PFD,
I've been doing the people glucosomine with my lab since we got her just as preventative maintenance. Lately, I've upped her dose with the Costco stuff (I use it too) and my vet told me to find some with not only MSM, but also HA (hyaluronic acid) a.k.a "joint fluid". I couldn't find glucosomine with both so I'm getting a separate supplement. Our vet also recommended we start her on Adequan which is an IM injectable form of glucosomine. This is apparently more effective in getting to the joints in larger quantity and therefore more effective in building soft tissue. We start those injections today with an 8 dose over 4 week start and then to a maintenance program of about 1 a month depending on need. I'm using Tramadol for pain control, which is much less impact to kidneys and such as the normal NSAIDs.
Another breed you might consider: the Braque Obama. Not sure where they come from, lots of melodious barking, no bite. Short curly black hair.
Gil,
I looked into that breed. The problem is that they always hunt left and ignore everything on the right.
