Nekhbet

I would put a big sign on my front fence with an arrow pointing to his house naming and shaming. That's animal cruelty and against the law to deprive an animal of veterinary attention.

He's in no way finished at 8 months of age. He's still growing and maturing, yes growth can plateau at times but he will still be growing for another year, just not as quickly or explosively as you have seen so far. Here's the breed standard for an adult akita which he is in no way. If at t almost 3 he's not at show height then he's not as per breed standard. http://www.ankc.org.au/Breed_Details.aspx?bid=156 If you wanted a GIANT breed why didn't you buy a saint bernard? You love your dog for what he is, not what you want in your head.

Just make your own. If you know what your dog can tolerate you can make biscuit style ones and put them in a low oven to dry more then bake, or just boil up some meat and chop it into small pieces. Too much crap on the market these days. Fresher is best.

If you want to do agility let him exercise free reign in the yard as much as possible. At my school we start all pups young (controlled of course) so their bodies can grow to compensate for exercise. I don't personally agree with the advice of limit everything until 12 months then go for gold - the body grows in response to stress/movement. Just dont go for 10km runs :laugh:

My breed is quite similar. They're huge as babies and then almost grind to a skidding halt by 8-10 months of age. Some of them then won't fill out properly until they're 18 months to over 2. When I got my first Malinois I though, wow I'm getting a HUGE dog out of this puppy that filled two full arms! Nope. 24.5kg and stayed that way for most of her 10 years :laugh:

I think you answered your own question. If he's not 'lean' and you cannot see a few ribs easily then your puppy is too fat. Feed him twice a day, make one meal something he has to work for like a half lamb neck or chicken carcass. He's plenty old enough to go to two meals a day, he doesn't need three. Another thing is too, don't look at numbers. Yes, sounds bizarre but you're already getting caught up in numbers at this stage and you will go certifiably insane because numbers are not a true reflection of your dogs body condition. Is he 22kg of lean muscle and bone or 22kg of over weight, high body fat puppy? See what I mean on that? It's why I honestly do not bother weighing my dogs at all (well unless they need a vaccine etc). Run your hands down the dogs body. Does he have good muscle over his shoulder, neck, spine and hind legs? Or is there a lot of body fat that wibble wobbles? Can you feel ribs easily when you slide your hands over or you have to apply pressure to make out the individual ribs.' If my dogs start getting a bit lean, I up the meal, if they get chubby, I decrease it or change the food. Two of them get more then the others by a lot because they find it hard to keep weight on, whereas the other two live off the smell of an oily rag. Oh and another thing about the kibble, it's always WAAAAAAAAY above average on the packet. I mean horribly. I used to feed my 60kg Dogue de Bordeaux about 2 cups a day when the packet said 6, and the vet had no problems with his condition, very well muscled. Remember too kibble is about a third of the size/weight of a raw meal because it's a dehydrated product. 1 cup of kibble is an equivalent 3 cup portion size once it swells up, which is will when it rehydrates in the digestive tract of the dog. Every dog is different, just like people. Some people can eat like pigs and stay thin (I wish), whereas some people look at food and put on another pound. Dogs are the same. Learn to see your dogs body shape, condition and growth. Leave the packets and the vets and fiddle faddle, and don't get caught up in numbers! One of my clients was the same with her dobermann bitch, the dog was huge when she got her as a pup and grew like a weed! Now at 18 months the dog looks AMAZING!!! (I'll have to get some photos) and has filled out evenly. She too went onto the numbers watch and when she dropped it and just learned to read her dog properly, no stress, fine growth. As for the hygromas, where did he get those?

Don't let him plonk down. It's obstinance if there's nothing physically wrong. Don't ask him or beg him with treats, as you see he's giving you the old finger. Pop his collar and keep walking until he follows like it or not, say nothing and reward for following. Don't give in to stubbornness :laugh:

Exactly, everyone knows what we're trying to say but the word is not there :laugh: you're right it's not a genuine fear, it's that little voice in the back of the dogs head saying 'it's not worth it and you know that'. Why would a dog that feared you attack you for no reason?

Why can't dogs benefit from herbs? If the vitamins are in a bioavailable form, which steeping in hot water is a very long standing way of using herbs, conversely tinctures and poultices are another, then the dog can benefit. There's no promises in any way of it being a complete vitamin supplement for the dogs daily needs but a booster. I use a lot of natural products myself. The first thing I did when I moved is plant the beginnings of a medicinal herb garden for myself and my animals.

There's a veterinarian in the USA who was advocating desexing but leaving one ovary in the bitch. It would produce more then enough of a maintenance level of hormones for the bitches life without the risk of pyo. Trick is finding a vet who wants to do it and you trust wont just zip out the whole lot. I asked, none would. One said the only way was removal of everything or it's not considered a spey ... where's eye rolley when you need him ... ummmm no uterus no pregnancy last I checked.

The hormones released from the maturing sex organs also contribute to growth and development. The two males that I had desexed I severely regret. My rottweiler was one of them, I wish I had left the testosterone to help build his bones and muscles. Yes he had severe HD/ED but removal I think made it worst. Oh, he was the only one you could consider a PITA when the girls were in heat and the one that picked the most arguments. Not the entire dogs. I don't frankly prescribe to the story of every dog escaping because a bitch is in heat. I have two bitches in heat at the moment and an entire male. There is no whining, breaking down doors, carrying on etc because I do not allow it. I've had entire males and bitches together for 10 years and never had an accident, destruction, noise etc. It can be done quite easily. As for desexing, a bitch will go a fence post if she's hormonal enough. If the neighbours bitch breaks out take her to the local pound so they might learn, or call the council and report them for a roaming dog. I don't change my dogs for other people's lazyness. You should see the idiot dog I have to live with next door, some AmBull thing trying to rip down my fence because the girls are in heat (well more then usual). They come put him inside now as soon as he makes a peep ... trained them better then the dog.

yeah that should be fine, I got her an iodine shampoo and wash her in it, then give her a good dry so there's no moisture left at all. No smell, redness or itching. She needs it since we moved, there's little grass and now she's ploughing through garden beds lol

Agility can be done low impact, we have had some low ability dogs do it veeeeeeeeeeeery slowly with their owners holding the collar and they still have that beaming look of achievement. We lower everything to ground level like jumps and let them take their time. Flyball is never low impact. I refuse to do it at my school anyway I find it too high a risk sport anyway on the animals body.

I use iodine wash on my pug, clears up minor infections and helps dry the skin.

Call your breeder first and see what can be done. If the dog has not been used to being alone at all weaning him down isn't going to be a quick fix.

I know what Amax is saying, and I think the wires got a bit crossed. To a dog it's about weighing up a fight. Yes, it is a 'fight' and don't take that as in a pure physical altercation. If the dog learns that there is nothing to 'stop' it it will pick, start and even finish the argument. If the dog knows there is another in the household that will metaphorically (or in some required cases physically) kick their butt if they start BS they will not do it - and be that human or canine because some groups can manage themselves. Fear, fortunately or unfortunately, is a powerful motivator. Again I think it's slightly the wrong word in the situation which is why everyone is flapping about it. Let's take a scenario ... years ago I got a GSD. I knew she was NQR and trained so I was careful. So I thought she was fine, we played a little with a rag one day at home when she went off. She got too comfortable. She tried to attack my brother and my fiance, I sent them down to the house to get the rifle and then the dog turned on me. I was wearing boots and I used them, it was that or hospital. Did the dog fear me from that day on? Nope, she never shied, cowered etc. But if I said no, stop it etc, she did because there was now a memorable consequence to her dangerous actions. AGain, an extreme example but do you see where we're both trying to go with this :laugh: it's a bit hard to explain over the net.

I'm no help I'd tell you leave him entire at least until 18-24 months old :laugh:

http://www.petceutics.com.au/index.php/vetmedin-capsules-5mg.html Get a prescription from your veterinarian and send it to the company, their 5mg tablets are $135 for 100 capsules. It's about a third of the cost of what you're paying now.

If he's not starving then he will be what he will be. Just because dad was 50kg doesnt mean his sons and daughters will be. I have a 27kg dog whos father was 45kg, and a dog who's turned out bigger then both parents. Genetics isn't linear :) 45kg for a 9 month old Akita seems really huge though I'd be worried about the joints if the dog is not quite lean

Trust me he has a looooot more growing in him. Growth is not necessarily done just by kgs, his bones have to grow and harden slowly to hold his weight and size.

Staranais I'm glad your back, you're just the person I want to talk too lol Can you email me on [email protected], i'm looking for SAR resources/material

He's new to the house, he's pushed HIS agenda to get what he wants and he's winnning. It's not SA it's a dog that's pushing to get what he thinks he's allowed hence you have to up the gate etc. As for thunder, get a storm sounds CD, an old sub woofer and leave it on. Just like puppies. he'll be so sick of it he won't mind thunder if it was never a full blown problem. I think get a crate and let him go in there. I know what you mean about the smell it can be from diet and also from a shelter/pound. Iodine shampoo for dogs/horses can help get rid of general bacteria that form that stench. I think relax a bit more and don't worry so much about it. Yes they want to be near you and settling in can be a bit difficult, but just be yourselves. If you want to shower him with affection, well do it because that's why you got a dog! But don't do it to the point of manic behavior and heck, he still has to listen to you! Be firm but fair, don't be afraid to tell him off as well if he's really being naughty. Enjoy your dog!

I think a bigger lesson is required and be consistent. In a few short weeks you've done 10 different things, and I cna tell you dogs take advantage of lack of consistency very quickly as you see. If she gets too riled up, put her straight outside. If she bites you, thumb under the tongue and press down hard until she's learned, then outside. You're right, she's too big a dog already to put up with that and mastiffs are not softies at the best of times. Don't feel sorry, one lesson is better then months of pushing the proverbial wheelbarrow uphill with no little results.

I would grind them up in a coffee grinder or food processor first, would be good fiber too. Whole though you'll probably see most of them come out that way in the poop

Constantly. That or the dog is exhibiting what people consider extreme submission so it must have been beaten. My mum is like that, her excuse for her pom x going mental is that he was taken to the shelter so he has a supposed fear it's going to happen again. Uh huh.