Stressmagnet

I've got an ongoing prescription for Ranitidine. Happy to send you some - us cancer patients get ALL the good drugs. :D

My AmStaff destroyed a soft crate at 12 weeks; the second 2 days later. I reckon a collapsible wire crate is the go.

I repeat. I saw three breeders and fell in love with two other pups before Ernie. I was heartbroken each time but I had been lurking here for years and knew to wait until the right boy; the right breeder and the right time. I know you want a pup right now. Been there, done that. And while the dog I bought on impulse I don't regret -- she turned out to be everything I didn't want temperament wise. This time, I waited. And had my heart broken. But Ernie is hands down on track to be one of the best dogs I've ever owned.

Thanks for the replies. I actually quite enjoy the walks - my time to think and sort out my life. But I don't want to HAVE to go out if it's really really bad. I'll google learning scent games and teaching 'find it' and some other brainy games. I'm working on teaching Ernie that inside the house is for calm quiet behaviour (still trying to teach my teen girls that), so I don't want to play games that will rev him up.

It's supposed to rain here over the next few days. I've faithfully walked Ernie every morning for an hour since he arrived. I'm tempted to go anyway but to be honest, wet dog excites me little. UNexercised dog excites me even less. Coping with a bouncy lab pup when I'm at the low point of my chemo cycle fills me with dread. But it's not fair to him. So what do y'all do when the weather is inclement? How many just do the walk anyway? And for those of you that DONT - how do you substitute?

I'm buying this!!

Sounds like the mother ruled the roost. I agree, it's hard niw -- but your dog is still out there.

He fell over his back legs running down a hill this morning. He looked so hurt when I laughed.

Darn. This sounds awesome.

Thank you. His dad was a bit of a boofa and his mum looked slimmer and leaner. I don't care how he turns out, though i will not let him get fat. The fat labs I see at the park look to be in pain. He IS still very young (7.5 Months) so I'm sure his true 'adult' appearance is a fair bit away.

I lost out on 2 other pups before I got Ernie. The kids were devastated. I just kept repeating (to them and myself) the right dog will come into your life at the right time. Won't make the pain go away but it does make it easier to bear.

Hey Any ideas on how to train out or reduce the about of licking my pup boy does? No one can stroke or pat him without being covered in kisses. He's submissive by nature so I'm assuming that this is part of the issue. Yesterday I left puppy class with both knees dripping with slobber. We've tried going 'YUCK!' And removing ourselves but he's a determined kisser. And I'd really like to he able to give him a stroke or a pat without bring constantly slimed.

Gawd. If I'm stopping in at Coles for 10 minutes I take Ernie out and tie him outside. You wouldn't leave a child inside a hot car for 10 minutes, would you? Oh wait... Just read the above post.

The disparity in size is pretty amusing.

Um. My teen girls took Ernie's lipstick appearance in stride. It's appearance has been halved since he's been neutered but still makes an appearance if he's excited or happy. I don't really think it's that big a deal. It's not a full blown erection and he's not humping other dogs. For all the rest of the good things he brings to our family - 2cm of lipstick popping out occasionally seems fair enough. Plus the bonus is that he's so hopelessly confused about it when it happens; quite comical. Honestly, you'd think people would go by personality and temperament not anatomy for a family pet. A semi erect penis is hardly the most traumatising thing a kid can see - there's violence and racism and sexism. But maybe that's my own hippy bias.

That is a bully. No reason why you should have to justify any of your actions.

Best story I've read in ages. Thanks for posting it.

I made a similar thread about Ernie. I am 100% behind you on this. Just as i don't see why my kids have to greet every freaking person they walk by; I don't get why my pup does either. I'm in charge, I should get to choose how and when they are socialised. That being said, I now realise that some folks have no sense of personal boundaries when it comes to dogs. Much like when I was pregnant and strangers used to want to feel my belly. Hell, no. Boundaries. Personal space.

Unclean? As in won't lick their penis? It's Ernie's personal amusement park!

Hah. Ernie was much cheaper because of his penis. I've always had female dogs and this time, I was determined to have a male. I had folks try and talk me out of it for all the reasons mentioned - girls were more protective, bonded more closely; more willing. Not sure. Depends a lot on the dog's temperament, I think. I've had soft submissive needy girls. Ernie would have been soft and sooky if he'd been Ernestine.

Has he been scared by a banging door? Or has it shut on him? Can you practice firmly leading him in and out until he comes willingly? Sounds like something spooked hin to me.

I so hear you. Every day I start out happily training Ernie. Then, assclowns.

Wow. Thank you for all the info. Yes, I just skimmed the Delta site so looks like I got it wrong. I definitely will be doing this with Ernie should he mature the same way he's starting out. As a frequent flyer in hospitals - I know how much it cheered me up to see the therapy dogs. Hell, he'd been wonderful at lifting my spirits and taking me out of my own head in the 6 weeks I've owned him. Of course, right now he's lying here happily farting up a storm so tonight ... The wrong spirits are in the air. :D

It looks like the Delta Society is the way to go but all up around $4k to qualify. Out of my budget unfortunately. There's a cheaper alternative (velma's pet therapy - Google it) but I'm going to ask around before I commit. I think Ernie needs to grow up a little but there's no harm in youtubing videos and keeping him well occupied until then.

Both GREAT ideas. I checked put the Delta Society and it looks promising. Now I just have to find a training course. He's still very very young so he might change as he gets older but worth a try. Edited for typos. AGAIN.