Posts made by RajandDuke

We really wanted to be there! We hit the road with our boys, got on 95, and realized that by the time we actually got there it might be dark! One thing we forgot to plan for was the holiday weekend traffic. Please please please plan another one soon! We'll definitely be there!!

We actually got our B's from the same person. Funny that I was trying to find someone who got their pups from the same person myself. She's a backyard breeder. Unfortunately we learned this after the fact.

I would NOT breed your dog. We love our boys, but they've had their fair share of health problems that are genetic. Watch out for demodetic mange and a luxating patella. Our one B is also on Atopica for skin problems.
Wonderful disposition though. We're also going to be getting them tested for Fanconi.

If you want her address and such let me know and I can email you the info.

I've tried barooing for the dogs with no results. I wonder if I keep at it, they'll finally catch on. Duke screams when Raj plays too rough or you trip over him (I'm kind of a klutz). Raj has barooed once. That was when we first picked them up from the breeder. He barooed, pooped all over the crate, then proceeded to step and sit in it. What a lovely first 15 minutes we had with our boys!

@sharronhurlbut:

I would bet having a doggie companion would help him settle down.
He would have someone to bug him and play with.

I totally agree with this. Our boys get a little upset if one of us (my husband or I) leaves, but if it's the boys who are separated from each other it's the whining and crying non-stop. They are inseparable.

I know you said Tucker is agressive towards other dogs, but do you think he could benefit from a companion?

UPDATE-
Duke's blood tests all came back normal. Looks like he might just be a higher energy dog than his brother, thus he needs a higher calorie diet. We're going to probably pick up some other food this weekend. I've been looking at Blue Buffalo. In addition to this, I'm trying all sorts of veggies on both of them. Thus far Duke love carrots, so it's a nice additive to his diet.

Thanks to everyone for all your help and advice!!

Duke loves carrots. I have bought the crinkle cut ones from the freezer section, I steam them a little to soften them up, then put them in the fridge for a couple minutes so they're not too hot to eat. I found the baby carrots were not an easy shape for him to munch on.

But Raj, our other boy, tries to eat them, even though he doesn't really like them. Ahhhh….. sibling rivalry/jealousy!!

I'm interested to try some of the other veggie choices you guys have all suggested! Any veggies that are totall no-no's for dogs?

We use fleece blankets. For some reason they rarely will chew on them. Towels will be ripped to shreds. My loving husband mistakenly put one of the cushiony dog beds with stuffing in one day and came home to stuffing everywhere. But for some odd reason they won't destroy the $5 fleece I got them from Big Lots 2 years ago!! Wow, I hadn't realized it lasted that long!

Thank you to all of you for all your advice and insight! It really helps!
I was thinking about seeing if they make like a dog weight gainer. Maybe that in addition to the blood tests will help and give some answers.

Thank you again!
PS- This site is addicting! I think I might become a regular poster!

Here's a pic of Duke a few months back-

Here's one from New Year's-

He's basically in the same position. The one from New Year's really shows his ribs.

Here's one to compare our 2 B's. You can see that there's not nearly as much meat on Duke as Raj.

And just an extra one because they look so cute in their jackets!

Thanks for the reply! :o
Duke is just over 2 years. As of today, he weighed 21.5. His brother from the same litter weighed 26 pounds. They eat together and we watch them, so it's not that his brother is taking his food.

We are learning the hard way about bad breeders. I am going to get my paperwork from the breeder out and write them a nice letter. Our other B Raj has had persistent skin rashes and other problems. Both boys had demodetic mange. I feel like so many of these problems are a result of bad breeding. Reflecting back on it now, the person we bought them from was like a mini-puppy mill. She bred B's, boxers, pugs, and I think one or 2 others.

We noticed that our B Duke had been getting on the skinny side. We weren't sure if it was that or that his brother Raj was a little on the fatty side.

I am so worried that Duke might have IPSID. We took him to the vet today and they're going to do blood tests on Wednesday. His fecal came out clean.

What is odd to me is that he's losing weight, but he eats normally, no diarrhea, still has plenty of energy, nothing but the weight loss. He vomited twice 2 weekends ago. Once was mainly because grandma sent some toys, which we know with Basenjis, didn't last too long and he must have ingested some bits and yakked them up. So we didn't think too much of it.

I am just a great big ball of nerves now. I don't know what to do if he's really ill. I keep reading articles on IPSID and they all say that the dog will likely die in 2-3 years! Please help calm my nerves! Any information or advice anyone has would be greatly appreciated!!

We board our boys at Cresthill Kennels. It exit 118 off 95. Check out the website. We've left our boys there for up to 12 or so days and they've come home happy. The kennel is right on site with the owners house. They also breed labs, so you know they love dogs. Not to mention our boys!!

http://www.cresthillkennels.com/

On another note- we've been dying for the boys to make some friends! Since you're in the VA area (or anyone else who is around here too!) we should try to set up some play dates!

-Jessica