The first six months are the "main growth phase". They require high quality protein and nutrients.

The next 6- 12 months require a reduced protein content to help prevent any growth disorders.

Now fully grown, finding the right diet to match their energy requirements is key. 

Now in old age, diets with a lower fat and phosphorus are needed.

Halloween and all that!

Around my way the humans have started to experiment with peculiar costumes and outside the House of the Big American Dog on our street there is a weird giant vegetable with a face on the front that glows when I walk past on my evening stroll.

The other night there was a tremendous thunderstorm which I rather enjoyed because I was safe indoors watching the rain lash down and it gave me a brilliant excuse to bark like mad and wake everyone up, which is always highly amusing. Why are humans so hung up about sleep? I can sleep anywhere, any time.

The storm seems to have given the neighbours ideas, because we are starting to hear bangs close by and see distant flashes in the evenings too, more and more often. My humans have been whispering "Do you think the fireworks scare Sammy?" but while I know they disconcert some of my canine friends, to me they are just another marvellous opportunity to bark like a maniac and wake everyone up. What a strange time of year...

Sammy x

PS I have killed the strange glowing giant vegetable. I just lifted a leg as I walked past last night and it went sort of "fizzle" and died! I feel a bit guilty now.