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Cats are grazers and eat when they have to, dogs just eat whatever is there and just keep going, I think ifyou want them to graze it will have to be slowly incorporated. However to make sure the dogs are getting their fair share of food is there a reason why you don't want to feed the at one time? Or do you have quite a few at home that doesn't make that viable?

I've paid $75 for an Old English Sheep dog, that was a groom as well though, I have 2 Danes, they have short coats so I wouldn't pay any more than $30 each for just a wash.

We order through www.petdeli.com.au They're absolutely lovely people as well, great customer service Free delivery, you can't beat that, we've been using them for about 6 months I think, maybe more. Leila loves the Pet Deli Man, gets lot's of pats hehehe I make my own barf too, but I like the idea of getting the Dr B. brand because I know it's complete and balanced and I can't guarantee my home made stuff is.

I was under the impression rice off sets the balance in barf and pasta is better?

There you go again rambling on before actually reading and corresponding the responses. I never once said that kibble was better than raw, I mentioned other contributing factors that wolves in the wild do not have such as polution, you would be a mug not to understand the link between factors such as polution/additional chemicals in our day-to-day lives which depelets our minerals/proteins/trace elements in our own systems and items that are around us, there are indeed studies on it, not that you would need one, it's pretty much common sense. I'm stoked that your danes have responded well to raw meat, great for you, just because it worked for you doesn't mean it works for everyone. One good thing is not a good thing for all. Do you have a background in Science? I do, so I see things logicaly, I believe what is proven in either clinical/non-clinical trials. I'd really wish you'd stop comparing wolves to dogs, they are not the same, similar but not the same, they lives in compltely different evironments, so their needs are differents. Anyway, that's all from me, this thread is doing my head in.

*shakes head* you don't listen before you respond Dane. There are plently scientific studies, do a google search. Learn to listen before you respond, it's a great trait to have.

K9, have you ever come across a dog who can't catch? My girl isn't the most co-ordinated, a frisbee hits her on the head, bless her, she does try.

Adult apes and adult humans have very similar digestive systems, the only difference is that the human intestines are longer. You can't make a blanket statement that a dog will be healthier on a Raw diet because quite simply not all dogs can consume a raw diet therefore it is not beneficial to them. Don't get me wrong, I feed my girl raw meat but I also give her 'Missing Link' as well. Our environments are so different from the wild, we have concerns such as polution that can deplete an animals minerals/proteins/trace elements, sometimes a little something extra is neccessary in some dogs.

We usualy have 2 dogs in the house and it costs approx $30 to feed per week which includes raw meet & veg in the evenings and Leila gets breakfast which she gets Natures Gift and a little bit of kibble. And bones/chicken necks etc which they get when we leave to go out. They also get Missing Link - I got a big bag for $100 and it lasts forever.

I think it's important to note even though the DNA profile is very close that dogs are not wolves, their lives went down different paths a long time ago, sure some aspects of their body language remains the same but their diet doesn't neccessary have to, wolves eat in the wild what they have to to survive and they source the proteins and minerals they need, dogs on the other hand of course benefit from a raw diet in some cases, however dogs have been domestic for a very long time now, even though DNA is similar that doesn't mean their life styles are or what their bodies and organs have adapted to over time. Many dogs who lives in the wild today such as in places like Africa are not hunters, they are savengers. Just life humans and apes.....our body language is very similar but our lifestyles and diet isn't, what an ape eats isn't neccesarly a well balanced diet for the human species let alone could our bodies which have adapated to our our environment tolerate what apes consume? We are different species... I like a raw diet but I don't think it's the only way to go for a healthy well adjusted dog.

Just like any food product a dog can have a bad reaction to it. If I swallow butter I have approx 10 minutes to get myself to a hospital or I could possibly be dead in 15 minutes worst case senrio. Definately more research needed, look forward to seeing the clinical results. As mentioned in an earlier post my dog doesn't enjoy bones or similar items so this is our ideal way of keeping her teeth in good condition, she enjoys them and has shown no adverse effects.

Not quite right and it's a bit of blanket statement, no clear scientific evidence to support it.

ewwww Mine get a Greenie once a day and no Green pooes. Leila enjoys them and takes her about 10 minutes to finish it, she's not a fan of chewing bones so Greenies are good for her. I guess it likes any aninal (including the human variety) some animals can tolerate some things and some can't. Price doesn't bother me too much, I buy in bulk so it works out pretty good.

I can't remember the last time I washed my dane, I only wash her when it's really neccessary, if they don't smell are there are no other issues then why put ME through that ordeal

Thought I'd provide an update just incase you're friend was interested... We originaly tried DogTech as mentioned on page one of the thread and had no improvement. Leila has now completed 4 weekly sessions at a local dog club "Brush Farm" and is doing wonderfuly, we'll continue taking her and if she continues to enjoy it we'll carry on and maybe consider some comps. After I spent over $300 on DogTech and got nothing, this is what result we have got for $2 each session at the dog club: 1) Leila will sit in an instant on voice and hand commands 2) She heels lovely and walks to a heel on a leash on her general walks 3) Her interaction with other dogs has improved significantly, she used to get way over excited, she can read other dogs body language better now. 4) She is doing really well with left and right turns. 5) She's doing excellent with her stays 6) Dropping is slowly coming, she's a dominant girl so we expect this to take a little bit longer Plus all the other little bits and pieces she has learnt in a 4 week period inclusive of homework practice as well. It's been great because it's teaching us how to teach her in a positive manner rather than the emotionly harsh methods DogTech use. Oh and as for making 'sweeping statements' about the francise, they are a francise and it is expected people get a sour taste in their mouth about one they will get a sour taste in their mouth about the whole organisation, I have no worries what-so-ever at expressing my disgust for them taking $350.00 and telling me the same they tell everyone else who I have spoken to who has used them. Hey they may be great dealing with agressive dogs but as far as basic training is concerned, I don't need to yank my dog around, scare her and tie her down whilst she's inside for a period of 2 weeks etc etc to get her to sit.

We use it for our Dane, we get it delivered by Petdeli in Sydney along with their Barf.

Great Dane on a Harness to prevent neck stress and because we both feel confident, she's just not herself on a flat collar, I would like to see her just on a flat collar one day though. Foster pooch on a flat collar, he's very slow and doesn't need any correction on walks.

To follow up on a previous post, in nz we have electric fences at just about every farm with live stock, the voltage is not high enough to kill the stock unless it has been set up incorrectly. Animals are not stupid, they touch it once, they don't do it again (generally). Anyone touched an electric fence before? Little shock. I don't agree with electric collars but a fence is a bit different, isn't it? Sorry I guess I'm kinda of conditioned as I grew up with electric fences, I believe they are fine if managed correctly, good quality and are not high voltage and an animal isn't forced into one. So the dog wear a collar and if it goes near the fence it gets a shock? At what voltage?

Does your dog perhaps see itself sitting above your son in the social ladder? Perhaps him taking on giving the dog her meals etc may help but as another poster mentioned it could be the vibe he's giving as he approaches. I hate to say it because I love dogs on beds but any attitude I get from Leila is from when she's been on the bed, some say by letting a dog on your bed you're saying your an equal or allowing the dog to be higher than you. I generally think it's ok to allow a dog on a bed as long as when you ask them to get off they do without a problem. If the problem persist after reading up on peoples replies and doing some research I would seek proffessional assistance.

My dogs share now, then what is classed as sharing? Not getting stroppy when the other sog wants to play with your toys to?

I'm not sure I would point the finger and label the dog asagressive, it's certainly something to keep an eye on and work on modifying the behaviour just as you would with an over excited pup. I would take perhaps the 'radical' step in suggesting this kind of behaviour is partly instictive in the terms of guarding food and so forth. I'm not sugar coating the issue, imo I don't think labeling the dog as agressive and treating as so would be a solution. I'm not animal bahviourist, I'm always interested in hearing other peoples feedback, I could be completely wrong.

For our 2, it didn't matter what you gave them, it would still be an issue. We had to supervise all the time and control the situation, making sure they didn't try and take what each other had even if the item was exactly the same as what the other had, it took two people, one for each dog to supervise and wait until they settled and then moved away, now they are a lot better and can share most things.

Leila has GOT TO HAVE IT syndrome, never plays with her toys unless there is another dog and gets cranky if the other dog tries to take it away. I have 2 dogs now with GOT TO HAVE IT syndrome, so they have to be supervised, it's kind of a catch 22, because you don't neccessarly want to interfer with the Dominant dogs ability to handle such a situation but sometimes you have to step in and it has been us stepping in in what has been sorting it out, however the dogs give up as well. We're fortunate in our situation that no one gets hurt but I still think you have to supervise until you fix the problem incase it esculates.

I read somewhere when teaching basic things such as sit you should allow about 20 seconds for a response....mmm 20 seconds feels like a life time. Leila does everything in slow motion as well, she's gotta think all about her positioning before she does anything hehehe Oh except when food is present then she's on her arse before you've even gotten the food out!

I use to 'Pro Stop' harness for one of our foster dogs, it's working a treat, it's not a cure for pulling, it's a training aid, if you get one of these harnesses you have to remember to praise for not pulling This method isn't for everyone, if you can get to a training club I think that would be very beneficial. Good luck