Gretel

I think this will vary quite a bit depending on area. I think most good breeders around Sydney are charging around $900 to $1000. My family will be looking into a family pet by the end of the year (currently renovating their yard to suit a dog) and they are located in Canberra. I have suggested a Cav as I had one growing up and I think it would be the best suited breed for them. Can anyone recommend a Breeder in or close to Canberra ? If you pop into the Cavalier thread in general Monteba and CVS are in Canberra

Looking forward to pics I guess the ProPlan is kind of like giving us a salad and then next time a super dooper ice cream sundae. It's fine for him to have more than just the ProPlan but you don't want him to grow up fussy. I'm not sure a beagle could Best to get him in a routine of having his meals down for about 15 minutes and then take up whatever he has left. He will soon learn to eat his meals rather than graze. You'll find heaps of posts regarding different foods if you look through this forum.

Hi Muffin, Yes some Cavaliers do live to their teens ;) Quite a few actually! Unfortunately MVD is prevelant in the breed and we do lose some at a younger age. A friend lost a few of her's last year aged around 14. Prices probably depend on whereabouts you are located. I'm pretty sure all states now breeders are required to sell their pups with registration papers? I could be wrong though. Definitely in NSW all pups sold should have registration papers - either limit (not for show or breeding) or main. Prices would be starting at around $900 in Sydney.

Yes I've used them

<We should all take fish oil and give to our dogs as a preventative! I take fish oil daily at a high level and am VERY active, if I miss it a few days my knees notice it first as I do over 3 hours of exercise a day.> Sorry Tomas but I'm just going slightly off topic.... How much fish oil a day do you take? I'm taking it for arthritis.

My friend has had a few Charlies and I have helped a bit with lead training them as pups. The Charlies I have known have been more stand offish than Cavaliers and training is not so easy! A Cavalier will do just about anything for a treat whereas a Charlie will do it if they feel like it. If a Charlie decides they like you that's great but if they don't you can't do much about it A Charlie seems to be devoted to their 'person' whereas a Cavalier loves the world :D That's a generalisation and there certainly are different personalities in each breed.

<Oh, just need to add, dont buy the cheap nail polish with glitter in it, so you need to be very clear on your instructions if you send your OH to get more colours!> :D I used nail polish for one litter but have since decided liquid paper stayed on better. I'll mark them in different spots and write down who is who. Mind you I don't have big litters to worry about and it's not often that I can't tell them apart in some way fairly quickly.

And even cheaper than buying a new cover you can make a replacement using shadecloth.

No worries - what else do you want to know?

Oh dear I do feel for you. I lost my Phoebe a few years ago to MVD. She was only 8 We started her off on Fortekor but it didn't help much. She then went on Vetmedin and duiretics which helped but when it got to the stage of her sitting up battling to breath I had to make the decision to let her go.

Some people use coloured ric rac ( I think that's what it's called ) I prefer to use a dot of liquid paper if I need to use anything. I always worry about a pup getting caught.

No price does not depend on colour. Many years ago there were fewer wholecolours but there are plenty about now. (The only ones here )

Yes baby pups go through a big upheavel leaving the breeder so it really is best to keep them on the food they are used to and gradually change it if you don't like it. Give her tummy a little rest and miss her next meal. After that I would give her just a little boiled rice and cooked chicken for a few meals. It's very bland. Then slowly add what you want her to be eating. If she looks unwell at all off to the vet. Little ones can go downhill quickly.

His little tummy needs a rest. I'd miss one meal and then for his next meal just give him some boiled rice and a little cooked chicken. You can mix a little cornflour in too and that will help firm up his stools. About a teaspoonful. If this does not give improvement I'd have him off to the vet tomorrow. Or if he goes downhill and looks unwell I'd get him to a vet today.

What do you mean by chicken bones? I always seperate my dogs at meal times so they don't have to worry about someone else taking their food so they don't have to guard and gobble Three are in crates and one in the laundry.

Lamb flaps are good for putting weight on but do they really want to fatten them up at that age? I'd be inclined to feed BARF but just more than they are currently having. They are probably just growing madly and getting to the leggy stage.

Yes it is not uncommon in toy breeds. Sometimes their knees are good when they are younger but as they grow and the back legs straighten a bit the problem begins. Hopefully he will come good and not need surgery but it's a wait and see. A good idea to speak to his breeder too.

She's not too little to have bones. If you are worried you could do what I do with young pups. I attack the chicken necks with the meat cleaver so they get sort of smashed up. I don't cut them into pieces but it just sort of mashes them a bit so they can't swallow them whole.

Did the vet maybe recommend bran? It does sound odd suggesting All Bran :p I have a friend who gives her dogs lots of veggies cause she reckons it's good that they do 'nice big poos'. So long as the dog is not constipated I wouldn't worry.

So glad he's okay

First time I've read a post wishing someone gassy farts! I'll second it though. I had a GSP get into a bin of dry food years ago and she was fine. Gave me a bit of a worry though. I hope all is well.

Yes it's liver. The dogs love it and so do I but I prefer mine fried up with bacon thanks!

I have one girl who will not eat liver. I've tried chopping it really finely and mixing it through but she does her best to pick it out. I've watched her pick it up and spit it out! :p Though the other day I was chopping liver and she was begging for it along with the others!! I do make an exception for her and cook liver just a little so she will eat it. The others all love it raw

How do you mean immunosuppresssed? What illiness exactly? I agree! I take a calculated risk every morning, five day a week when getting out of bed and going to work, I mean just you never know who I will want to choke! (Sorry couldn't help myself ) :p How true!! I've had a dog choke on processed food. The silly thing is I'd promised her owner I'd not give her a chicken neck cause she was paranoid she'd choke on them so I bought her some food and gave me a very big fright! She was okay but very close.

What share my raspberries??! I've given mine blueberries on ocassion and they loved them.