Scottsmum

Also - please don't smaller dogs are well known for not being able to regulate their blood sugar levels too well. I first read about it when I was reading something about Chihuahuas - I'm not 100% sure it applies to pugs - but regardless.... Please dont. https://www.purinaproclub.com/resource-library/pro-club-updates/hypoglycemia-requires-quick-intervention-in-toy-breeds http://www.swankpets.com/blog/2007/08/the-dangers-of-hypoglycemia-in-small-dogs-and-how-to-prevent-it/

Lots of great suggestions here for the most part. I'd be measuring out the food if you're not already - and I know this sounds silly - but use a 1/2 cup measure - not something larger which needs to be half filled. That way when it's full - it's full :) No more snacks and treats - it jsut adds up. My poor boy put on a kilo when I was giving him a bully stick every day - i just didn't realise how many calories were in those little stinkers. Also feed for the weight he should be (I'm not really familiar with pugs - but google says max weight is just over 8 kilos for bitches and dogs). Assuming you're feeding optimum for small dogs that means you're probably feeding a bit too much. http://www.optimumpet.com.au/optimum-for-dogs/dog-food/optimum-adult-small-breeds-(dry)/ This site says for a 10 kilo dog you want to feed approx 1.25 cups a day. So by my reckoning - you want less than that and probably less than 1 cup - by a bit. I'm also a fan of feeding smaller meals more often - eg - if you stick to your 1 cup a day that could easily be 1/4 of a cup 4 times a day (measured out with 1/4 cup scoop). Re vegies - you might have to mash them a bit. Faves in this house are grated carrots or carrots cuts into batons. We don't like them cut into discs thank you. We also use carrots as a treat occasionally. Peas are OK too - they do have to be flattened so they're easier to eat. Pumpkin is well loved. No harm in trying a low fat dry either - even if its just for a bag to two to help you shift the weight. Optimum makes a "light and mature" and there are lots of other options out there. Good luck - I had a fatty for years - it was really hard to get her weight down and keep it down and it was almost impossible to keep other members of the household in track with her diet - she was always scabbing things from my husband. - On that note - make sure Max isn't helping himself to puppy left overs.

Oh. And because we're on DOL (thank you google) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knitting-Dog-Hair-Sweater-Paperback/dp/B010EW484W/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=51l4CKyBl%2BL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR123%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=4PNAK9FZXHN1BEYB7QZ4

This book is a long running joke in my family:

That's great! My point is that whether you call them a dog trainer or a behavioural trainer or whatever, this field is different to a vet behaviourist. Sometimes training alone is not enough. I am disheartened by your last statement which suggests to me that you don't think dogs deserve comprehensive treatment unless they are tiny and have less powerful bites. I hope that's a misunderstanding. I'm pretty sure Sas was just reminding us how giant Danes are. I've only met three in my life - the most recent being one we've got in at the doggy day care at the moment and every time I meet a new one - I'm shocked (all over again) at their size. "R" - the one at the day care can stand on his back legs and kind of crook his arm / front leg over the fence like he's up there having a chat. When the entire male Golden Retriever does the same thing his front paws barely reach the top of the fence. "R" towers over the picket fence in the holding area too. Sadly the other day one of the other dogs was picking on the dane and I had to keep the dane separate just because he was the biggest dog there - didn't need to be tyring to pull him off anything if something stated & everyone else was getting along well He actually rushed me at the gate on the same day and I hurt myself (not badly) trying to stop him. I often, half jokingly, say the best thing about owning foxies is that you can pick them up and carry them off when they're being right shits. Anyhow - not sure how big Unicorns girl is but my point is it's really really easy to forget just how much space they need and take up. When R falls asleep across the gate into the pen you can't get in for love nor money - but have to try and wake him up or use the other gate into the yard :D Add to this crates or runs, beds, other equipment, heck -I don't think you'd fit a dane in the consult room of my last two vets - or even their waiting rooms. And I for one wouldn't like to know what kind of damage they'd do if they turned - I think in this case recommending someone who knows the breed very well and can cater to their sheer size is super important. But that's just my take on Sas's comment :)

double post gremlins.

Hot wire - ideally on their side. You'll only need to zap them once or twice.

I love GIVING Danny updates - could talk about him (and the others) forever We'll I for one will take as many as you can give. I'm all ears, uh, eyes...

I do love Danny updates. You're both so lucky to have each other.

Ouch - someone will have a belly ache tonight My mums doxie is a terror. As a younger dog she'd climb the couch, jump to the partition (hip height), walk along it then jump to the breakfast bar to steal anything up there for her and the cat. I don't think they ever realised it would be easier for the cat to jump straight up. She was so bad they got rid of the partition when they renovated. She's finally slowing down ...a bit... now she's 12 ...

Whoops - sorry didn't realise it was Ash ...

By the way - just saw this. Thanks for such a brutally honest response Kylie!

OK, the owner just rang back and said they will not/can not take her back since they were about to be evicted for having her there in a rental that would not allow a big dog. So... what are we to do? We are on the central coast NSW, I have already sent a message to one dog trainer (John Gatt that I know of here on the coast) but have no reply. Is there another behaviorist anyone can recommend? The advice so far seems to be I should not keep this dog around my children and pets because of the fear she has shown. I'm worried, but I want the best for the dog. You want to call Craig Murray at Premier Dog Training in Sydney - he is the main behaviorist dane rescue uses and he knows his stuff. Taken from the Dane rescue site: Steve Courtney Steve Courtney K9 Pro http://k9pro.com.au Craig B. Murray Premier Dog Training Great Dane Rescue & Re-homing NSW M: 0408 113 874 www.facebook.com/pages/Premier-DogTraining/210224060991 Nathan Williams Nathan Williams Dog Behaviour Specialist www.dogbehaviourspecialist.com.au http://www.greatdanerescue.com.au/Docs/behaviourist_list.pdf

My money is on Miss Molly. Smoke might have the brawn but I think she'd probably have him in the brains & speed departments and Puddy would be too scared to rule against her anyhow...

Good luck - lots of good vibes coming your way. Hope she picks up.

I'm lucky my non-food driven boy will work for his usual kibble and lots of praise. Will she also work for her usual feed? No worries on the canidae tip - sometimes we overlook the simple things.

Because as we grow and age we (and I mean humans and canines) have different nutritional requirements and there is no reason why a diet shoudlnt change to reflect that. We have some cats in the cattery I'm working in at the moment on the feline version of Hills metabolic, I can say, at least the cat version is highly palatable. They got bonkers for it. I had lots of these thoughts too. Having been tubby myself my whole life and having had an obese dog I know how hard it can be to "just reduce their food". Obviously you need to do it but I think some of the weight management options are good choices too - even if you were to swap her to raw - you'd be well advised to use lower fat proteins. I'd be weighting out exactly what she's getting too - a bit like when you start weight watchers and you get measure all your food - then after a while you start to eyeball your portions and then you stop loosing weight - long version short - ALWAYS measure out your portions and know exactly what she's getting. You could also split her meals out into 3 or 4 - not adding extra just feeding her more often with the same daily portion. I had a quick google and there are two Canidae weight loss foods - Ive not fed them but if you're happy with Canidae - it might be worth looking at them. http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products/grain-free-pure-resolve-dry-formula http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products/canidae-all-life-stages-platinum-dry-formula I'd be making her work for it too - all same suggestions denali included above.

To be honest I'm not entirely sure what the reverse process is - but considering there's no rabies and not even HW Id be surprised if there was too many hoops. Can't say for sure. House sitter is another good suggestion I'd forgotten about. My folks had a house sitter in for 8 weeks for their cats twice - once the young girl had a party and ruined something the second time they got a more mature woman in and all was good. I also house sat a cat for about 3 months...we paid reduced rent on the flat - but ideally it would have been free for us to live there 0 it was more inconvenient than not (for us) in the long run

Don't mean to sound rude but are you sure you can't take him? The import process is pretty straight forward... (I moved to NZ with a much smaller dog last year) Alternatively try the breed club or breed fanciers pages on facebook? Ask your local vet if you can post an add in their reception?

Just an update - in case anyone ever does this. (at least on the drugs he is on) it makes a market difference if he eats ANYTHING before his meds - and I mean ANYTHING like even a bit of that dried lamb puff stuff. He currently gets breakfast before 9am - left overs removed by midday. Dinner between 4 and 7pm and left overs removed before bed. If he gets his meds, then a walk, then a meal seems to be the best combo to settle him - and food at all in his tummy and we're in for a really unsettled 12 hours...

No advice - just wanted to show support. What a stressful situation for you both.

Quite possible. My 11 kilo foxie wears a 45 cm which is aporox 17 inch.

how did you know that OP's question wasn't related to a vaccine regime considering a 3-yearly C5 shot in combination with a yearly parainfluenza shot respectively that she was only talking about a 'standard' C3 shot? How do you know that it was?

We last vaccinated Scottie in Australia - with our family vet who was / is still doing annual vax and when we got to NZ & it was time to have him vaccinated according to our 12 month protocol our new kiwi vet was happy to just let him wait a further 2 years before "topping him up" So it is - or can be the same vax...