Clyde

I find it a lot more expensive. Granted, I have no wholesaler and have to buy everything from the butcher or Woolies. But my dogs need an awful lot of food to maintain weight on raw and my costs have skyrocketed. I think having somewhere to buy it in bulk or that sells raw cheaply obviously helps. Woolies and Coles are super expensive! Though I do buy turkey from Woolies sometimes as I can only get turkey necks not wings or legs from the place I buy my raw from. It costs me approx $20 a week to feed three dogs and a cat on raw (well, the cat gets a mixture of raw and dried food). Yeh, I have been trying to source a fair price but no luck How expensive have turkey necks gotten? Sheesh, I fed them yrs ago and they were about $1.50 for about 5 of them. Yesterday I went to grab some and they were about $6 for 4 With all my dogs it's just not viable to feed them too often.

That's because people get abused when they share negative experiences :)

I find it a lot more expensive. Granted, I have no wholesaler and have to buy everything from the butcher or Woolies. But my dogs need an awful lot of food to maintain weight on raw and my costs have skyrocketed.

I am sorry for your loss

+ 1 I get comments on the condition of my pugs, especially on their muscle tone and their coats. On the same token people always commented on Alvin's coat etc when he was fed a commercial diet, same with my Stafford. I was always asked what I fed due to their muscle tone and glossy coats. I switched to raw a month or so ago and see no external differences as they already looked awesome before. Im not bagging raw as I do believe it is better for dogs and they prefer it, just that I see dogs in peak condition fed commercial food.

This happened to my Stafford twice. She is fed raw but seems to cope okay with one chicken neck each night. She is fed the Dr B's BARF patties and minced chook frames plus other goodies - vegies, fish, eggs, yoghurt, leftovers etc. She dropped a lot of weight when I first did the switch but we seemed to have worked a good balance now.

How devastating for her Have you tried PAWS yet?

I've not ever had a vet advise splitting it. I've not ever been given a reason not to, other than they simply don't recommend it.

When Alfonzo is barking a visible warning our sheep tend to move towards him. They also chase after him if he takes off after a perceived threat :laugh:

Numerous people on here have said that they do this. I should poll it - I've never noticed. After the previous bun fights about it I doubt many would say that they do :laugh:

Numerous people on here have said that they do this.

Different management systems for different situations...You are no more familiar with Eyeopeners system than they are with yours,so since it was asked if the perspective was way off base,an explanation would be fair? I am lucky enough to live in a similar situation to Eyeopers,but I realise how lucky that is after my introduction to DOL. Out of 5,some times 6 dogs only one is regularly in a kennel run,and I feel awful for her,and guilty though shes out every day and part of the evening.I'll take care in choosing the next to avoid that. My dogs are trained to stay in the acre yard unless out with one of us by invitation,and in the house together if we are out,on their beds and toys /company for any pups.Live stock some times shares the yard,chooks always and lots of wild life.The only one who MAY break the rules is the one kenneled when we can't keep an eye on her. We walk the rest with out leads on the rest of the property when we do,usualy when snakes are less active.The dogs have good recall.We don't have dead live stock,plenty of live wildlife here darting out underfoot with no kills yet. I can understand the need to crate for most,But I think there can be over reliance on crating for some and it shouldn't always be the 1st option. I know I am lucky,and would learn to crate if I had to live like most others.But good management and breeding comes into it too,so we have dogs that fit into the circumstances they are bred for,and that they go to those places.It shouldn't be a case of "putting them away when not in use",but breeding and choosing dogs who are not a nuisance. There are good reasons to crate,for some they are excuses and it is open to abuse. I am in the same situation and also agree that some people reply on crates a little too much. I personally dont believe a dog should be crated all day (sure some dogs are old/infirm so this is different). But I dont agree with a healthy, active dog being crated all day and then again overnight. My dogs are out around the property during the day and sleep indoors overnight. Occasionally I will crate the Pug if I'm dashing out, but if Im out for more than an hour , two of the dogs go in the runs. I always make sure they are not confined for more than 4 hours in the one day, and this is probably only once a week. The rest of the dogs are out free ranging with the other animals 24/7.

Oh my God, what a shock I am so sorry for your loss *hugs*

Same. Especially when it is a life or death scenario with ticks. Just not worth the risk IMO.

All of my dogs do it but I dont believe it's dominance at all, they get reassurance and cuddles.

I would have a long, hard think if these two breeds are really a good match. Just a swipe of the paw from a Dane could badly injure a Chi. I'm not saying it can't work but it is a lot of work and separating. I have a giant dog (60kgs+) and a Pug (6kgs) who is small for his size, I am lucky that the large dog is very docile and spends most of his time sleeping. If he was hyper and zoomed around it would be fraught with danger IMO.

Don't think he was that specific ... just categories like trainability/independence/affectionate etc I read it on DOL all the time, the people who love their smoochy velcro dogs who follow them to the loo and the people who hate that sort of clinginess :laugh: That makes sense to me! I am not good with clinginess/neediness of any kind, in relationships/friendships, with my daughter and also my pets - hence why Maremmas suit me so well.

You've just described a lot of LGD's :laugh: All of the above is what I love about my dogs so much!

True, but my understanding is that while a wolf will always revert to type i.e. you can't really tame a wolf, some people have managed to be successful in having a pet dingo. The dingos that come into rescue only get homed with experienced owners. I'm definitely no expert though which is why I stick to Kelpies/Kelpie crosses for my fostering. Won't even foster cattle dogs because I don't understand them and am told they'd be too much dog for me :laugh: Casper was a cutie though Elbie and Hoover didn't like him much though - I think they sensed he was a bit 'different'. They looked at him very warily. He is gorgeous but I dont think he looks pure - I'm no expert though!

Yes, numerous times. More than happy with them.

I meant the pet store Critter Bits but will check out Inghams too, thanks for that!

Wow, that is such a lovely offer! Unfortunately I am snowed under that weekend already . Which I was already bummed about as I was hoping to go to that show anyway! I have heard of a place in Bargo which is just under an hour away so might give that a shot. Really appreciate your offer though

The hardest thing I found working at a vet was not booking the dogs in myself. I like to speak to the client myself to gauge how long it will be, I also like to speak to the client at drop off to find out exactly what they want. I found this very frustrating and reception would often over book and not get a clear idea of what the owner wanted.

I read this morning that they found his clothes on a beach. Poor little boy, he looks adorable - his parents must be stricken

I have a pet industry business and I'm not member, nor will I ever be.