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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3

975 replies

BiteyShark · 14/07/2017 10:28

Continuation of the support thread.... anyone is welcome whether they have new or older puppies, just want a chat or are battling with ongoing puppy problems.

I thought I would start this thread off as I am hoping it might be the last one I need support from as BiteyPup is now 9.5 months old and we have survived the early puppy months and his teenage antics seem to be subsiding. Still working on our relationship and recall but it's getting better and can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel (fingers crossed) Wine

OP posts:
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SkeletonSkins · 31/07/2017 10:22

Anything over 3/5 on that website I'm will to to give it a go and then it's down to what suits the dog. At the end of the day, there are loads of dogs fed on absolute rubbish from the supermarket who do fine on it, so my thinking is if I'm putting some thought into it then it's got to be better.

You also have to balance your needs - I cannot afford to buy very expensive dog foods and actually I don't find that they're hugely different to some of the cheaper brands in terms of outcomes for my dogs.

I feed this at the minute - www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-reviews/1377/country-kibble-grain-free-adult

Because:
It's affordable
I'm happy with the ingredients
I can pick it up locally
My dog looks great on it with a lovely shiny coat and will eat it happily

Yeah I could find a 5/5 food, but this works for us so I wouldn't tie yourself in knots about it. I think people over think it to be honest, after all when it comes down to it they are just dogs! Many years ago I had a dog who lived to 17 on pedigree chum!!!

bluetongue · 31/07/2017 10:57

Ticks sound awful. So glad there aren't any where I live

Bluepuppy is all booked into his level one training course, starting in a couple of weeks. We both need it. He kept nicking off and not listening to me at his whippet stump on the weekend. Even though there was a huge pack of Whippeys to play with he decided to run in the opposite direction and try and play with a sheepdog instead Grin

Here's the little woofer tired after his beach run.

Does anyone fancy a puppy survival thread part 3
Original poster
BiteyShark · 31/07/2017 11:05

I like how the website gives you an idea of the daily cost for your dog food if you put the details in. I have just ordered a slightly lower meat/fish content so hoping that agrees with BiteyDogs tummy, it's like having kids in that I need him to eat more greens Grin.

The tick we pulled off him this morning was right between his eyes Sad. We can't avoid them really given we walk through lots of grassy/fern animal tracks.

OP posts:
bluetongue · 31/07/2017 11:08

Whippet run not whippet stump. Stupid IPad.

Original poster
BiteyShark · 31/07/2017 11:22

Skeleton I was a bit Shock that some of the food choices were coming out at several pounds per day whereas the one I eventually chose was a much better 70-80 pence per day in comparison.

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Soubriquet · 31/07/2017 11:22

Fucking knackered

Just took Lexa out for an hour. She's now crashed!

Also spent money again dh is gonna kill me

Got some new food, that piccolo I said I was going to try, some carpet stuff and some pro kaolin.

Also got a free sample of the shops own brand food which is highly rated too so will give that a go

Wolfiefan · 31/07/2017 12:40

We are still on royal canin in the evening. Natures menu raw in the morning. She LOVES the natures menu but it would be several quid a day to feed her just on that. Getting a cheaper option at the weekend.
Skeleton I agree. I don't think you have to feed a five star food but I wouldn't want to drop to one less than 3.5 as a minimum. I don't eat organic and free range finest everything either.

Soubriquet · 31/07/2017 12:52

Lexa doesn't like the natures menu

Loves raw food but not mush Hmm

Picky little shit

CornflakeHomunculus · 31/07/2017 13:55

It's really easy to overthink feeding and get too caught up in reviews and analyses.

The best food is the one that suits you dog the most and that's not necessarily always going to something that scores super high on a site like All About Dog Food or is grain free or whatever.

All About Dog Food is a very useful site but it's worth remembering it's the opinion of one bloke (it even states as much in the site disclaimer) and although he states he's worked as a canine nutritionist there's no mention on the site of his specific qualifications and "canine nutritionist" can mean a lot of different things.

Soubriquet · 31/07/2017 13:59

Oh god yes

What works for one dog doesn't always work for others

Very important to remember that

After having a dog who was rice and chicken intolerant I do steer away from grain as much as I can.

I won a bag of dog food with Lexa's last show and was quite chuffed as it was what I thought was a good food. But the first ingredient was brown rice followed by white rice and then chicken.

I've used it up because it was there but I won't go back to it.

So I'm going to see how she gets on with this piccolo food which is rated 4.9 and is totally grain free.

Pet shop worker did warn me it might be a bit rich so again open mind for me.

If this one is no good, I try again. Simple as that

Wolfiefan · 31/07/2017 14:00

As mine is a giant breed I do need to be careful with nutrition. Shall see if the raw option helps her itchies!

SkeletonSkins · 31/07/2017 15:34

Our pup as got so much easier to have around the house now. He gets one main long walk a day and other than the odd game outside and training session he mostly sleeps! It's great!

iPhoneAddiction · 31/07/2017 16:03

Our pup has a thing about weeing in the living room. Is this common? Any ideas how I can tackle it?
I'm taking her out every 20 minutes.
Even if she has just been, once in the living room she will go. I have put throws on the carpet in hopes to deter her, but now she just wees on them.

Is it possibly a smell somewhere?

Captainladder · 31/07/2017 16:20

Hello all!

iphoneaddiction have you tried that enzyme spray that is supposed to get rid of dog wee smells so they dont wee again there? (We havent used it but then my friend who has grown up dogs said that in her oppinion they just wee wherever and it doesnt stop them ...)

Just popping on to say that we had a dog trainer come round for a one to one session with us and the kids, as I have no idea what we are supposed to be doing and thekids are a bit yappy themselves around the puppy which just winds him up! So she went through some basic training (sit, down, stay, leave, off) and said that it was important to remember that although dogs do need exercise, they also need to be mentally tired out too... and some breeds can have loads and loads of walks but if they are not mentally tired they will just keep being hyper. She puts all her food for her dog in a kong so the dog always has to work for its food, which I thought was quite interesting. It was really helpful for all of us. Does any one else do this?

Captainladder · 31/07/2017 16:21

I was left wondering if I could use her techniques on the kids... the puppy seemed to pick it up quite quickly LOL

iPhoneAddiction · 31/07/2017 16:29

Yes I'm using the spray every time. Even covered half the carpet before bed last night but it hasn't helped.

iPhoneAddiction · 31/07/2017 16:30

That's a great idea about the kong. I've seen them in the pet shops with treats or the spray things you can squirt into them.

Wolfiefan · 31/07/2017 16:55

I feel quite emotional. I may have told the vet I love her!
So the vet nurse managed three nails and stressed dog in two visits. Vet managed a tiny bit off every single nail without stressing dog or owner (last one takes some doing!) I have been doing the HW she gave me of touching nails and saying nail and rewarding. Huge step forward. Next appointment booked. Grin

Captainladder · 31/07/2017 17:03

Wolifiefan thats great :) The vet sounds amazing

Wolfiefan · 31/07/2017 17:07

She really really is. The HW obviously worked too. She is the perfect combination of calm and kind. Business like and positive. Lots of rewards and happy pup. So relieved.

GooodMythicalMorning · 31/07/2017 19:03

That's brill. Well done

Wolfiefan · 31/07/2017 19:07

Vets and minor injuries in one day? I know how to live. Not long till September right? Gin

Original poster
BiteyShark · 31/07/2017 19:21

Skeleton it's nice isn't it when they settle down.

Wolfie so glad the vets has been a success.

Captain I used to feed him from a kong wobbler when he was little.

I have just experienced the downside of owning a dog. Saturday he smelt bad so had to be washed. Sunday he was filthy after a walk so had to be washed. Today I get home and he had clearly been rolling about in shit something smelly at day care and had to be washed. Why can't he just stay relatively clean for one day?

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Soubriquet · 31/07/2017 19:56

Poor Lexa is feeling very sorry for herself

She's teething really badly tonight and she's really down in herself

Whilst it's nice to have some peace and quiet for a change...I actually miss my loony toon

GooodMythicalMorning · 31/07/2017 21:24

Indy has been really good today. Hardly any biting and very cuddley. We did take him on a walk with his pug friend and they were both well behaved