BIG-DOG-LOVER

Oh very cute, I'm sure they will bring you all lots of joy and happiness and lots of cuteness factor

As someone with two children not too far off the ages of your two, I can say with confidence that they would not be capable of being 100% responsible for one pup let alone two. Sure they would be promising to help out at the thought of a pup, but the commitment just wouldn't be there from kids so young. I do however wish you all the best with your new additions and I do realise that every family and person (and dog) is different so I am not out to judge you. Good luck with them What colour labs are they? Hope they have some differences so you can tell them apart easily BDL ETA: Just re read your original post and saw that they are brother and sister so I didn't need to ask about what sex they were oops! ETA 2: And that also fixes the problem of being able to tell them apart easily

Congrats on your new dog I'm no expert in puppy raising, but I'd suggest that it would be similar to teaching a pup where to toilet. Not sure that you could crate train a 12 month old, but others may be able to clear that up. But the basics of taking her to toilet where you want her to go (even from the moment you get her into your yard) and praising her profusely when she goes in the right spot would be a good start. Sorry I can't be of any more help!

Thanks for the advise - I think I might look at getting one made, I'd like something a bit different anyway There seems to be a void in the market for giant sized dog kennels

Dog will (eventually) be sleeping outside in the garage, but just want to get a kennel to put out under the pergola as well for times when he/she wants to sleep out there. Dog will be inside most other times though :D

Can anyone help me trying to work out what size kennel I would require for a Newfoundland dog (aka a very large dog :D)? There is a few kennels listed on ebay buy I don't really know if the xlarge size would be big enough or whether it would be better to get one custom made? What style of kennel is better - longer ones with the door at the front, or wider ones with the door at the side (like in pic below)? Here are the sizes for one listed on ebay : Exterior :125 (w) × 80cm (d) × 85cm (t) Floor Size : 116cm (w) x 67cm (d) Door Size: 43cm (w) x 57cm (t) This is the type:

Thank you :p , I did google search but that site didn't come up on my computer Just the thing I was looking for

Thanks FTPO I'll go have a squizz at those links now. I think I will need to find out as much about grooming as I possible can to prepare myself for Newfie grooming

Thanks for that link 4Paws, I'd found that one early which I thought was good, but it doesn't really go into any great detail though, but still good to have all the same

Does anyone have any good websites about grooming that they would like to share? I've done a search in the forums but there are so many and none that specifically ask for URL's. I will be getting a double coated dog (newfoundland) soon and I'd like to learn how to brush the coat properly and do basic maintenance at home on the coat. Thanks in advance, BDL

You sound like me - I read everything and anything non fictional that I can get my hands on, once I get hooked on reading something that's it I've just got to know as much as I can about the topic

You are so clever Luke you always have awesome ideas and tricks up your sleeve, what a lucky puppy you have :rolleyes: Have fun bathing your puppy tommyspazz :rolleyes:

Thanks Persephone you said that so well..... I think the time is coming, but I am so dreading it, the kids are going to be so sad You are right re the 'close down' statement, she's been ok but you can tell she's just not interested in things as much as she used to be. Ugh I need to think, thanks all for your words.

Not a pleasant topic at all, and I wasn't going to post this but I've been thinking about it all morning so would love some feedback. Our dog is getting on and she's had probs with her joints (posted about that in another thread), she's gotten better with this over the last few weeks with the help of some glucosamine and making her bed comfier for her, but there seem to be more and more 'signs' that she's not as well as she used to be. I wonder when you 'know' their time is up, and do you make the decision for them or let nature take it's course? Along with the joint problems she has been a lot sleepier than usual and doesn't hear us when we get home anymore, or maybe she does hear us but can't be bothered getting up to greet us She's had some loss of bowel control, looks like she hasn't made it to the lawn area sometimes and 'evidence' is left on the paved area. She's been farting lots lately too I guess I just need some reassurance that she is ok and that it's a normal part of ageing, I mean her 'symptoms' are like any elderly human so I guess it's the same for dogs, but how do you know when enough is enough? Thanks BDL

Penwing your girl is just gorgeous, lucky you

Good point about making it easy for her to get things out of for awhile, thanks Corvus

Filled the Kong up yesterday and our dog had a couple of sniffs and that was it She got on piece of smacko out of it but it's now just lying in the garden, so I don't think she likes it. Perhaps it's because she hasn't had one from a young age so she's over that kind of thing? Oh well, will leave it there for awhile and maybe she will go back to it.

Thank you Persephone excellent tips thanks :rolleyes: Might go and fill it up now so I can watch how she takes to it.

Never heard about freezing the bones before but that's a great idea. Would be very much welcomed for a teething pup I'm sure :rolleyes:

We've had a Kong for our dog for ages but have never actually filled it with anything as I haven't come across the actual 'Kong Filling products'. Wondering what everyone fills theres with as I presume if you put normal dog biscuits in they are just going to fall out :rolleyes: Thanks

We've got her on glucosamine with fish oil and it seems to be helping a little already We have also put a spare mattress (from an our old pull out sofa) onto her dog bed and she LOVES it, and I think that is also helping her. BDL

Thanks all, I guess it's pre puppy jitters and the thought of the unknown but I'm sure things will be fine once we actually get a puppy and work out our own way of doing things. Like with parenting you can't do everything by the book as it just doesn't work that way - I guess puppy raising is the same! Cheers, BDL

Thanks corvus, I agree that it would most likely encourage a better bond between all family members if we all contribute to a new pups training, I just wasn't sure on what the 'rules' of such where as it's all quite new to me

I'm planning on purchasing a Gwen Bailey book this week, I think it's great to read lots of different perspectives on things and work out what you think will be best for yourself. I'm predicting that my dog book collection is going to grow as large as my parenting/child collection

I've just printed off Before You Get Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar and I'll bind it up and then have a read, looks pretty good though. BDL