PerthMeggles

Oh he's not slowing down. On the contrary - he's utterly nuts. So much so we've considered Prozac or sedatives hahaha. I just meant that he's old and his digestion and body may need something more :)

Thanks SO much for all of your replies guys, you're all so super helpful on these forums :))

Hey guys We have a Lab x Malamute who is 8 this year and getting old (eek, didn't realise how old he was getting!) Until now he's just been on a diet of "commercial" foods - Supercoat or some such dry biscuits, and some tinned wet food. His poos are quite big, he poos quite often and they're often runny-ish as well. This, combined with the fact that he's getting older and perhaps more delicate, and I'd like to look into some better food for him. He's currently fed once a day - half a tin of the wet food and a cup of dry biscuits. He enjoys it enough - hell, he'll enjoy anything edible :) I've briefly looked into the whole BARF thing, but am not sure I want to go completely hardcore into the BARF diet, but if you guys could suggest a different way of feeding him or some "better" brands of food or something? Thanks :)

You can see his tail in these pics - although he's a bit wet hehe

Some pics, for those who asked. If they're too big, let me know and I'll make the thumbnail smaller

Yeah I've heard/read about Flyball and also discovered there's no club in WA, booooo!

Thanks for replying everybody. The only thread I've found on here about training in Perth, is Kathy or maybe Paw Prints Training. Any other recommendations?

I think we do, yes. Thanks for being so nice, I'm aware that a large majority of people on here are amazing at training their dogs etc and I just scream "terrible owner" for not training him properly in the beginning. Have definitely learnt my lesson and will implement all of these things from day 1 with any future dogs.

I've just removed all the balls from the back yard this afternoon. That's another problem - unfortunately not much. We used to walk him daily but as he got bigger, he was just too much. His over-excitement is ridiculous. He lunges at other dogs nearby, not aggressively, but excitedly and will bark and whine, but to a stranger all they see is a big dog and it frightens them. We want SO desperately to just be able to have a happy dog that we can walk normally and take to the park to throw a stick or whatever, but there's the worry that he'll either run away (he doesn't come back) or go for another dog. He's gotten in growling/slightly aggressive incidents with a couple of dogs on occasion, but it always seems to be just excitement to meet them at first, then they both get their backs up. We're terrible owners :(

Hi Guys I have a 6 year old male LabxMalamute named Kobe. If you can't picture the combination - he has the malamute fur length and curled tail and size, but is yellow like a Lab. A big giant fluffy teddy The problem, however, is his obsession with tennis balls. I can't recall a SINGLE time in the last 4 or 5 years when we've been able to go out the back and just pat him, or sit with him. My old dog who is now passed would spend hours sitting/lying by our side or just hanging out for a cuddle and pat and a chat. The second Kobe sees you near the door, he runs to get a tennis ball. There's half a dozen strewn around the backyard at any one time, and he'll grab whichever he prefers at the time and run back to you. Every moment is SUPER hyperactive. He bounces and jumps and SPRINTS everywhere, all the while looking very hyped up and the furthest thing from calm. He will play ball ALL DAY if someone would keep throwing it, it's amazing. I'm wondering however, if his obsession and excitedness is unhealthy. It almost seems like an anxiety reaction (although not negative as such), but all I want is a normal dog who I can go out the back and chill out with. Sit down with him, have a hug, pat, BRUSH HIM without him moving - all of that stuff. And then playing ball as an extra possibility, if I decide to. He is just ALL. ABOUT. BALL. It's kind of saddening to us, to be honest, because we want to go and spend time with our dog and have him be a companion but he constantly has a ball in his mouth or if he's dropped it in front of you, will bark and grumble until you throw it or leave. Any tips? We're bad owners for not training him properly as a puppy, I know, but I really hope there's something we can do to just have a NORMAL dog!