Stella ; our wonderful new labrador

[JoanG]

What a beautiful blonde babe, think George is in love I'm sure with consistent training she'll soon get the hang of going in the garden, just don't let her go anywhere near the carpet until she's been outside.

I know what you mean about the shock of a youngster Khan was almost 12 when he died and then we adopted George at 10 months. Now in the house he was great it was just out on his walks he would gallop back when I called him and couldn't stop. He collided with me several times, once doing the ligaments in my knee and another time in my ankle, he weighed a muscular 39 kg and you certainly knew when he hit you

Hope you have many, many years of fun and laughter with Stella just like we're having with George.

Joan x

[jansterb]

So pleased for you Janet. I'm sure Sabbath would approve of the lovely lady Stella.

Just one question................do you think she will ever grow into those ears?

Haha !! I do hope so ! My husband says she looks like the house elf " dobby " from Harry potter ! Her face is very thin , just moved her into burns food in the hope of building her up a bit !

[jansterb]

What a beautiful blonde babe, think George is in love I'm sure with consistent training she'll soon get the hang of going in the garden, just don't let her go anywhere near the carpet until she's been outside.

I know what you mean about the shock of a youngster Khan was almost 12 when he died and then we adopted George at 10 months. Now in the house he was great it was just out on his walks he would gallop back when I called him and couldn't stop. He collided with me several times, once doing the ligaments in my knee and another time in my ankle, he weighed a muscular 39 kg and you certainly knew when he hit you

Hope you have many, many years of fun and laughter with Stella just like we're having with George.

Joan x

Thx Joan she is a huge contrast to sabbath , I walked her today and decided to try a halti lead and head collar ! She hoovers up anything and everything ! Sheep poo , dog poo , chunks of soil , dead leaves , anything that is on the ground and she pulls terribly .
I didn't want to go down that route really be feel I have to as she puts anything in her mouth , managed to get some plastic out before she swallowed it a long with a few other hazardous substances that have been dropped ! The fields around us have fertilisers on them , muck spreading etc and don't want to her to get poorly , so going with the halti till we can get her out of the habit . Not used one before so another learning curve !
Been debating getting a crate too any thoughts people???
Thx Janet x

[JoanG]

I haven't used a dog crate as I had puppy panels which you could join together and make a sort of puppy pen but I think dog crates are excellent if used properly. Everyone on here who has used them says their dogs love them and still like to go into them when they are older. I like to know my youngster is safe if it has to left alone and not chewing and swallowing things it shouldn't be.

Also regarding halties etc if I had a dog that pulled on the lead or was difficult to control in certain situations I wouldn't hesitate to use them, to me they are like putting a head collar on a horse then with consistent training Stella will learn not to pull on her lead and not gobble up everything in her path. I've just used a loud "Fish Wife" voice and LEAVE IT and mine have stopped eating grotty things (not always 100% though ) perhaps I've just been lucky. Won't tell you what my OH thinks

Good luck it is early days and it could be she's just experiencing all these things for the first time.

Joan x

[scubakim]

Like you we'd never used a crate before we got Murphy but having read so much about how it could benefit the dog particularly one which had gone through significant change in its life, we decided to get one. We introduced Murphy to it calmly, leaving it in the lounge where we were altogether and just left the door open for him to use it as a bed. Over the course of a few days we gradually closed the door with him in it and stayed in the room not talking to him or showing any interest in him and then opened it again. We repeated it many times over the course of a few days for longer periods while we disappeared into another room and he was fine. Next we tried leaving him while we when to the shops and for our peace of mind left a phone on record near to the crate so we could hear if he was anxious or distressed. On our return he seemed fine but we were dismayed to see that there was 10 minutes of sound recorded on the phone However when we played it back it was him snoring He's now 13 months and we've only just taken his crate down. He loved it and used it as a bed and we rarely closed the door on it even when we went out. In my opinion when used sensibly crates are a godsend for dog and owner

[Glenys]

Hi Jan, I think she would benefit from 3 small meals a day she is 6 months so still puppy and also was spayed young.
We have crates here don't buy one you can borrow one if you like let me know

[mollie]

Just catching up! It's been a hectic week

How lovely to read such happy posts Jan, after the very sad loss of Sabbath. We've never waited long before getting another when we've lost one. We just can't stand the emptiness either

Stella looks gorgeous - years of fun and happiness to come, I'm sure.

We've never used a crate because ours have come to us at 3/4 years old so we've not started from puppyhood. They seem a very good idea though. A friend of ours used one, and when they decided he didn't need it any more and took it away, he fretted, so he has it permanently and loves it - it's his favourite place.

[jackie]

Delighted for you, she looks a gorgeous girl.
Jackie x

[jansterb]

Hi Jan, I think she would benefit from 3 small meals a day she is 6 months so still puppy and also was spayed young.
We have crates here don't buy one you can borrow one if you like let me know

Thanks Glenys I will take you up on the kind offer of borrowing a crate , I have borrowed a friends but its too small ( only 30 inch ) I will text you to arrange to collect thx x x

[Maggie May]

Wow! Isn't she gorgeous

I also love your picture of Sabbath, bless him.

[Hazel]

We had a crated young lab and changed it for a huge dogbed / just moved it into the car at 9 months as he no longer needed it except in the car where it is secured and stops him shooting out of the tailgate before we change his leads over.
Hazel

[nanagran]

My lab is 2 years old and see his crate as his bed often choseing it over the sofa!! He is the first dog I have had a crate for but I totally recommend.(crate has been without a gate for over a year now)