Steph M

He's 11 weeks on Friday, hope that's it. None of us are enjoying it terribly, haha.

Ohhhh yesssssss! The little show prospect! I have spoken to his mum on Facebook a few times, small world! She's lovely, and so is Blaze. Just as intrepid and troublesome as Gus I hear. Haha. That is my plan, it's not a huge issue yet, just was hoping I wasn't doing anything wrong. Will sit down to pen her an email later tonight. I often forget of a day, as like Aliawake said, it's a nocturnal activity. Haha. She is pretty fab. I wouldn't hesitate to reccommend her to anyone ever.

He is! I thought a little girl went to canberra, dare I ask the puppy's name? ;) That's it, and I am hoping it is just heating. We turned his laundry duct off and replaced it with a hot water bottle, I've enforced lunch time outside for an hour or so (puppy and boyfriend could use their vitamin d) and told Brooke to put a dang jumper on instead of putting the heater on. Haha. There's no lose there even if it isn't the cause. The power bills will thank him. Yeah, some variety won't hurt him, he's a bit of a glutton lately so may as well make it interesting. I get a bit uncomfortable when the vet pushes ANY food on you. Always feels fishy. I agree on the Hills though, ick. Our cats are really funny too, one will eat anything, the other will eat one flavour of the fussy cat grain free from the shops, I ran short one night so grabbed that and he won't bother with anything but now. Little monster!

Given that Day Dot was less than a week ago, I'd be hesitant to diagnose a food allergy. Have you raised your concerns with his breeder? A scurfy coat can be a sign of stress - and he's been through a big upheaval coming to his new home. Talk to his breeder. If he was raised on RC without issues, my guess is that this is not a food issue. Have a good look at the overallo balance in his diet. If you say you are feeding a lot of meat without bone, this is not good for a growing pup as it will create a calcium imbalance. Feed meat on the bone or the kibble. Another reason for his lack of interest in kibble is perhaps you are feeding him too much? Do you add the sardines to his kibble? The brand you feed is entirely up to you but if you change, discuss it with his breeder. If she's raising happy healthy pups on this food, think carefully. If the Artemis you are thinking about feeding is grain free, rethink that. A kibble with about 40% protein is unsuitable for a growing pup. Resist the urge to wash him constantly or add more chemicals to his skin - its just overloading what may be a sensitive system. FYI, I think one of your pups littermates may be with a friend of mine here in Canberra. :) It's been almost 3 weeks, and it's got to be something. The food is one I can easily check and change. I don't want him uncomfortable, nor do I want it to become a 'thing' Plus I'd like to move away from the RC regardless, on my own personal preference. I did read that about the grain free, and will have a chat to the vet first, but the puppy one does have Whole Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, White Rice, Oatmeal, and Millet. So do feel like that's a start, but a chat to his breeder and vet is in order first off, of course. I have to sit down and pop her an email tonight, haven't had much in the way of time this week, unfortunately! Just testing the waters here seeing if anyone else HAD had any issues with RC, trying to rule as much out as we can! He's only had 2 baths, one afer the plane (for obvious reasons) and the other before puppy school after he took a mud bath, so happy to leave the bath but if it might help to find something neutral and give him a tub we can do that, but yeah, just as happy to leave it. It's a bit of a battle. Haha. His coat is pretty good, it's shiny and healthy, but he's just a bit itchy and flaky. He isn't dull or anything that might tell. Also, he has meat on bones. Lots of meaty marrow bones and chicken wings/necks and meaty soup bones. Don't give him much off the bone, though he did have chicken hearts the other night, but majority is on the bone. I think so! I know one is in Canberra! Little girl?

Oh I tend to just drop it off to shelters, no biggie! We've been through fussy cats and GAWS benefit greatly from their pickiness. Consider it raising a charitable puppy. Haha. I'm sure he will eat it regardless though. As we've discussed, his tastes are pretty lowbrow.

He LOVES the cat poo. Rarely gets it now (perhaps is itching from withdrawal?) but every now and then he snaffles a good one. We thought he had stood in it and was banished from the couch and we were mystified cause we couldn't see any poop, til he kissed Brooke and we found out where the foul smell was coming from. I hear you can feed them pineapple to make it less appealing, Gus will take a chomp of his own too now and then, he is not popular those days. He did it at his own puppy warming. Oh the shame! We have no possum poo, but bird poo is a winner, and mum's dogs are possum poo fans, I am thankful we don't get many! Doesn't it make you feel good to spend hours researching optimum food when they're just as happy eating poop. I thought that too, but I can add glucosamine or something similar, our timber floors get a hiding too, and he bounds up the (admittedly low) single step to the yard, much to my disapproval. How do you 'minimise strenuous activity' in a 10 week old puppy? Short of sedation...

Hahaha, I know! I see him wolf most other things, but his 'cereal'? No interest. He'd much rather get at the cats breakie (or litter tray ) All this legendary retriever appetite, we got the duds! Can't hurt to try some! I know it is down to what they do best on, so trial and error! I'm almost settled on the Artemis next, just sounds more wholesome, though we will see! I could spend a bomb and he could well turn his nose up. I don't know about the fur, that could be it. A good bath and brush might make some difference.

Maybe Artemis. Looks good!

That's exactly the same. He's not red or anything noticeable, just always scratching and chewing himself. Poor bean. He doesn't LOVE it, he will eat it, but much rathers it with some yoghurt and drags his heels if it's plain dry, could just be relishing not having any competition though. Haha. I'm not sure what to try next though.

Well he itched a little from day dot really, so it could be food or environmental, but the food would be the easiest to change as a test and rule that out. I've checked him and the cats for fleas, went over them with a fine toothed comb, literally, under chins, bums and ears especially and found nothing, then treated them all with a spot on just in case. He has his sardines, but will add fish oil to his tea too. I could well be wrong, but you never know really.

Anyone else had a similar reaction? I don't really like the stuff and would like to have Gus off it sooner rather than later, and he's almost through the bag! His poops are firm and fine, he's in really good shape, growing well and gaining weight but just itches, mainly overnight between pees. The bedding has been washed (in the machine with just apple cider vinegar and popped in the dryer with no softener/dryer sheets or anything, just in case) and the laundry doesn't house any chemicals or anything, the washing powder is even in a sealed tub. I did notice last night he has faint dandruff, and the vet suggested it could also be the indoor heating making him itch. Anyone else have a similar? I know it's trial and error but what change worked for you guys? He has a lot of meat, some bones, sardine and egg once a week. We'll cut down the dry to just one meal a day eventually, ideally less, but speaking practically one would work. Poor little bean, might give him an oatmeal bath tonight and see how that goes too.

I would be more than happy to, koda takes a second or two to weigh up a visitor but warms up FAST when he knows your all friendly :D Smarter than ours. He's all 'HOLY SH*T. MORE FRIENDS. LEMME AT EM!'

Ours does that too, the flywire is still a mystery! Haha. You can't help but laugh really. Silly goose.

I think if OP is looking to show she'd be having one from fairly young, so I imagine a grey would be right if it's grown up with cat and trained to leave it? And ideally not left too unsupervised outdoors, I know that can be a temptation.

I can lend a plug to my own little bean too. He's a flat coated retriever, sporty and out there, happy to try anything but also loves a snuggle. Not drooly, but can be very licky, but at least it's dry? He's lovely, and they're not too common? Also loves everyone. Every single person, animal or plant is his best pal. Even one of our cats who dislikes him obviously gets taken toys. There's always a pile of 'offerings' under his cat tree. Very retriever-y. If you wanna meet him, he'd be all about that, sure Jack would volunteer Koda too!

He's so lovely when he's being good. He's also a sap for the shoes, if you've left them on the floor or aren't watching your feet, even if you're walking, he's there. I try really hard not to tread on him, but when he's launching a sneak attack on my moving feet I can't help it. He gets so upset too! Lucky he's learning to leave the shoes and things, he knows he gets a grumble when that happens. I have to admit to have been a bit short with him this weekend, i've been sick all weekend (stomach cramps and nausea, oh the joys never cease!) and he's been really misbehaving. Peed inside for the 3rd time ever, my fault but I just couldn't bend far enough to clean it so I really got sooky. We went for a walk to the local football field cause he was driving me bananas, and I think he knew I wasn't having fun so he didn't either, I felt awful after but I just wasn't feeling well at all. Then he refused to sleep past 4 and I was exhausted, that was the icing on the cake and I just burst into exhausted sick tears and I think I worried him a bit, OH went to pop him back in bed but he's slept badly after 4 since then, my fault but now I'm feeling better I feel soooooo baddddd. I'll have to spend some quality time tonight when I get home. No rushing about, lots of fun games and cuddles and things. Puppy school tomorrow so he'll brighten up seeing some other pooches!

I've heard they're fine if they grow up together! I have a friend whos cat had kittens and the grey tried to adopt them. Haha. He was a male and such a softy. There's some really switched on Grey people here. You should see Stan (look up stansmum) if you want to be won over ;)

The other thing that breaks my heart with Danes is the short lifespan. But I am soft. Haha.

We're the same. I can't stop him for 5 minds!

Good on him. And you. :)

Gus helped me in the garden yesterday. 'These are weeds, right?' Then we crashed. Excuse the poor focus, he hardly sits still then leaves nose prints on the lens!

Gus helped me in the garden yesterday. 'These are weeds, right?' Then we crashed. Excuse the poor focus, he hardly sits still then leaves nose prints on the lens!

Our little monkey has been having bones since we got him, keeps him quiet! I've been looking into antlers too. We get everything, chicken necks are a big winner. Marrow bones are good value, like natures Kong! You can ask the butcher to split them in half too. Meat bones, soup bones, brisket bones. All work well, I think. Just something nice and meaty! And Whippytails, that makes sense. I was thinking 'maybe they're really hard to handle un-desexed? Der!

Dare I ask why that is? Ever so curious!

Fine! No dramas! He seems to have slept most of it, cleared his kong, demolished a marrow bone and had a nice sunbathe. I wish my arvo was so good! We just went and had a big play outside to add some value to outside time (and because I need some Vitamin D) Will pop some photos up in a few!