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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Labrador Puppy

307 replies

revolutionconfirmed · 29/03/2012 18:15

Hi all. I'm a long time lurker but first time joiner and poster.

I have three young children (ages from 16 months to 4 years) and we've just purchased a gorgeous gold pedigree labrador bitch. She is arriving on Monday and at the moment she is six weeks old. The breeders told us that she has been eating puppy food and drinking whole milk as well as feeding from her mother.

I've had dogs before but this is the first time I've had a labrador and the first time I've had a puppy of my own. What do I need to know? I thought I'd ask here as you all seem to be the most experienced I've read.

Thanks for any answers.

OP posts:

Gillybobs · 27/04/2012 08:21

I thought labs did usually shed. We went for the Labradoodle as the poodles dont shed and this crossed with the lab is meant to give a lab-like dog that doesnt shed (I think) (knows nothing about dogs really...)

Just bathed Amber and Im more soaked than she is. It was like trying to bathe a bag of snakes...

Jajas · 27/04/2012 08:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PurpleFrog · 27/04/2012 08:58

Labs do shed... a lot! I can't remember when ours started - later than 4 months anyway. And once they are bigger there is just a lot more hair anyway.

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 27/04/2012 18:15

I didn't know. Looks like my vacuum will get lots of use as it does with my white rabbit.

OP posts:

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 02/05/2012 12:47

The malting! It has started! dP's all black outfit is flecked with gold.

OP posts:

Jajas · 02/05/2012 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 02/05/2012 22:14

She went for her first walk yesterday to and from nursery. She met a bull dog which was funny to watch as she was all go until he came near her :o. She's a bit of a slacker on the lead and pulls back to investigate random patches of pavement but I'm confident we'll get there.

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BoatingLakeDiva · 02/05/2012 22:23

We are getting ours in 3 and a half weeks! I am so excited I could burst. I might have to trawl back through your entire thread to see how it has gone for you! In a nutshell, how has it been? Are there pictures of her on here? I must see her. What colour is she? We are getting a yellow. They're definitely the best, but I could be being biased

BoatingLakeDiva · 02/05/2012 22:25

jsut read back about three posts. From what you said about the moulting i gather she is a yellow too. They are delicious!

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 03/05/2012 03:06

We have a yellow. She is 11 weeks old now, finally fully vaccinated and microchipped and almost trained to a good standard. She still likes to poo and wee in the house if the back door isn't open for her constantly and she'll respond to ?Off? if she nips if you say it very sternly or more than once. She does sit on command though :o.

It's been a brilliant experience for us so far although we have only had her for four weeks and change. She sleeps in our bedroom and is great around our young children. She does get boisturous and nips them from time to time but ?Off? works well in those situations.

Photos can be found on sadieandme.tumblr.com

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BoatingLakeDiva · 04/05/2012 09:29

I've read your blogs revolution. She looks beautiul. I cannot believe how big she has grown in 4 weeks. do the children love her too? She sleeps in your bedroom? I quite like that idea for our dog to be. Rather than downstairs where she can whine and keep us all awake. Dh not so keen! MAybe I should put him downstairs in a crate Why did you choose to let her sleep upstairs? Just curious.

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 04/05/2012 19:13

The children adore her. They are still finding their feet with winding her up and receiving a few scratches but are getting there. They are very gentle, just a bit playful :o.

I have a crate by the side of our bed that she sleeps in. We wanted her in for the first few nights with us to settle in so she's near a little sense of familiarity rather than in a kitchen alone. She seemed to like it and she stuck with it. Sometimes we leave the crate open and she'll sleep on a pillow bed we made her near the radiator and jumps up on the bed at first signs of life. She can't get into the children's room as we have a stair gate on their door and does her business on newspaper on the landing. I hope she'll soon learn to control her bladder and we can do away with the crate and newspaper but if we have to keep her crated, so be it.

DP wasn't keen about the crate in the bedroom either but soon came around when after three days of very broken sleep she seemed to be happy and settled.

Our biggest issue right now is the peeing in the house. Unless the back door is constantly open she won't go outside or cry to go out and even when it is opwn, sometimes she'll come in and just pee in the hall.

When are you getting yours again?

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BoatingLakeDiva · 04/05/2012 20:29

may 27th or poss 26th. I'll be on here for advice no doubt

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 05/05/2012 14:14

There's great advice in this thread. Saved us a lot of time getting things right when we did it first time. How old will he/she be when you get them?

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BoatingLakeDiva · 05/05/2012 18:23

8 weeks and a 2-3 days. We cannot get her earlier as we want to all get her so weekend works best for us. Getting a bit nervous now, why?????????I feel lilke a nervous bride! I wasn't even this jittery when I had our children! I hope I cope

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 05/05/2012 18:28

I was nervous and excited at the same time. It's a huge responsibility, it's scary to think that she might not respond well to her new surroundings or training, cleaning up seemingly all the time etc.

They're a joy though :o. Sadie and I will no doubt be cuddled up together tonight eating pizza (her eating the ham off the pizza) while watching The Voice and simultaneously bitching about it on the MN thread :o

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BoatingLakeDiva · 05/05/2012 19:37

i know this sounds like a stupid question - one of many many stupid questions but when you are upstairs changing bedclothes, bathing children or whatever, what do you do with Sadie if you want her downstairs and you are on your own? I'm thinking of putting her in her crate (yet to be bought) with a kong or a toy or something and letting her get on with it by herself for half hour or so. Does that sounds acceptable? I am often home alone with the children as dh does two jobs and is out more than he is in. That way, if she was crated I would;t have to worry about the wee and poo downstairs if i was busy. Not worried once she is housetrained but just while that phase is under way.....

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 05/05/2012 19:40

She stays downstairs but sometimes follows me. You can crate her if you like but she's likely to come out and pee anyway if she was going to.

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BoatingLakeDiva · 05/05/2012 19:53

not worried about her weeing d/s as we have wooden floors all through the house but u/s is carpets. Not unduly worried about hat either but if I am concentrating on bathtime etc, I don't want to be stressing and distracted during stoty time etc. about her weeing u/s so thoughg keeing her d/s until she is housetrained might work.

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 05/05/2012 21:49

If you can safely keep her downstairs, in a crate or out of it, do it. We have carpet upstairs and since Sadie can get under the gap on the gate on the stairs, we have many MANY marks on our biscuit coloured carpet. We're in rented property so we will have to replace it as soon as we're able to afford to but we're adamant we're not doing it until she's a bit older and housetrained completely.

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BoatingLakeDiva · 05/05/2012 22:18

does Sadie howl or bark if she is separated from you? Have you left her indoors for any time yet? wish they had a bloody chat option on MN!

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 05/05/2012 22:29

Feel free to PM me for my email address or FB if you have it.

She only cries if she's been accidentally locked upstairs. We've left her for short periods daily while I've done the school run but no longer than an hour and a half completely alone. I don't think she barks or howls and the neighbours haven't heard anything either. As long as she sleeps close to us or right next to us she's happy.

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BoatingLakeDiva · 05/05/2012 22:36

my school run is only 30 mins round trip so that should be fine. The school are v dog friendly and allow dogs to be brought to school as long as they are not in playground which is well off a public road so v safe. I'd take her there once she's jabbed. am trying to convince dh to let her sleep in our room. I actually don't see a prob with it other than will she wake every time we go for a wee in the night?! if she senses movement will she think it is time to wake? Sorry for this Revolution! Getting last minute nerves

Original poster

revolutionconfirmed · 05/05/2012 22:39

No problem. Keep them coming! If I say something that may not work for you/is completely wrong someone will come along and sort it out :o.

She may wake in the night but it shouldn't disturb her too much. If she thinks it's play time shoosh her like the would usually in a calm voice, tell her a command like "sleep" that she associates when she goes into the crate and within a few days she'll start to understand the bedroom is for sleeping and the only time she gets up is when you let her out, not because you've got up.

OP posts:

BoatingLakeDiva · 05/05/2012 22:43

crikey - it really is like having a new born baby! dark is for sleeping

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