huski

Doh - just realised I thought the OP meant treats in general You can buy things like the everlasting treat ball from the vet n pet direct website, raw bones are also good to give her something to chew on. There are 100s of things you could stuff a kong with to keep her entertained as well.

I had the same problem Cos. I often buy cheap cuts of steak from woolies ($3-$5 for a huge piece) boil it and chop it into tiny training treats. Or I boil chicken and do the same thing. I've also recently bought some Happy Paws training treats (I got the roast chicken and fish) and they have been great so far too for those times I don't have plain cooked meat: http://happypawstreats.com.au/home.cfm http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=156602

I like to use soft treats like boiled chicken, left over steak or roast, sausage, kabana, cheese etc. I also use the Happy Paws training treats which are great to have on stand by for the times I don't have any soft meat: http://happypawstreats.com.au/home.cfm GSD's 4EVER here on the forum makes them :D http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=156602 Also remember to keep training sessions short - puppies do not have a long attention span. I wouldn't be doing more than 5-10 minutes of training at one time.

What do you mean by being registered with the CCCQ? You have to be registered with the CCCQ as a breeder which you said above you haven't done yet.

Wow if that's the cause I'm quite shocked the vet thought the crap you were feeding her was ok Dogs can definitely have allergies to things other than food but with a diet like the one you are feeding her it would be the first thing I would change to see if it made any difference to her skin/rashes etc. And I'm not surprised about the breeding thing either, could see that coming from a mile off! There should absolutely be no doubt in your mind that this dog is not fit to breed from - in your own words she came from a puppy farmer!

I just had a look too. This one cracks me up: I love how at the start he's just taking his sweet time, it's like he's saying 'if you're gunna make me do it, you go at my pace' and 'oh, the human wants me to jump over a pole. How quaint'

Isn't there someone here in Oz who competes with them in either agility or obedience? (or both). Although definitely not a conventional dog sports breed but you can never say never! Part of me wants to own one just for the challenge! I'll try and get Daisy's obedience title first though (god knows that it may take awhile!)

Aren't they just stunning to look at, too? I would like to meet more in person, they sure have tonnes of character.

Eeep, it would be like having a combination of Micha and Daisy in one evil package We looked into getting a Basenji years ago, I still adore them, not sure I'd want a dog that is a combination of both spitz and hound though

The only plus is their smaller size, I can still pick Daisy up and just remove her from her general naughtiness Daisy has lots of drive though It can be a positive and a negative

You are more than welcome to think that if you wish Personally I think non-Kelpie owners are jealous (well, not really I think they are the best though ) Pffffffffffft you all know you want a sibe and/or a beagle.

I think someone's mentioned before about Bonnie Working dog being good for putting weight on? Something like Artemis Maximal may work too because it's higher in protein and has no grain content.

Wow, amazing pics and amazing dogs!! When are you importing one Myszka

Canned sardines/mackeral, yoghurt, goats milk, lamb bones (I regularly feed lamb forequarters and lamb necks) etc are all supposed to be good for putting weight on. What dried food are you feeding?

Why do you say that? There is no reason that dogs and pups for that matter can't be raised on a raw diet.

Hmmm I do have one query. Cherry has just vomited up a little bit of red meat coloured vomit, for the third time in the last two days. I thought initially that it was because she was eating too quickly because the last two vomits were not long after she'd eaten but she's just vomited up a small watery amount and she hasn't eaten in five hours or so. Any ideas as to what could be causing this?? She has been prone to vomiting in the past, usually it is clear or white.

How very persuasive Shell Will try and take some tomorrow :D Laffi - fingers crossed, it's hard to tell because she has had the cortisone and wasn't biting/itching to her usual full extent when she started after the shot. So I'm just hoping it really is working and it's not just the last effects of the shot. We shall see how she goes over the next few weeks but looking good so far

Just bumping this up to update you all The vet recommended waiting and seeing how she went on the cortisone before changing her diet, she was itching again within a max of two weeks from the shot. I put her on the elimination diet and no itching or scratching at the moment. She's on roo meat and sweet potato. She didn't like the roo meat at first (I think it was the texture) but she's chowing it down now. Hopefully the non-itchiness will continue for another month or so and we can see where to go from there.

Warls, if you contact these guys they will happily send you out a sample pack: http://www.artemispetfood.com.au/ Artemis also comes in bags that are just over 1kg which are good for trying it out before getting a bigger bag.

Stitch, I buy Artemis from here: http://www.pookinuk.com.au/dog-special.asp Delivery to Brissy is only $5 and they are great to deal with. I'd much rather feed Artemis than buy EVO and support PP.

Oh how scary I'm terrible in situations like that. I haven't done it myself, but the MDBA offer a course in Canine First Aid: http://www.mdba.net.au/product_info.php?cP...;products_id=38

Hehe, thanks I think sadly many people picture labs as the perfect family dog, which I'm sure they can be for the right family, but they think they are an easy breed to own. I see families struggling with labs quite often at obedience club etc. I see many that are in your face pushy dogs at off leash areas, that are allowed to act that way because their owner is blind to the idea that labs can be anything other than friendly. I don't see them as an easy breed to own, they are a large gun dog that needs regular exercise and training to be able to become that ideal family dog. I think many people buy them without thinking about the training, exercise and other requirements that come along with them. I agree that the things that Kavik mentioned can be seen in any dog but I also think many a lab could act like that if not matched with the right owner. I think a lot of those traits can exist in labs, they just require the right owner to manage them so they don't become a problem ETA: Things like mouthyness and getting into water are typical gundogs traits, aren't they? So I can see how labs can be prone to those behaviours in a negative way if allowed to, because it's often an instinctive thing. Just like my Siberian can be prone to stubborness, not because he's a bad dog or the breed is bad but they were bred to be independent thinkers. I'm another one whose run into quite a few in your face, pushy labs in off leash areas etc and I think it's combination of the fact they are big exuberant dogs and owners can be a bit slack when training them because there is that perception that labs are "easy" dogs, you know, labs can't possibly be dominant or agro because they are labs and are supposed to love everyone.

I don't think Kavik meant any harm by her comments, there are positives and negatives to every breed. The first thing I tell people when they ask about either of my breeds are the downsides, and that involves those bad aspects that can become worse if they don't get appropriate training. Both of my breeds can be stubborn, strong willed, can be a nightmare to train, destructive if not given a far amount of mental and physical stimulation etc. There's a reason you see quite a few dogs of my breeds in rescue. And yep, of course many of these things aren't a real problem when they have the right owner but that's why we talk about the downsides, isn't it? So people can chose the right breed for them. I'm not insulted when people talk about the downsides to my breeds, I would rather prospective owners are aware of the challenges that come with them than buy one only knowing the good things or having unrealistic expectations. ETA: I won't ever own a lab and it's not because I think they are a bad breed, just that they aren't for me. Just as many people have no desire to own Sibes or beagles But you also can't deny that there are negative qualities in every breed and many of these negative qualities can turn into behaviourial problems if they don't have the right owner.

You might want to read this thread, Kyliegirl: http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=168744

Just be sure you are not ever feeding her cooked bones, as cooking them makes them soft and they can splinter etc. It's dangerous to feed dogs cooked bones, a big no no If you want to feed bones make sure they are only ever fed raw. As others have said, I would cut out the treats like schmakos, people food and tinned food. I would stick to a good quality dried food and some raw meaty bones like chicken necks only and see if that makes a difference to her skin problems. ETA: You could incorporate things like natural yoghurt, tinned sardines/mackeral, raw egg into her diet and put some in her dried food