Puppy advice

[Wishful]

My OH has just got a dog - Yellow Lab puppy! He's a vet so should be OK on the general welfare stuff and it will definitely be his dog and will live with him etc. He's also looked after friends dogs, but they were older and trained already and he seems good enough at discipline where necessary - stopping them jumping up/not pulling on leads... The only issue is me - I'm not really used to dogs and have never really had anything to do with a puppy - so need hints and tips.

I know the biggest thing with labs in that you have to be very aware of breakables at tail height! and that they eat anything and everything they can find - and don't stop when they're full so you need to be aware of lockable cupboard/doors to where the food is kept. Anything else - don't want to mess up house training/discipline training etc.

 

[sloulou]

I have a lab puppy

well he is 7 months old now - so not actually that small anymore!

To be honest mine doesn't chew stuff that isn't his and has never stolen food - but we are very careful about what is left around that he can get hold of - so it might be that!

I give mine kongs filled with food or pigs ears or bones to keep him occupied for a little while. Play lots of games with him.

um... we watched Loki very carefully when we first got him to keep an eye out for any signs he might go to the toilet indoors - but he was been house trained since two weeks after we had him...

Oh yeah - and while they are little I have always been told ignore the bad and reward the good - so you don't tell them off if they chew something or wee on the floor - but make a big fuss if they wee in the garden

Another thing that worked well for mine - was a quiet but firm 'ah ah' if he was about to do something he shouldn't (eg. chew something or pick up a shoe) and he always listened to that.

Lab puppies are great

Just have fun!

 

[Breezesbenefactor]

Take it in your stride...don't feed him from your plate, don't give him chocolate, check his water bowl, take him for walks & love him the rest you'll learn as you go

 

[Wishful]

Thanks.

He does sound cute, I'm just a little bit nervous around bouncy dogs. Looking forward to meeting him next weekend... Chocolate I know about - last time we were looking after labs, chocolate was kept on top shelves (above my head) and general food also behind closed dog proof doors - OH's had to treat too many labs that have stolen food e.g. 3kgs worth!

He wasn't planning on getting a puppy - his ideal dog was a lab, but one that had failed as a gundog due to not liking bangs! Training from 9 weeks will be fun!