_PL_

I was just going to say Fauve as well.

OMG! Congrats!!!!!! He is divine.

Agreed it can be hard. I've rescued a few Japanese Spitz (you mentioned them above I think) and they are absolutely wonderful dogs. I looooove them, and that's coming from a steadfast terrier person! lol. Not sure what they are like with kids but I find them to be cheerful loving souls. There's Dog Breeds 101 here on DOL where you might get a bit of info too. Sorry if you've already seen it

We usually work with the proviso that if the dog hasn't been in care (tested thoroughly) with little children then we don't place them into a home with little children. It's too risky. I'd find a rescue big enough that they have carers with young kids and then only take a proven dog. Or a breeder whose kids have been handling the pups would be a good alternative.

I like Shelley at Paws & Think dog training. She does home visits and classes

We've desexed tons of seniors no problem. It does curtail the sexual drive (it can help settle the care factor) but if he's a habitual humper then that can be ingrained behaviour rather than a mating move, although girls usually tell them to get lost if they start that sort of nonsense. Being possessive is more behavioural than anything else and in my experience the beginner's way to help a dog like that is to repeatedly put him back on the floor if he starts guarding you. So if the vet is confident, go for it. And you could always have the girl done at the same time, it will save you escalated dramas when she comes in season. In the end if they still don't get along I'd rehome the female rather than cause a complete upheaval of the male's lifelong homelife. It can be very stressful to senior dogs. I forgot to say, if you think he is crazy now, wait until she comes in season. Even a desexed dog can go silly over a female in season! It's that powerful. :D

Sorry. I was just going by the first post mentioning liquorice and I have a dispersible/chewable 'flavoured' that smells like lollies and tastes like nasty. Out of curiosity google tells me peppermint and aniseed flavouring. LOL still not exactly pet friendly. Anyway, off topic. How is she going Ricey? I can't help with the thyroid advice. I've never had one come back with anything other than normal but I'm sure some Dolers were sending samples to america?

That's what we got. I had no idea they did flavoured ones.

Fantastic! And she's looking beautiful too.

I'd check just to be safe but no, last time I used Lovan on a dog it was just a tablet in cheese. Easy. So weird that you were given a dispersible one grossss. Not sure who makes up 'flavours' of medication. As a note, Lovan made my anxious dog quite growly and strange (and had negligible effect on his anxiety) so we weaned him off.

Sorry if someone has mentioned this already. Just a note but medication can put people off with names like 'Clomicalm' but most are not sedating as you would imagine valium is. To properly sedate a dog can sometimes remove inhibitions altogether so vets go for prozac versions of doggie meds. And you'll get more effective results when combined with vet behaviourist guidance. If they don't work, wean them off and chalk it up to experience.

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5 months old is still a baby. I'd be putting a dog door in for free access especially if we're talking about a toy breed. None of mine are left outside without being able to get in or being crate trained. It's not exactly an unsafe area at all (seriously, for so close to the city it's not too bad except for this week ) but I feel they are safer. And I hear the outside dogs cry & bark during the day. As for barking, a good trainer can help with distractions. Puppy needs a treat or toy or reward of higher value than barking at the world. Forgot to add, baby gates are perfect if you are upstairs and can't supervise him. And as DD suggested a crate trained dog is quite happy and feels safe rather than caged.

She's looking beautiful!

New vet! That's definitely not normal. Even if it's just a long standing infection you'll need antibiotics for quite some time before it will heal properly.

Yep, I'm disappointed too but it's done now and to be completely honest we have probably turned a few 'want it now' off onto gumtree by being unable to match an applicant with a dog immediately. But we always refer back to PetRescue or to legit group or pound who uses FB or their website to advertise rather than PetRescue. There's a lot of dogs out there and it's just a matter of timing and searching. There's google, and for anyone googling dog information, the top search that comes up is still DOL. And this thread will be read and perhaps absorbed if we keep welcoming people no matter what their dog or knowledge level is then they will come back to DOL for the reams of information on training, health, general questions and finding a purebred etc. Given, in this case a bit more absorbing should have been done but such is life. Ive seen many more threads that have ended in rescue adoption or purchasing from a registered breeder.

Hi Stella!

Wow! That is fantastic.

What do you mean? It wasn't a guess. he was a private surrender so I have all his paperwork with his cross and where he was purchased incl the "supplier's" details ( known oodle breeders). And he looked like what he was sold as. Miniature not toy. And who knows if he was pure x pure. He has a lovely home now who wasn't fussed on breed, just looking for an SWF. Anyway, off topic. Phyl, best wishes for the future with your new baby. x

Photos!!!! I just rehomed one. Listed him as a maltese x poodle but everybody knows the name now anyway. They are Moodles. Absolutely lovely boy. My most cautious description was of the shedding aspect because of the urban myth that they are all hypo allergenic. Just wrote "My hair is divine, and doesn't shed properly. That means some work for my new owners but I enjoy being fussed upon and groomed. " Best I could do.

Yes but lymphoma is way way less common than a simple inflammation. It's not abnormal to have a firm lymph node for any number of reasons, please don't worry. A trip to the vet will sort everything out. x

Try http://www.beaglerescuensw.org.au/

Have you tried Rescued With Love? They are in VIC.

LOL Adding, visiting an adopted dog is actually very sad for both involved and also not something new owners really want to get into. They are only adopting a dog not their old owner. ;) Personally I will fwd an update email with email addresses removed just the once if the new owners ask to. All the relevant information is usually in a big list handed over at the time of surrender so close contact isn't really encouraged by rescue groups as a privacy issue but also to avoid dramas.

Oh more to the story then. If you are worried about cruel can you not board your dog for the 9wks?