This website is best viewed on a PC.SPECIAL ALAPAHA QUALITIES Of the many endearing qualities that make an Alapaha so special, such as their loving and affectionate demeanor towards its people and other comrades they may share their home with, along with their goofy antics and having a playful nature just to name a few. However, aggression is not one of them! They possess the ability to read a situation before reacting, having the mental capacity to approach any given circumstance in a calm manner, and the awareness to settle if a would-be threat ends up being one of your children's friends, for instance. It's these attributes that make them an excellent guard dog with a stable temperament and not a liability. To us, They're just a loving puppy in a big dogs body that wants nothing more than our affection and approval. When we let them, they will gladly climb onto one of our laps, given having a 75 - 90+ pound dog in our lap isn't the easiest feat to achieve depending on who it is, lol! No matter what the task is at hand, they are always alert to their surroundings and very protective, keeping a watchful eye. Jack's silly side, lol! They love the attention from our kids' friends!
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This website is best viewed on a PC. WHICH CRATE SHOULD I USE?
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Make sure the crate latch is an "L" shape, like in picture below! or it could eventually slide out of place, and your fur baby will be on the loose!
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With our research, we like using the raised feeders with ours and we personally, have never experienced any issues with bloat in our dogs.
Read "Raised Feeder Bowls" Benefits/Risks?
Link to the particular Feeder (L), that we use below. By 2 months of age, your new puppy should be able to eat/drink directly out of the bowls in their raised stand.
(Jack, pictured at 3 months)
(Jack, pictured at 3 months)
Slime In Your Dogs Water Bowl?
We suggest washing your dogs food and water bowls every one to two days using the coarse side of a sponge and hot soapy water, then rinsing well until no more suds are visible.
Biofilm needs to be physically broken up in order to be removed. Use the coarse side of a two-sided sponge to break it down, and then put the bowls in the dishwasher which is safer and more effective because the heat is antimicrobial. For a more natural cleanser, you can combine equal parts of baking soda, table salt, and hot water. If washing by hand scrub with hot soapy water, then rinse. Make sure you do not use the same sponge to wash your dishes or counters.
To really disinfect, mix a solution of one tablespoon bleach to one gallon of water and submerge the bowls into the solution to soak for about 3 minutes, and rinsing well to remove any bleach residue which is toxic to your pets. You also can use a bleach solution on ceramic, glass, plastic and stainless steel dishes but not aluminum which will rust.
A word of caution if using plastic feeders, they can sometimes cause an allergic reaction to your pets muzzle or chin area, causing a breakout similar to acne!
To really disinfect, mix a solution of one tablespoon bleach to one gallon of water and submerge the bowls into the solution to soak for about 3 minutes, and rinsing well to remove any bleach residue which is toxic to your pets. You also can use a bleach solution on ceramic, glass, plastic and stainless steel dishes but not aluminum which will rust.
A word of caution if using plastic feeders, they can sometimes cause an allergic reaction to your pets muzzle or chin area, causing a breakout similar to acne!
NOTE: We are not sponsors nor are we paid for any products, pet toys, etc., suggested on our website.
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By 3 weeks of age, we start introducing the new puppies to moistened puppy kibble, along with still getting their mothers milk, and slowly tapering them off of her until they are completely weaned by 7 weeks of age. We also like adding a vitamin supplement to their moistened puppy kibble as well for that extra boost.
Upon reaching 7 weeks of age, they are eating dry puppy kibble specifically formulated for Large Breed Puppies, 3 times daily until they are full with each feeding. These dogs will not overeat.
*By regulating their feedings, this also helps to make their bowel/bladder movements much more predictable, and aids with housebreaking! These are the brands pictured below of the Grain-Free dog/puppy foods that we prefer to use.*
*Our dogs are very active! we are fortunate enough to allow them hours of free play outdoors, they play tug games a lot, chasing each other, and exploring our property, etc., Because of their high activity level, we like to give our dogs free choice of dry kibble only, no wet food, as they are maintaining a consistent, healthy weight, and we will adjust this accordingly depending on their age and activity down the road...
Otherwise, we would suggest around 1 year of age with average to moderate activity feeding adult dry dog food two times daily.*Wet food can cause tooth decay in your pet*
NOTE: We only use their dog food and occasionally small pieces of cheese for training and treats, no table scraps.
Ice cubes are a favorite treat too, they all come running when they hear that ice maker! See our blog on "Dangerous Treats".
Upon reaching 7 weeks of age, they are eating dry puppy kibble specifically formulated for Large Breed Puppies, 3 times daily until they are full with each feeding. These dogs will not overeat.
*By regulating their feedings, this also helps to make their bowel/bladder movements much more predictable, and aids with housebreaking! These are the brands pictured below of the Grain-Free dog/puppy foods that we prefer to use.*
*Our dogs are very active! we are fortunate enough to allow them hours of free play outdoors, they play tug games a lot, chasing each other, and exploring our property, etc., Because of their high activity level, we like to give our dogs free choice of dry kibble only, no wet food, as they are maintaining a consistent, healthy weight, and we will adjust this accordingly depending on their age and activity down the road...
Otherwise, we would suggest around 1 year of age with average to moderate activity feeding adult dry dog food two times daily.*Wet food can cause tooth decay in your pet*
NOTE: We only use their dog food and occasionally small pieces of cheese for training and treats, no table scraps.
Ice cubes are a favorite treat too, they all come running when they hear that ice maker! See our blog on "Dangerous Treats".
***See detailed Puppy Stages Progression Photos, Potty Training and Feeding***
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*Toys That Can Take A Chewing*
Just a few toys we've found through our experience that can stand up to their chewing! These are great and come in different sizes. Puppies grow fast, and we suggest getting the largest size available for your new puppy at 8 weeks to adult. *We choose not giving our dogs rawhides/pig ears or knuckle bones, etc., for risk of being a choking hazard. Giving them these types of treats/chews, will almost always leads to them not being interested, and refusing the safer bones/antlers, and other types of toys, because they can not compete with those types of flavor basted chews, and bones. The types we use listed below, can last ours a long time.
We have not experienced any of our dogs breaking off or chipping their teeth with any of the toys we have suggested here.
This being a working breed, their mouth is like our hands and they LOVE to chew and carry things around... Ours like variety and these toys help keep them from boredom so they stay happy and satisfied, especially on their downtime.
*I like to add to this from time to time, once I feel the toys are tried and true from our experience with all of our dogs in our opinion!*
Just a few toys we've found through our experience that can stand up to their chewing! These are great and come in different sizes. Puppies grow fast, and we suggest getting the largest size available for your new puppy at 8 weeks to adult. *We choose not giving our dogs rawhides/pig ears or knuckle bones, etc., for risk of being a choking hazard. Giving them these types of treats/chews, will almost always leads to them not being interested, and refusing the safer bones/antlers, and other types of toys, because they can not compete with those types of flavor basted chews, and bones. The types we use listed below, can last ours a long time.
We have not experienced any of our dogs breaking off or chipping their teeth with any of the toys we have suggested here.
This being a working breed, their mouth is like our hands and they LOVE to chew and carry things around... Ours like variety and these toys help keep them from boredom so they stay happy and satisfied, especially on their downtime.
*I like to add to this from time to time, once I feel the toys are tried and true from our experience with all of our dogs in our opinion!*
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Chuckit! MAX GLOW-L/XL.
This particular "Chuckit! ball", and there are a few different ones, poses no threat of choking and glows in the dark. Our dogs absolutely love it! Jack walks around flexing his jaws on it, while it makes a funny popping noise with it being hollow and flexible with a hole on both ends, he seems to really like that, lol. As long as your puppy/adult does not begin to chew on the hole openings on either side, then it can be practically indestructible! 
Nylabone ANTLER Alternative Dura Chew Powerful Chewers Venison flavor-L. This one is pretty tough! 
Nylabone Dura Chew Ring Chicken Flavor
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Plastic bottles without their caps or labels of course. They don't last long but they have a great time with them while it lasts, so keep an eye out for any signs of the plastic being punctured and then of course, THROW it away!
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Petstages Deer Horn Long Antler Lasting Chew-L.
This withstands their chewing and lasts for months with all of ours chewing it, as do the other types we've listed. When the bones get worn down where they could possibly swallow one, we throw them away. We also keep a spare in the car and in their crates.
This withstands their chewing and lasts for months with all of ours chewing it, as do the other types we've listed. When the bones get worn down where they could possibly swallow one, we throw them away. We also keep a spare in the car and in their crates.
Great Tuggy Rope!
*We Suggest this one for a puppy up to 3 months old. Otherwise, supervised play with adult dogs!* This braided rope toy without those loose rope ends and tag, is best for ours to play tuggy with and it seems to last longer. They do prefer the 12 in, for whatever reason. Also, it's a really good choice as far as rope toys go, for them to chew on individually, and can last months with younger puppies up to around 3 months, depending on their desire to chew. When your fur baby begins to knaw off any fibers or pull out stuffing, etc., from any toy THROW it away!
Lily
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Nylabone Power Chew Galileo Chew Toy-L/XL
This is Super Durable!
This is Super Durable!
Pet Qwerks Dinosaur BarkBone Real Bacon Dog Chew Toy-XXL-XXXL
They LOVE This one!
They LOVE This one!
Lexy with the XXXL
***See detailed Puppy Stages Progression Photos, Potty Training and Feeding***
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DOG TREATS AND DANGERS
TREATS: know that if you choose to buy any pet treats/food made in China your pet may be at risk. Chicken jerky treats, chicken tenders, chicken strips, chicken treats, or sweet potato treats, they can all pose a potential threat. As a precaution, buy only food and treats made in the U.S. Buying pet food made in the USA won’t eliminate all risk of ending up with tainted products, but it can improve the chances of keeping your pet safe.
*Sweet Potato and Yam pet treat labeled brands are suspected of causing new cases of unexplained acute kidney failure. According to the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) 1, veterinarians are now reporting health problems linked to dogs consuming sweet potato and yam treats, and also showing similar signs of an exceedingly rare type of kidney disorder (Fanconi’s Syndrome aka FLS: A disorder in which the proximal renal tubules of the kidney do not properly reabsorb electrolytes and nutrients back into the body, but instead "spill" them in the urine. If left untreated, a dog with Fanconi syndrome will generally die from the disorder. ) as dogs that are fed poultry - there is another, more sinister, association. All the treats, regardless of type, are imported from China. Dogs with FLS usually drink and urinate much more than normal. They can also be lethargic and uninterested in eating. Some dogs may have all of these symptoms, while others show only some of them. The symptoms may be mild or severe.
Since 2007, the FDA has become aware of increasing numbers of illnesses in pets associated with the consumption of jerky pet treats. The majority of complaints involve chicken jerky (treats, tenders, and strips), but others include duck, sweet potato, and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes, or yams.
If your pet has the signs listed above and has eaten chicken jerky or sweet potato treats made in China, contact your veterinarian. Save the treats and packaging so that they can be tested by the FDA if they are suspected to cause the illness.
*The FDA recently released a warning to dog owners telling them to avoid bone treats, after receiving 68 reports, affecting 90 dogs, of pet illness related to bone treats, including 15 deaths, reports Syracuse.com.
The FDA defines a “bone treat” as “real bones that have been processed, sometimes flavored, and packaged for dogs.” These are unlike butcher bones, which are uncooked and have no added flavor.
These potentially dangerous bone treats are available at pet retailers across the country and are usually labeled as “Ham Bones,” ‘Pork Femur Bones,” “Rib Bones,” and “Smokey Knuckle Bones,” and often dried through baking and flavored with smoke, preservatives, and seasonings.
In the reports the FDA has received about bone treats, dogs have died or become ill after consuming the treats because the products have caused gastrointestinal obstructions, blocked airways, internal bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhea.
DANGEROUS FRUITS/VEGGIES, ETC.
*Beware of Xylitol- Xylitol is reported to be 100 times more toxic to dogs than chocolate and causes an increase in insulin circulating through the dog's body. This may cause your dog's blood sugar to drop and lead to liver failure. Initial symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Eventually, the dog may have seizures and liver failure can occur within just a few days.
*Chocolate- Large amounts of chocolate and cocoa products can kill your dog. The toxic component found in chocolate is called Theobromine, which dogs process much slower than humans, and this causes a buildup of toxic levels in their system. Even just a small amount of chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can cause symptoms such as staggering, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, abdominal pain, arrhythmia, seizures, coma, and death. Chocolate also contains very toxic substances called methylxanthines, which are stimulants that stop a dog’s metabolic process. If your dog does ingest chocolate, contact a veterinarian and Pet Poison Helpline ASAP! The signs of sickness may not be visible for several hours even with death following within 24 hours!
*Cinnamon- While cinnamon is not actually toxic to dogs, it’s probably best to avoid it. Cinnamon and its oils can irritate the inside of dogs’ mouths, making them uncomfortable and sick. It can lower a dog’s blood sugar too much and can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, increased, or decreased heart rate, and even liver disease. If they inhale it in powder form, cinnamon can cause difficulty breathing, coughing, and choking.
*Eggs- Raw egg whites can give dogs biotin deficiency, so be sure to consult the advice of a licensed veterinarian before giving them or any food/treats to your pet you may be unsure about, for their health and safety.
*Fruits- Grapes and Raisins, cranberries, Persimmons, Peaches, and Plums are especially dangerous treats for your dog. The problem with these fruits are the seeds and pits. Seeds from persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine and cause intestinal obstruction. Also, obstruction or choking is a possibility if a dog eats the pit from a peach or plum. More importantly, peach and plum pits contain cyanide which is poisonous to both humans and dogs. The difference is that humans know not to eat them. Dogs, unfortunately, do not. Other toxic human foods to dogs are Onions, yeast dough, artificial sweeteners, avocados, alcohol, and coffee.
*Macadamia Nuts- They are some of the most poisonous foods for dogs. Macadamia nuts, part of the Proteaceae family, can cause vomiting, increased body temperature, inability to walk, and lethargy. Even worse, they can affect the dogs' nervous system.
*Garlic- Like onions, chives, and leeks, garlic is part of the Allium family, and it is five times more toxic to dogs than the rest of the Allium plants. Garlic can create anemia in dogs, causing side effects such as pale gums, elevated heart rate, weakness, and collapse. Poisoning from garlic and onions may have delayed symptoms, so if you think your dog may have eaten some, contact your veterinarian.
*Ice Cream- Dogs do not digest dairy very well, and some dogs have a slight intolerance to lactose, a sugar found in milk products.
*Table Scraps- Feeding table scraps can cause many health issues for your pet. Feeding dogs scraps of food from the dinner table damages the health of pets as canine digestive systems cannot process food in the same way as humans. A dogs digestive systems cannot process food in the same way as humans, meaning certain foods normally classed as healthy could be toxic for a dog. Oily and fatty foods can lead to severe health problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and pancreatitis. Even worse, there are several people foods that are highly toxic to animals. Onions or any food prepared with them, for instance, can be unsafe for dogs and should never be given. Fat trimmings, cooked or uncooked can be an obvious cause of obesity in dogs. Fat trimmed from meat can cause pancreatitis or the swelling of the pancreas. This can be painful and cause loss of appetite, lethargy, and dehydration. Feeding cooked bones to your dog such as leftover chicken or pork chop bones etc. is extremely risky as cooked bones can become a choking hazard, and could splinter causing punctures and lacerations internally. Some dogs that are constantly fed with table scraps have the tendency to become dependent on them. Dogs that eat table scraps could start refusing to eat their regular dog food. Aside from that, feeding your pets the scraps can also cause undesirable behaviors such as the sneaking of food off of your plate while your back is turned. Granted, most dogs if given the chance, will do this anyway unless they have been properly trained. However, If they already have a taste for it, this may encourage the behavior along with begging, which both can become very annoying,
Click on the highlighted word, "Dogs Health" and on the PET MD logo below, for more in-depth information on this topic.
*Sweet Potato and Yam pet treat labeled brands are suspected of causing new cases of unexplained acute kidney failure. According to the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) 1, veterinarians are now reporting health problems linked to dogs consuming sweet potato and yam treats, and also showing similar signs of an exceedingly rare type of kidney disorder (Fanconi’s Syndrome aka FLS: A disorder in which the proximal renal tubules of the kidney do not properly reabsorb electrolytes and nutrients back into the body, but instead "spill" them in the urine. If left untreated, a dog with Fanconi syndrome will generally die from the disorder. ) as dogs that are fed poultry - there is another, more sinister, association. All the treats, regardless of type, are imported from China. Dogs with FLS usually drink and urinate much more than normal. They can also be lethargic and uninterested in eating. Some dogs may have all of these symptoms, while others show only some of them. The symptoms may be mild or severe.
Since 2007, the FDA has become aware of increasing numbers of illnesses in pets associated with the consumption of jerky pet treats. The majority of complaints involve chicken jerky (treats, tenders, and strips), but others include duck, sweet potato, and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes, or yams.
If your pet has the signs listed above and has eaten chicken jerky or sweet potato treats made in China, contact your veterinarian. Save the treats and packaging so that they can be tested by the FDA if they are suspected to cause the illness.
*The FDA recently released a warning to dog owners telling them to avoid bone treats, after receiving 68 reports, affecting 90 dogs, of pet illness related to bone treats, including 15 deaths, reports Syracuse.com.
The FDA defines a “bone treat” as “real bones that have been processed, sometimes flavored, and packaged for dogs.” These are unlike butcher bones, which are uncooked and have no added flavor.
These potentially dangerous bone treats are available at pet retailers across the country and are usually labeled as “Ham Bones,” ‘Pork Femur Bones,” “Rib Bones,” and “Smokey Knuckle Bones,” and often dried through baking and flavored with smoke, preservatives, and seasonings.
In the reports the FDA has received about bone treats, dogs have died or become ill after consuming the treats because the products have caused gastrointestinal obstructions, blocked airways, internal bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhea.
DANGEROUS FRUITS/VEGGIES, ETC.
*Beware of Xylitol- Xylitol is reported to be 100 times more toxic to dogs than chocolate and causes an increase in insulin circulating through the dog's body. This may cause your dog's blood sugar to drop and lead to liver failure. Initial symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Eventually, the dog may have seizures and liver failure can occur within just a few days.
*Chocolate- Large amounts of chocolate and cocoa products can kill your dog. The toxic component found in chocolate is called Theobromine, which dogs process much slower than humans, and this causes a buildup of toxic levels in their system. Even just a small amount of chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can cause symptoms such as staggering, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, abdominal pain, arrhythmia, seizures, coma, and death. Chocolate also contains very toxic substances called methylxanthines, which are stimulants that stop a dog’s metabolic process. If your dog does ingest chocolate, contact a veterinarian and Pet Poison Helpline ASAP! The signs of sickness may not be visible for several hours even with death following within 24 hours!
*Cinnamon- While cinnamon is not actually toxic to dogs, it’s probably best to avoid it. Cinnamon and its oils can irritate the inside of dogs’ mouths, making them uncomfortable and sick. It can lower a dog’s blood sugar too much and can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, increased, or decreased heart rate, and even liver disease. If they inhale it in powder form, cinnamon can cause difficulty breathing, coughing, and choking.
*Eggs- Raw egg whites can give dogs biotin deficiency, so be sure to consult the advice of a licensed veterinarian before giving them or any food/treats to your pet you may be unsure about, for their health and safety.
*Fruits- Grapes and Raisins, cranberries, Persimmons, Peaches, and Plums are especially dangerous treats for your dog. The problem with these fruits are the seeds and pits. Seeds from persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine and cause intestinal obstruction. Also, obstruction or choking is a possibility if a dog eats the pit from a peach or plum. More importantly, peach and plum pits contain cyanide which is poisonous to both humans and dogs. The difference is that humans know not to eat them. Dogs, unfortunately, do not. Other toxic human foods to dogs are Onions, yeast dough, artificial sweeteners, avocados, alcohol, and coffee.
*Macadamia Nuts- They are some of the most poisonous foods for dogs. Macadamia nuts, part of the Proteaceae family, can cause vomiting, increased body temperature, inability to walk, and lethargy. Even worse, they can affect the dogs' nervous system.
*Garlic- Like onions, chives, and leeks, garlic is part of the Allium family, and it is five times more toxic to dogs than the rest of the Allium plants. Garlic can create anemia in dogs, causing side effects such as pale gums, elevated heart rate, weakness, and collapse. Poisoning from garlic and onions may have delayed symptoms, so if you think your dog may have eaten some, contact your veterinarian.
*Ice Cream- Dogs do not digest dairy very well, and some dogs have a slight intolerance to lactose, a sugar found in milk products.
*Table Scraps- Feeding table scraps can cause many health issues for your pet. Feeding dogs scraps of food from the dinner table damages the health of pets as canine digestive systems cannot process food in the same way as humans. A dogs digestive systems cannot process food in the same way as humans, meaning certain foods normally classed as healthy could be toxic for a dog. Oily and fatty foods can lead to severe health problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and pancreatitis. Even worse, there are several people foods that are highly toxic to animals. Onions or any food prepared with them, for instance, can be unsafe for dogs and should never be given. Fat trimmings, cooked or uncooked can be an obvious cause of obesity in dogs. Fat trimmed from meat can cause pancreatitis or the swelling of the pancreas. This can be painful and cause loss of appetite, lethargy, and dehydration. Feeding cooked bones to your dog such as leftover chicken or pork chop bones etc. is extremely risky as cooked bones can become a choking hazard, and could splinter causing punctures and lacerations internally. Some dogs that are constantly fed with table scraps have the tendency to become dependent on them. Dogs that eat table scraps could start refusing to eat their regular dog food. Aside from that, feeding your pets the scraps can also cause undesirable behaviors such as the sneaking of food off of your plate while your back is turned. Granted, most dogs if given the chance, will do this anyway unless they have been properly trained. However, If they already have a taste for it, this may encourage the behavior along with begging, which both can become very annoying,
Click on the highlighted word, "Dogs Health" and on the PET MD logo below, for more in-depth information on this topic.
This website is best viewed on a PC.
There are so many poisonous plants out there, here is the link and the Top 10 Poisonous Plants to your pets!
This website is best viewed on a PC.
I wanted something different and I thought Jack looked like the color of some Moonshine. So, after doing a little searching, I came up with Moonraker's....And that's how Jack got his name. : )
Thanks for reading! Susie
Here's the article.
MOONRAKER, MOUNTAIN DEW, MOONSHINE, OR WHITE LIGHTNING?
Thanks for reading! Susie
Here's the article.
MOONRAKER, MOUNTAIN DEW, MOONSHINE, OR WHITE LIGHTNING?
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