JeffnCel

Thanks for all the replies. We are doing drive training with Buffy, so I'll take her tug along with us next time. Her focus is getting really good, even in distraction areas, but I'm not sure if it's good enough for this situation. I'll keep working on it and then try it next time she goes for a bath. I really don't think I'll go back to the same place, I think Buffy was so worked up because she was allowed to. Not by me, but the hydrobather. She wasn't trying to attack the hose or anyone, she just wanted to jump out, and the lead was definately too long. She could have really injured herself. So can anyone recommend a groomer for a crazy doberman in Brisbane?

And of course what does any dog do after they've had a bath and smell so lovely?? They go and lie in the mud *sigh*

That's it, I really think the fact that she could wriggle, and she's big so she almost jumped out of the hydrobath at one stage, I think that was the issue. If she had been strapped in a bit tighter, I think she would have tolerated it better. Ok so how do I find groomers/hydrobathers that have this system? Should I just call around?

We just missed out on puppy school because Buffy was already 5 months old when we got her. Wagtails run an 8 week puppy course, which then leads into an 8 week obedience course. Although their training didn't fit in well with us (we're doing IPO), if we just wanted a well behaved pet we would definately use them again. Great programs.

I had read threads that spoke about what to do when you take your dog to a hydrobath, and I specifically asked the girl if I should stay or wait outside. She insisted I stay even though I said I had heard it was better not to be there. We are doing IPO with our dog, so by no means is she treated like a baby. The girl was cooing over her sooooooo much and all I wanted to do was tell Buffy to "sit" but the girl just took over. I was furious, because Buffy then realised she could get away with mis-behaving. I don't want to sound mean, and I am definately worried that this bad experience is going to damage her, I just felt like the girl doing it spent more time comforting her, when she could have got the job done and Buffy would have realised it was ok. I don't think she is sound sensitive, but then again the water pressure made me jump a little. I just think that maybe we should go to a professional groomer. Somewhere we can take our time. Buffy is a short coated doberman so she doesn't need extensive clipping or anything, but she still needs to behave when it comes to bath time. Thanks so much for the advice.

Would just your regular hydrobather be willing to let me do this with her?? Or would it be easier at a groomers?

Heya Matt I have a DVD I'm getting off Bree of that Bernard Flinks guy about building drive and prey drive and stuff that I will try and get and bring on Tuesday for you to have a look at. I think what the others have said is right, let her have fun right now and in a few months kick the training into gear. During that time you can read books and watch training DVD's and learn heaps with me ;)

Buffy had her first hydrobath experience today. I only wanted to see how to clip her dew claws as they were very sharp, and decided to get her bathed properly while I had time. Well, what a shamozzal it turned into. She jumped and scratched and pulled and whined. And she's not a little dog!! The girl said she'd never seen quite that bad of a reaction. She sort of settled down during the washing, but as soon as the rinsing started she was jumping around again trying DESPERATELY to get away. She's been really whingey all afternoon, and I'm worried this bad experience may have a lasting impression. For those groomers out there, are there ways of securing a dog a bit more than just by a short leash while they're being washed? I think if Buffy could have stayed still she may have gotten used to it, but because she could wriggle and climb, she thought she could escape which upset her more. I don't know whether to try again, or just wash her at home in the bath from now on. She's just so big, and she's only going to get bigger, I need for her to be able to be hydrobathed. Poor little 30kg puppy.

We also bought our puppy as a "family dog" especially with our 6 year old, she really wanted a dog, and of course we chose a large breed. After we saw how big Buffy was when she jumped up on our 6 year old, we made the decision to never have Buffy without a leash on when she's around our daughter. Kids are just too fragile, and a big boofy puppy that's only playing could cause a little too much damage for my liking. We used the "NO" and crossed our arms in front of us, and this has kind of stopped Buffy. She used to jump on our screen doors and windows, and just by saying "NO" really firmly and walking away instantly really helped us. Good luck

Our Buffy went through this phase, we had to make the hard decision to let a few plants go. She's stopped now thank heavens. She also has this obsession with corriander. We had a beautiful herb garden (which lasted all of 3 days when we got Buffy) then I transplanted to a pot she couldn't easily reach. She managed to eat ALL my corriander plants. Wasn't interested in any of the others, just the corriander

Ok I will cut out the dry food (was told it could help... I'm desperate for advice) I wasn't keen on re-introducing it, but was concerned she wasn't eating. I will go back to square one and do just meat, I am finding that I am mainly feeding her with RMB's because at least she eats them, and wiggles to get them, whereas with the meat/veg mix, she doesn't even seem excited when I take it out to her. With the "vegie slop" what do you put in it if it's fed on it's own?? I tried that with Buffy last week, just vegies an egg a bit of yoghurt and the look she gave me was like "after you..."

Alright so off to the health food shop for me. And the cheese sounds like a fantastic idea !! Anything to get her to eat THANKS SO MUCH

Thanks for the offer I actually looked it up before I started with this whole BARF stuff Our Buffy is not an adult, she's about to be 7 months old next week! Alright, so take the gas as "getting used to knew diet" and just keep persisting with her eating it? I have heard that dogs will not starve themselves, it just worries me she's not eating.

Thanks so much that's such great info!!!! I put a lot of apples into the last mix, and was actually just writing out my shopping list and had put pears down on it At the moment, I'm juicing vegies and using the pulp. For right now, should I be putting a bit more juice mix into her meat, to at least get some goodness into her? Also, how do you make your mixes? Do you make them and freeze them, or make them fresh each day? I'm full of questions today

Completely BARF just over a week. Before that we were adding bits and pieces to her dry food to get her used to different tastes. I really think the problem is the vegies. When we first started adding in chicken mince and pet mince stuff, she would push the dry food aside and only eat the meat. It's now that we've added in vegies she's becoming a fussy eater and leaving almost all her food, choosing only to eat chicken frames, brisket bones and chicken wings. So I have a fussy eater, and a dog full of the most horrendous gas!! What are probiotics?? And where do I find them?? I also heard someone mention an additive called "missing link" or something like that? What vitamins should I be adding to her food to keep her healthy?

We buy chicken mince from lennards which I thought was just minced chicken frames, we have bought pet mince but she's only had it maybe once, and even then it was only half of her dinner she actually ate. I will buy some normal mince and see how she goes on that though thanks

We're mixing the meat and vegies in together, origally I did it about 50/50 but this lot I've made less vegies and more meat, to see if that will get her to eat it. I've been putting a bit of dry food in with it as well this week to see if that will encourage her. Maybe it is too much vegies that's the problem?? Maybe I should just start again... plain meat and then gradually add in vegies two or three times a week, but smaller quantities.

She's really not eating what we're giving her at all.. except for the bone side of her diet. She loves chicken frames, and brisket bones, it's just the mincey type stuff she doesn't seem to like. Our IPO club said to just leave her hungry, and she'll eat when she realises there's nothing else, but really, if she doesn't like it should I be forcing the issue?? Surely a 80% RMB 20% good quality dry food would be ok? I'm really worried she'll lose weight and then turn into a really fussy eater. Thanks for the help EDIT: I only added the cauliflower in the current mix which she hasn't actually eaten any of, but I will remove it from now on.

Chicken mince, pet mince (containing offal), minced vegies (carrot, pumpkin, sweet potato, beans, zucchini, apple, cauliflower), chicken frames, brisket bones, chicken wings, just tried a tin of sardines, an egg a week, some natural yoghurt. I've tried to follow that Dr Billinghurst book, as well as the trainers at my IPO club, I don't think I'm overdoing it and we switched her over very gradually, no loose poos or anything.

We've had Buffy on a complete raw diet for a bit over a week now, we introduced it slowly with no problems, however she has developed the nastiest gas I have ever encountered (worse than hubby!!). Poos all normal and fine but this gas... oh my gosh. I don't want her in the car with me!! Could it be a reaction to the diet she's on? And if so, is it normal and will it go away?? Thanks everyone

Our Buffy is doing this too. She's almost 7 months old and I know she knows where her water is, but she never seems to drink anything!! She's not dehydrated, but goodness it was 30 odd degrees today and her water bowl is still over half full!

Actually I was reading another website the other day from a America where it alleges that euthanised dogs and cats are routinely used in dog food production!! Don't know if it's true tho, the website seemed authentic, but they were saying that the chemicals used to euthanise do not get destroyed in the pocess of making the kibble/can stuff, so in effect, dogs around the world are consuming toxic chemicals. Would love to know if the information was accurate, has anyone else heard of this happening??

Lewis and Lyn I sympathise... I have been asking almost every dog person I know for about a month now just wanting to know how much of this raw stuff to feed my dog. I have also read the Billinghurst book, which clarified a few things, but still the AMOUNT I don't know. Basically what people have been telling me, if your dog is getting fatter you're feeding too much, and if they're getting a bit thin, feed some more. I wish there was a magic recipe for each dog, but I can't find it. Put in heaps of vegie pulp, and natural yoghurt. We started Buffy on yoghurt every few days last week as she had really bad flaky skin, and it's completely gone. I'm amazed at what this diet has done for her so quickly Good luck

Well we just need to be careful that we don't lick our fingers after feeding our dogs their "dangerous raw meat"

Thanks everyone great advice and info :rolleyes: