Alibear

I am not sure if Bear is excessively panting or if it is just normal. After a walk or running around the park for instance Bear will pant. Now I know all dogs will pant after exercise, but I feel like he does it an awful lot and it takes him a long time to get back to breathing like normal again. I don't think we are walking to far as he has always still got lots of energy when we get home and he never drags behind or acts like he doesn't want to walk anymore. If it is when he is at the park, I figure if he was to tired he would sit and rest, but never does so this is why I don't think it is because of to much exercise! We are due to go back to the vet in about 1 mth and of course I can go earlier, but was just looking for some input from others who exercise there dogs. Sorry if this is a really silly question, but I am just a little concerned as I don't know what is "normal". Thanks in advance.

Thanks Shephead - I will have a look today if I get a chance. And thanks Vehs for picking up that spelling mistake - wouldn't want people to think I am using a rack on Bear! ;)

Do you mean The Warehouse as in like Go Lo or Crazy Clints cheap shops?

Thank you to all my new friends! ;) What would you do without friends I say? :D I had a quick look around on the weekend but couldn't find any racks, (admittedly, I didn't look at that many place though ) Is there a particular brand that is better then another?

Thanks everyone. Looks like I will be buying one of the racky ones! Thanks again!

Well if you older boy llooovvvvveeeeeesssss when you use it, I am guessing that it doesn't hurt then?!?! It just looks so mean! But if it does the job........

Ok thanks guys. I will investigate where I can get one of these near my place. This must be the best as the both of you posted nearly exactly the same thing! I ask this because I was told by a vet last night when I popped in to get some "Urine Off" (another story ) that I should be using like a shedding blade. I will try post a pic for you to see. Are these good or bad - it looks like it would hurt to me!

I think my boy is loosing his winter coat. I brush him regularly with a normal dog brush, but was wondering what is the best to use on a day to day basis and what is best to use if he is loosing his coat? Thanks.

I read recently in "Dogs for Dummies" book I think it was, that a dog the size of my boy 30kg GSD, would need to eat atleast 1kg of chocolate to cause any ill effect (obviously if he was allergic that would be different) - is this true? I don't EVER feed chocolate as I was always told it was toxic but have seen chocolate dog biscuites etc (again never tried them), whats the difference with them to normal chocolate we eat?

Ok, so that brings me to my next question. I was told to feed most of the food in the morning, that way they work it off during the day rather then a huge meal at night when they are going to sleep anyway? Is this wrong?

I have a GSD. That is what I was wondering.....

I know as your dog gets older you can reduce the amount of meals feed per day ie. 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 blah blah My question is, do you think it is best once you get to 2 meals a day to leave it as that, or is it best to eventually get down to 1? Just wondering....

Never given a cut bone before - the butcher always asked and I say no. I was told that they can splinter and the dogs can choke. When I went to the butcher today they gave me a bone that was still connected if you know what I mean as in a L shape and she said it won't pull apart, it has to be cut? They can be cut in a certain direction and they are alright can't they? Like not long ways but accross or something? Bear never ever chews through them, he just gets the meat of it and carries them around everywhere!

ahhh ok. By Bear getting bones once a week, I meant the big marrow bones. I wasn't even thinking of all the other things I give him. As for other bones like chicken necks, chicken wings etc, he gets them much more often! I'm sure there is a limit on marrow bones right? To much marrow is not great right? I'm sure I have asked or seen this before?

Great Question. I would be interested to know this also. Bear isn't lucky enough to get one each day, but about once a week. Should I be giving more?

Look, trust me, you don't want to start anything with me! (i'll just run away crying anyway! ) It is to late on a Friday afternoon to start anything now - let's just be friends! (And in future keep your hijacking fingers out of my threads unless you have something useful to add!) :pant:

Now now.....don't go bringing your adorable little baby into this and getting the sympathy vote ! Just look - you have Holly fooled as well! This is between you and me - leave the four legged ones out of it!

Holly - thanks for the advice. Where abouts would I look for these drops for the ears? I wouldn't know where to start - sorry! I don't mind about cost, as long as my baby boy is alright! I don't need to go to the vet? ;) Now that's more like it Springer!

My thread and now your taking my limelight! What's going on? Holly - His ear that is now down, that is up in the photo's have been up for periods of time - as in days or weeks - not just gravity, so this sounds good right? I guess I should just be a little more patient!

Hey, I'm here - I'm here! Geez.....You are a very impatient one aren't you! Didn't your mother ever teach you manners! You know "wait to speak until you are spoken to!" "If you don't have anyhing nice to say, don't say anything" Where is your advice then Springer? What do I do with Bear's ears hey! ETA What a gorgeous shot in the car!

Hey Springer! I was only kidding! I didn't mean for you to really leave! :p Just a joke! Oh man, what have I done? COME.............BACK...................SPRINGER!.............................

You just have to take it one step to far don't you! :p What are we going to do with you! I think you really should leave this thread and take your obscene thoughts with you! ImaShepHead - I don't blame you for wishing his parents didn't come back! He is just adorable! How do you do that? Keep him for so long and then give him back? ;) I would be a basket case for weeks having to hand them back! :D Holly - I'm going to have to check his mouth tonight. I hadn't really paid that much attention until now. I am pretty sure that the gaps going by the pic KitKat posted look normal! Definatly not going to breed but I don't want to tape his ears either. As long as it doesn't cause him any trouble, I won't worry. Just wanted to be sure I was doing the right thing and not hurting him by leaving them down. The ear in this pic is the one that is now down. The ear down in this photo is what is happening now. But as you can see - only a few weeks ago they had both come up really well.

Now now Springer Girl! Keep those little panties on! How can I argue with a pic like that! ImaShepHead - what a beautiful dog - which one is this of? I don't think I have seen it before - or have I?

Thanks Heaps KitKat! Ok - so I am going to have a good look tonight, but looking at that pic, maybe he has got all of his teeth. By 6 months is this usual? Well......It is getting easier. I have started to use baby wipes and it isn't quite as hard as it used to be, but his ears don't seem to be quite so dirty anymore either!

Holly thanks for replying! I am not entirely convinced that all adult teeth are through as there is a gap between a couple where I would think teeth should come. Do they have teeth all around there mouth like humans? Is that a really stupid question? He is only a pet and I am not going to show or breed him, so it really isn't a problem, I just thought that they should come up. If they don't, will it cause him any distress or ear problems? I don't really want to stress him out just to have his ears taped and don't want to do that, i was just worried that it was wrong if they didn't come up.