Sarabe,
Regarding the twiglets and quavers, I watched It's Me or the Dog once and V Stillwell told a woman off for giving her dog crisps etc saying they were too salty for dogs and bad for them. I have avoided giving crisps since then but are they ok??

Where abouts do you live?

Hi,
Sometimes my dog does not eat his breakfast (or just eats a bit). It's not all the time, but he just doesn't seem like a "breakfast" sort of dog! I don't leave it out for long cos I don't want him free feeding. By teatime he is starving but I'm not sure whether he should just have the amount he's supposed to have or whether he should have what he left at breakfast time. His food is measured out to a specific quantity so if I just give him one meal, surely he is only having half his daily amount?? My husband reckons he should just have a normal sized meal at teatime and not double it up, but I disagree because he looks ravenous and am sure he needs more. Like I said though it's not all the time so it's not a huge worry really.

run

had an idea

The gym

I agree with Sarabe, leave him outside for a bit. I always assumed my dog wanted to come in straight away (cos it's cold and I would!) but sometimes he just likes to sit or lie down and get some fresh air. He lets me know when he is ready to come in with a quiet bark and in he comes. 

It was my mum-in-law, not me and she has now had her spayed. I'm sure she will have signed an agreement, but I hadnt realized they could take you to court! I suppose it makes sense, it's like puppy farming isn't it, anyone could cobble a pedigree cat together with dodgy parents and pass them off as the real thing charging hundreds of pounds. I am understanding it now - it's no different to dogs in that respect. Rather than saying "we really don't want you to breed from this cat" they class them as "non breeding cats". Of course they CAN be bred from but it is not what the breeder wants. I get it now. (always have been a bit slow on the uptake!!)

Well, the first time they met i was at my mum's and not in my house and he was slightly better than he was today. He calmed down a lot quicker then. It could be his aftershave or something like that, I never thought of that. We don't really see them very often as we live quite far apart (we're in Yorkshire, they're in Lancashire) so it won't happen too often luckily.

Sarabe, I don't know why but I get the sneaky feeling you've done this sort of thing before  I must admit though, Shadow loves cheese but I worry he will end up getting fat (or poorly!)  but there's loads of things on your list that I hadn't thought of that seem better for him health-wise.

Don't need a brush for mine, all his fur is on my carpets/setee/clothes! I'm suprised he actually still has some left on tbh. I use a comb so it also gets to the undercoat but any good brushes etc anyone can recommend would be appreciated x

omg, am sitting here now with tears running down my face! Good job I am on my own cos I live in an all male house and they think I am really soft and pathetic (I am!) that was really sad though x

Hello,
My dog first met my Uncle at Xmas, and seemed to dislike him immediately! He has 2 dogs so we thouht it could be that, but his wife would have smelt the same he was fine with. Shadow did settle down after a while, but his reaction was quite suprising. They have been to visit today, and Shadow was in his crate. By the time my Uncle came in, Shadow had wee'd a bit in the crate, and his hackles were up and he was doing a really loud, high pitched bark, but long after we had all come in (i came in with them having met them en-route) he didn't calm down at all, and my Uncle was quite scared. There was no teeth baring or other aggressive behaviour, apart from the loud barking but it was all quite embarrassing for me. My Uncle's wife (who the dog took a real shine to!) put it down to Shadow protecting the family in the absence of his owner - my husband and said he would be like that with any man who came into the house. We have had my brother-in-law and father -in-law and the dog never behaves like that. he is a bit boisterous and silly but calms down quickley and never ever behaves like he did today. I know dogs can usually sense bad people or people who could harm you but my Uncle is a nice man (he is an actor, you might have seen him as Elgin Sparrowhawk in Green Green Grass but now I'm just showing off!!!!) Can anyone think why he might react like this to this particular person, or do dogs just like some people and not others for no reason?? I don't want him to get a bad reputation or for people to think he is an aggressive dog when i know he isnt.
Thanks, Emma x

Marc,
It's a shame people feel the need to justify the fact that they like Staffs! personally I have always liked them, and the only reason we haven't got one was because my husband prefers bigger dogs. They have got a really bad reputation lately and that isn't helped with idiots owning them as some kind of "trophy" to show everyone how hard they are! I'm sorry, I don't really have any good advice, but I would really try not to listen to all the negative things people seem all too willing to dish out (and that doesn't just apply to Staffs). You are doing research, and not going into this lightly, so just do what you think is best. It is your decision, nobody elses. 

Yep, agree with Candi and Sarabe.