Kat_Bath
Well-Known Member
Buddy is doing really well and we have even been practicing posing for photos...
I know I'm totally biased, but are they not a handsome pair?!
We have a great trainer who is helping both us and Buddy gain confidence and who is mega encouraging. We're hoping, at some point, to try maintrailing - I always said I think he is my sniffer dog. He's not great around other dogs on leads, but he is learning so quickly and I am so proud of him. I wish we could explain to every dog owner we meet why on earth we're a) walking circles around them and/or b) following them, and tell everyone just how far he's come. He's still presents as a bit anxious and frustrated but he's learning.
Harvey is an old hat at life now, in comparison, and appears to enjoy showing off his excellent behaviour, so that's good!
Anyway, having read back through my other recent thread, I don't think it quite helps with the current thoughts going round and round my head, about food. So, I'm hoping some input from other owners might help.
Buddy is lean and high energy and although aged 7, he looks and acts much younger. Granted, he has gone through a huge change and he is still buzzing about most things, and he was a working dog, but he is lean. When he came to us (beginning of Dec), he was 30.2kg and he's 28.5 now. I think he does get more exercise now and to start with, we didn't give him too much food. The vets said he could do with another 1/1.5kg, but he's not bad just now. Currently, he gets mid-way the recommended daily amount of soaked salmon and potato kibble (350g - the range is 315-430g), plus a tray of Wainwright's grain free white fish and veg wet food (introduced that to help gain weight but wouldn't say it's made a huge difference). He also gets a lot of kibble on walks.
On the flip side, Harvey (also 7) is lower energy and more chunky (still has a waist but I'd say he is 3.5/5 on the scale, but almost always has been). Due to acid reflux/stomach acid, he's been on 80-90% Purina HA for a year (we had to give him soaked kibble to help him poop, bless him) but on reflection, and as my vet friend pointed out, there's little point feeding that if you don't feed it 100% of the time. His coat was also starting to look dull and I do wonder if it affects energy...? Currently he gets 50% HA (we're thinking it'll get used up and then there might not be anymore) and 50% soaked salmon and potato kibble. He gets the minimum daily recommended and gets occasional kibble on walks but not as much as Buddy.
What would you feed these 2 dogs? But of an open-ended question, but I am intrigued. Currently, we spend approx £100-120 a month on the both of them, so would be good to hear of options similar to that... I feel bad putting a budget on them to be honest, but I have to be realistic.
Unfortunately, raw isn't an option - the trainer suggested it as well but we don't have the fridge/freezer space or safe space to defrost. I also am not sure if I could stomach so much meat preparation, even if we did find a cheap, local source.
This has become long, but if I don't include it all, someone will only ask ? Here's another picture to make up for all the words:
(Yes, they are both wearing their own slobber as headwear ?)
Thanks in advance for replies ?
I know I'm totally biased, but are they not a handsome pair?!
We have a great trainer who is helping both us and Buddy gain confidence and who is mega encouraging. We're hoping, at some point, to try maintrailing - I always said I think he is my sniffer dog. He's not great around other dogs on leads, but he is learning so quickly and I am so proud of him. I wish we could explain to every dog owner we meet why on earth we're a) walking circles around them and/or b) following them, and tell everyone just how far he's come. He's still presents as a bit anxious and frustrated but he's learning.
Harvey is an old hat at life now, in comparison, and appears to enjoy showing off his excellent behaviour, so that's good!
Anyway, having read back through my other recent thread, I don't think it quite helps with the current thoughts going round and round my head, about food. So, I'm hoping some input from other owners might help.
Buddy is lean and high energy and although aged 7, he looks and acts much younger. Granted, he has gone through a huge change and he is still buzzing about most things, and he was a working dog, but he is lean. When he came to us (beginning of Dec), he was 30.2kg and he's 28.5 now. I think he does get more exercise now and to start with, we didn't give him too much food. The vets said he could do with another 1/1.5kg, but he's not bad just now. Currently, he gets mid-way the recommended daily amount of soaked salmon and potato kibble (350g - the range is 315-430g), plus a tray of Wainwright's grain free white fish and veg wet food (introduced that to help gain weight but wouldn't say it's made a huge difference). He also gets a lot of kibble on walks.
On the flip side, Harvey (also 7) is lower energy and more chunky (still has a waist but I'd say he is 3.5/5 on the scale, but almost always has been). Due to acid reflux/stomach acid, he's been on 80-90% Purina HA for a year (we had to give him soaked kibble to help him poop, bless him) but on reflection, and as my vet friend pointed out, there's little point feeding that if you don't feed it 100% of the time. His coat was also starting to look dull and I do wonder if it affects energy...? Currently he gets 50% HA (we're thinking it'll get used up and then there might not be anymore) and 50% soaked salmon and potato kibble. He gets the minimum daily recommended and gets occasional kibble on walks but not as much as Buddy.
What would you feed these 2 dogs? But of an open-ended question, but I am intrigued. Currently, we spend approx £100-120 a month on the both of them, so would be good to hear of options similar to that... I feel bad putting a budget on them to be honest, but I have to be realistic.
Unfortunately, raw isn't an option - the trainer suggested it as well but we don't have the fridge/freezer space or safe space to defrost. I also am not sure if I could stomach so much meat preparation, even if we did find a cheap, local source.
This has become long, but if I don't include it all, someone will only ask ? Here's another picture to make up for all the words:
(Yes, they are both wearing their own slobber as headwear ?)
Thanks in advance for replies ?
