Labrador Puppy

[revolutionconfirmed]

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.

That was one of my concerns. There are so many pedigree dogs who have been or still are in shelters because the owners can't cope or handle them and I can't guarantee homes, especially if she has a large litter. I'm sure you don't earn a lot of money from breeding either as the money goes back into the dogs so it wasn't about financial gain. Now I know she'll be safe being spayed after her first season I'll be booking her in.

love the latest pics

Sadie has found the rabbit and enjoys chasing her around the garden. The rabbit is definitely the boss though as when Sadie gets too close she ends up running back to me and just staring at her :o.

They are currently staring each other out across the kitchen. I wonder who will move first? :o

i'd be very nervous of a rabbit near a dog!

She's always closely supervised but if they don't meet now and learn their boundaries, how is it going to be when Sadie is three times her size and sees the rabbit and just bounds up to her? I'd rather them be introduced now than deal with a disaster later on.

i agree

I'll try and snap some tomorrow as the rabbit is currently asleep in her hutch.

Gah. 45 mins sleep last night. I kid you not. This is tough.

Just as well she is super lovely : )

Seriously though, she is brilliant during the day, eating, playing and napping well. Night times are just constant whining, and we have tried EVERY trick in the book. Any miracle suggestions?

Take her and her crate up to bed with you tonight.

Settle her down near you with a big old soft cuddly toy in her bed, one of your old dirty t shirts and a fleecy blanket or something and she should be better.

She is used to sleeping in a pile of warm, squirmy siblings and has suddenly found herself alone in the dark. She's anxious and don't forget as tiny dogs they are unable to control their body temperature well, so will quickly get cold sleeping alone - her previous sleeping companions have been little hot water bottles for her.

I also think it sounds as though she's over stimulated during the day. Like children, the more tired they are, the less likely they are to settle to sleep. Is she sleeping enough during the day? Or is she charging about with children and playing a lot? I saw you mentioned she's following you about a lot - it sounds as though she needs teaching to settle herself down.

also, Ignore, ignore, ignore.................harsh but it is meant to work. she will forgive you and she won;t be 'scarred for life'. No point having an owner who is absolutely clinically exhausted. Ignore!!!!!!! (Plus follow the tips as stated by Daisydot

I ignored Sadie and within five days she only cried when she needed the toilet so I'd wake up, take her to the newspaper in the bathroom, commend her and send her back to bed.

I put a hot water bottle and an old shirt with my scent on in her crate along with a Kong toy to chew on and a cuddly toy with no hard bits like eyes to chew out. I decided against the tickong clock but sometimes it can help to leave the radio on low volume or have a ticking clock in the room.

I like to play with Sadie an hour before bed so she's nice and worn out too.

Thanks all.

Weve been trying the hot water bottle/fleecy blanket smelling of her mum,soft toy/radio on combo for nights to no avail. If we ignore her for any length of time it accelerates from a cry and whimper to full blown yelping/squealing which goes on and on for hours, waking my 2 kids too. My brain feels like its full of cotton wool Im so tired.

Afraid you're just going to have to ignore her then.

It will be hard, and you'll end up exhausted but it will work.

She is comfortable, warm and safe. It can't be doing her any harm. Puppies make the most horrendous amount of noise even when with their siblings, so it's not just because she's with you.

She's trying to get attention, ANY attention so don't say a word to her. Not a thing. No sushing, no soothing, no telling off. NOTHING.

Calm before bed, a wee outside with praise and then into bed with a treat. No fuss, just very matter of fact. If you fuss, she'll think her behaviour is what you want - or that there's a reason to need fuss IYKWIM.

If you want to take her out for wee, do it with no eye contact, no words. Just a swift scoop, out and back to bed.

It should work in a night or two. They a unimaginably quick to learn how to behave by following your cues, even if you don't know you're giving them.

When it comes to it, do the same when she has her first trip in the car.

I think every dog is different and some are more anxious and need human closeness than others. Yes, she will give up after some days, but that doesn't mean she will have stopped feeling bereft.

Is there a reason why she cannot sleep under your bed? For my puppy at least, that was the most comforting place to be.

To be honest if she would sleep by my bed Id tolerate it for the sake of my sanity. But she is fussing and whining every half hour through the night so it doesnt seem to help.

Im seriously considering sending my kids to my parents for a few nights til we get through this. Trying to ignore her is distressing my 10yo DS who is already shattered with the change of routine this week. The noise is incredible!

Is she crated?

Try a night out of the crate - one of mine hate, hate, hated the crate and was much happier out of it. Pen off a safe area in your bedroom perhaps and see if that helps.

Setting boundaries and sticking with them will bring massive rewards. I know how worrying and hard it is when it sounds as though your pup is breaking her heart and keeping everyone awake.

But, if you have muddled boundaries, or inadvertently encourage her behaviour it will go on and on. Try and keep in mind the adult dog you hope to end up with - and that's probably not an adult labradoodle sleeping on your bed at night!

They do wail like banshees - I do feel for you. It would be a good idea to ship your DC to your parents if you can, it would remove at least one layer of worry for you.

It honestly won't last long, but I expect it'll feel like an eternity.

think of it in teh same way you would controlled crying for a child. Short term pain (for all involved) for long term gain ( for all involved). Being exhausted is the worts thing ever. But as others have said, it will NOT LAST FOREVER! Take the advice given and within a week you will have it sorted ....max.

worst

Thanks all. Hubby sleeping on the sofa tonight with Amber in her crate nearby. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed for a sleep : )

tell him to IGNORE!!!!! Good luck

How did last night go, Gilly?

Hubby let her wander around the lounge as he slept.....so we are no further forward. I don't blame him trying to get a sleep but we can't go on like this!

You really don't have to crate her if she hates it.

They don't suit all dogs, and some just hate them. Maybe she's one of those.

Give up on the crate for a night and see if it makes any difference.

And I think I am being thick. Why are you no further forward if you all managed to sleep? Does it matter that she got to wander around?

I guess Im just thinking that while she is this small its not safe for her to be wandering freely? I think of the crate as the safest place for her to be to allow us to sleep without worrying. Or am I overthinking it?

revolution Im sorry I hijacked your thread with my whinging