tbourner Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Those damn woods again!!! Just not fair is it! My b/f sister has a a malamute who's about 2yrs old and he went on the wonder one day to visit our next door neighbours dog, she now has a 5 month old malamute crossed with a lab !! 6' fencing and secure gates all round are a must with a Mal! He's already trying to tunnel out when we leave him alone for 5 mins!!! Chris, your living rug is looking great, bet he's a handful as well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 He's lovely, no trouble at all, but that may change I think it sounds like he's getting a LOT of meat and not much else. Have you tried 1/3 meat and 2/3 dried puppy food? I doubt the scratching is food related, are you sure he's not too hot? Virtually none of our dogs will stay in a room with central heating on for very long, given a choice. How old is it now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Not heard of itching like that being related to central heating unless it spends most of it's time, day and night, outside? I'd go for the food, not exactly a balanced diet, maybe not enough of certain vitamins? Have you mentioned it to the breeder, maybe they could give some advice? Edit: done a quick google: 'Another reason for intense dog scratching could be food allergies! Your dog may be sensitive to various components of its diet which can easily result in skin disease. For instance your dog could be hypersensitive to beef, dairy products, wheat, eggs, and chicken. Some dogs experiencing food sensitivity are also sensitive to ear infections, a common ailment of skin allergies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Personally I would try him on a complete food - what made you opt for making it yourself? It's SO much easier. I really wasn't convinced but the proof is in the pudding as they say - Stig thrives on it, he loves it and I know he's getting everything he needs and he's fit and healthy. Check me out, you'd think I was on commision or something! Nip that dominance in the bud, personally given the behaviour you've described I wouldn't be playing with/exciting him at all in the house. Establish that he needs to be quiet at home and drain energy on walks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted January 23, 2009 Author Share Posted January 23, 2009 He was fed the same as we're feeding him since about 4 weeks, so I doubt it's anything like chicken!! We've taken the peanut butter out of his kong now as we started giving him that at about the same time as the itching started. He could be hot, but we tend to keep the house cool for him as much as we can. He does like to sit outside a lot though! He's almost 13 weeks old now. There is NO WAY we'd ever go onto a complete pet food now, I've seen and read far too much to ever trust a scientist to feed my dog, especially where so much money is concerned. Just read 'Give Your Dog a Bone' and you'll see some of the points, you have to really see a dog eating a bone to realise just how much they get out of it as well - tinned/dry dog food is pants IMO. //edit: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tbourner10/pics/mals/Loki/Week4/Loki17.jpg Gave him a bone when we were around my mum's house, she now understands why we wanted to feed BARF, she said she wouldn't be able to give him a tin of dog 'food' having seen how much he enjoyed chomping through a bone, and all the exercise he was getting with it!! //edit again: Nip that dominance in the bud, personally given the behaviour you've described I wouldn't be playing with/exciting him at all in the house. Establish that he needs to be quiet at home and drain energy on walks. Trouble is he's got so much energy we'd be outside all the time with him, especially now we're leaving him during the day, he wants our attention constantly when we're at home!! One thing we are doing is some training with treats, that always calms him down. He's getting very good at down, sit and stand now, he's even doing wait for up to about 10 seconds!! Clever boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Haven't updated the blog for ages, but he's 14 weeks old on Monday, and last night he weighed in at 37lbs (17kg)!! He's a big boy!!!! His ears are up now so he looks like a proper dog too, I'll try and do some pics off the camera tonight if I can. Training is going well, and puppy classes start next Sunday - although he'll be massive compared to most of the other pups, he's submissive with other dogs so he could do with the socialisation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Yeah that is cool draining mental energy will help too. I walk Stig a lot even now, of course with you the trade off it enough exercise to tire him out but not so much you affect his growing bones. I remember all that Stig had terrible growing pains bless him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Our vet holds 'puppy parties' Great laugh, held on Saturday afternoons when they are closed and loads of other owners and their pups purely to socialise them. Alfie was a bit quite in the beginning but then ended up running around and play fighting with them all, really good experience and something you'd enjoy. Worth asking if they do them in your area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 There's a place in Fareham (I think) that does a 'puppy romp', they let them all out in a 3 acre enclosed field, with trained adult dogs and trainers on hand if it goes pear shaped. £5 per hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 There's a place in Fareham (I think) that does a 'puppy romp', they let them all out in a 3 acre enclosed field, with trained adult dogs and trainers on hand if it goes pear shaped. £5 per hour. That sounds great, to be fair the pups don't really get out of hand and the idea is to let them do whatever, yes you get the odd screech when one goes too far but it's all part of the learning process Take him, you'll love it (take a video/camera too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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