Hello from a newbie!

[Sally]

Many thanks for all your suggestions, I'm sure it's been covered loads of times but dog food searches have certainly given me more than one headache!

For training treats, it can really be tough when you're on an elimination diet, but one thing that can be really useful (and might work with his meals, too) is to put the kibble in a bag with something really smelly - smelly cheese, or freeze-dried tripe or liver, for example. The smell permeates into the kibble, but he never actually has to eat the smelly thing.

This something I had never thought of a doggy bouquet garni! I'll definitely give it a try, we have 1/2 tub of sprats that stink so I will mix them in to his new kibble bag and see if that helps.

He used to use a snuffle mat and a snuffle box (a cardboard box filled with empty bottles, boxes etc that we hid his food in) for his meals but when he started to refuse dry kibble we stopped, it's certainly something I can try to get him engaged with again. For his birthday I have got him a likki mat so will try soaking the kibble & smearing it over that as well. I can honestly say Cooper so far has been more stressful than my son ever was - though having them both hit teenager stage at the same time has been interesting.

P.S - Don't worry about this - we still mix our dogs up on here after a number of years! (@Joy and (GG) Joy @Candy springs to mind!)

That is a relief, I really don't want to offend anyone by mixing up the names. I have a 12year old, 2 Cats & OH in addition to Cooper and all are regularly called the wrong name, I just blame it on my age & a year of home schooling...

Many thanks again for your kind support, will go and mix my sprats then toss some pancakes before looking at the cartoon thread for a giggle - it's just one big social whirl in our house.

 

[Jacqui-S]

will go and mix my sprats then toss some pancakes before looking at the cartoon thread for a giggle - it's just one big social whirl in our house.

It sounds like you will fit in perfectly here

 

[Lab_adore]

Tell Cooper that there is a thread "The kennel club - no hoomans allowed" where some of our dogs get together for a chat amongst themselves in case he would enjoy that

 

[Emily]

Oops, later to the party. Hi from me and Ella in Melbourne, Australia

 

[Candy]

Tell Cooper that there is a thread "The kennel club - no hoomans allowed" where some of our dogs get together for a chat amongst themselves in case he would enjoy that

Joy says she would LOVE to have a chat with new boy Cooper!

 

[Stacia]

Welcome from me and 9 year old Rourke. Don't worry about muddling up dogs names with the wrong human, I am sure we all do it! One that I never muddle is GGJ - Good Girl Joy who lives with @Candy

 

[Granca]

That is a relief, I really don't want to offend anyone by mixing up the names. I have a 12year old, 2 Cats & OH in addition to Cooper and all are regularly called the wrong name,

My children were regularly called by each other’s names or by one of the animals’. They got used to responding (or not!) regardless!

Nowadays I don’t mix up the dogs’ names, but they do get referred to as ‘the yellow one’ or ‘that black one’ if they’ve been up to no good!

 

[edzbird]

Hi Sally and the exceedingly handsome Cooper. I have Coco, a GSD x Lab and Meg a Dalmation x Lab x Collie. Both adult adoptions. Meg has an exceedingly delicate stomach and I have been through a couple of headaches with her. We've ended up having to soak her kibble else she vomits it.

 

[Candy]

Welcome from me and 9 year old Rourke. Don't worry about muddling up dogs names with the wrong human, I am sure we all do it! One that I never muddle is GGJ - Good Girl Joy who lives with @Candy

Actually I think that I live with her!

 

[Naya]

Hi and welcome from me and 7 year old fox red girl, Harley. She’s a fussy eater and we had lots of digestive issues when she was younger. We feed her nitromethane t raw along with lots of veggies. She turns her nose up at almost all kibble, hence raw food which is actually easy to manage.
My daughter @nayasminime is also on here with her 11 month old pup, Lyla. She’s definitely not a fussy eater, but eats raw with lots of veggies too.

 

[Jacqui-S]

We feed her nitromethane t raw

I'm assuming his is an autocorrect, not sure what you mean.....

 

[Natalie]

I'm assuming his is an autocorrect, not sure what you mean.....

Nutriment raw?

 

[Jacqui-S]

Nutriment raw?

Yes, that makes sense!
Not sure I would fancy living with a dog consuming nitromethane, sound dangerously pongy!

 

[Loraseal]

Oops bit late too but Hi @Sally and Cooper to the forum. Hunter and myself live in the Netherlands.
It sounds like you have a good plan trying to eliminate the trigger of the allergy.
It will take time, so don't worry if you need to ask, grumble or moan. The forum here will support you through both good and bad times!
My idiot is not a fussy eater but he loves his raw food and is very fond of carrot, broccoli and cucumber!

 

[Naya]

Yes, that makes sense!
Not sure I would fancy living with a dog consuming nitromethane, sound dangerously pongy!

That is what autocorrect changed it to . Thanks for spotting it!

 

[Shaz82]

Hello Sally and handsome Cooper, as you can see you are very welcome in our little corner of the labranet. It is my one and only forum too and I often forget which hooman goes with which dog, sometimes I even call my work colleague Maisy

Maisy is almost 4 and she doesn't have any allergies but you are in the best place for advice and fun and somewhere to vent if need be.

 

[MrChew]

My children were regularly called by each other’s names or by one of the animals’. They got used to responding (or not!) regardless!

Glad it's not just me. Oh and I both sometimes use the dog's cues with the baby... "Leave it." "Let's go!"

 

[SwampDonkey]

I will be told one of my patients he was a "good boy" in the doggy good boy voice. At least I didn't gently stroke his ears though.

 

[Shaz82]

I do tend to stroke OH head and do a little scratch at the top, at least he isn't being left out

 

[Hollysdad]

Hi from Holly and me in Wales. I know nothing about allergies in dogs but have years of experience of labrastares. Cooper has clearly mastered the stare!