Zombie Bait

I had a miniture poodle and an ACD growing up. The poodle didnt really appeal to me so they were struck off my list. Jessie the ACD was too special to me so I could never see me owning another ACD without comparing. My OH had dobes and ACD's growing up and really wanted another ACD. We ended up adopting a dobe that unfortuately we had to PTS due to behaivoural/neurological issues. So unfortunately they also got pinged off the list. Ive always liked big "boofy" dogs so our next dog was a pup from the RSPCA. He was listed as mastiff x rottie. I thought "perfect, he'll be huge!" Brembo looks to be a staffy x lab, and at 30kg and about knee height is more of a medium dog to me. He is my heart dog and I love him to bits but its kinda ironic that he turned out to look more like 2 of the breeds that Im not the hugest fan of (SBT's and Labradors). When we wanted to add a female companion to our household, OH was still set on an ACD. I really did not want one. So I started researching breeds of dogs that I had really liked growing up. One of the dogs that I adored when I was a kid was a family friends RR cross. He was a gentle giant. So I researched RR and showed OH. He liked the look of them so we started looking for a pup. Came across a litter on the trading post, rang her and she had 2 females in the litter, they were keeping one to run on and the other was available. Turns out she was a registered breeder (just not a great one!). After a bit of discussion, we put down a deposit for Sierra and 5 weeks later she was ours. The breeder also advertises on DOL and directed me here to look at photos of the parents. I read the RR thread from start to finish then joined up. After several months of reading and learning, we worked out that Sierra was not a good example of the breed nor was the breeder the most ethical. My OH is now smitten with RR's and has said that he will always have a female (even though I have pointed out that our next one will look nothing like our current one). I have fallen in love with Great Danes and after meeting some in the flesh they are definately my next breed to own. I am currently researching breeders and lines and the standard so that I can make a more educated choice when I am ready to buy a Great Dane (in approxiamtely 6-10 years). I also love frenchies and bostons and have told OH even though he doesnt like small dogs he will just have to suck it up as I cant have cats as he is allergic to them (hey its my reasoning and Im sticking to it!!). So in later years I would love to add either one to the family.

With brembo I have decided it is easier to not let him play with other dogs. He was well socialised as a pup, but I think I broke him somewhere along the way. He doesn't have all that much interest in interacting with other dogs, too busy saying hello to the humans and checking out all the different scents. He has massive issues with entire males and has gotten it into his head that he must show how big his imaginary balls are and take them out first. He is also very protective over myself and Sierra so he tells dogs off for getting too close to either of us. Much easier to leave him at home enjoying a bone whilst I take Sierra to a dol meet. Sierra was not socialised as well as brembo and as a result the first time I took her to a dol meet she submitted to 4 beagle pups cos they scared her. She is much better now, still has a fear of little dogs (runs away from them with her tail between her legs) but enjoys playing with dogs the same size as herself or other ridgebacks. She loves miss monsters male ridgie bakari and is a total tart for him. The best time they had was at a park in Ipswich with some other dol dogs. Ams had 2 of her own dogs and 2 or 3 foster dogs, greytmate had 2 of her greys and carebear was there with her shepherd. Brembo and ams's Ash decided they liked each other, were both of about equal dominance, similar size, both desexed males, so decided to "run" the pack together. To watch the symmetry they had and how relaxed brembo was, was beautiful but alas has not repeated itself again and now I will not take brembo to these outings as it's too stressful on both him and I.

And how is horse? Or are you completely ignoring the thread that you started on how starved your dog was?

Would someone be able to give me an idea on the size of the kibble? I currently feed RC giant breed adult to my two. They love it, the kibble is huge so they actaully have to chew instead of inhaling it and they look great on it. Only problem is the price. $130 for a 15 kg bag that lasts us 3 weeks. So was interested in "maybe" changing to BH but was wandering if it was a tiny size. When my two were on Iams or Hills they inhaled the food and had a few choking incidents so had to put tins of tuna in their bowls to act as deterents for them to work around. I wish RC was cheaper

My next door neighbors dog dug under our fence and stuck its head through. Brembo didnt take kindly to that and bit the dog. Unfortunately the dog in question is a fox terrier/jack russell (weighs about 5kg) and Brembo is a staffy x lab that weighs in at 30kgs. Little dog nearly lost half of its face. Brembo degloved its nose. The neighbor complained to us and made lots of threatening noises. We offered to pay half of the vet bill on presentation of a full itemised bill and we contained our dogs when we werent at home until we could dig a trench on our side and concrete it. I was a little p***ed off when I stuck my head over the fence and noticed that there was bricks running the entire length of their fence as their dog was a digger and they failed to mention it. I would've of fought harder re the vet bill and us concreting but our dogs are huge (30kg and 45-48kg respectively) and their dogs are little plus Brembo "looks" mean (brindle crossbreed) and we intend on living here for the next 5 years (we own our house, neighbours do too). I did enquire with Logan City Council as to my rights and was reassured that we were in the right as the neighbors dog had "entered" our property. I have also come home to a dead pidgeon that the dogs had plucked nicely for me (squab anyone) and they have corned a cat that was stupid enough to enter our yard but they are actaully cat safe (they were brought up with MIL's cat and are actaully terrified of cats). So in my opinion, the greyhound is completely innocent of any wrong doing (in the eyes of the law). Cat should of been safely contained in its own yard or house and not in the greyhounds yard (where he was safely contained).

I have a Mantle...................want him? :laugh: You know I'd take him in a heartbeat :D You know that while I have a heartbeat, there's never a chance of that? :D I know! But a girl can dream, right ;)

I have a Mantle...................want him? :laugh: You know I'd take him in a heartbeat :D Its hard because I would like to show when I eventually get my mantle boy so I'd have to be a little specific (ie show marked). If I was not looking at showing I'd happily take a mismarked boy if he ticked all the other boxes.

TLC- my sickness timetable is as follows: 2 weeks of feeling unwell (sinus, post nasal drip, sore throat, migraines, aching) 2 weeks of full on coughing fits 2 weeks of no coughing during the day, but cough returned at night/early morning Finally recovered! Hope this kinda helps. The antibiotics I was on did nothing for me, it's only to stop you from being actively contagious.

I would love a mantle great dane in the future and am willing to wait for a correctly marked mantle male from the right breeder but if my research (health, temperament, conformation and registered ethical breeder) points to a fawn when the time comes then I will be happy with a fawn. I would prefer a healthy, good looking dane from a great breeder in the "wrong" colour than have a poorly bred mantle from a dodgy breeder. My other future breed is another RR. They only come in liver and wheaten. I do prefer the wheaten and they are the most prevailant within the breed so I should be right there!

TLC- I feel for you as I too have just gotten over whooping cough. I too was also wrongly diagnosed with "just a virus" for ages before a doctor actually took the time to go through the timeline of my illness and all the symptoms and bingo - swab down the nose and a correct diagnosis. My two dogs were hilarious. Sierra gave me the death stare whenever I coughed! How rude was I to interrupt her beauty sleep! Brembo on the other hand was an absolute sweetheart. He would lie beside me with his head on my chest and give me gentle licks at the end of coughing fits. And yes he is my boy through and through. When I have migraines, he lies beside me and will NOT leave until I tell him its ok to go. Love my boy

I was going to say the same thing.

I own an over sized RR. Think small great Dane in height, build etc. She is very lean but weighs between 45-48kgs. This is a good weight for her and sounds to be about what your dog should weigh. I fostered a rescue great Dane about a year ago that was very underweight (looked remarkably like the OP's dog in build). She was with me for 10 days and gained 8kgs. She still had some kgs to go before being healthy but she finally had a bit of meat on her bones. I fed her 3 times a day, high calorie food. She was on eukanuba large breed puppy dry food plus eggs, cheese, natural yogurt, the highest quality dog roll I could find, sardines and the occasional bone. She was also wormed, flea treated, heart wormed, vaccinated and desexed within those 10 days. Horse 2008, your dog needs food, good food and NOW! Please take at least some of the good advice that has been given on here and get your dog healthy.

I had to search every pet barn and city farmers in se Qld 2 weeks ago to get a bag of rc giant adult. Finally found one and put 2 bags of it on order with my local city farmers. They got them in last week and said supply issues are over now. Maybe try city farmers near you or online I found some companies stock it, so you may have some luck there.

Thanks Ams - will try and get some more of the RC but if it doesnt pan out I will start researching large kibbles.....the things we do

My husband says that I would sell him to pay for things our dogs need. He's probably right My OH says the same thing

Im now scouring online to try and get some more as its the only kibble that I can find that is huge (so they actually chew) and works well for them. I didnt think it was crazy at all either but you know what some people are like. Supermarket food, dog is stuck in backyard its whole life etc. My OH's business partner has a large x breed dog that is supposedly a PITA to wash, so he hasnt given him a bath in forever and he stinks. OH suggested a dog wash person and the business partner was like "oh yeah, I didnt think of that". Some people just either have no idea or dont care

So I usually feed my 2 dogs on Royal Canin Giant breed Adult kibble. A week ago, we were getting towards the end of the barrel so I sent OH down to City Farmers to pick up a new bag. They had none in stock but took an order from him and reassured him that it should be in stock within a week. Fast forward to today when I was scraping the bottom of the barrel and realised we hadn't heard anything from City Farmers. I called and was told that RC is having issues with getting stock into Australia due to customs? and they had no ETA for when RC Giant Adult would be in stock next. Thanked them and then called 10 different places over Brisbane to see if anyone had any RC Giant Adult in stock. No one did. Finally tracked down a bag in Mitchelton, so called OH to let him know. He was working in Goodna so was unable to pick it up. I work as a delivery driver on Fridays so I called my boss and asked her if it would be alright to pick it up whilst I was doing deliveries. Boss said not a prob, just be back by 3.30pm. So off I drove to Mitchelton and picked up the dog food. It was waaaay out of my way and added an hour onto my trip, but I was determined to get my dogs the food that they are used to and do well on. The people that OH works with were astounded that we would go to such lengths to get the dogs a certain brand of food, saying "Just get some food at the supermarket, what does it matter if its different?". My OH was a bit put out and said you obviously aren't dog people Do you go to crazy lengths to get or do things for your dog?

Both my dogs have a simular build to your Gus. Big barrel chest and teeny tiny waists. We feed twice a day, RC adult giant breed as the kibble is bigger and they actually chew Brembo my bitsa desexed male gets a cup in the morning, cup at night and he weighs 30kg. Sierra my desexed female RR, gets 1.5 cups twice a day and she weighs 45kg. Our "cups" are actually plastic beer cups so not an exact measurement but I increase/decrease feed depending on how they look and feel. Sierra is very much like your boy in that you can see her ribs at times when she stands side on. Partly because her coat is so thin and partly because she is hard to maintain weight on. She still has a covering though and is not underweight. Just lean.

Good Luck at the vets I was once looking after my MIL's dog, an ACD. She left for hol's at about 6am, I got up at 8am with the dog drooling, straining to go to the toilet and generally looking uncomfortable. I called the vet (Saturday morning) and got him in within an hour. She thought he was constipated, gave him some laxatives and sent him home with instructions to only give him a tiny meal of rice and chicken. Did as instructed, dog seemed ok. Sunday morning he was throwing up and it smelt like poo. So off to the emergency vets who took xrays of his guts and he was badly compacted. They had him on laxatives, IV fuids and were doing enemas on the poor dog for the next 24 hours. Close to $1000 later (it was a long weekend) he was home and happy. Apparently he had eaten cooked bones when he was at an offleash park on the Friday afternoon and they had set like concrete in his bowel. The poo smelling vomit was because everything was backing up (sooo gross). That incident was 5 years ago now and Basil is still with us. He has to have a different diet as he now has bowel issues but otherwise is a healthy happy boy Hoping Gus is home and healthy and happy soon.

I have also thought about this as there was an apartment being sold in the building I work in (its nice to dream ) Both my dogs are happy sleeping 22.5 hours of the day (seriously the laziest dogs Ive ever met!) but as soon as dusk hits at home they go mental and do their zoomies around the yard and play fight for close to an hour. We call it the witching hour So I guess it can be done but you would have to be very strict on yourself to take them for walks and play time on grass (not necessarily with other dogs but just letting them be dogs, sniffing, peeing on things etc).

Gotta agree with this. Both my 2 wont pee whilst on lead unless absolutely busting. My girl Sierra is the worst offender. I took her to a lure coursing day and she refused to pee whilst on lead but as soon as i let her off lead she quite happily pee'd. Both of mine will pee on command, except whilst on leash. Its frustrating when travelling and we stop for a toilet break as we need to find somewhere we can let them off leash.

My Brembo pee'd on someone once and I "think" it was purely by accident but after the telling off he has never done it again. I took him and Sierra to a DOL meet, he was fairly happy sniffing around etc, but was doing the whole I pee on your pee thing as there was an entire male there. He went up to a tree and sniffed and the entire male had just pee'd on the tree so Brembo decided he too would pee on the tree. Unfortunately the entire males owner had just lent on said tree and had inadverdantly moved into Brembo's path of pee. Brembo has shocking aim when cocking his leg and unfortunately got the owner of the other dog. As soon as I saw it I yelled out a loud "OI Brembo, NOOOOOO" . Brembo stopped immediately, I apoligised profusely and he has never again pee'd on someone leg! Just to add: Brembo is desexed, has been since he was 8 weeks old (RSPCA puppy), so not neccesarily an entire male issue only.

Good to hear she is well again and her and Benson are itch free

Hey Jadesamara- how is your puppy?

Jadesmara - hopefully she is ok and not running up too huge of a bill at the vets for you! Are the welts/hives? connected to the swollen abdomen or does she have allergies? The poor bub, hopes she back home soon to keep Benson company