Tilly

I occassionally give dried or frozen roo tails (only when I can supervise) and I find neither dog actually eats the bone but rips the meat off the bone. I haven't had a problem with feeding either but I have often wondered how the dried bones were different from cooked bones....

Don't beat yourself up - my GSD pup is the same way. He is very good at home but the moment there is some distractions he is a nutcase. I start obediences classes with him at the end of the month and I will probably have all the same problems. I have been working on building up the levels of distractions but taking him to quiet park and going through the same training there as I do at home. Where there is something happening that can cause a bit of a distraction, I wait until he looks at me and then praise - or it he is too focused at something then I walk away in the opposite direction and when I get his focus again - reward. I also reward when I call him name and he looks at me - so I do the same at the park. Hopefully someone else can give some better ideas

We fed Euk to our dogs for a number of years - the last two dogs (rottie and GSD) both had prostate issues. Rottie got an enlarged prostate - and has since died. GSD stopped peeing one night and after $4,600+ for emergency surgery, ICU and ongoing hospital costs - he also had a suspect prostate. GSD also had developed a lump on his side which was surgically removed. My parents dog developed a massive growth on the side of his neck - also fed Euk. All three cases may not have anything to do with Eukanuba but I didn't want to take the chance when our GSD pup came along. I was going to change to Royal Canin but new pup wouldn't eat it, went to try Artimas (older GSD loved it) but opted to feed raw. Both dogs are doing wonderfully on it - even the older GSD who was always difficult to keep weight on (when he was younger).

No typo - he ranges from 58 to 60kg - and 60kg is a good weight for him. Haven't measured him height wise but his shoulders stands my just above my waist height and I am 167 - I will measure him when he gets home in the morning. Was told a year or so ago (by a trainer) that no GSD should weight more then 45kg and I should bring him back under that went. He weighted 45 kg at about 10/11 months and remained extremely thin until he was about 2 yrs and then he filled out nicely. I give my boys Ester C every day - was told by a rottie breeder years ago that if his dogs are given a dose of Ester C every day then he will guarantee them for life against any hip or joint problems.

Is the chicken mince - minced chicken frames with bones in it? Meat by is self is not particularly good - they really need digestable bone for the calcium etc. Chicken mince made up of minced bone and meat (the chicken frame) is much better then plain meat. My 17/18 week old GSD pup (currently 19kg) can polish off 500grms of chicken wings (frozen solid as a lump) in no time at all ... If I want to keep him occupied for a preiod of time then it is the bigger marrow type bones and then he doesn't tend to actually eat the bone but strip all the meat off it. My parents are looking after my older brothers small pomxchi and she was diagnosed with hip and elbow hip dysplasia and often put out her hips or elbow with generally running around - causing her to limp. Since my parents have been looking after her (almost 12 months) and with feeding her chicken necks every night (rather then once or twice a week) she had had absolutely no issues and has not slowed down in the slightest. We believe it was due to the increase in calcium etc in her diet that really helped.

When you say you are feeding them raw meat at night - what is this exactly? Do you feed raw food such as chicken necks (these can be too small for some dogs who inhale their food), chicken wings, chicken frames or something like brisket bones? Raw bones would be better then just plain raw meat. Regarding his weight - is he chubby or lean? My now 60kg GSD was about 39kg at 9 months and he was really, really lean - so sometimes weight is not a good indication.

My mum had problems with flea's on her dog. She had used absolutely everything from powders, advantage, advantix, frontline, bathing in Fido's free-itch rinse etc and the only thing that worked was Revolution. Direction for use said do not use on dogs less than 6 weeks of age - so I believe it would be ok on a 10 week old pup.

Mine came broken too... I am pretty sure my boy chewed up his instruction manual and he didn't come with a remote control. Unfortunately his model is useless without the remote (no buttons can be found on the dog) - he seems to be set on fast forward ... and I can't find the slow or stop buttons. Can't even find where the batteries go so I can't remove them. And I am sure he needs oiling ... there is this awful squeak (sometimes it is a long whinge) that keeps coming out of him.

We have had our GSD pup for about 6/7 weeks and he has had 4 baths so far ... he had a bath on the first night he arrived because he smelt something awful when he arrived after his flight. He had a bath a couple of weeks ago when he fell in the fish pond ... just as I was saying to my mother that he didn't need a lead as he would just follow her. He then had another one on Friday night after falling in the fish pond again - I opened the gate (the backyard is seperated into two yards) to get the bin etc to do a poop scoop. I then noticed he had started to dig a hole under the fence and had passed his dinner bowl under the fence to our other dog. While I was moving a rock over the the area he was digging - I turned around just to see him take a big step into the middle of the pond. He was fished out of the pond and given a nice warm bath before being wrapped in towels and taken inside in front of the fire - it was freezing cold. Then on Sunday night after playing with our other dog - he then ran straight into the pond again ... so it was another warm bath and wrapped up in towels in front of the fire to warm up again and dry off. Thankfully he doesn't normally have access to that area of the yard ... he seems to head straight to the fish pond and just hasn't worked out he can't walk on water.

You said her only meal is dinnner (so I assume she is being fed one meal) ... so she goes to bed on a full tummy. Maybe look at feeding in the morning that way she has the whole day to burn off the meal before sleeping. Maybe start by feeding morning and night and slowly reducing the night meal or keep it a light snack.

Just a quick update. The puppy has been removed from the guy's care and his boss is currently working on trying to save the pup (under the care of a vet). It is not looking real good for the pup at this stage - but fingers crossed.

I think puppy breath (and looking cute) is their secret weapon that they use on us when they are naughty .... It is the same reason babys smell so sweet and look so cute ... so you don't mind the sleepless nights and the endless dirty nappies

I refer to them as chicken frames as I have blonde moments and can't always remember how to spell "carcasses"

Yes - the pups are from a registered breeder. I believe the breeder is from interstate. There was no mention of vomitting or toiletting issues.

I am not 100% sure what information this guy was given. The other guys will be going around to see this guy today and go through "proper care" schedule for the pup. I believe they will be getting him to take the pup to the vet for treatment (hopefully a decent vet) - so they should be able to sort out the treatment side of things. The guys just don't tolerate dogs/pups not getting proper treatment and care. I know not a lot of vets know a great deal about nutrition - is that anything special they need to look at to bring the pup to a better condition? Or is it a case of just feeding him decent food like you would normally feed? I don't want to see him then grown too fast to make up for this.

I was just been told about a situation with a 13 week old GSD pup - they are about a week younger then my boy who is 15.4kg. There are 2 pups from the same litter (different owners) - one pup is about 14.5kg while the other is about 6.5kg!!!! We believe the owner of the 6.5kg pup hasn't wormed his pup since he got him ... (when they guys found out about it last night they were furious and will be doing something about it today). It wasn't that the guy was "neglecting" or "mistreating" the pup as such - he just had no idea about worming and couldn't understand why the pup wasn't growing. Is it a case of just of just giving the pup a worming tablet/paste - or will this be too much stress on his little body? I have no idea if this pup is on heartworm preventative or even vaccinated - I will hopefully find out some more tomorrow. Now - even if this pup is now wormed correctly and fed decent food - what are his chances of developing properly? Is he likely to have skeletal issues? What can we do to help him develop?

By "hard correction" I am not jerking him off the ground ... it is hard correction in terms of the level of correction one would give a pup ... a pop on the leash, firm vocals and body language. I definately don't believe this pup is anxious - he is just vocal. He doesn't cower, act submissive, shy away - he stands or sits there looking directly at you and vocalises. He simple likes to get his own way and when he is told no or stopped from doing what he wants or if dinner is taking too long or if he can't get the toy he wants - he vocalises his disapproval.

My dogs have always preferred being outside. The main reason is because inside they have to be controlled (no running around crazy) where as outside they can go nuts ... they definately prefer the freedom of outside. Even if we do bring them inside - they tend to sit at the back door patiently waiting to be let out. Even the pup runs to the back door in the morning ... he had all his fun outside so he enjoys going outside.

I would have thought seperation anxiety would cause whinging when I was away from him ... but he is perfectly fine when we are not around him. The whinging is when I am around and when he doesn't get his own way ... such as wanting to play with another dog and I won't let him or if he wants his dinner and it isn't in front of him etc

My dogs are outside dogs. We got a GSD pup a few weeks ago and yes he sleeps inside in his crate - because it is freezing outside. Once the weather is warmer and he is bigger he will then go to being an outside dog. Having said that - they will occassionally come inside but basically we go out to them. I prefer to be outside with them.

He eats raw carrot - basically anything I give him ... and yes he can still talk with his mouth full He even talks in his sleep ...

I started ignoring the behaviour (when we first got him) and only praising the good behaviour. Now that he is older he is getting verbal corrections as well as leash corrections ... and they are hard (because he is a hard pup) but he just doesn't register most of the time. He is on the leash at all times when he is inside but he just never sits or drops without vocals. He can be in a nice drop and still is giving off whinging - it looks like he is yawning. He is now starting to get the "leave" command but he only listens when I am really ticked off - so I guess that command if fine for stuff I really want him to leave (ie something dangerous). Some days I really think it is correction, correction, correction and very little rewarding. He definately goes to bed each night totally exhausted so he is getting lots of exercise. Training is still in 5 minute slots and he is doing really well with the training at home - he gets it right about 95% of the time. Walking on leash is the only thing he has a bit of trouble with - he prefers to hold the leash in his mouth. In about 4 weeks I will start taking him to swimming classes - but I need to wait until he is fully vaccinated before he can go. I was hoping to do some puppy agility with him so he becomes more aware of his feet etc - but again that will need to wait until he is fully vaccinated. Even feeding him this morning was a battle of the wills ... he knows he is to sit and wait for his breakfast and his food word is his release ... but the vocals started because I left him an extra couple of seconds (increasing wait time - now 25 second). How do I make it more fun again? Do I go back to ignoring the bad and praising to good - leaving out any corrections?

My 14 week old GSD is a very vocal dog. He knows how to sit, come, drop, wait and toilet on command. I realise he is a pup but his contant vocals is driving me up the wall. He whinges almost contantly and when you ignore him he will jump and bark. I have been trying to ignore the behaviour and only praising when he is quiet ... but he is never quiet. I have finally managed to get him to sit for a few minutes before I open the crate door - and currently increasing the time between him sitting quietly and opening the door ... but I am not having the same success at the back door. I am feeling myself getting annoyed at him and really not feeling a lot of love for him at the moment. Maybe it is because I am really, really tired ... but can anyone offer some suggestions on how to get him to be quieter? Many thanks

Was the breeder aware or let you know about the overbite prior to selling you the pup? I would have thought 10cm overbite would have been rather noticable to the breeder so they should have already known... Sorry I can offer any advice - but good luck with everything

Most obedience clubs around me take dogs at 4 months onwards. I think if the classes are run in a public place (such as a local park) then 2 weeks after the final needle is a good idea. If the club is in a dedicated area (closed to general public) and they run puppy classes - then I don't think it really matters too much. Some clubs run a set course (ie 6 weeks) while others just run classes and anyone can join at any time. The ones that have people joining at any time usually run classes at a couple of different levels - so all the beginners start in class one and then progress as the dog masters each of the skills.