shad

don't mean to hijack your thread or anything.. .but i've got a vaccine related Q: is it ok for a 10 week old puppy (who will be getting a 12 wk c4 vacc) to play with a fully vaccinated 6mth dog?

Hello Mrs tornsocks Kirri has actually been holding through the night for a few days already. As she sleep next to our bed, I hear her stir a few times during the night but she doesn't cry or scratch at the door to be let out like she did at the start. When I get up in the morning and take her out she runs straight to her toilet area and does her business! :p too bad she doesn't always go back to that spot during the day! I say let Archie wake you up when he needs to go. And you can get some decent sleep again!

hi all, just had an interesting question earlier tonight. My friend owns a dog and, for whatever reason, isn't sure if her dog is fully vaccinated or not. Would she still be able to play with my 9 week old puppy? She seems to think that she may carry diseases on her from her dog, and that she could transfer it to my puppy. is this possible?

Cheese spread, cream cheese, honey or KONG puppy paste smeared around the inside of the Kong will make some of the kibble 'stick'. You can also stuff a piece of dried liver treat into the small hole at the top to keep the puppy interested. Mixing the Kibble with yogurt works well too, makes it harder to get out and if it's still too easy you can freeze it. Persephone has given you some good advice on this one. Your pup doesn't know that you will give her bone back or not. If she thinks that you are going to take her prize possesion away from her she will run away! Practice with toys first and then try with food later on. Make sure that if you do take her bone away that you have something to 'swap' it for while you are admiring the bone, eg. a liver treat, and then give the bone straight back. Another way to increase the puppy's confidence is to walk past her while she is having her bone. Don't pay any attention, just walk past her or sit near her (not too close though) while she eats. When she is confident with that then you can slowly work your way up to giving her a quick pat and walking off. Eventually build it up so that you can touch her food before you try to take it from her. Once your puppy understands that you are not a threat to her food she will be less protective. I did this with my dog and can now take food out of his mouth without protest. That said, I would NEVER let anyone else attempt it and do not allow children around him while he has a bone. TOT is a good idea. It will help your dog to build respect for you as the leader of the 'pack'. Thanks. the walking past her and sitting near her to begin with sound like great ideas. I will start that. I've also done a bit of TOT with her dinner and will continue to do so.

Ok. This is not unusual..this is what dogs do with food.... but, for human society It is also NOT acceptable..or cute..or 'a phase' may I strongly suggest that you start on THIS as soon as possible- make sure pup is used t collar and lead , and begin. Until then... whenever you feed her..make her sit beforehand....please do not take her food away, and give it back...take away and give back... this is teasing, IMO. You can start 'taking' toys etc, first... when she has something in her mouth, get a happy voice, and ask what she has..and tell her how good she is. If she comes to you with teh object..pat her, , say "give" ,(I use "gimmee", as it can be said with a smile)..and gently remove the toy. You can offer her a tiny treat, if you want, as 'swap' Admire the toy, and tell her just how wonderful she is... get her to sit..and when she does-give toy straight back. Once only each time. All this should only take a minute..... Do it a few times a day.......... it is a pleasant thing.... she is basking in your praise for a) carrying something b) coming to SHOW you ,and c) giving up an object Do NOT run after her... it gives her the power- as she can pretty well always elude you!! It becomes a game of power....... and by the time you do catch her- she is ready to defend her prize I do it with our puppies when they can't run very well... when they are babies... and continue... so most of our dogs will willingly give up even a bone or piece of stolen meat. I am too old and fat to be chasing dogs around, retrieving dangerous or stolen items yeh i do it with her toys and mostly she is happy to give. i usually offer her food in exchange. also make her sit everytime before i give her any food. think i'll cut down on the take and give... just concerned that she will end up always running away with stuff chicken wings.

I gave her her first chicken wing tonight. she chewed it quite a bit ... didn't really try to swallow it whole or anything... i was a bit scared too so I stayed with her while she ate it. bones and all The first time i tried to take it off her she growled at me ! then she kept running away with her chicken when i tried to take it off her. I always gave it back to her... just trying to get her used to people messing her food and not becoming over protective. did you have a similar reaction at all?

Kirri is a lab. here's a photo of her playing with her new ball. hmm... if i remove the peanut butter... and suggestions on what I can use the keep the kibble from falling out of the kong?

the peanut butter is for her kong... which i use to give her some of her breakfast. as soon as she finishes it tho and realises we're gone she starts to cry. when she gives up she usually just goes to sleep. I would've thought she'd try playing with her toys? thanks for the suggestions... i've bought some chicken wings but haven't given her any yet. I'll give her one after her dinner tonight.

I'm trying to train our 8w puppy to be happy by herself. Her area has toys and chew toys and her crate which she loves. but when i move out of sight she will cry and cry and there's always some runny poo when i get back. her crying is a lot less now... i'm slowing increasing the amount of time i leave her. when she sleeps in her crate in my room at night, she will stir and I will take her out to toilet and then her poo is fine. is this something she will get over? I haven't changed her diet. but have been giving her some chicken as treats and peanut butter in her kong. just had a thought... could she be peeing on her poo and therefore it just looks runny when i see it? thx

couldn't sleep. so.... meet Kirri at 6 weeks old. picture is a Mexican stand off with a squeaky donkey!

Hi all, Thanks for the concern. We did go see her again today and she was wonderful. Came to greet us with the rest of her litter and played and licked etc etc . Was very cute. Didn't see any of the signs of shyness we saw last time. She certainly isn't as 'naughty' a couple of the other pups... who were tugging at all our clothes and any loose hanging bits lol... but that's just fine with me =) will post some photos tomorrow. 2 weeks to go! It's going to be a long 2 weeks =(

Thanks mercedes =) I spose what I'm wondering is if this rolling on their back submissively is a character flaw or just a difference in their character. Seems like the latter.

Hi BigDaz, I would love to get two ! But as we are fairly new to this I don't think we could handle it. Is this still considered to be appropriate behaviour? I wouldn't have a problem with it if my dog did that. But I wouldn't want it to lead onto something like running away etc...

Thanks mismonaro. I've arranged to go see her again this weekend (6 weeks). So will see how she is! I'll update over the weekend =)

Thanks for the responses. Giraffez, I have read you're thread and I think it could be partly the reason too.... we didn't get to play with the pups for very long before they went to sleep! I have emailed the breeder explaining my concern.... and will arrange to see the pups again at 7 weeks. Read a post in the lab sub forum on what to look out for when assessing puppies so I will follow that when i go!