Because by then they should be hormonally mature even if not fully structurally mature. I don't read much research - I follow experience !
Ideally, not at all, but if they MUST be spayed, then let them grow up first.
Oakley-emergency surgery
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Ava gets raw at night, mixed with a little kibble. Tad started her on it, and I've been continuing. I've been adding select veggies and pumpkin. I, too, am worried about nutritional balance, but adding more raw and less kibble seems to be helping. Ava dances around on her hind legs, going crazy to be fed.
I've been researching this more and more. If you're interested, check this out:
http://basenjisisters.com/DietArticle.htm
This is from the breeder of Ava's grandmother, Cinder.
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Cinder
Loved her. They also bred Cody's father Puff who is Elliot's great-great grandfather. 
I was given the option to continue the raw and decided not to. I'm willing to give it a try if Elliot will eat it!
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The NRG website says its been compromised and they're rebuilding it. I'm having trouble trying to figure out feeding instructions..such as how much to feed per day.
The suggested feeding is 1 cup (dry before re hydrating) per 20 lbs, give or take depending on the dog. Perry weighs about 24 lbs and I feed him between 2/3 cup and 1 cup, depending on how he looks to my eye and his activity level (less in winter!). He also gets Acana Senior in his roller ball…...the only kibble I feed, and only because it works well in the ball.
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I've been researching this more and more. If you're interested, check this out:
http://basenjisisters.com/DietArticle.htm
This is from the breeder of Ava's grandmother, Cinder.
This article mirrors my own thinking on the subject. I would add, I have never had a Basenji that was a fussy eater…....even when the composition of food was not "on my radar" and I fed kibble I wouldn't touch today. We see so many problems in dogs, and increasingly in young dogs, that I personally feel are a direct result of feeding processed food. That is why I went to dehydrated, as it is minimally processed and still convenient.
Historically dogs got along just fine on whatever was left over from the family meal. And they didn't develop all the health problems we see today. Many dogs lived to a very old age. The average life expectancy was less, certainly, because more succumbed to accidents, but if such statistics were available to study, I think we would find potential lifespan has gone down, not up. Incidentally, I think the same is true in humans. I believe we have seen the peak, and my parents' generation will prove to be the longest lived. Food and environmental factors are already causing diseases in younger people that used to only be seen in old age. (e.g. type 2 diabetes!) Another potential problem is the wide spread use of GMO foods. As happened with cigarette smoking, the results of this world wide experiment may take many years to be revealed.
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I bought a box of honest kitchen last month and its hit or miss whether they will eat it. I don't plan to buy it again. There was another brand I used last yr that they liked better, I believe it was call DNA, but its no longer carried at pet food direct. They all like the raw diet I get at the pet stores, but do not show much enthusiasm when I try home made.
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Which one are you using Lisa? Elliot hates raw chicken. Worst "EW" face I've ever seen a dog make!
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Sleep deprived but one thing I need to add.
You have to feed massive yogurt to do as much as a spoon of probiotics. We had a pony we rescued with massive gut damage, watery diarrhea. Fastrack for horse saved her life. We had tried so many things, only drug left was so expensive that we were considering putting her down. Vet suggested trying it. Within 2 weeks she went from watery diarrhea several times a day to more firm poop. She still had an occasional bout but it was rare. I don't know why ANY vet wouldn't be fine with probiotics. They are researched, proven to help many, won't hurt, so very worth it.
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I tried the honest kitchen, Franie loved it, C-Me would not even smell it….
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I ordered a sample size of Honest Kitchen to see if Elliot likes it. He has to like SOMETHING!
We sold instinct froze at a petstore I used to work at. I never tried it out on my dogs though..
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Unless they are sick, they will eat when hungry, they will not starve themselves. IMO, what you are doing is to encourage poor eating habits….. I feed 2x's a day, put the food down, they have 10 minutes to eat, if not, gone till the next feeding. Mine have always eaten in 2 minutes or less..... if they don't, I know they are not feeling well. Or like you mentioned, sometimes the food will be off, especially near the end of a bag and depending on the weather. If I think that is the case, I will try a new bag of the same food.
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Unless they are sick, they will eat when hungry, they will not starve themselves…......Mine have always eaten in 2 minutes or less..... if they don't, I know they are not feeling well.
All of mine have been the same way. Food is down, it is GONE! My Lady used to eat so fast, once when I had her at a boarding kennel she got fed twice a couple of times, since they couldn't believe they had fed her. Turned around, it was gone. They soon learned that she just ate quickly.
I also feed twice a day, plus he gets his roller ball if we go out. If any food was ever left, I would immediately know he was sick! (or suspect there was something wrong with the food if it was a new package)
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I have never owned a dog or cat that didn't finish their bowl in 2-5 minutes so this situation has been very frustrating. I am going to have to resort to tough love once I find something he likes AND I like the ingredients.
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I always use chicken based in whatever I feed. Lamb has too many bad metals in it and none of mine have ever liked rabbit. The instinct raw I warm up in the microwave as mine do not like cold raw, I just get it to mouse temperature and they inhale it.
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In regards to your dogs..do they not like lamb and rabbit at all or just with the instinct raw? I was thinking of trying to venison seeing as its more of a novel protein and one he hasn't had.
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Mine love ziwi peak venison but it gives them bad diahreah, I would recommend trying a small quantity to see how your dogs do, all 6 of mine get diahreah from it. they have not liked rabbit in any brand I have tried, and Lamb is know for being too high in metals, I believe its copper that is the issue.
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Butu's just started on Ziwipeak - he loved the lamb, no poop problems at all, he had his first venison today…will keep you posted...
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Definitely, let me know..it's worth the consideration if it doesnt
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Ziwi peak is awesome, but way to expensive for every day, they love it, just had bad results. When Xander went home to Tad for showing for a few weeks, he went on a hunger strike and the only food he could get him to eat was the bag of ziwipeak I had sent along as emergency rations.
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Never heard of Ziwipeak, but it sounds like a good thing to have on hand, and I'm glad to know about it! Have you completely ruled out dry food, Chealsie? Wellness Core Ocean is a five-star grain-free food, and I've heard good things about it. It's 34% protein, but I'm thinking to mix a little in at a time with the less protein-rich food and see. Ava's feet-biting and scratching have stopped with the switch to grain-free (it took a few weeks), but her anal gland issues persist. Has Oakley gained any more weight?
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I haven't completely ruled out dry food, I'm just at a loss at what to choose bc I'm so skeptical with all the high quality foods and his stomach..and choosing between mediocre foods is hard bc I find problems with the ingredients. I'm considering dehydrated foods and raw/frozen bc I believe it'll be easier to digest which may be the problem with the dry foods
