Big Paws Only Dog Forums

To keep dogs out of the trash I don't put anything in that might be tempting  All trash with enticing smells go in a bag on top of the fridge which then goes out when the trash can gets emptied.  I have 7 loose dogs in the house and they never touch the trash can which is easily accessible and doesn't even have a lid on it.  They can't reach the top of the fridge so everything is safe- including the dogs.

To put weight on I try one of 2 things  First I have had great success with feeding half raw- same amount of kibble but add 2 pounds of raw meat each day  If you are not brave enough to do raw I also use a 'doggy stew'  This is a chicken or something boiled to make a rich broth which I add veges, rice and pasta too.  It is high in fat and carbohydrates thus lots of calories and I mix with the kibble to encourage them to eat more.  Then there is always the 'cookie' diet- just give them a LOT of dog biscuits in addition to their meals.  I do use satin balls as well but decrease the oil in the recipe as my dogs get diarrhea from them.

I thought the CPR series was great!  Wonderful pics!

He should be neutered NOW and you also should immediately contact a trainer- preferably one with a background in animal behavior.  This is a problem that can worked with but you need to get with someone with experience in aggression and fear aggression.  This is probably due to him missing critical socialization as a puppy and young dog.  Mastiffs are a guard dog and all that time alone in the yard he is doing what he thinks is right.

He does actually look all Pyr and actually pretty nice at least from that pic.  The shorter coat is known as the 'working' coat- several of my Pyrs have it- wonderfully easy to care for.

Actually 1/2 brother to 1/2 sister is considered line breeding IF there is an outcross in there.  If both parents also share identical lines then it would be inbreeding.  It all depends on the genetics of the other '1/2'.  The article referenced by Oleysa does discuss line breeding rather thoroughly and it is still widely used and still considered a valuable tool in preserving the good traits in the breeding program.  There is a thin line though between inbreeding and line breeding.  Outcrosses can be a crap shoot- you have no idea what you will be bringing in.  Most breeders who do an outcross will only do so if the outcross is linebred as well. Selective breeding is how you eliminate genetic problems as well- hence the reason for line breeding. There is an excellant software available in which you can calculate the co-efficient variance in your breeding program which will tell you just how inbred your dogs are. 

You have to be careful in following the growth charts - they are a guide only  The ideal weight for your dog is determined by his condition and the amount of food is adjusted to maintain a healthy condition  You do want to be able to easily feel ribs but spine and hip bones should not be prominent.  One thing in determining food is also the quality of food - a brand with a lot of fillers in it the dog will eat more to get adequate nutrition.  Often switching to a food with little or no grain in it will result in the dog consuming drastically less. 

I free feed all my dogs and find that no one gulps their food nor is anyone overweight.  However it is more the accepted practice to feed at specific times only.