persephone

Hi... our pups all start on raw meat...at around 4 weeks they are given large meaty bones, on which they suck and chew..... when they have a bit more control over their chewing, they are given chopped up meat with additives like eggs ...apples and other fruit whole, as playthings., and lots of chicken necks/wings

Oh..and to add..she is a 5 mth old puppy..full of energy, and aching to learn about her world... What type of exercise is she getting to wear off some of her 'attitude' ? Training her may be easier when she has had a lot of exercise

Hi.. Actually... putting her in a crate , while the cat walks around... may not be such a good plan (I am happy to stand corrected) The dog can see the cat...and can still FEEL excitable, and can want to get to the cat...and can feel very frustrated With no way of correcting these feelings/behaviours, they could well escalate and become permanent... On a leash, I feel that corrections given at the first sign of any trouble...coupled with CALM sincere praise for the dog behaving by ignoring the cat would acheive more.

We just fast for 24 hrs..then small amounts of meat only...

Hi..I would also recommend bathing your dogs less. each time you bath them, oils are removed from the skin/coat. these oils help protect and nourish the skin/hair...so why would you want to continually strip them away ? A fresh food diet is also on my list of recommendations Plenty of threads here about feeding raw foods....tailored to suit a dog's requirements...not just 'human food' ! After all..if fresh is very healthy for humans, why should dogs eat anything else? Vitamin C in a NON ACID formula may help...it did with one of mine who had bad allergic reactions to grass. I used Calcium Ascorbate powder. One thing you may want to try...each time the dogs come back from a walk, or have been oplaying on grass... WASH THEIR FEET . Wash in a very mild baby non-scented soap... rinse well, and dry between toes. This removes any pollen or grass from the feet...don't know about yours, but our dogs clean their feet a lot...thereby ingesting any allergens!! bets of luck with it all...

Yes..what has the Vet suggested so far? Are you sure that it's allergy related? Could it be a yeast infection or something? It must be frustrating!

here is Wags, done in the Out Of Bounds frame ..just a quick one .Forgot where I put the disk with instructions on! LOL :D

Oh :D hannahh.. that is sad news.you have had joy and pain in bucketloads the past few days! R I P little ziggy... go chase butterflies :D

Oh... ok.. a three year old, a teenage staffy and a kitten? I wish you well!!

No, it's not You only got your pup last night? Or the cat last night? If you only got the cat last night... you need to set up a room for her where the dog cannot get to her. After a couple of days..with the dog on a LEASH(and after it has had a LOOONG walk/run)... let the cat out. Praise your pup when she is being calm. Make her sit. Do not talk to her... just sit quietly. Correct her with a jerk on the leash if she lunges/snaps at the cat . EVERY time. When she is being quiet and relaxed, then talk to her...calmly. She needs to know that the cat belongs there. Do not let the cat and dog out if the dog is not on a leash and under your control ( and control doesn't mean pulling hard to get at the cat ) With perseverance, the dog may settle... I have no staffy experience, so don't know breed-specific training tips or problems.

Sorry..not much help from here.. Hope they get a second opinion.... poor little dog.

Oh..what a worry... Hope all goes well at the vets.

Ok

Hi..Wouldn't it be perhaps more cost-effective to get some allergy testing done? Once the actual allergen is found, then maybe there would be a solution available instead of the dog being on medication forever ?

Two things... If you want to 'speak dog' to your pup, please make sure that you know what your growls etc. mean!! The dog probably hears them very differently to you :rolleyes: And.......... dogs dont' 'do' apology. Good for you for stopping the games clearly!

Good result

Good news for you Hopefully now he will be a model citizen

It may well be the grass...but can also be chemicals that may have been used in/on the property..anyting from carpet cleaner to insecticide ..or something elese growing... Best of luck with it

Good news Hope the impovement continues

May I add a very important thing... If your pup throws a tantrum lasting 3 hours.......THEN you go and either chastise or comfort... Guess what? NEXT tantrum will last 3 hours and longer.... cos they know that if they persevere someone will EVENTUALLY come Receiving attention is such a powerful reward..............

Fly... I second The Spotted Devil's comment about some Vets and their (lack of ) knowledge of animal behaviour :D The are often not the best behaviourists. Your pup barking to come in... I'm not sure..but he probably knows that EVENTUALLY he will be let in so he will continue to yip. He needs to realise that YOU are the giver of all treasures!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU give the food YOU decide when he is to be in YOU dole out praise ONLY when he is being good etc etc. To that end...when you feed him... try this exercise... http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=64101

"SNAP", spotted devil..we posted at the same time

Hi... there are people here who can explain this heaps better :p Your pup is only a baby still...well done for getting him to toilet outside so far! :D You may need to take him out more often... When he goes indoors..do you actually reprimand him AS he is doing it? To be effective, you MUST catch him in the act...at the very start if possible!!!!!!!!!! Ten seconds afterwards is too late My recommendation would be, if you catch him in the act to just approach , scoop him up , and take him outside SILENTLY Hopefully he finishes what he started OUTSIDE..and gets praised shouting and handclapping would not be what I would use... the noise can startle a youngster, and also evoke the exact response you are getting. Contain him to one room ,if you can...or attach him to a long lead around your waist..that way, you know the signs....

Hmm..think I've found my new sig!!! Thanks, Steve :D

If it is just a tear of the tougher outer 'skin' ..and isn't hanging off or bleeding profusely..and if she isn't limping badly... wash it well, put some betadine on, and rest a few days. If it is seeping blood..looks deep , or seems very sore if you apply pressure, and/or if she is quite wary of using that foot..see your vet