cassie

I use pricelesspets.com (dot au? not sure...) for all worming/heart worming stuff I've never found anywhere cheaper, shipping is quick too

Ooooooh Leannek your Taurus is adorable! I love Anatolians Is this your first?

Thanks for that, my blender is a pretty good one so I think it would do an alright job...I hope...! Just told my OH I was considering buying a juicer and he convinced me the blender will crush veggies adequately It's hard to know what to believe sometimes, everyone has their own ideas and opinions! Thanks for your input Cavandra. While I am just starting out I think I will pretty much stick to the book Which brings me to my next question, do BARFers generally supplement their dogs' food with anything? The book recommends cod liver oil.

I've just borrowed Dr Billinghurst's "The BARF Diet" from the library and am pretty excited about possibly switching my boys to BARF I am happy with the commercial diets they are currently on, however I have been reading up on BARF a fair bit lately and thought we might give it a shot. I may continue to feed them kibble for one meal, and BARF for the other each day, would this be ok do you think? Anyway back to my original query...I've just read that the raw vegetable matter fed to dogs must be crushed, not just grated/chopped up etc. The book says you need a food processor or juicer, with the juicer being the better option. I have a blender, I assume this won't be suitable? Am willing to invest in a good juicer, so was wondering if anyone had any good recommendations? Have found a few listed on eBay and am thinking that may be a cheaper way to go, but I need to know a good brand/type first. Thanks for any help you can offer

I loooooooooove the smell of the Aloveen too! Have been tempted to use it on my own hair! ETA: And it makes their coats beautiful and soft!

Arrrggghhh!!!! All the siggies made for me are ALL very lovely, I can't decide! What to do what to do! Might come down to a case of eenie meenie minie mo! ETA: Ok I have decided on this one by ILTBY - and I actually prefer it without their breeds in there, but thanks for redoing them to add them in anyway :cool: Gave me lots to choose from. So sorry Harminee and BBJ, I LOVED the ones you guys made as well, if I could have them all I would!

My Hudson baby is 6 months old today! He's grown so much and is now almost Zephyr-size, so I think it's time for a new sig I would love someone to make me a new one if possible, no rush at all just whenever someone gets some spare time If possible I would like "Hudson" and "Saint Bernard" written on one side, and "Zephyr" and "Bernese Mountain Dog" written on the other. Use any of these pics, thanks If using this one, please crop out my OH if possible!

Ooooooooh Veanna you got him!!! :laugh: I'm off to the White Shepherd thread now, and there better be tonnes of photos there or else!

:D Yeah gotta love those people who know it all

LOL yes you definitely qualify! We the Giant Fluffy folk all know about heavy shedders :D Don't tell Hudson but he isn't a true GF either, he's a short coat Saint!

They are all so beautiful I see you decided on a name for your girl then, I love it :D Not sure how long opened stuff lasts for, maybe check the use-by date? I don't think it would make much difference if you mix the PP and EP until the PP is all gone though, if you want to use it up. (I've done something similar before.) If not, I'm sure any pound would be over the moon to receive such a donation On a side note m_knight, come and visit us in the Giant Fluffies thread sometime We don't care if your dogs are fluff-less ;)

No worries at all, glad you found my advice helpful I learnt everything I know from people on here The reason some recommend taking the pup off large/giant puppy formula early is (to my knowledge) because some foods that are not super premium grow large breed puppies too quickly. It's like the manufacturers think "Well this pup has a lot of growing to do so let's grow grow grow!" when it should be the complete opposite, slow and controlled growth. Super premium foods (EP is definitely one of them, as is Nutro, as is Royal Canin which my Saint pup is currently on) know this and so their large/giant puppy formulas are specifically designed to encourage sloooooooooow growth. For this reason it is ok to leave them on the puppy rather than switching to adult. I started raising my Bernese on ProPlan, but then couldn't get it one day and so decided to try Eagle Pack Large/Giant breed puppy as I'd read so many positive things about it, and he loved it and really thrived. He stayed on that til about 18 months of age, when I switched him to the adult. Now he's back on ProPlan, as I find it easier to get, he's on the Large Breed Adult. ProPlan is what his breeder feeds and raises all her dogs on. I've not had any problems with either food, although IMO I think the EP is the better choice. He is three and a half. My Saint pup is almost 6 months, and is on Royal Canin Giant, which is what his breeder feeds and raises all her dogs on. I like Royal Canin as it goes up in stages, from 2-5 months he was on the RC Giant Baby Puppy, from 5-12 months (current) he is on RC Giant Puppy, at 12 months I will swap him to RC Giant Junior, and then at 18-24 months I will swap him to RC Giant Adult. Each progression the kibble size is enlarged, so as the pup and it's mouth grow, so does the food, and each progression also takes into account the different energy levels and nutritional needs for that age group. I find it very good and have had no problems to date.

Hi there, When you say: "whilst the dog is on PP Giant Breed" does this mean ProPlan? If so I don't think they do a giant formula? A large breed formula yes, but I'm pretty sure there's no giant? I'm happy to stand corrected though :D Can you feed the dog on the Eagle Pack Holistic as well? IMO it is a top quality food. Everything else sounds pretty good to me Not sure on the shark cartlidge though, I too have heard it mentioned before but I don't know what the supposed benefits are. At 9 months old, the male WOULD be growing like a weed! If he looks a bit lean some days/weeks, honestly I wouldn't stress about it. The giants grow a bit funny sometimes, up then out, or back half then front half, etc. He may look a bit gangly for a while, but rest assured it will settle down and he will begin to fill out once he's reached his full height. As for exercise, I personally wouldn't be letting either of them run around all day or anything (not saying you do). A good romp in the yard is fine, but puppies need their rest and shouldn't stress their growing bones and joints. As long as you're following all the guidelines from the breeder - which you are - then I'd say you're on the right track, as they know their dogs the best Good luck!

;) I am such an idiot! I knew you were getting a FS, I remember replying in your other thread! LOL sorry for the memory lapse

I think that figure would be enough (I assume you're not including the purchase price of the pup?) You missed out the vital info...what sort of puppy???

That was a beautiful tribute you've written to Spike SP I am so so so sorry for your loss, he was a beautiful Newfie and sounds like an amazing character. I always admired the photos and stories you shared of him. Giants certainly are a special sort aren't they, there's nothing quite like sharing your life with them. Run free dear Spike :rolleyes: Say hi to my Oakley over the bridge won't you, he will be your mate

As long as the pup is fully vaccinated, I shouldn't think it would be too much of a problem. Swimming is great exercise, just keep it to a short session so as not to tire your pup out too much I'm no expert though, others may have different opinions...

Ohhhh how cute is Moses! And how damn RUDE was stupid Danni I've always hated her, with her little eye-rolling and snobby look on her face... Good on you for giving it a go!

Cute vid Jules Looks like a fun day!

I totally agree with Poodlefan... Supercoat is NOT a super-premium brand of dog food. Yes it may work for many people and their dogs, but IMO growing giant breeds have special dietary requirements which Supercoat does not give. Then again if your breeder uses it and her dogs are all fine...? IMO, a good food for a growing Saint is Royal Canin Giant Baby Puppy which then changes to Royal Canin Giant Puppy at 4-5 months old (this is what I've done with my boy) or else Nutro or Eagle Pack also do Large/Giant formulas.

Eeeeek no, please do not add calcium! As others have said, it can do a lot of harm to a growing Saint. They grow incredibly fast as it is, they do NOT need such supplements if their diet is complete and balanced. What are you feeding her?

Sorry, but nothing I've ever read (and I have looked for some cold hard evidence) has ever shown me that feeding from a raised surface does anything to help breeds prone to bloat. If it works for you, then great, I choose not to. Both of my breeds are prone to bloat, and I questioned each of my dogs' breeders on this exact topic and neither of them feed from a raised surface, both have been in their breed close to 20 years and never had a problem I do definitely agree with the no food before or after exercise rule though. Also don't allow your dog to gulp large amounts of water at once, a slow controlled intake is much better. I also feed two smaller meals per day (although my puppy is still on three) rather than one large one.

I know of a couple of instances (mainly in giant breeds but I'm sure it happens with others too) when the smallest puppy in the litter actually grew to be the largest mature dog! As others have said, as long as she is otherwise healthy I wouldn't worry too much

:D Great video once again! Love it! I will never doubt that they have legs again! (LOL sorry hehehe)

It's called the Pet Park Here is the info http://www.thepetpark.com.au/ I can recommend this one also, have taken a dog here previously. For your first few sessions they help you out and make sure your dog has a life jacket on etc. (Sorry I know this thread is a few days old but have been offline!)