[Ed]

Hi @hugosmama 🙂 This is my new understanding… if the issue is that legumes and potatoes were added to replace grain, then adding grain would not necessarily solve any issues the food may have. And it would further dilute the protein content. If, on the other hand, legumes and potatoes were not used to replace the grain and instead the food has just more protein, then there is no problem to begin with.

So I think the issue is not grain vs. no grain (which is a way to provide inexpensive calories)… but whether that has been replaced with another way to provide inexpensive calories that may have ill effects.

Thoughts?

[Ed]

When I heard grain-free I immediately assumed that the grain was just removed. So to make up for it you would just have more of the rest of the food, that is protein. But, that is not always the case. Often the grain is replaced with legumes and potatoes. That seems to create complications. See article at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fda-grain-free-diet-alert-dcm/

When I cooked for my dogs I did not use grain. In one recipe I used baked sweet potato, but that was about 10% by weight. All the rest was meat, vege, and fruit. So when someone says grain-free that is what I envision. The proportions are in pounds. This, plus supplements fed the troops for 6 weeks.

The food I’m feeding now is also grain free, and you can see that the first 4 ingredients are meat and the 5th one is chicken bones. Sweet potato is next, which effectively means it is probably around 10% or less as well

So the challenge is that when we say grain-free, by itself it does not what kind of diet it is.

[Ed]

Also, when I was “cooking” (it was actually raw other than the baked sweet potatoes) my vet had me obsessed with low-fat — other than fish oils. So I over trimmed the meat, removing absolutely all the fat and skin. They had to eat a tremendous amount of food to get the calories they needed. On the plus side my girl looked like this!

[Ed]

Growling can also be an invitation to play or part of play. My dogs and I grow at each other, during play. My dogs growl at each other when they invite each other to play. For example they will hold half a toy/bone on their mouth offer the other half to the other dog and growl. Of course it could also be resource guarding. Robert has a lesson on that.

On the fetch, Robert suggests having the dog on a long leash to bring them back — it is not a negative correction, it is a bring bring bring while pulling them towards you. The fun in the game should be you, as opposed to the toy. So you just have to make yourself so over the top that you top the toy. When I get the ball it is a party and I throw the ball back as quickly as possible. Short distances are better. The object is for the ball to be how we play with each other, rather than it being a chew toy. In the beginning I also use treats, so when they give me the ball they get a treat and a party.

If it turns out that the ball is too high value you could use a lower value toy. Leaving the ball to do the even exchange exercise.

[Ed]

I think Visionary, the food Robert recommends, is grain-free. Perhaps you could call them up and see what they have to say about puppy diets.

There are possibly many non-dog driven reasons for grain to be pushed. For example, the dogs environmental footprint, raising other animals to be consumed by dogs, economics in that grain is a major component of large establish products, and so forth.

[Ed]

I’m going through a similar transition. From kibble to raw frozen. The concern I had was that if the new food was balanced, and I mix it with something (50% frozen + 50% chicken necks). The diet could no longer be balanced. Meaning the frozen may have 100% of the needed vitamins and minerals, but mixing it with the chicken necks he is only getting half of that <font face=”inherit”>from the frozen and I have to </font>perhaps<font face=”inherit”> supplement the chicken necks with something, for that to add back to 100% </font>of vitamins and minerals.

<font face=”inherit”>I ended up </font>transitioning<font face=”inherit”> to 100% raw frozen. When I budgeted I went off the </font>manufacturer’s<font face=”inherit”> guidelines. Turns out that was a lot more than the number of calories they were used to getting from kibble. So I portioned the meals based on the calories they were used to, and that made it within reach.</font>

[Ed]

Specifically on puppy’s needs. Robert referenced puppy food in a recent AMA or chat. He said the puppy food was different from adult food in that it had more calories, but otherwise that food is food. I asked the manufacturer of mine if I had to supplement it for the new pup and they said the food was good to go as is, which is inline with the above.

There is no grain in it. Ingredient List:

– Muscle Meat (Chicken & Beef )
– Organ Meat (Beef Heart & Liver)
– Ground Chicken Bone
– Fresh, Low-Carb Vegetables: Broccoli, Carrots, Sweet Potato
– Essential Vitamins, Minerals and Trace Minerals (includes Egg Powder)

[Ed]

I tried to edited the above and I do not see it, so I’ll type it again :)… in several ama/chats Robert said that mouthing is just what puppy’s do, mals in particular. That it will continue perhaps for the next 6-8 months. If it gets particularly bad he suggested gardening gloves.

[Ed]

Hi @merelda pardon for interjecting… humping is dominance. Even between dogs it could break the spirit of the dog being humped. It can be done male to female or female to male, or any other combination. Maybe he is only trying to engage in some play behavior, testing the limits, or perhaps it is a signal that he sees you as a playmate. If so it could be an indication that the pup needs a bit more structure. Regardless, I would stop it.

[Ed]

Congratulations!!

It is great to see progress! I would try going to a long line 10-15 ft and stay in the area she is comfortable with. I would get a carabiner and hook up the end of the line to my belt and not touch it, continue with the ecollar and just have the hanging line as a backup.

I say this because I have had a few incidents after the dogs were doing very well off-leash in a low distraction environment. Once in a blue moon, when the distraction large enough, they would take off. I do not know how they would do today, cuz last time it happened I had bent over to pick up his poop and Bailey took off, picking a fight with another dog that I had not see approaching. It was a silly fight with a Tasmanian Devil dog ball and no bites, but that was enough for us to put an end to their off-leash privileges. Maybe in your case that could be a car backfiring a chipmunk or something else. If you can make it work with a long line it would get you that insurance.

Congrats again!!