New Alapaha owner - Jack is now six months old and about 53 lbs. He lives in a house with a decent size yard supervised by a single guy who works all day. I crate trained him actively until about 5 mos old at which point the potty training has mostly held and now I let him run around outside during the day (water and cool areas available), for exercise we run around and practice basic training games (sit, stay, down, retrieve) about two hours a day. He's a great dog, way smarter than the mastiff and subsequent lab I had growing up. Was looking for advice on a few topics:
(1) really interested in starting him on a raw food diet as he is rejecting kibble. I've read the posts on this forum but am curious about quantity to feed him - have heard 3% of body weight per day but was curious what other owners on a raw food diet have done or how you assess it. Also what else should I work in other than meat, veg and a little brown rice (books, dietary guides?) As this is my only alapaha and I'm not a breeder judging purely by weight is hard as I'm not sure what the standard is to judge fat.
(2) Any suggestions on how to manage the "play biting" he'll stop on command but still initiates - only with me - never strangers or friends - is this just a puppy thing? Remedy so far has been go run around with him until he tires out but would prefer he not start in the first place.
(3) Neutering? impact on developement, temperment? When to do it, if at all? He has currently adopted a large stuffed animal giraffe as his girlfriend. Should I take her away from him? At what age can I get him a legitimate date? Strong opinions either way are appreciated.
(4) Any recomended books, sites on training methods - especially inerested in how people train their dogs for Schutzhund - not that I'm a master trainer - but figured trying and failing still leaves the dog better off and it gives him good structured games to play.
So far Jack has been awsome, cray smart, relatively obedient for a puppy and great looking. Appreciate any advice,
Duke
Hi and welcome to Alapaha Forums
"a dog is for life not just for christmas"