Hunbun

I'm really looking forward to trying Frontier, it sounds great, hopefully she likes it And yes, everyone's responses have been very helpful, lots of good info! Dame Danny - Hunbun is just a username I picked when I first joined, it's a reference to Pulp Fiction (movie) hahah Puppy is still nameless, we're struggling to choose just one perfect name, terrrible I know!

Thank you, I'm making sure I get as many puppy kisses as I can haha! I will be making my own raw eventually, just want to ease myself into it. I ended up getting the leading raw puppy barf patties, we'll see how that goes. Hopefully the photo works, thats her on the first day home

So at this stage I have ordered her a sample bag of Frontier Pets and picking up some raw patties today. My local shop has the Big Dog brand and also Complete Pet Food Company patties, has anyone heard of these or used them? http://www.completepet.com.au/pet/raw-food/about-our-raw-food/what-is-in-the-complete-meal-for-dogs Ingredients look simple and good and it's made locally.

Thanks for the tips everyone

Thank you! Yes definitely will take things slow and monitor her tummy. I actually like the half and half idea too, that might be a good starting point too and from what I have been reading there are some really decent kibble options. I think for now I will keep it simple and find a premade barf and a good puppy dry food. And just keep learning and tweaking it as we go .

Wow, thank you both so much! Dump away Scrappy, thats super helpful! I have plenty of reading to do now haha I did think that I might just do a pre-made barf for now, have been checking out some options. I will email the ones that look good, but are there any you would recommend for puppies? Instincto seems very good. Will try chicken wings, she's a little land shark at the moment so will probably loooove it ;) I have also seen a lot of people using high quality dry food for training, is that a good idea? I'm doing a few short training sessions a day and don't want to feed too much. What do raw feeding people use as treats?

I just brought home our new puppy a few days ago and would like to transition her to raw. She currently eats the kibble I got from the breeder, I forgot the name, but it's a breeders brand he buys bulk for all his dogs. I've been reading about raw, but most of the info seems to be more for bigger dogs. She's currently about 1.7kg at 8 weeks and a spitz mix, should grow to about 5-6kg. Ideally I'd like to make my own patties in bulk and freeze them to make life easier. Are there any websites or recipes you would recommend to get me started, I'm sure eventually I will have my own tried and tested recipe, but for now I just want some of the thinking done for me iykwim :D And would love opinions about treats to use, as there is obviously a lot of learning happening here every day. And before someone gets started about the mix breed etc, yes I am aware about dodgy backyard breeders and dogs etc, but I am very happy with where the dog came from and the care both the puppies and mum got. This "breeder" was more helpful than some of the purebred dog breeders I have spoken to.

Thank you! I'll check them out. 5kg is a decent size, anything between 3-5kg would be perfect for a small dog. I will go to the show on sunday though and will probably come back wanting all the big dogs haha

That particular dog was a purebred papered dog that the owners were advertising directly. I do keep an eye on all the rescue sites, but because I'm looking for a small young female with fluffy hair my chances of finding one like that are pretty slim.

Yes absolutely, I suppose that's more what I meant too and it's not a project I need tbh. She's 7 months, but the listing has been taken down now. There's a show on Sunday and I'm kid free, so will try to make it there. If anyone from Brisbane is going and wants a tag-along, let me know

Well that pup is gone already, ad went up yesterday! She hadn't been desexed either...

I think the location is set on default, I'm in QLD (Brisbane) Is there anyone around here you would recommend? I was surprised she was that big! The smallest foster we had was 3kg and my kids were completely fine with her, but something about 4-5kg is my own preference for size. And yes obviously kids and pup will need close supervision.

She did seem like a happy dog by the end of our visit, very energetic and was licking the kids hands and even whinged when we were leaving. But the nipping is a concern definitely. And if she has been kept mainly in the pen inside then she'll need a whole lot of socialising still. So you're all right, not the one for us unfortunately. My kids are a bit older now, 5&7 and while there is a bit of the usual rough boy stuff here, they know how to be very gentle with small animals. Saying that, I wouldn't want to get a tiny 2kg dog either, that particular pap was a good 5kg and not fragile looking at all.

I think the fact that I have such big doubts about it are a good indicator that it's not a good match. I have read there a some anxious and high strung paps out there.. I've been mainly looking at papillons and japanese/german spitz's. Not a huge fan of the shorter leg stocky terrier look I'm afraid. We're fairly active family, I like to walk a lot, we go camping a few times a year, go to the beach nearly every week in summer, just generally like to spend time outside. At home though we're more chilled. I'm keen to try some dog sports too, agility or flyball or something.

PossumCorner - we fostered a few more dogs, but then had some major life changes and I decidedto put a hold on any dogs until just recently. But due to house changes etc have settled on getting a small companion dog for now. My big dog dream will have to wait for a while.. I think in general she might be a good dog, but she apparently lives mainly in the pen and doesn't go out much. The nipping happened after the owner put her in my lap unexpectedly and my son quietly tried to pat her, so I absolutely understand why that happend. I asked about it and it has happened before with a 2 year old. I've been teaching my kids about dog body language and personal space etc, but I guess I want them to be able to really enjoy living with a dog and not have to worry constantly about upsetting a dog. We currently have a cat for that :D (Pet-sitting..)

I went to meet an older papillon puppy that is looking for a new home and as I don't have any experience with paps I came home a bit hesitant, but perhaps what I saw was regular pap puppy behaviour.. She was very energetic and seemed quite a happy dog, but went shy and shaky when we first got there, looked like she was scared. I had my kids there and she nipped at one of them when trying to pat her. After a little bit she did warm up to us, was trying to climb out if her pen to play, but still seemed quite anxious in her energy, lots of licking, fidgeting. Is this a normal papillon thing? Or am I looking at a pup that hasn't been socialised much or perhaps just has a temperament like that? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Rascal, I'm in QLD, but I'm sure I can meet some here as well :) I do like OEL, not sure how much they shed, but will look into it. I also looked at Briards, gorgeous dogs, love their family and don't shed much, but again not the easiest dogs to train and handle.. There's a show on in Samford this Saturday, I'll try and make it to that.

Oh I don't think I've ever looked at a Bergamasco before, very interesting! Sounds like a lovely dog, but I have to say I don't really like the flocks... I'll add Airedale to my list. Would you say that if heaviky socialised with other dogs as a pup they would be ok with dogs? I have always thought we would end up with more than one dog.. And also I would like to foster every now and then. Rebanne- I will keep fostering, but majority of the large dogs that need a foster home have a short coat and shed heavily...

I'm getting more confused the more I think about this :D But I thought about what are things that are a must and one is definitely the coat/shedding. I can't live with a dog that leaves tonnes of hair on the floor constantly, especially the heavy short spikes... Also, it's important the dog likes to hang out with the kids, likes to play fetch, runs around the yard etc. I'm guessing that means a dog with the love eyes ;) But if those love eyes are not just following me around, then it might be ok. And then I guess the rest is slightly less important. I do think I would be fine with implementing rules and being consistent, I'm pretty strict... But perhaps a dog that will forgive a mistake here and there.. I'd prefer a puppy or a younger dog, but I agree it's very possible to bond with an older dog too. I still miss a little foster we had here, he was so my dog. But he didn't like the kids... So I'd still happily look at adopting and older dog. Juice, BTs sound like awesome dogs :D But the hair is a problem definitely..

Haha see that's the reason I came here to ask, these personal experiences paint a much cleared picture than a lot of dog websites.. I'm not too worried about the knocking kids over, the kids are like that anyway, the amount of bruises they get is phenomenal :D But that constant pleading love eyes thing... It's not for me.. Any breeds that are less like that? My house never goes more than a couple of days without vaccuuming, I would drown in cracker crumbs otherwise so tumbelweeds here and there I don't mind, as long as the dog doesn't make me itchy..

I should say, what I think I want. I do realise I don't have enough experience to know 100%

We used to have a black lab as a family dog :) He was a lovely dog, but the hair!!! I can't deal with that amount of shedding.. I don't remember being allergic to him though, couldn't have been an issue as I clearly remember how the cat we had made me feel. I liked the longer fluffier hair of one of our fosters, it sort of collected into the corners of the house rather than just lying flat on the floor everywhere :D I'll look up the obedience clubs and shows around here and go visit, that's a great idea. The kids dad is very involved, so I should be fine finding time. I'm not opposed to getting an adult dog, but I'd prefer a young dog/puppy because of the bonding and also because the dog would grow up with us, be used to the kids, know how our family works etc. I could easily handle another kid, so I should be fine with a furry one, no? :D I've always liked the Berners, but the life span is a bit if a worry.. Are they generally sick dogs? I agree it doesn't have to be a guard or protection dog, a good bark would deter most intruders. And just having a dog here makes me feel a lot less anxious. I guess my problem is that the dog that suits a busy young family and the dog that I personally would want are quite different. Just have to do more thinking and research. This discussion has definitely made me think about some things that didn't occur to me before, so thank you for all the responses, and keep them coming :)

Steph M, what would be the breeds that are more forgiving? Spotted Devil - it's very good to have realistic expectations! I wouldn't do off leash stuff until I was confident the dog has great recall and I can work on that when I don't have to take the kids. That's a good point about the kids&running around squealing etc, I have to think about that more. I definitely won't get a dog until I'm certain I can handle it, but I just want to narrow it down a bit, because of my allergies I will have to meet the breeds before I even consider them further.

The biggest issue is the walking on the days I have no help, as I would have the kids in tow and they are not very fast... On those days I could take the kids to the park and exercise the dog next to the playground, or find a dog park next to a playground or arrange to meet someone at a park that will watch my kids while I walk. When the kids stay at their dads I would have all day basically. Also the kids would run around with the dog, play fetch etc a lot too. I think I would be fine being consistent with rules, but that's a good point about other people not following the rules.. I know some of my friends think I'm a bit harsh with dogs, making them do stuff like sit/wait for food... But none of them have dogs either.. The kids have been pretty good with our fosters, they are still kids though so I would be supervising constantly. I think the bigger one would like to do some training too, just a matter of teaching him how.

I'm in Brisbane. Thank you Simply Grand, will take you up on that offer when I come your way next time! :) Haha I can imagine shifting that much dog, or I mean Not shifting :D I do really like the idea of obedience training and I would be able to do that in the back yard, so finding time for that wouldn't be hard. It's the long walks I'm worried about. Are Berners heavy shedders all year round or do they drop their coat couple of times a year? With the Giant Schnauzers, what sort of daily exercise/work would they need?