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Is there a current 'pointy' thread? Newbie hound owner here

46 replies

PacificDogwood · 26/05/2015 22:26

Apologies if there is one, I could not find it, but maybe somebody could point me in the right direction?

Or if there is not, could we start a new one? Look, there are lots of comfy cushions all over the place and spaces on the sofa too Grin

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CMOTDibbler · 01/06/2015 09:42

Mine have Burns pork and potato, or Vitalin sensitive. They have sardines once a week as well. Its taken us a lot of trials to see what they can tolerate.

Birdy, it may be that yours always looks skinny even at a good weight - my ddog1 is prob saluki ish, and is very angular and bony. You can always see a couple of ribs, and a bit of spine at the top of his back curve (vet totally happy with his weight, wouldn't want him any fatter)

jgm · 01/06/2015 10:28

Thank you CMOT - I never realised just how much dog food brands can differ... Feel a bit bad now that my cats just get whichever food is on offer at the supermarket!

CMOTDibbler · 01/06/2015 10:36

My cats do too! They also supplement their diet with things they catch - but they don't have the same, um, explosive reaction to stuff.

jgm · 01/06/2015 10:50

Haha yes my cats both have cast iron stomachs - and dealing with their litter trays isn't so 'hands on' as dealing with a dog I guess!

GobblersKnob · 01/06/2015 11:08

F4D is not the quality that it used to be, but they give huge breeder discounts, so lots of pedigree puppies are weaned onto it. Jon Angell is a splinter of F4D, same family, set up as a rival and is cheaper and better quality. I fed that for quite a while but now feed Millie's which I prefer and the dogs look amazing on and seem to enjoy far more.

Calipto · 01/06/2015 11:25

I'd like to join too please. I have an elderly hound (11). He is fed Skinners Salmon & Rice, along with half a tray of NatureDiet. He used to have the biscuits with half a tin of normal dog food, but stopped eating it, but since moving to the NatureDiet he is wolfing it down !

He is now on a diet !

jgm · 01/06/2015 11:26

I had read that fish4dogs had changed in quality, but I hadn't heard about Jon angell so thank you gobbler. I have to say I haven't read much (if anything) negative about Millie's wolfheart so far.

SmartAlecMetalGit · 01/06/2015 12:28

My three whippets are on a combination of MWH countryside mix and Wainwright's grain free wet trays. I'll be trying them on the MWH wet food as soon as it becomes available.

GobblersKnob · 01/06/2015 12:53

Oh I didn't know Millie's were planning a wet, that's interesting, I use Forthglade trays in the evening atm.

jgm · 01/06/2015 14:32

Is it good to feed some wet food along with kibble then?

moosemama · 01/06/2015 14:43

Hello

I have two pointies, both rescue Lurchers.

I used to raw feed, then had to switch to dry when we moved house due to lack of freezer facilities. Then they went onto Canagan, which is fantastic quality, but expensive, before I finally put them both onto Skinners Salmon and Rice on the advice of a very experienced Lurcher trainer who felt they needed a lower protein level and they've both been doing brilliantly on that. I also use either sardines in tomato sauce or the Forthglade trays for stuffing Kongs.

My older boy is an absolute sweetie in every respect, loves his cuddles and will do anything for a tennis ball or even better ... food. He's not the brightest bulb in the box, bless him, but he has a heart of gold.

The younger lad, Pip, had a very bad start (dumped with one sibling at birth, so no mum to teach him how to behave, then very ill and contagious to other dogs so isolation period/limited socialisation and finally was roughed up by two different dogs on his first two proper walks). He is lovely, but has separation anxiety that's been extremely hard to sort out. He's much better than he was, but still can't be left for longer than an hour. He is also very fearful of dogs he doesn't know and while he's ok seeing and meeting dogs that are on-lead, he's petrified of free running dogs and panics when he sees them. Sad He's bright as a button though and loves clicker training. Smile

Here they are. Pip is two today! (Where does the time go? Shock ) My other lad will be 10 in a couple of months and managed to give us two health scares in a month during May, but thankfully seems to be ok.

Is there a current 'pointy' thread? Newbie hound owner here
Is there a current 'pointy' thread? Newbie hound owner here
SmartAlecMetalGit · 01/06/2015 14:47

I only feed the wet (they only get a little, one tray split between four of them each evening along with their dry) as they seem to enjoy the variety.

Sometimes I don't feed the wet but give them something else like appropriate leftovers, raw eggs, tinned pilchards. All sorts really.

jgm · 01/06/2015 15:07

Moosemama I've just been reading through an old puppy thread from when you first got pip (I think it's safe to say I'm now fully prepared for the sleepless nights etc!) - it's lovely to see how pip has grown up x

moosemama · 01/06/2015 16:12

Ha ha! Have you been reading the 'New Puppy Mummy' threads? That's probably enough to put anyone off having a pup! Grin

I am happy to report that all the dogs off those threads are now lovely adults that no longer keep their families awake all night! Grin My best advice for pointy dog training is get them whistle trained for recall right from the off. I started straight away with Pip and we've never had a problem with his recall. I've probably just jinxed myself now haven't I? Hmm

Pip has improved massively. I didn't used to be able to leave the room, let alone go upstairs, but now he's happy to snooze downstairs on the days where I have a migraine and need to stay in bed for a few hours. He's never been destructive - but let's just say my neighbours aren't appreciative of his singing voice! Wink

He's a lanky 28" to the shoulders these days and ridiculously fast.

I am ashamed to admit I completely forgot it was his birthday today. Blush The dcs have told me off severely and have each given him a custard cream. Fortunately we have his 'gotcha' day coming up in early August, so we can spoil him then instead. Smile

jgm · 01/06/2015 16:18

Haha yes I have! Well, I've read to halfway through the first one and I'm choosing to believe it gets better from there on in ;-) I do like to be prepared! So glad to hear you have recall sorted, that was/is my major concern with getting a sighthound. I have mumsnet to thank for us getting a whippet pup, I was all set for something small and fluffy before I came on here!

BirdyArms · 01/06/2015 20:37

I've also got mine as a result of browsing mumsnet - you pointy hound owners are a very persuasive bunch!

I am going to look into skinners salmon & rice. The vet has told me that mine is underweight, although I'm not sure how much she knows about lurchers. But you can see most of his ribs rather than just a couple. Posting an aerial shot of him so that you can see what you think, though maybe hard to tell from a photo.

We are having a bit of a wobble behaviour-wise because we went away for half term and left pup at home with my mother in law. Not ideal, we had booked the holiday before we got him, but I think we are going to pay the price this week. Last night he was moaning from 4am, he had been sleeping through to 6 or 7 for the last few weeks, and I'm worried that is showing signs of separation anxiety. I left him at home when I took dss to swimming and he had really scratched at the kitchen door when I got back, something he's never done before. Going to try to leave him for short rather than longer periods this week and hope he recovers.

Moosemama - yours look gorgeous!

CMOTDibbler · 01/06/2015 20:49

He is a bit on the slim side. How about just adding some sardines to his food a few times a week and upping his kibble quantity, rather than changing? Does he have lunch?

He is gorgeous, and lovely saluki ears Smile

BirdyArms · 01/06/2015 21:05

Thanks CMOT, great to have another opinion. I will try upping the quantities a bit more, he's already on more than the packet says but he's greedy so he'd eat more. He's on 3 meals a day. I give him sardines frozen in a kong, probably 1-2 tins a week but will be a bit more generous with some other bits.

moosemama · 01/06/2015 21:08

Thank you Birdy your lad is gorgeous too, I love his fluffy ears. Smile

I would say he's slightly on the slim side, but not overly. I'd second CMOT's suggestion to add in some sardines to his diet. You could use some in kongs and also maybe get a treat dispensing ball, kong wobbler or buster cube to keep him busy when you have to go out, freezing the kongs helps slow down how quickly they can empty them too, if you have to go out for longer. Pip's fine when he's eating - he only starts yelling when he finishes. Hmm

You're absolutely right about reducing the time he's left and gradually building it back up within his comfort zone/tolerance level too. He probably just needs reassurance that you will definitely be coming back, so as many short in and outs of the room/house, with a minimum of fuss, as possible should help.

moosemama · 01/06/2015 21:09

Cross posted. You're way ahead of me! Grin

BirdyArms · 01/06/2015 21:21

Thanks moosemama! I'm not feeling way ahead of anyone right now, feels like it's all going a bit wrong! Going to get him some more of the food toys you suggest, he is very food motivated. Although I could tell that he was seriously upset today because he hadn't touched the kong that I left him with, makes me feel really sad for him, he loves them so he must be feeling awful Sad

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