[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Pawsies

Anyway she's been on a diet of dry food, goats milk and tripe and is getting bigger, my parents still want to feed her more but I don't. I think she's big enough now, her ribs are able to be felt and she looks a decent size.

It's more probable that she is just not mature. Slow maturing dogs look thin longer. My cardigan girl is the same way, in fact she just started to spring her rib cage and drop her chest this past spring and summer. She was 2 last Dec.

You could probably put a little more weight on her if you wanted. And yes, it will probably help in the ring. If several people are telling you she's too thin then she probably is. (As well as immature.)

Try adding just 1/4 cup of dry food to her daily amount. And see if that helps. If not add a quarter cup more. By adding only a quarter cup at a time she shouldn't get fat on you. Of course it's going to take a few weeks to see any difference.

The other problem is that our scales are in stones and we need to measure her in kg. Is 10kg right for a smaller female cardigan?Any tips on how to make her stand still on the scales? Lol.

Well, I use pounds so I can't say if that's a good weight or not.

Don't try to get her to stand on your scale. Instead weigh yourself and then weigh yourself while holding her. Then subtract your weight alone from the weight of the two of you. That will be her weight.

Last thing which isn't relevant to food but anyway. We keep getting told her nails are too long, they are just past the quick. She is a real wriggler and won't sit still for long. How can I make the experience more enjoyable?

Doubtful you can make it more enjoyable but you can teach her to tolerate it.

Do you clip her nails or use the grinder (Dremel)? A grinder is easier. Look at this site: How to Dremel Dog Nails @ DoberDawn.com

What I did with Lacy who was at one time horrible about having her nails done, was I'd do one nail (I use the grinder) and give her a treat (a dog biscuit broken into many pieces). Then I'd do the second nail and a treat. Did this with every nail.

After a few times I'd give one treat for two nails, and so on. Now we're down to one tiny treat per paw. I'm happy with that and she seems to be too.

And do her nails at least once a week. If you use the Dremel you can do them weekly or even twice a week if they really need to be shorter. You only take off a tiny bit at a time. And gradualy they will get shorter.

[/quote]Someone also told me that when they had litters of pups, they would make the pups bleed when they cut the nails on purpose so that the pup could feel what it was like and would be less wriggly or something. I thought it was quite cruel.[/quote]

I think it would make them worse, thinking they were going to get hurt every time. I do my puppies nails each week, I start when they are one week old. I only take off the tips and am careful to not make them bleed. I want them to learn that I *can* do it and they have to let me.

Peggy