DogPaddle

I don't have a pom but I would suggest you trim the but hairs and feed Evo - poops are never soft for my boys, very unlikely they would get left in what fur was left on the butt.

[quote]Really?? That's the first tick you pulled off one of your dogs? [/quote] Yup, ticks aren't sooo big a problem in a lot of areas around here. The ones we do have, have the same tendancy to Lymes etc but there are less ticky areas. We are just a touch farther north here. The most tick infested places are along the lake SW of here. Probablly about 50km south and on the lake were the temperature is a bit more moderate. And that just happens to be were I was walking the boys - Rondeau Park on the lake.

[quote]Is it a full moon or something?[/quote] Nope we are nearly at the opposite - dark moon, no moon, whatever. I think it was likely a case of an accidental injury from play leading to scrappiness. It may be more likely to happen for a few months with a new addition but they will likely not be a problem.

Thanks for the reassurance, he'll probably be fine.

I removed a tick from Zaphod today. It has probably been there since last weekend. I checked him when we done at the park but I missed it - it was in the fold under his chin. So from this experience I have to say: Ticks are gross. And I think I'll get frontline or whatever it is. Now I have to watch him and make sure he doesn't get sick or something.

[quote]sometimes he just lifts his paw and leaves it in mid air[/quote] Kavik does this while angling his head down and looking up to say please - pure ploy but it is cute. [quote]comes over to you and sits on your foot[/quote] Interesting, I thought that was a velcro dog sorta thing. Kavik used to do this as a puppy a lot. I can't see Zaphod as trying to express dominance over me. Towards people he is so amiable - he likes to take peoples seats when they get up but often gets out of them without being told when they come back. Must be a "love touch" thing. [quote]"returning the favor" but it makes it very difficult to continue petting her[/quote] Exactly.

Zaphod loves to have his chest and neck scrathed. When I do this he will raise his paw and rest it across my forearm. This can be annoying. If I remove his paw, he'll put it right back, over and over again. This seems like a curious, stubborn behaviour - any insight as to why he is obsessed with it.

Cool, thanks.

NP - I learned the oatmeal trick here from someone else and it has helped quite a few times for me and the dogs.

Nothing really although we were required to eat small amounts of dirt for my soil and water class - it's the only way to tell the difference between certain soil types in the feild - it has to do with silty/grittiness on the teeth. Either that or my prof. was a mean man with a funy sense of humour.

If she is lethargic and has greyish gums she needs to see a vet.

For training advise check the House Training Sticky in the Training section, there is good stuff there: [url]http://www.dogomania.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10960&sid=ee90327d2dcb72dd5ad03e0d7b88ddc3[/url] As for a good food you can try Innova or Evo: Y.K. Enterprises 011 81 791429933 1120-117, ISO AKO-City, Hyogo-Pre 678-02 OR you could try Wysong: IG Hawaii, Inc. P.O. Box 1450 Pearl City, HI 96782-1450 Tel: 800-667-1624 or 808-256-4633 Fax: 808-677-1592 or SSA: Shuwa Daikanyama Residence #605 9-5 Sarugaku Cho Shibuya-KU, Tokyo, 150 Japan OR Eagle Pack's Holistic line of food: Japan INDI Co. Tel: 81-47-383-0123 Fax: 81-47-387-1088 The itchy skin could be caused by food allergy so switching food might help. For temporary relief try putting oatmeal in sock or cloth and putting it in a warm bath and soaking the dog in the bath and with the sock or cloth - it soothes skin. As for the sleeping a lot - have you taken her to a vet. Do so and mention the sleeping and urinating behaviours. She might have a urinary tract infection or something. Corn syrup would certainly give her a suger rush but I don't think it would solve the actual problem. Stick with changing her food. Cottage cheese will provide some calcium and some protien for a dog. It's ok for them in moderation. You can investigate home prepared or BARF or RAW diets for dogs for more info. One of our members, TDG, knows a lot, perhaps she can give you some more info. Good luck and welcome to Dogo.

So if I'm not finding eggshell flakes or white chalky poops I'm good there, right?

I think every dog and situation is different and has to be evaluated on its own merits. Medical complications should be ruled out first. Mitigating circumstances should be evaluated - such as if the dog percieved a threat. In the end you have to evaluate whether the dog can be reliably rehabbed. If you can make it safe great. If you can't, the only responsible thing to do for you and others is to put it down.

Malamutes are a working breed. Malamutes look like big teddy bear dogs. People are likely breeding the biggest, teddybearest Mals they can and selling them for loads of money as "X-large Malamutes" to people who aren't prepared for a working breed, even one that is normally so sweet, freindly and laidback as a Malamute.

HF - How often would you have to trim to keep a poodle looking like that? It's so cute.

I'm so glad Buddy is safe. They are so tricky sometimes aren't they.

I don't worry about grinding my eggshells very fine. The boys will eat them mostly whole but a grind them down a bit so they get mixed throughout the prepared meal.

Cool. Nice to have peace of mind. Now can we see some pictures . . . please? :D

Great info guys. Another thing about cost is this: Sometimes the cheaper bags of dog food require you to feed your dog more/day, so they aren't really cheaper.

Little poodles are pretty cool. I prefer standerds but if you are going for a small dog a smaller poodle is a nice option. If you decide on a poodle, were you thinking of the Miniature Poodle (12-18lbs) or the Toy Poodle (4-8lbs)? I would suggest the Miniature Poodle as a 4-8lb dog would be a bit to small to be any fun for kids. Ooooh, all this deciding and options and stuff is making me want another dog. :lol:

The boys sometimes get into barky moods - no idea what causes it. *shrug* Anyway I hope the mood passes for yours soon. I know how frustratrating it can get.

I can't imagine how much that must have troubled her, being there and not being able to stop it. Hope she is ok.

Frozen cotton clothes are great.

Also, have you done crate acclimation training prior to putting him in it for the night? It isn't absolutely nec. but it makes it less stressful for him and quieter for you. Did you check the info in the Training sticky in the Training section?