GABBA

I have an 8 week old Dogue De Bordeaux (French Mastiff), that when I put his bowl down with dry food, he will eat a bit then stop, this would normally look like he is not hungry anymore, however if I put the food down in front of him or put it in my hand, he continues to eat. It's only when he stops eating it directly off the floor or out of my hand that I think he's not hungry anymore (although he'll eat a chicken neck any time - he won't refuse that). Has anyone got any thoughts on this...?

I have an 8 week old Mastiff breed dog and he appears to be a little protective/dominant with his chicken necks, yet not with the Eukanuba dry puppy mix I give him. If for example I put my hand in his bowl with the dry mix in it he doesn't mind, he just eats around it. However if I give him a chicken neck and try to remove it from his mouth he becomes very protective, trying to escape, and keep away from me. However if I hold the chiken neck and let him eat it from my hand he doesn't see to mind, doesn't snatch or anything, just calmly eats it. I'm not sure if this is the correct way to teach a pup not to be protective of his food (as in taking it away from him), it's just that he is a mastiff breed, so he is bound to be large and powerful, so the last thing I want is a food agressive dog. It should be noted, that when he's trying to keep away from me, he doesn't growl or snap or anything like that. I try not to yell at him, so any help is appreciated.

I wonder if people still breed these dogs, i know pit bulls are still out there, but the more rare breeds like the Brasillian Mastiff. I asked this the other day, but i think the post was deleted. I understand it is illegal to buy OR sell. Im not after one, just curious (i just got myself a dog - thats all i need for now)

Thanks for all the info guys. I will try to get my pup scanned, if for some reason there is no chip, i can get it done myself. Rightly or wrongly. As for the dog, its a Dogue De Bordeaux...cute little guy! An image has been uploaded here

Eh as in is there an online one that I can check or can I phone them up? I'll let you guys know what happens either way.

Like I said, I'll see what is said and will let you know. I have also read that it is compulsary to get the dogs microchiped in qld. Is there a microchip register? Thanks anyway.

Hmm well it's settled looks like it should have been chipped. I will go to get it done and see what the vet says and I'll let you all know what he said. Strange. Pup is still nice though!

Worst comes to worst, I will have to. The council next to mine was doing it for free not long ago. Are there going to be any difficulties in getting it done myself, will anyone give me the third degree? Ps: vet had said can't be done untill 10 weeks......so I don't know, can only go by what I'm told.

Appreciated.

Sorry this may be a ignorent question, but how do I go about getting the ANKC papers, or do these come via the CCCQ? As for the microchiping, thanks for the info Mystigview, apparently the vet had told the breeder that microchiping for the dog should be done later (at 8-10 weeks) so the dogs body doesn't reject it (so the vet recconmended it be done later)

The breeder has asked for my details and address before registering it, and has told me they registered it with the CCCQ. they have told me to wait a couple of weeks for the paperwork to be processed and to be sent to my address. So what should I be expecting in the mail, an what do I need to do with these papers if I intend to show the dog? Much appreciated.

Hi I am living in NSW and have just bought a dog from QLD. The dog will come with main-papers (or equvilant), and I beleive the the CCCQ is the canine council in QLD. my question is how can I get eqivilent main register papers for NSW and do I need to have both?

Ah ok, thanks, so it is a procedure that can be done while the puppy is still very young. I am located in NSW, however the dog is from interstate. I have read my council's website and it also reiterates that the dog must be microchiped before 12weeks, which is no big deal, i have plenty of time left. Thanks.

I will be getting my dog microchiped, but i have heard that different methods are used in different states (i may be wrong, please advise). Either way, i'd like to know when is an appropriate age to get my dog microchiped in NSW? This may be a really straight forward question, but any assistance is appreciated.

I have never tried Eagle Pack, however i have heard they have a specific giant breed puppy mixture, as opposed to Eukanuba that's designed for large breeds. The reason i have started with Eukanuba, is simply because i had a coupon to get the free 3kg trial bag. So far the dog seems to eat it, but like i said, not in large amounts. I suppose its a good thing, i certainly dont want too much weight gain. My friend was telling me, that a vet had told him, that with regards to feeding the pup, it would be better off feeding him the dry puppy mix, over raw chicken, as the meat only contains protein which will help in growth, but wont provide the other required nutrients. I will try this Euk, and see how things go, but i may very well have a go at Eagle Pack, like i said, ive heard good things about it. *** As for soaking the Euk, ive decided not too, firstly, Caesar can handle eating it dry, secondly, i have heard soaking removes any nutrients it would otherwise have, and thirdly, the study claims that foods with citrus in them, when soaked increase bloat by approx. 300% (im sure thats what the figure was). That being said, we can only try our best, and see how we go.

Hi Danois, thanks for the reply. Yes, i have only had him for 3 days, so he is still brand new, and i guess he is still getting used to us. I have not been feeding him the same food as the breeder, although i ran it by her, and (in her opinion) she thinks Eukanuba, is a decent puppy mixture. I guess, i can only continue doing what i am doing, you are definatly right in saying he wont starve himself. My main aim is to feed him 2 decent meals a day, incl. Eukanuba (large) puppy dry mix and some chicken necks. I may even mix some steamed vegetables in there (im assuming steamed vegetables - peas, etc) are suitable?

Looks like i'll be starting the same situation tonight. We have had our lad for 3 days/2 nights now, and the past two (nights) he slept inside, next to me (he was on the floor though), but tonight is the night .... he gets his own room.

Hmmm...that study was an interesting read. My pup is currently 8 weeks old now, and has no trouble getting through the dry mix...my only concern was, if it needed to be soaked to prevent bloat, however i have also heard that soaking it in warm water takes any nutritional value away. One thing i am having a real problem with (at least i think its a problem) is that i am finding it difficult to set certain 'eating' times, i know the breeder would feed him twice a day with a (decent) dry puppy mix, however, i can only really get him to eat one meal a day....sometimes when i try to give him food, hes not really very interested. I dont leave the bowl on the floor for him....im not really sure if he is not eating enough AND SECONDLY i dont really want him to eat all his food in one sitting (as they say one meal a day is a contributor towards bloat).

I just came inside from, what i think is Caesar's first decent attempt at eating. Since he got here, he hasn't really been interested in eating, but now he just down'd a fair bit of 'soaked' dry food, normal dry food and 2 chicken necks. One thing i'd like to find out though, does soaking the Eukanuba take away its nutritional value - if so, i certainly dont want to do that. ...... I just found this post on another forum: "160% increased risk with dry dog food that contains fat among first 4 ingredients 200% increased risk with dry dog food that contains citric acid 53% decreased risk with foods that contain a rendered meat meal with bone product among first 4 ingredients It states moistening dog food does not increase the risk - UNLESS the food contains citric acid, in which case the risk increases 300%! "These findings can be used by owners to select dry dog foods that may reduce the risk of GDV." For interest sake, here are a few dry foods that contain citric acid, I am sure there are many more: Kibbles n Bits Iams Eukanuba Owen and Mandeville Fromm Eagle Pack (incl Holistic Select) Just a couple I checked that have citric acid, in addition to having fat in top 4 ingredients **Nutrience **Nature's Recipe Lamb **Natural Balance - several versions have citric acid, and their Oven Baked Dog Food and their Potato and Duck formula have citric acid and fat in top 4 ingredients" https://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/...r/9454/page/114 So Im not sure......i might just feed it dry!

I am under the impression that the breeder fed him dry puppy mix, not soaked. I tried to feed him some soaked Eukanuba, but he doesnt seem to eat much of it....It doesnt look like he has really had a good meal, should i start getting concerned? He seems to take a couple of bites, and then hes had enough. Here is a pic of the boy anyway, a nice DBD.

I have just gotten a mastiff breed (8 weeks), and as you may be aware, these dogs are susceptible to bloat. I have heard a way of avoiding this, is to soak any dry food in warm water (for approx. 20 minutes). I am wondering, is it necessary to soak the (large) puppy dry mix formula in warm water, or is it safe to serve normal (not soaked)? Thanks in advance.

We have just brought home our 8 week old Mastiff, however, when it came to sleeping time, i put him in 'his' room, put him to sleep...all was fine. When he woke up however, and realized that he was alone, he started barking and crying....I tried to let it go, and 'ignore' it, but eventually i gave in, and brought him in with us (with the excuse that it was raining and that it is his first night). Now i know this must be a generic/basic/simple question, but what is the most suitable thing to do, to get him to get used to sleeping by himself....without being upset? Any advice is appreciated.