mrs tornsocks

That's too cute ! I think we'll 'upgrade'. Even if he doesn't sleep in it all the time, once he's ready to go out into the big wide world, we'll take him on some little weekend trips away and the crate will be very useful for that. thanks everyone !

Firstly, a big thanks to everyone with their really helpful advice on a range of issues. What a great place DOL is ! I have yet another question, some opinion would be great. Archie our lab is growing so quickly it's scarey. We crate trained him in an airline style crate which belonged to my brother/SIL; they lent it to us. Obviously this is not the ideal size for a lab but he loves it, sleeps in it, for both naps and overnight. It's been great for us. I'm just wondering - we are going to need to transition him to the next stage. He is VERRRRRY close to going through the night without toileting and he currently sleeps in the crate in the laundry and seems to be very happy. Should we just get him a new crate that will hold him as a full grown dog ? Or just have him on a tramp-style bed in the laundry so he's a bit more free, given he should hopefully soon be able to hang on through the night. When we leave him alone in laundry during the day, he still hangs on, so I'm sure we could keep getting up to him if we need to. Just thinking about the longer term advantages of a crate, or otherwise. We plan to harness him in the car when he's bigger, and we also have a great kennel outside that a friend gave to us coz their dog never used it. Archie has already had a few inquisitive visits inside the kennel, but it's a little bit cold right now to have him outside. thanks all...

Thanks so much everyone !! We have a friend that's just back from o/s and swears by someone locally - we want someone who'll love our boy (perhaps not quite as much as us ) but will do the 'everyday' stuff with a smile and care for the pup/dog.

Ok, we took our last pup to Matt at Q. Hill - he just did one vacc though, we lost our boy way too early so it was hard to tell from just that one visit. The only thing with Q Hill was that you couldn't seem to make an appt so could not always get Matt.

Hi Shad I know Kirri is only a few days 'in' to her new home and adventure. Archie cried generally for the first 4 or 5 days - cried when he wasn't with us, cried when he was with us, cried a little a night (although not too much thankfully), just seemed a bit sad and lonely out in the big wide world without mummy and littermates. He was fine after about 5 days and still sooks a little bit now and then for various reasons but as they grow in confidence with their new surroundings, as charleswentworth says .... it will start to go. Runny poo here and there is quite normal too when they move - if it stays, you can try a bit of boiled rice with the food. Just as a matter of interest, do you feed chicken necks or wings ? I'm a bit paranoid that Arch will gulp his down, their gullets are quite big considering they're only babies; he gets his whole mouth around one end of the chicken wing and I swear he'll try and gulp it down, so I've actually taken it off him a couple of times. I haven't tried necks but my last lab pups swallowed one whole and I was petrified it would get stuck somewhere so didn't feed them again (he was fine)

Hi everyone We are the proud owners of a 10wk old lab who's due for his second vacc this week. I have asked around a little bit but haven't got a strong reccomendation - does anyone know a good vet in western sydney ? We live in Blacktown, would be more than happy to travel within the western sydney / hills district region if it meant finding the right vet. Please feel free to PM me if appropriate. thanks alot.

Our puppy school instructor has talked about 'teaching' pups to play tug of war - saying it's natural for them but the idea is we control the game, and the dog lets go when we say so. We haven't got to that point at pup school yet. Everything I've seen/read says not to engage in tug of war, but be interested in opinion. thanks, hope everyone's had a great weekend ! Here's a recent photo our of boy, just woken up

Thanks PRS ! I am the wife of 'tornsocks' so I have to give him that kudos. We own a lab.

That's not the sense I got but there you go. I think your reply to my two-cents-worth post - and a good way to end this thread - would have been best left at your first three words (well, first two words would have been fine as well).

Does anyone think it might be time to agree to disagree ? There are absolutely some very valid arguments contained in this thread - I have read the entire thing and it's certainly opinion-provoking, and an important discussion to have ..... but feels like at this point it really is going nowhere except causing angst, anger, frustration and all sorts of emotions that really get us nowhere and achieve nothing. I am relatively new to DOL but the overwhelming message I have sensed by being here is a collective motivation for the care, breeding and love of dogs and animals, if dogs could talk they'd be having a good old laugh at us silly humans.

don't worry he has heaps, "croc" is the current fave. Just wasn't nearby when he had his crazy attack and we let him go this once .....

Thanks persephone, that's what we figured / were hoping. This is what resulted 5 minutes later ..

Tonight while we were all in the loungeroom, 9 wko Archie the lab was sitting on the floor just kind of staring up at me. This went on for a while and then walked over to me sitting on the lounge and just started barking at me. I guess this could be any number of things - but wondering any thoughts on this ? After he did this little barking session he had a big zoomy session and went a bit cuckoo for 10 mins or so.

Other businesses DO do that! I work for a major international law firm and we regularly tell new clients to go to smaller firms because we can't do the work in a way that would be economical to them. We could "screw" a client thousands for a debt collection, but don't. We tell them to go to a debt collection firm who can do the job quickly efficiently and economically. Wow - I have just been reading through this thread and introducing lawyers / charges into the mix sure is a brave move !

HI therm Our puppy wimpered a bit when he first came home and does it very occasionally now, it's most likely a settling in thing. more info here http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=168365

Since I started this post, Archie has pretty much stopped 'squeaking' !! It must have been more about his settling in period and missing his mummy etc. He growls and rumbles with the toys, no cries.

Hi Adz Have you considered putting (locking) her in the crate at night rather than in the pen with the crate inside ? You will need to get up for her to toilet but this is a good method not just to toilet train, and to contain her, but it's also a place for her to feel safe and cosy. Does she toilet on the newspaper ? She will take a while to settle down - you're doing the right thing by leaving her (unless she needs to toilet) so just give her a bit more time.

Pioneer. We just got our new lab pup Archie on Saturday. He's very energetic but with lots of toys, interaction and short training sessions, he keeps very occupied. He sleeps alot ! We are crating him to help with toilet training and it works for the most part. Others have already mentioned but pick up anything lying on the floor, or expect it to be chewed, eaten, dragged across the room etc. Like any pup they are eager to please but our little boy has so much love and happiness to give it constantly amazes me. We have kept him on the food the breeder was giving him - royal canin - but will branch out to some fresh stuff and variety etc. when he's settled a few more days. Be consistent in teaching him right and wrong, set boundaries within your house and family and make sure the human members of the family stick to those agreed 'rules'. They are very quick learners, and puppy school is highly recommended for socialisation etc. good luck, look forward to seeing your pup !!!! ps. there are some good sites around, google and you shall find !

Katelouise I just popped over to the RB thread and read your story - so sad, may Dusty run free at Rainbow Bridge The album is such a great idea - I'm sure you cried many times while putting it together but the memories are there to be cherished forever and it is an important part of the process of getting over your little man. 17 years is amazing, how much he must've learned and given in that time - it's incredible how they represent so much of who we are - they don't say a word yet we can tie all kinds of memories to things our animals did or just having them there at all times, happy and sad. I hope that one day you can find in your heart to love another doggie like you did Dusty -- we lost our little pup Boz aged 4 months, around the same time as Dusty, they'll be at the Bridge together and Dusty will be showing Boz a trick or two ! We have just had our new pup Archie arrive on the weekend and how that 8 wk old little fella has already stolen our hearts. Take care

oh no I think a bit of oiling will fix up the squeaks ! So sorry he's taken !! :p

I just got my pup 2 days ago too! and I had the same questions when trying to teach sit! she seems to be sitting already cuz she realised that sitting = treat but not actually understanding the command. so whenever she was already sitting, i walked away a bit further so she had to stand and walk towards me. but then she sits down again as soon as she is close to me again. Likewise ! Or he seems not too bothered to come to me when I take a few steps back and just stays sitting - even when I wave the treat under his nose first ! So much for a food-oriented labrador ! . This doesn't happen every time, but quite often.

Just tried it with food closer, much better thanks Nekhbet ! Bit silly of me What are your thoughts on him sitting before I tell him ? He just seems to walk toward me, then sit without being asked. Should I just stand him up (but not try to teach stand command just yet) - and then go through the sitting process again ?

Hi all Not sure whether to post here or obedience but thought I'd try here first .. 8 wko lab pup Archie has been with us 2 days now, starting to teach him to sit, and he's going quite well but I have a few questions ... 1. when we're training, he often seems to prefer to sit anyway (even when he's very fresh and alert) .... should I try and teach him to stand right now ? Or one thing at a time ? Or just give him the stand command if he's sitting and vice versa ? 2. When he does sit nicely, he's sometimes sits then immediately jumps up on his hind linds, towards the treat. I have told him 'no' waited until he's sitting nicely, then given him a mark ('yes') and food goes in the gob. But just as I'm bringing the food to his mouth, he jumps up. Want to be sure I'm not rewarding him for the jump but the mark is telling him the right thing to do. Also, do you recommend alternating a food treat with lots of praise ? He seems to still do the sit thing when I don't give him food. (he IS a lab ) Realise it's very early days but appreciate your advice ! Thanks.

Thanks. And it's sooooo cute........

Our gorgeous new 8 wko lab pup Archie seems to cry a bit while he's playing with his toys. He is perfectly happy but he just lets out little cry now and then while he's attacking 'monkey', 'craw' or his squeaky skittle - he also did this with a venison ear we gave him while he was chewing on it. I am not worried about it at all and know it's quite normal because our last lab did it, just interested in any theories people might have in why they do it. thanks, here he is ....