Big Paws Only Dog Forums

It's been a while since I've had a chance to visit the board. Adicus, the cats and I moved to Austin (from Milwaukee) the first week of January and I've been working non-stop ever sense. I try to take Adi to the parks whenever I have the time to do it, but he is so full of energy and believe-it-or-not, it's cold here in Texas and I don't have the energy to stay outside for the long walks. He makes me feel like a bad mommy.

Here's a picture of him after an attempt at a long walk - one where he seemingly forgot all his manners, which resulted in having to stop every five feet and make him sit or lay down to calm himself.

Mr. Obnoxious, looking quite keen:





He's 9.5 months now, and I'm guessing just around the 100 mark.

Adicus (8mo.s now) has started a new, annoying behavior that drives me up the wall. He whines, incessantly. Sometimes its a whimper to let me know he's bored. Other times, if he is trying to get to the cats. Sometimes, to say, hey, I need to go potty. I try not to acknowledge it (unless it's obvious he needs to go potty)... but most of the time, he does get a response out of me. "Stop it, Adi." or "No" or "SHUT UP". While I know these responses aren't necessarily the best ways to curb the behavior, I can't stop it because he is so annoying!

Anyone have any advice?

I'm hoping that our move after the first of January to a much warmer climate will help - in that, I will be more willing to take him on longer walks each morning again. He'll be a more fulfilled dog then...

I tried posting this on the local Milwaukee Craigslist, but no one replied. I would love to get this to someone who can use it. I'd figure out how to ship it and you can reimburse. Otherwise, I will be donating it to the local animal shelter...

I have an opened bag of Eagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Puppy kibble, 33 lbs. Only one cup was used (began a slow transition from one food to this, but my puppy couldn't even handle less than a cup - it was too rich for him.)

Product Details: 33 lbs.

Ingredients: Lamb Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Yellow Corn, Oatmeal, Chicken Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Corn Germ Meal (Dry Milled), Brewers Dried Yeast, Anchovy & Sardine Meal, Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Air-Dried Peas, Dried Carrots, Inulin, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Beta-Carotene, DL-Methionine, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, d-Pantothenic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Choline Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Rosemary Extract, Inositol, Dehydrated Kelp, Polysaccharide Complexes (sequestered) of Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Copper and Cobalt, Potassium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Enterococcus faecium, B. Subtillus, Bacillus lichenformis, Bacillus coagulins, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger.

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein min. 23.0%, Crude Fat min. 12.0%, Crude Fiber max. 3.5%, Moisture max. 10.0%, Calcium min. 1.5%, Phosphorus min. 1.0%, Vitamin A min. 22,000 IU/kg., Vitamin E min. 300 IU/kg., Omega 6 min. 2.9%, Omega 3 min. 0.58%, Glucosamine min. 800 ppm; 82 mg/cup

Product link: http://www.eaglepack.com/pages/ep_large_giant_puppy.html

Purchase price: $33
Your price: Cost of shipping

I'm new to the midwest, and particularly to Milwaukee, where Adi and I call home. A friend of mine just moved up to Chicago from Miami and I'm planning on coming down to visit her and go to the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend in Wicker Park.

I decided that I will be bringing Adi with me because that way I am not in such a rush to get back to Milwaukee... That is if the weather is cooperative! I saw Wicker Park is dog friendly, so that's what gave me the idea. They even have a dog park. 

SO - Here's where you MidWesties come in... I'm planning an entire day in the city with my pup. Any suggestions as to dog-friendly restaurants? I know there's a few on the board from Chicagoland...

Thanks!

Adi is doing a whirlwind this week. These last few days have been trying - mostly me not knowing what to do.

He's really been getting bad about chewing on himself these last two days. Last night I sprayed his front pays with bitter apple spray and then he moved on to his hind legs. By the time I woke up today, he has a red 1 inch mark on his back leg and has started to stratch at his face with his dew claws. I just took him out to pee and I looked into his eyes and noticed one of them is swollen and red on the edges because of his pawing at them.

I'm assuming this was due to his teething... But no matter what I do - frozen washcloths, bones with peanut butter, et cetera - he goes back to scratching and chewing on himself.

Maybe he has allergies? This seems a bit excessive for teething!

Accompanying all this scratching is a lot of sleepiness and whining...

Also - as we are trying to transition to Eagles Pack from the ProPlan, adi hasn't had as much an appitite and no matter how little EP I mix in, his bowel movements become runny. I was tempted just to switch him overnight since he seems so sensitive so that this transition wouldn't be so drawn out and his BM's affected for an extended period of time - but now with the scratching/pawing issue - I am just going to go back to ProPlan for the time being. I can only handle so much at one time!

I'm attaching pictures - WITH FLASH. They exaggerate the eye problem a little much, but you can see the damage he's doing to himself.

Should I take him in to the vet???

Adicus had his second vet visit today and finished up all his vaccinations. The vet put him on Revolution for heartworm, fleas and ticks. We're supposed to go in monthly for a weigh in and get the proper dosage of revolution. Everything seems  quite normal...

At 18.5 weeks, he weighs in at 37.9lbs. He gained 9 pounds since I got him on July 27. Because of all the talk on the board about whether to feed large breed puppy kibble or not, I asked her how long he should stay on it. She said it  would be a LONG time before she recommends taking him off it because of how much growing he has left to do. However, I was wondering how much growth is TOO fast? If he's steadily increasing but not overboard, I am happy to keep him on the large breed puppy... Any input?

I'm supposed to keep an eye on his paws because of his chewing on them to see if it really becomes an OCD thing or just an effect of the teething.

And... She recommended getting him neutered in the next month to month and a half (from 5 to 6 months). I know that this too is highly debatable - when the right time to neuter is. I am probably going to do this before 6 months so that there are fewer complications as far as anesthesia goes - that worries me! But would any of you flat out object to doing it at this age?

Thanks for being a sounding board!

I've been watching Adi for a few days very closely, as a red spot appeared on one of his front knuckles... I worried he might be licking obsessively, but hadn't seen any signs of it. Then another knuckle started to appear red...

Last night, while reading and after Adi had woke up from a nap in my bed, I started to see how this happened. HE EATS HIS PAWS. Well, chews on them, particularlly his right hand, the dew claw and those pink knuckles.

I gave his mouth a look and noticed all his little teeth coming in. He didn't want me to look, letting me know that they are sensitive. It then occured to me that I must not be giving him enough things to chew on.

What helped you get through the teething stage? Anyone else experience this problem of your pup chewing on his own paw? Advice is greatly appreciated. I think I'm going to head to the pet store and check out our options.

Hey all. I'm Lori and this is my new pup, Adicus. He's a 3 month old Saint Bernard. I'm looking forward to reading everyones posts and contributing to the community.

Adi is a very timid puppy, who I've been trying to introduce to as many people as we can while on our walks to help break him of his fear. Other than that, he's your average Saint - a huge sloberpus, gentle and playful. He loves belly rubs and to be at my feet when he can.

I've always loved large breeds, having grown up with retrievers my whole life. Now that I've moved out on my own, to a whole new part of the country where I know no one, I'm happy to have a solid relationship with my pup.

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