Bubitty

So many interesting posts! Vickie: I really do think your post may be applicable to us. I have always loved her but when she was a baby, I did feel that much of the training/work we did together was done so that she grow up to be a “good” puppy. I loved her but everything I did was in the hope that it would make her a “good” dog so that she wouldn’t wreak havoc on me. These days we just do things because this is how we “hang out”. It’s fun! Instead of “oh it’s time for your training session so that you will be well stimulated” it is now “Hey Baby Girl!!! What shall we do together tonight? What does a Bitty want to do with Mummy????”

So complicated!!! I am going to go with her being an angel because I go around the house singing: What are Bitties made of, made of What are Bitties made of, made of Sugar and spice, everything nice Thats what Bitties are made of! and the good vibes are zapping her!

Her general behaviour is the same, rules are rules and Bitty plays by the rules in her own madcap way. But her training has just improved so much with me just generally being more “gaga” over her. Last night I was teaching her to take a hat off my head and I could see she was thinking and just trying to work out what mummy wanted and concentrating so hard! Normal Bitty would have given it a go but this Bitty was REALLY focused. Maybe whatever it is we have just works for us!

I just wonder about this. Bitty and I have hit something I think. I have always adored her and we have a great relationship but lately I think it’s changed. It’s even better than before. When we train she works her little heart out for me. I am not sure how to describe it but I am so so so so so incredibly fond of her and it’s almost like she is responding to this somehow in her everyday behaviour and interactions with me. She just puts her heart 200% into everything I ask of her. Its making me wonder if they can feel intense love or any resentment we have towards them. What does everyone think? Do you think they know if we did everything right for them but didn’t like them ? Can they tell if we adore them incredibly?

I completely and utterly agree with this post. Being on Dol and hearing of so many "reactive" dogs I NEVER let my dogs run up to any strange dog, to say hello, bounce or otherwise. BUT as far as good breeding and good temperaments go I expect my dogs to be able to handle a dog bouncing up to them and not lose the plot. My breeder would be deeply concerned if one of the dogs she sold me bit another dog simply because it bounced up to her/him. I do not let my dogs get harassed or heckled in the dog park. They are always supervised and I step in to protect them if they are being hassled, however I expect them to be tolerant enough not to bite another dog just because it happens to be rude. I too am sick of people acting like their DA/"reactive" dog is perfectly normal!

TOOOO ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course it is someone's fault you should know there can never be any mistakes/accidents with dogs, particularly at offleash areas - these type of threads always deteriorate :D Its the evil Labs I tell ya! Someway, somewhere, sometime an evil bouncing lab managed to cause this incident, all the other incidents and global warming!!! ;)

oh that is the coolest and most bizarre thing I have seen this week!

Yes! For the better! Bubby has always been very well behaved but was well on his way to becoming a FuddyDuddy. He is livelier since Bitty came home, has a better sense of humour and is much more playful and seems to walk around with an extra spark to him. Bitty brings out the best in Bubby. I also think having Bitty, made me realise what a wonderful and tolerant dog Bubby is. There was this whole new “sucker” side to him that I never realised existed!

I wouldn’t fret too much poochiemama. My Bubby has been attacked by various crazies 4 times in his life (while minding his own business) and he is a perfectly fine dog who is not dog aggressive at all. I don’t ever let either of my dogs run up to any other dogs unless we know the dog.

My two share a banana every day!

Noooooooooo Dee!!!! You must stay true to the goldens!!! I do so love my goldens! Once during a training session Bitty offered me everything under the sun but not quite what I wanted. As a last resort, she ran to the paper trash can, pulled out a used tissue and ran back to offer it to me with a look that said "Hang on Mummy! Was THIS what you wanted?"!

Have to disagree with this as I would say Goldens were amongst the least resource guarding breeds I know. Most of the goldens I know happily share bones, food and toys with each other.

In my experience most of the labs that I have met are like “HI!!!! HALLO!!!! SO NICE TO SEE YOU!!! WANNA PLAY??? WANNA?? COME ON!!!! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!!!!!!” The goldens are more “Helloooooooooo! Where have you been all my life? You are nice! I like you! Can we cuddle? Isn’t life wonderful? Ahhhhhhhh” That said, I have met a few bouncier goldens (own one myself --- the dreadful Bitty) and a few smoochy black bear labs too! Gorgeous dogs though! Probably can’t go wrong with either!

What is a kennel bred pup? Does it mean they have never been inside the house?

Thanks so much for your responses guys! It’s especially interesting to read about the individual puppy personalities! So often I hear about “bonding with a puppy from the litter”, which always makes me think there should be some wonderful bond/impression to be had when I visit the breeder. Ellz, temperament aside, can a pup inherit its...........”conduct” from its parents? Not sure how to phrase this but......Bubby’s mother and Bitty’s mother both have good sound temps. However Bitty’s mum is just divine! Sweet as sugar, just incredibly sweet and adorable. I always want to throw a tantrum and demand they give her to me whenever I see her! When Bubby was an only dog he used to run with her whenever he stayed at my breeders and she was just the nicest little thing in the way she interacted with him. I wonder if pups can learn this from their parents as Bitty is very similar to her in this respect.

Sandra and Ellz, what are the things/signs you look for in a litter to gauge a pup’s personality? I have always been curious! Is it how they interact amongst themselves or with you? Also as Ellz mentioned, do you base it on the parents’ personality as well?

I was training the Bitty on the weekend and it just struck me how much I enjoyed her company. It also made me reminisce my puppy visits to her litter at 6, 7 and 8 weeks. In all honestly she was a rather bland puppy and I didn’t even really like her very much when we were told that she was suitable for us. She was rather dull and on every visit she was not particularly charming. But the Bitty that I ended up with turned out to be the sunniest, sweetest, most madcap, happiest, brightest little ray of sunshine. We (Bubby included) are all mad about her! I just enjoy every aspect of her. Even when she is “Bad Bitty” I can’t help but enjoy it very much! So my question is do Dolers think bonding with a puppy really happens at the breeders? Can you really pick a puppy that is well suited to you or do you just love that puppy as part of raising him/her? Can you end up with a puppy that you never truly bond with when puppy grows up? Is there such thing as owner and dog personalities which just gel and personalities which repel? Is this possible to pick or predict when a pup is only 8 weeks old?

I think I may have found one or two on the Bubby. I think thats how they go grey too!

Bitty loves her Daddy best, no one compares to Daddy. Bubby is firmly a Mumma’s boy!

+1 great stuff Some dogs will vomit after the first one (my girl did), some dogs show no side effects (my boy). It depends on the dog. The enclosed leaflet says to re-dose if the vomiting is within an hour, mine was after about two hours so I didn't bother. Oh, and she's been fine with every one after the first Ahh thanks! I think I will need to try it when it gets warmer.

Corvus how bad is the nausea with Comfitis? I am still too chicken to try my pack as Bubby tends to be a more nauseas kind of dog

Yes!!! Sung to the Tune of “Pinky and The Brain” They're Bubby and The Bit Yes, Bubby and The Bit One is a genius The other's insane. To prove their doggy worth They’ll dig up all the earth They're chubby They're Bubby and The Bit, Bit, Bit, Bit Bit, Bit, Bit, Bit Bit.

Yes! Bubby! Bubby is extremely passive. Nothing really bothers him or excites him very much. He lets us to anything to him. The only thing he is excited about is gourmet home cooked meals (there are various dishes which float his boat), walks and Bitty. He is happy to just laze around and for a few years before Bitty came along, OH and I were quite worried about him. He wasn’t depressed but he was just..........................meh. He’d go on a morning walk, stay inside all day and sleep, afternoon walk, sit around and beam at every one, rat for a bit, come in and sleep until morning. I think Bitty has improved things for him greatly. Bitty is like this crazy, bouncing ball of energy that does not let up. She cajoles him into things. She teaches him how to play and she will persist until he joins in. I still remember her as a puppy, teaching him how to play tug, making up games and pushing him to join in. She has been amazing for him. He gets excited when she is around. He plays, he romps and he tries to drag her out at night to join him on his ratting. Bubby is very easy to live with and especially amazing when you are sick or have a bad hangover. He is even extra good if you are feeling frail. Bitty just crashes around with much glee regardless of what is going on.

Firstly congratulations on getting a golden! Best breed ever!!! My advice is to be comfortable with the breeder and pay attention to how the other dogs are kept. Also make sure you are able to read all health certificates (eyes, hips, elbows, heart) for both mum and dad of pups. A great breeder will also give excellent after sales support. Four years after the purchase of my first dog (Bubby) I still go to my breeder for consultation on various doggy related things such as grooming , diet, toys etc. I think as long as you have a great breeder, choosing a pup should not be too hard as you are starting off with top notch puppies. Also remember that puppies can act very differently at different times. To be honest my puppy was chosen for me (Bitty in my signature) and I didn’t care for her very much but as I am good friends with my breeder I trusted her and took the puppy I was given. She is now the light of my life. Absolutely perfect for me in every way! I am obsessed with the girl!