all that glitters

gsdog - Wow toads! Isn't it weird how a few states down,we don't even think about toads or have that issue Do the toads get in the house too, or is it cos your pup is outside? *googles toads*

And thankyou Miranda, your post was helpful

I think some of you have missed the fact I'm going to be putting a dog door in? This gives access to outdoors?? I never said this was her permanent setup, I was asking if she would get used to the routine - meaning the routine of being alone while we go to work. And the lino room isnt a 'small room' it's actually almost half the house. I can tell this is turning into a bashing. Sorry for asking!

I am going to be putting a dog door in, so then she has inside and outside access, it couldnt get any better than that could it? Then if she gets bored inside she can go outside in the sun, and vise versa. I just thought I'd put off putting the dog door in until shes a bit older/less sillier thats all. Anyway I left her for over 5hours today and came home to a sleeping pup and minimal mess Mums always had her dogs indoors, big and small, and there are other DOLers on here who do too, so I guess we all have different situations and experiences that we learn from. My GSD breeder said he leaves his 4 inside when they are out and all they do is sleep *shrug*

OK. I was seriously wondering if I made the wrong decision, but there are so many other full time workers with dogs who are used to being alone now, that I was like SURELY mine will turn out fine too?! Well I can't hear her now that I am at mums, but also worrying cos I can't 'spy' on her lol. I have a big marrow bone to give her tomorrow to gnaw on, hopefully that helps her!

It's like the worst thing ever!!!! I was hiding under the covers in my bed blocking my ears I'm at my mums house now so I can get away from it and pretend I am at work lol. She also did a few minutes of barking? I hope she isn't picking up bad habits already! I dont know how I will concentrate at work tomorrow either, seriously it will be hard.

Did you hang around to see if they cried heaps? Maybe thats the mistake I made, I shouldn't stay here listening to it It's awful!! I dont know what the whole running around with a toy in her mouth thing means.. comfort? I soooo hope she stops in the near future I went out in the backyard and you can hear her a little, I hope the neighbours don't think I'm a biatch lol

I go back to work fulltime tomorrow and I have practiced leaving Shyla in her big lino room lots of times now, and I only went back in when she wasn't crying. I left her for 2hrs yesterday morning, and 3hrs in the arvo as practise and she took 15minutes of crying then settled down to sleep. But today I have left her 2hrs so far, and she cried for 5mins, slept, then cried for 35mins running around the room with a toy in her mouth crying and crying. She has finally just tired herself out and is asleep. I stayed in bed at the other end of the house so she wouldn't know I am home. She has heaps of toys, a radio on, a cosy kennel with bedding (mind you at the moment shes sleeping on the lino with a soft toy) and although she cries and eventually settles... will her crying eventually end????? Cos it's horrible and I'm wondering if I made a bad decision Will she get used to the routine in a few weeks? I know its only day 4 and we haven't tried the real routine yet, but Ahhh!

Well I may install the dog door ASAP then! I'm also worried about barking but maybe if she can go inside and outside she won't be prone to barking cos she wont feel 'stuck outside' She's already done a few little warning barks when she hears other dogs bark I try to correct her by saying NO, but nothing seems to register at her age!

Yep I let mine wake me up too! I am on night 4 and she already is great at the whole crate thing, first night she got me up twice, but the last few nights she has slept right through til 6.30!!! Woot!! When she stirs I get up SO FAST cos I know her bladder is full

Sectioning off a bit would be tricky because when you walk out the door, you have a couple of steps of undercover non-grass area, then it goes up a little to the long grass area. Ah well!

Well Shyla has been having practise sessions alone in her big lino room before I go back to work on Wed, she whines and cries for about 15 minutes, then sleeps. We have a plan for a dog door which will give her access to the backyard, but when would she be safe to have access out there on her own? She eats/chews EVERYTHING out there, hay bits, roots, grass, sticks, I'm forever putting fingers in her mouth to pull stuff out. So I cant imagine how someone can let a 8/9wk old pup go outside alone when they are so 'silly' ? Dog door access now would be good cos she could take herself out to go toilet in the 9hrs we are gone, but then again I don't want her getting sick, I'd rather clean up her messes than risk that

Mine too!!

Yes indeed!!

Congrats! I just had Night #2 with my new german shepherd puppy, and after a bit of a whining performance on the first night, last night she fell right asleep when I put her in there, and didn't wake up to go toilet til 6am (well I got her up cos I was worried, lol). Then I put her back in cos I still wanted a few hours extra sleep (lol) and we got up at 7.30. I've noticed Shyla only settles in her crate once the light is off, too. But its only the 3rd day so who knows! Congrats on a successful night, feels good doesnt it

My breeder has been feeding my 8wk old GSD Eagle Pack Hollistic Large Puppy, and as this is a super high standard food, I will be continuing with it :rolleyes: But of course it depends on what people can afford and what works for your dog

I'm looking to take out accident/illness cover for my GSD pup who I get in 3 days! It says it doesn't cover optional vet bills, eg where you chose to have something done that isn't a treatment of illness or injury, ie - diet consults, behavioral stuff etc. Does that mean then that it wouldn't cover you for Hip Displaysia optional treatments such as acupuncture, needle options, and other therapies you choose to do instead of the surgery (which would be covered) ?

Congrats on having your little baby home, Shel! (haha we're both Shells :p) Yep not long at all, eeeep!! Off to bunnings today to get locks for the sliding doors, latches for the cupboards and padlocks for the gate/s

Yep there are those doors! but they are quite the bit more pricey, and I would be paranoid they would target the dog to get the collar off to gain access (paranoia I know)

WOW Pockets he is beautiful!! And massive! Can't believe that lil pup turned into such a giant majestic dog!? Amazing! Thankyou for sharing!! --- Rebanne - Yup well thats what we want to do! I have 3 indoor cats also! Going to Bunnings with dad for lockey things and plywood etc, yays!

Well we are thinking of putting the doggy door in anyway, and putting locks on the two lino room sliding doors, so that if someone gets in they can't get into the other rooms of the house. So she can go in and out! May not install it til shes a bit bigger tho, ill give it a few months. Gee can you see where I get my worry issues from, mum goes to me tonight "if you install a dog door and burglars see it, they will bait and poison your dog so they can then gain access to it". Surely that won't happen? Surely other people have a big dog door open for their dog when they are at work!

Yes, please post a pick Pockets! poodlefan - Well longterm I don't mind if she stays inside at all, she would have 3 cats for company when she becomes older. Or if she prefers the outside she can be outside. I wanted to put a doggy door in for her, but it would be big enough for humans to fit through, so maybe not a grand idea! Unless I deadbolt the lino room two sliding doors so all they can access and steal is some knives, pool table balls, and kitchenware Im not too worried about poo on the lino as it's better than carpet I guess?

LOL!! OK phew hahaha I sure will when I get her!! 8 days to go ps - Who is the longcoat beauty in your display pic?

Not at all Pockets! I was imagining the American GSDs with the exaggerated slopes and roach backs, I was just happy to see that the breeders dogs were lookin good Feel free to share pics of your dogs with me anyday!! Im sure they are stunners!

Yup from a very very good GSD breeder in VIC! Met them on the weekend and I am sooo happy I am buying a pup from them, they were as lovely as I hoped they would be, and their GSDs were so beautiful, no ugly slope backs and lovely temperaments!