Stitch

Yes I feed Vets All Natural dry mix and I am thinking of withholding it from this dog. I can substitute rice for a while and just feed the raw minced chicken frames, necks, lamb flaps, etc. plus the vitamin & mineral supplement and the Omega Oils, etc. I also give all my dogs 1 Supercoat dog biscuit per day as a treat - 1/2 in the morning & 1/2 at night so I think that I will withhold that from this dog too! I have my own dry liver treats that I can substitute. If I try doing all this I suppose it will give me an idea if the allergy is environmental (which I think it is) or diet. He is on a course of antibiotics at the moment and the skin is settling down, the little pustules are almost gone but the skin is in poor condition and it won't take much for the infection to return if I don't find a solution. If it continues after this then I will take away the chicken & just feed lamb. Can you tell where you get MSM???

My Dobe boy has developed what appears to be an allergic skin problem that is proving very difficult to relieve. I feed all my dogs a raw all natural diet and was wondering if anyone can let me know if there is any way to boost the dogs immune system via their diet in addition to what I am doing at the moment??? Skin problem progresses into a skin infection - vet says it is because of a lowered immune system which is common in Dobes?? Anyone shed any light on this one??

Yes, it is a fantastic idea to take your new pup to puppy preschool. Contact the Royal NSW Canine Council and they can tell you obedience clubs that hold puppy preschool classes in your area.

Correction, whether it is by saying 'ahh' or if you need to growl 'no', whatever you say, is designed with a particular dog in mind. Some dogs need a really strong voice correction and others only need a quiet word. From what you describe the quiet ahh may be the most appropriate for a soft dog. The most important thing is the light, happy, reward voice after the behaviour has been interrupted ie 'YES' in a really HAPPY, highpitched laughing voice. Then give the dog a treat immediately. The tone of the reward voice is really, really important! :D

I think you have answered your own question Doglover. Sounds like you need to be more consistant and also put in a bit more time with some basic training. Not telling you anything you don't know already except to say, he does get your attention when he is naughty, doesn't he??

Thank you for that explanation of the toy reward position Dog Dude. I have never thought of it that way and it makes sense!

Yep!!

So, am I reading here that Innotek are charging for us to attend a seminar which will promoting Innotek collars???? Hmmmmmmmm!!!!!!

It depends on how much risk you are prepared to take doesn't it! Dogs are capable of consuming all sorts of nasty things that we wouldn't dream of eating and be OK but sometimes they do get upset guts. Personally I freeze chicken frames if they aren't going to be consumed within 2-3 days. That way if they do get a gut problem I know something I have done hasn't contributed to their problem.

Sounds like they are fearful of the people passing by and are alerting. Repeated walkies along your street, controlling your dog beside you on the lead, not letting them walk ahead of you but giving them a loose lead if they are walking correctly should improve your situations. Correction if they want to bark at strangers, you should aim at them sitting, standing or walking calmly beside you. You can only correct your dogs adequately if they are on a lead. Repeat, repeat, repeat!!

I saw that once in the dog poo and freeked!! ;) Later realised that it was the skin off the chicken legs!

Butchers and supermarkets have started to cut up the lamb ribs, I suppose in the hope of selling them for more, like pork & beef spare ribs, but anyway lamb ribs aren't bloody or messy. They are an easy, no fuss way of feeding dogs a bone. You can put an old sheet down for the dog to sit on inside and give it one there. Problem with lamb shanks are that they are a hard bone which can splinter or in the extreme case, wear the dogs teeth down. The rule of thumb used to be to feed bones that were not weight bearing in the animal they came from, ie. like leg bones. If that is not suitable then try the piggy ears or the really hard 4x4 biscuits!

What is really dangerous and unethical is what is implied - the guilt factor ie. if you don't feed this food you are neglecting your dog!! Trouble is unsuspecting pet owners just accept this product pushing as being helpful advice given without bias, which it isn't! I was surprised when an orthopaedic vet. once said to me that before the proliferation of dried dog/cat food vets used to see some cases of rickets. Now rickets is extremely rare but they now see many cases of overnutrition. A refreshing moment of honesty!

I tried to use the BARF frozen patties and they were just gross! I now mix my own and not only does it smell and look heaps better, my dogs do so well on it - they are really happy and healthy! People often say that it is a lot of work but it is really so easy and quick. I use Vets All Natural vege mix and add minced chicken frames, beef mince, organic vitamins & minerals, eggs, yoghurt, fish oil, etc. It takes me about 5 minutes to mix it all up and the dogs love it!

Yes, yes, yes, Fastgals!!!

And I agree with your comments Poodlefan - I have a container of a premium brand dog food just in case but you can certainly see the difference in the poo dept. when you feed natural and thats got to be a good thing!

Aw Jed, I wish I had been able to express myself as well as you just did when I had the 'conversation' with the so called 'expert'. I am still fuming over the things that he said!!! Deep breathing!!! I have heard it all before, it is as you say the basic blurb that the premium food reps push designed especially to push their own product and make more money for them!

So right - and have you noticed that the rude ones are usually the ones that are the 'instant experts' with a very narrow point of view and little personal experience.

I have come across a school of thought today pushed by a certain 'dog behaviourist' business that feeding raw meat (minced chicken frames not total muscle meat) balanced with vegs, raw meaty bones, eggs, fish, etc.etc. is wrong!!! Feeding raw meat is wrong! Too much protein apparently! Gives the dog too much energy so they say! Makes problem dogs worse!!! They don't even bother listening to the explanation of the whole diet fed, no, just charge in bagging a raw diet! They prefer and push a diet of a certain premium dry dog food!! Personally I do not agree, I currently feed all natural but I have had success on other methods of feeding and have learned to respect peoples right to do what they think best for their dog but these 'behaviourists' are intollerant to any other method other than their own and they push it to all their customers and will not listen to any other views. I have been in the dog world for long enough that I have seen and heard lots and lots of different methods of feeding and training, all supposedly the 'correct' way to do things. It never ceases to amaze me how rude some of these intollerant so called 'experts' can be when inflicting their ideas on others and how much they do not know!! I wonder where they got their qualifications from?? They could do with some people skills!!! :

If I have a pup that is proving difficult to toilet train in the house I keep it on a lead whilst it is inside and the lead is attached to me. I don't allow it inside unless it is on the lead! That way I don't miss the start of the squatting and I can correct and take the dog outside immediately. I know it isn't ideal to have the dog on a lead with you at all times when you are inside the house - guess it depends on how keen you are to break the soiling habit. The idea is for the dog to associate outside with the toilet and inside with being clean. The more they are allowed to soil inside, the more OK it appears to them to do so. With this method I have found it doesn't take very long for the pup to get the idea. ;) For those pups that are unreliable - I put kiddies training pants on them with a hole cut out for the tail. Don't laugh it works!!!!

The treatment for your basic case of diahorrea in puppies or adults is fasting for 24 hours. During this period you have to ensure the pup or the dog drinks frequently so that dehydration doesn't occur. I give Lectade which is to replace electrolytes and it also makes the water more desireable to the pup/dog. After 24 hours start to introduce boiled chicken & rice - ie a bland diet for several days to a week. Then gradually move them on to their normal food. Having said all this, in puppies it is a good idea to take them to the vet as it may be something more sinister. I have found that dry food can cause diahorrea in some pups - I will put in a plug for an all natural diet here as, in my experience, it doesn't upset the gut as much as dry, processed food does.

Rolled oats is good for putting on a bit of condition. I mix extra rolled oats with the Vets All Natural dehydrated veges, plus raw beef or chicken mince and chicken necks. Fed twice daily this really puts the weight on. Start with small amounts with the hope of gradually increasing the portions. Dogs really love this mix.

I crate all my dogs of a night and I was having trouble with them urinating in the crate overnight - which is I think what you wish to avoid. I changed the feeding regime of the adult dogs to the mornings and then withheld water from about 6-7pm every evening. They go to bed at about 9.30pm and between 7pm and 9pm I take them outside for several 'wee' trips and again just before they are crated so they are as 'empty' as possible. Also at the same time changed to all natural feeding thus avoiding the dry foods which tend to make them very thirsty. Result - no wetting overnight - I'm happy because there is no mess for me to clean up of a morning and they must be more comfortable too. :rolleyes:

Proban has been around for years and is fairly cost effective. Personally I don't like giving my dogs low levels of poison and prefer to use Advantix fortnightly. You can use Fidos Flea & Tick Rinse with Advantix if you want. Frontline doesn't enjoy the reputation of being as reliable as Advantix. Perhaps you should ask the vet in the tick area you will be visiting as he/she will know their area best.

Hi Appa, I would say that his front is pretty much as good as it will get. Having said that, being down at pastern can be diet related. The cabriole legs are in a major part genetic, but can straighten slightly with growth and development. Over nutrition can also cause problems in this area.