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Posted by muttz on February 24, 2003 at 22:38:56:
In Reply to: Re: Dog Treats/Dog food? posted by carver on February 24, 2003 at 22:12:54:
Owning a dog is a life long learning trip...and sometimes its confusing when you try to make the right choices. Everyone has different opinions (even different vets!) on what is right and what is wrong (and most of us are very passionate!). I think it really does depend on your dog and what feels right for you.
Yes, sausages do tend to fall outside the raw diet "good" food list (!!) - but since treats are only a small part of a dog's intake of food I think an exception can be made! I also find we have sausages for dinner the night before training - and the dog's share is kept until tomorrow (why he gets such fancy sausages sometimes!)
Sad to hear your dog doesn't know how to play - especially since he's a lab! You can teach him though. Make the toy interesting to him - you can do this by rubbing some food onto it - or even just being interested in it yourself (throwing a ball up and down and making excited sounds - after making sure the neighbours aren't nearby!). Reward any interest your dog shows in the toy with a treat. This might be "dog sniffs toy, reward".. slowly moving up to "dog takes toy in mouth .. reward". Just make sure its fun and never scary to the dog. Don't push him.. .and let him take his own time. There are quite a few training books that teach a dog how to retrieve in a fun, positive way. Maybe have a browse through one. Teaching him to retrieve a ball etc might also help keep his focus on a walk!
I too, have a rescue dog and have worked with shelter dogs - and its very sad when they don't know how to enjoy the fun things in doggy life.. but with a little patience they sure can learn! Its often a lot more work - but also a lot more rewarding.
:Mutz, I appreciate all of that good advice. My wife and I are both crest-fallen after learning that Purina is not what we should be feeding our dog. We will make a change for the better quickly.
:When I first began reading your suggested treats I thought you were pulling my leg. I would never have dreamed that sausage would be on the "approved" list. I am pretty sure that guiness and beef sausages would not be on an official list but it sounds good to me. In fact, I am suggesting that my wife use it as treats for me as she trains me to exercise the dog.
:I did not see your earlier message about whistles. I am certainly glad to know that they can be useful tools.
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:We would love to have our dog play catch, or play with any toy. Apparently, in addition to having been mistreated before we got him, he has no experience with toys. We bought hard rubber balls and bones and such things but he just looks at them, even when we play with them, toss them around and make a fuss over them. Fortunately, he does enjoy running but rarely in our large, fenced yard -- usually only off of our property when we are both on the move. We hope that some day we can get him to have fun playing fetch but right now he seems totally uninterested in playing with a ball or stick.
:Thanks for your advice and help.
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