Staffyluv

Thanks.. She is here and sound asleep in her crate... They had a big afternoon together getting to know each other, playing ang in and out of the clam shell pools... I took a heap of photos and will post them up as soon as I get Internet access on the computer again... We would love to meet up for another play date whenever you would like to

Ziggy had a great time at the leash free park at Weston. We met the lovely Lando and hope to have more play dates in the future... He got to meet lots of dogs and was very appropriate in all his meetings but he did get a bit scared when a rather enthusiastic rough collie wanted to play a bit rough... So we left the big dog park and went back to the little dog park. We met the most adorable schnauzer puppy. I think she was about 13 weeks old and she was having so much fun running under all the bigger dogs... I was very proud of Ziggy, he played with the tiny dog so well and was not rough at all.. We will definitely be trekking over to Weston Park again and on a regular basis...

So far he eats everything, including the parsley and spinach straight form the garden pot.. He loves watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, mango and tomatoes... He ate all the tomatoes from the cherry tomato bush a week or so ago... He seems to like all veg, I have offered, eggplant, potato, pumpkin, peas, beans, spinach, zucchini...

I agree with shells.. Great business and they love the dogs

She is adorable.. Congrats on your new addition...

Bottles dont work for us, Jager can get the cap off in about 5 mins and then the cap is much more entertaining than the bottle. And I am terrified that he will choke on one. If you half fill them with chicken stock so it leaks out and they can taste it it keeps them interested for longer. We freeze kongs with cottage cheese and dog biscuits, this takes a while. If the dog can't get it out, buy the next kong size up so it is easier and when they master this go back to the smaller one. Big marrow bones take ages, frozen chicken wings. I freeze ice cream containers with watered down stick and put chicken wings, turkey necks etc in it and that takes ages..

Awe, I got something in my eye... What a gorgeous boy he has become with the love from his new family...

Our neighbor has 4 cats that 'wander'... They wander over to my place and spray all over the back door... Cats should have the same rules as dogs...

3 months today since I said goodbye to you my boy... I still miss you so,very much... Everyday you made me smile, brightened my life, accepted my faults and all and loved me unconditionally... I could never have asked for more, you were my best mate....

I chose other as well.. They have access to inside the laundry and outside... I have given Ziggy access to the whole house for a quick 15 minute trip but would not leave him in for any longer than that...

Great work.. Mum is adorable and the babies are divine..

I am thinking he will probably be OK.. He is a rescue and I have never tested him off lead... He has never made any attempt to jump fences or even walk out of our gate when it is open... He just gets overly excited when he meets new dogs so I might keep him on lead until he calms a bit to play... He is only 9 months old, so still very much an exuberant puppy, albeit a big puppy at 21kg... I am starting to think he is staffy cross great dane. :laugh:

i agree with this. its the owners who havent done the right thing I am another that could not dislike a whole breed....

Sorry I don't help Byb's. If she has a peoblem tell them to take to the vet. Sadly by the time that she (assuming she really does not know anything) realises there is a problem, it could be to late for the bitch and or the pups... As much as I hate this practice, I still think the best approach is education... Teach people of the problems that can and do arise, the issues with dealing with puppies, microchipping, vaccs, worming... This forum might be aimed at the pedigree and purebred breeders but it has already taught so many others (including myself) what is in the best interest of ALL dogs...

Just a quick question, ifs the area fenced off? The pup does not have perfect recall yet...and he gets busy sniffing, playing and exploring but he is getting better...

Haha, the staffy cross is almost the same without the dominating bit... He is a major toy hog.. We might have a little lady staffy to bring with us to if our meeting goes well today...

Just my opinion but I believe rescue tries to save as many rehomeable dogs as possible (those with good temperaments)... I also think that our heart does rule our heads because we do it for the love of dogs... There is no other reason... Rescue don't make money out of this, it is purely for the love of the dogs... In my eyes, all dogs have equal right to a loving home, be they sick or healthy.. Personally, it is the ol staffys that break my heart.. I would save them all if I could...

Just another reason why mandatory desexing for ALL pets would make this a better world... I don't know how you would police it or make it happen but wouldn't it be great if we could...

I sorta feel sorry for the snakes being kept in a plastic container - seems totally wrong to me.. I am glad the little guy went home though (and did not get his head chopped off)...

We used to have a Dobe (Dylan) years ago that would let anyone in the yard... But you try and get out - no way, no how... He would protect the gate and you could not get out of the yard.

I have never taken my dogs in or out of the yard gates. When they enter and leave my home, it is always via the front door of the house. I can leave my gates open and it is almost like an invisible barrier that they don't seem to cross... I am not saying this is foolproof because if something really exciting was out the front, they might just test it and walk out the gate. However my old stafford never did and so far neither have the other 2 I have had here. I take rubbish out through the gate and the pup just sits there and looks at me from inside the gate.

Ziggy is really shy and very submissive, but he really loves to play once he is happy that the other dog is OK with him... I might put this on my Facebook to see if I can get a few more to come.. I have heaps of DOLers on FB..

I would love to meet up to give our new boy some doggie fun time... Australia day is fine by me... I will show up at 11am with Ziggy

If you don't want to cut food back, then the only option is to increase exercise.. Do you have a clam shell pool? I find even if it is hot, my loons will run around but tend to dunk themselves in the pool to cool off and keep playing. I find they run around more when there is water in the pool, than if it has been emptied and I forget to fill it again. You could also try frozen chicken stock in an ice cube tray (not many calories and it takes ages to get through). This also works with the boys kongs. I fill them with some of their daily kibble and top it up with cottage cheese and then freeze it overnight... These are food items so have to be taken into account for daily calories but as it takes them so long to eat, it keeps them busy and they don't seem as hungry.... I agree with cutting back on the mince and adding in grated veg to bulk it out... It is another easy way to reduce calorie intake.

A lot of fat in the diet can cause issues with the pancreas (in some dogs). Personally I would not touch most pet mince... The raw meaty bones sound good - there are heaps of threads on DOL about diet, both raw and commercial foods. I used to feed fresh food to my old stafford but since he left us, the new boys get raw bones, chook wings, turkey necks and Nutro kibble... They seem to be thriving on it... Good luck and remember if you change diets, do it slowly over a week or so, by mixing in a bit of the new diet with the old, so you don't upset their stomach...