persephone

It is sad, and makes it hard for you The breeder may well now try& make you feel very guilty ... DO NOT take it to heart . it is NOT your fault - You got caught up in getting a cute puppy .......... and paying a fortune for one from an unknown family line ....... That's happened lots . Now you feel awful , and I understand ... Breathe .. and put it down to experience .....

.. I'm sorry you got caught . When you refuse this puppy - the breeder gets a strong message that what they are doing is NOT the right thing to do. Hopefully it will be a lesson for them , in that THEY need to be responsible . The puppy will no doubt find a home with someone else .. it doesn't know what it may be missing .... When paying big money for a pup - YOU deserve the best you can get ...

I'll be generous and think perhaps inexperience and a degree of panic may have been a factor ..... unacceptable - but possible .

Cheys - be aware that if you DO decide to take this puppy - it brings with it all sorts of extra risks- both healthwise, and temperament wise. is the breed such that there are no others available ? was it a special colour/type? really - if you can , walk away, and spend some time looking for another breeder who can provide you the best available puppy ....

No way. It must be hard for you - having your heart set on 'your' pup - but it is the BREEDER's responsibility to raise happy and healthy pups until they are 8 weeks old , when they can then be legally rehomed.

also- these tips may help :) LINK LINK

:D Great news!!

LOL!!

a chain LEASH ..not just a bit of chain ... a nice smooth fine linked leash... is actually nice to use :) ..and I usually only have to use it a few times - just until pup discovers that chain is not nice to play with ;)

any help ? LINK

cautiously optimistic :D

You also need to protect him and you from situations which may turn nasty. I have no idea , but would suggest you contact someone reputable and experienced in enzed- someone other than a franchise with a catchy name , someone who will talk to you, and someone who can explain WHY the behaviour is happening :)

I would go for a good quality collar ..and LOTS of reading/research and help with training!!! Sounds like you and your pup are not communicating in the same language ;) harnesses have their place ... but IMO training a young pup isn't one of them. A puppy who is leaving holes in you, and chewing leashes etc is a puppy who has not yet been taught boundaries ..and , no matter if you are using a $100 harness, or a piece of string - it is what YOU are communicating to your pup which will change that :) Thefre are lots of things you can read to help you understand dog behaviour - which is what is needed to then help teach a pup . try some of these out - LINK LINK LINK LINK I suggest you buy a strong , but fine chain leash (a proper leash, with handle, etc) ..pups don't chew them for long! I use them for leash training in the early stages. Chewing leads , behaving like yours does on lead, can be frustration . to US it looks like 'bad behaviour' - to a puppy it is a reaction to being controlled ..and having not much idea of what they are supposed to be doing - I hope 'puppy school' is a help in getting you to understand why puppy is doing what they are doing :) LINK

and appropriate training MAY help with some of this barking ... it is not his job to protect you - he should feel secure that you will protect him . barking when a snake is seen can be useful, yes .. but barking at strange noises/people/animals is unnecessary . What have you tried in the way of training to make things quieter? I know it can be frustrating trying to fiund something that works !

WooHoo :) :) Dear little boy will be Sooo happy :D

SLF - You know what might be interesting and useful? To phone Werribee Uni Clinic . Long term survival, and residual effects after envenomation must be documented somewhere - and there may also be info on envenomation during pregnancy . if there's NOT - then perhaps they would be keen to take notes !!! Either way- they have lots of staff & resources & info which might give you an insight which a normal vet/clinic can not. I do think the puppies' weakness and slow growth , plus Reba's behaviour is all linked to what effects are left after the snake bite ... just my 2C worth ...and would be seeking some specialist advice.

She's pretty cute :) Love those big eyes .

Thinking of you ...

:) my dogs used to only hear a tablet bottle rattle and they were THERE - sitting, tails going madly ..I could give them pretty much anything..and follow it with a treat , and they'd be happy . I had to really be careful when taking my own meds .... "be vewwy vewwy quiet..."

..and LOTS of 'be calm' training/trick training can be done indoors away from the heat, and the snakes ! :)

So sorry .

good idea, but this was about DEWCLAW REMOVAL ( as in total surgical removal of that little 'thumb'-bone & all ) , not normal toenail trimming ;)

I think debarking has its place :) AFAIK the procedure can only be done after all other measures have been tried ....

:D excellent!!