Almost a newbie again, back with a new dog *pics*!!

[Bossdog]

Well after losing my beloved GSD Boss at the age of 11 last March, we finally decided that we were ready for another dog.... and something completely different!!

So yesterday we picked up the loveliest little CKCS boy and I am already in love!! I am going to make a confession and I know I will be in trouble for this but he was acquired via an ad on guntree BUT this is because all the puppy money I had put aside went on a £1300 car repair bill and having a 3yo child, two cats and a fence which is only 4ft high made rescues treat us like we were the worlds worst potential dog owners (unless we wanted a staff!).... FWIW a token payment was made, definitley did not line anyone's pockets.

So his new name is Captain Barnacles (anyone who watches cbeebies will understand), this is his third home, the owner said he was three but his Dog Lovers of Great Britain "pedigree" *insert rollseyes smiley here!* reckoned he is only two, who knows. He is extremely overweight at 12.8kg so he has at least 4kg to lose but so do I so we can do it together. He came with a bag of Bakers and orange fluorescent poo, haven't even bothered trying to wean him, just straight onto fish4dogs although he is a very picky eater and has yet to eat a full meal. He is very gobby with other dogs on walks so needs some work on that, any tips? Otherwise he is a lovely happy boy and wonderful with my sons, off to the vet to get his heart and eyes checked and vaccs started, has already learnt that he is not allowed up the stairs or to bark at passers by, knows where his bed is and only barked for an hour last night when I put him in the kitchen for the night, very very pleased with him!!

Little fatty!!!

excuse my son in the tiny coat, he left his in the house and had to wear his brothers one for an hour!!

It's strange having another dog in the house and he will never be able to replace Boss but he has already made himself a member of the family and hopefully this will be his third and final home

 

[CorvusCorax]

Oooh noooes! You've defected from the GSD Mafia to the Spangle Army! ARRGGHHH!!!

It's OK, I forgive you....is he food or toy orientated? The first thing I would teach him is the 'watch' command, do this via whatever floats his boat, a ball, chicken, whatever, he only gets whatever it is he wants when he is looking at you and holding your gaze, it is a good way to get his attention off other dogs - once my own pup has a ball in his mouth he does not give a hoot about anything else.
Especially if you are trying to keep weight off him I would try hand feeding him, where you feed him from your pocket rather than a bowl, during two long sessions or throughout the day, in the house or the garden or out on a walk - put his daily allowance of food in the pockets of an old bodywarmer/camera jacket/fishing jacket and whenever he recalls or pays you attention, feed him from your hand from your pocket, rather than a bowl, it will really help with focus, recall and the bonding process. Don't let him mug you for food, make him sit and wait and pay attention and take it nicely.

 

[Bossdog]

Not really cos I has loads of Boss' photos round the house and no spangle pics, can I keep a foot in both camps.... plus CKCS aren't proper spangles, pretty sure I remember CAYLA being fond of a balck and tan not so long ago?!! Loving the Floofy puppy BTW, he's a little cracker... we did try to rehome a GSD but they weren't having of it and it wasn't really a sensible option with a small child, have to be all grown up and non sentimental about it.

Will try the food/pocket thing but he really is a picky eater, although he seemed really interested in the cheese I was cutting earlier but that's not going to help his weight loss..... might try cooked chicken as part of his rations and see how we get on. If only you could buy mini cats that could be kept in your pocket for such training purposes *off to breed some teacup cats to be sold as squeaky training aids*

 

[Luci07]

Oy ! Nothing wrong with us staffie owners - hope you were joking!

 

[Bossdog]

Oy ! Nothing wrong with us staffie owners - hope you were joking!

OMG, so sorry if that came across wrong, I love staffies!!! I was just so shocked at the numbers in rescue and I would have loved one but my grandmother will be helping out a couple of times a week and I would be worrying all the time that it was too strong for her.... I guess we had a definite 'type' in mind which made it difficult and frustrating to find the right dog, so what I meant was that if we had wanted to rehome a staff it would have been super easy and we could have taken our pick from literally hundreds of dogs. I have much admiration for the people who work so hard to get all these dogs homes when there is so many of them, it broke my heart so see all those big soppy grins staring out from row upon row of cages

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

Both my parents have cavys, one Ruby and a Tri, they are both large in height but perfect weight, but both are fussy eaters and can go 1-2 days without eating, and they both love there walks.

Hope u enjoy him he looks lovely!!!

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

wel he is a whopper of a boy! glad you are happy with him..... looking forward to the end of feb/march pics of a slimline cav.

 

[lexiedhb]

Little chunker!!

I often see an elderly man, who walks with a stick and his young staff out and about, they are not all demon pullers (like mine)!

 

[CAYLA]

I do indeedy have a little and very SVELT cavalier you will get there with him and when you do he will look even cuter than he is now such a shame these dogs are madeint little at couch potatoes that won't eat their food because mine is energetic, loves to hunt and flush out hundreds of pheasants if she can and is not piccy in he slightest (she has never been allowed to be) it's eat or starve in my home, not "oh you are not hungry my little darling, then hows about I whip you up a fry up and some sausage" NOT! my cavalier is our best RAW eater and loves her tripe and chicken wings
You cannot beat a nice little cavi, their temperaments are spot on for a family pet, and although would never be te owner of a cocker or springer (have plenty passing through my home though), I can make allowance for a cavi

Panner P doolie (she has a middle intial and a surname) aka pancake

As suggested, I think you should do some weekly/monthly "getting trim updates" of captain barnicles and good on you for giving him a forever home.

 

[Bossdog]

Will definitely post weight loss updates, my 6yo wants to do agiity so as soon as we get him slim he will be off to classes! Lovely to see such a fit little dog CAYLA, she is lovely... he still hasn't eaten a full meal but I keep offering a bowl twice a day and if he doesn't eat it in an hour it gets taken away, I'm presuming he won't starve himself?! Just got back from the vets, his heart is clear as a bell (phew!) and he eyes look ok too, apart from a little fat deposit in the right eye. His big problem is his teeth which may account for the reluctance to eat hard food but he is booked in for a dental and castration next month so will soften the kibble with a little gravy and see if he takes that tonight. So happy with my little boy!

 

[Spudlet]

What a sweetie, he's just huh-YOOGE though isn't he! Still, I'm sure the weight will come off soon once he starts getting a sensible amount of food and walks now you've got him - that's all Henry needed, he was about the same size, proportionally.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

He is a whopper! i am sure he will quickly look and feel so much better when it starts to come off

As for his food personally I wouldn't give him as long as an hour to eat it - more like 15/20 mins - as for his teeth I would start to introduce him to some bones as it will really help keep his teeth in good condition and reduces doggy breath. My cocker has always had bones and will be 14 this year and has NEVER had any kind of dental treatment - the vets are always surprised at how good his teeth are - except the one who knows and approves of ne feeding raw/bones

I'm sure he will be giving Pancake a run for her money soon

 

[Luci07]

OMG, so sorry if that came across wrong, I love staffies!!! I was just so shocked at the numbers in rescue and I would have loved one but my grandmother will be helping out a couple of times a week and I would be worrying all the time that it was too strong for her.... I guess we had a definite 'type' in mind which made it difficult and frustrating to find the right dog, so what I meant was that if we had wanted to rehome a staff it would have been super easy and we could have taken our pick from literally hundreds of dogs. I have much admiration for the people who work so hard to get all these dogs homes when there is so many of them, it broke my heart so see all those big soppy grins staring out from row upon row of cages

Your forgiven!!

Try dental chews as well, I balance the "sure it's got something hyper in it" with the lack of bad doggy breath..

 

[MurphysMinder]

Aw cute if porky, look forward to the slimline posts. I do forgive you for defecting from shepherds, I actually agree that with young children it is probably best to have a pup to grow up with them, which would then be their best mate. Hope your little boy has loads of fun doing agility with Captain Barnacles.