Thank you ever so much for your answers =))) it feels good to learn from your experience! makes me feel more confident.

I am actually home all day with him. He uses the crate (with door open) at will. I closed him in for 30 minutes this evening while I went to the shop, but at other times I go off upstairs and leave him loose...but keep returning to look through the glass and see if he's still busying himself with his own toys (he has 18 toys at last count, and he goes from one to the other and leaves our stuff alone =)))

The reason I ignore him (probably 50% of the time) is because I don't want him to be completely dependent on my being there. I am a little stoic toward him, trying to display Cesar Millan style calm leadership. Of course, I just want to grab him and make as-shrill-a-voice I can =))) but I have to restrain myself.

Thanks again =))))

Yup, Berners love to carry things in their mouth! I always walk Molly to get the mail and give her something to carry back, she gets going faster and sticks out her chest as soon as she gets it....such a proud Berner lol!

We used to soak my Newf's food in water too- the only thing is you have to make sure it's a high quality food or I think bloat can be a risk. If we soak Molly's it doesn't really expand and I think it's because it is a higher quality one.....not totally sure about this- maybe others have some more insight?

How cute Molly sounds =) sticking her chest out proudly =)))

I will look more into the food situation. The Royal Canin one that the vet suggested seemed good, as it was meant for large breed puppies. But if I look online, I see all kinds of recall notices.

Purina also looks bad if you read the Internet =)

so I'm a bit stuck on what's available here and what's good..... would love to take care of his diet myself, if I could do it properly.

I have been like you with the dog food. It seems like there is no food right or it depends on what person or vet you talk to. you should feed them meat, grain etc etc.

I use kibble now as a supplement. I feed storm my way . I have 2 dogs, storm which is not active and have to watch weight. A lab husky that is over active. So I did not want to do 2 different kibbles.

go with your heart and how your puppy reacts to food.

sa1821 - totally does make sense what you say about the food expanding. I've got 2 x 30lb bags from the breeder that I will give to the dog pound now! don't want to use it any more (probably suitable for other breeds).

I've been to the pet store and they had Hills, Iams Eukanuba (looked like lots of grain) and Royal Canin. I think the Royal Canin for giant breeds looked best. They didn't have puppy, but they had junior (8 months - 24 months)... puppy (Indi) is 3 months old. I'm considering the Junior though as it is probably less calorie rich than Puppy.

Brain-implosion! time to follow my heart like you say Frissel =)))

Good thing is, Indi is thrrrrrriving. Happy, lovely, playful, obedient, frolicky =P and oh-so-fluffy!