[Titsaii]

Hi

:)

I am wondering, I both have a dashund and a mixed poodle in the house whom I loved so much. Will there be any peace around the house? I mean, they keep on playing and I often wonder if the other is jealous or something.. its crazy.. they both have separate feeding bowls but the other won't eat unless they eat together in one bowl.. weird..

[labman]

I don't see too much of a problem. If they are younger dogs, the play will be continuous and active. It they are happy eating out of one bowl. Let them. I wouldn't break it up unless you are having trouble controlling their weight. Like us, over weight is a big problem for dogs. Even lean dogs die much too soon. No sense making it come even sooner by over feeding. Here is a good way to know how much to feed to protect you dogs and your heart, http://www.purina.com/dogs/nutrition.asp?article=292.

[Titsaii]

Hi.. so that's normal, them playing more often. I appreciate you catering to our concerns, I am also wondering if its really better to feed them dry food? I gave them dry dog food and poo smells bad whereas the last time I gave them canned food, it didn't smell at all. :o

[labman]

Dry dog foods are actually better for the dogs. It helps keep the teeth
Clean, and exercises the jaws and teeth. It is also easier to measure out the exact amount to control weight, none of the round to half or quarter of a can. I am not sure what to say about the smell. You might try a different dry food. I found Pro Plan lamb produced worse smelling stools than the chicken I standardly feed. Sudden changes of diet can upset digestion which always makes worse smelling stools.

It was active here over Christmas with a 2 month Lab/Golden cross, a 4 month old Lab, an 18 month Australian Cattle dog, a 2 1/2 year old Lhasa/Min Pin, and an 11 year old Lab. The 3 younger dogs played together very well, with me only occasionally needing to rescue the baby. The Lhasa mix is a yapper. The old Lab mostly laid around and snapped at any dog that came near. She is quite active and demands a nice walk every day.

[tiger_3leg]

I agree with Labman. It all sounds pretty normal and like there's really nothing to "fix." Dry dog food is much better for the teeth and diet, so don't give any canned - or any human food.
As far as the smell, it seems that the better quality or richer the food is, the stinkier the poop. I have my foster kittens on Eukanuba and they have the worst smelling poo I've ever known! But they are very healthy, so I know it's not a problem with them. Sometimes you have to deal with the bad to give your pets the best care! ;)
If you switch their foods at all, make sure to do it slowly by mixing it 1/2 and 1/2 for a few days to give their systems time to adjust.
All the best.

[Titsaii]

Hey thanks.. you just saved me my pesos. Canned food also is expensive, I can actually use more of the dry food. So my problem is normal hahah. I'm just overreacting because I'm a new dog owner and everything is absolutely foreign to me.. even the way they behave it freaks me out if I feel if there is something wrong. They are both indoors and I plan to let them stay inside but they poo everywhere, I mean nothing like a firm NO stops them. :o

[Titsaii]

I tried to GRADUALLY change their food from canned to dry.. still their poo smells but no problem anymore. Its how they poo, like everywhere. Its crazy.. I kept catching them in the act and telling them no, but still. I know how crates are good but I cannot imagine letting in those, I cannot stomach it. Will the newspaper solve this? Like after eating, let them stay on a pile of newspaper?

[labman]

A mess in a crate is nasty to deal with. Weather permitting the best solution is to drag it outside and use the garden hose. Still, a crate with a rack in it makes it tolerable as long as it is high enough to keep the dog up out of the filth. We have winter here, zero F over christmas. You need to go with crates and start housebreaking all over again.

Housebreaking starts before you get home with the new puppy. If you don't have a crate, buy one. I prefer the more enclosed, den like plastic ones. Skip the
Bedding. At first it gets wet, and later it can be chewed into choking
Hazards. A wire rack in the bottom will help keep the puppy up out of
Accidents at first. They are available with the crates, but a piece of closely
Spaced wire closet shelving from a home supply place is cheaper. If you
Already have a metal crate, covering it may help. Just make sure you use
Something the puppy can't pull in and chew. Dogs that start in crates as
Little puppies, accept them very well. Never leave an unattended puppy loose
In the house. If nobody can watch it, put it in the crate. I suggest letting
The dog have its crate all its life.

Choose a command and spot you want it to use. The less accessible to strays,
The less chance of serious disease. If it is a female, choosing a
Non grassy spot will avoid brown spots later. When you bring it home, take it
To the spot and give it the command in a firm, but friendly voice. Keep
Repeating the command and let the puppy sniff around. If it does anything,
Praise it. Really let it know what a good dog it is and how much you love it,
And maybe a treat. Note, being out there not only means you can praise it,
But it also keeps it from being snatched by a hawk. If it doesn't go, take it
Inside and give it a drink and any meals scheduled. A young puppy will need to
Go out immediately afterward. Go to the spot and follow the above routine.
Praising it if it goes is extremely important. If it doesn't go, take it back
Inside and put it in its crate and try again soon. Do not let it loose in the
House until it does go.

At first it is your responsibility to know and take the puppy out when it
Needs to go. It needs to go out the first thing in the morning, after eating,
Drinking, and sleeping. If it quits playing, and starts running around
Sniffing, it is looking for a place to go. Take it out quickly. You will just
Have to be what I call puppy broke until it is a little older.

By the time most dogs are about 3 months old, they have figured out that if
They go to the door and stand, you will let them out. The praise slowly shifts
To going to the door. Some people hang a bell there for the dog to paw. If
Your dog doesn't figure this out, try praising it and putting it out if it
Even gets near the door. A stern "Bad dog!" is all the punishment that is
Effective, and only when you catch it in the act and are sure you didn't miss
It going to the door. Clean up accidents promptly. I mostly keep the little
Puppies out of the carpeted rooms. Still I need the can of carpet foam
Sometimes. First blot up all the urine you can with a dry towel. Keep moving
It and stepping on it until a fresh area stays dry. A couple big putty knives
Work well on bowel movements. Just slide one under it while holding it with
The other. This gets it up with a minimum of pushing it down into the carpet.
This works with even relatively soft ones, vomit, dirt from over turned house
Plants, or anything else from solids to thick liquids. Finish up with a good
Shot of carpet foam. Note, do not let the puppy lick up the carpet foam.
Once the dog is reliably housebroken, your carpet may need a good steam cleaning.

Many people strongly strongly push cleaning up all evidence of past accidents. I am slower to suggest that. Dogs will return top the same spot if they can find it. When you see one sniffing the spot, that is your clue to run it out.