KumaAkita

Yep, that was probably us... We just wanted to check the place out to make sure that it would fit with Kuma's style. Seems to me that he'll be just fine. Will come and say Hi next time! Promise

I saw it... lovely ad! great pic

We went to BDOC this morning for a visit to see what they do in class... Ended up enrolling Kuma for the session starting in August! I saw Elbie (oohh cutie!) but didn't want to interrupt their session. Will just have to remember to rug up, man my toes got sooooooo cold!

does he eat any bones? Yep. He's just not a big "chewer" - he is not going to sit and gnaw on a bone until it's gone. The best way for us to prevent the build up is to complement the bones with a daily brush. He'll get used to it. cheaper on my wallet, better than having him sedated every six months for a clean.

Wow that's a lot of cashola. We had Kuma's teeth done two weeks ago at our local vet. We just took him in for a check up and ended up having him sedated for a thorough clean. Now, he's 7 months old but weighs 40Kg and it took 30 mins and cost $170 - and that included the original consult! We now clean his teeth every night (he HATES it!!)

We had issues with Kuma being bitey - especially when he was teething. His teeth were sharp needles! When we talked to our puppy class instructor, she mentioned that we need to ignore him and suggested that when he got too excited and mouthy we put him in time-out for 10 minutes. Once we started doing that and putting him outside for 10, it would only take a couple of times for him to get the picture and is pretty good... Now, when he wants to go outside, he taps our hands and leads us to the door! We're working on that challenge now...

Kuma was doing the same thing. He'd wolf down the kibble if it has any extras and turn his nose up if it was just plain. We got chatting to the vet nurse at puppy class and she said that he had us figured out and that we should stick to our game plan. She explained it like he was a fast food junkie and always wanted KFC and we had to get him to eat normal food. He's not a huge eater (not that you'd know it - he's 40Kg!) and his breakfast can last him all day. We don't take it away from him yet - but will probably start come summer time when the ants are afoot. He now has kibble twice a day with a tin of Sardines mixed in once a week - a Sunday Special.

Let see if this works

or... there could the "my wife has dumped me for a dog forum" forum. All the OH could be complaining about how much time we spend on the computer and not entertaining them!! Kuma has only just started to shred his toys, they are pretty precious to him so he's just careful about what he chews. Bunny has now lost an arm and there are holes that need fixing. We took bunny to the breeder before we picked him up - so it's been pretty well looked after! I'm probably going to have to perform surgery on it. The best lasting toys we've found have been the ones from Woolies - they're about $8-9 each but they are made of cheap durable fabric.

Thanks everyone We're working on the process of getting him to chew his bones on his mat, still a bit messy at the moment but I'm sure he'll get there. He just likes to eat everything on the rug in front of the TV - does he sound like a boy or what??!! The answers I'm getting are pretty much what I thought - I just wanted to confirm my suspicions.

Just discovered Kuma is scared of kids galavanting on bicycles and discarded plastic plant pots blowing in the breeze. makes for an interesting walk around the neighbourhood!

with winter setting in and we're (thankfully) getting lots of rain, I'm looking at something we can give Kuma to chew inside. By way of background, our backyard is completely dirt - we've just finished building - so there's no way he's going to be outside in the rain and mud... we have a mudbath out there!!! I was thinking about those dried bones and knuckles you can get at the supermarket or good pet stores. Are they good? bad? indifferent? He is getting bones regularly, but I'm not so keen on having him chewing that in the house. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

we got some as part of a better homes and gardens gift bag (love how they think of everyone... ) Kuma loved it... we gave it as a little treat and he kept sniffing out for it. We also use the NG treats, they are the few things he'll work for.

yep - Kuma is a WMD too. When he first started farting, he would look at his butt with the "what was that??" face... now it's second nature. The funniest is when he does them on our morning walk... these ones are audible! I'm just glad that no one else is around when he does them!

Yep - this is our plan. That and daily brushing as advised by the vet. OH checked out a few butchers today (planning for a bbq at work, but added some family benefit there too!) and found a few good suppliers in our area. We'll stock up this weekend. Certainly don't want to be sedating him... not good for him, not good for my wallet!

aawww thanks. We thought that since we got a Japanese dog, he needed a Japanese name. "steve" didn't really fit him!!

Thanks everyone... he was zonked out all night, but then would get playful. But like a drunk... funny and sad Vet told us about lamb shanks too, so we'll get onto that. He seems to be eating more already so I think he may have been in pain as well. anyway... off to brush his teeth...

Took Kuma to the vet tonight, he's just turned 7 months old and we wanted to make sure he's growing according to plan and that everything was ok. The vet said he's doing really well, but he had some plaque build up on his teeth. I had noticed this and had been cleaning every night, but there was just no way to shift it. The vet tried to crack it off, but he wouldn't let her near his mouth! so, the decided to sedate him. They put him in a light sedation and gave them a good clean - it only took 30 mins. When we got home it was like he'd had a big night out, bit wobbly on his boots! Right now he's asleep on the rug... Before i get flamed for being a bad owner... he gets dentastix regularly, bones every week, premium dog food, rare leftovers, treats for training... we're not slack. Our research tells us that there is a condition called "Akita Teeth", so this is a breed specific thing. Poor little thing, last thing he though he was doing tonight was getting knocked out!

This is one of those hot button topics that are going to get different reactions from each and every owner/trainer/expert. With respect to the OP, they came here asking for advice on what works, they may not be seeking an instant solution and are trying to gather information from a group who have a wealth of experience and are willing put in the yards to have a well trained dog. It's about educating that there is no magic bullet and that "tools" are not always the be all and end all. Go with what will work for you and your dog. The infin8 works for us. So my advice to the OP is that you may have to try a few different things to find out what works. It will go hand in hand with sensible training to stop the pulling. Our vet have a few collars that they will let you try before you buy, check if yours does the same. But most of all - you have to enjoy walking your dog. It's something you're going to have to do no matter what. Perserve and good luck!

I agree GayleK. Kuma is 40Kg at 7 months old and is a chronic puller. It's really hard to settle in and enjoy a walk if he's charging off at a mile a minute. However - he still needs to be walked. We settled on a Black Dog Infin8 Collar - it's a cross between a martingale and a gentle leader - and the difference is like night and day. He can still pull, and does try to, but when he does that, we stop-heel-wait before we go any further. It is well known that any "tool" is only a substitute, but if it makes exercising the dog more enjoyable and enables the owner to train it not to pull, then I don't really see a problem in using them. (IMO) The "problem" is that the original behaviour is often not dealt with and that long term use of equipment like the Infin8 could see a dog develop serious chiropratic health issues, ESPECIALLY if he leans or lunges on it. Agree that if you don't deal with the problem, it's just a bandaid (and think that that's what I said...). I still don't see that if used correctly they can't be of benefit to both human and dog. As I said, in our situation Kuma is not allowed to lunge or pull and when he tries he is corrected appropriately. It would be the same if using a flat collar, just this way I have more control (I'm 60Kg - he's 40kg, power to weight ratio shows that he is going to win). We now have the situation that he's walking loosely at my side for 90% of the time - and this is increasing as we're learning the right way to walk. Over a half hour walk, I think we're doing pretty good for a 7 month old stubbourn Akita. The tool itself will not stop the pulling, it is a catalyst for change.

I agree GayleK. Kuma is 40Kg at 7 months old and is a chronic puller. It's really hard to settle in and enjoy a walk if he's charging off at a mile a minute. However - he still needs to be walked. We settled on a Black Dog Infin8 Collar - it's a cross between a martingale and a gentle leader - and the difference is like night and day. He can still pull, and does try to, but when he does that, we stop-heel-wait before we go any further. It is well known that any "tool" is only a substitute, but if it makes exercising the dog more enjoyable and enables the owner to train it not to pull, then I don't really see a problem in using them. (IMO)

Thank God - I thought Kuma was the only boofhead out there that licked dishwashers... Every time we open it, he's in for the lick. Not particularly hygienic! We are using the "leave it" command every time, like jacquilee81, we hope it will sink in one day!

It must have been the latest episode of Dog Whisperer! Kuma had the same reaction, he was sound asleep and when that little dog started barking he jumped up and sniffing the TV trying to find it! He also goes looking for dogs that disappear from the TV screen... he gets really bewildered when the can get away from him! Depends on his mood... sometimes he couldn't give a fig, but other days he goes absolutely mental!

Another Sock Killer here... Except only when they're on your feet - he just tries to pull them off. Same goes with gloves, he tries to pull my lovely wool gloves off my hands when we go out every morning... weirdo

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