Talien

Agreed, and he's doing pretty well for a 13 week old! He has sit, lay down, up (sit from a lay down position), as well as two finger target touch! I'm working on "stay" at the moment, as well as retrieve. He gets the whole "go get it" but not the "bring it back" part hehehe. I think toileting will come with time, he's only had one accident inside this weekend, but we also have a trained full female in the house so I think he's picking up a few things from her

He likes play and tug too mostly he likes to tug on my hands, but lacking those his raccoon toy. Which he LOVES. I think he might even love it more than me, except he gives it to me when I ask for it, so surely that means I am more important?

I SOOOOOO feel your pain right now. My boy arty is 12 weeks, nearly 13. If the back door is open he will always go out to poop. Every time. If the back door is closed well, that there is my fault. However, regardless of the door being open or closed he will pee wherever he is, and I haven't gotten angry with him, that will just make the situation so much worse. But it is so frustrating. I don't know what to do. I think taking him out every hour or so when I am home and treating him if he goes to the toilet is a great idea and one I need to put into play except that my boy has practically no drive for food. I'm stressed out enough at the moment with life, I feel like I am losing my grip on this boys training but I also feel like maybe I am doing to much. I don't know. Bad day maybe, but I do feel your pain!

I was so worried about him being underweight I was mixing his kibble with a bit of wet puppy food. I don't think I need to do that anymore so I'll be cutting his food back too

I went to the vet and Arty was underweight. Went back two weeks later for vacc's and he is overweight! So the vet said I can take him on longer walks. I make sure that he walks on the grass though, as it will do less damage to his joints. At his age, he can be walking about 15 minutes by rule of thumb and his walks are about that, though we only take him on days when my partner and I have both been working all day. We go slow and let him sniff almost anything he wants (it's good for brain function) and he gets pats from almost everyone too (we live in a high foot traffic area with lots of other dogs). I have been told that in 2 weeks I can take him to the park and the vet said to make sure that he goes over all types of terrain to increase his balance (nothing wrong with it just extra development). So when we go he'll be going with Elysia, though I'm not sure I want him off the lead as yet (no recall, well not enough). The 5 minute rule is great, but I think it depends on energy levels and weight. If you have no problem with weight, difficult/puzzle treats (bones, treat balls etc) are good to work their brains, they get more tired out from mental work than physical exercise at this age (so it seems to me anyway).

Looking back at your post I'd say you wont have much to worry about, because the rat was whole. Chade was a very small cat but with enough tenacity to take out a possum and gorge on it, so I believe that is how he got poisoned. If the rat was basically intact then you probably wont have to worry about anything. Worst case scenario I'd say is that if they did get any of its blood, and if it was poisoned, then they may get an upset tummy, but hopefully when alls said and done they are fine I think they will be ok, just best to keep an eye out

My cat died from rat poison about two years ago. It begins with excessive sleeping, and they don't act the same. Chade was a very skittish cat, but didn't wake when we through boxes near him in the sun room (we were moving house). If you notice your dog sleeping a lot or drinking too much take him or her to the vet. If it is rat poison, (strychnine) then it can be fixed (if early enough) with a Potassium shot. This helps their blood to clot as the strychnine thins the blood and causes them to hemorrhage from the inside out. If you're not sure, continually check the paws, see if there are any cuts or abrasions that don't seem to be getting better. DO NOT let the vet tell you to wait. If you are worried, go in immediately. Chade only lasted two nights. (The vet told me to wait till the Friday. By then it was too late.) Things to look out for if it gets too bad: Lack of will to eat or drink. Bright fluro green vomit. Enlarged tummy area. Bleeding from paws. Swelling paws/legs. Unusually quiet behaviour. I hope for your sake, and your dog's sake, that it is not rat poison. It is a terribly painful way for them to go. So again. If anything gives you the slightest concern PLEASE take them to the vet. It's just not worth the pain of losing them so horribly.

Yeah I'm joining in January :D so stoked can't wait!!!

Around where I live in Vic we mostly get creams and light golds the breeder I went to has the darkest retrievers that I've seen IRL, but I do know that they can get very dark, never seen a dark puppy before he looks stunning! Arty is a golden brown colour, sort of a gold with a silvery tone to it. I am very interested to see what colours he comes out as!

Probably just sorting out who gets to play with the toys first, I wouldn't worry about it just yet

Showing them the vid on Xmas day is a great idea! Man is love to see their faces!!!

Wow!!! Is he a golden? He's so dark!

I just sent off the pedigree change of ownership forms once you send the signed form off you will get the pedigree papers back some time later

Same!

Yeah he's doing wonderfully though he was out of sorts because daddy wasn't around. Had his first hydro bath today and I found fleas so gonna ask my mum if she has any frontline or anything when she gets home from work.

I don't know your dogs. I don't even know you guys really. But every time I read the rainbow thread I even this one my heart bleeds for each and every one of you. I cry even though I don't know you all personally, and I wanted to let you know that the stories you share affect others too. I want to let you all know you are in my thoughts, as are your Beloveds as Christmas comes around. They are gone but we never forget them, and the pain never goes away nor should it for through the pain of their loss we come to l ow just how fiercely we loved each of them. Love and cuddles to you all. Xoxo

For me it was at 6

I was curious is all and after having the prefix stuff explained I'm more than happy that she was able to get anything close to his name

I think so too, arty is my first dog and I'm having problems already I don't know what I should expect of him and that makes it doubly hard

To be honest as cute as the pictures are they do make me uncomfortable an if I was in the same room I would feel ill, even though I know he/she is busy chillaxing... And yes white with pink noses/lips and even with black. With greyhounds I don't know why I've never had a bad experience with them or anything even like them, it's odd. The feeling isn't as intense with greyhounds though.

Nyaw what a cutie!!!

How come greyhounds can't be off lead in Vic, is that a law or? (new to rules and regs)

Oh dear! Please don't take it to heart, I KNOW my fears are irrational! The thing is I WANT to get over the fears because most are golden and just like Arty they just want love and cuddles and to give licks. I would love to own a GSD, but I am partially afraid of them or at least "wary". I want to be able to not freeze when I see them I want to be able to interact with them, and I hope I get that chance when I start puppy school or dog events. I am not singling breeds out to say they are bad, I don't believe in "bad breeds". I believe that all dogs deserve to be loved and cherished (in 99.99999999% circumstances - by this I mean, that if the dog is excessively aggressive then I might refrain from patting it...). I'm sick of my own fear getting the better of me when I see one when I know in my head that these dogs have never done anything to me and would probably love a pat, owner permitting of course. It's up to me to change my physical feelings about these breeds and I'm working on it but it is hard to know where to go to meet dogs of these breeds that people will be willing to let me pat/get licked. Does it make sense? Sorry I reallllly don't want people thinking I am blaming the dogs, I am blaming myself and my upbringing for these feelings, definitely NOT the poor dogs

The thing is I don't judge by their breed, every dog is great in it's own merit. I'm not a fan of small dogs, but that's a "preference" thing, what happens when I see a white bully breed is purely physical, my heart goes nuts, i get all sweaty and stand very still hoping they wont see me. Despite this I went online and found some of pit bulls that helped me "Dolly" Link is here Totally changed my views of pitbulls, watch it, its cry worthy but beautiful

Yes! Gah I've been kept away from bully breeds my entire life (had a viscious one next door as a child which was pts for mauling someone), so when I see most kinds of bully breeds I physically freak out. I have seen some absolutely gorgeous ones that have the personality of teddy bears (sometimes cuter!), but I can't help my aversion. I want it to stop as I've only been bitten by a GSD (which was my own fault). I'm terrified of bull terriers, pit bulls, GSD's to an extent though it hurts because I love them too! And greyhounds. And the only semi-even passable rational ones are the pit bull (but only that ONE pit bull, not all) and the GSD (again only that one) but they've clouded my emotions when I am around them and I don't like it :*( ETA: Oh! I didn't know it had a name, awesome, thanks