new baby

[bobbygeorge]

hi,

We lost our beloved lab approx 7 weeks ago and have been considering what type of dog to get. We already have a 7yr old westie (millie loo drake), and a cat (anakin george drake).

We had met a labradoodle whilst we were camping in scotland and i fell in love with him.

A week ago my husband bought me a labradoodle for my 31st bday. He is simply devine, both dog and husband!
We named him Bobby Robson George Drake after the late genius Bobby Robson who recently passed away. He is a 8 week old sandy wavy haired bundle of joy. He is quick to learn, no accidents inside yet???? but sure to come, puppy classes booked, vacinations ordered. the only thing is the nipping but am sure that will ease?

I have never crated a dog before but this seems to be popular, my husband is adamant we won't do this? advice please?

Also when we introduced Millie to Bobby, she was not best pleased, growling generally unhappy, today i found them rolling, playing acting like best mates, then Anakin the cat was cleaning Bobby.....

Our family feels complete again, we will always miss Freestyle but our Bobby has brought joy to our home..

Am sure many questions will pop up look forward to utilising you all...

Good night for now

michelle and matt

xxx :P

[Raleighsmom]

Welcome Michelle and Matt, and of course Bobby and Millie Loo and Anakin!! Whew! You have a housefull! Congratulations on picking out the best dog ever! I'm sure you're head over heels in love with him already!
If you do a search on crates and crate training, you'll find a wealth of information on that subject...the Doods grow to love it and consider it their own little 'space' when they get tired. So glad you joined us, and we hope to see pics of little Bobby real soon!

[MaxandMe]

HEllllllllllooooooo and welcome Michelle and Matt, and of course Bobby and Millie Loo and Anakin!!

so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved lab.........YET at same time CONGRATS ON YOUR NEW BABY DOODLE!!! WOW!!!

Crate training? in my whole life i never crated one dog and i also fostered dogs on and off for almot 30yrs now
THAT IS
till I brought home MAX a 13 wk labradoodle and 4mos later Peanut a 9wk old Goldendoodle!!!

CRATE TRAINING has so many benefits: they nap which they need to do like a toddler does, they're safe while you leave the house to
go shopping, to work or aren't home to watch them. Couches and shoes do NOT get chewed either (if the dog is in the crate)

I never believed in crates and NOW I CANNOT IMAGINE NOT CRATE TRAINING!!!! it has also BEEEN EXCELLENT in potty training too!!
and if a CRATE is used PROPERLY many dogs end up liking their crate as it becomes their den, their private space.

no one should go in a dog's crate other than to put in a treat when getting them used to it.
blankets and whatnot in the beginning will end up beign peed on and/or chewed thus NOT a good idea till further down the line.

I seriously would say PLEASE have your hubby read what i wrote.....just as to SEE some of the advantages of crate training.

i will admit i was NOT an advocate of them till oct 2006.........and i also will say years ago i had come home to puppies
gettign out of say the kitchen area blocked off or baby gates fallen down
and had a HUGE amost 2ft hole in my couch, another time almost every slipper, shoes and my dirty laundry was shredded to bits
and soooooooooooooo that's all i am going to say


PS i think i did the long winded on been there done that and NOW do something new: crate train and my doodles are now 3 to 3.5yrs old
and do NOT use crates at all and my house is intact.

[bobbygeorge]

hey,

on a night shift in the bone marrow transplant suite, so get to read through some interesting view points...

i am swayed towards the idea of crates and will get matt to have a read, as it appears bobby is so bright at such a young age?

tgis may seem strange question, i think i have stumbled upon an american site therefore unless i am on nights my repies will be at all times of the day.

great advice, looking forward to the learning curve....

will get some photos up asap

good evening
xx xx

[Jac]

Hey, Michelle! Welcome to you and the entire family! YOu DO have a wonderful husband!!
Congratulations on getting a new puppy...sounds like he has a very loving home!
I believe in crate training. You don't have to lock them up after they are used to the crate, often they go in on their own because they have a safe place that is all their own. We leave the doors open and the dogs go in when they want to.
I know that I post this link a lot (recently was told that someone found it on a few posts...but better to post too often than have someone miss it...) http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html
Even though we are on different schedules, we are happy that you joined us!

[bobbygeorge]

G :P ood morning!!!!

Well on my return from nocturnal duty, my hubby looked drained, grey and so tired.... i happened to mention your advice re crate, still adamant not having one....
i got 3 hrs sleep as bob wants to play.....

To my upmost surprise, we are the owners of a crate.....

Bobby ran in , we have put his teething bone, some of his treats and his bed.... leftdoor open...

Lets pray for sleep tonight, he does not know structure. i really hope this shows him as we as a children and now as our own four legged family have never crated but from research it feels right...

One last question, should we set our alarms to take him outside to pee? Thanks again for your advice.

[Jac]

What a lovely person your husband is!

I am glad that you have a crate and it sounds like you are handling this perfectly!

I normally let the pup wake me up when they need to go out, but you would be very successful if you do set alarms to take him out regularly...it should only last about 2 weeks and your pup should be able to have enough control to make it through the night or to wake you up if he needs to go out.

When pups sleep they don't need to potty, but the SECOND they wake up they MUST! So getting them used to outside potty is ideal...because once they go out side they learn to prefer outside...and the potty training gets so much easier, with accidents only when you forget to go out in time.

You are giving him such a great home!

[bobbygeorge]

i will update you in the morning.

feel so much better now we have a crate, bobby will be safer and no tempers will be frayed due to chewed items??

will try to get photos up now...

good evening
xx

[Jac]

Michelle, I re-read your post and I don't know how I missed the sad loss of your Lab...I am so sorry for your pain...but I know that your joy is returning with the addition of your pup...

While the pup can't replace your lost pet, it can and will make you laugh again!

[bobbygeorge]

It was the most painful experiences of our life, and we really considered not getting another dog .

But our home was so quiet, millie and anakin missed the big lad and we rationalised we had 13 yrs of happiness, laughter and fun, freestyle would have wanted us to have shown another dog all our love.

So hey presto bobby george lives here now!

take care

have tried to upload photos but files to big will have a play,

good evening
xx

[Lucky Me]

Welcome....sorry about your Lab...

But our home was so quiet, millie and anakin missed the big lad and we rationalised we had 13 yrs of happiness, laughter and fun, freestyle would have wanted us to have shown another dog all our love.

Reminds me of the Marley & me movie......cried my eyes out on that one! They do make such a dent in your life!
It is ALWAYS good to have them crate trained, even after they no longer use it you never know when the time comes that they might have to be contained...shipping on plane, something medical that requires temp. containment, etc.
They will handle it a lot easier. With my pups, I put 2 large kennels in their play area. When they got tired. they all piled in and slept in them. When they went to their new homes, everyone commented how they kenneled with no crying.

[bobbygeorge]

fongers crossed, as bobby is very vocal