There was a documentary on TV a while ago where they sent some overweight Brits to a remote tribe - somewhere in Asia I think - which have the healthiest diet in the world allegedly). The Brits weren't too impressed - but they did lose weight!

I wouldn't fancy it, although I do eat a mostly Asian diet

Yes complete dogs food first appeared in the mid 1800's but if you read the article I linked it says "Before the advent of pet foods, most dogs and cats lived off of grains, meats, table scraps and homemade food from their owners. It wasn’t until the mid-1800’s that the world saw its first food made specifically for dogs." so who knows just how long dogs had been fed on such a diet before dog food came about? It obviously didn't do them any harm What I would really like to hear is an explanation for the sudden change in one of my dogs when fed a diet with all the things that he apparently doesn't need...... The thing is I don't disagree with you and I want to feed mine raw but right now Sol seems to have other ideas........ still haven't managed to get that cup of tea though but he does give me really nice early morning cuddles when I get up at 1am for work.....

I don't envy you getting up at 1am for work! My partner gets up at 5am and I thought that was bad!

I think the difference is down to the ingredients in Arden Grange being 'calming' ingredients. That's all I can think of. Perhaps feeding him totally raw gives hi what he needs nutritionally, but doesn't have the added ingredients that Arden Grange has? Like having a milky drink or similar?

That's just it though he isn't calmer, he's still mad as a box of frogs and up for it he just seems more comfortable in his skin I'm not explaining this very well am I? All of mine are couch potatoes at home, they always have been, even loopy la la deef who likes nothing better than to lie around watching television. As soon as their is something for them to do, go training or out for a walk they are up for it, sol runs around like an idiot with a toy in his mouth talking to himself until it's his turn to have his lead put on, the others usually wait calmly and block the front door so they know they are not being left behind This hasn't changed at all, what's different is that in a high stress environment like agility and at a recent show sol was more relaxed in general. Up until then he was ok until another dog in a queue or at ringside decided to have a sniff at him and then he would worry and grumble to himself. He's never been aggressive in any way, it was just uncertainty and his reaction was to both dogs and bitches alike. At that show I never heard a grumble from him all weekend. Our next show is 19th April so it will be interesting to see how he reacts to that

I get up at 1am so that I can walk the dogs before I go to work (I start at 3am and have to travel 20 miles) I then go and do supermarket deliveries while most of the lemmings are asleep in their beds and not out on the roads which makes my life a lot easier Yesterday was "fun" in the snow though.....!!!

Let us know how the next show goes!

I will! I also think I may have worked out what made such a difference to him.....

oooh what????

Dun dun duuuuuuunnnnnn (that's dramatic music).....

What a cliff hanger! Quick tell us what you think it is???

well I saw on another forum a post about someone who had been recommended to give their dog vitamin B6 to boost serotonin levels in conjunction with a DAP collar that she is already using....... I have no idea what is wrong with the other dog but B6 is found in a variety of foods including rice which is obviously in nature diet. You also find B6 in brewers yeast which is in AG. I also take brewers yeast myself and occasionally let them have a tablet as they like them. I can't remember whether I gave them any before the first training session but I know I did over easter and never thought anything of it....... I don't think he was "deficient" in vit B but it may be that they all needed more and perhaps that bit extra made a big difference to the merley monster? I am going to carry on as we are for now and see how he is at the next show and if he is still much better then get him back onto raw and add brewers yeast for good measure and see if his mood remains the same for the next one 2 weeks after that.....


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin

That's really interesting Colliemad. I know people give brewer's yeast to keep fleas off, but didn't realise it had B6.

I'm starting studying again in a couple weeks time, so maybe I'll get some for myself!

Maybe if you do go back to raw you could give him raw egg with brewer's yeast mixed in?