Ahona

Oh oops :D I thought Advantage did. What covers ticks then?? Eitherway, there are no paralysis ticks around this area and Spud will be inside until he's 16 weeks, at which point we should be moving into cooler weather, so I'm not very worried about ticks. Fleas are more of a concern!

Thank you! I spoke to the breeder today as well and we helped him worm the puppies :D He recommended every 2 weeks and said a full spectrum one is good, plus a tick and flea treatment. So we'll probably go with Sentinel Spectrum and Advantage.

Thanks again! I'm going to bookmark this thread for future reference, because of all the aspects of owning a new puppy, worming and tick/flea protection has me completely stumped!! We're going to see Spuddie boy tomorrow, so will have a chat to the breeder then If they're not watching the footy that is

Thanks Mystiqview! I really appreciate you taking the time to type that up for me We're getting Spud from a breeder and he will have been wormed, so I will probably have a chat to the breeder and see what he is using for his dogs too. Heartworm medicine should be okay, because he will just be a pup when we get him. I'm in melbourne and don't think we have paralysis ticks in this area, nor is it very flea prone, so I reckon I might go with a natural neem based spray for that! Thanks so much again! a;

Thanks Mystiqview I'm even more thoroughly confused now lol. A product like Interceptor Spectrum, would that guard against tapeworms? I don't think ticks and fleas are an issue where we live and Spud will be indoors anyway, so that should be okay. What age do I start worming him? The three products you listed, are they the ones you use on your own dogs? Thanks! a.

Thank you so much for your advice everyone GL, I know I've asked this on the retrievers thread but I couldn't find it via a forum search, so asked again. I don't think we have tick or flea issues, so I might get Advantage just in case and use Interceptor for worms. That starts from between 3-5 months right? I will have a chat to the vet when we take him, we don't actually have him at home with us yet, he's just 6 weeks old. Just doing research so I can order products ready for when I have him here! Thanks! a xx

So so sorry Chooky, massive hugs to you and your family Thank you for sharing your story as well, as someone who is getting a goldie pup soon, it showed me what to be careful of.

I've heard lots of talk about Advatage and Interceptor, are those all in ones that protect against ticks and fleas too? So if I use that, will I just need the one treatment for all sorts of nasties including heartworm? How often do you need to use it? How much does it cost per dose? Thank you for your help! a. (otherwise known as clueless puppy owner)

So sorry!

Get a goldie They're fantastic dogs, we're getting our boy on the 8th of Jan! Excellent with kids and so patient too.

So sorry Pomquest, I live in Melbourne and don't know any good holistic vets in Brissie. Maybe post a thread on the General Discussion forum? I do know that echinecea is a fantastic immune booster but I'd want someone qualified to make up a mix for me with the right quantities. My naturopath swears by homeopathic mixes for her dog (she has a big mal) and apparently when he tore his cruciate ligament it was a herbal mix that got him up and walking where modern medicine failed, so I'd definitely get on finding a holistic vet asap and seeing what you can do for your baby. Keep me posted please. Prayers for you.

Can I suggest an immune system boosting mix from a holistic vet? If vets don't know what's causing it and you need to keep her going and let her immune system fight it, then that might help a lot! I hope she's okay

What's a halti?

She's so pretty and looks so good. LOL, that's usually a sign that they're being as bad as bad is possible!

I don't have any advice, but I'd just like to say that while her biting was certainly not ideal, it's happened with my lab in the past as well. My first lab bit my sister on the nose when she was about 3-4 months and old and bit me rather viciously when she was a little older than that. However, she grew up to be the most gorgeously good natured dog and would let us do ANYTHING with her and never ever bit or tried to hurt us again. So don't give up on Molly. I would say though, teach your daughter how to play with Molly and make sure she knows that running around with flapping clothes and/or screaming isn't ideal and make sure that Molly knows biting is very bad, by saying a firm no and giving her a time out as soon as she does it.

Just be consistent with pushing him away/putting him down (if he's on your lap), saying no firmly and ignoring him if he persists. He will get the message eventually! And make sure every member of the family is doing the same, so he doesn't get mixed signals about what is acceptable and what isn't!

I would personally expect my money back. The pups not much older than 8 weeks and the breeder should be able to resell him to a suitable home. Plus, they really should have told you that a puppy wouldn't be suitable for you given how old your kiddies are!! Don't beat yourself up about this too, the timing just wasn't right, it doesn't make you a bad dog owner

:D It sounds like you want what is best for the puppy Amebel! Maybe look into getting an older dog once your little one is at least a year old, that way you won't have to spend as much time toilet training it and it'll already know not to bite people! I'd reckon that speaking to the breeder as soon as you can is a good idea and seeing if they can help find another home for the pup! And make sure to rest a little, you're probably exhausted after the past few days. Chocolate is in order :D

Sorry, I missed the bit where you said your girls are 19 months and 3 months old. That is very young and it sounds like you might have your hands full with them. I don't honestly know if a pup is right for you at this stage, it might be better to wait till they are a little older before getting a pup so you have the time you need to devote to it. I'd be speaking to your breeder about this and seeing if they can maybe find a more suitable home for the puppy? If you are determined you want a dog now, an older one might be the way to go.

Hi Amebel Firstly, deep breath. It sounds like this has overwhelmed you a little. Is this your first dog? It's perfectly natural to take a while getting used to the ways of dog-kind, especially puppies, who can often be demanding. When did you get your little one? Assuming you got him from a breeder, then I'm guessing you didn't get him all that long ago because most breeders wont sell a pup before it is at least 8 weeks old. Operating under the assumption that the pup hasn't been at home with you for long, here is my take on the situation. 1. It's perfectly normal for a little puppy to cry when they first come home with you. It is a completely new situation and the first time he has been away from his mum and littermates likely and that fact alone is enough to make him whine. When I got my lab puppy, she woke me up every night for 2 weeks, at least twice, because she was crying so loudly. I got up, gave her a cuddle and held her for a while till she fell asleep and she eventually outgrew the crying stage. Be firm, and be kind. Having him in a basket in your room with a towel with his littermates scent on it sounds good. If he cries, I would ignore it, even if it wakes you up, or you might teach him to cry and make a noise to seek attention. Maybe try a hot water bottle and a ticking clock close to him? Have you had him vet checked to make sure he isn't in any pain or discomfort? If not, then I would be gentle with him. Don't mollycoddle him through the crying stage or teach him that it's okay to be scared. Reinforce good behaviour, but don't punish bad behaviour. 2. Toilet training can take a while! It really is too much to expect a little puppy to be toilet trained within a week of bringing him home. It took months of consistent work with my lab before she was toilet trained. I would suggest that you speak to your breeder about this, s/he will be able to give you tips on how to toilet train a puppy. From what I have experienced, consistency seems to be key and keep taking a puppy out when they show signs of wanting to go to the toilet, even if the do nothing. Do not punish a puppy for accidents in the house, but make a big fuss of it when it does it's business outside. Be prepared to work with your pup for a while before he gets the message! 3. Puppies bite. That's how they play with their littermates. However, biting is definitely not a good thing and not to be encouraged and when he does it, I would encourage you and your children to put him down, say No firmly and ignore him till he stops biting. That worked well with my labbie girl. Definitely no smacking, and no loud shrieks either, because that encourages a pup to keep 'playing'. As with toilet training, consistency is the key here and I would encourage you to make sure that all your family members are on the same page! It is quite frustrating I know, but puppies are such a joy and pleasure and only really need some work and understanding to turn them into wonderful family members. Have you looked into puppy preschool and obedience classes? I would definitely encourage you to do so! Good luck, and keep us posted! a.

My pups all cry and twitch in their sleep, but it doesn't really sound like they're having nightmares, more just intense dreams. My lab moves her mouth like she's eating in her sleep! I reckon that as long as he's not distressed when he's awake, ignore it.

Fair enough, but logically, the majority of people who own dogs work outside the house and the dogs do fine. They may be pack animals and enjoy company but realistically, not everyone can afford to stay at home!

Good luck!! Do you have more pictures of Molly? I'd love to see some, she looks like a cutie!

Wow, that is a cool job and I bet your little pup will love it there!!

Ooh wow, that is awesome Gayle, where does your hubby work? I'd love to work from home someday in order to be able to take care of my pets FT, but that's not really a possibility with the field I'm in! The disposable income is one of the main reasons why we're waiting to get a dog until I start work too, we'd probably be able to afford the basics for a dog now, but not much else, and I'd keep stressing if it needed emergency vet care and so on!