Riley'n'Mia

Thanks for the advice Rachelle I was also told by someone else that I would be better off not going to those classes, this was my only other option apart from the Tues 7pm GSD classes through Newcastle and Hunter Region GSD Club (which is 2 hours away). I feel much more confident doing basic obedience training following DVD's, books are a bit harder my dog is a quick learner and so far reponds well to my very basic training I have done from things learnt at puppy school (just sit, stay, shake, come, proper walking on the lead etc) so hopefully he'll continue to repond well to the more advanced things as we get further along the training process, if not, then I will pay to have a few private lessons to figure out what I am doing wrong with him.

Hi bridgie_cat Thanks for the DVD suggestions I will look into them. Yes I have spoken to the vets, council and also the closest GSD league to my area and all have told me there is nothing up this way unless you want to do private classes within the confines of the vet hospital with one of the vet nurses that teach puppy pre-school (which we have already done).

Hi Mel Thanks for your reply ! In my original post I was hoping to take my GSD to obedience classes with a group of other dogs so he could also be socialised at the same time but after ringing all the vets within my area and also the GS club in Newcastle in appears they are the closest (2 hrs away) that hold such classes. Looks like I will have to go for the private classes at the vets and teach him myself out of books option after all I really thought it would be fun and a good learning experience for us both to go to group obedience classes I just couldn't get to Newcastle by 7pm on Tuesday evenings which is when the class is on though.

I posted in here a few weeks back asking if anyone knew of any obedience classes in the Upper Hunter of NSW and got no replies so I guess the answer is no My new plan to keep my GSD and JRT mentally stimulated and interested in life is to try training them myself using the help of books does anyone have any good obedience training books they could suggest please ? Both puppies have been to puppy pre-school and know sit, stay, on your bed, outside and come (working on drop) they spend time with lots of different people and some other dogs on occassion so are both well socialised ! They are GSD 6 mnths and JRT 4 mnths. Thanks in advance

Hi all I have a 5 month old GSD he's adorable and very willing to learn. He is the first dog I have had since 8 weeks old and I really want to teach him everything correctly and get him to do everything to his full potential. I would like to take him to obedience classes however as yet I have not been able to find anywhere near my home that runs them. The closest place I have found is Newcastle and they only have classes on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. This is a 2 hour drive for me which I wouldn't mind on a weekend but during the week after work would be a huge rush and my GSD hates the car so I don't want to stress him out by bundling him in the car and rushing down to Newcastle once a week. I have asked my vet and she said perhaps do some private obedience classes (which my vet clinic offer) he's already done puppy school when he was younger and picked everything up really fast. I try to socialise him with the dogs at my work (on a farm) but I think training with other dogs not a private class would be better as I don't want him to grow up being dog aggressive (he currently barks and is a bit wary of strange dogs until they get close then he wants to play with them and lick them to death). If anyone knows of any classes please let me know I would be most grateful I would be happy to travel to Newcastle on weekends if that's my only option or Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone and Aberdeen are all within 40 mins of my home. Thanks, Jade

When I finished puppy pre-school I got a little electronic device that runs off a watch battery that sticks on the fridge and counts down either 14 or 30 days which ever I set it to from Frontline Plus when it goes off is scares the c*ap out of me but at least I worm and flea the dogs immediately and then re-set it. Think I will also sign up for this one in case the one of the fridge dies it's not the best quality but for free I can't complain and it's lasted 2 mnths so far

My male GSD is 5 months today and he's had the odd loose tooth for about 2-3 weeks now he's adult teeth are on their way.

My two get be-NatuRal dry biscuits plus meat, chicken wings, turkey necks, veges, eggs, sardines, bones and sometimes tuna and they both have very healthy shiny coats and good muscle tone all over not fat just right.

Hi Mindura Thanks for the advice I thought perhaps she could be worried that our GSD would steal her food hence the eating so fast, we have always fed her in the laundry and him outside and she even goes outside once she finishes her dinner and eats the biscuits he spills around the outside of his bowl (he is happy for her to do this he's usually asleep by then) and when I give them their bones and chicken wings etcetera I lock her in the GSD crate so she can eat in peace without him being able to steal her food, since changing from necks to wings she has started to eat much better she takes a while to get through a wing and has over the past few weeks started eating her main meals a bit slower as well maybe it's just taken her this long to realise no one is going to take her meal once it's given to her.

I have only found it where I bought my GSD here is the link to their website:- http://www.sundaneka.com.au/Frontpage.html

Not at all I love getting feed back from people on this forum hence me asking LOTS of questions I would be horrified if I found out in 3 or 6 months that I hadn't been feeding my pups enough so please don't think I was in any way offended

Hey Jag My puppy is up to date with her worming I have wormed her every fortnight since I got her and she had her heart worm injection at the vets last week as well. I spoke to the vet about her feeding schedule and also discussed her weight gain as I weigh her myself every week and she seems to think everything is ok there. The meals you give your puppies sounds very similar to what I feed Mia she also gets the same as my GS puppy but a smaller portion plus 24/7 access to water and also a pigs ear or raw hide snack 3 nights a week after dinner. This is what I posted as her daily feeding schedule at my first post:- Breakfast - 1/3 cup of be-natuRal dry biscuits and a bone Lunch - a chicken neck Dinner - 1/2 cup of be-natuRal dry biscuits and 10-15 grams of mince (or some other meat dep on what the GSD is getting sometimes it's sardines or tuna for a change) This is the new feeding schedule:- In case her diet is relevant to anyone who can help she gets fed:- Breakfast - 1/2 cup of be-natuRal dry biscuits and a bone (generally a meaty marrow bone) Lunch - a chicken wing Dinner - 1/2 cup of be-natuRal dry biscuits and 15 grams of mince (or some other meat dep on what the GSD is getting sometimes it's sardines or tuna for a change) I have also started them on veges and rice or pasta just a bit to add something different occasionally (they didn't like them at first but have started eating them now) Three nights a week a pigs ear or raw hide chew after dinner. I notice you said you have dry biscuits available for your puppies 24/7 I can't do that with Mia because my GSD will just eat all her biscuits as well as his own (they love each others company so I don't want to seperate them only do at meal times or when I am not home to supervise them) so I will perhaps need to just give her an extra meal somewhere to make her end up with 4 meals plus her snacks ?

I have stopped feeding her chicken necks for fear of her choking she gets wings now and takes ages to eat them but I still watch her to make sure she chews them properly which she does so far. Thanks all for the advice !

Hi Morgan I feed my GSD and my JRT Be-NatuRal dry biscuits along with chicken wings, mince, veges etc as this is what the breeder fed my GSD when I bought him, he is now 20 weeks old and the vet says he is in perfect health, people always comment on his condition when I take him to the park etc a couple of people have asked if I feed him eggs or oil to make his coat so shiny and healthy (I assume the condition of his coat has something to do with quality of food) ? Just my opinion but my two love it and it seems to agree with them no runny poo or anything like that either. The breeder I buy it from sells it for $90 per 20kg bag plus courier costs ($10 to my area which is 4 hrs drive from him) and it arrives guaranteed next day after I order it. A couple of pics of my pups (just in case your wanted to see their condition)

Thanks for the suggestions I will give that a go putting her biscuits in the kong makes sense that would slow the little piggy down ! Will also give her a turkey neck as one full meal she'll have to chew that I am sure.

My 11 week old female JRT puppy eats her meals so fast that she burbs really loud like a human after eating (very funny) and sometimes vomits and if I am not quick enough re eats it (grose sorry). She gets a chicken neck for lunch and she barely even chews it just inhales it. I have to put her in her crate after each meal for 30-60 minutes so she can not run around as all she wants to do after eating is play with our GSD and if I seperate them she will run around like a lunatic on her own. I am hoping this is just a puppy thing and she'll grow out of it I don't want her to get sick in the stomach from eating so fast all the time and she stirs the male GSD up after he's just eaten as well and I don't want him to get a tummy ache either. In case her diet is relevant to anyone who can help she gets fed:- Breakfast - 1/3 cup of be-natuRal dry biscuits and a bone Lunch - a chicken neck Dinner - 1/2 cup of be-natuRal dry biscuits and 10-15 grams of mince (or some other meat dep on what the GSD is getting sometimes it's sardines or tuna for a change) Any suggestions on how to make her eat slower ?

She came from a breeder in the Upper Hunter this is only the second litter of puppies they have raised and they are friends of my OH he works with the man who bred them. I tried to explain to OH that buying a puppy from them as oppose to say one of the breeders found on dogzonline (which is where we found my baby Riley - the GS) was not the best idea but I got sick of arguing and gave in (please don't get mad at me). Don't get me wrong she's totally adorable and has a really good nature but she sure is hard work ATM......I am sure she'll learn with time, love and persistence I was just worried I was doing something wrong because we were so spoilt with the GS learning everything so quickly. Cazz - that dance would have been highly amusing I hope your neighbours caught you don't worry once I can safely say that Mia is toilet trained I too will be dancing

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice everyone and also the compliments I think the pups are both pretty cute too just a quick update on Mia, she has been getting better since I have been taking her outside on the lead she usually does a wee within 5 minutes of going outside and then we have a play (after we try for 20 mins to see if she's ready for No. 2) which she loves so I think she's realised no wee no fun ! She so far has only managed to do No.2's on the lead twice still does that on her bedding sometimes but she's getting better. At least I am starting to see progress so it's helping lift my spirits which makes standing outside for hours on end not seem like it's all for nothing.

Hi dogsdot thanks for the advice luckily we are in a house with all wooden floor boards at the moment and I have a crate that is big enough for the GS when he's fully grown so I put Mia in there for a while at times such as when I want to cook dinner etcetera so I don't have to watch her 24/7 (she also sleeps in a crate). I have been trying the suggestion of taking her outside on the lead and after about 15 mins of playing and carrying on she does usually go (and I give the comment "do a wee" the whole time then praise her to no end when she does) but only No.1 still won't poo on the lead she did however actually go into the crate last night to poo but did it on the bed not the newspaper. The breeder I bought her off had the puppies in a large grassed pen in the backyard. During the day she is kept in the same kind of enclosure in the backyard so the GS cannot play with her unsupervised and he has free run of the rest of the backyard.

Hi Kristie Mia is going well her and Riley get along great now, I was a bit concerned at first as Riley is sooo big he was playing too rough with her but she never backs down and tells him off all the time. The past few days they have been so much better Riley lies down and lets her jump all over him (rather than him trying to squash her when playing). I am feeding her the same stuff I give Riley that I buy from his breeder it's called be-NatuRal I was a bit worried that because it has the correct amount of protein, vitamins etcetera for him it might not be right for her so I faxed the ingredients to the vet and she said it was fine. Maybe I should try nutro, I give her about a third of a cup of dry food in the morning and the same at night but also give her a tiny mouthful of mince at night plus half a chicken neck for lunch and sometimes a bone to mix it up a bit.

Gosh that would have been my worst night mare as well I hope he didn't eat the shoe

Thanks showdog I do stay with her and use a command word (which is how i taught the GSD) I will also put her on a lead, makes sense I should've thought of that myself. Appreciate the advice.

Hi all, I have just brought home a gorgeous JRT female (Mia) last Saturday as a second dog to keep my 15 week old male German Shepherd (Riley) company. The puppies get along really well Riley was a little rough playing with Mia the first few days but I never leave them unsupervised and things are settling down nicely now they are starting to form a bond. Now to my problem...........Riley my GSD was excellent at toilet training when I got him the first week he prob did two No. 1's and one No.2 in the house and then for about a month after that about once a week would do one wee a week inside now he never goes inside and sits at the door whimpering if he's ready to go outside and relieve himself. Mia on the other hand is a nightmare she goes everywhere I take her outside about every 30-40 minutes and she just wants to play (I ignore her and take away any toys if any are in sight and leave Riley inside) then she just sits staring at me. When I bring her back inside she will do a wee or two or three always very small puddles as though she's saving them up to spread around the house and usually does them on Riley's bed or her own bed rarely on the floor I thought dogs didn't like messing where they sleep. When I catch her about to squat and do No. 2 I take her outside and she again gets distracted and won't go last night I was outside for almost an hour trying to make her go and at 11pm I gave up and went inside to clean my teeth sure enough she did a poo on her own bed urgh........... Any suggestions anyone

I have a GSD he's 14 weeks (yesterday) he gets fed 1 cup of dry food (Be-NatuRal I buy from the breeder) and a bone in the morning , a chicken wing at lunch and two cups of dry food with 50 grams of meat (usually mince) at night and the vet said he's at the prefect weight and body fat mass for his age. She said to perhaps alternate between giving the bone one day and chicken wing the next one he gets to 4 months. Same thing as poodlewrangler said better to give big breeds a number of smaller meals through the day rather than one or two larger ones.

They are brilliant at making us feel guilty (and worried) aren't they, mine is the opposite I get up an hour earlier than I need to so I can play with him before I get ready for work and once play time is over he sticks to me like glue whinging and giving me the sad eyes right up until the time I give him his bone or chicken wing and put him outside when I leave for work. He never does this to my OH (he usually leaves first) just makes me feel bad, so we are getting him a little sister picking her up next week so he has another friend at home to play with whilst we're at work. When he's a bit older I will bring them both to work but he doesn't understand when I tell him that staying home all day is only until he gets out of his naughty puppy stage (he's 3½ mnths). Sorry can't answer your question for you but I know how you feel !