Thanks. Would now be a good time to introduce a puppy Kong? If so, how long should I soak the kibble?
Hi What a gorgeous pup! Yes puppy Kong would be great, I soak the kibble in hot water and mix in a bit of sardines. Fill the Kong and wait for it to cool, at first we didn't freeze them so Winnie got the idea really quickly. Now we freeze them and seal it with a bit of peanut ( no salt). They're great for introducing longer periods in the crate. Winnie loves them and frozen kongs have really helped her teething. Take loads of photos and enjoy!
Loki has been very good today. Well apart from two number 2's inside this morning but that's our fault for not realising quick enough. He seems to do all of his wees outside though. He has slept a lot. Probably catching up from being awake half of the night? Hoping that doesn't mean he's going to be awake half of the night tonight too. Maybe he'll sleep better as he's eaten more today? As I imagine the breeder didn't feed him at all yesterday morning. Is it okay for him to play in the garden when not going to the toilet? Just don't want him to overdo it but he likes it out there. He's been in and out of the crate a few short times but still mainly sleeping on the hard floor. Could be because it's warm today and the floor is cooler. Done a Kong with some soaked kibble and a tiny tiny bit of sun pat smooth peanut butter at each end. He licked that off and ate some kibble but only a bit.
For overnight I found a big stuffed toy was good as a comforter ( it was a couple of months before Molly decided to shred it!) and I also spoke gently to her when she squeaked in the night, though she only did this the first night. I would definitely have your pup out to play in the garden as long as it isn't too hot, but I'd stay out there with him to keep an eye out for mischief!
Puppies sleep a lot, and the amount they sleep in the day doesn't seem to have any relation to how well they sleep at night. Fingers crossed for a better night for you! Playing in the garden is fine, so long as you don't get foxes. Check your peanut butter doesn't have the sweetner xylitol in it - dangerous for dogs. Personally I don't give any treats except kibble until they are 12 weeks old, then I take it slow, one new thing a week, so that I can be sure poos are firm and tummies are coping. Lots of dogs and pups like to sleep on hard floors in warm weather ...
He's got a couple of stuffed toys but they don't seem to comfort much yet. I noticed that when he heard my husband and I whispering to each other he would go quiet and settle a bit. Yes been out with him every time in the garden. He enjoys chewing long bits of grass, going under the children's toy car and running after me for treats
Thanks, that's good to know that the sleep in the day won't make too much difference. We'll see what happens tonight. I checked for the sweetener beforehand as I remember reading about it before on here. I did also give him a bit of roast chicken this afternoon as we cooked one and it seemed rude not to. Just a few pieces which I gave when he sat in front of me. That's good I'm glad that's why he's likes sleeping on the floor. He does still pop in his crate every now and then. Mainly to have a go at tearing the vetbed, rather unsuccessfully.
Oh Loki, you are beautiful! And the same colour as Pongo was at that age. <swoon>. Yes, puppies sleep A LOT, I don't think that is anything to worry about. And it is lovely that he enjoys playing outdoors! We have always let Pongo have treats - roast chicken is a good example, also he loved raw eggs (no more than one a day). His breeder encouraged us to let him try lots of different foods as well as his kibble, to give some variety and get his system used to more than just kibble. We would put leftover gravy on his kibble, and gave him little titbits of raw and roast vegetables, meats, egg, porridge, yoghurt and cheese. He has a pretty solid digestion and very rarely has any upsets - the only thing that doesn't agree with him is pork or bacon. BUT I know that some people would advise against strange foods for a young puppy.... I'm not an expert, just passing on what our breeder told us and what we did! (Pongo loved attacking his vetbed. It survived and both pieces are still with us two years later. It really is marvelous stuff.)
Thank you Rosie. Do you break the egg and put it in their bowl? I like giving him the treats. I might be spoiing him a little at the minute (but not over feeding) but I feel like I'm bonding with him and he trusts me. I want him to settle in soon. He's currently laying on my feet/slippers.
Loki looks so beautiful and it sounds as if the bonding is going well. The vetbed should survive - although Tuppence is a chewer she's only managed to make a couple of holes in one piece, but the others are still intact. Just make sure he doesn't swallow any if he continues to chew. Do post some photos!
If it is nice outside we give him the egg to play with. Very funny. It took him a little while to figure out what to do with it. Huge game. (Not to be tried indoors, it can get messy!)
This is the only part of early puppyhood that I enjoyed - the *very expensive* Labrador slippers! I tried to get photos but she had a sixth sense and would always move by the time OH arrived with the camera.
Hi, first post here and we just received our puppy Friday night too. Also a Yellow Lab named Sparky! He was very excited when he first arrived after a 12 hour journey on Delta Cargo. He whinied a little bit during the first night in the crate but he settled down after a firm shhh and slept. His temperament is excellent. Very quiet and loves kids. He's been sleeping well the last few nights even with a ton of people making noise upstairs. Today was the first day of no accidents inside the house, although we are having a tough time getting him to pee/poo in the same spot. We are getting better at reading the signs. Looking forward to updates on your thread!
Loki slept a bit better and whined a lot less. Just a couple of whining moments in the night. He's up at 6 about when we get up and I was wondering when to feed him his breakfast? We were doing his meals at 7:30, 11:30, 3:30, and then 7:30pm. But he's thrown up more bubbly looking clear liquid this morning so wondering if it's because he's hungry and would making him wait until half 7 after getting up at 6 be too long?
Hi what a pair of gorgeous boys Loki and Sparky are . Welcome to both sets of new puppy parents, enjoy your boys. When Bailey was tiny we would take him out in the garden when he got up and then put his breakfast down for him. He never has been a gobbler of his food (unless there is something lush like chicken buried at the bottom!) he has always been a grazer, so sometimes his breakfast would last almost until lunchtime and so on for the rest of the day. Yes it's fine for them to eat the egg shells - Bailey loves them (but expect to see some shell in their poop to begin with). Bailey's best happy dance is with his raw egg!
