Steph M

That's a good point, I assumed it was something we are doing but he is from slower to mature dogs. I'll have a chat! Zig does look great though. What a charmer. Haha. Its how he gets the ladies!

He was raised on RC but changing from puppy to adult didn't work for him, he got dandruff and itchy and it just didn't seem to work for him, we have tried a few since then but after a month or so on each nothing has suited, be it that he didn't like it or it stank out the house etc, that's led us to raw food. I could go back and give it another go, but the farts!!! Haha. I was thinking showstopper or similar, wasn't sure what was good for all round though. Some things seem to be for particular issues and I don't want to treat what's not there, so to speak.

Hi! Gus has just turned one and is pretty fit and healthy, though I feel like he isn't as shiny, bright, healthy or energetic or strong as he could be sometimes. No specific problems, I just want him to be as good as he can be. He's a flat coated retriever for those who don't know, any supplements you would hands down suggest as an all round health maintenance and booster? He eats mostly raw, eggs, bones, sardines, the odd veggie and some table scraps. I worry that he sometimes misses out on things being new to raw feeding and a supplement might do him good. He swims and runs whenever he gets a chance and is always good to go, and I'd like to keep him that way too! Whatever it might be, our other dog, a whippet x koolie would have some too. Any and all suggestions would be fab!

Tis the season, it seems!

Snout girl, I tried to join not long ago and no one approved me! Perhaps would be worth posting the link? I only found it by chance. Sorry I won't be in this month. Car needs a new alternator before we are going anywhere, and that will be happening this weekend, fingers crossed. If I get it done on time I'll give it a go! Let me message Tango and Indie (the little black poodle and cocker) and see if I get any joy for you!

Hmm.

What a nutbag! I suspect a veeeeeeery small weiner, and I don't mean a dog.

This. My dog would rather sit in the rain sometimes than in front of the heater, if someone looked over the fence he probably would look like I'd chucked him out. Reality is, he would rather be there than under the carport or inside. I don't feel like walking by once, even twice and seeing him out the front is cause for alarm. He looks pretty well groomed and cared for going by that photo. Seems happy and social enough, I must be missing something.

Aaaawwwwww!!!

Done for one dog, will do the second one this afternoon!

Haha, oh yeah, he's stubborn as an ox and could do it but I'd never put him in a position where he had to. Not fair on him. We haven't had an accident since 8 weeks, 2 days. He had two inside the whole time we've had him. Miracle dog! I still wouldn't ask him to hold on more than a few hours though.

I think that's just how he growls, HankOdie! Haha. Its a pitiful sound. I didn't carry on, just said 'no' and did it anyway. And I feel that pain, the selective obedience is special. And Gus was a jerk to Rosie last night, tried to shove her off her bone and she gave him a good snap and pulled some fur off and left a scrape under his eye. No more bones unless supervised for a while. Don't feel bad though, they're not people and you can't reason with them. They're dogs who do their own thing, you've laid great foundations and he's just going through a phase. :)

Sounds pretty flimsy to me. Someone walking by my backyard might think my dogs don't have a water bowl sometimes when I'm washing it or its inside out of the sun.

Gus tried that once recently too. It was a pitiful, whiney growl. I said tough tits my friend and carried on. Acted as though it didn't happen and we moved on. Little turd! Haha. I think its a rite of passage and pushing their luck. We've had no worries since, but I know him well enough to know he wouldn't follow through with it. I'd have been horrified if he had tried it with a groomer or something, more because he might have got away with it.

They still need to be taught where to go, it isn't a failsafe innate response as such. Sometimes accidents happen and bad habits can be formed. When we had our pup I made sure I could hear him if he got up, or stirred it was out for a wee and back to bed. They're quick when they wee, get little warning and leave tiny puddles. I'd say he's going in his bed if he didn't go for 10 hours.

10 hours?!?! I couldn't ask my 1year old, 40kg dog to hold that long. I suspect you'll find he's peeing in his crate or on the floor somewhere. He would only have tiny wees at this point, easy to miss. I'd wash his bedding in biozet and the floors in white vinegar and hot water and start fresh. Also, 10 hours is way, way too long to crate a pup. An hour is a long time for a tiny puppy to hold a wee, I'd suggest maybe every half hour you put him on the pad. Also when he wakes up, after eating, drinking, playing, when he gets distracted, wanders off, sniffs or gets fidgety. Basically pup hasn't ever had to control his bladder, his muscles aren't strong and he's always been OK to just go where he needs to, so he needs to learn where you want him to go and build up muscles to hold it. I'd also suggest using a wee word, like, 'go pee' or something, say this as soon as puppy starts to initiate the sequence, and reward him hugely as soon as its done. Act like its the best day ever! Eventually he will make the link between weeing and his wee word and will go on command. If there's more than one of you training him, I've seen a wee chart be used to work out when they do it, so everyone is on the same page. Its just a calendar print out where a mark is put when they last put him on the pad and if he went. Also helps work.out what his schedule is like too, IE how long after a meal does he poo, how long after a drink does he wee? I don't bother being negative or disciplining them for it. As far as I'm concerned pup is just doing what he does and its my fault for missing the signs, just clean it up. No.point telling him off unless you catch him, but he needs to know what you want him to do before he gets told he's doing the wrong thing, if that makes sense. How far is pad from crate? Also if the plan is for him to go outside eventually might be worth taking him out of a day when its warm? Will he always have pads as a backup or will he have outside access?

As a pet dog owner I'd be feeling awful and miserable and blaming myself enough without 'wrath' from the person I need help from most. I'd also probably never ask their help again. More flies with honey than vinegar. Sometimes shit happens.

The thing is no one is saying to.fly into it blind. Most posts in this thread have highlighted the importance of picking the right breeder, the right dogs for you and building a relationship, asking questions of them and providing honest and complete answers. I don't quite know what you have your nose out of joint for, tbh, no offense meant. I genuinely don't get it.

Mystiqview, that sounds like a lesson.in not picking a dodgy breeder, rather than who knows the puppies best. Most people saying trust your breeder are running on the assumption they're a breeder who does the right thing and that's been pointed out in many posts.

Just re getting him as a guide, it does go both ways, we have a rescue with some bad habits and Gus has picked up a lot of those. You should always get a dog for you and remember regardless of how a dog comes to you its still going to be part of your family for 10+ years, so do what you want and what's right for your family.

I see your point, Huski and admit you know miiiiiles better than I do. So someone with lesser experience, like me, might be better off leaving it to someone who knows. I would have picked the cute one that runs up to me too, everyone gets blinded by puppy cute and logic can go out the window. Its what you do, but for me I'm happy to let the breeder take the reins a bit there

I have one of those dogs....haha. Shame. Still, least he's focussing on something these days! :D

T, I think they would love that and what a gracious gesture on your part. It would let them know that all their hard work is appreciated by others, even if they aren't told that every day. RIP Lulu That's a beautiful idea!

Leah, once I was driving mum's Maltese around (as you do, actually think we were on the way to the vet) and he started doing the big dog thing and barking and growling at a random breathalyser stop and the biiiiig, tall lady cop said 'I bet my bites worse' we were both frozen in terror, imagining cavity searches and similar horror. Haha. Gus however hangs his head over the front seat and tries his hardest to get a lick on the cops and whines pitifully for a pat, which he usually gets. No ones afraid of him. Also canetoad awesome trip! Jealous! Good luck with the house!

Hahahaha all of this!