mrs tornsocks

HI ... promise this is my last question / post re chicken and chicken frames. I am completely and utterly paranoid about my lab pup choking on raw chicken, be it necks or wings. Trying to track down some turkey necks to alleviate my fear but yesterday bought a chicken frame from woolies. I can't easily cut it and tried to bash it with my meat tenderiser but to no avail. would it be okay to stick in the (1000w) food processor ?

Yes we have fingers crossed shellbyville. I can't fathom that a vet and breeder 'did not notice' at 8 weeks yet a pup school trainer and our own vet picked it up straight away - at 10mm - at 9 and 10 weeks respectively. You live and learn I guess. I'm thinking we should steer clear of tug o war, which he loves and lets go immediately he's told so it's very controlled. I do have one shot the breeder sent us as he was growing - it's of him playing tug of war with his dam at about 6 weeks, do you think this may have contributed in any way ? I hope your little babies are going well, I saw your posts over in breeders' thread.

Hi oakway, he's a pet, was purchased on a limited register but with an understanding that should we want to breed one day, the breeder agreed to put him on main register (although that was highly unlikely to be our desire - to breed). I am fine with it unless he is in any kind of pain or discomfort obviously and as you say, hoping the bottom jaw will catch up a bit in time.

I could not see another thread on this so forgive me if repeated. We are trying to teach 14 wk old pup to play dead. he's SUCH a clever fellow (yes, biased) - he sits, drops, rollover, stays (on sit or dropped), barks on command. He's going pretty well with the serious/important stuff like walking on the lead, increasing distractions and distances on his basic stuff as well. At the moment we want to teach him to play dead but he's confusing it with roll over. Any tips ? When he lies down on one side but DOESN't rollover he gets praise, should we just keep working on this ? He also ocassionally gets confused with 'speak' and will bark instead of going down on one side. Our signal for play dead is finger /hand held like a pistol and a verbal 'bang'. And .. this could be a ridiculous question for a 14 week old lab but how do we get him to lie still to make the 'play dead' trick authentic ?

Hi there, it's great you're taking serious steps to get him trained. You don't mention the breed, that might help give some tips about how to give him some alternative exercise that's 'fun'. Presumably you're paying the private trainer some good money to rectify your situation, so why not ask him/her about how to exercise your dog in lieu of walks ? I'm surprised they have 'banned' walks altogether though ?? If the suggestion was circles in front of the house, I'd think this is repetetive and boring for the dog, so the trainer should help come up with some options to help keep doggie interested. A couple of questions:- 1. How old is the dog and has he ever shown an interest in toys, chasing, controlled tug o war etc ? Does anything get his tail wagging besides food and walks ? 2. Is the 'sit' command accompanied by a hand signal ? And is he rewarded when he eventually does sit ? 3. Is he food motivated ? Suggest you start from square one when you're at home and try to teach him the basics when he's hungry. There are plenty of links to teach doggie how to sit, drop etc., the trainer should be able to give you a one sheeter on this.

Yeh, that was the easiest actually ;) . We were trying to convince him that he was having the BEST time ever rolling around playing biteys. The last one he was asleep and too tired to bother when I lifted up his lip. ;)

Long story - neither she nor her vet saw the overbite at 8 weeks when he left home. It was first noticed a week later by our pup school instructor. (we're novice owners so unfortunately didn't know to look for this, I checked his ears, eyes, general feel over etc. when we picked him up). A week later (10 wks old) our vet obviously picked it up too - I find it unusual that it goes from not being there to 10mm two weeks later. Anyway, we have a certain level of support from the breeder should he require any corrective intervention / surgery. Thanks.

Hi everyone Wondering if anyone with experience of mouths had some input on our labrador pup's overbite. We have done a bit of research and understand that whether it improve naturally as it grows is very much up in the air. We are hoping intervention won't be required but already he has some small indentations alongside his upper canines where his bottom teeth aren't sitting in the right spot. We have another vet appt this week so will see what he says. - at 10 weeks the overbite was around 10mm. The breeder has been notified. They're not the greatest angles (ever tried taking a photo of a bouncy pup's mouth ?) but hopefully it will give some indication

turkey drumsticks and wings at our local woolies ... but no necks (the wing pieces were $7.50 for 6, which was pretty exxy I thought). I got a chicken frame though - are they okay to feed whole ?

I have looked through the pinned where to buy raw but can't find an answer. Trying to find turkey necks, none at Pendle HIll meat market, none at local butcher or supermarkets, does anyone in Sydney know from inner west outwards ? We live at Blacktown. thanks.

Oh well you live n learn. Poor little bugger was up three times during the night with the runs. He is happy and not really in any discomfort but just has urgent appointments with the grass ! ***Runs off to buy anything but shank for next time. **

thanks, I actually do not know what a flap or brisket is ? I have bought off lamb off cuts before but they seem to have heaps of fat and also I got a bit panicky the other day because he was trying to swallow a big chunk whole and I was worried it might get stuck.

He ate it all (or best part of it, he keeps going to finish it off when he's outside) - it was a veal shank. ETA: molars are red on both sides of his mouth

great, thanks. He doesn't seem to have lost any baby teeth yet but I'm sure it'll start soon. thanks persephone.

Our 13 wk old lab pup had a big yummy bone today which he spent almost 2 hours on in the backyard. Tonight, his molars (I think they're molars, up top behind canines) are red and bled very slightly. Is this okay ? He has an overbite of about 10mm. He's not in any discomfort and played normally before hopping into his bed just now.

If he chases / retrieves things during play, have play sessions with him and try to teach him to learn how to 'drop' something in his mouth. We have been able to teach our pup to drop whatever is in his mouth by saying 'off'. You should be able to find some techniques here on DOL, but bascially, play fetch with him, when he drops the item, give him heaps of praise (also reward him by playing with him more). We even managed to get ours to drop a yummy bone today (after a few times of giving the command ) We have a retriever so it's a natural instinct but it might be something worth trying to teach.

ben it took us quite a while of 'practice' for our boy to be happy outside. In the first week we got him, i gave him time outside even when we were there - for the occasions we have to leave him at home alone. Started with 10 mins, built up gradually and he's now used to it (remember he is a few weeks older than your girl though so is alot more comfy in his surroundings and very used to be away from his litter).

yes, he does roll over, hi five (and shake/hi five seems to be the same atm). When he's super excited, off his own bat, he sometimes wraps all of them into one move - sit, drop, hi 5, rollover (now he'll probably add 'speak')

Thanks - yes, he tends to go through his 'tricks' when he thinks treats are on the way - ie. he'll just sit down, then he'll drop ... they are behaviours that are a bit easier to ignore than barking but I'll work on ignoring the non-qued barks - and find some other quiet tricks

I taught our 13 wk old lab to 'speak' this week. I give a hand signal and say 'speak' he gives one bark. OH was away and I thought it'd be a clever trick for when he got home (and he was suitably impressed) Obviously no good crying over spilt milk but is this a little bit early to teach the trick? I could be imagining it but he seems to be barking a little more at us to get attention, or when he wants to play. I ignore those barks; it's not too bad but something I wanted to get people's thoughts on.

thanks choco's mum ! I just need to find somewhere to hang the toys, we only have fence either side or washing line he'll probably pull over. BTW what is that yellow thing on the rope, it looks really strong ! Rexiam I wouldn't say he is quiet - but he's a relatively sensible lab even at this age so we're very lucky !! But then he doesn't have a naughty companion to egg him on like yours do - have you got any updated photos of your two ? I remember that gorgeous shot of them in the back of the ute. Here is our Archie after a little swim in the clam shell yesterday .... I tried to take a shot of him 'dreaming' by himself today but he saw me out the window

Well I have a lab - his daydreams are bound to be full of

I love this idea .... Is it okay for them to play in terms of puppy's joints etc ? I ask because I am about to mind my brother's family's two labradoodles for a few days while they're on hols - we have a 13 week old lab puppy. I took our boy Archie over to the 'cousins' yesterday to meet them (altho they'll be staying at our house), he was a little taken aback at first because they hassled him a bit - just chasing after him and I think their sheer size was a little confronting, plus Arch was taking his time to get used to those surroudnings, sniffing around their yard etc. But he kept coming back for more (we had the bigger dogs on leashes initially). After about 10 minutes my boy was having a great old time, playing really nicely, especially with the younger of the two doodles - he even had him 'pinned' down on his back, the doodle was so sweet letting Archie win - however there was alot of jumping etc. and I wonder about lab bones ?? All friendly, no teeth bared or even warning nips, it's just that the doodles are fully grown and quite big. Sorry chokito, not meaning to hijack the thread, hoping with similar situations (albeit mine is short term) you don't mind !

He is soooo cute when he does this, I'm sure he's thinking many deep thoughts .... Thanks everyone for the tips ... I probably need to add 'value' to the toys and he already had a little play around with his kibble in an empty milk container. We are very lucky he's a good boy out there, I suppose I'm just being a bit sooky myself.

great ideas vib thanks alot ... the sand pit could be great, he already has a clam swimming pool for warmer months, one half water, one half sand ! And yes, Pandii, lab puppy eyes ??!!! OMG, there is nothing cuter or sadder, depending on the situation He does seem okay and not crying fretting scratching etc. so I'm lucky ... just a little lost soul ...