Introducing Jacob

[Lisa]

He's more Bear than Jacob . Can't see it being anything other than Bear now though a few people seem surprised at the name?

Quite a trying day today. Even though we've been off work, G has spent the whole day trying to get the decking sorted, and he's not feeling well still so I'm a bit anxious about him. Bear would not sleep today unless I am sat next to his pen, he seems needy and squeaky and has had nowhere near enough sleep. Compounded by trip to vets which has probably stressed him just a bit. Vet nurse was very explicit about what a BIG puppy he was, and how we need to watch his joints.
He's 7.4 kilos today.. was critical of my choice of high value treats I handed over to them for a positive association..
Monty has a cracked tooth and will need it removed soon. Despite being bitten many times today, he will not leave puppy alone, nor vice versa. The while day has been damage limitation ( Bear, Monty, stuff) and carrying a huge weight up and down steps about 20 times for toilet stops.

Heigh ho, early days

Trying all around. But you have that lovely chunky pup to gaze at adoringly when (if?) he sleeps

 

[Beanwood]

Do you want me to change the thread title @Natalie? Bear does sound perfect, but again, I am biased. 7.4kg of teddy bear pup at nearly 9 weeks is all good. hmmmppphhhh to the vet nurse, I mean, there isn't much you don't know about labradors and joints, you could probably write a book!

I am sorry that your OH is still feeling a bit wonky, that's tough, especially as you probably have an overwhelming urge to just hand Bear over and rock gently in a corner....with Monty xx

 

[Selina27]

Ah , @Natalie , it is early days, and things will get better. Bear (?) is still just a tiny baby, even if he does weigh 7.4kg. Is that really very big? I think sometimes vet nurses can be over zealous, albeit well meaning. I used to get the same response regarding high value treats, but I carried on regardless as her training was more important to me than a few extra grams of weight. She was always busy and active. It appears to me that vets/nurses don't always understand +R training, and of course they do see the negative effects of obese dogs.

I'm sorry OH feels unwell still, you have a lot on your plate xx.

What about Bruno for a name?

 

[Selina27]

Oh, my word, that video ! I love him, what a little character

 

[Natalie]

A bit of tug. Don't worry, they are only allowed this in super short bouts, and I airlift Bear right out of there

 

[kateincornwall]

This is a good sign Natalie , the playing because if Monty was really miffed, he wouldnt play with Bear , just ignore him . It is very early days , things will sort themselves out and I hope your OH feels better soon xx

 

[Jen]

Oh god I want a puppy.

But that would be next level insane. I can’t cope with all the men in my house already

 

[Sophiedoodle]

Oh god I want a puppy.

But that would be next level insane. I can’t cope with all the men in my house already

Get a female puppy.........

 

[Jen]

Get a female puppy.........

Nooooo! Girl dogs are not for me!

 

[Candy]

He's more Bear than Jacob . Can't see it being anything other than Bear now though a few people seem surprised at the name?

Quite a trying day today. Even though we've been off work, G has spent the whole day trying to get the decking sorted, and he's not feeling well still so I'm a bit anxious about him. Bear would not sleep today unless I am sat next to his pen, he seems needy and squeaky and has had nowhere near enough sleep. Compounded by trip to vets which has probably stressed him just a bit. Vet nurse was very explicit about what a BIG puppy he was, and how we need to watch his joints.
He's 7.4 kilos today.. was critical of my choice of high value treats I handed over to them for a positive association..
Monty has a cracked tooth and will need it removed soon. Despite being bitten many times today, he will not leave puppy alone, nor vice versa. The while day has been damage limitation ( Bear, Monty, stuff) and carrying a huge weight up and down steps about 20 times for toilet stops.

Heigh ho, early days

Nooooo! Girl dogs are not for me!

Little girl dogs are my favourites. Love little boys too, but girls..... !

 

[snowbunny]

Girls are the best! But little boy puppies are soooo hansum!!

When I saw the vets with Squidge, both in Surrey and in Cornwall, they were both totally full of nonsense about puppydom. Don’t get me wrong, they were kind and well-meaning, but they were absolutely and totally backwards when it came to the behaviour stuff.
When she had conjunctivitis at a few weeks old and she pulled away from the vet, that person (young, should have known better) told me that she was being naughty, chocolate Labs were known for it, and I should sort it out as soon as possible. I’ve been told I shouldn’t use food for training because my dogs will get fat... even in the same session where I’m being complimented for my fit dogs.
Stereotypes take a long time to die. You know most of it is bollocks. Just keep doing what you’re doing

 

[Candy]

Girls are the best! But little boy puppies are soooo hansum!!

When I saw the vets with Squidge, both in Surrey and in Cornwall, they were both totally full of nonsense about puppydom. Don’t get me wrong, they were kind and well-meaning, but they were absolutely and totally backwards when it came to the behaviour stuff.
When she had conjunctivitis at a few weeks old and she pulled away from the vet, that person (young, should have known better) told me that she was being naughty, chocolate Labs were known for it, and I should sort it out as soon as possible. I’ve been told I shouldn’t use food for training because my dogs will get fat... even in the same session where I’m being complimented for my fit dogs.
Stereotypes take a long time to die. You know most of it is bollocks. Just keep doing what you’re doing

What I really appreciate about the vet I see most frequently at our practice, and will now ask to see unless it's an emergency and he's not available is his respect for the relationship Joy and I have, and how he smiles when he sees it, and how he uses it to Joy's advantage when she needs treatment. This is all quite different from when I first had a dog, more than 30 years ago, then it felt like vets knew best about everything. Added to that I am now far more assertive about my dog, probably because I have more experience and very likely due to this forum. I do seem to be seeing a new and younger generation of vets coming through who are far more to my way of thinking, certainly in our Practice. It's good to see.

 

[Emily]

Ella was 8kg at 8weeks and continued to put on a kg per week for quite a while. It was never raised as a concern, she was just a big puppy from a small litter (3 puppies). She's now just under 25kgs and thankfully has good joints. Soooo....

 

[Joy]

It was nice to hear you laughing at the pupster's antics in the video - I'm glad he's making you happy as well as exhausted!

 

[Lab_adore]

I think Monty is handling it really well from what I can see in the videos. When Steve and I met Natalie and Mr Natalie and Monty in December (was that really only 5 months ago?) We said that Monty was a really chilled-out pupster

 

[Candy]

I think Mr Monty is just a total star.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I think Mr Monty is just a total star.

Me too he such a lovely boy.

 

[Cath]

Lovely to see them playing together

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Monty is such a sweetheart, so good with little dude. Looks like he's totally over the 'He's ok but when is he going home?" stage, if there ever was one.

 

[Natalie]

you want me to change the thread title @Natalie? Bear does sound perfect, but again, I am biased.

Just give it another few days, then yes maybe you could add 'now known as Bear'

Oh god I want a puppy

Don't do it.

Ella was 8kg at 8weeks and continued to put on a kg per week for quite a while. It was never raised as a concern, she was just a big puppy from a small litter (3 puppies). She's now just under 25kgs and thankfully has good joints. Soooo....

That's good, he's put on about 100g a day so far which I thought was about right

It was nice to hear you laughing at the pupster's antics in the video - I'm glad he's making you happy as well as exhausted!

Oh gosh yes, he makes me laugh more than anything else. And this wasn't a moaning post, hope it didn't come across that way( those will come in a few week's time) it was just a long day.

He is soooooo bitey. Probably ten times bitier than Monty was, it's constant, pretty much. He's put holes in four different garments already. And it bloody hurts, I'm trying not to show pain but he's caught me a few times and I couldn't help but cry out.

Monty is such a sweetheart, so good with little dude. Looks like he's totally over the 'He's ok but when is he going home?" stage, if there ever was one.

Monty is now instigating the play, which is sweet, but makes me worried Bear is getting too much rough and tumble. He seems very robust but he seems to struggle to know when to stop, and to rest.