Positively | Victoria Stilwell | Forum

What Mattie said.

And - WHAT has changed in your/his life/routine? He sounds stressed.

I'd say forget the legs for now, but thighs are okay. There is a spiky little bone in chicken drumsticks that I'm never wholly happy with, even if it is well cushioned by meat. I know in practice it doesn't seem to matter, but if I'm uneasy about something I tend to go with it - there are plenty of ...

I think bringing in a dog that is used to living outside is just another stressful change. The baby is enough for now surely? I'm sure as long as the baby and dog do get to see each other supervised, as others have described above, the dog will get used to it. Also keeping dog outside, at least it ...

Also with real phone calls - explain to your regular callers that everything will be taken by the answering machine for now. Because - when the phone rings, do you leap up and run to answer it? Do you sound happy and loud HEY HELLO JULIE etc.? No more of that. Phone rings and you ignore it! The answ...

How long are his walks/runs? Cockers are very very energetic dogs, this is why I am asking.

Your plans for the dog are good, but babies and toddlers are still very frightening to many dogs, and little fingers can HURT, so the problem won't go away once baby is toddling - quite the reverse. You can't put an age on it as all children are different, but most want to provoke a reaction from a ...

How much and what sort of exercise does he get?

First he needs a physical check from vet., who will need all the information you have given us here. If he is on high-protein food or dried food, try him with fresh food. Some dogs react badly to the additives in processed food. What is your exact routine when visitors come? Start with the knock/rin...

Such good advice. This will be hard work but worth it.

or - just possibly - an infection?

If it happens again - almost certainly so.

Dear Heaven. As has been said, we'll never know the whole story. I for one (despite the ages of the people involved and the implications in this case) believe that small children/babies and dogs of any sort do not mix, except under very careful supervision from responsible dog-aware people. Not too ...

They are tougher than they look

I've fed raw for a long time now but I can still remember how nervous I was to start with! :D treats - baked liver, bits of cheese, pieces of carrot, raw nuts - I'm sure others can add suggestions. No to the pet shop rawhides and pig ears - they have chemicals added to stop them rotting. No your dog...

I'm a great believer in the art of the possible :D You can make gates and fences higher with wire netting - doesn't look pretty but he can't get a grip on it - or as mattie suggested. Some terriers are very good climbers (ours is). You can have a pen put up in the garden if the fence is not so good ...

So long as he gets a run before you leave him, he should be able to wait until you get home now. Do you feed him just before you leave? Often dogs need to poo after they have eaten, so a final trip outside - not a run - after he has eaten may bring extra results. You'll soon get to know his pattern ...