Shortly about to hear the pitter patter of tiny feet...

[Arch]

Oh, Layla is adorable! She looks like a little character.

Yes, an Ewok, I think!

She's lovely!

[TimO]

It has the advantage of lasting well too - she's 9 days since the cut and her hair is still nice and short.

We use our decent clippers on her every 10 days or so and she has the Full Monty at the groomer's four times a year (the groomer is much better at her underside, legs, feet and clips her nails).

I did have to buy decent quality clippers (Oster A5, £100ish plus £25 for the blade) and decent scissors too.

Yikes, I didn't realise that dogs took that much effort to look after their coats! (Having not had to look after a dog for more than a few hours).

I presume short haired dogs require less effort?

I've never cut a cat's hair, other than when it's been necessary to remove something sticky that's got gunged in.  I have given a cat a bath (once), and that resulted in some injury to me, but not to the cat.  Dogs are much easier to wash, the ones I've had to pop in the bath have either enjoyed it, or just looked severely disgruntled, but tolerated it.

Oh, and Layla does look exceedingly cute, I'm afraid she currently beats Poppy, but that's probably just the puppy effect!

[Auntie Helen]

Most dogs don't need very much attention but as Poppy is part Poodle she does need her hair trimmed.

Most people let their cockapoos get very long (Feline's Google goes much longer between clippings) but I like her short - she feels like fuzzy felt when it's just done and it's lovely!

My previous two dogs (a labrador and a Weimaraner) didn't need any maintenance. However they both shedded hair (the labrador massively so) whereas Poppy loses almost no hair at all. On balance, the non-hair-shedding-dog is a handy thing, despite having to give her a trim every couple of weeks.

[peliroja]

How's Layla settling in, PaulF? More pics please!

[PaulF]

How's Layla settling in, PaulF? More pics please!

She's a furry ball of energy! we're all shattered!

She seems to have settled, a few problems with play bites but normal for a puppy I think. She'll sit on command often enough to make me think she understands rather than she coincidentally wanted to sit at the same time. Most 'accidents' are our fault but she's starting to ask to be let out . Still wakes in her crate a few times a night.

Photos to follow when I'm not on my iPad - I'm having problems copying the BB code from flickr on the iPad.

[PaulF]

Layla and Friend by paulfulford, on Flickr


If anyone had told me 5 years ago that I'd spend my time throwing a rubber chicken around the garden I'd never have believed them!

[peliroja]

Very cute! Don't tell me that huge expanse of parkland is your garden?  It sounds to be going very well, especially if she's already asking to be let out. They do take over one's life somewhat, don't they? (How did I live for so long without a dog?!)

There's a really good article on play biting on the cocker forum, here. We didn't know Tilley as a puppy, as we got her at six or seven months, but she seems to have been well taught as she clearly knows the difference between biting her toy and biting human skin. When she does accidentally get us with her teeth, an 'Ouch!' and stopping interaction seems to do the trick - she even comes and licks my face apologetically to see if I'm OK. 

Keep us posted on Layla's progress!

[pcolbeck]

It's not a big garden it's a very small dog

[PaulF]

First puppy play date today


Puppy play date by paulfulford, on Flickr

A friend came round with his dog, we were a bit nervous because at the puppy socialisation she was scared of the other puppies but she had a great time!

[peliroja]

Hurrah! I love a blur of wagging tails.

That's where we're a bit behind with our Tilley. It's hard finding suitable (sensible, calm) dogs for her to socialise with as she's very boisterous indeed when she plays. You're doing it right, getting Layla socialised while little!

[PaulF]

Our dog trainer (once we'd hot past the "don't you have ANY friends with dogs!" remark said that she does a regular 'social' walk to allow dogs (and owners!) to get to know each other. Don't know if you have anything similar local to you?

[PaulF]

Well she's started getting into mischief!

On Sunday  the gate to a neighbour's  garden had been left open, as was the neighbour's kitchen door and the neighbour turned round to find her standing wagging her tail looking very pleased with herself Fortunately she's welcome there...

Yesterday she found the remains of a blackbird and, true to her Spaniel heritage, brought them back and left them on the back step.

[PaulF]

I'll be interested to see what haircut you go with for her when she grows up.

She was finally clipped on Thursday as she was getting really uncomfortable in the heat.



Of course now that 'Summer' is over she's cold

[Auntie Helen]

That's a nice haircut! Poppy had one today (courtesy of me), although I tend to cut hers when it's as long as Layla's is now. In this heat (it's still very warm in Germany) she seems much happier without much fur - and everyone comments how 'weich' (soft) she feels.