My son's new puppy

[shovelheadt 71]

What is "red rocket"?

 

 

Anyway, the only way you should buy a child a puppy as a present is if you want one yourself and are totally expecting to raise it yourself. Encountered this with a 14 year old. I knew going in that I'd end up raising the dog, and was fine with it. Sure enough, kid got bored after 2 weeks and he's been "my" dog ever since.

[shovelheadt 71]

A clothes basket turned upside down at night works well.

 

I know it sounds ironic coming from me, but this sounds almost cruel to me. You're talking about flipping a clothes basket upside down, and placing the puppy in there? Not much room, if any. If you're going to crate train, just buy a crate. Get the largest you can, because the dog will grow to love it as his own little privacy area. My dog is full grown, and I still catch him in his crate once a day taking a nap. Can't really do that with a laundry basket and a full grown lab.

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

I know it sounds ironic coming from me, but this sounds almost cruel to me. You're talking about flipping a clothes basket upside down, and placing the puppy in there? Not much room, if any. If you're going to crate train, just buy a crate. Get the largest you can, because the dog will grow to love it as his own little privacy area. My dog is full grown, and I still catch him in his crate once a day taking a nap. Can't really do that with a laundry basket and a full grown lab.

 

While the puppy is learning to control it's bladder/bowels you DON'T want to give him much room. A dog most times will not crap/pee where he sleeps and you only keep them in it at night. During the day you leash train him for bathroom breaks.

 

A clothes basket is something you most likely already have and a lab puppy will outgrow it, so yes buy a crate but if you put a puppy in a big crate you're going to be cleaning crap up out of it every morning.

 

 

Saw before you play red rocket, get his dewclaws removed; they may scratch your hips/sides.

[shovelheadt 71]

While the puppy is learning to control it's bladder/bowels you DON'T want to give him much room. A dog most times will not crap/pee where he sleeps and you only keep them in it at night. During the day you leash train him for bathroom breaks.

 

A clothes basket is something you most likely already have and a lab puppy will outgrow it, so yes buy a crate but if you put a puppy in a big crate you're going to be cleaning crap up out of it every morning.

Saw before you play red rocket, get his dewclaws removed; they may scratch your hips/sides.

 

Most crates come with a divider that you keep moving back as the puppy grows. But yes, I see your point. Me..I'm fine with sh*tting in bed.

[Let Da Big Dog Eat 40]

I know it sounds ironic coming from me, but this sounds almost cruel to me. You're talking about flipping a clothes basket upside down, and placing the puppy in there? Not much room, if any. If you're going to crate train, just buy a crate. Get the largest you can, because the dog will grow to love it as his own little privacy area. My dog is full grown, and I still catch him in his crate once a day taking a nap. Can't really do that with a laundry basket and a full grown lab.

 

So true. A Lab pup will literally eat a laundry basket in a week or 2 and if given a new one will just throw it off when 10 weeks old. Actually if you blanket the crate on 3 sides or put it in a corner (and cover the top) they will like it much better. Kind of like a cave for the dog to feel secure in. Best if the open side is facing the bed of a human.

[shovelheadt 71]

Best if the open side is facing the bed of a human.

 

Unless he's a hairy focker like my Golden. He refuses to be anywhere warm..carpet, beds, upstairs, etc. Thus, his crate is on the tile by the front door entry way.

[shovelheadt 71]

So true. A Lab pup will literally eat a laundry basket in a week or 2 and if given a new one will just throw it off when 10 weeks old. Actually if you blanket the crate on 3 sides or put it in a corner (and cover the top) they will like it much better. Kind of like a cave for the dog to feel secure in. Best if the open side is facing the bed of a human.

 

And now that I think of it, what prevents him from walking around the house (basket still on top of him), sh*tting where ever he pleases, then walking the basket back to wherever he feels like sleeping.

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

Most crates come with a divider that you keep moving back as the puppy grows. But yes, I see your point. Me..I'm fine with sh*tting in bed.

 

 

Reminds me of a joke shovel:

 

An old man and his wife have gone to bed. After laying in bed for a few

minutes the old man cuts a fart and says "seven points."

 

His wife rolls over and asks, "What in the world was that?"

 

The old man says, "Touchdown, I'm ahead 7 to nothing."

 

A few minutes later the wife lets one go and says, "Touchdown, tie

score."

 

After about ten minutes the old man farts again and says, "Touchdown

I'm ahead 14 to 7."

 

Now starting to get into this the wife quickly farts again and says,

"Touchdown, tie score."

 

The old man strains really hard but, to no avail. He can't fart, so

not to be outdone by his wife, he gives it everything he has and

strains real hard to get out just one more fart. Straining real hard the old

man tries so hard he $hits in the bed.

 

The wife asks, "Now what in the world was that?"

 

The old man replies, "Half-time, switch sides."

[sawilson 1]

Well, whatever it takes my son and I will train him together.

 

But any other suggestions would be great!

[corky 0]

Have plenty of money set aside for training and check ups. If you rent your landlords will probably want a pet deposit even if it's an outdoor dog. If your landlord isn't going to charge you more, then never move. Pet deposits can be quite pricey. Having a pet is costly, one that you don't see going in so if you are tight on money, it will become tighter.

[TheNewGirl 1,500]

I'm fine with sh*tting in bed.

 

[TheNewGirl 1,500]

I agree with shovel's posts that this dog will likely become YOUR dog, just another mouth to feed and poop to clean. I understand why you're getting the dog, but there are so many other ways to teach a child about loving and responsiblity than getting an animal.

 

Another thing to think about in terms of saving money for checkups and such, is that many people don't figure out much it costs when an animal gets ill. My cat, not a dog, had a UTI for the first time ever last year. After vet visits, meds, and so on it was over $300. One of my dad's labs had an undetected thyroid problem (eliminating any chance of either breeding her OR having her spayed) and her meds were around $50 a MONTH. For a DOG. If the dog gets hurt and needs any kind of x-ray or treatment, plan on a minimum of $500, surgeries, etc are LUDICROUS for animals.

 

I am not trying to sway your choice, or tell you it's a bad one...but there are MANY aspects to getting a pet that people just don't consider.

 

ITA at getting a crate, too, not using the laundry basket.

[mujack 0]

Labs are loyal and good with kids. They are creatures of habit and they are pretty dumb.

 

My lab is very smart.

 

Yours must take after its owner.

 

 

 

 

~mujack

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

My lab is very smart.

 

Yours must take after its owner.

~mujack

 

Your lab IS dumb. If you look at them on what vets give them for intelligence tests, they are apparently towards the bottom of the scale. I still think that they are the best dogs ever.

 

BTW - My dog has been dead for just over a year. Thanks for reminding me, you a$$hole.

 

 

ETA: I looked up some other intelligence data for dogs and at least one of them (based on how easy they are to train) has the Lab at #7. I would go with that one if it makes you feel better. From here on out, I won't call Labs dumb and I will punch my vet in the face.

[wiffleball 4,790]

Make sure you poke holes in him so he can breathe!!

 

 

 

 

Cute puppy. But, aren't they all?

 

 

I have a question. I'll admit, I looked ahead in your photo album (thinking there's be more dog pitchers): Why did you take not only one, but TWO pictures of your door? - And then go to the trouble to post them?

[sawilson 1]

Make sure you poke holes in him so he can breathe!!

Cute puppy. But, aren't they all?

I have a question. I'll admit, I looked ahead in your photo album (thinking there's be more dog pitchers): Why did you take not only one, but TWO pictures of your door? - And then go to the trouble to post them?

Because one was kind of a freaky picture and I posted the other one to show that it didn't happen all the time.

[wiffleball 4,790]

Oh, you mean the ghost? Congratulations, you have a polterdork.

[sawilson 1]

Oh, you mean the ghost? Congratulations, you have a polterdork.

Polterdork, thats funny.

 

So another question I have for all the dog owners out there. This is going to be my son's dog obviously. My son is with my half the week and with his dad half the week. During the first month or so its going to be training time. Do I have the puppy go with my son to his dad's house, or stay here with me?

There are arguments for both IMO. I don't know if it would be great at first to have him going from one house to the next during training. But I also want to make sure he knows who his owner is (my son).

 

Any suggestions?

[shovelheadt 71]

Polterdork, thats funny.

 

So another question I have for all the dog owners out there. This is going to be my son's dog obviously. My son is with my half the week and with his dad half the week. During the first month or so its going to be training time. Do I have the puppy go with my son to his dad's house, or stay here with me?

There are arguments for both IMO. I don't know if it would be great at first to have him going from one house to the next during training. But I also want to make sure he knows who his owner is (my son).

 

Any suggestions?

 

By all means, keep him at your house. It's got nothing to do really with him knowing who his owner is. It's all about familiarity with his surroundings and being on a set schedule.

[sawilson 1]

By all means, keep him at your house. It's got nothing to do really with him knowing who his owner is. It's all about familiarity with his surroundings and being on a set schedule.

That's what i was originally thinking but I also know that my son will want him with him too.

[Let Da Big Dog Eat 40]

By all means, keep him at your house. It's got nothing to do really with him knowing who his owner is. It's all about familiarity with his surroundings and being on a set schedule.

Totally agreed.

Puppies need consistency and familiarity to develop routines.

Plus, training and rules would be different when at Pop's house.

[sawilson 1]

Totally agreed.

Puppies need consistency and familiarity to develop routines.

Plus, training and rules would be different when at Pop's house.

My son is going to be so sad to not be able to take him with him though.

[Dick Hertz 1]

My son is going to be so sad to not be able to take him with him though.

 

That might be a good thing. Make him apprecitate the puppy that much more.

[wiffleball 4,790]

You could always cut the puppy in half!

[Thin Spirit 0]

You're gonna have 3-4 different people trying to discipline him in 3-4 different ways in 2 separate houses? There couldn't be a worse idea in the world whether your son is sad or not.

 

You do that and you'll be sorry for years to come, you'll have one focked up dog who won't listen to a god damn thing that anyone says to him.

[kutulu 1,681]

Ranks 1 to 10

Brightest Dogs

 

 

Understanding of New Commands: Less than 5 repetitions.

 

Obey First Command: 95% of the time or better.

 

1 Border Collie

2 Poodle

3 German Shepherd

4 Golden Retriever

5 Doberman Pinscher

6 Shetland Sheepdog

7 Labrador Retriever

8 Papillon

9 Rottweiler

10 Australian Cattle Dog

 

My kids trained Pennydoodle to do their homework.

[Let Da Big Dog Eat 40]

My son is going to be so sad to not be able to take him with him though.

He can start taking him once the dog is about a year old and fully trained.

 

Son will also be sad when he has leave pup to go to school..........

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

My son is going to be so sad to not be able to take him with him though.

Tell him that life is full of disappointments...

 

[fill in your classic humiliating next sentence here]

[sawilson 1]

OK, point taken. Dog is staying with me for a while.

[wiffleball 4,790]

OK, point taken. Dog is staying with me for a while.

 

have you taught him the peanut butter trick yet?

[Ravens 03 0]

Another thing to think about in terms of saving money for checkups and such, is that many people don't figure out much it costs when an animal gets ill. My cat, not a dog, had a UTI for the first time ever last year. After vet visits, meds, and so on it was over $300. One of my dad's labs had an undetected thyroid problem (eliminating any chance of either breeding her OR having her spayed) and her meds were around $50 a MONTH. For a DOG. If the dog gets hurt and needs any kind of x-ray or treatment, plan on a minimum of $500, surgeries, etc are LUDICROUS for animals.

 

Dogs are freaking expensive.