I'm looking to get a Labrador soon, I have a few queries if anyone can help: - Are barking dogs next door a problem, my neighbour has two dogs, which stay primarily in their back garden and have never been taken for a walk for all the years they've had them, whenever anyone steps into our back garden the noise sets them off (I know its not their fault the dogs must be bored out of their minds). Would this be a problem when it comes to training? - Can I slowly introduce vegetarian dog food with a mind to raise the Lab vegetarian? - When taking the puppy out for socialising how do I carry her around, in some sort of bag or in my arms? - Should I avoid getting a dog in the winter months due to the cold weather? I wondered whether its harder to toilet train a puppy in cold weather and as I would be a first-time dog owner I'm not sure about this All advice on any of these topics would be greatly appreciated
I had never heard of people feeding vegetarian before i joined the forum but here is a thread from someone feeding vegetarian that might be interesting to read https://thelabradorforum.com/threads/my-lab-puppy-is-not-eating-well.25083/#post-379970 You can use the search function to see if you can find more. Reg the dogs barking, if it is incessant, bored anxious dog barking then that will probably be a problem. I don’t know any 8 week old puppies that won’t be distressed or at least distracted by that. And a distressed pup will not pee/poo until they feel calm and safe. Which may well end up being inside your hone. There are people on here i think i’ve seen who live next door to serial barkers, so hopefully they’ll reply with their experiences! Socialisation carry puppy in your arms if its comfortable or put them in a puppy bag its up to you! Toilet training in winter i have no experience with, maybe try the search function
I don't know where you live so Winter is an nu-anserable question. We have friends with Sammies, that will bark at any dog on the other side of a fence, especially if it is barking. Our Labs not so much. Cooper in particular will just watch while our neighbor's small pit runs back and forth barking. Cooper will occasionally bark at another dog she doesn't know, but for the most part she does not react to real dogs. (Dogs on TV are another story) We did not train her to behave this way, but are very happy that it worked out that way. None our our 3 labs have been excessive barkers. All of them have been happy to meet other medium to large friendly dogs, and would play if it seemed appropriate.
Dogs can survive on vegetarian diets but I don't think they thrive or enjoy their food much. I definitely wouldn't consider it for a growing dog, it's such an unnatural diet I'd be really concerned about lifelong problems not just from missing nutrients, but also digestive issues and allergies. I don't know how cold winter is where you are. For me it's the long dark nights that would put me off getting a puppy in the winter, it's hard enough with a house trained dog, walking in the dark before work, coming home in the dark for another cold/wet dark walk. I think getting up in the middle of the night as well with a puppy would probably break me! It's pretty quiet here but my dog will always respond to nextdoor's dog if she barks or to barking dogs in the holiday cottage on the other side of the river half a mile away. Maybe if the noise were constant he would learn to ignore it, or I could train him not to respond. It's hard to say as dogs vary so much in how vocal they are, but I think they all like to join in if one dog starts something off.
Hello, I am vegan myself. But as I have chosen to have a dog I've accepted she needs animal protein and feed her meat. I just ensure its the most ethical I can find.
