Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject: Newbie What a week that was!
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Hi Everyone, just signed up and wanted to say hello.
We have been reading through the forums ( well I have because Bella can't read) and I must say I am glad you are here.
What a week, I was planning on getting a Labrador around October when my caravanning season is over, but on Wednesday I was over the moon when I collected a 9 month old chocolate girl from a friend. Bella is house trained, gorgeous and has a fantastic tempremant. She came home played with the kids then slept all night on Friday she went on her first ever caravan holiday; she absolutely loved it and I absolutely love her.
I will back on soon as no doubt I will have a million questions but for now thank you in advance.
Hi Rob and welcome to you and Bella, she looks a gorgeous girl, don`t be so sure that dogs can`t read , we have a pups page on the forums, not been used for a while but used to be very popular with all the pups
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:04 pm Post subject: Update on Bella's first week
Hi Everyone and thanks for your replies!
Well that's the first week coming to an end and what a week it's been.
Bella has been a dream, only the odd misdeamenour and broken sleep.
Maybe you seasoned owners could answer some of my questions:
Bella slept in a cage in an outhouse but now she is here I tried her in the cage indoors, she barked all night. This could be because she is still a bit confused about being here or maybe she is wondering why she is in a cage indoors? What do you think? I tried her out of the cage in her new bed and she seemed to stop barking but banged on the door instead?
How long do you think it will take her to accept us as her new family?
Lots of people are asking me am I going to let her have pups? I wasnt planning on it but don't know the first thing about spaying, is it cruel if she hasn't had a litter? Will it change her; other than the obvious?
As you can imagine we are over the moon with her and most of our belongings are still unchewed, but any advice to help her settle in and advice on the spaying issue would be much appreciated.
I am imagine she has still got a lot of settling in to do. Do you know if she barked in her crate when she was at her previous home, she may have disliked being so far from everyone and the crate reminds her of that separation?
It isn't cruel to spay a bitch without her having a litter. Raising pups is a huge commitment, to start with both bitch and dog should be health-tested for things like hip dysplasia, then of course there is the vets cost and the risk, because as the breeders on here will tell you there is always a risk with a bitch having a litter (both to pups and mum). And finally you will need to have good homes for the pups to go to at the end.
Once, long ago before LF I considered studding my dog, having read stuff on here about people's experiences I realised I was not ready for something like that, not financially or emotionally.
The spay won't change her and she will probably be happier as dogs may pay her less attention and she won't get stuck in during her season.
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: Update on Bella's first week
onred wrote:
How long do you think it will take her to accept us as her new family?Rob
It may take a while to iron out all the wrinkles but it sounds as if she's made a great start. You may bump into an issue as you go, but just deal with things as they arise and don't look for problems. Our lot were coming out of the crate by about 9 months so don't use it unless she chews.
onred wrote:
Lots of people are asking me am I going to let her have pups? I wasnt planning on it but don't know the first thing about spaying, is it cruel if she hasn't had a litter? Will it change her; other than the obvious?
Has she had her first season already? If not she'll be coming up to it and will need to get over that before you can consider spaying. Opinions differ but unless you are experienced with dogs and willing to do lots of research and hard work DON'T consider breeding from her. The more you read on here about all the problems poorly bred dogs encounter the more you'll realise it's cruel to even think about it without the right background and support
No doubt you'll get lots of advice from all quarters on this but I'd check her history (season or not?) and spay once her season is well settled down (about 3 months after is usual). And she'll be a happy settled lovely companion for the family as a result.
Why did your friends part with her? She sounds like a real treasure Lucky you
I think it's fair to say I wont be letting her have pups, she finished her first season about 3 weeks ago and is due her boosters in December when she will be 15 months old, I will discuss spaying with the vet. Mind you I think this will be around her 2nd season I think so better see vet before.
My friends loved her to bits; in fact they adored her but as they worked all day they felt it would be better for her if she went to a home were someone is at home. My wife is at home, we go away most weekends in the caravan and we loved dogs so it worked out OK.
When I figure out how to put the pics on I certainly will.
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, we have a pups page on the forums, not been used for a while but used to be very popular with all the pups 
