Oh my goodness, yes, THOSE ones! They really do seem like a lifetime away, now - Pongo may have his failings (or rather, his trainer does) but he is a world removed from any of that behaviour! Thank you for finding those....
Me too. And what is so striking is that all the replies that I got are EXACTLY like the replies on this thread. Thank you so much, forum, for getting me through it.... and @DebzC, it is only a matter of time before you are going to be posting on some other new crocopup-owner's thread!! Love this forum. And love my big yellow boy.
I don't think Labrador puppies are challenging, really. Any puppy has periods of being bundles of mischief and energy and it's annoying not being able to put the mop bucket away for a bit - and new puppy owners can find that challenging. Of course the forum is supportive when people are finding it difficult and we all say 'oh, it's terribly difficult, but hang in there!' because it would be a bit heartless to say 'jeez, man up! it's a 7kg Labrador puppy, not a fully grown man eating tiger!'. You'll be just fine getting a Labrador puppy.
Ok, maybe not a man-eating tiger, but in my own head I've started to refer to finally getting my own puppy as "the arrival of the land shark". But at least now I have a mantra to use in the future when I feel like sitting in a corner and crying: " jeez, man up! it's a 7kg Labrador puppy, not a fully grown man eating tiger!'. That's worth gold.
Well, now that I've discovered you all, it will be hard to shut me up. Um, you may have noticed that about me already? Again, it's so great to see all the people who've already been through the puppy wars rally around the current crocopuppers (yes, I made that up). @DebzC, hang in there - maybe by the time I finally get my puppy you will be the voice of wisdom telling me that I'll pull through!
Please keep you puppy pictures away from Me do you realise how dangerous they are..... oh b*gg*r I looked
Once you go Lab, you never go...well, anywhere else! My OH and I are now LPFL (Labrador People For Life) after having him. He's got his ups and his downs but his ups far outweigh the downs, by a long shot. He's so cuddly, so affectionate, so sweet, so bubbling over with enthusiasm for life it's amazing. He's the 8th dog we've had combined, of all different breeds, and out of them all I only ever want Labs from here on out! So don't count them out just yet
That was Pongo aged 11 weeks, round about the same time that I was posting my despairing pleas for help.... (and that is his Towel, which is still a favourite toy today)
Hello everyone - newbie checking in (although I've been reading various posts and threads on this forum for several weeks [thanks for the laughs!]). Emily_Babblehund - I'll be picking up my third Labrador boy in a month, and SilverFalcon said it perfectly - I'm a LPFL too. My first beautiful boy was pretty easy (comparatively speaking)...he did go through the bitey phase, but it was relatively short-lived and eventually became a lovely companion. The second was evil incarnate as a puppy - he'd run and jump to bite faces...I was genuinely concerned at one point about his level of aggression, but with time and patience he became the most loving, affectionate, and sweet soul - he sadly passed a couple of months ago, and I miss him every day. I have zero doubts, irrespective how initially aggressive (playful) my new boy becomes, he'll eventually morph into a wonderful companion with time and training...so, I suppose my point is, don't give up on the idea of a Labrador on the basis of the potentially problematic puppy stage - they grow out of it, and when they become little older, calmer, and more gentle, they'll steal a piece of your heart. They're worth every moment of exhaustion and frustration : )
I'm glad you posted @DebzC - I have been feeling the same way the past couple of days. We've had a bit of regression with house training, and the quiet crate went back to howly-crate for a few days (now maybe we're back to quiet?), and I've kind of had it with everything. I feel lucky Bessie doesn't bite much at all anymore. Only when she's in crazy-puppy mode OR at the tail end of our walks (no idea why then, she doesn't want to go back?) she will bite at my ankles, and Burke's face. Trying to walk the two of them together does sometimes bring me to tears. I need to start doing individual walks so I can work on some loose leash training with her. Anyway, I feel you! And this thread is a great reminder that these little beasts turn into sweet, gentle dogs.
I'm sorry for your loss of your boy. It's a testament to him that you're willing to take the plunge into puppyhood again, it's a wonderful message. I hope you'll share your puppy stories here once your next pup arrives! And now I've learned a new acronym, "LPFL".
