Finally Getting a Dog!

**GuppyAteMyDog** · 10-08-2012, 01:56 PM

that sucks hip diplasia is all too common with shepherds these days , i attribute it to poor genetics and improper diets all those big brand dog chows don't necessarily have all the nutrient requirements for large breed dogs , you have to supplement with stuff like selenium supplements for good growth and development , but vets won't necessarily tell you that because when your dog falls ill it's their pockets that benefit, don't get me wrong there are alot of good vets out there and i am actually studying to become one i got 3 years to go though lol

**Rue** · 10-08-2012, 02:25 PM

Congrats on getting Mr. Pattinson! Give him a day or two to slowly settle in and you should be good to go!

Set whatever ground rules you want in place right off the bat though, he's most likely to adjust to those immediately. For example...if he was free feeding and you want him to eat twice a day...just start feeding him twice a day...that's not the kind of thing you need to ease into (unless he comes with a ton of baggage).

And post pictures!

**C-Dub** · 10-08-2012, 09:03 PM

My shepherd eats organic Raw food, delivered to my home on a weekly basis. The breeder insisted we did this or we could not purchase the dog. It has been unbelieveable, the food is outstanding. Its called BARF- Biologically Appriopriate Raw Food (sp?). It has many many benefits and any K-9 can eat BARF. Look it up, there's a ton of people moving towards it these days, my Vet even says how its like a miracle food. It is however very expensive, as he is about 95 lbs and can eat a horse! LOL

The hip dysplasia is running rampit in the breed make sure you breeder certifies the hips! Most good GSD breeders do these days guarantee the hips.

Oh and PS- Congrats on your new doggy!!!! Pics to come i would hope!!! Let us know how it's going

**ekfishlover2011** · 10-08-2012, 09:45 PM

Im told this dog eats Caesar's wet food and Beneful dry food. Hes not staying on Caesar's, that im sure. Almost a dollar a can and they need 4 cans a day for a 10lb dog!!!?? No way. I will switch him to a diet of dry food Beneful all day free feeding and in the mornings he can have just one can of Caesar's when the cat gets his wet food. I bought teeth cleaning rawhide bones today, because research says malteses are prone to dental problems.

The lady was supposed to call me today, but i have no missed calls from when i was at work... Maybe she forgot? I guess ill just keep my phone ready on me waiting.

**GuppyAteMyDog** · 10-09-2012, 01:48 AM

Originally Posted by C-Dub

My shepherd eats organic Raw food, delivered to my home on a weekly basis. The breeder insisted we did this or we could not purchase the dog. It has been unbelieveable, the food is outstanding. Its called BARF- Biologically Appriopriate Raw Food (sp?). It has many many benefits and any K-9 can eat BARF. Look it up, there's a ton of people moving towards it these days, my Vet even says how its like a miracle food. It is however very expensive, as he is about 95 lbs and can eat a horse! LOL

The hip dysplasia is running rampit in the breed make sure you breeder certifies the hips! Most good GSD breeders do these days guarantee the hips.

Oh and PS- Congrats on your new doggy!!!! Pics to come i would hope!!! Let us know how it's going

Barf lol, do you have to deworm your dog more frequently seeing as it is on raw foods ?

**Cyberra** · 10-09-2012, 02:39 AM

My dog is a mutt from the SPCA; he was an abuse dog. Not from a breeder. So we just have to put up with him.

**ekfishlover2011** · 10-09-2012, 01:42 PM

She never called. My grandma thinks she changed her mind. I said if she changed her mind i would think she would have called to tell me that, and why would she change her mind? Shes moving to a no dog place, she cant change her mind. I think maybe she just forgot to call.

My dad is giving me a cage tomorrow so that when i get dog i can keep him in there during day for a few weeks when im not home so he learns our schedule without having to worry about him wetting carpet waiting for us to let him out. The cage was my dad's puppy Turbo's cage, but he randomly had a huge growth spurt and outgrew it, so my dad doesnt need it anymore. Weekends he'll have no problem, but weekdays he will be alone from 12pm to 5-6pm and that might take him some getting used to. Once he knows the schedule and adjusts his bladder we wont need cage anymore.

This not knowing and not hearing from lady is killing me! I just want a date as to when im getting the dog at least! Instead of waiting everyday trying to leave schedule open for call telling me shes ready for me to take.

**C-Dub** · 10-09-2012, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by GuppyAteMyDog

do you have to deworm your dog more frequently seeing as it is on raw foods ?

Not that I am aware of.

**GuppyAteMyDog** · 10-10-2012, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by C-Dub

Not that I am aware of.

okay maybe you should ask your veterinarian about it, your vet does know that your animal is on this barf diet right?

raw meat has the potential to transfer the highest load of parasitic eggs and cysts when ingested especially those of tapeworms and roundworms even well handled and processed food stuff should be considered carefully before use when raw , just my thoughts , may or maynot be useful to you but i wanted to share them either way lol

**ekfishlover2011** · 10-10-2012, 01:13 AM

I got ahold of the lady today about my dog to ask her if she had an approximate date of when i am getting dog, so i can be ready. She said she wants me to meet him first, so im meeting him Thursday night at her house, getting acquainted with him so that hes not getting taken by a stranger. Then ill learn his personality and everything too.

Then Saturday when i get off work she says i should go to her house again and that is when i will take him home with me. So now i have a day and i time! Yay! No more waiting and guessing. :) She says hes not food aggressive, so i will try to give him and my cat a bonding time after i bring him home by feeding the doggy ice cream that my cat loves to both of them, maybe they can share a spoon and i can spoon it out for them or something. That should help them get acquainted.