SmoothieGirl

Just did some serious catching up on this thread and I just love them all. What is the name of those toys that have a round bottom and constantly roll and topple upright all the time when you push them over. That's what the first video reminded me of, so loveable. Can't wait for the next round of antics.

Strike that, - I'll post in the Photos pages, that makes more sense.

Hi all Thanks for the advice, I currently have towels down on the floor all over the place. Not practical for her not to be on tiles, as my entire living area and hallway is tiled. Great news is that Bronte is fine. She came good after a couple of hours, no swelling at anytime and she insists on running round the backyard like a maniac and playbowing to my cat (who's just not interested in the whole 'dog' affair). Photos will be forthcoming, I was a bit busy playing and training yesterday. She also spent her first half day alone today and I came home to a contented puppy asleep in her kennel. Hopefully she didn't carry on for too long before she settled. I'll post the photos on the Gen Discussion forum. Shel

Hi Shellectra Just on the dog door thing, I think you'll find your cats won't use it, it will be too heavy. My cat only just tolerate her cat door and its the smallest one you can buy. I'm going to get a dog door too, but probably when Bronte's much older and furniture safe. Her toilet training (day 2 1/2) is going well. Not long now. Shel

Puppies can also get greenstick fractures REST her. Tiles and young pups is not a good combination, I'm afraid. Hopefully she hasn't any major injuries... Hi Persephone Thank you, I'm going to keep a close eye on her and have the emergency number handy just in case. Seems to be improving by leaps and bounds though, almost literally. I've got blankets and towels down over a good area and finally found the cable ties to set up a pen to block her off from the step. I would just hate myself if anything happened to scar her start in in life. Shel

Things are looking better. Her leg has improved again (probably just panicked stricken mother) and she has been outside, actually touched noses with the cat for the first time and spent five minutes out there by herself very quietly and happily. Think the cat distracted her from her leg and while still a little sore, she's doing better. Terrible day for 'outdoor' training though. Still if anyone thinks they know what she may have done, I'll like to hear from you. Oh, she gets the hiccups a lot, is that normal? I don't think my last dog ever got the hiccups.

Hi all Well Bronte is home and up until this morning all was going pretty well. A few carries on about being felt alone and she gets car sick, but mostly doing really good. Then this morning she slipped on some tiles and seems to have hurt her left fore leg at about 7.15. She was initially reluctant to put any weight on it an was very upset and miserable. Now she puts weight on it but is limping. I'm hoping its a bit like hitting your funny bone and will improve quickly as it seems to have done so far, but I have got the number for Lort Smith in case I need to take her in later today. My concern is about leaving her tomorrow for a half day. If she's still sore should I break the planned routine and leave her in the bathroom with her crate as her bed, or should I leave her outside. She's very quickly picked up that outside is the 'toilet time' area and I don't want to confuse her by forcing her to go to the toilet in the bathroom. But of course, if she's still sore, I don't want her to try and negotiate to many obstacles, like the two steps on the deck outside. Any ideas? Any one with a magic wand to make her slip never happen? Shel

Hi there No comments for the walking problem, my Dobe never had an issue there, but she did want to be a lounge lizard early on. Solution was so simple it was laughable, but might not match your problem as she never got growly about it. She had a nice basket with a doona in it but clearly the lounge was squishy and more comfortable. Off we went to Mitre 10 (before Bunnings existed) bought a piece of 4inch sponge foam, cut it to fit the basket, threw the doona on top and she never ever tried to get on the couch again. Bed fit for a princess. Shel

Little Tails, she is as cute as a button. I bet your cheeks are sore from all that smiling you've done since you got her. Best of luck to you both. Can't wait to see her photos as she grows up.

Hi Luvsdogs I posted a couple of photos early this morning on the Gen Dis page, think I called it New photos (can't remember it was early). These are of her at four weeks. I see her this weekend, so I'll probably have more Sunday night or so. I'm going to bring her home at 8 weeks and work from home half days for a while. I'll also play it by ear a little bit to see how she settles, but I have some options. I might even shoot home at lunch when I am working full days to give her the mid day feed. At the end of the day, if work goes belly up, I'm on the phone and can co-ordinate them that way. Don't worry there will be plenty of photos in the future. Shel

Hi Peibe The breeder unfortunately lives in the middle of the country in a very quiet location and won't have time or the unnatural resources (eg. people, trains, shops) to expose her to anything new. I can work from home too if need be, so this is something I can factor into my plans. Thank you for your advice too.

Shellectra I was planning the same thing, take Mon & Tuesday off, or maybe work 2 half days and then from Wed leave her to her own devices with some distraction toys and a cuddly soft toy. Good luck with your GSD puppy!

Thanks all I'm feeling a bit more relaxed now. I'm going to leave the day care option by the wayside as and pick her up when the breeder is happy for her to come home. Maybe when she older she can attend some day care, but we'll get a good bond going first and some training under our belts.

She probably will, I am just going through the pre-puppy panic. All of my animals have been very relaxed and well behaved, probably because they have very clear boundaries, so here's hoping little Bronte is too.

I know, I'm probably excessively worried about it. My last dog, a Dobie settled in to the house in two days and only cried a bit on the second night. My mum worked part time though so she wasn't ever by herself for more than about 5 hours until she was much older. I'm probably more anxious about it at the moment as a friend has taken on an older dog that is very strongly afflicted with seperation anxiety, but she has had about four owners in her ten month life, so its to be expected.

I was worried about exactly that. Probably better if she learns the ropes around the house first and then when she's a bit older maybe go one day a week. She is a Smooth Collie.

Hi all Firstly thank you to those of you that provided me advice when this was posted on the General pages, but thought I might get a few more opinions if post here too. NOTE - I AM NOW LEANING TOWARDS PICK UP AT 8 WEEKS, BUT MORE OPINIONS WELCOME. I have a bit of a dilemma which I thought I had solved, but I keep revisiting it, so clearly I'm not set on the solution. I have a deposit on a puppy which will be eight weeks at the end of April. I picked up my last puppy (many moons ago) and then took a week off with her to settle her into the new household and routine. With Bronte I will not have the luxury of doing this when she's 8 weeks as I have a major project about to implement at about the same time. My current plan is for the breeder to hold her for me until she is 14 weeks, then I pick her up and take some time off with her. We then go through a settling program to ensure we establish a good relationship of trust and security to avoid separation anxiety, this will include leaving her alone for progressively longer periods over three weeks and will include her going to dog day care two days a week. However the more I think about her critical socialisation and 'imprint' age, the more I think 14 weeks is really just too late for me to pick her up as we will miss most of that time together. Yes she will be with the breeder, but she won't get to be exposed to any new situations that what she has previously been used to. I'm therefore considering the following instead: Pick her up at 8 weeks and in the first few weeks she can go to dog day care Mon-Frid at a very good Dog Day Care Centre (they have a puppy only section in a quieter part of the centre and as long as they have had their first injection they can attend). In this way I will have to wean her day care attendance back to two days a week, but she may not then associate being left at home alone as a good thing. But this way I can still expose her to new situations after work and on weekends, eg. puppy school at my local vets, rides in the car, my dad's house etc. I will still take time off with her when my project is implemented. What do you think? If you have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I just want to do the best by Bronte at the end of the day.

Hi Bobchic Hope you are having a great time with Mr Fluffy this weekend. One thing to consider with the microchip is to wait until you have him desexed, I assume you are going to have him desexed. Then it will be done at the same time and under a general, he won't know its even happened. More to the point, he will have 'other' things or lack thereof on his mind afterwards. This is what my vet suggested for my kitten. She came back from the vet the same night shaved, but otherwise unaware that she should have been taking it easy, little nutcase. Of course this also means that he will not be microchipped possibly for some months yet, so it is a risk if he does get lost or heaven forbid 'nicked'. I've had experience assisting a vet microchip a six month old filly, about 180kgs worth of muscle, and it was an experience I can tell you, but that mare is still a total cow, so probably more her temperament that her reaction to pain. Good luck!

I'm new to the Forum and I knew reading RB would be heart breaking and I know have the tears soaking my sleeve to prove that. Bellatrix I'm so sorry for your loss. Take heart in the knowledge that my Sasha will be looking after little Lucy over the RB. Just what Lucy needs, a big happy Dobie friend to run through the lush green Rainbow Bridge grass with and show her all the cool doggy spots.