just1more

I always thought it was to do with breed but after now having my girl for nearly 2 months I think I will stick with boys. I have had a entire rotti boy and entire bullmastiff boy 5 months apart in age and they got along great! The rotti (mine) was a big teddy bear and loved nothing more than currling up in my lap for a cuddle and nap...all 58kg's of him Super smart and trainable. If it hadn't been for my kidlets I would have gone back for another rotti but now have SBT's. The bullmastiff (OH) loved a pat and loved being with us but frankly was a little "slow" ;) took forever to mature and train well but super loyal! My current pups are staffy's. My boy is 5 months old and LOVES everyone!! Very similar personality to my rotti, and is very loyal, easy to train and always loves to please My girl staffy is 4 months old and the complete opposite! She my first bitch and let's just say I know why they are called bitches She too loves a cuddle but is more independant than my boy and not as quick with the training. She took much long to settle into the family and still has "issues" with me being the boss My boy is MUCH cleaner than her too! He has been house trained from 11 weeks old but our girl at 4 months still isn't quite ther. She pee's a LOT more than my boy and up until resently peed preety much whereever she was including her own bed!! Personality is chalk and cheese with my two too. My boy is quite happy to lay around but does not self-entertain preferring to play WITH someone where as my girl is happy to play by herself but bores easily and does dig and chew everything!! Love her to death but I think I'll stick with boys from now on...maybe ;)

YES!! I used to have a rotti, Odin who was MY baby, and even tho the only time people ever saw him I was there too (we lived out of town at the time) they assumed he was my husbands dog!! I would always be the one walking him etc but becuase people saw him on the back of hubby's ute (me in the cab too!!) and not in my Triton (had a canopy on it so they could see the dogs anyway!) they always asked him questions about him...hubby used to always laugh and shrug his shoulders and say "I don't know. Not my dog. Ask her." Then when we got our Bullmastif it made it even worse!! I'm not a small woman...6 foot tall actually!! So I don't know why people think "it's the man's dog" just becuase it's a larger breed?? ....btw, I now have SBT and people STILL assume they are HIS dogs!!! The only reason I went back to SBT is coz I now have kids and my eldest son doesn't like big dogs other wise I would have gone back to rotti's!!! :D

Thanks again Talk about wearing their teeth down! Ripley is teething ATM so has taken to chewing the edge of the concrete patio!! All 4 of his K9's are slowly go a tad flat! Lucky they are his baby ones! All his front teeth are now thru and the back ones are on their way out so he can get the concrete in his mouth that far so has gone back to his toys! As for how much he eats...when I say he's 4 months old he's about the size of a 9month old or bigger!!! He's a big boy (his dad was 28kg and mum 22kg...not fat or tall, very broad and all muscle) he's all ready around 12kg and isn't fat. He still tucks in nicely behind his ribs which you can see and feel nicely I think I will drop his kibble down a touch though...I honestly think he doesn't eat it as he's waiting for something better He used to get his raw mix twice a day so is wondering why he's getting dished up this dry crap??!! Spoilt and fussy me thinks ;)

Thanks everyone I was going to try roo tail but the only place I've been able to find so far sells chunks about the size of turkey necks anyway so don't see them lasting any longer As for the toy, I just figured it was just him. He's never been a big self-entertainer. He loves to be my shadow and loves to "do" (train) things for me for his treats (if you get what I mean?) He doesn't play with his toys unless I play with him. He'll go and chew on his chew toys but that's about as much as he'll do without me :rolleyes: hence why I want something for him that'll keep him busy while I...well, get on with all the other stuff. Also, he doesn't eat a lot in the morning always leaving his kibble until closer to midday...is that normal? He gets a cup of advance kibble in the morning (which he hardly ever eats more than 1/3), one bone (turkey neck, thighs etc) for lunch and cup of homemade raw and yoghurt for dinner. Is that too much and why he's not interested in the kong? Will try and get some lamb neck I think. And since it's meant to get up to 31degs over the next few days here I will defo be doing the freezer blocks :D

Hi all, Just wondering is anyone can suggest something that I can give Ripley, my 4 month old SBT, that will take him longer than 5 mins to consume? He currently gets turkey necks as he swallows chicken necks whole, but they only last 5mins. Chicken carcases last about 2 bites and he can't have beef bones as he has a sensitivity to beef. I gave him half a lamb thigh bone yesterday and it last about an hour...is it ok that he eat lamb leg bone? It hasn't seem to have done anything to him. He doesn't seem to have an interest in his kong or the other stuffable toy I have. If he can get the food out straight away he just leaves it. I have only stuffed them with lamb liver treats...what else could I use and how do I do it? Also, with the warmer weather, is it ok to give frozen bones? Or do they splinter to much? Thanks

Just an update on Ripley....anti-biotics and wash are working great his bumps are more than half their size in just 24 hours!! Thanks goodness it was just a staph infection and not an allergy

My boy had his shots at 6 weeks than again at 12 weeks and was told to get a third lot (double up of C5) and 16 weeks. I asked my vet about it and she said it wasn't really necessary unless I was going to be taking him to area were a lot of dogs go (esp. where the potential of un-vac dogs go ie. dog parks) and going there quite often. I said I was looking at showing him but it wouldn't be a lot so she said it was up to me if I wanted the third one. You should be fine to take him out after his second shot even if you do decide to get the third.

The best advice I can give is don't pay too much attention to what people in pet shops say about your dog. The second thing I'll say is be wary of so called "natural cures". Diet is important, especially for a breed known for sensitive skin but you won't cure many serious skin issues without some drug therapy. Thansk angain everyone It's not that I was taking the pet store lady's word for it (she also does puppy pre-school and said she'd had 2 staffy pups in the past couple months showing similar symptoms) but it was good of her to mention something instead of ignoring it. I have never had a dog suffering from mites so have no idea of what the signs are As for "natural cures", I may not have worded it very well in my last post but I just meant I would like to see if there is another way of fixing a problem rather than go full heavy duty on it straight up. If the heavy duty is the only way to fix a problem then that is what i would do, but other wise I would prefer to see if there is something that can treat the cause of the problem not just the problem itself Anyhoo, went to the vets and he is suffering a bacterial infection (staph) caused from a few scratches he has on his jowls, so is on a mild course of anit-biotics and have a Pyohex wash that i have to wash him in every few days or so for the next week or 2 to help clear it up. As for his poo's she thinks it could be a sensitivity to beef as since taking him off it he is slightly better...just realised that his kibble has beef in it so that why it hasn't gone completely so off to get some with out it or just cut it out completely and stick with all raw Off to give him a bath now....it raining too so this is going to be fun in the bathroom

Thanks for the feed back everyone. You've all given me some other things to ask about. He hasn't had anything different in regards to his food/treats other than I had up the ratio of beef to chicken, that I was feeding him. I have cut out the beef totally and he seems to be getting a bit better so i have a feeling he can't have beef He is teething at the moment too so could the soft poo's be that? I will get the vet to do a good check I don't want to go for an agressive way of treating whatever it is that we're dealing with...hell, I was in a car accident years ago and am in pain every day but still hate taking anything for it, rather opting for dealing with the cause of the pain than just the pain itself, and will treat my boy the same way and go natural where possible. I will see the vet in the morning and let you know how we go

Hi all Just got home from one of the pet stores and while there one of the staff asked me about my 4 month old SBT boy Ripley. She notice a few little bums on his head and through his coat and she he might have mites I have notice more of the little bumps on his head and just this morning noticed the bumps through his coat. I also found on Friday he had a couple little pimple on the inside of his back legs. He has also been a little "loser" in his #2's this week (mostly soft serve or a little softer) could this be caused by the mites? I am going to take him to the vet in the morning but I just want some advice on what I should ask her and what others have done? I have read a few post in here were some people say to leave them and they should sort themselves out. Others say go to the vet and they give shots or anti-biotics. Also, he is due to do his first show this Friday, should I pull him from it or go ahead with it? Thanks

Thanks I will pop a little vit E cream on and see how he goes. As for the cuts themselves, he doesn't seem worried when they are touched. I was just worried that the judges might not like him have cuts/blemishes (not that they are a "normal" thing) Oh well, we'll see how we go ;)

Hi all I have my SBT boy Ripley signed up for his very first show next Friday as Baby Puppy but I have notice he a few scratches and cuts around his jowls. First question is, if he still has some healing scratches on him at time of show, will this go against him in judging? Secondly, does anyone know if I can do anything to help them heal quickly? They aren't very deep, you can hardly see them but you can feel them when rubbing him over. Thanks muchly for any help in this matter

Thanks everyone

Hi all I was just wondering after chopping up Ripley's whole chicken for the week (seem better value to me to buy a whole chook for Woolies for $3.99 kg than buy all the bits seperately) whick bits of the remaining carcase can he eat? I give him the neck and wings whole and then strip off the remaining meat, dice it up, minus the skin, and mix it with whatever other meat and little veg I'm got for the week. Is it alright for him to eat a whole chicken leg or thigh including the bone? Coz they can be tricky buggers to get all the meat off Thanks

Thanks for the concern but I am not "molly coddling" him AS my husband keeps telling me over and over..."he's a dog! He does dog things!" He thinks our pup has it better than him sometimes Anyhoo, I am actually socialising him but not in a formal setting where I could be losing out on the real reason of do the training by him not wanting to be there/being able to concentrate in his fear phase...if you know what I mean. My boy goes just about everywhere I go...pick up my son from school, short walks down to the park, down the beach etc. But at the moment it's always somewhere we can just get up and leave/go our own way if he has had enough. He interacts with all kinds of people and animals daily. Being a SBT I know what I could potentially have on my hands IF I didn't socialise him early enough The point I was trying to put out there and I know I did poorly (was a tad tire when I wrote my post) was to make sure because of the second shot being needed around 12 weeks to really kick in, check that the training place was a low risk area (a dog park leason would be high risk IMO), if the other pups in the class were on the same page us you with doing the right thing and vaccinating their pups and not putting your pup at risk...I keep reading this over and over and I just can seem to get out exactly what I mean so I'm hoping you all get my drift and leave it at that ;)

I know someone will correct me if I'm wrong but it's best not to take pup out where others dog frequent until they have their 2nd lot of shots. I actually questioned a lady of the local pet supplies why they advertise for puppy pre-school for pups between 8-16 weeks most don't have their 2nd shot until 12 weeks? Isn't that a bit ricky? Plus with the another "fear phase" kicking in around 12-16 weeks is "socialising" in that state a good thing?...she had no answers for me...think she was just playing on people emotions and wanting to "doing the right thing" for their pup. I know I was thinking of do some formal training with my boy but his fear phase is in high gear ATM at 14 weeks so might give it another week or so before starting. Just my thoughts. Hope others give you some more advice and whatever you do I hope it works well for you both

I am usually very tolerant and willing to offer advice but just get so sick of new puppy owners who do no research on how to raise and toilet train a puppy BEFORE a getting one. If you don't know at least the basics of how to raise a puppy, don't get one. The OP has admitted she has never raised a puppy before but has these stupid and cruel ideas about how to do it and will not take the advice offered by many experienced dog owners on here. Anyone treating a puppy badly makes me very angry. This puppy would be far better off returned to the breeder who should also be rapped over the knuckles for selling a puppy into this situation in the first place. Totally agree dancinbcs, I understand we do not live in a perfect world but surely it would be pure common sense to research all you can BEFORE your new arrival especially if it is your first puppy. Making sure you have the "suitable" breed for you for a start. Upsets me no end because it is always the dear little pup that ends up suffering through no fault of it's own. And yes this breeder needs a wrap over the knuckles!! Just wondering why it seems a majority of the responders on here to this person who is just wanting some HELP because they are smart enough to ASK in the first place, are attacking them because they have their own ASSUMPTIONS of where they are going wrong or what they haven't done???? This person has come on here for help. They have said they are new to dogs, have done some research and bought a pup from a breeder. There is NOTHING out there to tell people that the research that you are reading IS the best way to raise a pup for a first timer other wise there would be ONE book, ONE web site, ONE way to do everything so everybody would know but...look at that, do a search on how to raise/train a pup on the net and you get pages after pages of different people opinions on how to go about it!! There are MANY web site and books that advocate MANY stupid/cruel ways to raise/train pups but what is stupid/cruel in one persons eyes isn't in another, true? As for the breeder...who knows what the breeder has told this person so you shouldn't assume that the breeder of this pup is a GOOD breeder! Any mug with a dog, a bitch and a prefix can have pups!!! The breeder might be where this person may have recieved ways of training this pup. Shouldn't a GOOD breeder give their new puppy owners ideas of training their pups?? So saying that, maybe NOT sending pup back to a person who gives out possible bad advice and giving the pups new owner advice of a good person/book/DVD or...give them good, friendly advice YOURSELF ON HERE that YOU would give someone who YOU sold a pup too or advice that you have been given just might be an idea, and give this new "pet family" a chance before telling them to give up now???!!! Just like new pups have to start somewhere so do new pup owners!! I thought part of this site was for people to ask for help and help be given? But the more I read the more it seems like it's attack the newbie for asking "stupid questions". The only stupid question is one that isn't asked!!! Some of you out there might be fantastic dog owners and have a whole lot of experience to share with these newbies...don't scare people away with attacks!! How hard is it to just say "this is what I would suggest/do if it was me" and "good luck and have fun with your new fur-baby"?

Their screming breaks your heart doesn't it...and makes you listen out for a knock on the door asking if the RSPCA should be called I brought my SBT boy home 6 weeks ago now and I got that for the first 3 nights!!! I was starting to think I'd done the wrong thing but the one thing that saved me was a suggestion from another DOL'er who said give him one of my worn shirts in his bed with him and guess what...night 4 sweet silence!! He sleeps in our laundry with a heated bed pad and the door in open with a piece of timber only 600 height so plenty of warm air from the rest of the house gets in. He did wake a twice but I simply hopped up with no talking, took him out for a wee and poo, put him back. After a couple more nights he woke once a night for wee's then in just under 2 weeks he was sleeping from 10:30pm to 7 am and keeping his room dry I know I'm probably VERY lucky for it to happen so quick! Our nightly routine from that age was feed around 5-6pm then lets him do what he wants until 9:30/45 then I would take him out for a wee, at that age I would offer a little to eat(not doing that now at 14 weeks) then a gentle play for 20 mins or so, back out for wee's and poo's then bed time. I did this every night and he nows does it all himself (he has an awesome in-built clock...lets me know it's bed time when I'm on here too long LOL) Don't give up they are soooo worth it!!! As others have suggested, leave a note for your neighbours that it WILL NOT go on forever! Most people will understand ...well, Ripley just woke up so it must be time for me to hop off and go to bed :D

My SBT pup did the same thing the day we brought him home. And the next couple days after that. Age and all the new stuff that they are taking in just buggers them out :D As with the other that have suggested it, about an hour before you're ready for bed toilet him, light play, maybe offer a little to eat (my boy only ate a little for the first week but them I changed his tea time to about 7pm and he ate nothing after and started keeping his room dry all night from just 9weeks old ...I might just be lucky in that but ;) ) After a week or 2 my boy now automatically wakes himself up, takes himself out to toilet and put himself to bed roughly around 10:30 most nights Best tip I was given with new pup for the first nights alone is give him one of you shirts with YOUR sent on it. Works a treat

Best of luck to you too when you get in there eventingpony I am soooo nervous just thinking about doing our first show I was talking to the show secretary about the forms and she told me to put a #1 in Breed Class for entering him in baby puppy class or to write "baby puppy sweepstake" on the Special Class no. line. Not sure if you have to use 2 seperate forms (will have to ask someone else about that) but for the same show you add both together in the one payment for that show (unless it's a combined show between 2 seperate KC...if you get what I mean ) But each club may have different rules? Probably best to phone the show secretary to be sure

Thanks My boy definately DOES NOT lack energy but being so young he has the attention span of a goldfish sometimes...unless he's hungry and I have food ;) As I said, he's VERY friendly so am a little worried he'll see all the other dogs and want to play or EXPECT their handlers or even the judge to give him a pat

No, exhibit must be entered in a general class. Thanks everyone for the quick replies...I needed them as enteries to the shows close on Monday So in regards to sweepstakes I HAVE TOO enter him in class 1 in order to enter him in the sweepstake too? But, if he's not up for class 1 (not liking being at/doing show) after the sweepstake (it's the first of the day at 8:30am before classes)I don't have to do class 1 even if I have paid for it? Yes it will be his first show. He's a SBT who will turn 4 months old the day of the show. I'm trying to get him into some show training classes to help him (and me...mainly me ) He's a VERY friendly pup that I'm hoping the classes will teach me how to keep his attention...ANYONE that comes within 2 metres must want to pat him, in his eyes anyway

Hi all Just wondering what others recommend is the best way to enter our first show. It's a combined KC show so has 2 championship shows and an open one. The first show is a basic show that I can only enter him in class 1 Baby Puppy but the second one has class 1 aswell as Baby Puppy Sweepstakes. Do I enter him in all classes he can go in or is that pushing my luck for a first show and a 4month old puppy? And if so which one DO I do..sweepstake or class 1? Are theses classes usually shown close together or spread out over the whole day? Sorry for sounding so naive but do not know anyone that shows to ask Hope it makes sense to someone

Oh, also DogNerd, how do I find out about the show training in Caboolture? Might just have to make the trips myself Thanks

Thanks for that DogNerd :D I had found out about the obedience club at Buderim but there doesn't seem to be anywhere near the amount of "dog clubs" on the Sunny Coast as there are in Brissy and south...and nowhere near the amount there seems to be in Vic and NSW We seem to of been forgotten or somethig??...might be the GREAT lifestyle up here!! Everyone so easy going that even their dogs don't need training coz it's such a great cruisy life ;)