Clyde

OMG Alvin does that too! The door now gets firmly shut in his face so I can pee in peace. Esme (SBT) always likes to check out what's in the bowl afterwards.:laugh:

I've fed raw chicken for years with never a problem. I don't feed wings though due to potential for problems with harder bones. They get heaps of necks, frames and minced carcasses though.

Nellie from Powerbulmas used to help out years ago. I've tried to find her contact but her website is down. How about the breeder? The club are pretty good and will whip the word around. Just email a few breeders from the DOL pages and I am sure someone will come back with some help/ideas.

:laugh: You've just described my childhood.

I'm not sure to be honest. I guess the same could be said for the different temps between the two too. Alvin is also a single coat so I think we struck gold with him. Like you, with 3 Persians and Maremmas the shedding was a definite consideration. I never thought I would say this but considering the nature of your Staff I would be inclined to go with a black as the crazy little things really match well with Staff's. Mine doesn't necessarily run as much but he still keeps up. He will run smaller circles or when he runs out of puff still chase off after her making her run but he doesn't get as far. Hope this makes sense. They are a lot of fun and generally good with other animals. He has only given the odd chase after a chook/duck/cat but there is nothing in it. You do need to be well fenced though, if they think there is food out there somewhere they will go find it!

Also another thought.... One dog is so much easier to include in baby stuff. Walking with a pram, beach, car rides etc etc. I found it difficult walking my dogs together with the pram so would alternate days but always felt guilty about the one left behind. One dog can slot in to your 'new life ' a lot more easily. As dee lee said Kaos could stay inside more etc. I think you might feel relieved by only having Kaos down the track.

Yeah, it's a tough decision. I don't know if I would do it. Better to be twiddling your thumbs, than tearing your hair out. Plus mine was an 'easy' baby, slept loads etc etc. You need to be prepared that you might have difficulties and not cope with a pup when you need to concentrate on a baby who is not feeding/sleeping etc. But on the other hand, most peoples dogs do get pushed to the back burner a little when they have babies - despite best intentions and it might be nice for Kaos to have a friend during this time. I found my dogs spent more time outside for a year or so as it was just too tricky having them all inside 24/7 while baby was so tiny. Things like putting all dogs outside when you go to wee as you can't leave baby for one second with dogs in the house etc etc. I'm not much help am I? Sorry, it's a tough one, pros and cons. I think probably because you are wanting a bully breed I would err towards waiting. If it was a much less demanding breed then things might be different.

My immediate thought was a big fat 'don't do it'. But then I remembered just how much time I had on my hands when Miss 7 was a baby. Aside from the tiredness there is not a lot to do really. I'd say it's now or wayyyy down the track Teebs. They get more and more time consuming as they get older. By 3yrs you don't have a lot of spare time for a pup.

A Pug!! My Pug keeps up with my high energy, prey driven Stafford and they are great mates. He has no prey drive, is cuddly and they love being indoors. Upside of blacks they tend to shed less (mine barely sheds) but they are crazier. Fawns shed bucketloads but are generally less crazy. Just adding that even though Pugs are small they really play well with Staffords. I have found mine to be a tough little dog ready for rough and tumble with the Stafford. I think the Pug even exhausts the Stafford!

Ooooh how fun! Wish I could be there! Evil :laugh: Sounds like a great event otherwise

+ 1. Deb's customer service is amazing!

I love most of their products and use them on clients dogs. I go through buckets loads of Reviva Coat. I love the fresh smell.

*eep* He is so cute. IMO he is too young to clip though. Along with all the other advice get him used to a hair dryer!! Play with his feet and his ears a lot. I can really tell the difference with pups whose owners put in the work at home. Also if you have anything that buzzes at home, move it around his body and pat him gently at the same time so he gets used to the sound of clippers all around him.

23kgs is pretty big. I would 'risk it' and leave them together. I have a dog half that weight with another dog 50kgs plus all day. They don't play together at all though. So I guess the rough playing could be a concern for you.....

My neighbours have a chocolate girl from Lacote (spelling?). They found them very good to deal with, papers turned up etc etc and the dog is an absolute delight. She is active and a little destructo but not nearly as much as some Lab pups. She is just a really nice chunky little girl who has been very trainable. My other neighbours got a choc boy at the same time, similar lines but totally different breeder. While the dog is gorgeous getting papers for him was like pulling hens teeth.

No, not really. Just make sure you introduce it slowly by mixing it in with your current food. Some dogs thrive on Black Hawk and some don't. It's just a matter of trying new foods and see which ones your dog does well on.

No slur on Black Hawk but 'holistic' is really just a gimmick when it comes to commercial dog foods.

I've had my Conmurra for about 15yrs and use it commercially.

I agree. Although your daughters reaction sounds a lot worse than mine but when I brought home Esme my Stafford, my arms and face would get rashes from cuddling her. I found rubbing Aloveen Leave In COndtioner in her really helped. I think it was more a reaction of her fur prickling me or something unexplained. It doesn't happen anymore but does for some other dogs. I am allergic to my cats, itchy eyes, runny nose etc and if I dont wash my face last thing before bed my eyes swell up overnight. It is a pain as I am very hands on with my pets but I got in to a routine of washing my hands a lot!

Steve, as a breeder, what do you think of my 11 month old?

Like you, I am not sure of his parentage although his mother is definitely all Maremma. None of his litter ended up as big as him, they were all desexed early (born in rescue with Maremma Rescue). He could have Pyr in him, his nature is certainly more Pyr but I groom a pedigree female Maremma just about his size and groom males who are only a little smaller (but bigger than Ammo) - so they can certainly get very large.

7 yo kidlet with 11 month old male 4 yr old male with 12 yr old female The 3 together

They really vary in size. My female can almost walk under my older male (who is much bigger/taller than your boy) and my younger male is in between the two. I groom loads of Maremmas, some are enormous and some just large.

You are right to be careful. A lot of groomers will just shave the dog off which is what you don't want. It's a shame you aren't closer as I would happily do it for you properly. Really emphasize to the groomer that you want to avoid any clippers if at all possible. It often doesn't grow back the same. It is my bug bear with border collie bums. There are groomers around here that shave their bums off and then it is harder to control and looks ridiculous once grown back (and while shaved off).

Unfortunately,, if I let my sleeping beauty lie, she wakes me up at 2am to tell me she's wee'd and poo'd in the house - so last night wee's are a necessity.