Help -- Puppy issues

[adpiucf]

T*P-- it sounds like Violet's new crate is a little too large for her. I ran into this same issue with Riley. I ended up crate training her in her travel crate, rather than the large crate I'd bought for this same reason.

Hindsight is 20/20-- the best thing to have done initially would have been to purchase a crate that would suit her final adult size and partition it off so she had just enough room to settle down--- slowly giving her more room as she grew. But that's in the past!

Your new crate is too large for Violet-- as long as she has enough room, she will mess on one side and stay on the clean side.

Don't feed her in the crate--- crate time is nap time and play with her favorite toy time. If she eats in the crate, she's going to have to eliminate soon after. It's ok to treat her in the crate to get her used to being in it.

Section off part of the crate with a piece of wood or plastic. Violet should have just enough to room to circle and settle down. Gradually, you may be able to give her more and more room. You may be able to slowly condiiton her to treat the crate as a sacred "no pee" zone!

It's crate training all over again. It may feel slow and tedious, but this should solve your problem. Ask your vet-- let us know how it goes!

I hope this helps! PM me-- my cocker spaniel has tested my patience in the potty training department!!!

Pi Love,
ADPiUCF

[JennRN]

Originally posted by James
Random question: When does your inability to spend time with a pet effect whether you should get a pet or what type of pet you should get?

I mean, lets say you work and live alone so your pet has to be by itself for say around ten hours. Is that good for a dog? Is that ok for a cat? You don't crate cats right?

I know most of us think: We want a pet, and then force the critter into our lifestyle, but I was wondering what our responsibility to the pet was.

I guess the person that can spend more time with a pet, or has more people in the household to spend time with the pet, is in fact a better owner? Because they can fufill the pets needs better?

I think your lifestyle definately should determine what kind of pet you get. For instance, I really wanted a dog. However, I'm at the hospital 12-14 hours a day ( a shift actually)-and I live 40 minutes from work, so it's not like I can just run home at lunch and let a dog out. My husband is gone for about 8-9 hours a day, and he's not that close to home either. I would never buy a dog, and make him sit inside in a crate for that amount of time-I'd feel too badly about it. ( Not saying crating is bad, I'm saying I would feel bad leaving an animal in a crate for that long).

So, we have 2 cats-they're fairly self sufficient, have run of the house, and have food and water sitting out for them when they need it.

I don't know that I'm not a better owner for pets than someone who is home all day-or a worse owner at that-I just realized what my limitations are, and what kind of animal fits into my life.

[Optimist Prime]

I want a puppy. I'm getting a Beagle puppy soon.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

You know what? Why don't you shut your piehole.

-- We were overdue for a little more venom in this thread

[Lindz928]

I crate-trained my little Chihuahua, and then moved her from the crate to a gated kitchen when I was gone. Now, after 3 years, we have gotten used to each other's schedules and I am able to leave her out all day while I am at work. She knows that she goes outside as soon as I wake up, and as soon as I get home, and again before bed. She rarely has accidents anymore. And she also still has her own little "bed", so she feels comfortable.

She is also one of those dogs who LOVES her crate (I can't bring myself to call it a cage). She has a traveling crate now, and if I leave it out for her, she will just go hang out in there whenever she feels like having quiet time. She is wonderful.


And GW, just being from Highland Park does not automatically make someone a good or reputable breeder.

[aggieAXO]

Originally posted by Lindz928


And GW, just being from Highland Park does not automatically make someone a good or reputable breeder.

Exactly! Plus, I can't believe that Highland Park would not put a limit on the number of pets you can have. They are probably in violation of the city code running a breeding facility out of their "mansion".

Sine they breed Cavalier King Charles do they have a cardiologist screen all their breeding stock and puppies? Also, are their labs OFA certified?

[aggieAXO]

Originally posted by AKA_Monet
Doesn't it also depend on the breed of the animal? Just asking?

And my husband is studying for another Board exam--lab animal--the Diplomate from ACLAAM... We will be at the AVMA this year.

He wants a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Of course as a puppy. But, we don't have any land... Which means that for that kind of breed, leaving it in the house would drive it nuts, crated or not... At least that is what all the vets at Comp. Med. are telling me...

So essentially for large dogs, that have "schizophrenic tendencies", what would you advise for crating as puppies, i.e. Huskies? But what about for small dogs with open fontenelles, i.e. Chiauahuas [sp?]? Just asking?

I have never had a dog growing up because my mom was allergic to their fur. So I had a pet brother.

Most crating I deal with is for large breed dogs/puppies, I rarely have clients that crate their yorkies or chihuahuas. As a puppy the small breeds need to eat frequently so make sure if they are crated to include food and water in the crate so they can snack all day and avoid hypoglycemia.

I went to AVMA last year in Minnesota. The meeting was ok but not alot of useful info for EC vets. This year I will be attending the VECCS meeting in April which is a carribean cruise-this should be lots of fun.

One of the doctors I work with breeds Rhodesians. I don't particularly like breeding or breeders but she is a responsible one and her dogs are well manored, OFA registered and well cared for. Pm me if you would like more info.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally posted by aggieAXO
I would not recommend these places for a puppy under 4-6 months of age as even if fully vaccinated I have had puppies contract parvo virus.

Parvo is really bad out here too... Why is it so abundant? I cannot get a straight answer from my husband...

Also what are the SOP's when bird flu (H5N1 strain--I think) "flies over to America"?

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by georgewallace3
I did get both of my dogs from a breeder....who also does not crate their dogs.

The fact that anybody is breeding dogs is more offensive than crate training could ever be. There, I said it. Bring the wrath.

[georgewallace3]

Originally posted by valkyrie
The fact that anybody is breeding dogs is more offensive than crate training could ever be. There, I said it. Bring the wrath.

I am not going to say anything other than you are an idiot, and that might be the most moronic statement I have ever heard.

[georgewallace3]

Originally posted by aggieAXO
Exactly! Plus, I can't believe that Highland Park would not put a limit on the number of pets you can have. They are probably in violation of the city code running a breeding facility out of their "mansion".

Sine they breed Cavalier King Charles do they have a cardiologist screen all their breeding stock and puppies? Also, are their labs OFA certified?

yes yes and yes to everything....our breeders for our Cavaliers are Mary Grace and Ted Eubank.....you can look them up if you would like......I am not giong to waste my time with you

[texas*princess]

Do we really need to be name-calling?

I really just want to talk about doggie day cares and potty issues!

[aggieAXO]

Originally posted by georgewallace3
I am not giong to waste my time with you

Oh darn, I should be only so lucky to spend time speaking to you .

Parvo virus is a very hardy virus and can survive up to 1 year in the environment and is very contagious. While the vaccine is recommended, It is not 100% effective (no vaccine is but it seems when dogs are vaccinated against distemper or rabies they usually will not come down with these viruses but I don't always feel this way with parvo as have had some puppies become infected despite current vaccine status-this usually only applies to puppies, I rarely have adults come down with parvo).

As far as avian flu goes-I leave that up to the CDC vets and public health veterinarians. I don't typically treat chickens (or other birds, though had to treat a rooster last night b/c he had been tazered by the cops in east Austin b/c he attacked them).

[georgewallace3]

Sorry, I had a bad night......where in Austin do you live? And do you take care of dogs at all?? I was being a jerk, so I feel hypocritical asking, but I am moving to Austin for Law School at UT and I am bringing my Black Lab and my Catahoula Leopard with me......both are 4 months old. I definitely need to find a Vet, and I don't know of any in Austin. I have an apartment already on 5th St. right down from the bars on 6th St. (good location, im psyched).

Thanks for any help...

[aggieAXO]

no problem. I work at an emergency clinic so you proabbly don't want to see me unless you have to (we don't do routine care). I can PM you with recommended day clinics later but first I need to get some sleep as I just got off work and am tired.