Puppy Wuppy

Thanks everyone for the replies! Well OH knocked off work early and took her for me Apparently she ok, a wriggle pot but he managed to restrain her well. The vet missed the first time, but quickly got it in the second time. She gave a little growl when it was actually being done and it was all over in a flash. My OH is a very calm cool collected person so I'm now quite convinced that my stress is definatley rubbing off on her. They were home within 15 mins I think that can be his job from now on. In regards to Cartrophen capsules, I had no idea they came in that form. When I was working we only ever used the injections, but the clinic I was in was very small and very regional so we didn't have much of anything. I will definatley enquire about it next time, thanks for that. Poodlewrangler, yes I'm aware they can't be phobic, it was just the word I used to describe her behaviour and the fact that she hates it Apparently yesterday she had a different vet too, wonder if that made a difference? Thanks again! Anni

Not sure, will enquire bout that when she's in next (tomorrow). Because the needle has either bent or snapped when she's had her injection, the vet had to try a few times....making it even more stressful. Not to mention having three of us trying to hold her. No wonder she hates it so much Anni

Thanks so much everyone for your input The weird thing is that before my daughter was born (now almost 2yrs), I was vet nursing so came into so many dogs with similar 'needle phobias' and I handled it well, it was just one part of the job. But now it's my OWN dog, my feelings have changed so much! I am far more stressed and anxious when she flips out, than I ever was when other peoples dogs were doing the same thing in the clinic I was working in. I completley agree with you NEKHBET, I think my stress rubs off onto her. On the outside I am very calm, but she must pick up some kind of vibe from me, animals can read us far better than we think! I have to cancel the appointment tonight as OH is working back and there's no way in hell I'm taking my 2 year old toddler and my hyper-active Lab to the vet for a needle by myself. Luckily OH has agreed to take her to get her needles from now on, he's a much calmer person than I am. Thanks again, Anni P.S SparkyTansy> The last two times Indy had her cartrophen, the needle snapped, and the time before that it bent ! How is your dog going without the cartrophen now?

Thanks Busterlove. I have used treats with Indy, and thought with her being a food obsessed Lab she wouldn't even know she was having a needle if she was eating treats. It didn't work, as soon as she feels the vets grab a bit of skin it's game on. Last time, we had to get one of the nurses to come in and help restrain her, she's only a small Lab and it took 3 of us to restrain her :rolleyes: Not a nice thing to see! I'm 6 months pregnant so am thinking about asking my OH to take her tonight instead, not sure I'm up for the wrestle now that I have a big gut! Anni

Hi Everyone, My 9 month old Lab has a tiny bit of bone degeneration in one of her hips following trauma to that area (hit by car). To manage this, and to try and prevent it from turning into full blown arthritis, she is on Cartrophen Injections. She has a needle once a week for 4 weeks, then nothing for 3 months, and then the cycle continues. She will most probably be on this program long term The problem is though, she has a MASSIVE needle phobia. She is due to start her second round today and I'm dreading it. When she first gets into the vets she's an absolutle wriggle pot, all hyped up and excited. As soon as the vet starts to get to work on her, she goes even more mental. It is incredibly stressful to watch, and I know it's distressing for her. Has anyone had/has a pooch with needle phobia that requires regular injections? How do you deal with it? I WISH this medication came in tablet form :rolleyes: I suspect she may have this huge fear because of the large amount of time she spent at the vets in early puppy-hood. Poor thing. Would like any advice please Anni

Thanks for that, will show my hubby the website tonight and have a chat about it

Sas, thankyou It's very hard not to be disheartened. This forum is wonderful, and very encouraging. I have never looked into, or heared of clicker training before...off to google! Oh,and yes she is an outside dog. I have a toddler aswell so don't like Indy hooning around the house when my daughter is inside. Do you think the more time she spends inside,the more used to it she will get? We would dearly love for her to be both an inside and outside dog, but she goes beserk when she's inside.

Ooops my mistake! She is 9 months old, and was hit by a car when she was 3.5 MONTHS, not years. I agree with you, she will need more than just obedience group training, I don't think that alone will get at the root of her problems. Thanks so much for your help Anni

Apart from trying to curb this behaviour on our own at home, we havn't sought professional help yet. She started obedience training last week (had to start later in her life but she went through trauma when she was 3.5 yrs old and has been limited with what she can do due to injuries). I feel she will be great at Obedience but I don't think it will help with her 'nature' if you know what I mean? She is due for her cartrophen injection now so will be going in to see the vet asap, and I'm hoping to have a chat to the vet about her behaviour. She has huge dominance/leadership issues which I am finding so hard to deal with. Everyone (friends and family ) tell me 'just give her time, she'll settle'. But it's more than her just being a silly boisterous Lab.

Thanks Snoozie We have used both food and just praise as a reward. I feel though that her mouthing is more than just thinking there's something in my hand. If she can't bite/chew our hands, she'll go for arms, face, leg etc. I'm having difficulty bonding with her as she is not a very pleasant dog to be around

Thankyou for the tips so far Paulp, Indy is a chronic jumper. Since she was a small puppy, we have totally ignored her when she jumps but this hasn't helped. I think I might try what you do and just walk back inside rather than stay outside with her. Thanks again everyone! Anni

I'm in desperate need of help with my 9 month old black Lab Indy. Amongst all her other behavioral problems, one of the most frustrating ones is mouthing and biting. She does it constantly. When I go outside I have to walk with my arms folded up to my chest because if they're hanging by my side she grabs them. If I'm doing ANYTHING, she runs and bites my hands and she does this to all of our visitors. She left marks on my mother in laws arms last night We have never encouraged games that involved biting or mouthing, never encouraged rough play as a small pup and have been consistant with trying to stop this from day one yet she still does it and I feel like it's getting worse. I have a toddler aswell so am very concerned about this. Has anyone had experience with this type of behaviour? Is it something she'll grow out of?? I posted this question a few months ago but despite our efforts, nothing has changed Anni

Are you talking about me? I'd love some suggestions, I have a 9 month old female Black Lab with HUGE dominance issues, we are getting no where by ourselves. She'll be going to the vet on Monday arvo to see if we cab get a referral. Good luck to your friend!!

Hi, thanks so much for the reply. With our daughter, we never leave her and our pooch alone together and never will. I have strong views on dogs and children and this is something both my husband and I felt strongly about before we got our Lab With the mouthing, I am pretty much doing everything you have suggested and last night I spent ages with her and I have to say, the mouthing behaviour dwindled as the night went on, woohoo! I also tried grabbing her mouth, but she thought it was the funnest game in the world and got even more excited and mouthy, so we won't be doing that one LOL I think one thing that's contributed to her mouthing is that fact that under vets order, she has spent the last 2 months in confinement recovering from major hip and pelvis surgery, so we have had limited oppertunities to 'teach' her manners. I just hope that with time and consistency she settles with her mouthing. Thanks again for the reply :D

Hi everyone, Our 6 month old black lab is always mouthing/biting my hands and I was just curious as to when this behaviour stops! I don't recall our last dog ever doing this. She isn't aggressive when she does it, but everytime she comes up to us for a pat, her mouth latches on to our hands, and it's a tad concerning as we have an 18 month old daughter, plus it's plain annoying We have never played games with her that encourage using the mouth (eg rough puppy play/tug of war etc) but she still does this. I understand labs are generally mouthy dogs and tend to chew everything in sight (our last dog was a lab), she just seems obsessed! For what it's worth, she has spent the last 2 months confined to the laundry with 2 'toilet trips' in the day, because she was hit by a car and needed extensive surgery and extensive and strict recovery rest. I'd just really love some tips on how to curb her hand chewing or some reasurrance that she will grow out of it Thankyou!!