luvmycash

Absolutely what every one said. You thought of Brahm's wellbeing. No sense fighting it with a dog that just isn't built for that kind of work and expect him to enjoy it. We breed hunting labrador retrievers and though it doesn't happen often, we always offer to take our dogs back. In my experience, it's usually the owner that's the problem. We had this happen with our most recent return. Gave us a list of pros a mile long about the dog. All the cons that he gave us were fixable if he had done what he was told. Basically she just wasn't aggressive enough for him. He wasn't even supposed to be hunting with her yet. He only had her 5 weeks. She would hunt for him, bless her heart, but that's not enough time to get the dog used to you as a handler!!

Every food doesn't work for every dog. I too have seen dogs live to their teens rather healthily on some of the worst dog food out there, though it's definitely not the norm. Most have nasty teeth and coats at the very least. My first border collie Molly, got Wellness after she developed food allergies. I couldn't feed it to my lab mix, Montana, though. He had HORRIBLE gas from just the regular chicken formula wellness. I forget what I went to after that for him, but the point is that you can feed the best food and still have issues with some dogs. You just have to find what works for them. When I started feeding raw, my lab mix Lexie looked absolutely stellar! I've never seen such a coat on that dog. However, Cash my border collie, developed stripes in his coat. Shiny, dull, shiny, dull, etc. I tweaked his diet in so many ways to figure it out, but nothing worked. That was part of the reason why I went back to kibble for him. If I'd had some help, I might have figured out what was wrong, but I didn't feel comfortable continuing on. That and I acquired more dogs lol, so at this point, raw feeding 7 large dogs just isn't feasible for me with so much else going on. I might go back to it someday, when my construction zone of a house doesn't demand all of my spare brain cells.

^Great information here! I just wanted to add that you could follow a specific recipe until you feel comfortable and confident in switching up the ingredients. One of my problems was that my last border collie, Cash, would not touch eggshells. Smashed or whole. He wouldn't touch it. So I had to find another calcium source. Every dog is different.

I fed raw for a while before it just got too cost prohibitive and time consuming. I highly recommend Wendy Volhard's Holistic Guide for a Healthy dog. It goes into the why and how the ingredients work together. There is a section on feeding kibble with supplemental raw ingredients. It's a great reference to keep around. Dr. Pitcairn's books are also very good. I suggest you do some research to make sure you are feeding a balanced diet. This really isn't something to half-ass and risk nutrient deficiencies. There is a rhyme and reason why things go together. Especially keeping the calcium/phosphorus ratio balanced. My guys get goat milk on their food everyday and raw scraps of whatever I'm making or butchering, but not really enough to say that I partially feed raw. They still get a full kibble ration. I also get cut raw beef femurs from the butcher every other week. All my meat is home grown.

Aw, thanks for adopting him!! Blind dogs aren't too hard in my opinion. I have a lab that's blind in one eye and have had dogs that were mostly blind in the past. They adapt so well that most of the time you can't even tell. Generally just keep the layout of your home as consistent as you can and limit or close off obstacles. (Stairs, etc) I try to talk to them first before I pet them, just so I don't startle them. Also try to keep other dogs from climbing all over them. You don't want them to become defensive anytime there is another dog near them. Someone else might have some good links for you

Smalahundur, mine love hay too lol. Given the chance, I would happily leave mine out in the barn, and they would love it, but having moved where I have neighbors, I just don't leave them out if I'm not there. They are used to barking at whatever and in my efforts to be a good neighbor, I keep them in. So since I've given up on having rugs in the house with seven dogs, I purchase beds out of necessity. So I go for the ortho beds. Especially since I don't allow them on the furniture and I have a couple oldies and a uncoordinated neuro issue dog.

If I buy beds, I only buy orthopedic foam. I don't bother with the overpriced egg crate foam or cheap poly filled beds. My dogs definitely prefer the foam beds, especially my cripple boy. They aren't allowed on the furniture. I have blankets laying around too, but they are slick on the hardwood floor. I worked at a pet resort for several years and saw how much better the arthritic dogs did on the ortho pads. I've also made several from the green foam at the fabric store and did homemade covers for less money. Very durable!

I also prefer three for the same reasons mentioned before. They don't seem to get so attached to one another. It's the same with my horses. I like three. Of course with my dogs I've doubled that and then some with seven! But having taken care of up to 100 dogs at a time, seven is really nothing to me. Ditto on the pain of traveling though. I have 2 border collies, 2 working labs, and three rescues. I only have one male. My females do get along, but I stop anything that resembles a grumble.

Be very aware of what you are praising the dog for. Even when petting quietly and one paw comes up, immediately remove your hands. You may have to be quick to remove and then praise, but do it EVERY time. Like someone else said, it's hardest when other people let them do it. My newest adoptee jumps and clings like a monkey and I've also had to knee her down to get my point across, since she's very persistent. But again I'm praising profusely as soon as her feet are on the floor. I wouldn't punish and then put in the crate. You don't want the crate to become a negative.

D'Elle, that's funny. She CAME with the name Missy! I just don't like it, though she is feminine. Go buy a lottery ticket! And nevermind about the winning name. I didn't like it either.

Oooo I might have a winner... Will have to try it out

I love the unique names geonni! I wish they were easier to say. I trip over words since I got my wisdom teeth pulled.

Here are some from my evee-growing short list: Lady Dutchess Nova (I just don't like that it starts with a No) Kersey Shady Adele Middy (Midnight) Joey (the singer battling cancer of Joey and Rory) Ada Cassie (constellation) I need something different from my other dogs. I do need them to respond individually. I have: Rocket Arya Tessa Pilot Lexie Cricket

I like it CSW! My sister already has a Jimmy though. They wouldn't be together much, but it would confuse ME. Lol I did consider Lady. Then I'd have my Cricket bug and Lady bug.

Ditto to staying away from high dog traffic areas until her shot series is complete. Also beware of dog parks in general. There are plenty of other posts on that topic. As far as boots/shoes, unless you are walking pup near manicured lawns where there is a concern about chemicals or on hot pavement, they aren't necessary. Border collies run/herd/work on varied terrain day after day. Using boots would protect the feet, but also keep them from getting tough as nature intended, just as with horse shoes. Then you have a tender footed animal that's dependant on shoes on the slightest abrasive surface. Even bringing them up would get you some curious looks from working dog enthusiasts. It does make me want to ask why you decided to get a border collie.