louise6616

Sheena! Your dry kibble sounds fantastic, I bet it would be great for my cane corso! I'm excited to learn more!!!

Thanks hazywal, that's a great site too!! Perfect timing, I've got a sick child that needs snuggling so time to read through and get some inspiration. Thank you so much!

Wow Sheena, awesome blog!! I was wondering the best way to make fishy treats! Thank you for sharing!

Thanks Maree ;)

Thanks Mochi! Yes I think she did too, lucky girl!

Hey all, just curious if any of you make your own dog treats and if you would share some ideas! I've always dabbled in making home made dog treats, I often make meatloaf muffins, liver treats, kangaroo meat treats etc. Recently I invested in a dehydrator.. oh I have become slightly obsessed! I've been dehydrating chicken wings and necks, doggie jerky, and chunks of sweet potato. Yesterday I made liver treats - the doggies will almost do somersaults to get them!! And today I blended some left over chicken with some lentils, spinach and garlic - the dogs keep begging to go outside and hover around the dehydrator lol! Anyone else **slightly obsessed with spoiling their pooches?

Nope, she only went home once, for less than an hour - that was a while back. I suspect they may have unofficially given her to us, I'd like to get her desexed, and registered - so we're just sitting tight a bit longer till the appeal of a sharpei puppy passes, then I will ask them directly if we can keep her, or at least get the desexing and registration done (I don't mind paying for it, but I'd rather politely ask first). From the dogs perspective it has been a dream come true, sleeping on the lounge, lots of attention, doggie friends, walks, and proper nutrition.

For anyone playing along at home.. I still have this dog. The girl came to visit her a few weeks ago, and after telling me how totally gorgeous her brothers sharpei pups were.. ggrrr.. she said as she was leaving 'you don't mind if she (staffy) stays here do you. I replied that we were happy and she (staffy) was happy and that she was their dog so they owned the decision of where she stayed. Haven't heard boo from them since. We got her a great kennel from wildthing, the base is filled with blankets and it's in our loungeroom, but she is very wary of it. My dogs think its great!

oh wow, sorry to hear that fish doesn't agree with him. If eggs are ok, might be worth trying a mix of lentils, eggs, vegetables etc? The lentils will give the protein etc missing from his diet with the absence of meat. Good luck, I feel for both of you. Not fun at all.

you may not agree, but I suggest steering away from chicken and rice. But also remember it takes a few weeks for foods to clear from their system. I would feed tinned lentils, grated vegies(I find grating carrots most convenient), rolled oats, some seaweed (just from a health food store) and then add either goat meat or tinned fish - makerel, sardines, tuna etc, liquid and all. I'd stay away from dairy, aside from raw eggs and lactose free milk. I have an older Maltese who is very food sensitive, it has taken me years to get a good balanced diet. This is perfect, all my dogs eat it :-) there's a great book called 'give your dog a bone' you can read a bit of it just by googling. Good luck!!!!

yes, I agree. Sometimes without realising, you might be making the issues worse. My only suggestion while waiting a behaviouralist appoint, is when walking Abby and you see another dog, turn to a 90degree angle and walk away from them as they pass. It's a lot less threatening for a dog. Good luck! Keep us updated!

Hey, I already checked on googlemaps before I posted, it said you are roughly 1hr each way, so not that far!! Geez, I have driven a LOT further for animals lol!! Am happy to come and pick him up or whatever, but you will have to catch him first. I don't fancy crawling around in the dark trying to catch a bunny at 11pm lol!

I am heading to sydney and back this eve (from canberra). If you would be happy to catch him and put him in a cosy box on your front porch this eve I would be happy to pick him up (will be leaving Balmain around 10pm-ish so late) RSPCA in canberra will take him (provided my children don't claim him first lol!)

hope pup is ok! Another fab idea if you have a piggy guts is to use a muffin tray (those oven trays for making cupcakes/muffins) and distribute the food on that, it slows them down a bit.

ooo, I have a thundershirt here you are welcome too. Might help?

Awww, I feel for you :-( Would a pheramone/adaptil collar help at all? Hope you get it sorted, big hug :-)

Not registered that I am aware of. They wouldn't be able to register her entire I don't think. I'm so glad she's vacc'd though!

FYI for all those playing along at home She is vaccinated and chipped.

try adding lentils (tinned is most convenient), and we finely grate raw carrot, plus raw eggs (we have chooks). We give sardines, but I wonder if Tuna might be good since its extremely low fat? Good luck! :-)

Oh gosh, what a horrible thing to happen Hope it all works out for everyone.

Hmmm..I just wrote the worlds longest reply and it didn't post!!! noooooooo!!! Anyway, long story short - I usually text the daughter to ask if dog can come and play etc. I have sent a few messages basically saying 'hey I just wanted to check you are happy for doggie to be here with is while weather so awful and she is on heat blablabla, we aren't holding her hostage, you are welcome to pop over'. Haven't had a reply. So yesterday, on the off chance technology failed, I messaged her on facebook - basically saying the same thing but with the addition of 'not sure if you got my text'. This evening she replied. Said she wanted me to take dog back over there, I asked if she would come here so I could chat with her blabbla A few excuses later about why she can't come over as she is going on a cruise in 2 days etc etc, I said 'I don't feel right about bring her back until we've had a chance to chat. 1minute later, she and mum come over. Very weird, very awkward. They are happy for dog to be in here in day time, as long as we bring her home at x time each day. As for the 'digging under the fence while she is on heat' - they say 'well if she's not in our yard we know she is with you'. Obviously best case scenario is they give up ownership. Second best, is that she gets the socialisation/stimulation in the day, and has somewhere warm and safe to sleep at night. I will do my best to keep it all kosher with second best option until novelty wears off for them. And definitely get her a warm cosy kennel (canberra is freezing in winter!). By next weekend her hormones should have hopefully decreased, so we may look at blocking the fenceline to keep her out - we have obviously chosen not to previously! - then we can go back to the previous harmony! Thanks all for your ideas and messages :)

yes, I agree! I would work with a behaviourist/trainer as well. You will need to work on it in a controlled environment. Good luck! :-)

Oh my goodness! You did NOT fail anyone!!! Thank goodness you were there!!! The dog wouldn't have lasted a minute without you! I'll bet there was a happy ending, you just weren't able to see it. Thank you so so much for putting yourself in danger to help the poor doggie.

Sure Sandra, but we didn't stop her trying to get in if that makes sense. We let her in, one might even say we assisted in letting her dig into our yard!!

wow Steph!! That is creepy!! So FYI, the dog is still here..I have messaged them multiple times asking that they feel comfortable that she has been staying here while the weather is so cold and wet. Also asking if they can pop in etc. No reply. I can only assume - but in my mind anyone that gives a cr*p about their dog, at least has the decency to reply!! I always asked permission before having her visit us, she just hasn't been home in a few days! I can block the trench under the fence and keep her out, I suspect the recent digging has more to do with the fact she is on heat. Previously she has spent the days with us, and the evenings next door and it hasn't been a problem. IMO, dogs can adjust to this kind of routine, obviously it would be best if she had a proper kennel and bedding at her home! Hopefully they will reply or pop in or something soon! I am reluctant to just go and pop her back in their yard while there is zero communication and she is on heat. I am happy to purchase her, or look after her, or whatever they want. But rather than she be a fugitive it would be best if we could make a mutual agreement - I'm sure you would all agree! Thanks for the thoughts on Parvo etc - yes, I am aware of the risks. I used to be a foster carer... It was I that quarantined many a doggie on their escape from death row. I didn't suggest that I take their dog to the local dog park, or mine, so no need for the lecture. I have 1.8metre colourbond fences, there is no chance of her escaping my yard. Should something happen in my yard, my home etc - of course, I will accept responsibility and pay any fines, fees etc. No, you can't save 'every' animal - but you can certainly try and save the ones you know about!! Holidays, hahaha, my animals stay home with a house/pet sitter living here if to we need to go away and cannot bring them. Not a big issue I would think to have an extra set of paws.. Anyway, the purpose of the thread was not so you could attempt crucify me because you don't agree with my decisions - but rather to ask your thoughts on the best way to allow the dog access to us for the purpose of stimulation, socialisation etc - but at the same time, not overstep the boundary and keep the owners happy as they still 'own a blue staffy'. There's been some really great comments etc, so thank you so much for the great suggestions rather than crucifixions!! Can't we all just be polite and constructive? Isn't that the purpose of having an online community?