aussielover

Hi, as some might know I am puppy raising for guide dogs at the moment and my puppy is a 4.5 month old black labrador called Mindy. I have a few questions that I though DOLers may be able to help me out with. 1) Mindy accompanies me to university at least 4 days a week While at uni, she is expected to sit under my desk pretty much all day (9-5). I have a lovely little set up for her- a pillow, a polarfleece blanket, some chew toys, some rawhide treats and some cuddly toys. I take her out for a 10-15 mintue walk in various places around the uni every 1.5-2hrs (whenever i get sick of doing work ) and she gets 30 mins off leash play at lunch either on the lawns outside the building or on an oval. She also usually has a further 30 minutes where she is able to wander around the office I am in, get patted and doted on, and have her treat ball etc. Before uni, she gets a 10 min walk in the morning and a further 15 mins off lead at a dog park in the mornings. After uni, she gets 20-30 minutes free running and in a dog park. We do short obedience sessions during the day as well. Anyway, do you think this is too boring for a puppy? I know this will be what is expected of her if she becomes a guide dog, but I do want her to have happy and carefree "puppy days". She is very well behaved and doesn't seem stressed, usually she will just sleep or chew on her toys or rawhide. If I have to leave her, i tie her to the desk, but always with a friend supervising her. She has never had an accident at uni which i am very pleased about. Someone said to me the other day it would be a very boring life for her, which i suppose is true. I also feel bad that she can't run around whenever she feels like it, like puppies would be if they were in a home or backyard. when i told guide dogs that she was at uni with me 4 days a week they seemed surprised but didn't say whether it was good or bad. Do people think I should leave her at home more often? 2) which leads me to the next question. My mum is just not feeling the puppy love. I think she expected Mindy to be like our old dog Clover (ie perfect). while I have accepted that Mindy is a different dog entirely, with different qualities, my mum keeps on saying stuff like "Clover wouldn't do that" and doesn't seem at all keen to get involved with mindy especially with walking and socialising her etc. she even thought Mindy did a poo in her study just to spite her when i am not home, they don't follow my instructions such as crating Min if she can't be watched, treating her for good behaviour and treating her for toileting outside. They basically feel treating her is ridiculous and unnecessary even though i have explained why it is important numerous times. Mindy is basically allowed to run wild if i'm not there, which is why she did a poo in the study i am sure. I don't know how to help my mum to accept Mindy more- I am trying my best to train her so she is great to walk on the lead and isn't naughty etc. i also feel pressure to take her to uni as I know she will just be allowed to do whatever at home and not socialised at all. Thankfully, she is not destructive at all- she hasn't chewed anythign valuable up yet and generally only chews on her toys. Mum actually said she wants her next dog to look exactly like Clover, which I think is a mistake. she also thinks she will be able to love a dog more if it looks more like clover. Obviously I have advised this is not the case and for her to consider adopting an older dog as she clearly can't cope with a young puppy. How can i make my mum love Mindy more? Any advice please? Thanks

Yes, pigs ears should not be given without supervision. A chunk could break off, especially when it gets all soft and gooey and they could possibly get them stuck in the roof of their mouth (happended to my puppy this morning) causing some discomfort. There is also a small risk of choking and obstruction

So are you saying that if you cross a lab with a GR (both breeds known to be prone to ED and HD) then you are LESS LIKELY to get a dog affected by HD or ED than purebreds of both breeds? I would say crossbreds (not mutts) have just as many health problems as purebreds in my experience

What a lovely puppy! a what a comfy crate she has!!! She is lovely and a have-a-chat but after her sleep yesterday she only slept in the middle of the floor in the wind. And she already wakes me when she needs to go toilet :D such a relief Took her to the vets this morning and asked about her droopy eyes and was told it could be from a damaged nerve and that her left ear may never stand up but I still love her just the same. I thought she was a GR or maremma from those photos lol! But now i am guessing she is a white shep? That will be very cute if one ear stays floppy. I'm sure it won't impact on her health at all, apart from you having to check the ear more frequently.

Mindy loves empty soft drink bottles too. She likes kongs too, but only while there is food in there.

is your dog normally fearful and aggressive?

Is one of those things you have to believe in for it to work?

What a lovely puppy! a what a comfy crate she has!!!

Re Parvo area- ask your vet. In my area there hasn't been very many cases of parvo, maybe one or two over the last couple of years, usually in rescue puppies, so the risk of the environment being contaminated is relatively low. Regardless, the puppy should receive the full course of vaccination (2-3 depending on what vaccine). But to be absolutely safe, don't let puppy walk around outside untl 2 weeks after the final vaccination.

Many so called "pedigree" breeders may well be just as bad (esp BYBers) and these people are indeed prosecuted by the RSPCA. However, he should not confuse the issue of genetic health problems and the conditions the dogs are kept in. We recently had a "labradoodle" diagnosed with PRA, whihc is hereditary in both poodles and labs. So xbreds aren't exempt from genetic conditions either.

Jacqui, I think you have a point, Some breeds are taken to the extreme, by a some breeders. Ultimately it is up to the judges of a particular breed as to the direction that the breed willl tend to go in. Snoring doesn't necessarily mean a dog can't breathe- my labrador is a terrible snorer but appears to have no problems breathing even when she runs around like a mad thing. But I understand what you are saying about the extent of some brachy breeds "squashed face". It saddens me to see GSDs with wobbly bakc legs because of extremely sloping backs, but recently I have seen more and more "straight-backed" GSDs. I think pedigree dog breeding is affecting the welfare of some breeds but I wouldn't say it is same level of cruelty as dogs are subjected to on puppy farms. Many of these dogs are very loved and well cared for by their owners, despite the health issues they may have. The owners are more likly to get the health problems addressed by a vet, than a breeding dog on a puppy farm. I think welfare issues in pedigree dogs would be better addressed by breeder education and breed standard reforms rather than prosecution by the RSPCA. The only way to deal with puppy farmers is through public eduction in conjunction with prosecution by the RSPCA with penalties

how exactly does the tick stop work? what is the active ingredient? The website claims some pretty grand has some pretty grand claims imo. How would the animal become resistant to paralysis???

What a moron! what is a DDB

Elbie looks like a typical young working dog to me- very cute

i would carry your puppy if you do take him out. Most puppies have NO immunity after the first vax only. Are you in a parvo area? Wait until he has finished the course of vaccination

I'b be worried if a saw an 8 week old lab that wasn't a bit "tubby". I don't think you should see the ribs on a lab pup of that age Differen when they are older, by 16 weeks should be looking fit and healthy

I have a labrador... enough said But sounds like a good idea! I wish all dog owners would teach that!

My lab has this and she is def not part ridgeback (though i've had a few people ask me) some ridgies are born without a ridge as well. He does not look big enough to be half ridgeback imo but he may well have amuybe 1/4 or 1/8 ridgie in him?

In an advertisement, I think spelling and grammar is quite important. Of course some of the posts here (myself included) have a number of typos and grammatical errors but it is a different context and situation. One or two typos would be ok, but more than that is just laziness- it doesn't take long to at least use the computer spell checker, or get someone who can spell to look over it. when you are trying to come across as professional and responsible, imo, spelling does matter

You lucky thing! Absolutely agree about her being adorable, Berner puppies are just so irresistable. I wonder about those people who don't even give a little smile when they see a lovely puppy. I can totally understand if you don't have time to stop and give cuddles, or are too shy, or nervous to ask to pat, but I can't believe pople wouldn't at least smile. Seeing a young puppy always puts a smile on my face

YAY, great news, go little Charlie

I didn't get to choose Mindy at all. The only preference we had was for a girl (due to size). She has turned out to be a wonderful puppy! I don't even kow who her breeder is!

They are very expensive, especially if it doesn't work (it doesn't work on all dogs). SAS- i have burnt my hand on one- i went to grab it and it was really really hot If you do go for one, make sure you put it somewhere safe where it can't cause anything to ignite. Barking in itself if not necessarily indicative of separation anxiety. Many dogs will have a few barks just after their onwers leaves, but will settle down. If your dog is overly destructive whilst you are away or barks continously, then that may be a sign of separation anxiety, in which case it would be best to seek professional help. Perhaps getting a trainer to come to your house for one session could also relaly help you with this issue (barking while away) as well and they always have some useful puppy tips anyway.

I really want to get one of those bob-a-lot things. they look fun!!! I prefer pups up to 12 weeks to be a bit "roly-poly", after that tough, most pups really slim down. my puppy was the fattest thing ever at 8 weeks, and is now a good weight, bordering on slim.