Cavalier King Charles in flat?

UKTigerlily

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I think it is possible to worry too much about what e feed our dgs - they regularly lived on tea and bread with the odd table scrap till 20 years ago, and many lived to good old ages, although I agree its not the best diet for a dog - my gran had a little dog that made it to 18 on cooked liver, chocolate biscuits, bread and butter, leftovers and those stinky chubb things!!

Also, I am not sure that meat content is all that important, dogs are not obligate carnivores, (unlike cats) and most can handle a broad diet which includes cereals and veggies! loads of people buy a high meat (expensive) biscuit then top up with foods such as veg, pasta, rice and weetabix to add roughage and variety- they may as well have bought a cheaper food with those ingredients already in it as far as I can see.

I would advise finding something that your dog likes and looks well on and has decent poos etc on!

I feed Wagg working dog which is cheap as chips, designed for working dogs such as working collies and gun dogs and has cereal as the first ingredient - but my last old lady made it to about 16 on it, my current dog is fit and very shiny, as is my mums who also eats it. (the vet was amazed at how fit my mums dog is, said she was in much better condition than most he sees)

Greyhounds race on foods like skinners, burgess and wafcol which are cheap and contain quite a lot of cereal - I am not at all convinced that expensive is necessarily best when it comes to dog food, and as for IAMS etc, I would not buy their food cos of their animal testing record.

I've ruled out Bakers, Pedigree, Iams & Eukanuba however it's spelt. I know someone who worked for them until he realised what went on & saw it, he soon left. I personally like the idea of JWB, they said give her 170g dry & 1 pouch for her kong! I looked at Orijen but can't tell if it's any good & think having a local supplier is a good idea just in case!

You're right, we probs can get too hung up, my cat was fed muck before we knew better (Childhood pet) & died in his sleep @ 15 lol they did say JWB is a good one. I think maybe that for a start as I got free samples!

Or maybe Wainwright's the [EMAIL="P@H"]P@H[/EMAIL] one? lol decisions decisions, I can never decide

foreign_correspondent

just seen this - http://www.pet-food-choice.co.uk/pet_food_brands_compared.htm

Dont know how reliable it is, but it does compare some of the foods. However, I cant see a great deal of difference between the cheaper and more expensive brands. For example -

Wagg working dog (£10.49 for 17kg) contains: Wheat, Meat Meal, Wheatfeed, Oils & Fats, Linseed, Maize, Beet Pulp, Peas, Lucerne, Vitamins and Minerals. Added Citrus, Yeast and Yucca. With Antioxidant: BHT.
and
Wagg sensitive (gluten free) (12kg for £12.92) contains:
Maize, Rice (min 4%), Porridge Oats, Chicken Meat Meal (min 4%), Meat Meal, Oils & Fats, Beet Pulp, Linseed, Vitamins & Minerals. Added Citrus, Yeast & Yucca. With Antioxidant: EC additive.

however, I would avoid anything like Bakers, as you say, as its full of colours which the dogs really dont need!

This gives the food costs over a year too which is worth a look
http://www.pet-food-choice.co.uk/pet_feeding_costs.htm

A lot of people rate skinners as well, which is reasonably priced. Its impossible to know what will suit her really till you get her - I just googled and found this discussion which proves what suite one may not suit another! http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=121596#

PS I would not buy a big bag of anything till you know if it suits her!

foreign_correspondent

are you excited? I hardly slept the night before I collected Badger, I was sooo excited:cheesy: (and worried_pale_ )!!

UKTigerlily

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

are you excited? I hardly slept the night before I collected Badger, I was sooo excited:cheesy: (and worried_pale_ )!!

lol i'm trying to work out what to buy tomorrow, I want all the great stuff but can't till 16th! lmao and I need to tidy up! Just evicted the rats into the top half of their cage & am 'resting' lmao

Very excited but I dunno if it's sunk in, maybe part of me isn't letting it cause i'm so nervous! And I am sooo stupid cause I was wishing I had somewhere secure where she could be off lead & then thought the back of the flats! Up one side is the 3 story high flats so all wall, the other side is the park & no dogs ever get in so she can't get out tho i'm gonna have a good look in the morning. It's all railings that look about 6ft high & too narrow for her to get her head in!

Then there's a fence at the bottom with a cat flap sized hold in which of course i'd block off while out. I reckon if I stick a sign on the gate just warning anyone who might come thru (Tho only workmen ever do) it'll be perfect & there's tons of room to run it goes the whole length of the flats. I'll stand by the gate anyway & when she comes close i'll throw something for her!

Gonna have a good look tomorrow for any escape areas but no dogs ever come thru & even when they're barking at the railings & see cats they don't. I really hope it's as secure as I think it'd be great for her to get a run everyday & it's away from cars/people/kids lol.

What do I do if a kid comes up wanting to stroke her! I don't know how she is with kids cause they don't know her history & of course no kids work there. I imagine she's ok but don't want to take risks. Should I just avoid any kids or walk her by them to see what she does? I just have images of brats running up & jumping on her!

I'm never ever gonna be ready lol

UKTigerlily

ohh what is it that I need for cleaning the floor if she has any accidents? I remember someone saying it has to take the smell away but I can't remember what it is!

Mely

Hi Tigerlilly.....i would be cautious around kids with her untill you know her temperament better. Especially when children may run up to her and pat her without asking first! My youngest daughter used to do this when little, and would wrap her arms around a dogs neck to cuddle it given the chance! This was because she had been brought up with dogs all her life(her closest friend was our German shepherd dog) and she just felt so comfortable around them. Believe me i soon got her out of that habit!!!!
Good luck with your new dog tomorrow. I`ll be thinking of you! xxxx

foreign_correspondent

just biological clothes washing powder or liquid and warm rwater - check if the stuff you already have is biological, if it is that's fine.

foreign_correspondent

I was careful with badger around kids at first, and saw how she reacted when they were around her (she was fine, waggy and interested, but not tooo interested!) then I let my niece stroke her, gently and just on her shoulder, till I was sure she was fine with it. However, I waited to introduce them, until I was sure of what, if anything was likely to scare the dog or trigger any growling etc.

If you are unsure, just let any kids who want to pet her know that she is a new dog, and that you dont want her to get scared by too many people at first! When you know what she is lke you can take it from there.

All the local kids know my dog now, and when I go out I often hear a random passing kid/teenager say 'hello badger!' - she also gets lots of fuss when on our street, and tries to beg sweets off kids outside the shop when we pass!

UKTigerlily

Thanks, i'm abit wary of kids cause like you both say they like to hug & leap on dogs & I have no idea how she is with kids. I know I wouldn't want one hugging me! lol I dunno what to buy tomorrow but omg on 16th i'm so gonna go mental buying her stuff lol I didn't think the cat had much & was thinking so if the cat doesn't then why does the dog need tons but I looked & yup the cat has TONS including 3 beds she rarely uses!

Mely

FC,.....i remember as a child a beautiful sheltie used to live by us called 'Flame'. We used to call his owner Flames dad .......:rotfl: