persephone

GD's are not only smaller for th space factor .. owners are matched to their dogs. Smaller dogs may well be better for an older more lightly built person. A chunky shorter dog may well be MUCH better at working thru crowds on a regular city commute- and a leggy tall dog may well suit someone who does lots of exercise or perhaps needs a taller dog so they can 'feel' more direction. Matching dogs to owners was always fascinating to me... dogs with low/high body sensitivity- dogs who could cope with country rough paths and livestock dogs who would be forceful enough to barrel safely thru dense crowds, dogs who were astute enough to work in different cities/towns regularly..and dogs who were placid and non-demanding enough to be easily handled on regular simple routes .... it certainly was/is not 'one size fits all' :D Coat was also important ... ,as was pigment on pads/nose .

I always found labs to be the 'wombats' of the two ... and GR's to be a bit more on the refined and gentle side . Labs would walk thru you..and GR would stop and consider it first, and apologise afterwards :D

YES, YES, YES ! It's often a case of bad manners V even badder manners :D All due to a MUCH more restricted lifestyle our dogs have...and the less experience dog owners have in the basics of dog behaviour.. I mean basics.. not leashwork or obedience, but the sniffing/barking/fighting/peeing stuff that is in all dogs.

is the mum panting? are the pups snuggled up to her, or at the other end of the bed? Are they huddled together, or lying separately? Do they stop crying if picked up? They may be cold, or , as is often the case, they may be too warm :D babies which are too warm ,too cold, too empty, or too full, cry.They could also be in pain, as mentioned. get your thermometer and place on the bedding where the pups are ... see what temp. they are experiencing. baby pups cannot regulate their temperature- they can only complain...and try and find somewhere warmer/cooler. If this is not possible, they keep complaining.

Hi, and welcome . I second the 'no couch' idea! IMO that privilege is to be well earned - not taken as a given.This dog is only new- and needs to find out his place is NOT sitting up with the pack leaders- just yet , anyway :D The TRIANGLE of TEMPTATION may be a good idea- just to make him see that you are 'god'.. that he needs to pay quiet attention .. and YOu are in control. that just means that he dislikes what you are doing .Perhaps have him on leash more ? so you can see/feel if he has a launch happening- and can correct him. I would not be gratifying him with any face closeness either just yet. ..if you do this, it seems to me you are giving him permission to touch your face . I would also suggest you engage the services of a professional - there are folks here who can recommend someone from your part of the world

if it were me I would have also grabbed my small dog.. and endeavoured to move well away. I have been caught by people saying- It's ok... he just wants to play... blah, blah, blah. edit to add- being honest, I would have asked/called out for you to call your dog back - probably without being terribly polite :D YOU know your dog- other people don't, and so take whatever action they think best at the time. Maybe some of the mans' comments were not accurate, but maybe that's just how he DID see things ? people's personal space can be quite a large area- and they try and give their pets the same

I think one of the most important things is for new puppy owners first to work on being calm and objective and non-gushy :p VERY hard to do --- however, I am of the firm belief that if you make the pup the centre of your world on those first few days ...and laugh at the attempts to wriggle free, the nipping,the pawing at you for attention, the cutsey way pup attempts to climb over the baby gates , or chew the cushions... then THIS is what pup remembers and accepts as normal :p I believe in ( and find hard) laying down the rules firmly from day one. Accept pup into the house- do a 'tour' so it gets used to smells/sounds/sights/boundaries... and use every display of wanted behaviour as an excuse for cuddles and praise- but don't just do it because you want to indulge yourself I'm mean BUT, by working at it, I have had puppies sleeping indoors, no crates ... and on their own beds, no chewing , only one or two toilet accidents .... and calm behaviour ( the rattiness came later as I slackened off! )

Around here at night it's like watching traffic lights! We have Koolies and Koolie X's .. so ,according to colouring, eyes are green/orange or red ! Handy for ID'ing dogs in the dark

What a loving and touching tribute :p Bastian was a lucky boy.

Alfie02 .If this pup is only getting walked a few times a week- he may well be a lot harder to settle A youngster like that needs a session or two of training each day , I would imagine ... what does he do the rest of the time? he would be SO desperate to get going somewhere.... no wonder he pulls :p Is he desexed ? I have only ever had a couple of experiences with entire male boxers- neither of them pleasant .They certainly can be assertive and physically strong.

Glad they're home It will be a long road to bouncing comfortably again, but thank heaven there was no internal damage !

Ok -

Thanks for updating - and glad to read of her improvement!

Poor puppy, poor owner. I just have one concern... why would you willingly hug/handle a puppy with an unknown condition ?

your poor auntie- and those two cute boys ! Hope they're ok. Make sure the vets do up a good detailed report- and have photos!! *fingers crossed *

So- this dog is not yours/living with you? How often is the dog walked? What other training has it had with you then?

he was a much loved boofhead :D

Their operation certainly was not portrayed in a very good light .

Glad things are looking brighter now

Excellent post, jed- and may I venture to say that it is a method which could benefit a lot of other dogs !

juice- that's awful, poor dog.I can understand how he is uncomfortable . I really do think you need a different(caring and knoweledgable) vet opinion, and some treatment addressing the cause of it.

Oh I am sorry to hearof the weight loss- and will be thinking of you waiting for biopsy results . *fingers crossed* for good news!

wash everywhere but neck/head then

If your cousin has physical limitations that would put her or her dog in danger then a head halter is a useful, responsible tool to gain leverage. I have trained quite a few dogs (labs, ADULT) to a headcollar..as they were therapy dogs belonging to people with pretty severe physical limitations (stroke/wheelchair, cerebral palsy) The owner (your friend) really should get a professional to give her some help Training her to correctly use whatever tool she is most comfortable with, and/or using different methods to get the pup in synch with its owner . A headcollar used correctly on a dog which is suited to its use can be a helpful tool .