Ours were just over a year when we started feeding the proper stuff, they would love to crunch it because the bits are big for there jaws. We never really had any medical problems with them, one had a fatty lump removed at about 5 and he just died about 10 year old, his brother was in good health till he snuffed it recently. There predecessor was taken out by a gamekeeper so he got a slap.
Mine took to sleeping down my back, his head would be at my shoulder and his tail would be mid calf great warmer in winter.
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