trinabean

Yes, most puppies go through the destructive/nipping/biting/toilet training/etc. stage but the difference with a larger breed, like a Labrador notorious for being handfuls as pups, is significant. We just want you to be sure of what you are getting into when you have 4 small young children who are at an age that will take up a lot of your time and are small enough to get hurt by a Lab puppy. I don't have kids myself but I have read in the Lab Thread people asking advice on how to get their Lab puppies to stop nipping their kids and hang off their clothes, and their kids were becoming scared of the puppy. In a lot of cases, the poor dog ends up being left outside because the family just can't cope with its behaviour and don't find a way to train it out of them Rewind back almost 5 years ago, I brought home my first ever Lab puppy. She bowled my then 2 year old niece over many times which ended in tears, she nicked off with my shoes, sunnies, anything I was silly enough to leave within her reach and she thought it was a hoot to run around with it playing keepy-off!! If I chased her, I never got it back. If I didn't chase her, she would chew it up. She also knocked over my parents outdoor fountain and it broke to smithereens - just so thankful it didn't fall on her! She got into the bin and ate glad wrap at 9 weeks old just as mum put it in there - was hit with an x-ray bill within a week of her being home! She would pull me over to see other dogs at obedience class and reduced me to tears on many occasions because I couldn't control her. Labs just LOVE other dogs and people so it takes a lot of work to stop them doing this. Meanwhile, my parents have recently gotten a miniature schnauzer pup. Yes she has to be toilet trained and trained manners like any other dog, but general puppy behaviour is so much easier to control. I have nieces and nephews aged 2-7 years old and she cannot bowl them over and hurt them. They all sit on the floor playing with her and her toys. She snuggles in their lap when tired and they love it! She takes off with any shoes in sight but her tiny little mouth doesn't do any damage, oh and we can easily catch her and get them off her! So we aren't really that diligent about keeping things out of her reach because she doesn't really do anything to them. She only weighs a few kilos so can't pull my mum's arm off at obedience to say hello to other dogs. Anyway I just wanted to leave you with a few things to think about because I just want to help you make an informed choice. If it is definitely a puppy you are after, I strongly suggest looking at smaller breeds that will be more manageable with 4 small children. And if it is a Lab you are definitely after, don't discount an older rescue or ex-show dog from a breeder If you want any more advice, feel free to PM me. I hope you don't take offence to the advice I have offered, I just have your family and the breed's best interests at heart A very good, thoughtful post Rubystar. Very relevant to anyone with kids looking at one of the larger, more boisterous breeds. Although I'm raising a boxer pup I can really relate to the challenges you faced with your Lab five years ago! My youngest child is 5 years old and with the benefit of hindsight I think I would have been better off waiting a little longer to get a puppy. Big, bouncing boofer of a third child that he is.....

:rofl: Frodo's mum you're right. This thread was made for Frodo. Love his stoic little face in the midst of each costume.

Another solo dog owner here. My boxer, Bruno is 9 months old now. He is becoming a really lovely family dog. I think for the foreseeable future he will be a solo dog as I also have 2 sons aged 5 and 10. Life can be hectic but make sure I walk and train Bruno daily. Sometimes that's easier said than done! I'm not sure I could give another dog the time and attention it deserves so I'd rather not go there just now. I can't help but ogle the lovely 'packs' that some people have though. I'm an admirer of many breeds....

Love the poddle and trundling description! She sounds like a cute little dobber....

Wantsapuppy I have a Boxer. And Fatsoman my Boxer's favourite playmate is an Airedale. I imagine a Lab and an Airedale could get on pretty well too.

A friend of mine observed the same thing with some chicken she was going to give her dog. I didn't believe her until I saw it. She called it 'Chernobyl chicken' and binned it.

And now I'm picturing him complaining in a cute Mexican accent!

Mason Gibbs my dog has been panting significantly more lately too. He's been foaming at the mouth on some of our walks too. I call it his 'rabies look'. I'm thinking it's just because we're having much warmer weather? That, and the exuburance of being a puppy on the go maybe?

Healing thoughts sent...C'mon Earl! Hang in there KHM.

Rest in Peace now Bracken. So sorry to hear this news Jacquie. I hope you have good supportive people around you today...

Hugs and prayers for Bracken. Hope the vet gets back to you ASAP. Hang in there.

But I think your military shepherd pup is gorgeous! Could just be the photo but he looks like he's going to be a big guy! GSD's are among my favourite breeds. I'm not wary of medium/ large breeds per se, in fact as a dog owner I prefer larger breeds. I am vigilant of off-lead dogs (regardless of breed) when walking my dog in our local on-lead walk trails. With one exception, every time my on-lead dog has been rushed by a loose dog it has been by a small 'harmless' sized dog. It's odd that the owners of these little dogs with poor recall are willing to risk their dog's safety. Luckily my dog is playful (and on-lead), but not all dogs would be. So the breed I dislike is Small Yappy Snappers. Oh, and their irresponsible owners. ;)

Slightly OT but I wonder if this Rotty got a fright when the gate blew open and when you brought her back and she growled it may actually have something more to do with the gate and what happened originally than you - this being the case I'm sure most breeds (large or small) would have the same reaction Yes,I thought the same thing gsdog2. The growl may have been about the gate behaving suspiciously/ making an unusual noise. My boxer reacts to some noises this way and may well have done the same thing.

Completely agree Skye GSD. These cause far more problems than any particular breed of dog. ;)

I think it is rat lungworm. A really nasty parasite too. I remember reading about it when my pup went through a prolific snail-crunching phase!

Noishe, I'm so sorry to hear your news about Tye. I just popped in here to check for an update. He looked like a beautiful boy. I hope you and your other boxer are coping ok.

Leopuppy I understand how you feel about the Hills i/d. I have a 9 month old pup who has had ongoing tummy issues. My vet put him on a Eukanuba prescription diet and suggested regular vitamin B12 injections when diahorrea (sp?) recurs. While the Eukanuba low-residue didn't seem to cause diahorrea, he lost a lot of weight on it and he barely ate it. This pup already looked emaciated but did look worse on the prescription food. My vet suggested that any new meat/ food needed to be introduced slowly and given 4 weeks chance. Like Tilly I often add a little bit of mashed pumpkin to my dog's food. I'm starting to think that there is something in many biscuits that doesn't agree with my pup (read: causes frequent foamy/ liquid poos! ) This got me thinking about trying BARF as it is possible to feed a single meat, grain-free food. Most biscuits have so many ingredients it's hard to work out what exactly is the problem. So I'm trialling Big Dog Barf at the moment, one meat at a time. He also gets chicken and roo bones as these have proven to be fine. If raw seems like it is working for my dog, I will read up and learn how to correctly make my own raw diet. So far so good, my dog is looking better now than he ever has in his skinny life! He is eating with enthusiasm now too. It's truly frustrating to have a sickly-looking dog who barely wants to eat. Good luck with your dog, let us know how you go.

Thanks for posting that Sandgrubber. I find genetics fascinating.

Sorry Noishe, I have no wisdom to offer but I do hope Tye is OK. I hope your vet can give you a clearer picture at your next consult.

:rofl: Whilst wearing smoking jackets and sipping brandy?

Wonderful news! That's one HUGE scary-looking incision. Hope she recovers quickly and well.

RIP Jock with the lovely smile. Sorry for your loss Jase. Good luck in your decision-making about if/when to get another dog....

Great to hear that Mindy is doing better. Here's to the weekend being over for you and Mindy getting healthy enough to come home.

Hope Mindy is OK and that you are coping well Aussielover.

Hi Melzawelza, I can't open the links. Could be my network or some other problem at my end (although I can open FB up as normal.)