Spoiling our Dogs and Puppies

[ahk]

Great thread.

We have 3 pups (Zoey (Pup mix,13), Baxter Bailey (Pekingnese mix (13), and Henry (Terrier/Poodle mix, 2). My older dogs don't really like to chew on anything, they aren't into toys much either. Zoey has a lot of issues with food, she likes to eat -- so instead of giving her lots of "cookies" she gets raw veggies (her favourite are sweet potatoes, carrots, brocolli, and green beans).

We feed our pups [COLOR="rgb(154, 205, 50)"]http://nutrisca.dogswell.com[/COLOR]/, its a grain free, potato free, corn free diet. They love the lamb and/or salmon the best. When I fed them other brands, they tended to fart a lot or poop a lot or gain lots of extra weight. Also skin problems was a huge thing for BB. So far this food has been the best--

As far as treats -- raw veggies, treats that I make for them (veggies, chicken, fish, almond butter) stuff like that. Sometimes they'll get a these [COLOR="rgb(154, 205, 50)"]cranberry [/COLOR]treats or salmon.

As far as extra nutrients they get -- [COLOR="rgb(154, 205, 50)"]Cranimals[/COLOR] and probiotics.

Our cat-- she's the same way-- but minus the treats. She eats B.G.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by ahk

As far as extra nutrients they get -- [COLOR="rgb(154, 205, 50)"]Cranimals[/COLOR] and probiotics.

Excellent! I was looking for something along the anti-oxidant line for my dog. I ordered the Verry Berry from another web site. Thank you!

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Excellent! I was looking for something along the anti-oxidant line for my dog. I ordered the Verry Berry from another web site. Thank you!

Ok, so it came in today and I gave it to my dog. For his weight, it was only a teaspoon, which is good b/c the package delievered cost me $20. He will get 25.2 days out of the bag, so we are looking at $.79 per day for my dog.

Anyway, it was between meals and I thought maybe he would just eat the powder on nothing, so I just tossed it in his bowl to see what would happen. Well he licked it right up!

I am also going to be conscious of giving my dog his own portion of vegetables each day. Typically, I will give him a taste or two of my veggies, but it makes sense to make sure he has his own portion.

I have appreciated the ideas here in this thread.

Thanks all!

[pajama]

Put the deposit down on my next dog. S/he won't even be here until next October, for a December delivery. Which is perfect. It gives me lots of time to research more and start buying lots of stuff on sale to spoil him/her. Oh, s/he will be a Doberman. btw

[Bard]

question for the pup lovers here we have a wippet mix who is a rescue we have had her over a year she was very shy when we got her but now has come out of her shell. We also have a Sheppard mix who Phoebe loves. Phoebe took off on Desd back in late June and was missing for 10 days thank god we got her back we were a wreck. Now she is scared shitles of a fire in the firepace she will shake and cower run out of the room jump the baby gate to go upstairs. AND we have noticed the past few days she will all of a sudden get really scared of something and shake like hell Desd tried to hold her and comfort her show her that she is safe but it dosent help and I have had her do it with me to I can hold her and it passes but I have no clue what is makeing her so scared I dont want my baby to be scared we are wondering if it is like a post stress thing she was missing over the 4th of July and if we are outside and a loud bang goes off she runs to me and cowers and shakes on my feetso I pick her up and she snuggles into me

any thoughts

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Bard

question for the pup lovers here we have a wippet mix who is a rescue we have had her over a year she was very shy when we got her but now has come out of her shell. We also have a Sheppard mix who Phoebe loves. Phoebe took off on Desd back in late June and was missing for 10 days thank god we got her back we were a wreck. Now she is scared shitles of a fire in the firepace she will shake and cower run out of the room jump the baby gate to go upstairs. AND we have noticed the past few days she will all of a sudden get really scared of something and shake like hell Desd tried to hold her and comfort her show her that she is safe but it dosent help and I have had her do it with me to I can hold her and it passes but I have no clue what is makeing her so scared I dont want my baby to be scared we are wondering if it is like a post stress thing she was missing over the 4th of July and if we are outside and a loud bang goes off she runs to me and cowers and shakes on my feetSO I pick her up and she snuggles into me

any thoughts

I agree with the PTSD diagnosis. I would suggest calling your vet and asking her what to do. I suspect that just like with people, it will abate over time. I would just make sure she has an emotional safe place when you build a fire for example (can she be allowed upstairs?). I wouldn't try to make her more comfortable with the fire, I would just let her go where she needs to go to feel safe. Trying to coax her to be ok with the fire could do more damage (you didn't say you were doing this, I was just saying).

Also, just like you said, if she is scares and runs to you, pick her up and hold her close against you so that she feels safe. Hopefully, over time it will lessen, but she may always be afraid of fire and a little skittish with noise. I would still call your vet just to check though.

Good luck.

[Bard]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

I agree with the PTSD diagnosis. I would suggest calling your vet and asking her what to do. I suspect that just like with people, it will abate over time. I would just make sure she has an emotional safe place when you build a fire for example (can she be allowed upstairs?). I wouldn't try to make her more comfortable with the fire, I would just let her go where she needs to go to feel safe. Trying to coax her to be ok with the fire could do more damage (you didn't say you were doing this, I was just saying).

Also, just like you said, if she is scares and runs to you, pick her up and hold her close against you so that she feels safe. Hopefully, over time it will lessen, but she may always be afraid of fire and a little skittish with noise. I would still call your vet just to check though.

Good luck.

thanks yeah she can go upstairs but then she has a accident not all the time but .. She was not scared of the fireplace before we had used the fireplace when we first moved in to the house and she was fine it is just now soo. we are also thinking of getting her a thunder shirt we have one for Grace and it make a lot of diffrence. I will talk to the vet tho and keep holding her close

[Metro]

Originally Posted by Bard

question for the pup lovers here we have a wippet mix who is a rescue we have had her over a year she was very shy when we got her but now has come out of her shell. We also have a Sheppard mix who Phoebe loves. Phoebe took off on Desd back in late June and was missing for 10 days thank god we got her back we were a wreck. Now she is scared shitles of a fire in the firepace she will shake and cower run out of the room jump the baby gate to go upstairs. AND we have noticed the past few days she will all of a sudden get really scared of something and shake like hell Desd tried to hold her and comfort her show her that she is safe but it dosent help and I have had her do it with me to I can hold her and it passes but I have no clue what is makeing her so scared I dont want my baby to be scared we are wondering if it is like a post stress thing she was missing over the 4th of July and if we are outside and a loud bang goes off she runs to me and cowers and shakes on my feetso I pick her up and she snuggles into me

any thoughts

In dog obedience training we learned it was better not to reinforce a dog's fear by holding them physically close (as that is basically rewarding the fearful behavior).

Instead, these classes trained human companions to engage the dog in performing a different activity (like heeling, sitting, laying down, or coming when called) for which the dog is rewarded by verbal praise and/or a small treat.

This technique distracts the dog from the fear inducing situation or thing and also reinforces good activity and behavior via training -- which many dogs enjoy since they have our undivided attention. In addition, they are given an opportunity to please and thus be rewarded. Reward = Happy



This tactic works for me. I keep training or engaging the dog in play (i.e. fetching a ball) until they become focused on the training and forget about the worrisome or tantilizing situation.

It may take several short sessions, building up over a period of time, to desensitize a dog to something which is fear inducing. And it may only help to a degree, but perhaps it's worth a try?

Another thing I picked up in classes is to ignore loud noises -- dog's look for our reactions and if we model calm then they may become less concerned, too.

Good luck.