Chantal

I think it's ok to dream about what you like in looks, most everyone has a preference. Sure you might have to wait awhile, and it might not be the next dog you get, but you always keep that image in you when yyou go looking for your next dog. When I decided I wanted a BC, I dreamed of a b/w with a white face and black prick ears, I think he showed up to me in a dream. And I found a breeder that I liked, made the deposit before the pups hit the ground. When he emailed me that they were born, he knew I wanted a male and told me there were a few. I tentively told him my dream dog, and by-golly he had a pup, exactly what I wanted. We were both excited! Said it was a rare face combo, I took it as a sign that it was meant to be. He turned out prick-eared too.

Jude is a big big boy. At 4 months he weighs 25# lean and ill guess 17/18 inches at his withers. i wonder what he'll stop at? he had a brother from a past litter at 65# and i'm assuming he'll go that way

His Mom Molly His Dad Wallace I'm new to this world, I'm looking up some of the dog's/breeders/handlers right now and just like an idea on his past for curiosity's sake (I think this post belongs here)

good luck and best wishes for kaycee and you all

What's your guy's favorite online pet store to order from?

this is what i meant, but obviously i'm horrible at explaining myself. And when i first read that for some reason i saw 3 grains, must of not been reading properly.

What I don't like about that food is the typical deceiving label. Chicken is listed first, but it's followed by 3 types of grain right after. Meaning there's probably a lot more grain then chicken in this kibble, and I wouldn't want to be feeding too much grain, if any personally.

well my golden at home is so in tune with human emotions and from the way he reacts I think he "likes" hugs simply because he knows I like them and they comfort me. I know it's more than tolerating because when he knows i'm sat and upset he will come and lean into me so that I hug him. He acts on the behaviour simply because it makes him happy that he's making me happy i think.

Great to hear that I'm not the only one that thinks the bed issue/dominance doesn't cause trouble. I mean if your dog is well behaved he should be everywhere right?

agreed with this and it is the general plan

I'm thinking ahead again for when the pup goes and I'm having trouble with the let him sleep with me or not question. I've always enjoyed snuggling with the pets growing up, and haven't seen any problems caused by it, except for morning wake up calls when I should really be awake in the first place anyway. I just want to understand everything completely before I make this decision. I don't really understand the whole dominance issue of letting your dog sleep with you. If I allow him on the bed with an "up" or "sleep" command aren't I still in charge of the dog? I don't see how dominance and alpha dog issues would arise here. Wouldn't it be the same thing then if you allowed your dog on furniture while you take a nap? Or is it because the bed is the main place you sleep. Where do your dogs sleep and what do you think of sharing a bed?

Thanks for that link Sheryl, lots of good info on that espescially external links. I'll definetely look more into parasites and the moose livers thing. I'll ask my family about it this they have first hand experience with what parts they keep, give to the dogs and such. As for parasites I don't know much about them frankly. Are they killed when us humans cook the food before we eat? Or are only in certain animals and cooking would not do anything for it regardless? Because we all eat this same meat in the province and I haven't heard of parasite problems or anything, so is worming a good preventitive or is there nothing I can do except hope it doesn't...

So I'm thinking about the time when the new pup comes, beginning of April and I just have no clue what to be feeding him. I've been looking through the threads, doing searches but nothing can really satisfy me. I'm scared of kibble and not knowing what I'm feeding, scared I'll mess up feeding raw. I'm really interested in feeding raw from all the good things and improvement in dogs, just the going at it part... wow. confusion. -First, what is essential in a dog's nutrition. From 8wks [think BC, so active which agility/frisbee in the future] onwards, and when/how do I change feed for a growing pup? [like vitamins or whatnot that may be needed as he grows and more so at certain point. -Bones? I've always been told don't feed this type of bone or that type they aren't safe and most information clashes. Is this only more valid when it comes to cooked bones like say from family leftover, or does it apply to none cooked foods as well? Do I leave out the bones or give them to the dog? What about puppies and bones? bones scare me frankly even though I know they are natural. -Quantity? I have no clue about this at all. I'm assuming I'll have to get a scale and weight everything. I've also heard about people feeding straight from the freezer in the summer time. This might sound dumb, but do I unfreeze everything first like I would before I'd cooked my own food and feed them raw...I've read 2-3% of their body weight, that means about 1.25 lbs for a 50 lbs dog or so? What about in a growing puppy? Do I account the bone mass into the weight equation? -Variety? Dogs system aren't like ours and i heard change affects them a lot more in food than us, like switching kibbles or going from kibble to raw. So does meat count in this variety, or is meat just meat and you can feed dif types without affecting? -Veggies? Quantity and how many? -Can I feed any meat? Fish? Chicken? How about hamburger meat I'm a student on a student's budget. I'm working part time, and will be switching full time in the summer. My education if covered through my parents/loan so I don't have to worry about that side of things. Is it possible to feed raw on a budget? I mean if I can afford my own meet and veggies shouldn't I be able to afford my dogs? I live in Newfoundland and all my relatives hunt, moose, patridges, rabbits. Everyone fishes. I could even go home myself and learn to set snares for rabbits and learn some things from my uncle cause we have atleast 20 acres of our own [family] just 45 mins from where I go to school. So hunted meat shouldn't be a problem. But I may also, atleast in the beginning rely on grocery store meat and if I eat it myself I'm assuming it's safe for the dogs... So many questions and I just don't know where the reliable info is. I can't order a book/dvd online as I don't have a credit card, and our pet/book stores are pretty limited here imo. Some care to help a lost newbie?

My best advice on accepting advice would be use common sense. Read up on everything you can and make yourself as knowledgeable as possible so when the time comes around again to ask advice on your own problems, you can use what you learned to know if the advice your given is sound, or if it's just not a feasible idea in your situation

I would go for the waiting. I'm just finishing up my 5th semester here at university and I'm only now settling down into a routine and growing up out of bad habits. I've finally learn self control with money spending and my partying time is down lots, I have my scheduled only perfect this semester (personally I go for classes back on with each other and minimize class time with longer course hours 1 or two days rather then going 4 times a week to a class, but it takes time to figure out your own routine), and frankly i've only just learned how to study and I'm still not great at it (I was one of those never had to study A students in highschool and going to university without study habits was the worse experience ever, and very hard to overcome. Now I'm getting a BC (if all goes as planned) the beginning of April and I know I will FINALLY be ready for this step. It makes more sense to wait right now and get a taste of college life that way you have all the time you need to properly dedicate it to your new friend.