Stressmagnet

I'm still trying to break Ernie of the 'lick people to death' habit. It's odd, I know, but I have friends who are not particular to dogs and being slobbered on will just result in Ernie never getting a pat. With him, I almost think it's a submissive thing since he's so manic about it. Edited to say: I don't mean 'submissive' in a Cesar Milan way but in a 'I know I'm not the most powerful thing in the room right now' kinda way. If that makes any sense. Which I'm sure it doesn't.

Katie the Kelpie? Too many times to count. We finally resorted to pretending to leave the house, driving out of the driveway and then creeping back on foot. She was jumping onto the BBQ pit, then leaping from that to a sturdy branch on a nearby tree, climbing another three branches then onto a neighbouring shed and then climbing back down a tree on the neighbours side. She got out twice in our current place by widening a hole between two colour bond panels. She used to go visit her boyfriend the yellow Labrador up the street. Georgia the Amstaff? Zero times. Ernie the Labrador? Once due to the lawn mowing kid leaving the side gate open. He went out the side gate and then sat patiently at the front door, waiting for our return.

I'm so sorry T. I'll be thinking of you today.

I'm so sorry Westiemum. But it sure sounds like you know your dog. Wishing Mac some long lovely days ahead. X

I've tried Kongs, scattering it on the lawn (attracted bush rats yay), a Go Slo bowl (the kind with bumps and the current one which is a maze bowl. Ernie went from eating his dinner in 30seconds to about 2 minutes. I've also tried muffin trays - Ernie just worked out how to tip the whole thing over in 2 days so that was that. The maze bowl took him about a week to 'solve' the maze and that Labrador tongue moves like lightning now. I've added water to his kibble too - made no difference. He's a frantic gulping eating machine. In going to try the green Dr Chris thing next. I'm convinced Ernie's flatulence is caused by the amount of air he ingests while eating his dinner before the Zombie Apocalypse comes and THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY MORE FOOD EVER EVER. I'll order it in the next week or so and post back here if we get to 5 minutes a meal.

I'd love a: Catahoula Leopard Dog Qimmiq or Canadian Inuit Dog - not the American version (but I bet Alexsandr will tell me it's just a Husky :D) I had s friend who owned a Catahoula and it was a great dog with a big voice and the most amazing eyes. Could hunt all day but equally happy hanging on the porch. He was a loveable goofball and if I had a large property away from neighbours, I'd own one in a heartbeat). When I was young, I had a job replanting trees in the Yukon Territory and a few people had Qimmiq Dogs. A LOT of dog and don't suffer fools gladly but incredibly intelligent. They regularly did the Iditarod with their dogs and a more impressive sight I've never seen. I doubt they'd ever come here as they are first and foremost pack dogs; NOT family pets but they are so beautiful. And when you see them alongside a Husky, you can see the difference.

I'm so happy. I've been wrestling but seriously, my life simply wouldn't do him justice right now.

So a question for (I guess) Labrador retriever people, since Labradors seem to be the dogs that are typically seen to be overweight in the ring. Apart from Ernie's obvious confirmation faults, is he overweight? I'm trying to take another 3 kilos off him.

And what would be 'upper' labia? (She sez, looking down...) :laugh:

Take the advice given here. These doggy mad folks have not steered me wrong yet - and I've been lurking for years before I started posting. :D (And I hear ya on the honeymoon)

Ernie is a small Labrador who weighs 28kgs. He's too heavy - I don't care what the breed standard says. He's got a bit of extra round his waist, and I have to push to feel his last ribs. From above his waist goes in only slightly. This is my fault as his morning walks have been less active while my shoulder is healing. The vet ran his hands over him and said while he is NOT in bad shape, he agreed a few kilos would be kinder to his joints in old age. We think, together that 26kilos would make him trim and healthy.

Ernie has a $400 wooden kennel that is out of drafts and under cover. It has an off side door, out of the drafts, and even a little covered porch. Will he use it? NO. Mean people to try and make him when he'd rather sit out in freezing rain and wait for us to come home.

Why are such dogs so attractive to dickheads? I had an amstaff and she was the loveliest friendliest dog (other than Ernie) that I've ever owned. People like these assmonkeys ruin it for everyone. That poor poor boy.

As I said in the other thread, they've been around in the UK and in Canada definitely for a while. But they are usually field lines and a LOT of dog. as much as I love field bred labs, I know, for me - they are too much. My lazy loving choccie (who was supposed to be black) is perfect. I think here in Oz, you might have luck looking for a 'darker' yellow - but I'd steer clear of any breeder who breeds colour to colour. Just my .02

I love Fox reds. When I lived in the UK there were far more than here. There IS some decent reds in Canada. I understand about choosing a breeder solely based on colour but they have been around a long time in other countries. This of course, from someone who wanted a black lab and ended up with a 'trendy' choccie. I'm almost embarrassed to take him out as folks assume I followed the designer path! :D

Ernie has been trained to go to his place. That doesn't mean he doesn't wiggle with excitement when some pats him but he's committed to staying there.

Oh I'd love him. I gotta stop voicing on these links.

Ernie goes and gets his bowl and drops it on my feet. Coz ya know, Labradors are hungry, yo.

No not really. They are used to the routine. Dogs do not experience the same hunger response as humans, and in fact their bodies are well equipped to miss days, or even a week of food. The reason I do it is that I have a theory that it reduces cholesterol, gives the healthy gut bacteria a chance, allows stomach acid levels and enzymes to stabilise. In addition I believe it helps control food responsiveness, and has a positive impact on muscle tone and condition. I have a mate who is involved with Malamute breeding and feeds his studs once every 48-72 hours. His dogs are in startlingly good condition and it got me thinking and researching. If you are trying to drop 3 kgs then there is 2 keys considerations on how much you are feeding by weight, but more importantly the digestibility of what you are feeding. If you are feeding a highly digestible diet like raw, barf, tucker time then you actually need to temper your portion sizes a fair bit. My dogs are highly active and are fed a fair bit less than what commercial food companies recommend. Ernie gets Canidae Grain Free (the salmon and fish one whatever that is), chicken frames, lamb flaps and chicken necks with some organic plain cultured yoghurt. He gets a frame, or other meaty bones for his brekkie before his ramble. Chicken necks I add to his dinner. I reduce his kibble to what a dog who's 5kgs lighter should eat, and vary his meat portion as well depending on what he's had during the day. My onc told me I'm not to handle raw so I'm giving him the best I can. He looks great, his coat is shiny and the vet said his ears and teeth are in wonderful shape. So I'm thinking a fasting day is an option.

I hear ya. Try owning a Labrador!!

BBB, Aren't they food crazy by Monday morning? I'm wondering if this is how to keep those extra 3 kgs off my boy. He gets a 1-2 ramble every day but he's a lazy thing and his dinner gets eaten in a nanosecond even with a go slo bowl and/or kongs.

Ernie gets a big meaty bone for his brekkie and then training treats and then his main meal is at night. Buts he's a Labrador and he'd eat all day if I let him, so it's a battle to stop Miss12 sneaking him stuff. Unfortunately he gives it away because his emotions are all over his face. I used to split his daily intake into breakfast and dinner but I lost track of how much extra he got thru training and I'm terrified of him getting porky. It's just easier for me (hey, I'm being honest) if I can adjust his nightly meal to account for all the treats and surreptitious bits of potato and cheese that he scabs from his greatest admirer during the day.

How sad. Beautiful dogs. And I think no response from the breeder speaks volumes.

Hmmm. I remember that thread too.

Other choccie lab owner here... I'd wait. I brought a new Bub into my kelpie's life when she was 12 months old and I do feel the dog got the short end of the stick. I wish I'd waited until the Bub was at lest 5. As a result, I had a daughter who was terrified of my poor girl as she'd been knocked over a few times (my fault entirely) by an exuberant adolescent hound! The last two dogs came into our lives when my youngest was older - 6. And my God did Miss12 bond with our Amstaff. They were inseparable. She was old enough to treat the dog with respect and love and not inadvertently hurt the dog with enthusiasm. Sadly, a brown snake ended that relationship but Ernie (the lab) and my youngest are the best of mates. I also had a difficult time in my later stages of pregnancy. Bad sciatica and painful pelvis meant walking for any length of time was impossible. The kelpie suffered. My oldest was a colicky baby and did not sleep. I had to force myself to get out and walk my dog and I will be honest, I resented her. Luckily, it all righted itself at about 8 months but I cringe at the way I felt. I spent the rest of that dog's 10 more years making it up to her but I still feel crappy. So that's the worse case scenario. And you know better than I did back then, so you'll do better. I can only tell you how it played out for me and the regrets I have.