persephone

:) good! it will heal fairly quickly ..

SUPERVISE your pup, keep it happy and occupied with you and what you are doing ... (not sitting cuddling it all day, but playing/training , getting to know each other) ..get pup very used to being alone and not bored ..ie: from the first hours you have pup home ..ensure it has time alone in pen/crate /room /yard .Feed it in a set spot .. have bed somewhere safe , etc ...

A sandpit ..with smelly treats and a toy buried ? a soccer ball ... our pups all love it ..they roll it around , and chase it ..and wrestle it .. (leather ones are better in case they chew ) those balls which make weird noises as they roll are irresistible ... the cackling noise annoying, but irresistible to curious pups !

She is only one dog ..but a consistent foundation is a very good start .. and will set any puppy off on the right track , forge a strong relationship between owner and pup, and give an owner a much better understanding of how pup thinks and behaves :)

No ... you and she missed NOTHING , IMO - working together, communicating, achieving, learning and sharing experience is more valuable than gratuitous cuddles and admiration ;) :) Quite possibly :) ..as it should be .

rest for a couple of days ..NO JUMPING/twisting.... then vet if it's still obvious. It could be a patella problem , or he could have just strained a muscle ....silly boy :p

just remember - his tummy is VERY small ..and whatever food goes in there needs to absolutely digestible ... I hope he starts to pick up very soon :)

no

Ziva ! Love the name ... N C I S fan ? Clever ploy, too!

The question might be best discussed in a new thread - not where someone's mourning the unfortunate loss of a puppy ....

Sometimes I hate being a cynic - however- you aren't an experienced dog - world person ..and haven't much experience dealing with different breeders, etc. Unfortunately, you did not ever see the parents/littermates, or your pup in real life ..and IMO, a photo can be anything ... a litter of puppies is a litter of puppies in a photo when you don't know what you're looking for/at So ..the happy healthy puppies you saw photos of may, or may not have been ,the litter from which your puppy came. Lots of folks buy a pup sight unseen , I know .. and some get burned .. it would be very hard.

Sounds very normal for that breeding ..and it is so sad that now, dogs are not allowed to play like this , because of noise concerns

..and that amount is too much, if they are putting weight on . halve the amount of mince, and mix in grated veggies ..... perhaps.

MtS feed whatever you like.. but halve the quantity ;)

Hi, and welcome :) I suggest the first thing is a thorough vet check .. (not just heart/lungs) checking vision/hearing etc as well ..because deteriorating/unreliable sight or hearing can cause problems...also maybe get a blood profile done .. just to see if there is anything odd happening? I would also suggest, if you can, to enlist the help of a professional (behaviourist) who can see the dog, and his behaviour, and do an assessment , then provide you with help and strategies to cope. just my suggestions... :)

maybe if is true.

*snigger* apologies .. it is immaculate and beautiful...BUT my very first mind flash was "topiary"

:) yes.You must :p Also.. your 10 minute daily training sessions will help settle her , and will also help to consolidate wht you learn from trainers etc. :)

Your dog was just showing you how very uncomfortable and unhappy she felt.... haltis need to be gradually introduced, before starting any real work in them .They can make dogs feel very odd for a while.. they are a very restricting tool .. Chain collars ( they should never choke a dog) are a useful tool, providing the user has been trained how to properly use them ..it's all in the timing ...and a good understanding of the tiny changes in a dog's body language enables them to be used in conjunction with lots of verbal praise/instruction.

Do you have a recent photo ..of him standing side on, maybe? Agree with changing food ..slowly does it .... 2/3 old food, 1/3 new food for a few days , then gradually increase new food, and decrease old food...

problem is with puppies..and we all have done it ... when a tiny puppy pats at your leg , or stands up ..we pick it up! fatal error ! Yes, they do it to their Mum ..and other adults , to reach the mouth /muzzle ..but it is bad manners to do it to humans . You may want to also think about starting immediate Nothing In Life Is Free ... , which incorporates what dog geek mentioned... LINK

Yes.

LizT I agree

They are not all like that ;) I have worked with many labs around 18 mths who were as steady and mature as anyone could want :)