I'm after some advice on bringing a new puppy into the home... we already have 2 Toller boys, aged 6 and a half and 5.. and our new cocker puppy bitch was born 2 weeks ago, so will be bringing her home in 7 or 8 weeks. I'm just after some ideas on how best to introduce them if anyone's got experience of this sorta thing??

wow,talk about little time anymore,lol.Week 2 he was taught the heel command but my goodness,everything comes so easily to him except for this one...it took him 2 weeks to get it.He got it though,lol.We are also adding distractions to his stay,and come with distractions.This week past he was also started with targeting.He was suppose to have right turn to heel added this week but since he was still having trouble with the heel itself,she is waiting for next Monday to add it.Overall he is doing absolutly great with his training.I am very proud of him...if you guys hadn't noticed,lol!!!

Nothingness: what kind (size) of tank/bowl are they in? Bettas actually live in mud puddles in asia (i think Asia) and so they can take not having the water changed that much.My sister in law once left hers go for so long (I don't recommend this,lol) that you could not see in the bowl!!! God Bless the little guy cuz he was fine and dandy! You might check with the pet store too,they can help.

Nothingness: Never had bettas, but I've had tropical fish.....can you use a vacuum pump to clean the tank(not near the nest obviously)? - I used to do ours once daily for like ten minutes, kept the water crystal-clear OR what about an under-gravel (or whatever you've got on the bottom) pump?.....You might need to invest a bit of money, but that's the fun of keeping fish

yes that is what im using(greatbear) but i still have to change it on a weekly basis.

woof woof bark woof bark yap yip grrrr

Nothingness:My sister seems to have good luck using bottled water with her betta, doesn't seem like she has to change it as often, Don't know if that is of any use or not :)

 i recently bought a pair of bettas male/female im having trouble with dirty water. i want to breed them, but by the time the male builds the nest the water needs to be changed.  Filters are not good for bettas b/c i have heard that they can deystroy the nest and the bettas are keen to filters. so how cna i do this. i tried ot use a pump to get rid of the excrement but that is really horrible and it dont work really well. any advice?

Sorry,a little behind on his progress report,lol.He strated his intermidiate training this past Monday.After I learned the right way to command him to my side,he picked up on it rather fast,lol.He is als learning to sit without moving with distractions going on around him such as me and the trainer throwing the ball or me walking around squeeking a toy.He learns very fast..alot faster then I seem to catch on,lol!!

srnity:

anastasia: Thanks again for all the input...Other than taking her to swim, hike thru the forest, or play with other dogs, she stayed home - you could say goodbye, tell her to be good, and go - for the first time, she seems to have a problem with being left, guess I just thought that was something that only young dogs dealt with, she's approx. 8/9 yrs. old...But, some good news, she's eating some (only in the middle of the night ) but she's eating

srnity: I agree with not giving her any meds,she will come through this.I would suggest though that maybe after a few weeks you get back to a normal routine with her...Did you always take her everywhere that you went before this happened? If not then I would say slowly go back to that routine.Dogs thrive on consistancy.You may be accidently feeding into her anxiaty (sp) by taking her everywhere.She may need to just see Mom leave and then see that hey..Mom WILL come back after all.I'm not an expert but I am just telling you what I have been told by a trainer.Good luck and please keep us all posted !!!

srnity: She is obviouls ylooking to you now, she is showing her softer nature, maybe this is a turning point for her, sometimes that happens when you lose something close to you.

WatfordFC: There are times I'm still nervous that she'll take a piece outta me for no apparent reason - this dog has deep-seated issues... I'm not used to her being around me so much, she's usually with my sons...I wake up at night now with her sitting on my bed staring at me...wish she could speak her mind

srnity: Yes of course she knows it, at a time of need you always go to the one you love and feel safe with , this is what she is doing, like humans would do too.

WatfordFC:Ironically, tho, I'm the one she likes the least - she was an abuse-case (they both were) & whomever hurt her must've been female - for the first yr or so, I truly expected her to take a nice chunk outta me at some point just because she could - but I love her & I guess she knows it

srnity: I know you are giving her plenty of TLC, right now she is confused, she wants to be by your side, she feels safe and secure when she is around you

WatfordFC: TLC's not a problem - personal space is tho - she's now like a one-yr-old who can't let go of you - Getting the bathroom door open is now a heavy-lifting event due to her girth pinned against it - I've been taking her everywhere I go (other than work) so she's not alone - took her swimming in the woods & to play with doggie friends but she won't leave my side or just lay down and relax - Guess I feel like there's something I'm supposed to be doing that I haven't thought of

srnity: Its not for me to say, but, i dont think i would give doggie anything, jsut give doggie plenty of tlc, she will soon come around

anastasia: Thank You both, I guess nature just has to run it's course...They were both bought home together from the same shelter & had their own l'il comical routine...I called the vet & they suggested "doggie-downers" but I worry when giving my kids meds, never mind an animal

srnity: a chammomile spray might help,I would just let it run it's course though,I believe that they mourn just like we do.Just give lots of love and affection.My dalmatian missed my Dad something fierce after he died,he couldn't figure out where Grandpa went,would look through his house for him for a long time :(

srnity: It certainly sounds like your doggie is missing her mate, i would expect she is quite fractious. Give her time and plenty of TLC and i am sure she will be fine.

Thank You All for your kind words for my Little Guy's passing...Now my doggie won't eat (they used to eat together) and can't seem to stop pacing thru the house all night (that was Big Poppa's time to shine). I'm wary of drugging her (she gets sick off her annual rabies shot, etc.) & was wondering if anyone knows of anything herbal/natural that I might try to at least get her to relax at night? Anything would be appreciated

Dolittle: Yeah.. I remember Ginger and Cindy,... they like never learned.. they always chased after them.. with the same results! LOL

ScarletRose:She is ok now but was a sick widdle girl all that night. Know those frogs eat bugs and are good for a garden but I wish they would stay out of my back yard!!

srnity:  Sorry to hear of your loss..

srnity: So sorry for you your loss :(

I discovered recently that the common garden toad is also poison to pets. My little Shih Tzu bit one and she was frothing at the mouth also. Was sick and throwing up all night!

anastasia: Ok, thank you for that. Oliver seems ok, still eating and drinking. I will certainly be keeping my eye out for the dreading slugs.

WatfordFC: A few times after hard rains,they would come up onto our patio and Damien would eat them to (Unknown to me..my husband told me!) Our nieghbor said that slugs are sweet tasting to them..mine also got sick and was frothing at the mouth and throwing up.Now,I REALLY try to keep him away from them.

Ok, I have noticed that my cat OLiver has been taken to eating rather large black slugs, which he seems to vomit back up again. I know this doesnt sound very nice, and i apologise to anyone who maybe reading this whilst eating their breakfast, lunch/dinner. Does anybody know if the common garden black slug is harmful to cats?

I am so proud of him!!

srnity:

srnity:

Just a note of remembrance for all who care to see to say how very dearly I will miss God's most perfect pet, Big Poppa, our ferret, who passed on this morning. Thank You Little Man for almost three years of cherished memories, kisses, and all the laughter and joy you brought into our lives. May you be happy, healthy, and cage-free forever & never forget that mommy loves you, no matter what

???
http://www.worth1000.com/entries/41500/41613UAcy_w.jpg
cool snaps
http://globalcop.us/hello/1184450/1024/London%20Churchill%20Museum%20247-2005.04.11-17.21.11.jpg
http://www.danheller.com/images/LatinAmerica/Mexico/Estuary/flying-grey-heron-big.jpg
http://www.sassys-snaps.com/WL_02-200.jpg

anastasia: I couldn't get the link to work :(

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nobleheart: the dishwasher one kills me because Damien tries to get into ours too!!!!

http://www.great-dog-gift.com/images/bad_dog_8.jpg
http://astro.temple.edu/~jjbaron/Vegas.jpg
http://data1.blog.de/blog/a/and-one-blog/img/424-bad_dog%5B1%5D.jpg
http://www.great-dog-gift.com/images/Bad_Dog_3.jpg
http://blog14.fc2.com/k/kswcd/file/bad-dog.jpg
my cat failed to see the humour in this one:
http://www.watherwax.com/images/baddog2.jpg
artists might get the humour in this one:
http://www.worth1000.com/entries/112500/112955lQSP_w.jpg
http://www.strangecosmos.com/images/content/4399.jpg

nobleheart: He is just to cute :):)

imsoaddicted: You should come down south, ceratinly not rare round here ! Cute as anything as pups, but tend to get a bit 'chunky' as they get older.. though I suppose that could be said about yellow and black labs too.. though not retrievers in general. In fact all the other 5 breeds of retievers don't have that trait (generally!) .. just a lab thing !

imsoaddicted: LOL...now THAT makes sense!!!!

anastasia: #
i live in NE United Kingdom and as your in the states i guess that could be the reason..lol

This past Monday at training was pretty much just recapping all he has learned,to test his duration of things like stay,sit,and down.His socialization skills,stuff like that.He graduates from puppy kindergarden this coming Monday!!!

nobleheart: AWWWWW!!!!!