Congratulations on your purchase.

Most puppies are sold at 2 months old because it is a 'suitable' time for it to be separated from its mother. Puppies should stay with their mom until 8 weeks old for milk, love, etc.

I think you should feed your dog more. Try going 3 meals a day for 3 months more before cutting down to 2 meals a day when he's 5 /6 months old.

Yes, everything can be trained at young age even though some might say start only after 4 months.

He is excited to see you, thus barking is a way to greet you "Welcome home, I missed you!" From what I have heard from ppl who has own dogs for many years more than I ever did, dogs build up gas within them so barking is part of their life, something they do (humans and cats dont bark, do they?) For dogs who seldom bark, they usually pass gas (kentut) very smelly...

Yes, all dogs love tummy rub. You can judge his comfortableness with tummy rub. Does he turn around and expose his tummy to you for rubbing? If so, then your dog is very comfy with you and the environment.

When you take the dog out from cage, always hold it for a while - I read this soemwhere, its so calm the dog down, slow his heart beat. Dont let it come out like a mad dog - bad habit.

No it is not a disease, some timid dogs like Golden Retrievers and such has this kind of problem when they are younger. It will go away when they get older but some cases, they never go away.

My dog is considered a fast learner but I dont have much time to teach him. Anyway, he learn to do his business on newspaper about 4 months after I got him.

4 newspaper, size of The Star, scattered in 2 by 2 size. But sometimes, he still miss. When I let him out, he sometimes misfire on the floor also. But now big already, he also dont pee / poo that often so not so stress while wiping off the floor.

Newspaper wont leak provided you be generous with it. I put like 20 pieces each on a 2x2, each slightly overlapping one another and mop the floor twice a day.

The black ink wont stain the floor because at most, the pee with soak only through 5 - 8 pieces of paper unless you leave it too long, then you are asking for trouble, the whole newspaper will soak through.

If they eat the newspaper, means that they dont have anything to chew. Please buy him some Greenies or Denta-Stix to chew. It is good for his teeth, stronger, less smelly, etc.

I think I can imagine your set up. I had a non-slip mat too but then I decided not to use it because its quite troublesome. It's heavy, the pee goes through and soak the newspaper. It smells later on so I decided to use the non-slip mat as a platform for him to stand properly while showering, so he does not slip and fall.

Casper wont eat his poo. He pees and poos on the papers. Poo never miss but pee sometimes he will miss. He still havent take up one leg to pee, squat and pee even though he is a male. 7 months old.

Yes, if pee on newspaper, quite easy kena leg but my play pen is fixed to the cage. My setup is [Cage]==| . I put 4 pieces of play pen, two on each side. This way, my house dog is like a runway. I place the newspaper furthest away from his cage. So its [cage][play place][newspaper].


Yea, it is quite thick. 20 pieces is quite thick correct, its better to let the dog use than to sell off to the old-newspaper-man.

I think you should train your dog not to bite paper. My dog used to do that, damn teruk some more. When I bought the wee wee pads from White Palace. I put 4 pieces in the evening and overnight, all become cotton flying around the house cause he rip it to shreds. Thats why I decided to use newspaper, cheaper and thicker, harder to bite.

I think you just need to find more things to put into the cage so he does not bite. Else, use the newspaper to scare him. Then he wont pee on newspaper, right? After that, place the newspaper on the ground, over the span of 3 - 5 days, always lure him to the newspaper with treats. As long as he step on the newspaper, just treat him. This way my dog stopped biting the papers already.

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Added on June 8, 2007, 11:11 amWhere to buy ah?? I never seen something that big before but I would like to purchase it if you can tell me where I can find one. Thanks.

This post has been edited by Pennywise: Jun 8 2007, 11:11 AM

Ok, coincidentally, I am going there tomorrow, I will be sure to check it out. thank you.

From what I read, some dogs didnt digest their food properly, so what go in will come out and when come out, still got food smell, so go in a second time.

If keep go in and out non stop, then you only need to feed your dog once a month! hehe... Housebreaking aid never works. You are better off without them but some ppl do claim it works. So far, I tried 2, never worked even a bit.

I didnt train him to squat, he memang pee like that since day 1 he was brought home.
Biocare green color thing? What is that? Tray is it?

Yea, I think 4 more months and he will start making every vertical object, that time have to be strict. My Westie also 7 months liao. 5 more months to go before he turns into terror!

Yes, I believe that to be true but yet to be seen. Hahaha...

Mochi,
End of the day, it boils down to how much you love your furkid and how much budget you have for the new pup.

What has been mentioned is true and good enough. You can skip things like nail clippers, tearless shampoo and etc. Get a regular shampoo - I believe not to shower the head for at least the first 5 times showering till they get used to it because once they hate showers, they will play catching with you inside.

Treats can be given to puppy any age. Look at greenies, petite, tiny - different sizes for different breed / age of dogs. Young pups, before even the age of 1, have very itchy teeth, always like to bite things, so the more you buy for them to bite, the better.

After all, if you feed him seldom or not sure if you are giving too little, a treat always help the empty stomach.

Supplements are optional. Its best that you can give it to the pup. Just like how your parents ask you to eat Cod Liver Oil or Vitamins. Its up to you whether to take it - dont have also it wont die. Start later also will not do any harm.

One thing you must prepare before purchasing a furkid is: MONEY.
1. Vaccination
2. Microchipped (if havent)
3. Cage
4. Pillow
5. Balls
6. Toys
7. Dog biscuit
8. Treats
9. Shampoo
10. Comb
11. Conditioner (depends on fur and breed)
12. Ear drops
13. Eye drops ( I would not advise to use it for the first few times, until later like when you already close to him for 2 months)
14. Cotton bud (becareful with these. There was once the cotton came off and stuck inside my Casper's ears)
15. Play pen if you plan to extend his home
16. Cleaning detergent to wipe the floor when he potty (I use Febreze from 99 Supermart)
17. Lots of tissue
18. After 4 - 6 months, first grooming (to make him look nice and got shape)


Basically, overall, you will spend quite a lot so save up on things you dont really need just yet like nail cutter, eye drops, etc.

Pillow can be human pillow but the small ones la. Or buy those where ppl put in the car wan, small one which you can find in Jusco for as low as RM5 each.

Eye drop, some people use it but I dont. I dont see the point, YET. Also, my vet told me its a good time to start brushing my furkid teeth. That's additional cost. Haha...

Basic grooming is like RM30 but I have no idea what they do. I only brought my Westie to grooming once at Seapark Pet Supplies, SS2 (same row with Poh Kong). RM70 groom out like cat like that, darn cute. Short short hair, white white, clean clean.

Westies are very much wirey haired and quite rough coat, when he came back from grooming, he look a lot like a white cat but his head only look like dog.

When you are inexperience and not familiar with bathing, try not to shower the head first - just wipe with a wet cloth. When you are more comfortable and your furkid also comfy, then you can start to buy tearless shampoo (I would recommend to start head-shower AFTER you finish your first bottle of shampoo).

Make your pointing-finger and middle-finger to look like a scissors. From the top of his head, point down so the pup nose is in between your fingers (yes, like your fingers going to cut off his nose like that), then slowly pour the water down. This is to ensure that all the water goes down to your fingers which is protecting his nose.

Also, wash the head last. Else, he will go shake like crazy later. Dont la put too much shampoo ya.. Just experiment and make sure no water gets into his ears. Buy those cotton balls from Watson and stuff them into the ears just before you shower the head. They will shake and the cottonballs will fly out but put somemore and hold your doggy so he does not struggle. This is why, familiarity and comfortableness is very important here.

Greenies are mainly sayur and as you know vege is good for your health so, giving him greenies will do him good - poo poo also easier. Like human la, if you eat too much meat, then how? Sometimes, just give him greenies is good but bloody expensive I know.

Fish oil, the bottle says 1 a day but sometimes I give 2. Usually I give them in the morning because oil mer, by at night can burn out liao. If you give in the evening, then go tidur, I think not so good - I dont know if this theory applies but I believe so. My theory ba!

Ok, if got own room, then no need play pen liao. Where do you intend to teach your furkid to do his biz? Also what dog are you getting?

Once a month is quite 'cedera parah' for my wallet so I only take my Westie to groom every 3 months.

Poodles I dunno but if its Maltese, can ask White Palace ma.

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Added on June 9, 2007, 2:08 amI dunno bout you guys but I actually prefer white furkids. Red or brown or black, not my cup of tea, especially black + fleas = damn difficult to track. Anyway, white furkid, you can tell straightaway if he needs a bath. Hahaha..

Corner of the room? Make sure that corner is quite big lor, at least can fit him because he guarantee wont go to the deepest corner. Roughly sampai that corner, he will lepas liao, so if you are planning to use newspaper (thestar newspaper as in the size), make sure its like this:
[thestar][thestar]
[thestar][thestar]

I will put 4 of them together, yes its quite big and yet he still misses sometimes. And I put about 20 pieces thick. No point saving on those newspaper anyway.

I think one of the very good website is www.dogbreedinfo.com; this site tells you about each breed and prone to what kind of diseases. Does not mean only Shih-Tzu will have eye diseases.

Not clip nail once a month larr... Nail is you clip when you feel he's sliding when he walks or it hurts when he scratches your knee when he comes up for attention. Once a month GROOMING... Means RM70 - 80 per month, can tahan boh? Thats why I prefer to do it 3 months once cause home dog, not show dog - grooming, sendiri cut a bit can already.

Oral B is for human so I dont know if its right for dog. I would go for the dog toothpaste instead just to be sure.

After finish first bottle, yes the head will be quite smelly but always use wet cloth to clean the head lor... Wet cloth, spray some perfume, its alright. I used to do that too. I got my furkid 1st Jan 2007. I only started showering his head on Apr.

About protecting his nose, using your finger, do the 'PEACE!' sign. Then put then upside down and go near your furkid nose and let the nose come inbetween the 'PEACE!' fingers. Then pour water, the water will flow down your fingers and onto the ground without kena the nose, faham?

Greenies is a brand and special type of treats, made out of vege. Go to any pet store and ask, you will see it almost anywhere. Greenies come in the shape of a little toothbrush, cute.

You wont spend so long in the toilet washing your dog wan la, dont be silly. If water get into his ears, wipe IMMEDIATELY. Make sure to keep it dry because when it wet, it will get infection EASILY. Then after shower, apply ear drops (I use this blue color ear drops that smells a bit minty one), then cover the ear flaps (if ur furkid has any) and massage the ear from outside, to make sure the ear drops golek golek inside its ears. Then let him go and he will shake like mad, all the ear dust will come out with the titis ear drops that fly out.

After that, try to use cotton bud and gently clean his ears, dont poke too deep inside. You will see a lot of brown things and this is the cause of dog smells. The most smelly part of a dog is the ears.

The whole eat evening primrose oils or fish oils in the morning, applies to humans so I thought it might apply for doggy also. So oil oil kind of thing, better give in the morning so while during the day they are active, can burn out before storing them become fats. You dont want a fat-dog right?

This post has been edited by Pennywise: Jun 9 2007, 02:08 AM

Oh yea, just to share an experience about nail cutting. There was once I cut too deep and my furkid bleed. He bark once and stopped, then I immediately bring him wash cold water for a while.

The blood is VERY red and quite a lot came out. I stop and use cloth to press on it for a while, stayed with him a bit. After that, he started licking his paw non-stop.

Do you know that dogs love the smell of blood? I cant be sure but I think it applies for my furkid. Like I recently had an accident and my right elbow is scratch and bleed quite badly, my dog love to come and smell but I wont allow him to lick it - germs.

From then, whenever I nail clip, I will cut very minimal only. No need cut until so short wan. After cut, I just use the nail sharpener on his paws, so it does not hurt when he scratches out thighs / legs.

Wee wee pad, you must at least use 4 piece if you were to put in a corner of the room because your furkid will not go to the most corner part of the room wan, roughly nearby only, it will pee liao.

I didnt know got doggy oral B so I have to check that out today or tomorrow at Ikano or somewhere else.

Perfume, spray on the body or spray on the hand and wipe the forehead lor at least, dont apply near the jaw there... Apply at his lower janggut also OK. Inhale is OK wan la, no problems.

I towel dry.

As for fish oil capsule, you can ask any pet store, sure got. For evening prim rose, I dont feed mine but my friend feed her Japanese Spitz evening prim rose for humans. Not regularly though.

My friend feed her dog EPO for human but rarely. I think only once a month.

Hah? Whats that? Cats is it? Whiner dog, never see before..

How old is your puppy? If you see him walk in circles, you better carry him to where he is supposed to do his business for example newspapers, outdoor, bathroom, etc. For puppy is easy because when they wanna poo or pee, they will circle. Take this time to teach him, as often as you can, carry him and run for your life to the business area.

After he grow up, he will stop circling, then its even harder to teach. That time, no hint for you. For me, I will suggest just keep repeatingly bring him to the business area. Even when you cannot cope with the speed of him doing business faster than you can bring him, still do it. For a long time (some is 1 week, some is 2 months), he will come to understand.

Casper whines like crazy. When I brought him to the vet today, he whines. When he was at the vet desk, he whines. When he is at home, he whines. Sometimes, they just want to manja... Puppy ma, like babies - cant expect them to not cry right?

Casper is ~7 months old only. Very notti wan. I think you see him also you cannot tahan but he likes lenglui wan. He is no.1 at kap-lui!!

What is it that you want to train him? Potty training is the first thing most owner wants. What dog and how many months?

Always target him when he is spinning in circles, sure got thing coming out! HAhaha...

Very honestly, I didnt believe it would work and every time he pee on the floor, I will push his head down and make him smell it and smack his butt gently, he will terkejut. Then over a period of time, I try to reward method and it really does seem better. So now, I want to endorse love-training for furkids, reward is the way to go..


Why is his eyes like that in the first place? Did you bring him to a vet for check-up before taking him home?

Hello my fren, he is your dog la, not you are his dog. You should be able to control him! What do you mean he wont let you clean it?

Tell you what. You try carrying him. Your left hand hold his right front paw. Your right hand hold his right back paw. Then bring him close to you and this way, his head will look to your left. Get someone else to clean their eyes then because this is the only way u can get ur dog to stay still.

You sure have lots of patient to potty-train your dog. Anyway, my casper is also semi- housebroken because now he is 7 months, seldom simply pee liao. Can tahan a few hours (6 hrs or more), so its ok for me to let him loose around the house. I calculate the last pee time and the next pee time. When come to near pee time, I will put him back in the cage.

4 months can tahan 24 hours?! ARE YOU SURE?!?! Back when Casper is 4 months, he pee so much more often!! Like every 4 hours or 3 hours, he has to go once!!

Yes, I taught Casper the wrong way too until I read a book about training dogs. I always try to tipu him to the newspaper with feeding him treats near there. Give him the mentality that if he has nothing to be afraid of the paper and if he comes on to the paper, he gets a treat. Not exactly consistent but I only did it for a week, then he's paper trained.

Now just that sometimes he cannot find his way home to pee. I think I can share with you another way to bond with your dog, bring him to your bed to sleep with you in the afternoon nap. That's what I do and it helps but sometimes he gets to anxious that he gets up and walk around and round because he doesnt know how to get down from the bed. Just give it a try if you dont mind!

This sound very serious. If you are going to touch the eyeball sure he wont let you la. I poke your eye with my finger also you wont let me right? Sure you will struggle. If you not sure how to handle, please send him to the vet asap. All the best.

Yea, like myself, I will calculate his pee and poo time. If he pee and poo at 7pm, I can let him stay on my bed till around 10pm or 11pm, then I scared liao. Scared he whack at my tilam, at night no need sleep...

Yea he does not mark around. But he especially like to pee on road bumps when we are out for a walk. I did not teach him to squat and pee, it has always been that way.

Pictures are here: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/284587/+1920

Perhaps you want to get a second opinion from a different vet? Anyway if its not so serious, then try not to worry about it. Ask for advice on how to reduce the irritation so he wont scratch so much on the eye.

West Highland. He pees on the newspaper at home. The pee will tumpah a bit if long time didnt change the newspaper but overall is ok. No open leg, just squat and pee.