Me & Mrs Wilkojohnson have recently adopted...............

...........a dog from the local animal rescue centre.

He's a staffy about 12-18 months old fully house trained, loves walking, good with people he meets, but we could do with a little help on:

!. He's on dried food at present as this was the food he was on at the kennels - any change in diet brings disasterous results eminating from his rear ahem quarters - how do we change diet without him having more runs than the Australian cricket team?

2. We're not sure how long it will take before we can let him off lead safely when walking - we use a flexi-lead at present to control him.

3. We think he needs to 'bulk up' a bit - what is the best way to do this?

4. He still feels the need to take things that are not his like slippers - doesn't chew them but wants to play!

Oh btw we walk on the Trans Pennine Trail anywhere between Hemmingfied and Bolton on Dearne so if you see us I'm the one wearing the BFC Beanie hat and Scooter is on the harness - love to say hello & chat.

TIA and COYR

 

Well done for giving a rescue dog a home

We have found that the dried foods are best for our dogs, although they do get food scraps from us as well

My oldest dog is 8 years old and we still cant let him off the lead, his recall is rubbish, he goes deaf as soon as we let him off the lead, but we have a leather harness for him and he does not run off while wearing that strangely enough. He has a lunge lead from the Stables !!

I am sure he will bulk up soon enough mate, just be careful not to overfeed him.

 

http://www.naturesmenu.co.uk/product-beef-complete-blocks.aspx

have a look at this firm,i used to use these before I got a butcher supplying me,you cant beat proper meat for dogs if you can afford it.Just be care full not to feed it meat and complete dog food,he'd be overweight in no time.

 

I use dried, best for picking up doo dar when on walkies. He seems happy with it and its cheap. Get it from B&M Its called "Rufus" and costs £7.99 for a large sack.

 

Well done pal, hope ypu get him to a level were you can enjoy him.
Food wise There are many different theories from feeding raw through to complete. We have a 12month old golden retriever and I feed her Wainwrights (pets at home own brand) large breed puppy complete. There's no additives or fillers in it, all natural stuff in it, you can feel the oils in it when you handle it. Now with this kind of food you don't have to give the dog lots of it because there is no rubbish in it. She was the smallest in the litter when we got her and now she is a very solid 33kgs with a beautifull coat. It's not cheap but it's good, some of the cheaper ones like bakers etc can cause all sorts of problems, behavioural and physical because of the rubbish that's in it. Whatever you decide to feed himthe golden rule is to do it gradually, introduce the new food in little bits to his existing food ie 10% new to 90% existing, do this for a while and if there's no reaction then go 20/80 etc. Good luck pal, when properly trained Staffies are lovely dogs.

 

Just to add we give her a raw carrot every day, she loves em, helps clean her teeth and cheaper than dental sticks, the only treats she gets are dog biscuits, nothing else. She can **** for England but it is always solid non of that sloppy stuff, easier to clean up after her.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zViWKjQUD9M

 

Well done fella,I own a staffy mate and same as t'owd man I feed him wainwrights(pets at home),all good stuff in it and not filled out with ***** that will upset his stomach.

 

Avoid Pedigree chum, it's far too rich.
I have always fed our two border collies on Wagg, from puppies to now 12 years old.
I have in the last year added a couple of spoonfuls of tinned Chappie to the Wagg (to which I always add warm water to create a bit of gravy in the mix) and they have never had poorly tums.
Chappie was recommended as being suitable as it is fairly gentle on tums etc.
Good luck.