Hi Everyone, I have a male 11 months old Lab retriever, not neutered, white/yellow color, 80 pounds. I need help with below questions. 1. He does not like his kibble food, I give him Purina pro plan for puppier. I tried signature exclusive and he somehow eats that. Most of the time I have to mix it with an egg or something to motivate him. 2. Is it good to give row food added with the kibble 3. What food kibble brand you can recommend. 4. How can I migrate him to sleep at night outside the crate, he has started to not like the crate at all. Thanks in advance.
Hi Winny, Welcome to the forum It's ok to try a few kibble brands until you find one he enjoys - here at HQ we've got fans of Orijen and Canagan. It's fine to combine raw food and kibble too, provided the total amount of food he gets is appropriate to maintain a healthy body condition, and that overall his diet remains nutritionally balanced. Your vet can help you make sure your diet plan isn't deficient in any important ingredients - some clinics run specific nutrition clinics with the nurses, so do ask about that. As for moving out of the crate - do you want him to move out of the crate? It's really your decision, not his! If you'd like to continue keeping him crated overnight, check that the crate is still big enough for him (he should be able to stand up, turn around, and stretch out fully on his side), and make sure it is a comfortable and rewarding place to go (for example by using vetbed or an old duvet as cushioning for his joints, blocking drafts, and putting him to bed with a stuffed kong or bedtime chew). If your happy for him to stop using the crate, then make sure there's nothing in the room he can damage overnight eg. by chewing, and just take the crate away. Bear in mind that dogs are descended from den animals, and actually too much freedom at night can sometimes leave them feeling 'exposed'. Moving their bed into a corner under a counter, or enclosing it in a playpen can help them feel secure and relaxed. Good luck!
Hi Sarah, I tried a kibble from Costco, Puppy food - Nature's domain. When I mix it with raw meat. He eats the meat and leave out the kibble. May be I should stick to one and let me give in ? Regarding crate. His crate is 5 feet by 3 feet and 4 feet tall, a lot of room. I like him to be in the crate at night time, but he starts barking 6:30 AM non stop until I open him. He is not thirsty or hungry or wants to go to bathroom. So that made me thought he should be left open at night. He does not bark to anything else. Only in the morning trapped in the crate or when he wants to play with me.
Hi Winny. My girl, now 3 and a half, has always had Royal Canin Labrador (puppy until 18 months then on to the adult kibble). She has thrived on this and there has never been a problem getting her to eat it. I also give her a can of sardines once a week and an egg once a week. I also put a couple of teaspoons of natural Greek yoghurt on her evening kibble. She's loving it. I've never used a crate, so unfortunately not in a position to suggest anything. She sleeps in my bedroom btw. Good luck with your little man.
Take a look at this article on our main site: Is Your Dog Barking At Night? – Help Your Dog Sleep And Prevent Early Waking It approaches night time barking from several angles, and about half way down is a 'cure' for waking up too early
