Stressmagnet

Might be good for Ernie as yet another addition to Canidae. His kibble looks so PLAIN just sitting there in his bowl - hence sardines, chicken necks etc. Of course given he's fed Canudae, he likely doesn't need my 'extras'. It's probably why he's on DIET (see the Dog Psychiatrist thread :laugh:). So it's all my fault I get the mournful lab eyes.

Off topic: I got labs and Westies. On topic: Cannot recommend Dunbar's books highly enough. And to try and talk them out of bringing the kids along.

She is r thoroughly and utterly stunning.

Just a note:'ever since I trad your original post, I've been 'parking' Ernie. He's perfectly fine with it and I can actually listen. I liken it to teaching a small child not to interrupt when the grownups are speaking.

Well I note that the FB page that was all about "please help this cuddly squishy faced misunderstood dog " has been very quiet. The original owner sounds like a complete ignoramus who treated her dog like a small human being instead of an animal. To anyone who feels like flaming me: Whilst I love Ernie and he is a part of my family, he is not a small child but a dog. I've also owned an AmStaff and adore the breed.

Now I'm all confused and stressed again. :D

Ouch. As a single mum on disability, I confess to having bought marked down meat for that night's dinner. I'm feeling a bit sick now just thinking about it.

Ah yes. The oh so rare $3000 'blue staffy. When I was researching buying our Anstaff girl (who was plain old black and white) the amount of nonsense spouted over 'blue' Staffies was astounding. They look pretty sure but paying that for a recessive gene that carries a host of problems?? I also noticed such twaddle when I was researching labradors too. The fabled 'silver' labrador for &4000. No. Nothing screams BYB more than the words 'blue' or 'silver' to me now.

I must admit I was bemused by how long it took. Maybe it's the breed in Canada or maybe it was because she wanted a dog from that particular breeder.

Please let this not be the place I've just booked Ernie into. The place I booked him in, does have foggy playtime but they assured me that they'd assess him and only let him play with like minded dogs.

Didn't see the story and can't read it because their mobile friendly version ... Isn't. Can you recap please?

Yes to this. This is how my sister 'broke into' breeding. She did all her studies, passed her exams and then asked a breeder who had helped mentor her through the paperwork if she would be willing to let her co-own a bitch. She showed her for 3.5 years, then the breeder wanted to breed the bitch. Sis took care of everything and as a reward, was asked if she'd like a show quality pup from the litter for her very own. She put in years of hard work not just paper educating but getting to know the breeders and judges, taking care of a dog that could be removed from her at any time if Sis didn't prove her stuff. Breeding is a lifetime thing, you've got to be prepared to put in the hard yards.

I feed Ernie a good quality kibble, chuck some chicken necks or a tin of sardines in and he's ready to go. He will on occasion, get leftover brown rice,a lick out of the Greek Yoghurt tub, pasta leavings or an egg. Sometimes (to his immense joy) he gets gravy drippings. I keep a close eye on his profile and if he's looking tubby, he gets cutback rations until he looks svelte again. My sister in Canada feeds her Westies BARF. Her dogs are in wonderful shape and condition. If she moves here, I'm happy to feed Ernie the same if it makes her happy for all dogs to eat the same stuff. I used to stress and stress about what I fed my dogs until I realised that I'd educated myself as best I could with all the contradicting data floating around. In fact, I'd educated myself into a stupor. I use common sense now, I worry less. I've never ever had a dog without a bounce in their step, clear eyes and a shiny coat. Apart from vaccinations and desexing and an annual checkup - my dogs have never had to see a vet. Maybe I'm just lucky or (probably) I'm just lazy but no matter what I tead - I appeared to be doing things wrong so this is what I decided on.

Ernie woulda done it in less than 2 secs.

Well it was a shock to me. I've owned a Kelpie (medium shedding), and an Amstaff (minimal shedding). I'm thinking of making a line of dog hair stuffed dolls.

^ I know. So impressed. Don't any of you take the usual dog shots - blurry, head turned away or lunging at the camera like some escaped serial killer??

Jemmy, I tried the Cuz ball. Ernie doesn't like it for just that reason -- or he didn't 4 months ago... I may have to give it another go. And you just KNOW an Afghan Hound is the GSD's receptionist, right?

I can highly recommend the King Wild Knot toys if you really think your pup wants a squeaker - the squeaker, while annoying, disappears quite quickly and they are left with an unbelievably tough stuffed toy. Ernie is in love with his Monkey:

Yes ^ to this. What a perfect way to have a discussion about different views. Well said SuzieWong.

I don't think I judged her for focussing on her new baby in the beginning. What makes me angry is the whole tone of the piece. She accurately and succinctly describes how she is neglecting her dog. So she's aware she's useless. And yet, apparently, she's going to continue doing it. I guess so she can write an editorial piece in Slate while her dog suffers in misery from she knows not what and stays uninvolved in her life. But hey! she got to write on the Interwebz and maybe she'll become famous. Piece Of Crap Human Being. And I'm a far from perfect dog owner.

I use that Kong Zoom Groom on Ernie when I bathe him which is only when he pongs. I use the Furminator when he's blowing his coat but try and brush him every other day with an undercoat rake and a slicker. I vacuum every day with a Dyson. His hair is still everywhere. My next dog will be hairless.

Now I'm giggling. Somehow, it's a GSD behind the shrink desk, and a Bassett in the chair. He's got two, along with a farting chicken and a trio of oinking pigs. He loves them, but only because the first high pitched squealing toy he got, lasted 20 minutes of non stop squeaking before I pitched off the deck and into the pool. He's prone to sitting mournfully gazing at it through the bars while I hope it decomposes.

I go for the lower toned ones - the farts or the honks. The squeaky high pitched ones make me want to hurl a chair through my window, especially since Ernie has no concept of 'enough'. Honestly, I don't think they need them. It's not like they'll grow up and be bitching to their shrink about how deprived they were in their childhood, anyway.

That is a beautiful animal.