less good vets... In any event - good luck Amber, you're in for a treat with a new puppy (and no doubt some sleepless nights, a chaotic house and a whole new way of approaching your day). There's a wealth of information here, so you're in the right place!

Hi Amber You might ask around about vet memberships. As an example, I paid for the Healthy Pets Plus membership with Greencross. This includes all vet-recommended vaccinations and unlimited consultations for 12 months (including emergency after hours consults), among various other things. As a new puppy owner, this has been invaluable to me as it means I can go in for any minor worry - including when I'm totally overthinking things - without having to worry about cost. I've been in to the afterhours vet a couple of times, and the peace of mind is fantastic. When deciding whether or not to sign up, I did the maths on costs for vaccinations and all the other things I expected to need in the first 12 months, and decided it was well worth it. The costs don't stack up quite as well for year 2, so I probably won't renew the membership going forwards, but I can tell you it's been well worth it for this first year. You do have to watch out, as they are keen to prescribe antibiotics for every little thing, but I use the same judgement as when I go see the doctor for me - and my puppies are perfectly healthy and happy. I can't imagine Greencross are the only ones who do this sort of thing - they just happen to have one clinic near to me, and I've been very happy with Dr Sarah there.

I have a little spray bottle that I spray every time it's used (at least to the extent I see it), and then hose it down properly every 2-3 days. That seems to be resolving the smell issues. I was contemplating using cat litter or similar in the collection tray to avoid spillage risks!

Good news! I bought a pet loo and my Cav, Georgie, is now completely convinced that it is the only place to go inside - and she's worked out that when I say "quick quick" she needs to go to the toilet, or she could be waiting for a while before the next opportunity! Next step... convincing Poodlechild that he wants to do the same. The smell is a bit irritating - I'm finding it needs to be cleaned under a hose every 2-3 days, and the container emptied daily, but still better than pee pads!

Well it was only a matter of time. We were up and over the lid on Tuesday and today we are completely over it. I am thinking a giant breed size crate might be good solution as he is tiny. Am going to investigate this weekend Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will put some photos up as soon as I can work out the technology! In the meantime I thought I'd share that this little poodle is, in fact, a monkey of the houdini variety... he is more than capable of climbing up and over the exercise pen wall. In fact, the only reason he doesn't have free reign over the house is I have put a lid over his pen that is a little too heavy for his tiny head to lift. However I'm sure it's only a matter of time...

So, quick update - puppy 2 has arrived safe and sound. He's a trooper - having flown in from out of state. He's settled in an exercise pen in sight of my cavi, who is a bit put out over all the changes, but also quite accepting of the interloper. We've been doing separate outings and separate trips to and from the toilet etc. In a few weeks I'll be able to have one go to my parents house, while the other stays home, so that they can learn to spend longer periods at home alone, but there's no need to rush this I think. I tell you what... the little poodle is making my cavalier look absolutely angelic (and helping me realise just how far we've come in the last 4 months). She's so calm and chilled out, and he's just a bundle of beans trying to get to me at any minute, but it's not so long ago that I don't remember she was just as bad when she arrived! They've had maybe 10 minutes of play together spread over 3 days, but that's it - other than sniffing through fences, which seems to happen every time one of them is out of their pens! Next challenge... back to work on Monday!

Thanks Showdog - yes, I've been very conscious that she's definitely a spaniel - she loves a good run and getting out and about. We're spending a good chunk of time in off-leash parks where she can run around. I've booked a few sessions with Nicole from Synergy training, first session this weekend with just the Cavi - she gave a really tailored and thoughtful response to my enquiry, so I'm really looking forward to the session!

Thanks Roova & RuralPug - both great resources. I'm glad I've got a bit of time up my sleeve before puppy-2 arrives to read these properly. Any thoughts on a trainer in Brisbane area?

Oh dear. The Cav mastered the escape about a month ago... Fortunately she only does so when I'm at home but out of sight, but yes... challenging! I might need to upgrade to a taller x-pen reasonably quickly if the poodle is going to be even bouncier! Hopefully the Poodle is also a bit more interested in stimulation - it took an amazing amount of persuasion to get her even a little bit interested in kongs and other enrichment toys! Even now, she doesn't like playing with them all that much.

Unfortunately I don't have a secure yard that she can be outside in while I'm away - although hopefully in a few months I'll be moving to a house with one! I can easily give the Cav a more substantial section of the tiled living room, but haven't done so to date because as far as I can tell she sleeps all day and it's handy to keep the mess a little confined while I'm out! For at least a few months, I'll be going home at lunch, so realistically the puppies should only ever be alone for about 4-5 hours, but there's always that one day where something goes wrong. I like the idea of varying locations, pens, toys etc and hadn't thought of that - thanks!

I already have a 6 m/o cavalier and a 9-week old toy poodle arriving late next week. I'm after some advice from the DogzOnline Brains Trust about the following: physical set up of confinement space for two dogs for when I have to go to work - do I confine them in an ex-pen together, or in separate ex-pens? If separately, should they be next to each other so that they can interact through the fence? I have two ex-pens and two crates, so can either separate them or give them a larger area together. a recommendation for a trainer in the Brisbane area who can help me learn how to train them and help me start off some good behaviours. My cav is about 90% toilet trained (hallelujah!). Any accidents are usually due to me overestimating her tolerance for using the same pee pad twice (thank god I found a budget supplier where I can get 200 for about $40!). I'm expecting some backsliding, but was considering that separate confinement might help minimise this - has anyone got any thoughts on this? I did puppy school with my cav, mostly to give myself some sanity and understand I wasn't the only person in puppy-hell (as well as valuable socialisation, of course). I'll probably do the same again with tpoodle, but was thinking 1-on-1 training where someone can come in and work with me and both dogs at the same time would be more valuable. Disclaimer - yes, I've read a lot of articles around why 2 puppies simultaneously is a bad idea and more than twice the work. I've struggled to find any practical suggestions for what to do to manage it when/if it happens. I'm aware that they will each need individual training and socialisation and walking and attention, to ensure the primary bond is with me and that they are independent dog-folks.

Wow - I've had exactly the same issues with my 5 m/o cavalier, she loves chewing the lead and really really loves pulling on the leash. My theory with walking is that she gets far far to excited by all the new smells, people and things to see. So I try not to get too fussed by her pulling while we're outside (sometimes I want to tear my hear out). She didn't respond so well to the walk in the opposite direction, because that was just as exciting. She also didn't respond to the lets stand still, because there were plenty of exciting things and people keep coming up to her (despite me saying "DON'T TOUCH MY DOG" or "CAN YOU NOT?" quite frequently). We have, however, made some serious progress recently. I bought a couple of frankfurter sausages and cut them up really small. She absolutely falls over in raptures when she sees it. So now we have been doing some short walks from my apartment up and down the hallway, and she will happily walk along on a loose leash for quite a way, provided there's a sausage in her future. Now, even when I'm not carrying sausage, the pulling in the hallway is nowhere near as bad - and she keeps looking at me like, "sausage, please mum?". My longer term plan is to take her into the lift next, and teach her to sit quietly in the lift while people come and go. Then we'll practise loose lead walking out the front door (new textures, smells and more distractions) and finally in a few weeks, we'll probably actually focus on loose lead walking more generally. I know she'll get it, but it's definitely taking time! I do want to get it pretty under control before no 2 arrives in 4 weeks, though! In relation to chewing the leash, I agree with all the other comments about not tugging it. Mine has stopped, but I worked out she was chewing the metal clips because they were cold and soothing on her gums while she was teething. You might want to see if a swipe of bonjela helps with the teething issue. I also purchased bitter apple spray to coat it. That has sort-of worked, but her interest was the metal clips which don't exactly absorb it, so it didn't last all that long.

Thanks JRG and persephone - I'd been thinking about the Conni pads - but my concern is that she normally lives on tiles... wouldn't she see it as a bit like a bed rather than a toilet spot?