KitKat

Good grief...i not only gave treats to at least one Rottie at work today (i did check with the owners if allowed first of course) but also got smoochies to boot, same said of a very smoochie Staffy, a freshly washed GSD and a baby black and tan puffball of which i wasn't sure of the breed/s...did i barely escape with my skin? I've only known of one bite/attack that happened at work and that was a few years ago...the dog latched onto a staff members stomach as she moved to walk past the owner and dog at the counter (from memory). From what i remember it came back to the dogs owner and their knowledge of the dog rather then anything the staff member did/didn't do. Some places are better then others with knowedgeable staff - but so much comes back to the owners of the dog/s and their knowledge and acknowledgement of their dogs behaviour, even if it's just to keep an eye on how the staff (or general public in the store) approach their dog.

I can safely say that Tilly's dogs aren't 'too heavy' for their frame - nor the work dogs i'm in regular contact with - they are just big chunky muscly proportionate heavy build dogs. I'd love to put several of the work dogs i know into the ring...but for all that it's my preferred type (chunky muscly heavy but in proportion build) it would likely see me at the end of the line-up - not that it would worry me or be the first/last time! ETA - the Standard is also perhaps more of interest to those intending on entering the show ring - to others the whole of the Standard may not be of as high importance, rather certain attributes having more importance then others.

I might jump third in line!!

Having seen and smooched Tilly's boofer dogs, they are chunky in proportion large sized GSD's...lol...and not freaky or unusually sized considering the work dogs i see regularly now

Must admit that my guys get some weight bearing bones...eg pig legs and lamb legs - but they are GSD's and make short work of even those. But lamb necks are great and can be fully consumed...i prefer to feed them either sliced down the length or whole rather then when they are cut into rosettes - but this is only due to my guys being able to swallow them whole if not careful.

The Purina ProPlan is a higher quality product then the Purina One You might be better off getting a second opinion from another vet...

If you can feed raw it can be a good way to go as long as the dog is getting the calcium etc balanced as well...eg meat on the bone as opposed to just meat/mince. In kibble, the meat listed in the ingredient content is better if dehydrated then fresh etc as it gives a better indication as to it's true placement on the list, as otherwise you are including the water in the meat which of course bumps up it's weight and place in the list. I've only actually used the RC GSD in the breed specific range (have used a few different ones in their normal range) and found it very good, and it's wheat free which is a bonus. The Lab food is low GI, with big kibble so the sods have to chew it more rather then just hoover it etc. The Boxer ones also has a groovy shape which is great for them beign able to grab it with their jaw shape etc. The breed specific ranges are made so the adult dog can eat it into their dotage without having to go to a senior range. I believe the Poodle food is supposed to be helfpul for the poodles coat, eye sight and longevity or some such.

Just so you know as to the ingrediant list for Royal Canin, they weigh their meat content for the list once dehydrated so it isn't always the highest in the list - not all companies do that...many weight their meat content in 'fresh' so still high in water. Wasn't sure if it was the position in the list that was the issue or that there is maize in it

My guys get a check chain each with a double ended lead - they get popped on an end of the lead each and then walked with one on either side of me I'd never use a retractable lead...it would be fine for my good lad, but my other lad would likely test the spooling capabilities of it!

My guys smooch - but they do limit it to a a respectful lick or two rather then a lick that leaves me scraping slobber off my face Even some of the work dogs do it if they get the chance, but they are also very careful about it - mind you for one of the boys i walk you are more likely to get an accidental headbutt while he's trying to smooch you

Playing bitey faces? I was playing that game with a 6month old GSD today (i would have snuck him home if i thought i could have gotten away with it!) Unfortunately the comment 'oh they are just playing' etc can add to the stress of it all...i mean how many times has that been heard being said by the owner of a dog going over the top in it's behaviour etc? Good dog behaviour isn't always understood by the owner as we all know I find it easier to remove my dog from such instances - safer for my dog which makes for a happier me

Royal Canin do a Poodle specific food now if that's of any interest?

A lot depends on the build of the dog, type and lines - my two are half brothers yet one was 11kgs at 8weeks and the other was 7kgs at 8 weeks. My guys are on average 40kgs as an adult for the lighter one and 45kgs for the bigger one, but i know GSD's that are over 50-55kgs and there isn't even a smidge of fat on them.

:rofl: Love it HP!!!

Perhaps also get in touch with your local Police Dog Squad? Get some working dog insight as well?

Hehehe love it! When my Bronx (the good dog...lol) was little and only 8weeks and a few days old i was sitting outside giving him a pee break in the front yard. I had invited my Mum over to meet him - well she came through the gate and the lil guy moved back towards the stairs where i was sitting, stopped in front of me and started growling and barking at Mum (he stopped when i called him tho) - at that point she fell for him as well Couldn't help but tell him what a good boy he was

Redgum Kennels When i've used them for more then a few days at a time i pay the extra for the training - mostly because i figure it's something else to do and i get the benefit from it I can then take them back for training sessions on Saturday mornings as often as i like

I only use Redgum Kennels For dogs or cats

For me it's not about price but what my boys do well on - i switch between RC and GB and don't have an increase in poo or drop in condition - however if i went back to full raw/barf, nutro or advance i'd have an increase in price and drop in condition - not a hard decision for me ETA - they usually also get meaty bones at least every other day - tho some times i'm slack about getting stuff out of the freezer so they might get a few days of just kibble. They've also been getting a treat with their kibble lately...warm water and wheatbix...lol

I've used food up to 6months out of date/past best by date - however i usually take a good sniff of it to make sure it's still fresh smelling - otherwise it gets dug into the garden.

My guys are 40kg and 45kg - and I'm not sure i've ever fed the recommended amount on anything they either need way more or way less! Eg Nutro and Raw/BARF they needed waaaay more then the recommended amount, RC/UA/GB they get away with less then recommended ETA - the 40kg dog of mine appears to have a quick metabolism or something...if i fed the two dogs the same amounts one would blimp out and the other would look like a ribby stick - yet they both do the same amount of exercise, however the smaller/lighter dog is a fair bit more anxious which i think perhaps accounts for some of it.

If i was to feed my dogs the recommended GB/UA they's be the size of houses...lol - one of my dogs only gets between one and two cups of the stuff and he keeps at a good weight, the other one gets three cups to keep him at a good weight (both dogs are good sized GSD's)

I tried Coprice Working Dog, unfortunately my GSD's wouldn't eat it and they aren't usually that fussy - but they scarf down UA/GB.

As to quantities it depended on age, weight, what else they were getting and what the meal was (eg breakfast, dinner, bedtime snack etc) - but generally it was a matter of 'feel' eg if the turkey neck was a big one that would be an entire meal and they might not get a night snack, if it was a small one they might get something else with it. With the turkey tails they were often quite fatty so they might get one of those for breakfast and kibble or lower fat bones for the rest of the day etc. Some bones (eg beef ribs) don't contain much meat so they almost come back to being a recreational bone...so might get chook frames as the actual meal. Even as pups it was nothing for my guys to put away a couple of chook frames per meal...lol Turkey - tails, necks, wings, legs, frames Chicken - whole, wings, legs, frames, necks, quarters, feet Beef - tongues Lamb - flaps, ribs, necks, spines, offcuts - these were limited to start with as the meat can be rich. Pork - feet, ears, off cuts, tails - these can be very fatty so while they were pups they didn't get them too often. Roo - tail bones - these were limited to start with as the meat can be a little rich. ETA - They'd generally get at least some raw per day - even if it was just a few chook necks for their before bed snack. ETA - They'd only get fruit/vegies/offal on the very rare occasion - eg if it was in some leftovers - vegies/offal etc is not something i include in their diet at all.

OK...my GSD's get any of the following i can get my hands on... Turkey - tails, necks, wings, legs, frames Chicken - whole, wings, legs, frames, necks, quarters, feet Beef - necks bones, leg bones (as recreational bones not meal bones), rib bones if they are whole not split Lamb - flaps, ribs, necks, spines, offcuts Pork - feet, legs, ears, spines, necks, off cuts, tails Roo - tail bones Fish - sardines in oil, sardines in jelly (cat tinned food), fresh fish - i tried salmon heads etc...and the dogs only ate them once they were old enough to roll in