Niki8

Hi guys, We have only five weeks before bringing our labbie pup home…yay! Our preparations are in full speed now and wanted to ask a few more questions. Does anyone have some experience with a vet in Eastwood, Epping, Marsfield or North Ryde area in Sydney? Based on the reviews on the net and a recommendation of a friend of mine, I have chosen two places but if anyone has a personal experience that could share that would be great and very helpful :) I also would like to ask for suggestions regarding puppy schools and obedience training. In the same area - Eastwood, Epping, Marsfield, North Ryde in Sydney or somewhere close. The two vet places run puppy schools and I have got another recommendation from a friend of mine. But again, if anyone has good personal experience, I would love to hear about it. I have read a couple of threads in here regarding puppy schools, and I am aware some people are pretty much against them (as if they are not run well, they can be more damaging than helpful in early socialization). I definitely want to give it a go but will see how our pup likes it and how I feel about it after the first session (may even discuss my concerns here if I have some)… One more question…what is the best age to start with a puppy school? I know that they suggest somewhere from 8 weeks but somewhere else they take pups after the 12-week vaccination. Thanks lots :)

The other thing is to make it clear. For example, don't allow your puppy to chew an old Dunlop Volley and then complain when he decides to chew your Manolo's. He doesn't know the difference...... Yep :) Thanks ellz!

Thanks for your suggestions guys :) It does makes sense what you have written and am more than happy to do it as you suggest...playing with the pup outside the playpen and confine it only when I cannot be around, just for a short period of time... Yep, minimax and ellz, that sounds right how to train the pup not to chew things I don't want him to...thanks I love this forums...everything has a bit more sense when there is a chance to have some discussion...it's sometimes hard when I read things in the books and I think I understand what they mean but then when someone asks questions to a specific case, then it just doesn't work... Thank you all again

Thanks for the comments…looks like there is still lots and lots for me to learn, no surprise for a first time dog owner. From the books I have read, I understood that all the playing (if not done outdoor – which I hope on most days will be our case) is done in the playpen where the pup does not have a chance to chew on all different items (like chairs etc.),just on his chew toys…that’s why I imagined we would play with him in a playpen…that was the plan for bad weather days when the pup would not enjoy the play outside (I mean for us it’s not a big deal to play with him in the garden if it rains but will he really like it? I truly don’t know as we havn’t had a dog yet :) ) I must admit I haven’t thought it through, I don’t think we would play with him in the playpen when he is 6 month old but I guess I would possibly use it when I had to go to have a shower and my parner wasn’t around and it was horrible weather outside or similar… How do you then train your pup not to chew furniture? Do you just use a crate? By saying that I don’t really care about our furniture but maybe one day I’ll buy a piece I wouldn’t want to have destroyed so I think it’s a good idea to have our darling trained :D

Thank you so much for all your comments everyone :) LOL minimax :D Clever doggie Originally I was aiming for something which would look like a piece of furniture, that’s why I looked at baby playpens. The link for the one from Oz Grooming World looked in a way similar and high quality. Yep, the one in the link may not be high enough SecretKei, but they sell another one 90cm high. I like all your ideas, the wire Compost Bin from Bunnings is an excellent idea, I am just worried it won’t last…I have read an article somewhere yesterday about how pups from between 5-6 months start to push their boundaries and sometimes it may look like they have forgotten all the training you’ve done with them. They suggested in the article to start using playpens at that age again to reinforce the training and not to end up with chewed furniture and all the other items. Then slowly start letting them out under supervision. So it must me something which will last. I believe at six month, our pup should be around 75% of their adult size, so he will be a big and strong boy already. I looked at vebopet as well (I did yesterday already) and they have really good dog runs but I can’t really imagine to have something like that inside. I am not a big fan of having a top on the playpen as when we are indoor with the pup, we will be sitting in the playpen and playing with the pup there. The pup will also have a proper crate inside the playpen. Sorry, I don’t want to sound picky, I should have been more specific in my original post and I am really grateful for all your comments…huge thanks to you all... I am thinking that we may buy some baby playpen and attach it to two walls and the floor to make it more stable…?

Hi guys, Just a quick question…I want to buy a playpen for our lab pup for when we play with him inside (otherwise we have a nice big garden and can safely play outside together). I have found lots of baby playpens for a reasonable price but I am worried that they will not be stable enough. Like this one: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Baby-Kids-Toddler-Deluxe-Natural-Wooden-Playpen-Divider-Safety-Gate-8-Panel-/350619544643?pt=AU_Safety&hash=item51a28dac43 Thanks to Dancinbcs suggestion of Oz Grooming World for crates, I discovered some good quality playpens there as well but they are quite expensive. http://www.ozgroomingworld.com.au/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=49_130&product_id=268 Maybe this is a normal price for quality, I am just wondering if someone else has some experience with inside playpens. Thanks lots :)

Ohhh...yeah, that's right...sorry Juice, I didn't look around much, I thought they were all together :( Next time, I have to have a proper look... :) Thanks Danny's Darling and PuddleDuck for your comments...very useful :)

Thank you so much guys for your suggestions :) and huge thanks to Mystiqview for your extensive advice :) :) and also TashaBailey for the Erskine Park (we'll go to check it out at one of the upcoming weekends :) We ended up going to Petcare 2000 in Castle Hill today, just to check out what they had there (in terms of food and water bowls, collars, leashes and some toys) and then to Parklea markets. Juice, they actually had pups for sale in Parklea markets! ...it looks it has changed since the last time you were there...we ran away from there, didn't want to buy anything from a place where they sell pups... Then we found there was a Petbarn near the Petcare in Castle Hill as well, so went back and bought a couple of items in there and some in Petcare :-) I checked the Vebopet and Oz Grooming World for crates, thanks for that guys, the crates are so much cheaper there compared to the pet stores. If I don't find any second hand one, will most likely go for some from the Oz Grooming World...thanks Dancinbcs :)

Hi guys, Our baby boy (a labrador retriever pup) was born 2 weeks ago, so we have 6 weeks to get everything ready…awww :D Some of you may remember, a couple of months ago I asked a question about what doggie book you would definitely recommend to have in your library…now, our dog library consists of 16 titles with some still on their way :laugh: …thank you lots for all your suggestions :) Both my partner and I very much enjoy reading those books and imagining the tiny ball of fur with us already. Anyway, my question today is what is the best place to go shopping in Sydney for our pup? I have in mind some bigger pet store/warehouse where you can find all sorts of things. We live in Eastwood but we don’t really mind to travel :) We are thinking of possibly going tomorrow to buy a few first items and mainly to look around and see what we will need (we have a list of things we want to buy but I guess in the shop we may find a few other bits which would be handy). Thank you heaps! :)

Thanks all for your suggestions :) I think from now on I will not have time to read anything else than books about dogs...not complaining at all :) EXCITED!!! looking forward to having a bit more insight into the dog world :D Btw in love with this forum...starting to be quite addicted :laugh:

Hi Penumbra...sorry to hear that you have lost your friend Sending a huge hug and lots of positive energy... I love your choice of music :) And I am adding one of my favourite songs... :)

:laugh: That's for sure ElleAus... Thank you so much everyone! So many great books, I have put some in my wishlist already and I guess will add a few more tonight :) It is going to be a big box of books...yay :D

Sounds like a really good book stans mum :) Even without reading through I can tell this book is very special and definitely want to read it...such a great gift! Thank you :)

Great dancinbcs :) Thank you!

Love the handbook zeebie! Thanks for that! :)

Thank you Kajtek and zeebie :) Looks like within a few months I will have a good collection of books about doggies...woohoo :D I cannot even express how excited I am reading all this info new to me...I still have quite a few weeks before bringing my pup home (end of November)...I am sooo, I mean SOOO impatient!!! :laugh:

Thanks Kajtek...will look it up :)

Oh wow, that's an amazing site espinay2!...so many books about dogs and so many on sale and quite very cheap!!! Big shopping tonight...yay:-))) Thanks noisymina and Hardy's Angel for your suggestions too :)

Thanks lots mixeduppup, tdierikx, espinay2, Elenbah, dancinbcs,Puppy Sniffer and Brennan's Mum :) I will see what I can get online and will get a bit dog book crazy I think... :laugh:

Hey guys, Is there a book you would recommend to have in your library - something like a dog bible where you find various useful info? There are not that many books about dogs in our local store so would like to order something online but without having a chance to read through it a bit it is hard to judge...it doesn't have to be one book covering all the different areas...I guess some may contain good tips on training, some may contain really cool games, etc...I am not looking at anything in particular...I guess I just would like to hear if there are some books you particularly like and go back to :) Thanks heaps :) Just to add, I am getting a labrador retriever so if there are some which are particularly aimed at this breed that would be great too :)

Looks beautiful...as well as your other pics :)

Great post espinay2 :) Some great ideas:-) Thanks heaps!

Awesome Tapua

Thanks guys so much:-) I will read through it...I've thought someone might have already asked a similar question in the forums, thanks lots Caind01 for the link:-) Yep, will ask my breeder when we are around:-) I guess by then I'll have quite a few more questions to ask... Will take heaps of pics Aussie3 :D Another 3.5 months to go though before bringing the little boy home...awww, can't wait :D

Thanks Saffioraire :) ...it's a very interesting article...I guess I am lucky that I work just 4hrs/day and will be able to spend most of the time with the pup... :) I am very excited, counting the days down :D