Sandra777

Pup isn't 3 months old until 21/08/2010. It's not 12 weeks, it's 3 calendar months

Well that would depend on the size of the puppy My Stafford pups can (and would) swallow chicken necks whole by the time they're 10 weeks old. Something appropriate to the size and eating-style of the puppy is best. IMO leg bones are out - all they do is wear out or break teeth, but again for a breed with less jaw power they might be quite happy licking the marrow out - mine go for the crush and destruct attempt.

Yep. Very quick event. Think about it - in the wild they need their teeth to eat the food available, nature has designed them to change teeth and quickly so they can continue to grow and thrive.

Everybody except one appears to want to get drunk with Mr Linke.

I don't know - and neither do you - that's my point. And please - what breed do you mean when you say "staffie" ---- there is NO BREED CALLED STAFFIE.

I am confused. How do YOU know that the dogs that did this attack aren't Staffordshire Bull Terriers or Mastiffs or Spotted Purple Ducktails? There is no evidence what they were.

Sounds like she has had a scab and it has grown out with her hair - and yes that does makes sense. Very common in this house, I don't think I even want to know how they get them. Ringworm (well, every one I've seen, but I won't say always ) causes baldness of the affected area and is VERY obvious. Small nicks cuts and scrapes often show up like this a week to ten days later, they're not big enough at the time to be obvious under the fur.

Got to call you on that one. In NZ there was a a really bad dog attack, it sparked the current BSL really. The dog was originally described by eye witnesses as a chocolate Labrador. The dog eventually PTS (and owner jailed) for the attack was on TV and was a red ("tan") dog registered with the council as an Amstaff. I don't recall if it was a liver ("rednose") but it's coat colour was a reasonably bright red (tan), not dull Labrador yellow (and not Labrador chocolate either) So no, not every member of the public can tell the difference between a Labrador and a "pitbull"

Normal. I wouldn't be feeding weight bearing bones at all, but that's me.

According to google, around 90 calories. I guess you could add some more for the shell Isn't anything I give them to 6-8 week old pups, I'm sure she'll be fine Either, both, whatever suits you. No point cooking them for a healthy dog though IMO. err, 90 - 100 calories worth? Should be on the side of the bag.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THESE DOGS ARE PITBULLS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE WHAT BREED OR CROSS THESE DOGS ARE. What part of "could'' do you not understand???????? YES Staffordshire Bull Terriers COULD attack another dog. The worst dog fight I have ever seen was between a Labrador and two working sheep dogs. I still refuse to respond to a poll referring to "staffies" - What breed are you referring to?

Why? It's perfectly true that ANY breed or crossbreed can attack. IMO Mr Linke is pointing out the bleeding obvious - most people can't tell one breed or crossbreed from another and can't seem to figure out that ALL dogs have teeth and can be aggressive in the wrong circumstances.

I'm not voting on anything that involves the word "staffy" - what do you mean? American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or generic brindle dog?

I read that to mean that most people couldn't tell the difference between a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a Mastiff and a mutt - which is probably true, yet most people would happily malign a breed by stating such-and-such dog was a "pit bull".

Breeders terms, pet owner

some will eat the shell, others not, some you have to crush it up, others just give them the whole egg. Trial and error. Whenever I'm using eggs for our own cooking I'm surrounded by the garbage disposal team begging for the shells. Pups learn early here that egg shells are food - but the look on their face's the first time is usually priceless

Mine get one twice a week (15kg dogs). Raw, including the shell.

Poor man that lost his companion. Poor dogs all 'round. Just another example of the existing laws not being enforced, adding fuel to the demands for more laws - which also won't be enforced. Nope, you can't legislate for stupidity but that's why we have laws isn't it - to guide the dimwitted when it should be patently freakin' obvious what needs to be done.

What sized dogs - but if you're thinking half chickens I'm assuming larger? Yep- they eat it bones and all. I don't remove anything from chicken before feeding but if your dogs are new to raw it may pay to remove the long leg bone as it's the most dense bone in a chook and may not agree with a dog not used to digesting bone. You will get various opinions but around here it's about 30% bone, 60% meat and 10% offal/scraps/maybe vege/tripe. Always supervise.

I only have one question. Who's paying? Would YOU pay say $5000 for a license to breed one litter every 5 years? Would the biggest puppy farmer in Australia pay the same fee as the breeder breeding one litter occasionally? This has animal rights B-S written all over it. Make it impossible (financially) for most people who care to breed dogs, then later on they can come along and take out the puppy mills and it's all over for canines.

He would've been seeing me in court after I punched the ^&%$^*GRF!!!!! in the head if he'd tried to kick any of mine

You say they're a little wriggly - that's fine, just keep doing what you're doing and it'll probably work out fine. ETA: they're called canine teeth :D

x2

Am I the only one that's noticed the poor dog's deformed front legs?

The main thing you need to remember is that she is a DOG. Dog's settle disputes with ritual displays and if this doesn't work they fight or run away. They are animals, not little furry people. Sorry, but if your dog had intended to actually harm the smaller dog she probably would have done so. You did not see the "fight" start? You did not see the body language displayed by the other dog? (or your own?) How do you know the other dog didn't attack your dog and she was only defending herself? The other dog was perhaps overwhealmed by being suddenly approached by a dog it didn't know so reacted defensively, if the other dog was near it's owner it may have been defending it's "pack". Without all this information there is no way you can categorically state your dog attacked another dog so there is no absolute reason for you to feel guilty or afraid. Yes, it is scary and makes the old heart work hard when something like this happens, but there is no reason from what you have said for you to think she has a "behaviour problem." If you approach the incident as if you have the problem and need to fix it you could well do much more harm than good. I would be seeking the advice of someone who understands dog behaviour - not necessarily a trainer (some of them are totally ignorant of normal dog behaviour), not necessarily a trained behaviouralist (nothing you have written suggests to me that you actually have a major problem in need of high powered professional help) but an experienced person who understands dog body language and who can help you learn to read situations better. Hopefully someone here will be able to help. In the mean time I don't see any problem in walking her in a muzzle and I would recommend you keep away from dog parks (I dislike dog parks at any time, full of dogs from different packs - like that is a natural place for dogs to feel comfortable!) but this is more for your benefit than anything else. You need to regain your confidence, so don't set yourself or your dog up for failure until you've got a better grip on what she is actually "telling" you. Edited cause my keyboard can't spell today