Thanks Andrea. Maybe I should think like that and not get worried about his weight now and keep to the same feeding and exercise regime and wait for him to grow into his skin a bit **repeats to self, stop worrying, stop worrying, slap slap**

I think we're okay re the exercise during the growing phase. When we got him at 10 months it was obvious he's never been allowed off the lead as he hung by us like a leach! He's in bloody doggy heaven now though. Open countryside and he's bloody off

Veg won't do any harm and carrots in particular are full of useful nutrients, just don't overdo it or you will end up with loose stools.

How many hours physical exercise does he get a day? I would be looking at increasing exercise at 10 months rather than dropping food!

LOL thats what you ,l do then keep his food the same but increase his activity levels , if he was already a chunky monkey when you got him its not so much any thing your doing wrong he is just enjoying being loved yeahhhhhh !! . steady walks and off lead runs keep the blubber burning , I love em when they look still puppy ish and a bit wobbly they grow up all too quick .

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good (although I know I'll be looking back at this time with fondness when he's older)


Ajshep, he's getting 30-45 mins yolloping off the lead in the countryside, up hills and in water, during the day, then about 10-20 mins in the pm with me at the stables, up hills, over ditches and running running running... so probably even more than our fit dog before he went to Rainbow Bridge. This is why I'm perplexed re the lack of weight loss. I KNOW he's getting more muscley and his shoulders are like those of Atlas!!

If he's getting more muscly the extra weight is probably from that.

We have a Lab/Staff cross and we take him out, off lead, for at least two hours a day, any less than that and he'd be a right beef cake.

god yes, a lab/staff cross... hello exercise two hours off the lead? how do you find time??

(yes, I hope the weight is extra muscle **whistles**)

I work from home dog boarding and part of my job is also dog walking so he comes with me when walking other dogs as well as his walks with our pups. He has started to calm down now he is nearing 3 years old, before he would get restless in the house after "only" 2 hours walking but now he is quite content.

Lucky beggar!!! can I ask.. is it right that suddenly at 2 they can calm down and follow orders?? as if it's suddenly sunk in...? I am currently thinking DJ can't come out riding with me for at least another year....

I think they mature over time, it's not a sudden thing but in my experience it's around the 2 year old mark.

Milo has always followed commands very well, he picked everything up very quickly too.

We got him when he was 7 months and thought we would have a big job on training him as he knew nothing, he wasn't even fully toilet trained.

But he would do anything for Burger King fries so that's what we trained him with, he literally learnt commands like sit, lay, stay and come after being told 3 times.

He was very, very boistorous up until the last 6-7 months (after his second birthday) where he has noticably calmed down. He still goes wild running through the woods and playing in the garden but he is much calmer in the house and more independant too.

LOL!!!!!

Good, am pleased you also say 2 years.. only one year to go He's calmed down lots in the last few weeks probably due to routine. Thank heavens!

OH describes DJ as 'willfull'... not a bad description. God knows what happened in the last home.

and he thought that bedtime was the tme to get attention... would nick what he could then cavort about the house for attention... we ignored him. Had many a snigger under the quilt about it till he nicked and ruined my fave wedding shoes... from then on he was locked in the bedroom... he went for the shoes again so upsidey turned... strangely enough he's been as good as gold since **crosses fingers** The last family were obviouly guaranteed to chase him at bedtime