Hello from Kent

Hello everyone, I'm Donna and completely new to being a puppy mum. My little munchkin is called Dexter, he's adorable, 13 weeks old and going for his first walk tomorrow. Boy am I glad I found this site, loving the terms crocopup and gatorpup, what a relief to find out its normal!!! Love him to bits though, we are going to grow old together and be the best of friends.

 

Hi Donna, and welcome to the forum. Those little puppy teeth are very sharp but that phase doesn't last long.
I love your attitude about growing old together and being the best of friends. Labs are very good company, sensitive to your mood, give fantastic welcomes when you come home, have a well-developed sense of humour, and love unconditionally. These are great qualities in a best friend. I hope you have many happy years together.

 

Hi Phil, thank you for your reply. Yes those puppy teeth are sharpe. I knew from first setting eyes on Dexter, that I would go to the moon and back for him. Even when he gets challenging, which now I've read the Happy Puppy book and found this site, I realise isn't as bad as I thought it was. I had shoulder surgery on 24th August and this is my first week since that, that I'm home alone with him. I'm finding ways of managing his out bursts, with the use of only one arm. He's worn himself out for a couple of hrs chomping on a bone and is now sleeping. Must be time for me to have a nap too, housework can wait.

 

Welcome to the forum Donna!
A bit of a challenge dealing with a pup with one arm
Hope you recover soon.
Check out the technical and help section, we would love to see a photo of Dexter (see if he matches up to THE Dexter )
Jac

 

Welcome to you and Dexter

Pushing the housework down the list is an excellent strategy and one I use all the time Dogs are way more important.

You're doing a great job managing with one arm.

 

Hi Donna! I am a single mum too. It makes for a close bond!

 

Hi Donna and Dexter welcome to the forum.

 

Hello! A warm welcome.

 

Hi and welcome from me and 2 year old Harley . She is my first ever pup too and a big learning curve. This forum has been amazing in helping me get through everything with her

 

Hello Donna and Dexter.....welcome! I am also a "single" and, when I got my puppy Cooper (now 18 months) he was a lot of work simply because he was a puppy.....and I did it with two arms! All the stages he will go through will also pass....that is one good thing, specially the biting one! This forum is the best thing for everyone but specially for those like me who got their FIRST dog! I was 77 years old when I got him and all my friends thought I was crazy to get a puppy but it has been the BEST thing ever! He is my shadow, my partner and companion....and a total delight.
Enjoy his puppy-hood because it goes by soooo fast. You will have many years of wonderful friendship with Dexter.

 

Hi from me and Molly - we're just along in East Sussex.

 

Hi, thank you all for the warm welcome. I do have a husband, so not doing this on my own, but I'm single handed physically, for up to eight weeks due to surgery on my shoulder. Sorry for the confusion. First walks today and braved going off lead too. Plenty of chicken for rewards, fun fun fun. I'm so glad to know the puppy crocopup stage will end one day. We are just loving having Dexter. I've checked the technical posts but this morning when I tried to look at more about posting photos there was a technical glitch and couldn't check any posts. Will try again later. Dexter is a yellow lab, his dad is fox red, his mum a paler yellow, Dexter is in between.

 

Not sure if this will work but hopefully is a photo of Dexter, taken at 11 weeks old.
image by Donna Cruise, on Flickr

 

Aww....very handsome!
He looks quite serious....and has HUMUNGOUS- looking front paws LOL

 

Taking on a puppy at 77 Yvonne, that's awesome. I do believe in age only being a number . I bet Cooper is keeping you fit and active, great company too.

 

And how have I missed saying hello to the wonderful new Dexter on the block? And a yellow boy too ! He is gorgeous Our yellow boy is 3 in a couple of weeks ,he's our first dog and we live in Dubai.
This was him having a bit if naughty fun in one of our community parks ( dogs not allowed of course,even ON lead!) it was 5.30 am though so we kind of beat the crowds!

 

Hello Dexter, love the photo, mines a pims please lol.

My Dexter, does look a bit serious in this photo. think he was concentrating on the camera, lol, poser. drjs@5 and yes his paws are humungous, do you think he'll grow into them one day?

 

Dexter, you are one happy looking dog.

 

Oh - that would be nice!

Hmmm....should I say *yes* or *no* to that? I'm not sure....

 

Hello to you and beautiful Dexter, from the Isle of Man.