Hi - wondered if anyone had any advise for us. Our 2 year lab, Murphy has just come home from the vets after having a lump removed from his leg with a massive Elizabethan collar and is absolutely terrified and has been unable to even move for the past 2 hours. He has to keep it on for 10 days. Will he get used to it and any advice to help him do so?

Mnay thanks
Julie

Hello, we rehomed Bailey from the Dogs Trust approximately 18 months ago. He is great at home, especially around our 6 month old baby!! He gets plenty of exercise - 2 walks a day, morning and evening. Hes not over weight and as far as i am aware is healthy in every way.

The problem we have is, when i walk Bailey to the park on his lead, if he sees another dog, he will bark like crazy and jumps up and down etc. Sometimes if i cant avoid the other dog, Bailey will pull to the other dog, and must times when they meet he is fine. Sometimes the other dog may bite at Bailey and Bailey defends himself. When he barks he does seem aggressive.

I have involved a behviourist several months ago, and she confirmed that it is NOT agression and Bailey is just over excited in seeing another dog. This was confirmed when she brought her dog out. When over the park, i normally let Bailey off his lead and if he sees another dog, he will leg it over (there is no stopping him) and say hello to the other dog, normally trys to play and will normally come running back to me after a short period of time. Sometimes i end up chatting to the other owner giving him time to play and socialise.

How can i stop Bailey from barking at other dogs when is on the lead as he does seem quite vicious and people aften cross the street to avoid him? However i am pretty confident he is just excited and not aggressive.

I have tried most techniques suggested by the behaviourist including, shaking a bottle of stones, telling him no and walking the other direction (not always practical) and have now tried squiting him in the face with water and telling him NO. In an attempt to 'snap' him out of this behaviour.

Please help, Bailey is a gentle giant, but feel sorry as im getting fed up of his beahviour which has been going on for over 12 months and often find myself starting to avoid other dogs when he is on the lead!

Many thanks

Dan

I am getting a gorgeous black lab puppy in a months time. I have two old cats (14 and 15 yrs) and am wondering the best way to introduce new puppy to them and any tips on how to get them all to get on, if possible!

Hi everyone, I just have a question my lab pup is 9 and a half months old and has just come into season I just wondered if this was too early? And how long they stay on heat for? I also wondered if anyone has any tips on what to use to clean up the leaks during this time from my carpet as I dont really want to keep her either in her cage or in the back garden all day when im home. Thanks

Hi all - we are due to pick up Milly, our choc lab puppy when she is nearly 8 weeks on 21/08/10. Although I'm happy to bring her back on my lap/cardboard box on that first car journey, what are people's thoughts on safe travel for puppies? We are just unsure how to transport her for all the short car journeys I might need to make in the future when she's small. The general consensus seems to be either in a small container (but our car boot isn't big enough for an entire large cage)or a harness attached to the seatbelt on the back seat. But I have worries about a puppy tangling themselves up in a harness. Does anyone have any thoughts? Many thanks in advance, and I'm sure I'll be back with plenty more questions as new to this!

just wanted to say hello, came on the site to have a look for new pictures of monte and denver - please upload for meor send me some pleeeease !
hope you are all okay x

Hi does anyone out there have a lab with SLO. I would value any advice. MY dog is on the recommeded SLO protacol.

thanks

sarah and doug

Hi my chocolate lab has just turned 2, up until a couple of months ago he has been great. A couple of months ago i saw a different side to sam as he had a fight with a little terrier, it was awful, agressive and i dont no wot provoked it. I have 3 young children and since this episode i get anxious when we see other dogs and ensure he gets put on the lead to say hello - over the last few weeks he has growled at dogs and gone for them. i am getting a muzzle for him to put my mind at ease but dont wat it on for too long. anyone have any advice on this situation

Hi there, we have a 11 week old choc lab pup, he's been great since we got him 3 weeks ago, and has picked up basic training really well. Sadly in the last week he has been less interested and got diarhoea. We insopected his poo, only to notice some worms, even though he'd been getting wormed at 2 week intervals. Our VET has now put him on panacur granuals (5 day course) and also on a prescription diet, but he seems hungry non - stop. Is this just because of the worms, or is it more likely because the prescription diet (1 tin per day) is less than the beta puppy dry food he was on? I've been considering feeding him some rice/chicken/egg etc along with his prescription diet but am unsure if i should :-S

i have 3 bitches - 2 are 7 and had them from pups got them fully house trained and all okay - then got another 2 years ago and since then, we cant get a clean night - they are all fine in the day and i work part time so are left - go for a walk in the afternoon and evening and take them out for a night pee but always, thereis something and now i dont think it can just be from the younger one it is if its now acceptable - can be out for night pee for over 10 mins and they dont do anything up again at 5:30 and a puddle or poo - at a loss what to do and my floor is knakcked

We have just had new 17wk puppy and she has been with us for the first week, and we have just found a lump on the left side of her neck. Not sure if it might be swollen gland. would appreciate it if anyone knows what it might be. thanks.

My 2 yr old, 86 lb lab ran full blast into a tether ball pole while chasing a ball over a week ago. His front right shoulder/neck area has been identified (somewhat) as the injured area. 2 vet visits, xrays and blood tests have been done. A round of tamodil (morphine) and an anti-inflammatory medication have not seemed to help as of today (over a week later). The vet thinks it's a soft tissue injury, which doesn't help with identifying exactly what's bothering him. He will not put weight on his front right leg, yelps when he turns his head (up and left usually)and generally doesn't seem to be improving. Anyone feel like i should be worried at this stage? At this point, i'm just looking for some "feel good" advice on the recovery pattern of a soft tissue injury, and maybe any insight into what else could possibly be keeping him from healing faster. Maybe i'm just being impatient, but it seems like there would be SOME improvement at this point. thoughts?

thanks!

Our choccy bitch, Button is now a year and a half old and she is great except for the fact she is still majorly destructive.
This week she has stolen my sons swimming goggles out of his swimming bag and destroyed them. She has destroyed a shoe and an oven glove and a shower scrunchy. That's just this week.... I really hoped she'd have grown out of it by now but she is an absolute menace!
She has plenty of excercise, lots of attention and love, isn't left for long periods (in fact she is hardly ever destructive when left - she just sleeps). She also has her own toys and chews.
Any advice would be most welcome - when I took her to puppy classes they just said that it's normal but my last lab never destroyed things like this. I'm getting fed up of the constant need to watch her and the expense.

Hello I am looking for someone suitable for my 6yr old choc lab Freddie to live with. Here is the hard part, he has never been socialised with other dogs after being attacked twice as a puppy whilst out on street walks, after that I have always taken him out in the countryside. If he meets other dogs then he runs at them barking, he has never attacked another dog. On top of that he has what has been diagnosed as excercise enduced collapsia which basically is a rare condition that when he gets to excited or over excersised in warm weather his rear legs give way on him, after a short time five mins or so he is ok enough to get back home or to the car, this has been easily managed by me as i know how much he can excercise in warm or humid weather, during the colder months he will run around happy for hours especailly in and out of water. I have a job working away so I can no longer give him the time and love he needs. If you think you have what it takes to look after this wonderfully loving dog then please e-mail me. thank you for your time.

Me and my partner move in June and he is looking to get a chocolate Lab puppy at Christmas time when we are off for 2 weeks to help him settle.

The puppy will never be left for more than 4 hours during the day as my partner only works down the road and goes home for lunch.

Would any breeders be looking to have puppy available around this time? We live in Aberdeen but are willing to travel?

Thanks x

i have annual vet check for boosters etc coming up and no my vet will mention getting spayed again - i have 3 bitches - 2 sisters are 6 and 1 is 4 - and just put up with the seasons -thought may want to breed but now dont think so well unsure - plus quoted £900 to have them all done.... am i doing them any harm physically in not having them spayed

My 2 year old lab has recently developed bad breath, he is otherwise in very good condition. Has anyone got any ideas on how to freshen his breath? thanks

I have recently read the horrifying story of a dog that had to be put to sleep when it ate the stuffing from a childs Teddy Bear. When the dog started vomiting the dog was taken to the vet, and a blockage was suspected. On opening the dog up the vet found that the intestines were black and the tissue dead, and there was no comback for this poor dog, and it had to be put to sleep.

On further enquiries from the vet to the manufacturer of this Teddy, it would seem that the stuffing of the toy turned into a gel when eaten, has a fire hazzard precaution and another chemical for mites.

One wonders why this is even on sale for children, though possibly they are not going to tear the toy apart and eat the contents, but still a hazzard anyway.

I would suggest that perhaps owners stick to toys designed for dog's, just in case. I know that I won't be buying anymore soft toys from charity shops and all the ones that I had for my dogs have now been disposed of.

can any one help my choc lab who's 1 has just started refusing to get in the car he used to be fine and loved it as he new he was going out he also travelled fine but now he hates the car he has plenty of room as its an estate. any ideas any one

I am considering gettin a Choc Lab but want to make sure my partner and me are suitable to keep one.My main concern is that we both work so the dog would be left at home 4 days a week from 8 till 5. We have a biggish space to keep the lab in while we are out and would provide plenty of toys but i want to make sure thats enough.

On the positive side i go shooting every now and again and i regulary go hiking so the lab would be the perfect companion for me. I am very active and like to get out the house so walking the lab every day before and after work wouldnt be a problem. If we do get a lab my partner and i would both take a holiday the first week after picking the lab up to help in settle in.

Do we sound like suitable Lab owners???

hi im buyin a choc lab in 2 wks time wiv out papers i need some advice as this is the first time im buyin 1 as the breeder im gettin it off got to get them hip scored first i knw she is takin them to the vets jus b4 im gettin it for a vacc which is the 7 in 1 do i need any forms off her when i collect it if anyone could please let me knw as i am new to this thanx gemma x

We have had Eric from 10 weeks old and he has had quite a journey! February last year he started limping and required a hip replacement which he has recovered from perfectly. Over time when walking on the lead he has started pulling very strongly, so we bought a halti which completely stressed him out (constantly trying to scratch it off and grazing his muzzle!). He has now started to get very aggressive towards other dogs when on the lead and also to selected dogs when off. He has always been so very good natured and this has come as quite a shock. The obvious thing (I guess?) is to have him castrated but the vet wasn't keen on this because of weight gain and putting strain on his other hip (which when x-rayed last year isn't great!).
Any advice gratefully received!

I am looking for a choc lab puppy, where should i look and how much should i look to pay?

Any help gratefully recieved.

Thanks

agression to some small dogs.could it be that when he was a puppy he was attacked .thanks michelle sopp

Hello, looking for a reputable and experienced breeder in Northern Ireland, can anyone help? I believe recommendation by enthusiasts is worth it's weight in gold!

Hi. We get our new addition to the family in a couple of weeks. The breeder we are getting him off has being feeding him on asdas own brand dried puppy food but i was wondering if kibble is a better option as i have being told it has everything a lab needs. I just want to give him the best that i can.. also does anyone give their lab any suppliments or anything???? I'm new to all of this. Thanks in advance x

hello i have a 12 week old black lab, he has been picking up fetch, sit training very well. i want to make sure we train him well while he is still young but could do with sound advise/ or a local recommended trainer as he is a handful. people offer lots of advise and its gets confusing to know what is best? i live in nottingham any suggestions?

Thankyou for all the comments about my choc pups white flash on his neck. Our pup 'charlie' will be 8 weeks old when we get him in march. I know labs can suffer with alot of problems. Are their any suppliments you can give them ie joint suppliments etc or are these best avoided?? and if so which are the best to give him??? ( can't you tell i am new to having a pup!!!!) Thankyou xxx

my choc lab is 3.5yrs and still pees in the house at night - fine during the day (and goes longer than the time she is left overnight) - take her out for night pee, has one and then come downstairs to find another - is this pyschological? Seem to be doing all the right things otherwise - my older dog now seems to think it is acceptable to pee or poo in the house and never did before
any suggestions

hi all, well i think i seem to have picked another loopy puppy lol...i have a mth old chocolate lab, i also have a 3yr old boxweiller female...the choc lab male...my boxweiller was a very excitable puppy but has calmed down with age...but since i have got my labrador puppy..well all hell breaks loose at times lol..he is loveable and friendly with people...but he is very challenging to my boxweiller...she tries to put him in his place..he doesnt back down to her even though he is half her size..he even challenges her...most of they time they are fine and get on well, even sharing chews etc at times...but other times they run riot and challenge each other snarling and snapping at each other...has anyone else experienced this with choc lab puppy...he is giddy, chews everything in site...he is taken for walks, they both are..any ideas ? ...ann

Is there any of you outhere that have used METACAM? Can you share any information with me ragarding this treatment? It would be greatly appreciated.

searching for stud dog dark prince charming durham area

hi, iv got a lovely 3yr old choc lab with short legs and chunky head that i would like to breed although i dont know how to go about this im hoping someone could giv me a few pointers, we have all relevent paper work for him both his parents were working dogs although ours is just a family dog he has excellent temprament very good with kids very well manerd trained off lead etc any info gratfully recieved were in ipswich area suffolk

I have and 3 year old lab that belches a lot, took her to the vet, vet could not find anything wrong with her. Said to feed her with one of those bowls that makes them eat slower, we have tried that, she is still belching, she belches so bad sometime it comes up in her thoat. Has anyone else had this problem with their lab? Would like to have any imput that you may have.
Thank you

We have just got a gorgeous chocolate pup ( male ), only 5 days old so won't get him until march ( which we cannot wait for). He comes with all papers and everything and parents were on site. He has a small white flash on his chest. My question is, Is this a problem or is it more common than i think? and also will it effect him in the future? Ive just never seen it before thats all.
Thankyou in advance. Gemma

Hi - i have a 7 month chocolate lab (Arthur) who has developed a limp on his left front leg. My vet is of the opinion that it is OCD although we havent had xrays yet to confirm as we are trying anti inflammatories, supplements and rest first. Unfortunately, things dont seem to be getting any better. I have spoken to the vet about the operation and have decided that this is the way forward for Arthur (assuming that xrays confirm OCD), however, i am a little concerned about having the operation while he is still growing and to my mind problems could arise again. Is it okay to wait until he is fully grown to have the operation?
Thank you

i have a 2yr old bitch who has started pooping in her cage and the kitchen very regulary. its been every night since monday she done it and also twice during the day when i had to nip out. she is fed in the morning. she is let out first thing in the morning and whenever she nts during the day as im not working as on maternity leave (baby 6mnths old so beenhere a while b4 this prob started)she also let out for half an hour before bed time to. she used to do it every now n again before she started doing it regularly. please help with any advise as this is a last resort before we have to part with her as its not hygeinic with us having 3 kids aged 7 5 and 6mnths i dont want baby crawling in poo accidentaly. thanx in advance

We recently collected 'Bournville' our now 9 week choc lab pupster, he is adorable and already a real character. We have been feeding Beta Puppy Lamb and Rice as the breeder had weaned him on this, no problems so far other than how much to give him, he is still on 4 meals per day (8am, 12, 4pm and 8pm)but i am confused by the feeding guidelines on the packaging, it states expected adult weight, I have assumed this will be approx 30/35kg and at 6 weeks to 3 months they recommend between 210 to 580 grms per day, thats a big difference, we are currently feeding him 100 grms, 4 times per day which is 400 grms total but he eats it in 2 minutes, is this considered the right amount?
In 11 days of being with us he has learned to do his business outside, sit when commanded, give his paw, fetch etc... which we are delighted about but he is insistant on biting me and my clothes, a firm tap on his nose is follwed by a bigger bite and he is breaking the skin if he catches me off guard, i have tried ignoring him, saying ouch etc but he still is intent on having a chunk of me, I seem to have suceeded in the other elements of his training but I can't find a solution to this, any ideas would be welcomed before I look like a teabag!

Thanks Amanda and Bournville

Hi there my 2 year old chocolate lab was diagnosed with hip dysplasia before christmas and our vets hydrotherapy pool closed after he had completed 9 swims.... The vet noticed a big difference in the muscle tone and recommended further swims. By chance I was looking for a boarding kennel recommended by my friend when I saw that they had a hydrotherapy pool at the kennels. Today was his first swim at the new place, and he loved it, the set up is very professional and we are going bk again on Friday, each swim costs about 20.50 including vat, and can be in block bookings of ten sessions. Also dogs can swim for fun and they hold pool parties!!!

The trained hydrotherapist is Jen Stewart, she works most days other than a sunday and later bookings are also available. If your dog has similar health problems to mine and you live in South Lanarkshire then I would recommend you go along to Allers Farm, Stoneymeadow Road, High Blantyre, 01698 820238.... hydrotherapy pools are hard to find, and this is a good size pool compared to my vets, well heated within a clean environment!!! NO HOISTS are used, life jackets supplied and Jen gets in the water too....They do have a web site but don't seem to advertise.

Now my lab has found a new pool he no longer needs the Metacam or surgery!!! Direct Line insurance Advanced policy pays for 10 swims at 25 pounds each, but if your vet recommends more then I haven't had a problem with getting the insurance to pay out.

hope this info is useful

Gill

I have a little lab who is 11 weeks old we have had her a week now and she is settling in lovely, but i need help with getting her to stop jumping up all the time, i know she is only young but i wanted to nip this problem in the bud whilst she is young as i have a young child. I also dont want her to be one of those dogs who scares people by jumping on them any ideas? Ive tried giving her treats when i tell her to get down and she listens but its like a game to her, as she then jumps up then straight back down and sits down to wait for her treat before ive had chance to tell her to get down, any advice would be great thanks