Big Paws Only Dog Forums

A lot of the local large breed clubs usually do drafting so maybe try to contact them as they could help you get started.  I know at the fundays for the New England Newf Club they have had people there that sell carts and harnesses and who will help you with the fitting....the ones at the last one were actually berner owners/breeders. And I must say your puppy is adorable...I love berners and plan to get one after I graduate hopefully.

Thanks, he is pretty adorable in that picture.  He's still adorable, but he sure doesn't look like that anymore, lol! I swear, one day we went to bed with him all cute, cuddly and small enough to walk under the coffee table....and woke up to a 95lb, 9 month old pup who stands next to the coffee table and it only comes up to his chest!! He towers over it! And still growing.....

My hubby was thinking of making one, and though he is pretty handy I have my doubts about his abilities with this one!

Where can we go (online or in real life) to purchase a drafting cart for Tucker?  Doesn't have to be super fancy, just the regular cart to teach him to pull behind him. We can tell he is happiest when "working", such as playing with his puzzle toys, or when on a walk wearing his backpack...(we keep it empty so far).

thanks and merry christmas!!

Ron & Hermione (harry potter names LOL)

LOVE IT!
Or Harry and Ginny, also HP related. Though I guess you should be going Ron and Ginny, since they are brother and sister.

I am wondering what the normal texture of a dog's footpads should be?

Are they supposed to be really dry, rough feeling? Not quite cracked, but feeling like they COULD crack?
I'm concerned with Tucker's footpads, they seem really, really dry to me. My hubby noticed as well, and asked me if we shouldn't be putting moisturizer or some sort of cream on them??  Any ideas?  I told him no, that the texture was normal, but really- I have no idea, so thought I'd ask you guys!

Its not like they're bothering Tucker, and he was just at the groomers on Friday, and they of course trimmed up his feet, so if it was anything out of the ordinary, I'm sure they would have mentioned it.

Thanks in advance, and also Merry Christmas!!

I haven't had a chance to read it, but I was very excited to see the beautiful Newfoundland dog on this months cover of Dog Fancy!!  I have a BMD, but Newfs are my other favorite breed.

Hopefully my magazine comes soon, I just got a subscription for my birthday!

It snowed here in Calgary about 25 cm total over the past few days.  The temperature is sitting about -37 degrees Celcius (I don't know what that is in Farenheit, sorry) with the windchill...an d Tucker wants to be outside!

He goes out to pee, then comes back in, but sometimes he's hanging out in our backyard because the dog next door is out in his backyard (they can't see each other, only hear) and I'm worried that Tucker is outside too long.

We are assuming he'd come back inside when he's getting too cold...but, he's only 9 months old. Would he make that decision?  I was watching him this morning, and he was circling around looking for a spot to pee, and as he paused, he'd lift his feet off the ground, one at a time, alternating..s o that no paw was in the snow the whole time.

That behavior makes me wonder if its already too cold for him- I don't want his paws to be hurting from the cold, or his joints either. The longest time he's been out since the dump of snow and drop in temperature (except for walks) is 5, 10 minutes max.

I think we are going to have to get him booties for the walks, but for going out to pee- do you guys think 10 minutes outside is ok with no protection on his feet?

Thanks in advance!

How about a pot of boiling hot water! Or, better yet... just let Tucker pee on it. (can you tell it's my day off today!)

LOL, boiling hot water doesn't work...its as cold as -30 or -40 Celcius here sometimes and the boiling hot water just freezes. And as for the peeing....uh, no thanks.

Bones and all eh? I'm sure Tucker is going to LOVE it, how mom is going to deal with it, LOL, I guess we have to try it sometime!