mole

Thank you Rumpole

Wondered if anyone could point me in the direction of a good write up on the positive points of staffies and staffie X's in rescue. It will save me the time of having to think one up myself I'm trying to get a display on my local RSPCA's notice board about what good pets Staffords make - as, like all rescues, we are getting more and more into the rescue. (Just rehomed two litters of staff pups). Thanks in advance

I so love watching dog's play ...it makes me laugh out loud. What a great video...could watch it all day! Love your garden

What a great little dog Do you think the Queen might be interested?

My old dog Annie(who was 16 1/2 when she went to the bridge) had a similar episode to yours perhaps a year or so earlier. She fell over for no reason whilst she was outside - and it took her a while to get steady on her feet again. My vet said he probably thought she'd had a stroke. However we had her on Vivitonin after she had the falling over episode and this did help her for about a year. It helps with circulation of the blood to the brain (as far as I can remember) and I would definitely ask your vet about using it. It certainly made a big difference to Annie and I think will help to put off further stroke risks. Good luck and best wishes

Believe it or not........I haven't got a microwave ..... more lack of space than anything else. Thanks ReikiAnge for the link and info on tuna cake - will give it a try. Reds ......... what do you call "sandwich meats" and whereabouts in the supermarket do you get them? Very rarely eat meat myself so not really up on this stuff. Yes I can see the Pure Incentives being kibbleish and dogs perhaps not telling the difference but my pocket certainly will. (My coal has just gone up by £20 for 4 bags!!!!!) Lots of good ideas so far ... thanks everybody.

Mmmm yes might give the tuna a try - I was thinking more of stinky liver. What are the general quantities of tuna and flour and how many eggs do you use please? Also how long do you cook it for?

Thanks for all the suggestions folks The reason I don't make my own is cos it stinks my house out - open plan I also noted the EC permitted preservatives in Natures Menu treats - and not interested in that I did visit my local pet shop the other day to buy tripe sticks (which I do cut up for training treats but it's a right pain as they are quite hard and bendy) and noticed they sold dried beef jerky. It was reasonably cheap and will be much easier to cut up into small pieces than tripe treats as it's in big flattish pieces. The girl who owns the shop says that it's dried lung. I haven't used it yet as I'm still using bought dried liver (from Durham Animal Feeds - a lot cheaper) but not as keen on this as it is quite hard and I have difficulty in cutting it without it being too big or splintering into tiny pieces. celeste... interesting about the JWB Pure Incentives as these will be handy to have in case I'm rushing out the door and find I haven't any treats cut up - which I do a lot I'm afraid. However I feel the dried lung/jerky is going to be very satisfactory. I haven't seen it before.

Just wondering if anybody has info on where to buy the best and cheapest small meat training treats? Thanks

Would you be able to break these up into small pieces for treats Michaela?

I thought it was a very biased programme against the RSPCA - very one sided reporting - it was as if the programme makers had made their minds up about it all before they even started. Sounded to me like every case they were moaning about, that the RSPCA took to court, deserved it. The programme makers want to spend a couple of months at my local RSPCA and see the state of some of the animals that the Inspectors bring in.

They tried to ban dogs in the New Forest some years back but had to back down due to the fantastic organised opposition by local dog owners. New Forest Dog is a really good protest organisation for fighting fanatical attempts at anti dog legislation. We as dog owners need to realise that WE have rights as well and organise some opposition to these attempts at banning dogs free running off lead. It won't just effect the New Forest it's starting to effect everybody's area. It's called the thin edge of the wedge and people who don't like dogs know exactly how to do it. Fouling can already be tackled by existing legislation. Although I'm personally not a Kennel Club fan they do have a good thing going that supports people who are experiencing attempts to restrict dog owners in an unreasonably harsh manner http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/295.

I also spoke to Lee yesterday and have placed an order - also am adding to it on Monday as I've got a friend to join in. DAF stuff is good - anybody thinking of ordering please give them a go. The more the merrier.

Thanks for letting us know I'll ring him rather than email this time as I'm really low on everything.

Luv 'em Luv'em Luv 'em What breed is Gracie? Just love those little rounded bodies and bendy legs Don't worry about the grass - we're all looking at the dogs - nobody would have noticed until you mentioned it - now everybody will notice

I like DAF's stuff - it's packaged much better than Landywoods and in smaller quantities. It's all good quality meat as well and they have some interesting variations on mixes. Their turkey necks are expensive but huge and lots of meat on them. I don't by their bones cos I once got some lamb ribs and I didn't like them so I get mine from the butcher. However like you Mrs B ...it's a real struggle getting delivery dates at the moment. Initially Lee was really on the ball and replied to emails almost immediately ....and deliveries were brilliant but whether they're overstretching themselves at the moment or what I don't know? I've offered to meet the delivery van on route, as my order has reduced somewhat due to people I shared with moving, but he only gave me 2 days notice of a delivery and that was over a weekend .....and that was after several emails asking when this would be. I really would like to continue using them .......... Is everybody else on the Manchester run getting their deliveries as normal .......... or is it just me he doesn't want to deliver to?

I have a 10/11 year old rescue small staffy X dog - middle one in the photo on the left - he has a twisted leg like Ruby - probably due to an injury when he was young and in his previous abusive home. This usually happens when one of the bones of the leg grows more than the other due to trauma or genetics and throws the elbow out. I have had him since he was 2/3 years old. I have always treated him as a normal dog and his leg doesn't seem to cause him a problem - he is on glucosamine/chondroitin and fish body oil for it. Please don't be put off by Ruby's leg or age - staffy's are great little characters who get on with life despite everything and tend to be long lived.

I used to use Landywoods but the way they pack things was a real hassle - 36 on an open cardboard box and lots of stuff was wrongly labeled (got load of turkey mince that was labelled tripe). Also if they ran out of anything they just sent a substitute which might be fine for some people but not if you have dogs that need special types of meat (i.e. low fat diet etc). Never had a problem with delivery though. I now use DAF and I find them very good - they always answer emails (which Landywoods never did with me) and the meat is very good quality and similar price to Landywoods apart from the turkey necks which are v expensive but very big and meaty and I consider good value even so. Not keen on some of the bones but I don't get these from them - get them from my butcher. They have a good selection of minced meats and they are packed in closed cardboard boxes of 20 - great to handle if you have a few people joining. Also their dried tripe sticks are really fresh and good quality compared to the ones I used to get from AMP. They deliver to me direct once a month (minimum order £40) and I am on the Manchester run (I think) as I'm on the Yorks/Lancs border. I think if they don't have to make a big detour on the run they will deliver direct as long as you give them a reasonable order. They are very reliable on delivery - everything seems to go dead smooth somehow compared to when Landywoods used to deliver.

Hi there I have a dog Bruno (in the middle on the photo) who had ongoing anal problems - he is approx 10 years (rescue but have good idea of age). He had his glands removed approx 6 months ago and my vet told me that it wasn't a big op to do. He said as long as your vet was experienced enough in surgery and that the anals hadn't been badly infected for a long time - there usually wasn't a problem. I have to say I did hum and ha for a long time before I decided but I do trust my vet. I feed raw and have done for approx 6 years and this can sometimes help with anal gland problems but obviously depends on the dog. Bruno hardly knew he'd had the op and just hasn't had a problem with it. Just my experience.

Thanks for all the information folks I've bought one of the fleece lined ones from Dog Games (came in a day) black and red...... I like it ...its very comfortable for my Stafford but he isn't a big puller. Yes I agree it could be a problem with a dog who jumps in water but I haven't had a big problem with it when it gets wet from rain. Got lots of new websites from this thread - thnx to all concerned.

Hi All Anybody use the following harness and do you like it? http://tinyurl.com/4xgfoy Also any suggestions for a non leather harness for a Stafford and why you like it? Thanks in advance

Tinned Chappie Original. If I fed commercial food wouldn't go for anything else - has sorted out lots of dogs who had gut problems. Dogs love it - even picky oldies!

I agree with lynny95 wholeheartedly. I am still a member on DP but hardly ever go there and only to look at Dogs in Rescue when I do - I have a different user name as I have past experience of being picked on for some views in the past (mostly raw feeding) and I don't want to feel anybody on DP has control over my life. I too, in the past - years ago - was worried if I raised my head above the parapet on DP, that I would lose my right to be there and I didn't want to lose out on helping rescue dogs. At that point there was no Refuge - now there is I don't feel DP has any control over me anymore. I too feel that this thread - although I agree that it has been a necessary one to allow people's legitimate frustrations to be aired and to bring into the open one man's bitterness and spitefullness towards others - may now have done it's job and could degenerate into name calling. You have and I'm sure it won't on this board

I wouldn't hold your breath Don't think that's the way he works. Giving other people bullets to shoot comes to mind

Tobleronie quote.......... I think this quote from Tobleronie just says it all as to how the owner of DP manipulates people and rescues even when they refuse to be dragged into his megalomaniacle tirades. Edited to add that it was my bold highlighting of words and not Tobleronie