Dog Owners, I Need Advise Please..

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:48 am

Everyone, the wife and I decided we're getting a puppy. She's a Lab and was born on 10/23/09, we'll be getting her right after Christmas. We've signed up for some classes @ PetSmart already and have gotten a book about taking care of them. This is the first time for both of us and I'd like to know if there's anything in paticular I should or should NOT do? Also, my biggest question is regarding ticks, can you recommend a product worth getting to handle those little buggers? LOL.. buggers, literally.

Thanks Folks.. I'm SUPER excited, we named her Sasha.. Breeder needed us to give her a name so they can start calling her that. Oh, and if anyone's interested she only costs us $200 which I heard was extremely good for a Lab.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:26 pm

Congrats, Joe! That is a very good price for a lab. We have a pit / lab mix named Sasha, and she's great.

I would give you advice, but I think what you'll read in the books will cover anything I have to say, and better. Raising a good dog isn't an intellectually difficult task. It really just requires discipline on your part. So I guess that's my advice: always make sure the dog knows who's in charge. Some people in my family think it'll hurt the dog's feelings if she can't do whatever she wants. However, definite structures, boundaries, and positive reinforcement (rewards for good behavior) are the way to raise a happy and (most importantly) healthy dog, physically and socially.

Most of all, enjoy it! Dogs really are man's best friend.

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:29 pm

Irn-Bru wrote:Congrats, Joe! That is a very good price for a lab. We have a pit / lab mix named Sasha, and she's great.

I would give you advice, but I think what you'll read in the books will cover anything I have to say, and better. Raising a good dog isn't an intellectually difficult task. It really just requires discipline on your part. So I guess that's my advice: always make sure the dog knows who's in charge. Some people in my family think it'll hurt the dog's feelings if she can't do whatever she wants. However, definite structures, boundaries, and positive reinforcement (rewards for good behavior) are the way to raise a happy and (most importantly) healthy dog, physically and socially.

Most of all, enjoy it! Dogs really are man's best friend.

Some people can use you're advice to raise their kids as well.

Joe, congratz on the dog!

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:36 pm

Thanks fellaz, greatly appreciated

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:28 pm

Outstanding. Great call.

1. Labs are puppies for 2-3 years. They are rambunctious, clumsy and nosey... and they chew. They don't grow out of those puppy behaviors as quickly as other breeds... hence the trade off... you get a very friendly, outgoing, and usually very tolerant dog, but a lot of your property may be damaged in the process... both from chewing and from that monsterous wagging tail that destroys all that it touches.

2. Learn to speak dog. I'm serious. Dogs have a universal set of communication behaviors. The very happy wagging tail, and the play bow are the obvious ones that come to mind... but there are many others. There are a number of books that address canine body language.

As IrnBru notes, it's important to remember that your pet, no matter how much a member of the family... is still a dog. She will be looking to you and the other humans for leadership. That means rules, structure, boundaries. From Sasha's perspective, you are her pack. Pack leaders enforce discipline. That is important to the emotional well being of your dog. If you aren't the pack leader... and your wife isn't the pack leader... then Shasha may assume that it is her job to be the pack leader.

3. Choose a vet early. That's whom you want to speak with about options for flea and tick control. There are some excellent products... including prescription products... that you'll want to look at.

Enjoy. Treat Shasha with respect... you will be rewarded many fold.

I'm jealous. I miss my dogs.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:03 pm

Countertrey wrote:Outstanding. Great call.

1. Labs are puppies for 2-3 years. They are rambunctious, clumsy and nosey... and they chew. They don't grow out of those puppy behaviors as quickly as other breeds... hence the trade off... you get a very friendly, outgoing, and usually very tolerant dog, but a lot of your property may be damaged in the process... both from chewing and from that monsterous wagging tail that destroys all that it touches.

2. Learn to speak dog. I'm serious. Dogs have a universal set of communication behaviors. The very happy wagging tail, and the play bow are the obvious ones that come to mind... but there are many others. There are a number of books that address canine body language.

As IrnBru notes, it's important to remember that your pet, no matter how much a member of the family... is still a dog. She will be looking to you and the other humans for leadership. That means rules, structure, boundaries. From Sasha's perspective, you are her pack. Pack leaders enforce discipline. That is important to the emotional well being of your dog. If you aren't the pack leader... and your wife isn't the pack leader... then Shasha may assume that it is her job to be the pack leader.

3. Choose a vet early. That's whom you want to speak with about options for flea and tick control. There are some excellent products... including prescription products... that you'll want to look at.

Enjoy. Treat Shasha with respect... you will be rewarded many fold.

I'm jealous. I miss my dogs.

Thanks for the great advise bro. We're going to crate train her and I've seen one that expands (has dividers actually) as she gets bigger. You guys already know she'll have every Skin's item I can find.. oh shoot.. dag gone it DS.. :lol:

Oh well, its for the dog but I'M NOT PURCHASING ANYTHING FOR ME :lol:

CT, I'll post up some pics as they send them to us bro, your dogs spirit(s) will live through Sasha somehow

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:20 pm

Hope you don't mind...

My pack

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langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:32 pm

Mind? dude please.. you guys should at least know me a little by now. :lol:

Beautiful dogs bro, that's the kind my wife originally wanted cause they were "ooooh soooooo cute".. I said.. nope, I need a doberman.. :lol:

The Lab was a compromise

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:33 pm

The tan one I meant. .that's what she really wanted

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:03 pm

The American Eskimo Dog? That was Meeko. He was a punk... kind of like a Jack Russel Terrier with hair. My daughter had let him run the house. He and I had words a few times... but he came to my understanding of how things should run after a bit... He was a lot of fun!

The others were Keeshonds. A bit more laid back. They were big on cuddling. Good with kids. Loved the snow.

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:30 pm

Joe, the only advice I can give is be consistent with training....especially the potty kind. When I moved out of my parents house, I took my 2 year old chow mix with me (he was my parents, but I was forced to take care of him then I got attached) and he spent his entire life outside on a long leash. It was not that difficult to train him that he cannot just "go" anywhere, because I was consistent. Get the dog on a schedule and limit their water intake to help prevent messes in the house. Labs are smart dogs so they should learn fairly quickly as with all dogs, the aim to please you, but you have to do your part as well. Good luck with the new addition. Your life won't be the same for the next 10-15 years.

Pigskinfever · Post by **Pigskinfever** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:25 pm

Great Call! I absolutely love labs, i have 2 labs. Someone already mentioned this but labs like to chew on anything and everything. Scooby(my 5 year old lab) chewed a couple of sneakers of mine while he was teething. Make sure you have enough chewy/fake bones for him/her to munch on. Make sure your lab gets enough exercise!

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:23 am

Get Sasha a dan snyder chew toy, and you'll be fine. ;-)

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:23 am

Pigskinfever wrote:Great Call! I absolutely love labs, i have 2 labs. Someone already mentioned this but labs like to chew on anything and everything. Scooby(my 5 year old lab) chewed a couple of sneakers of mine while he was teething. Make sure you have enough chewy/fake bones for him/her to munch on. Make sure your lab gets enough exercise!

No lie, I'm planning on buying one of the cowboy toys I saw for pets so she can chew it and spit on it all she wants. :lol:

A puppy after my own heart

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:24 am

I see a burgundy and gold collar in your future.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:35 pm

JansenFan wrote:Get Sasha a dan snyder chew toy, and you'll be fine.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:14 pm

Oh no, she'll get poisoned !!!!

(d)oink · Post by **(d)oink** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:42 am

The book "Game Dog" by Richard Wolters is excellent. Its a hunting lab training book but gives excellent behavior training as well which is great for any dog-lab or not. There's not a better breed of dog for families than a lab and I'm sure you'll fall in love with her. She'll drive you crazy some days but will be a loyal friend for as long as she lives. They eat anything,

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:09 am

Labs are great. They are water dogs, so take her swimming as often as possible. She'll have fun, get a great, low-impact aerobic workout, and use up a lot of that puppy energy.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:46 am

(d)oink wrote:They eat anything,

Purina, Iams, Thom McAnn, La-Z-Boy, Sony, Motorola...

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:28 pm

OH lawd!!!

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:13 am

Sup all, I don't have her yet but here is Sasha. She'll be joining us right after Christmas time. My daughter doesn't have a clue about her so she'll be super suprised.

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:29 am

My advice Joe. I love dogs. I'm not saying others haven't covered some of these points but they are my top 3 rules so I'll lay them out.

1) You're not going to do this and if you will then your wife won't, but I'll tell you anyway. Crate train your dog. Have it sleep in the crate 100% and it'll be fine with it. You can't mix it up, you have to do it or not do it and do it even though you won't. But I'm telling you if you actually do it your life will be a whole lot better and if you always do it that will be completely normal to the dog.

2) Give your dog lots of exercise every day. And even if you have a yard, they are pack animals, you need to walk him regularly and take him a distance every day rain or shine busy or not. Try to do it earlier in the day so he is a bit tired if he's in the house later.

3) Have clear rules and be consistent. Dogs like consistency. Being consistent is far more important then being "nice." Dogs don't understand favors. They are a lot happier when they know what the rules are.

Also, I hope you got a female. It's going to be a lot easier for you. And by you I mean Joe, not your wife.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:43 am

Hey Kaz, thanks for the advice bro.

Yes, we are going to crate train her immediately. We have one of those crates that are adjustable as she gets bigger. Right behind our house is a big open clearing that has tons of room for her to romp around and run all over the place. There's also a small pond that I can walk her around too. As for the rules, I already told the wife what mine are and she told me hers too. That went better than I thought as we both expected the same things with Sasha... oh, and as you can tell it is a female.

Again, thanks for the info bro and I'm getting real excited already.

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:09 pm

Just like women, female dogs can be real uh trouble makers. :-)