poodlefan

Do chicken frames have enough meat on them? The ones I get from the butcher near me have minimal meat on them. Pet mince is usually minced chicken frames, not something I would feed my dogs anymore. I know plenty of dogs fed frames and good kibble and they look a treat. They usually have plenty of fat which is what growing pups also need.

Oh, I'd groom them 'on demand' alright.. for a hefty fee. He can learn to book or pay for "expedited grooming". ;)

Hmmmm - that's not good.

Howie had the squirts on the way home but was fine the next day. My guess is that it had more to do with the fish and chips he scoffed the night before than anything else. None of my other dogs were affected. It was in the group one ring, not impressed!! Hounds didn't share the ring with the Toys at any stage.

You need to up the fat content of his diet. Roo mince is very lean. Oily fish would be a good way to do it. You could also try duck or turkey.

Howie had the squirts on the way home but was fine the next day. My guess is that it had more to do with the fish and chips he scoffed the night before than anything else. None of my other dogs were affected.

You need the experts to tell you why he might be doing it but its symptomaic of arousal. I have friends with dogs who positively bristle with raised hair in exciting situations!

Your seeing piloerection (raised hackles) Mason. Its a sign of high levels of arousal. It doesn't necessarily mean aggression. ETA: Congratulations on the new addition to the family.

Quality dog food contains "a variety of stuff" - good stuff. Right now you're feeding a variety of stuff and IT ISN'T WORKING because it isnt' balanced. Your dog's diet is seriously deficient. For pity's sake stop stuffing around and feed him a decent quality kibble and some raw meaty bones. What you believe is starving your dog. Seriously do the right thing and change his diet or surrender him. It's clear you're not paying any heed to the advice you've been given. Arrrggghhh. That poor bloody dog.

I'd like to see that article reprinted on the front page of every newspaper in the country, starting with Victoria.

And you met a fan of extreme fudge eating. I LOVE Tambo fudge I'll be back next year.

Yep... that's a pretty common sentiment or at least it is if you want to handle well.

The 'rules" are: * don't trip me up * don't pull on the lead * stop at roads or anywhere else when I say "whoa" and proceed when I say "OK" I don't heel my dogs on walks because I don't ever walk only one dog. Corvus if you practice tight "wrap style" heeling you might want to think how much of it you do - its been linked to skeletal and muscular problems in dogs. You might at least like to think about teaching the equivalent behaviour for your other side.

is Zorro a Cocker? I'd suggest hand stripping it or using a coat king or clippers on it.

Nope. That's what I thought before I opened the photo.

Definitely not Kelpies. Kelpie cross BC maybe.

There are lots of tricks, mostly relating to starting off well. A 'courtesy turn' when you turn the dog around you before setting off is a common one as it's difficult for dogs to pace in a tight circle. What breed of dog?

I'm sorry for the loss of your dog. Before you contact her breeder, you may wish to reflect on the following; * The necropsy was inconclusive. There is no evidence to suggest that there was something 'wrong' with her. Poisoning or snakebite ARE possible causes of death because the vet didn't rule them out. Nearly all snake venom impacts on the blood. Several venoms are noted to cause haemorrhaging. * Snakes are active in August - on any sunny afternoon. This was an unusually mild winter. You clearly live in a rural or semi rural area. It's possible. * The tone of your opening post was (whether you intended it or not) suggesting that your girl is dead because there was something 'wrong' with her. You have no evidence of that. She didn't literally 'drop dead' as you suggest. Something happened and she either sought shelter or went under your house for a reason. * Go lightly when you ring the breeder. This will be bad news for them too.

Entire dog wee is pretty pungent. If I thought my entire male dog smelled more than others, I'd bath him more often.

Chicken necks have a pretty much perfect calcium/phosphorus ratio.. and most premium kibbles have a surplus of nutrition. I'd say they'll do just fine - Howie did. You can also feed lamb ribs, chicken wings and lamb necks for variety and to add more fat to the diet - important for growing pups.

I'm with the others. Import a bitch, see how she matures. Get all the health testing done and then talk to HER breeder about semen from the most suitable male for her.

After years of committed raw feeding I got Howie (Whippet) He refused point blank to eat any home made BARF mix. After some weeks of struggling I gave in and fed him what he wanted - kibble and RMBs. That's what he gets to this day. It might not sit well with your ideals but I think its important to feed pups what they will eat. If its decent kibble, at least you know they're getting a balanced diet. Feed them chicken necks and Advance kibble - that's a good diet. Add wings when they're ready.

Persephone I have those and they wouldn't be sturdy enough for outdoor use or a larger dog. You can get very good quality telescoping dog ramps for cars. FHRP just bought one and while not cheap, they will last for years.

The best advice I can give is don't pay too much attention to what people in pet shops say about your dog. The second thing I'll say is be wary of so called "natural cures". Diet is important, especially for a breed known for sensitive skin but you won't cure many serious skin issues without some drug therapy.

Don't feed mince unless it has bone in it. It will create an unbalanced calcium/phosphorus ratio which could be disastrous for the puppy's bones. Can't think of a faster way to give a dog rickets than feeding meat without bone. Feed meat on the bone - chicken frames are cheap. I know you say you're on a limited budget but you've got one chance to raise a healthy working dog. Frankly I'd see what I could do for the next six months to feed the best diet I can. Once the pup is mature, you can worry less. You don't have to spend a motza and frankly the better quality kibbles have a lower feeding amount because you're not feeding a heap of grains that have no nutritional benefit whatsoever to the dog. I don't know what most owners of working dogs feed but it might be a good idea to ask around. I think Bonnie is pretty popular.