Poodle wrangler

After saying how her "beloved" dog had itchy skin, I asked the mother-in-law whether or not she brushed down to the skin etc. I was told: "Well, it's a matter of finding the time to brush.." . She doesn't work and is semi-retired. WTF? But she's buying expensive shampoo/ treatments from the vet instead of brushing and clipping her dog (maltese/ shitzu cross). She still hasn't taken her dog to get his teeth professionally cleaned. I offered to pay months ago (she always says how she can't afford X, Y, Z), then she told the OH the $ were coming out of super. Last w/e says she's still not done it . She fusses over my dogs then tells stories about hers- I may strangle her the next time she does it . I don't know how you groomers do it. Good on you for helping and sticking up for the dogs . Dogs can't talk and depend on us to provide them with basic vet care in return for all their loyalty and affection.

Our new pup is much better than our first dog. I follow the no punishment for indoor mistakes, praise like mad when performs outdoors. He now looks at me as he starts to wee, waiting for a "good boy" . Can sympathise with your frustration. The local GP's office or pathology place is a source of sterile containers for urine testing (don't say it's for the dog) in case you go to the vet.

I was wondering about what made pet food look so red for so long. Is there any without too much preservatives? I think the standard might like those chicken carcasses. Now I know where to get them .

Thanks for the great replies . Really helpful. Are there any types of raw bones to avoid? (apart from too small ones)?

:D When you're not consistent, your dog gets confused and forgets all the good training. They're very good at sensing whether or not you're amused by their naughtiness. If you give extra attention you're training them to be naughty- the attention is a reward. You'll be rewarded many times over by being consistent now and training your dog. They'll be a pleasure to live with, instead of a hassle .

I'd be a bit ticked off with a vet telling me to check the internet. You are paying her for professional advice and she sends you to check the net?....maybe she should check the internet. However a neurologist sounds like a good idea. For sure it will cost you but that's what we do for our dogs. No good pupper is cheap and it seems the purchase price is the cheapest part of the whole deal....or it was in the case with my pedigree girl. I wouldn't wait any longer to take him to get checked by a specialist though. Whatever it is, if it's not improving rapidly then I guess it is getting worse. Did she do the test where she bends the foot back to see if the pup will right it when standing? Another thing, have you spoken to the breeder about this? If so, what do they suggest. Yes, please do keep us posted. I agree! Talk to breeder! I'd focus on how you love the pup and want to do the best for him. They SHOULD be able to give advice- what vet they use, for example. I wouldn't ask for $$ assistance until you know what you're dealing with. If it's a hereditary condition, the breeder should share some responsibility. This does not sound normal. Was he checked for ticks? I'm no expert and don't know if paralysis tick would present like this. I'd have thought back legs would be affected also. Ticks can hide everywhere, including any orifices (inside ears, anus etc.). Best wishes

The more I read here about dog food, the more confused I become ! $100 15kg bags of dry food are not an option at the moment. I'm feeding a semi-lean pet mince+vege mix plus Supercoat puppy kibble (about 1/2-1/2) three times a day, plus bones with some meat, plus chicken wings/ necks (about 3/ day), plus some fish (tuna) 4 times a week. I add rice if there's left overs. Pup's a standard poodle i.e. medium-large breed and is lean. He's active. Breeder fed BARF. Can anyone suggest some nutritious budget dog food ideas? I'm looking to replace the SC with something better. Freezer space is a bit limited, so 100% BARF might be a stretch :D . ETA: Are there any dog nutrition studies NOT funded by pet food companies?

Confession: I'm a fellow heel dremeller Not necessary to soak first.

Itching? I'm in South Coast NSW area and the fleas/ mozzies etc. are a big problem around here at the moment. Frontline didn't work for me (freebie sample from vet for pup) who had fleas a week after Frontline application. Am switching to Advantix. What kind of brush do you use? Do you part the fur to get right down to skin? Are slicker brushes suitable for shelties? I use one on my sister's short-haired crossbreed and it gets a lot of fur out. Use it on poodles with longer fur, too, for general brushing, so may be suitable for sheltie??? If you bath, brush first to avoid tangles. Get a poodle- don't shed at all .

How could such cute dogs do such things ? I sympathise as my new pup will chew anything in sight. I crate him when he's inside and I can't supervise. Crates are for short-term only, of course, and are no solution if you're at work for many hours. What exercise/ games/ training do the dogs get on a typical day? How long are they alone in the backyard for?

Clipping really short also helps a little with the mud, dirt etc. Poodle feet get shaved, including between toes, and I did it to a poodle x who was staying with us for about 6 weeks- MUCH less dirt, water etc. brought inside. You can leave the hair on the front of the paw longer, so your dog doesn't look like a poodle

Have you seen the sunglasses designed for babies? They have a strap so they stay on. Sorry, don't know the name; can get from Cancer Council shop etc.. Are they any better? Baby or kids swimming goggles (e.g. <$10 at BigW)?

Hi. I posted about crates, too. http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?showtopic=93474 http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...st&id=73986 http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...st&id=73988 The crate I have came with a partition to close off part the crate. 42" is very large and 36" was suggested by someone with labradors. A BC is smaller than the average standard poodle and I'd suggest a 36" would be big enough. Depends how big your room is . I've flown WITH my dog b4 and it was <$100 from Sydney-Brisbane return. I think it's a fair bit more if it's dog only.

A ramp was going to be too steep. My mother-in-law's boyfriends is a carpentry wiz and is putting railings either side with gate at bottom. Will be dog-proof. Not the cheapest or most aesthetically pleasing option, but we wanted to be able to still use the stairs. About ramps, can you buy those rough strips you see on stairs at a hardware store?

There's no way I'd be able to keep them on either dog's head

Someone suggested to me to put large rocks in their bowl, so they have to move them around. Alas I have no suitable rocks. I'm convinced my pup would try to eat them if too small.

Yikes I've seen a patient with a few fingers amputated as he tried to separate his fighting dogs. He was a big guy. Breed of dog? Maltese! You, or your housemate, do not want to be breaking up fights between any dogs, let alone the larger, powerful breeds! Is it really worth the stress to you and danger the dogs? Will you wait until one of them is dead or severely injured? Get professional help NOW. Separate the dogs in the meantime.

I know this sounds irky, but I check what my dog's poo looks like when I'm on 'poo patrol' (usually daily as I've got kids who play in the backyard). This way you get an idea if there are any problems. In a chronically constipated dog, they might have 'overflow' where loose poo gets out around the stuff which is kind of stuck. Would be much nicer if dog's could talk and tell you there's a problem . Glad to hear your dog's doing better.

My parents give their pound crossbreed a can of no-name brand sardines a week- cheap, he loves them and coat looks better since they started. I've been giving our new pup some tuna 2-3 times a week, mixed with rice and/or kibble. Loves it. He's a furry hoover! He ate a fish oil capsule whole after I dropped one. BTW: Any way to stop pups inhaling their food? I don't fancy handfeeding pet mince or tuna (pong!), but will if needed.

I've caught pup with teeth around my laptop power cable. He had to jump to get it. ebay good source of cheaper USB cables, or the cheapo, discount stores . Our pup will chew anything e.g. plastic folder, paper, cane recycling basket, metal strip between tiles and hard floor ( ), plants when out walking... I watch him like a hawk and he has plenty of toys, chicken necks/ wings and bones to chew. Still has those horrible, sharp puppy teeth.

You can also do a search on YouTube- enough there to make a start. What do the more experienced trainers think of the clickertrainusa.com guy? Karen Pryor's (clicker guru) is American and the DVDs aren't cheap is USD + post. There's a download by Kay Laurence here http://www.learningaboutdogs.com/pdfs/getting_started.pdf. I've bought a couple of clickers with wrist bands online. Can't wait to start.

Oscar (the mini) bit my OH once, however, I think that was a hierachy issue. Dog was lying on the bottom of my bed, curled up, I was reading, OH sat on bed, chatted, and touched my leg (NOT amorously). Dog put head up and snapped. OH had been away a couple of weeks for work, dog was still about 1 year old and dog has more dominant temperament + slightly spoiled e.g. on bed. Immediately grabbed dog by scruff off neck, held him down and told him off, then put outside for 20 minutes. Never happened again. Needless to say dog also demoted: no bed, lounge by invitation only, more training etc. Not sure what's happenning in Chomsky's case. Has he been a bit more spoilt in the absence of your partner? At least he's not a doberman Effect on lovelife should be minimal.

Is there any advantage with an "iClicker"? "Quieter, for sound-sensitive dogs or classes" ??

Thanks leopuppy, found it. Nice website, too. I found some clickers on ebay: $8.20 for 2 clickers, including postage, but don't know if these are the best type to get: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Clicker-2-for-click...1QQcmdZViewItem. ETA: There's also http://www.agilityclick.com/category5_1.htm.

I'm not starting obedience with our new pup until May (next class intake). Do most clubs use clickers? New pup is a standard poodle- eager to please breed, but not overly food-orientated. Any info on the net about clicker training that people would recommend? It's been a few years since I went to training with our mini poodle and food treats were used then. ETA: Anything to look for when buying a clicker? Best brands?