W Sibs

Umm... I don't have the problem. Emmy and Charlie have each other to amuse and we always have toys scattered around the yard for them to play with. But, my mum's old dog use to do that.. she use to scatter some treats around the grass when she has the washing out. The dogs will be rather searching for that, then pulling washing off the time. In time, my mum (and dad) made other things around the yard more fun then washing on the line for the dogs. It's common that dogs pull clothes off the lines because they are bored.

A responsible owner is an owner who is fully committed in fulfilling their pets needs daily.. meaning physically and mentally.

See, all this is helping me put up a really good argument with her... This is bad to say, but I was hoping some negative comments with her situations so I have ammo to go into a long talk with her. Too prove that I'm not the only one who thinks and feel like she shouldn't get a puppy for a long while. She is very sensitive about all this and I have to thread carefully. Those questions you asked Aussienot are awesome questions and I will be using them on her! Thanks!

I am copying it into an email! This has given my a whole new idea on how to talk to her about this. If that fails, I'm going to email her all this..

Yeah I did. Poor pup. I don't want her to have a pup because i'm fairly certain that's going to happen with this puppy. Ask her how much she thinks her son will enjoy spending time with a pup that runs towards him with its mouth open and spends all its time mouthing and jumping on him. Baby Labs can be like that. I think the best reality check I can think of is for them to spend time with a litter of just woken up Lab babies and a few adolescent Labs.. I did mention that she should look after her parents Beagle for a while with the baby to see if they can handle it.... the beagle is a crazy and hyper dog who's about 2 years old. She has to talk to her husband.. so far, her husband is not budging.

So how will this baby "grow up" with a "dirty" dog that's kept outside and that will shed like demon? I give any Lab pup they get less than 6 months before its surrendered because "it jumps on the kids". The are good people and mean well but they aren't ready for a puppy. I've tried telling her this.. i just need another way of telling her. But, you guys have pointed out with the kid may not like a bouncing and energetic puppy... then I got to mention about a lot of training etc.

I totally agree with you all on why she shouldn't get a dog. She doesn't like small dogs (she barely tolerates Emmy and Charlie) and uses the excuse that my house is "dirty" with fur to come over with her baby.

Yep it's the parents fault!

Nope. They want a puppy.... they think it will be cool to have the puppy and the baby to grow up together.

That's why i'm in two mind in helping her... I keep telling that she is crazy, but she is determined to get a pup. She and her husband want a dog because they believe every family should have a dog?? I dunno... tired of trying to say that she should wait and she is going to stretch herself too thin...

I have a good friend who's looking for a chocolate labrador and she wants me to help her find a good registered breeder. I have been in two minds in helping her and writing this, but I figured, there is no harm in asking this. Her situation: 1 - This dog will be an outside dog only (she won't consider crating the dog... her husband and her don't like dog smell) 2 - The dog is for their son for his 1st birthday (the baby is currently 4 months old) 3 - She is thinking of having another baby in about a year time 4 - The husband and her work full time. But she works 2 days at home though (but for how long, I don't know.. she may have to go back to the office full time in 2 months) 5 - I think (or have suggested) that she brings the puppy to her mum's place to play with the mum's dog while she looks after the baby but she isn't sure if her mum will be happy with this. 6 - Not sure about the exercise... although if her husband put in his effort on things, the pup will be walked everyday. 7 - they really really want a puppy I'm not sure if any breeder will sell her a pup in those situation. If so, is there any good breeders that I can pass on the info to her. She really wants a chocolate Labrador. It's the only dog that her and her husband has agreed on.

Ohh... when are you going to get your little boy?! Hi Vi (I'm really hoping this is your name and I haven't just assumed wrongly if not ) If everything goes smoothly I will be getting him in around 6 weeks or so.. How's Emmy doing? everytime I see her on your sig I get so excited waiting for my boy and keep smilling ear to ear Haha... Vi is my name :D OMG!!! I'm so excited for you!!!! You must post pics up!! I'm grinning like mad now for you!! Who are you getting your little boy from? Emmy is doing great... she's giving her brother a run for his money on the cuddles now. She will literally climb on my chest and tuck her head on my chin for her cuddles.. very sweet and very cute

That's horrible. Definitely report this!!

Ohh... that's terrible. That's is when I will snap. One of my friend's kid will use to jump in front of Charlie random and try to scare him... I locked him up in Charlie's crate for timeout.

Are you walking them separately? I guess it is fairly easy for me because I live in a quiet area, in that my street is the end of the road and so the people walking around and the children playing live in the area. However, there is a playground at the top of my street and I approach it with all antennae up ready to take charge. I have been known to put my hand up like a policeman and yell, "Stop!" Too bad if I look and sound ridiculous. My first concern is my dogs and I won't have them crowded by noisily excited children. Vi, just be firm. If you are approaching children watch for the first sign that they are going to run or come quickly towards you and YELL at them to stop and tell them they are frightening your dog. If you are having to address Emmy's fear and the children are already upon you, she is going to have ever worsening problems and the time may come when she is an adult and bigger that she snaps through fear. Tell the children that if they want to pat her, they have to be quiet, gentle, not crowd around, they have to crouch down, not bend over her, etc etc. You have to address your concerns and reactions too; you won't get tense if you feel you are in charge and can control the situation. Yes, I walk them separately if I'm walking them alone. Emmy is still a puller and when we go for our walks, we are also training on her stop pulling. Charlie walks in a slow place. So walking them together at the moment can be dangerous! Plus, it's also my alone time with the dogs. Bonding time I can see you holding out your hand and telling to stop.. and that's what I should be doing too. You're right, Emmy will continue being fearful if I don't show her that I'm a better pack leader. I feel silly because I know all this and I haven't been practicing it with Emmy But I really did wish the kids or their parents will ask me first before they can pat Emmy and not charging over... it would make things a lot easier. I rarely say no to strangers wanting to pat any of my dogs. I want Emmy to be kid friendly.

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Are you walking them separately? I guess it is fairly easy for me because I live in a quiet area, in that my street is the end of the road and so the people walking around and the children playing live in the area. However, there is a playground at the top of my street and I approach it with all antennae up ready to take charge. I have been known to put my hand up like a policeman and yell, "Stop!" Too bad if I look and sound ridiculous. My first concern is my dogs and I won't have them crowded by noisily excited children. Vi, just be firm. If you are approaching children watch for the first sign that they are going to run or come quickly towards you and YELL at them to stop and tell them they are frightening your dog. If you are having to address Emmy's fear and the children are already upon you, she is going to have ever worsening problems and the time may come when she is an adult and bigger that she snaps through fear. Tell the children that if they want to pat her, they have to be quiet, gentle, not crowd around, they have to crouch down, not bend over her, etc etc. You have to address your concerns and reactions too; you won't get tense if you feel you are in charge and can control the situation. Yes, I walk them separately if I'm walking them alone. Emmy is still a puller and when we go for our walks, we are also training on her stop pulling. Charlie walks in a slow place. So walking them together at the moment can be dangerous! Plus, it's also my alone time with the dogs. Bonding time I can see you holding out your hand and telling to stop.. and that's what I should be doing too. You're right, Emmy will continue being fearful if I don't show her that I'm a better pack leader. I feel silly because I know all this and I haven't been practicing it with Emmy

kids are unpredictable. They are kids. Not all parents are dog savvy. Do some training with kids interactions or stick up muzzle on if the dog is aggro. Smile at people and welcome interaction under your control. Dogs sense everything. If you are shitty and being a sour puss, this will be something the dog will adopt if not, already has. Our dogs have been around kids and are not agro. I am just wary that Lili can sometimes want to herd them. My worry is that ANY dog could snap if someone touches them unexpectedly. We did welcome the interaction, both kids and parent patted both dogs and all was fine, i am not a sourpuss, but it annoys me when people approach my dogs without asking. Yep. This annoys me too. Chewy gave me awesome advice on how to deal with building Emmy's confidence with kids though But, kids running over and stuff is still going to annoy me.

that's a good idea.. going to give this a try. I might bring Charlie for back up... if he goes to the kids and Emmy sees everything is ok, then she will be more likely to go over and say hello too. Plus, she doesn't like it when her big bro gets all the attention. thanks

Emmy is good with kids she know. She is definitely shy when it comes to new things.

That's use to happen when I had my huskies!! But, not too many because one of my husky was a big dog and once the kids saw how big he was, they backed off. I will tell the kid to stop but Emmy is usually trying to run away at this time... I have to sort her out first before dealing with kids. Definately, sounds like you need a few more positive experiences yourself for your own confidence. Can you access kids in a controlled environment? My friends bring their kids around.. and Emmy is totally fine with them. But, only because she got to say hello to them first, and the kids know what to do and not to do. We went through the same thing when I got Charlie... but Charlie loves and adore kids. So even before I say 'let him come say hello to you first'.. he is already in their face and begging for a cuddle. But, yeah, maybe it's my body language I have to look at. I get tense when I see kids when I walk with Emmy and not realising it. Because I see kids walking with Emmy, i just think 'Oh crap'... but when I see kids walking with Charlie.. it's all good. He goes over to say hello first.

A lot kids do this with Charlie! Charlie doesn't care, but I'm usually the one who snaps. Still over protective of that one.

That's use to happen when I had my huskies!! But, not too many because one of my husky was a big dog and once the kids saw how big he was, they backed off. I will tell the kid to stop but Emmy is usually trying to run away at this time... I have to sort her out first before dealing with kids.

My problem is not dogs rushing towards my pups to play... but KIDS!!!! Especially towards Emmy (she is ridiculously cute!) and Emmy is still shy towards people and especially the little kind that yells and scream when they see her, then start running towards her, and then always reaching out to wanting to touch her... she totally freaks out when they do this to her. I get told off or gets looks or get comments from parents when I tell the kids that they aren't allow to touch her or ignore them and walk away. What kind of parents will let their kid run towards a strange dog like that? Regardless if it's a puppy or not. Seriously! Shouldn't they know better?

Ohh.. I'm too lazy to sew my dogs crate covers I just throw a blanket over their crates