Thanks Emily, I love those parts too, he's just so cute (I think I was was lucky as I just chose him based on a newborn photo of the litter where one doesn't see much of anything really. The big paws as Granca said (If the size of the paws mean anything ? I am hoping he'll be a big chunky lab) and yes the wrinkly nose just awaiting to be filled out ! Anyways labs are beautiful dogs. Gastão and mom and siblings first week. (Dont seem to be managing to insert the picture here as I was able to above..don't know why..) Here it is: https://imgur.com/a/42Wvq
There's ten of them. I think there is still a black female available, just saying in case Emily needs an excuse to go to Coimbra on her labratour
Hi Everyone, Just to let you all know that Gaston arrived as planned on Friday, the 2nd Feb. He is doing really well and seems to like us! He is well behaved, at least I don't feel overwhelmed at all, maybe being a second time having a lab pup is easier. We do wake up early though, around 6ish, and sometimes he cries at night (he is sleeping in his bed in our room, so I just pet him back to sleep). I have started potty training, the breeder was doing that already, but to be honest, apart from the first day when he did pee in the outside patio, now we're outside with him and he doesn't do anything there..I wonder where he's doing the pees as I don't see them. Poo's are nice and solid..but unfortunately in the dining room Also started training "sit" and he's quite good at that, especially as he loves the treats coming with getting it right Loves his bed, toys and is fine with the crate too, even though we haven't crated him much yet.
Oh my goodness, wont you just look at the little love, all tucked up in his bed , just want to cuddle him x
Welcome Gaston! I was thinking today was your Gotcha Day and wanting to ask how you were both doing, but I see I'm a little late as usual. Sounds like you are doing really well, such good news. I can't see his photo on my mobile, so can't wait to have a look as soon as I can from my PC. So exciting!
@CMartin , how are you and Gaston getting on? As we hear from many puppy parents on the Forum, the first weeks can be especially challenging, so just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you and hoping that you and Gaston are settling in together well.
Hello and welcome to little Gaston! Merlin has the Kong fox too - it's the ONLY soft toy that hasn't been destroyed so far... probably because it doesn't have any stuffing.
Thanks all for your kind words. Yes, we are in a very happy place, and Gaston has a great part in our happiness, especially after what happened to Leão, as you know. Thanks Emily, you are right and I came here today to do just that, detail a little more on how we are getting along, I think it's important to share, for others too. The big picture is just as how I put it above, I think it couldn't be better really. Which does not mean it is not challenging, it is, we know it is. Nevertheless, as before deciding on getting Gaston, I did plan dates so he'd come now, at a time where I am basically free from hectic day to day schedules, for a start, I am mostly working from home, so always with him and that makes for a calmer puppy, I find, and a calmer me. Also, I have freeness of mind, at least for now and for the most part, not to be fretting much about anything else. This helps quite a lot. Leão had no such luck, as we were away from home all day when he came in, and I would hurry home for lunch to be with him, and had the maid helping out being with him during the week. Sressful times, and did noone any good, especially not Leão. We had a lot of destruction and were all very frustrated then. Gaston sleeps most of the day, frequent naps, but they are short naps. When he is awake I try to give him more attention, playing and keeping him some company or involving him in whatever I need done (like coming with me to do the laundry, or sitting with me at the pc, I take him out with me everytime I leave the house, so that starts at 7.30am when I take my son to school, Gaston comes along, and then, yes, you guessed it, we go to town to get to know the villagers, do some shopping and have a coffee, just like I did with Leão Was easy convincing hubby. Today I need to go to the bank, so he's coming with me, he always comes with me, and I carry him everywhere. It is amazing how people react to a puppy The parts I have not yet conquered are potty training and sleeping at night. He pees in his bed ('cause it is big enough to do that..silly me choosing the bed) or on carpets. He smells like pee, his new bedding smells like pee, and I smell like pee too I noticed it especially yesterday during a meeting at work, Gaston was left with the maid for a couple of hours, and I went to the meeting and I could just smell his pee on me. I don't notice it that much when I am at home, so I guess the whole house must be smelling the same. He has done two poo's outside, so that's good. I've left them outside as a reminder for him But it's freezing, so I guess it is my fault as I can't stand the cold outside to wait long enough for him to pee and poo most often there. Night time, he cries. He falls asleep on our sofa at around 8.30/9pm while we watch tv or read or do something relaxing (there's a photo of him snoozing away with us on the sofa below), then when we go to bed at 11ishpm he comes with us, I lay him in his bed, next to ours, after a last excursion to the patio for a wee which usually does not take place..but he does not settle down, he whimpers and cries. I have been putting him in our bed these last two nights, but I don't want to do so in future so I am not handling that well. I have to find a better way, maybe playing and exausting him more before bed time..not sure. Or leaving soft music on to keep him company (how will that work for us to be able to sleep nevertheless, I don't know, probably won't). Maybe give him a robe of mine for him to sleep with, but being in our room I guess he picks up on our scent more than enough. After sleeping in our bed, he does wake at the same time as I do, around 6.30am now, so that's fine. It's just the getting to sleep alone and the laying there the whole night part I am struggling with. The petting with my hand in his bed seems to be no longer working, of course as now he knows he can get into our bed when he cries for long enough. Any tips on the sleeping ? I also have to tune into the quantity of kibble I am giving him. I bought him Evoque, which is what the breeder fed him,and I bought Happy One Mediterraneum which is kibble made from produce in Portugal, and seems quite good, to transit into. I am not doing that right now, as still giving him time to settle in, the thing is that neither of the kibbles came with a measuring cup, so I am using an Orijen cup which of course doesn't work and then weighing the quantity on a scale to try and get it right. It just looks like too much kibble on his plate, even with all the measuring process. I am starting to think my scale is not working. Will ask my mom to lend me hers for me to double check. Of course, he gobbles everything down with great satisfaction !
He really gorgeous ! Re the peeing , he is still very much a baby but there is a product you can buy from pet stores or online from Amazon , its specially formulated to get rid of all the smells of urine . Thing is , even when we clean up really well , little sensitive noses can still smell pee and will use the same places , so it might be worth trying ? I had my boy next to the bed too , but I didn't put him on the bed itself because this is a one way ticket and a habit hard to break ! Having said this , they often decide themselves , as they become more confident , that they are happy to sleep alone as my boy did . So , your choices are , stick it out and don't lift him up, or resign yourself to a dog on the bed ( there are worse things ! ) .All in all, the little fella seems to be doing well , and good for you, taking him out and about with you , so good for his socialisation and confidence , bless him !
Hello Kate, thanks for the tips. Yes I am going to buy the product. He's peed on his fur toys too now, his vet bed, his bed, both his blankets. When he gets excited, he also pees so it is difficult to control. I am doing daily washingPoo-wise he is doing great now, as has been doing them all outside versus the dining room, so much better. He does come across as confident, considering he is a puppy, and, during the day, when he is sleepy he will frantically push as aside to get to his bed for his nap. There is something different about night time to him still though, which I do get. I think you are right Kate, as he becomes more confident with age and settled into the house, laying in his bed alone at night will come naturally. Hopefully
