kristin_e102

Finally figured the photos out! Enjoy.. more on their way..

Yes I thought it could be drool but its just too wet - it was dripping yesterday! And he doesnt have water in his crate... I just thought of something - he only wees when it is new bedding (which of course is nearly every day) so could he be marking his territory? He did it again last night Thanks so much for all your help, this is really baffling me! (and Ill give the photo fixer a go a little later when I have more time.. Cheers, Kristin

Well, I spoke too soon! We had another bed wetting last night! He doesnt even cry when he needs to go to the toilet so how am I meant to know when he needs to go, outside of the set times that I take him?????????????????????????????????????????? He loves his crate and takes all his "treasured possessions" in there, so its not that he doesnt like, therefore doesnt care if he goes to the toilet in there! What the hell is going on??? Great hint with the sandpit, will give that a go when we get to our new house on saturday... I would love to put some piccies up but I wouldnt have a clue how! The attachment section below says that the files are too big... ANy advice on how to do that would be great! Cheers, Kristin

Hi Guys, Sorry for the late reply, have been away with Tayza for the weekend! Crate is extra large but there is a piece of wire (that came with it, just cant think of the name!) cutting it basically in half. He has enough room to spread out and turn around but not enough to think that one end is 'toilet end'. I do let him out every time he cries and i dont speak to him but take him straight out to the grass. sometimes he goes to the toilet but other times he wants to play so he gets picked up and put straight back into his crate and ignored until he goes back to sleep (usually within 3 minutes). No he is not a 'petstore' pup, he came from a registered breeder. Interestingly enough, he hasnt gone to the toilet for the past 3 nights in his bed and has slept right through til 5-6am which Im happy about then he goes back to sleep til 7.30-8am when I get up... fingers crossed Ive seen the last of the 'crate-wees'. Also, I have been reading some other posts from people about what age is suitable to leave a pup outside during the day while im at work/uni. Tayza is 10 weeks and has been outside most of the time. He is inside when I am home but seems to like being outside, despite the cries and whines when i leave. By the time I get home he is usually curled up in his crate with a bone... Is this safe? Cheers, Kristin P.S tayza dug his first hole this morning ... and so it begins

Hi everyone, I need some advice in regards to my 9 (almost 10) week old lab. He wees in his bed nearly every night, despite my efforts getting up every 3 hours during the night. He loves going into his crate and often uses it during the day but doesnt seem to mind going to the toilet in it! I thought the whole reasoning behind crate training was that dogs dont like going to the toilet where they sleep so they cry to be let out? He doesnt cry to go to the toilet but when he does cry he just wants to play! Please help as Im getting a nice pile of soiled dog bedding! Cheers, Kristin

No the breeder had him on Science Diet for Puppies and a bit of the woolworths select puppy food but I think that is rubbish so I just made up my own feed... He seems ok he poos normally and he likes it (but he is a lab, he likes anything). I just hope its meeting his nutrition requirements, he is growing so fast so I hope Im giving him enough food - how much dinner is enough? And I have been trying to upload a pic but it says the file is too large - how do i make it smaller? Kristin

Martha is so cute! I havent figured out how to post photos yet - any advice on how i do that?? Staying on the thread topic, I ended up feeding him puppy milk/or porridge for brekky, a bone for lunch and raw puppy mince with mixed vegies for dinner. Does this sound ok? He is pretty good as far as puppies go and is already sleeping through most of the night - i wake him up once or twice to go to the toilet... He has turned into a bit of a terrorist overnight in regards to chewing shoes, clothes, bras etc but its my own fault for leaving them out! One issue - I left him in the laundry today for the first time while I went to work and he some-how got the door open and had a lovely time in my partners parents house (which im housesitting!). Not too much damage was created tho... He will only be in there today and tomorrow as we are going back home tomorrow night where he will be in the backyard all day.. Thanks for the great advice guys! Kristin

thanks so much for the great advice! I have been telling him NO every time he has done it so hopefully Ill continue to catch him so I can redirect him. Might give the water spray a go next time! Thanks heaps! Kristin

Hi I have a 9 week old male lab pup who has been humping things! It started with my partners arm, then he tried his "little friend" and now he has moved to the dog I am currently "babysitting". My boyfriend thinks its a dominance thing - is this right? I feel guilty for telling him off because it is a natural thing for him to do but I really dont want an adult dog doing this to people! He will be getting desexed at 4 months so should I just let it go until then? Any feedback would be highly appreciated! Cheers, Kristen

Hi Meg, Im not an expert by any means and am learning as I go - this forum has been awesome in giving me suggestions and hints so keep looking on here if you need to know anything else! In regards to bones, I feed my 8 week old brisket bones and he LOVES them! It also keeps him occupied when I have stuff to do. As far as I know its fine to feed them all bones as long as they are not too small (they might choke!) Its good to socialise pups but probably not until they are at least 12 weeks. Good idea organising meetings already, but dont stress yourself too much! Hope this helps you a little, Kristin

Thanks so much for the great advice! He slept nearly all the night last night! I set the alarm for 1am and then 3.30am but at 3.30 he was sound asleep so I didnt wake him and I woke at 6.45 and he went straight out! Finally, I got a good sleep.. I know puppy school would have helped to wear him out but its good to know a routine I can get into... Thanks so much - will keep you posted on any updates! Kristin P.S He sits now, after school last night - Im so Proud :-)

Last night would have to have been the worst night out of the three!! Tayza went out to the toilet and then went to bed. He then proceeded to wake every hour, on the hour, crying and yelping - not to be let out to the toilet - but to play! I took him to the toilet and he went and about half an hour later I felt his bed and he had done a wee! He cried ALL night!!! Its now 6.30 and I have to be up to go to Uni - NOT HAPPY JAN! We are going to puppy school tonight so that should wear him out - but what about every other night? How do I try and get him to sleep all night? He has been so good for the past two nights, I thought that he was going to be a dream puppy! Thanks for reading!, A very tired/reluctant Mummy Kristin

Yes, well, what the partner says isnt always what actually happened!! lol I dont have any worries when Im home with him going to the toilet as I have a routine with him.. I take him out after eating (especially), after playing and when he has just woken up. Will have to try and drum this into my boys head so that when Im not here there are no accidents! Thanks for the tips.... Kristin

Hi, Second night went brilliantly!! I didnt set an alarm because I generally wake up in the middle of the night anyways but last night my partner nudged me to tell me that Tayza was awake so I got up and he did a wee. That was at about 3.30am and I didnt hear a peep from him again until I got up at 6.45. No more accidents in his bed either! He cried a little when he was put into his crate but that was about it... I went to Uni this morning so my partner looked after him while I was gone and he said that Tayza played up and was weeing on my pyjamas and doona - even though my partner had just taken him out! Is this normal? Oh and did I mention that he humped my partners arm yesterday???? He is only 8 weeks - I didnt think this happened for awhile!! I nearly killed myself with laughter tho.. Thanks for reading, Kristin

yeah I have sectioned it off and its nice and 'den-like' for him... He seems to like it. he cried the first time he wanted to go out but not any time after that so I think I will set the alarm for every 2 hours and just get him up.. Hope it goes better tonight! Thanks for the advice.. Kristin

Well, the morning has finally come!! No, it wasnt that bad. I think it was more me worrying that he was going to die or something in his sleep! He went in his crate no worries at all and cried for about a minute then was sound asleep! I heard him crying at 12.30 so took him out for a wee and he went back to sleep straight away! Around 3.30 I woke up because I hadnt heard him so I checked him and he had done a wee in the crate. So I took him outside, where he then did a poo, cleaned out the soiled blanket and put him back in.. he then slept until 6.45! Is it normal for them to wee inside the crate on the first night?? Will he get used to crying to get out for the`toilet! Cheers, Kristin

Hi, I pick up little Tayza today and am starting to get the jitters!! Am quite confident I have all bases covered in regards to play and sleep but am wondering what is the best thing to feed a Labrador pup? I picked up some 'Science Diet' puppy biscuits for large breeds and got some 'Pedigree Puppy' food - is this ok? I have read that Labs can have tummy trouble because they are food hogs so would it be best to make my own food, and put a bit of yoghurt in it? Please help! Cheers, A very excited/nervous Mummy Kristin

Excellent - the crate it is then! Also, when is the pup old enough to be around adult dogs? He is 8 weeks and the breeder said he has had all vaccinations thus far. I am worried about Parvo and know to keep the pup away from footpaths, etc until he is 12 weeks but I am currently dog sitting a 10 year old maltese x shitszu and wondering if he will be ok around her? Cheers, Kristin

Thanks so much for the reply Cosmolo.. Crate training sounds like the way to go if he doesnt have to sleep in one forever - I wanted to get a kennel for him when he gets big. Is it ok for him to sleep in my bed for the first few nights to settle him in or will that create a bad habit? Thanks, Kristin

Hi all, I am picking up my new Black Lab puppy in two weeks, when he will be 10 weeks old. I am just doing a bit of research so that I am one step ahead of him! I have had a pup before (not a purebreed) and we had HUGE trouble with him. He became extremely territorial and would bite random people, before biting a lady seriously (ripping half of her thigh out). We had him put down after this as we were terrified he would do this to someone else. He went to puppy preschool for 4 weeks but didnt seem to take anything on board and blatently ignored us. I am looking to NOT repeat this situation with my new pup! So I need to know - is it best to take the pup to puppy preschool (at a vet) soon as I get him? Or do I start doing basic training with him at home and take him to formal training when he is a bit older? Also, is it ok to have the pup in bed with me for the first week or so until he gets used to the new surroundings? I have heard a lot of good things about crate training, but does it mean the he should sleep in a crate for the rest of his life? I am from a country town and all the dogs I have ever had were not bathed regularly (myabe twice a year?) as they roamed in freshwater creeks and never had a bad smell about them. However, I live in suburbia now so how often am I meant to bathe my pup? Sorry for all the questions but I am determined to get it right this time and raise a healthy, obediant dog! Thanks in advance for the wisdom! Kristin