[xenon]

Yes our lab took a few weeks to house train. We used newspaper as he just ate the puppy pads.

Try and use the cage as a sanctuary for him rather than a punishment - we encouraged him to go in and out of it as he pleased then it wasn't traumatic if we had to keep him in there for some reason.

We had a tiny amount of chewing until 6 months and after that he's been as good as gold.

[Blacktemplar]

Get a 335dog

[ajfoggy]

So had Dylan a couple of week and here are my thoughts:

1. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
2. The dog smell is worse than I thought it would be.
3. He is getting up too early.
4. He is licking the 16 month old way too much.
5. Random pisses still occurring.

Main one for me is the dog smell, how do you get rid of this without getting rid of the dog. I have been to peoples houses that have dogs and no smelly house. How is this achieved?

He has had a bath but still smells...

Any recommendations?

[M40CCA]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

So had Dylan a couple of week and here are my thoughts:

1. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
2. The dog smell is worse than I thought it would be.
3. He is getting up too early.
4. He is licking the 16 month old way too much.
5. Random pisses still occurring.

Main one for me is the dog smell, how do you get rid of this without getting rid of the dog. I have been to peoples houses that have dogs and no smelly house. How is this achieved?

He has had a bath but still smells...

Any recommendations?

It's with him been young mate the oils are still establishing in his coat

[xenon]

It might be about the oils establishing - I'm no expert - but we didn't have that issue but we do use a good doggy deodorant (anti-bacterial) which comes in a trigger spray and we'll use it once a week and there is no issue.

You will have to train him not to lick the baby, that sound extremely dangerous given the diseases dogs can potentially spread through saliva.

Random pisses may occur for another couple of weeks - tiled and laminate floors are a lifesaver here!

[McBride]

I'd be interested to know people's experiences with insurance for dogs?

We've got a lhasso and a schitzu both are about 7 now and I was saying to the Mrs yesterday that we should get them insured as like humans the problems start as they get older.

There are a few problems I know they have which I don't expect the insurance to cover. Eg the lhasso has a problem with his hip joints which may need operating on at some point.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by McBride

I'd be interested to know people's experiences with insurance for dogs?

We've got a lhasso and a schitzu both are about 7 now and I was saying to the Mrs yesterday that we should get them insured as like humans the problems start as they get older.

There are a few problems I know they have which I don't expect the insurance to cover. Eg the lhasso has a problem with his hip joints which may need operating on at some point.

The trouble with insurance for dogs (as everything) is it is risk based so as they get older the premiums ramp up, and of course pre existing conditions are excluded. We have three dogs and dont have them insured - I consider three is enough to apply the principles of self insurance with risks spread already!

[xenon]

We have a "whole life" policy which costs £35 per month which can obviously add up to quite a lot but we had an MRI which was over £4,000 which I wouldn't have fancied paying in one go.

It's an approach to risk but I'd hate to almost choose between effective treatment and cost and the £35 is a cost which is overlooked now and just happens.

[TouringPleb]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

So had Dylan a couple of week and here are my thoughts:

1. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
2. The dog smell is worse than I thought it would be.
3. He is getting up too early.
4. He is licking the 16 month old way too much.
5. Random pisses still occurring.

Main one for me is the dog smell, how do you get rid of this without getting rid of the dog. I have been to peoples houses that have dogs and no smelly house. How is this achieved?

He has had a bath but still smells...

Any recommendations?

We Hoover everyday, sometimes twice a day when they are moulting badly. Don't let them on sofas etc as they (the sofas) then start smelling. And we normally have as many windows open as the weather will allow.

The only time I really notice the smell from mine is when they are wet.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by xenon

We have a "whole life" policy which costs £35 per month which can obviously add up to quite a lot but we had an MRI which was over £4,000 which I wouldn't have fancied paying in one go.

It's an approach to risk but I'd hate to almost choose between effective treatment and cost and the £35 is a cost which is overlooked now and just happens.

£400 a year is a lot of vets bills, and I wonder if an MRI scan was really necessary if the insurance wasnt paying? we have had dogs for all of my life, and often multiple and I have never had a bill higher than £500 and that was for injuries from a road accident....

As always, its a personal thing with insurance.

[Blacktemplar]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

1. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
2. The dog smell is worse than I thought it would be.
3. He is getting up too early.
4. He is licking the 16 month old way too much.
5. Random pisses still occurring.

He has had a bath but still smells....

Weirdly, this description could apply to one of my teenage offspring

[simon.]

Re insurance. My advice would be to cover for 1st 2 years or so as that's when any likely illness could well show itself (during maturing etc) then chance with cancelling the cover & putting the cash away for vets bills.

The buggers know how to milk you & a lot of vet bills are around the £60/80 excess figure so you never get to claim. Better to put £20/30 away a month & have a pot to use IMHO

[ajfoggy]

So Dylan is settling in nicely!



He is now trained to go outside to his toilet area!

Which is great but leads to another problem, the stink!

I bought some stuff which worked a treat but cost £16 and I used the whole bottle I'm not prepared to spend that every week.

Any tips/recommendations on what to use, would standard bleach be ok?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

So Dylan is settling in nicely!



He is now trained to go outside to his toilet area!

Which is great but leads to another problem, the stink!

I bought some stuff which worked a treat but cost £16 and I used the whole bottle I'm not prepared to spend that every week.

Any tips/recommendations on what to use, would standard bleach be ok?

The stink where? In the garden?

[ajfoggy]

Originally Posted by teaston

The stink where? In the garden?

Yeah sorry, down the side of the house where we have trained him to go.

I used this stuff:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simple-Solu.../dp/B004HYU79O

and it work but obviously the smell returns 7-10 days later. But don't want to spend that every couple of weeks.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

Yeah sorry, down the side of the house where we have trained him to go.

I used this stuff:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simple-Solu.../dp/B004HYU79O

and it work but obviously the smell returns 7-10 days later. But don't want to spend that every couple of weeks.

I pick up all my dogs poo with a trowel & put it in a poo bag, tie it up and put it in the wheelie bin.

[ajfoggy]

Originally Posted by Lobb

What do you feed him on?

Purina ProPlan Puppy

[ajfoggy]

Originally Posted by teaston

I pick up all my dogs poo with a trowel & put it in a poo bag, tie it up and put it in the wheelie bin.

Yeah we do, i presume the smell is coming from the number 1s.

All the twos are picks up and remove as they are dropped

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

Yeah we do, i presume the smell is coming from the number 1s.

All the twos are picks up and remove as they are dropped

Oh i see, doesn't he wee on the grass?

[ajfoggy]

Originally Posted by teaston

Oh i see, doesn't he wee on the grass?

Nope every time he did anything from the start I took him down the side of the house and now he just goes down there if you open up the back door.

[Norris-wf]

We used to used jeyes fluid and wash with a yard brush and water. It's still a strong smell but it's a better one at least.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

Nope every time he did anything from the start I took him down the side of the house and now he just goes down there if you open up the back door.

Retrain him to wee on the grass, that's what lawn grass is for!