As you know i have a Westie, Poppy.  Well her coat has started moulting - the reason i have noticed this is that she is now 18 months old and this has not happened before - i am not sure if it weather related or what.  Whats the best thing to do - do i just continue to groom her with the brushes or leave it for a bit?  Also she toilets outside in the back garden when i have a wood chipped area and a shingle area.  She tends to use the shingle area more - my problem is that it the area now looks and smells a bit - i am in two minds whether to get rid of the shingle and start afresh or if there is some way to treat it.  When a dog uses the garden to toilet whats the best thing to do regarding allocating area and treating after the dog uses it.  Any advice would be great.

Keep brushing out the loose hair - it'll help keep her cool and is good for her skin, keeping it supple and clean. Can't help with the garden problem I'm afraid, as my dogs use the lawn in the back garden and I pick up from there.

Thanks Jeangenie.  Will do.

We are having shingle put down soon but the best way i find at the minute to keep the area as fresh and clean as possible is to use diluted jeyes fluid in a watering can about once a fortnight or once a month depending on how bad it gets in between...

sounds like poppy needs her coat hand stripping, that will get rid of all the dead coat.

I heard jeyes fluid was poisonous to dogs? I use bio washing liquid in hot water on our slabs where my girls go to the loo.

There has recently been a thread about disinfectant / deodorant.  I have used a product called Odourkill.  I will pm you the contact details if you want, tho' I haven't dealt with them for some time.

Jeyes Fluid is poisonous to cats (any disinfectant that turns "milky" when added to water is) - but is ok for dogs. I too use Odorkill, but I have a feeling that there has been distribution problems lately - I may be wrong though!   Used to be distributed by Professional Choice peeps.  Website is http://www.ruvio.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Out/index.htm

Margot

I have 2 giant Newfies that use a shingle and I need to treat it every other day with Jeyes fluid, diluted into a bucket..no problem as far as dogs are concerned...What you could do is throw it down before you go out for a walk or last thing at night, that way you will treat the area when Poppy is out of the way, all the best, Dawn X

Sorry,but what's a shingle?

HA HA...I meant shingle area, composed of stone and gravel LOL Sorry!(like you would find a shingle beach rather than a sandy one)

Re eliminating odours effectively and safely, try http://www.bactonature.com  Their product is purpose made, really works and is very economical :)

regards, Teri

Hi,

My dog always wee's on my slate chippings. I have a watering can on stand by at all times which I pop a bio wash tablet in and a good glug of bleach then fill with water. When Harvey has finished his business, I go out after him to pick up any 'presents' and then I rinse the area's where he has wee'd of poo'd - never smells We are about to move into our new house though and I don't know what I'm going to do if he does his business on the grass.

Hayley

Many thanks for all your advice.  I knew i could rely on you guys for help.  Thanks again.