Scottsmum

I think, if you can't find the date on the packet you'd have to check with the feed shop / pet shop or call the manufacturer. As I said above - my kibble (VIP grain free) has an exp date of 17/10/16 - no idea when it was manufactured. That is stamped bottom of the back part of the packate. In the centre. We also have some ziwipeak here - the exp date is on a sticker - which could come off with not much effort - same location as the VIP. We got the Ziwi before xmas and it has an exp. date of Aug 2017. I went onto the Ziwi website and it says it has a shelf life of 21 months from manufacture, once opened it should be used within 8 weeks. Hope that helps. :)

You're a good egg Snook :)

Found it. http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/how-long-does-kibble-last-once-opened/ Not hard science - but it made sense to me. I wish I could find a nice big glass jar or had enough freezer space to try the theory out.

This "article" I read ( I use the term lightly) said it was more to do with oils in the kibble going off. I actually said on another thread the other day - I once saw (on Oprah) that you should store nuts and other oily foods in the fridge to help stop the oils going rancid. Which is why this statement about kibble rang true - made lots of sense.

You could go on forever :) but I'd love to have a "go bag" - I'm a bit of a control freak. I certainly have a spare lead and jacket which I can leave (forever if need be) in a backpack ready to go on the drop of a hat. I have a training bag - all I need do is top up with fresh water and treats each week and it's got everything I need for obedience - including sunblock. So same principle. But I agree with what you're saying. I honestly think: Jumper blanket food towels bowls collar, lead & spare tags All in bag in shed. plus meds and bolts for his carrier - both live in a big tupperware container in the laundry - so an easy contained grab. plus carrier (which is in the house and actually easier to access than his wire crate) Plus human / dog first aid kit - usually kept in the car - we really need to re-stock this would make me feel a lot better.

Nope - I politely disagree - Once it's open and air is circulating it is more than plausible it will go off faster - similar to UHT milk - its fine and stable to sit there - but should be used within 7 days of opening. I've often thought the same thing. This one dodgy face book article backed me up ;)

Me too - Scottie is really fussy - before the move I'd only get the smallest bag possible (1.8 kg I think) - now I can only get a larger size so we make do.

Expiry will be stamped somewhere on the bag. I believe it depends on the brand and a few other things. Interestingly I read somewhere recently that the date is only for a sealed bag. Once it's open it should be all used up in 2 weeks (ideally) and it's absolute best practice if you can store it in an air tight, non-plastic container - eg Glass, out of sunlight and away from extreme heat. Just checked my kibble - it has an exp date of 17/10/16 - no idea when it was manufactured. I find Ziwipeak tends to have a very long shelf life.

All good points Danois. Except we use his travel crate as a bed - otherwise all good. Thanks :)

This x 1000!

That's still an awesome photo. :)

Great post - thanks LG

Yup - bottled water gets yuck too - so good point. good point re: first aid - I kind of assumed anything in the human kit would be OK to use for the dog (with some exceptions) - that said - we don't have a first aid kit at at the moment either and yes - his chip details are registered - :)

No reality is hitting at the moment - after being off work since late November - I'm not really looking forward to it. But it's kind of part of the deal - I don't have to find full time work if I want (and do) study a higher load. Oh - and I dont mind being poor :) And I do have some outtakes - a few extras from the rose garden and the like. Otherwise it'll be 7 weeks of phone snaps of Scottie :)

So... I know there'll be a number of you here who have bush fire plans and would love some feedback on "go kits" for humans and pets. I was only thinking about / wondering if I needed a little "earth quake kit" the other day - then today there was a 5.7 quake on the south island which made me think of it again. As far as I know we don't get too many quakes here - we get them close by but in the 12 months this town's been on my "radar" (pardon the pun) I only know of one which was felt here. Anyhow - who as a disaster bag set up for their pets? If so - What's in it? I'm thinking: In a backpack: (in no order what so ever) Canned food - google says 3 days supply of food in a quake kit, A bottle of water - I assume at least 5 litres - plus water available from the human supply A roll of poo bags (no reason - just cause) Dog jumper/coat, roll of paper towel (to clean bowls and spoon and for other things) spoon to serve food blankie/some bedding, spare lead & collar - ideally with tag already attached (he has a spare tag with his name, numbers and "I'm microchipped" on it) collapsible bowls photocopies of his paperwork - really just chip details - and maybe Vax certificates Edit: I asked on an NZ pet page I'm a member of. Some members said: a bucket heat pad familiar treats a familiar toy carry cage (* I have his flight crate but it's split in two) I think I need a primary go bag + a tub with his meds and other things I use on a daily basis which I dont want doubles of (can't afford two sets of meds!) + of course in the human kit you'd have torches / a first aid kit (added with edit) etc so there's be no real point in doubling up would there? Edit #2: Links I'll write a list up in a few days time so I'm going to pop some links here too: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/disaster-preparedness http://www.quakekare.com/deluxemultiple-dog-survival-kit-p-90.html http://www.petmd.com/dog/care/evr_multi_top10_emergency_pet_kit_items http://totallyunprepared.com/make-a-pet-earthquake-kit/

I have a challenge question. My "self imposed rule" is that I should take the photo in the 7 days before I post it - but I'm coming up to 7 weeks of uni hell - a three week work placement followed by 3 major papers all due within 4 weeks of placement ending. Is it OK to stock pile images / use a few that I've already taken? Also - yes I think I know the answer but I just wanted to double check :)

Took me ages to spot it too!

I keep forgetting it's Monday - Long Weekend here. 6/52 by Superspanger, on Flickr Another lazy one from me this week. Scottie and I have been spending too much time at home - me especially as I hole myself up and work on his SA. So we went and bathed in nature - sat in the rose gardens for a few hours after our walk the other day and I called my parents. He literally smelled the flowers (as some of you have seen in my other thread). It was just what the soul needed. Some dappled sunshine, a dog, some flowers and a long call home.

Adorable Powerlegs.

My family is a bit like that. We've got a few half siblings etc in the mix - which we tend to not acknowledge - there's 4 of us and we're just brothers and sisters. Funny thing is that the one I'm most different to in looks and personality is my one full sibling. Where as the one I'm most like is my half-brother who I had nothing to do with until I was about 17. He was raised by his mum, I only saw him 2 times in my life before I was 17 and we have the same mannerisms, timing, tell a joke the same way, have similar taste in "jokes" and so on. There are two of us who aren't related by blood at all - and by a strange twist of fate - their daughters all look so much alike it's just not funny. But it is nice as they're growing up as cousins anyhow - so it's nice in it's own way that they all look so similar - 4 little strawberry blonde terrors! My aunt often calls my niece (her great / grand niece) by my sisters name - again mother and daughter like peas in a pod. Anyhow DD -as you said off topic but interesting and funny.

Thanks guys. Seems (my) mum thinks he's a bandanna kind of guy. I don't tend to dress him in anything (other than coats) but I popped it on for photos.

Ah. Right'o. :) Too many characters :D

I thought Don was his dad?

Wow. Cat! She? Is stunning.

Such a lovely update :) I had a similar chat today in class with a lady who was nearly in tears with her dog being a 'good girl' she was saying how nice it is to see some results when you've been doing hard work and I couldn't agree more