Rocky's Update!

[Awesch007]

Hello from Germany!

I have not posted anything in here yet, just the introduction area which everyone who gave me advice I really appreciate it. But those of you who haven't read any of my post, I am stationed in Germany and me and my wife just bout a CC from Italy 2 weeks ago. His birthday is August 22, and last week he weighed 31 lbs, may be at 32 now... growing quickly and looks healthy so is this a good weight for him to be at? His name is Rocky, I am a big fan of Sylvestor Stallones boxing series. But first I would just like to say how great this forum is. Actually this is the first forum I have ever joined lol and the amount of information that I am learning from all of your posts is just great. But sorry here is the update...

Rocky was fed kibble at his breeders, but the day after we got him I put him right onto raw. We are following the preymodelrawdiet that I read from you guys! It has been amazing. We have been stuck with chicken for the most part and now into our second week we have been adding turkey.. I have been also adding chicken gizzards and tomorrow trying chicken hearts. Honestly feeding him anything raw will not be a problem. We also add a small portion of veggies (roots, broccoli, tomotoes, carrots, kelp) and a small amount of blueberries. Also with the food we mix in cocunut oil, and goat milk. He loves it! The only thing is, is for the most part is stool is very lose. Any suggestions with this? And he really was not going at all for a bit, so that is the only thing that is worrying us at the moment. Again from you guys I have feel in love with Dr. Becker and Mercola. Just purchased joint support, probiotic, and her sperigreen product.

And lastly is the kennel training. My God he is not coming along well with this. I think that just because he wasn't put in one at all that now he is just not used to it. Any suggestions here? He knows sit, stay, focus, and heal already at 3 months so he is fairly smart but the kennel is just not working..

Please let me know what you guys think and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Talk to you all soon!

 

[cinnamon roll]

where do you keep his kennel? Did you make his kennel comfy and homey? Blankets, toys etc...

 

[Awesch007]

In our room... and yes blankets and toys. Not sure what his deal is....

 

[musicdeb]

Give him time with the kennel. Make it a happy place for him. The kennel is his little room to sleep and to just hang out. Put treats in the kennel so he will voluntarily go in and praise him when he goes in.

Re: loose stool. It could be the goat's milk with all the other stuff you are adding to the food. Try just feeding him the meat with coconut oil for about a week and see if that helps. I believe you are giving him too much for his little system to adjust to.

It's best to the chicken for at least 2 weeks and then slowly add organ meat. After a couple of weeks, start to add other meats to his diet. Try each meat for about a week to see how he does on the new meats.

 

[DennasMom]

I agree with Deb on the goat's milk. Depending on how much coconut oil and chicken fat he's getting, it might also be too much fat. If it's <1T of coconut oil per day, I wouldn't think that would do it, though.

Also, are you feeding whole bone-in pieces of chicken? Adding more bone will help solidify things, too. I'd be giving chicken thighs or leg-thigh quarters, depending on the size of meals you're giving him. If you want more bone, get a whole chicken and whack it into pieces and feed the portions with the back and ribs. The ribs are soft and easy to chew, and will help add some bulk and 'hardener' to the poops.

The lack of poop is one of the great things about feeding raw! The more digestible the meal, the less that comes out the other end. The veggies and bone will add mass to the poops... so you pretty much can tell what went in by what comes out.

BTW, chicken gizzards and hearts are considered "meat" (i.e. muscles). Organs would be liver, kidney, brains, spleen, etc.

For the kennel - you could find one of his favorite toys (or get a new one), and he ONLY gets that while in the crate. We also will stuff a kong or other high value chew toy with goodies and give them that to work on when they first go in. If you can get them to spend 10-20 minutes on a treat when they go in... by the time they're done with the treat they're ready for a nap, no matter where they are.

One trainer had a great idea for teaching a dog to WANT to get in the kennel... let the dog see you toss a treat into the kennel, then shut the door (with them on the OUTside). Wait for the dog to whine to get IN! Let them in, and make them enjoy the treat while inside (either sit in front of the door, or shut it, depending on the dog's reaction... keep them calm and able to enjoy the treat, but make them enjoy it in the crate).

 

[Awesch007]

Thank you both for your replies. I knew I could count on you two Great stuff with the kennel. We have made it very "homey" for him though, with blankets, toys, and every few nights a pig ear. The only time he doesn't wine is when my wife is right there next to him lol needy little sucker! But throwing a treat it and shutting it seems to be great. Definately going to try that. We do have a giant Kong. We have some dehydrated treats coming to us in the mail from naturalpets.com I was also told to not give much peanut butter while their puppies. Any input on this? Or would 1 time a night be fine say a few tablespoons or so??

For his loose stools I will back off on the goats milk. It was once a day, and with the fact that he was doing so good on the raw I added turkey once a day. But I will stop both of that and just do chicken. And for veggies I do 1 TBSP per meal. Well let me break it down for you and maybe you guys can give me your thoughts.

We feed him 3 times a day. 1 lbs each so for a total of 3 lbs. As for preymodelraw that is what I am figuring how to feed him (10% of puppy weight--32lbs puppy)

7AM Meal-- Two chickens thighs, small amount of gizzard, and 1 chicken heart, then fill the rest with boneless chicken breast to fulfill the 1lbs. 1 TBSP veggies.

1PM Meal-- Chicken gizzard, 1 chicken heart, rest boneless chicken to fulfill 1 lbs. And 1 TBSP veggies and 1TBSP of cocunut oil.

8PM Meal--Chicken gizzard, 1 chicken heart, and rest boneless chicken breast. 1 TBSP of veggies.

Here and there I throw in a soft boil egg. Again I only do the chicken thighs for the bone in the morning because I am freaked out about giving him to much calcium. Input for this?

Thank you all again for your help! Really appreciate it. Cannot wait to get back to the States! So much easier to come up with these foods! Also I cannot figure out to add pictures on here lol Talk to you all soon!

 

[cinnamon roll]

To add pics click on the image icon. From there it will ask where you want to upload from URL or computer...