poodlefan

Howie stole a Tangello some weeks back. Once he got it out to the back yard, he had no idea what to do with it.

Whippets - they're definitely omnivores. Every morning on our walk in the forest, Howie grazes on rosehips.. pulls them delicately off the wild rose bushes with his teeth. I suppose I don't have to worry about him being Vitamin C deficient. FHRP's Herbie is an apple thief!

I lump exercise, chiro, regular vetting etc under the term "husbandry". All horse owner habits die hard. But yes, absolutely... its a case of use it or lose it in terms of mobility - for dogs and us.

I think its a combination of any or all of the following: *good genes * good diet * good husbandry * good luck

Strangely, I thought that's exactly what this thread was about Indeed it is poodlefan but I have lost interest in the topic hence I removed my statement which was originally a question to you. Fair enough. I suppose all the dogs belonging to folk posting in this thread should thank their lucky stars that their owners care enough about them to do something other than buy the cheapest brand of food available at the supermarket and give them that.

Hey, if it works for you, it works. I won't feed foods containing gluten to my dogs but not all dogs have issues with it.

Strangely, I thought that's exactly what this thread was about

Anyone who can toilet train a baby in two weeks gets my I don't think dogs are good "practice" for children at all. Dogs aren't "babies" for long. Most children don't live outside, unattended for 8+ hours a day, get fed out of a packet from the supermarket and get dumped when they get sick, old, troublesome, knocked up or run away too often. That's the life thousands of dogs live.

Dog Heaven!!!!

Usual pro BARF stuff. I'd make a couple of observations. Dogs are not wolves. I wish all comparisons between domestic dogs and wolves would just go away. Dogs been opportunistic carnivores for thousands of years (at least since man started tossing his chop bones away from the cave) and studies of smaller canids show they eat a hell of a lot more variety than large prey animals. Frankly I think prey model diets fall down for that reason AND the fact that most meats fed in your average prey model diet are farmed, not game and rarely fed whole. Not all commercial dog foods are born alike. Lumping them all in together and making sweeping generalisations about the sources of their ingredients cheapens the pro-raw argument. The main ingredient in all commercial dog food is not grain. Grain can play a role in providing some nutrients and energy to dogs too. I'd argue fewer Australian dogs are feed a 100% kibble diet than their USA counterparts and frankly I hope that continues.

My personal view is that you need to do your homework on commercial foods and who makes them just as much you do on raw feeding. I also believe that all dogs require raw meaty bones unless there is some reason they can't digest them. I find it difficult to fathom how all meat diets, or its new variant (cooked mince, veggies and pasta) get traction with dog people but they sure do in some circles. Similarly, how people can conclude that a commercial food that is predominantly grain is a suitable food for an obligate carnivore puzzles me greatly. I would not, unlike some raw feeders, feed non-human grade meats to my dogs unless it was wild game ... its not just manufactured pet foods that you need to worry about in terms of how they've been treated.

Not leaning forwards. Front legs straight, back legs with leg from hock to paw perpendicular to the ground.

Really? How would you explain the almost total elimination of rickets in pups since the advent of wide scale feeding of commerically prepared foods and the increasing longevity in many breeds? I do believe than an appopriately researched raw diet is an excellent one for most dogs but I don't for a minute believe unsuitable half @arsed diets are confined to the realm of commercial dog food producers. I've heard of and read many home cooked diets that curl my hair in terms of their nutritional imbalances. The "diet totally manufactured with no fresh ingredients" argument neglects to consider that for many dogs, commercially prepared foods are only a part of their diets. Dogs in the wild die often and die young. It would be rare that all pups in a litter survive to maturity. That analogy is a very tired one and lacks legs when you consider that many dog breeds would not survive in the wild, period.

It's woodfired *drool* Hey, you better clean up that drool if we are sharing a gazebo! I'm hanging out for my numbers to arrive, I'm never reassured they've received my entries until they do. (I'm an on-line entries fan) x 2

It's woodfired *drool*

Well it WAS his birthday yesterday! Expensive present for a dog that I don't even own ;) I bought a small bag of the Lamb variety to try on my guys. I don't feed a lot of kibble but I like to have a good one on hand for travelling and backup. They ate a couple of pieces each then wouldn't touch it. I guess Howie's getting another late birthday present pf. Not surprised the supermodels didn't like it. I thought they live on cigarettes and champagne anyway? Having a garbage guts Whippet has its advantages. I'd be interested to try that one actually. I'll swap you for some GF Life Stages if you like.

I use Advance Active and RMBs. I used to BARF feed, but have become lazy Rogan has never been a keen kibble eater, but does eat the Advance, at about 1/4 the speed of all my other dogs I could tell from the first meal he wasn't that keen on the Canidae and the third time he walked away I think you need to try Rogie on My Dog. I'll try Flynn on that just before his next sleepover at your place ;)

I use Advance Active and RMBs. I used to BARF feed, but have become lazy Rogan has never been a keen kibble eater, but does eat the Advance, at about 1/4 the speed of all my other dogs I could tell from the first meal he wasn't that keen on the Canidae and the third time he walked away ;) I think you need to try Rogie on My Dog. Are you sure you don't want to try the Canidae Platinum on him.... the poodles could use a bag.

Well it WAS his birthday yesterday!

Driving from behind. Loved getting that from my horse - the feeling of sooooo much controlled power. And the extended trot is the ultimate expression of that controlled power engaged.

I would take a side photo of her stacked up and then video a slow walk and a trot.. that will show all you need to see. There's no question a lot of balanced dogs do find pacing comfortable. One of my poodles paces when on lead but rarely at other times. It must be that particular speed he prefers to pace at.

I've just started Howie on Canidae Grain Free All Life Stages (34% protein. 18% fat). He certainly likes it! I'll report back on how he goes on it but its only a part of his diet.

It's not so much a matter of "insufficient" as unbalanced drive. If a dog is straighter in the front than the rear (caused by angulation of shoulder and stifle/hock) then the rear legs will drive further than the front.. if the dog is trotting, the rear leg is in some danger of striking the front leg at the trot. In horses this is called "striking" or "overreaching" is quite common and can be heard as the rear hoof 'clicks' striking the front one. A dog (or horse) that is straighter in the rear will not step properly under itself at the trot.. the rear leg will not come up to where the front leg left from. An animal trotting evenly steps with the rear leg into the spot the front leg left. A dog with uneven front and rear angulatiion is not uncommon. A 'courtesy turn'.. (turning the dog in a circle around you) is a common way to get a dog trotting before gaiting out into the show ring. Pacing in a tight circle is not an easy thing to do.

Is it just me or are we finally starting to see some traction with regard to exploding the myths relating to designer dogs? If the RSPCA are responsible for the recent spate of press on the issue, then full credit to them.

If a dog doesn't have even front and rear drive, pacing is one way of avoiding the front and rear legs striking at the trot. Crabbing is the other. The two gaits (pace and trot) are explained below using horses. In a pace, the animal moves both the legs on one side together. In a trot, the legs are moved diagonally on opposite sides of the body.