I'm sorry, but I've got 20-questions...hahaha

[Bobbi Park]

1,   Has anybody heard of using Valarian oil as a calmative?

2.   What can I do about brushing his hair...he HATES the brush?

3.   My Coco is 3+ months old and seems to need more than 2 cups a day of food....

4.   What can I do to keep him from bein' so rough with my cat, Whizzy?  He doesn't hurt him, but has him constantly running?

5.   How many 'treats' are appropriate in one day?

Well....it wasn't 20 afterall....hahaha   But ANY/ALL advice is welcome!!

Thanks,

Bobbi

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

K, I can't answer all your questions, but I can make a recommendation about brushing.  Definitely take a look at getting a Les Poohs brush as Doodle Country Store (http://www.doodlecountry.com/).  The brushes are a bit pricey but well worth every penny.  They go through Doodle coats like butter thus reducing the tug & pull that comes when brushing out tangles.  Our Harlow absolutely hated brushing until we got one.  Now she falls asleep during her brushing.  If you aren't sure which brush to get, email Kemp a pic up your pup's coat and he can recommend the right brush.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

1. No. Most doodle puppies are high-energy dogs and need to exercise A LOT.  If you want to calm Coco down the best way is to tire him out.  If he will fetch, throw a ball for him. If you have a yard, take him out and get him exited and running around.  You could take him to dog parks to play off leash or to a place where you can put him on a longe (ie. 15 - 20 foot leash) line - NOT a retractable leash - and let him run while you sit or stand.

2. My husband helps me brush/comb our high maintenance coated doodle.  The other one, I just trained to hold still. Others recommend getting them tired first, or giving them something special to chew on and slowly training them about grooming.  Some get a special grooming table like at a groomer's.

3.  The recommended amounts of food on the bags is an average. Some dogs, like people, burn calories more than others. My dogs are adults, but as an example I have a 64 pound dog who eats 2 cups a day, a 48 pound dog who eats 2 2/3 cups a day and a 27 pound dog who eats perhaps a cup or less.  Join the food group.  Just because they want food doesn't mean they are hungry - some dogs would eat forever if you let them.  You need to feed the amount that is healthy for that dog - you want to be able to feel the ribs a bit.

4. Give the cat some dog free space  in the house so he doesn't have to interact with Coco.  Correct Coco when he runs after the cat.  Training takes time, but the dog will learn. You can gate off areas (which I assume you are already doing just to keep track of Coco) that the cat can jump over but Coco can't follow.  Let the cat (if he will) smack Coco when he has had enough so Coco learns some respect for the cat.  You also could be crating Coco some of the time, so everyone has a break from puppy exuberance and the kitty can get some undivided attention.

5. Be sure to count the calories in the treats as part of Coco's food allowance or you will end up with a chubby dog.  Treats should not be a major source of nutrition for the dog.  Personally, I don't give many treats.  You might want to use them for training.

6. Join the Puppy Madness group if you haven't already, and get lots of sympathy support for that puppy energy as well as some great suggestions.  Join the grooming group. Join the Food group.

[Wendy Taylor]

Just curious, why not a retractable leash?

[Lorena Centurion]

Lolas trainer also mentioned to me not to get a retractable lead. Her reasoning was that your pup will pull and most people would use that as a sign to give them more lead. It will make loose leash walking a harder task. She said once the pup is grown and understands the rules of loose leash completely then a retractable lead would be ok (she still wouldn't recommend it)

[Adina P]

Wendy there are a few problems with the retractable leash:

1.  When most people use it their dog is 10 feet out in front of them and they have no control over their dog.  I hate running into people walking their dog 10 feet out in front of them.  Because I know that their dog is gonna reach me and/or my dog before he/she will and that is not the right order of things.  How do I know that their dog isn't gonna be trouble or try to jump on me or whatever.

2.  When a dog is being walked on a retractable leash the leash is always tight...basically the dog can't help but pull because that's how the leash works. So it makes pulling the 'norm' for the dog.

3.  Those things can BURN if they ever get wrapped around your ankle or leg while the dog is moving!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

1. Can't help you here - never heard of it.

2 Try a metal wide tooth comb, neither of my doodles can stand to be brushed, but will tolerate the comb.

3 Why do you think 2 cups is the magic number and why do you think he needs more?

4 Don't worry or interfere they will come to an agreement eventually

5 Use small treats of high value ( usually that means a strong smell and soft, but not always) and make sure Coco only earns treats, no treats for just being a cute wonderful puppy, that earns him hugs and ear rubs and belly scratches.  When he is young like three months and being trained continually gradually praise and rub then treat.  Soon praise is associated with a treat and almost as valuable and treats can be given less often and for trainig new behaviors.

 

Good luck

[F, Calla & Luca]

Here's the Wikipedia article on Valerian. I would not give it to my dog.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

F you forgot to attach it lol. i'm sure it's easily googleable though :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Didn't come through, F.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Here it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

1. nope, but i completely agree with Nancy's comment about exercise. If you think he's too hyper then it's because he's not running enough. When I started taking Sophie to the dog park she calmed down A LOT because she got her energy out.

2. treats. also, brush when he's tired and sleepy, like after a good romp at the park when he gets home and starts settling down. and treats.

3. not sure, depends on his weight and what the recommendation is on the bag.

4. Teach him the 'leave it' command.

5.depends on what you're using the for. I wouldn't just dole out treats left right and centre whenever he does something cute, but if you're doing training with him and they are good quality treats then giving him lots should be ok (especially if they are small pieces).

You should join the Puppy Madness Group and the Grooming Group.

[Max & Mimzy]

This is the greatest brush I own for my two doodles. It was recommended to me by Mimzy's foster mother. http://www.amazon.com/Chris-Christensen-Original-Series-Brush/dp/B0...