Anyone as pleased as I am to see the "searching" board so quiet at this time of the year? :D :D :D

Yes but have you noticed the behaviour board full of people not coping with puppies very well on the run up to Christmas

just because people ask for advice it doesn't mean to say they are not coping!

Sorry you're right shouldn't jump to conclusions, I just know there's no way I'd cope with a puppy with everthing else thats going on at the moment. Too busy arguing with relatives about whose going where on Christmas day LOL

lol - I made sure all the shopping was bought and the relatives argued in advance this year because I knew I'd never be able to do that and cope with Dizzy :D

Now if it's not done it won't be done until after christmas ;) and even then it probably won't get done til after housetraining, first walk, puppy classes... :rolleyes:

Not so for my breed Fillis :(

:( The classic crimbo puppy :(

Surely it would make sense to not breed a bitch if it meant that the pups would be getting homed just before christmas? 

I know I would gladly have waited until after the new year (and longer) for my Dizzy :D

It's funny, myself and the other half were discussing pup's last night, in that, we have a four month old pup, who when first arrived settled in really well - toilet training however was very slow and I could have pulled my hair out at times (seem's silly now but I remember it well!!) - I used to sit outside for over an hour with pup who would do nothing until we came in where she would then do a big poo and a wee!  Long story short we sorted the toilet training.  She has managed to convert the house into what looks like a childs play area :D We have spent in excess of £100 on socialisation and training (well spent I will add) - We spend a fortune on toy's and presents.  She pulled down the kettle...Not just any old kettle - A siemens/porsce kettle retailing at around £85 - Its ok though it was our own fault for leaving it in reach and we bought another to replace the old one :) - she has bitten a hole in our £2000 cream, leather sofa!!!  She runs around the living room with muddy paws, she gets on my bed and pushes me out, she chases joggers and cycles and she can jump on the kitchen sides so we cant leave anything out there AT ALL!  And once she poo'd on the bed the duvet was to big for the washing machine so I had to wash it in the bath!!  Thing is we love her sooooo much and all of these things I mentioned are 'puppy' things...Things that are normal, we always try to understand why she has done something and it is never her fault - its ours, all of it - she only poo'd on the bed because we missed her cries to go out - so we weren't angry at her, she chases joggers because they run away from her...great game!!  She has phases, like now its her teething/teenage phase!  My point is that these puppies are bloody hard work, harder than I thought it was gonna be, I admit, but we have a gorgeous girl who someone less patient and/or caring may have got rid of by now (not just mine but any pup and these people cant be bothered with) - People really need to think carefully before getting a pup...We dont have children but I really dont think I could run a household and have kids and dog's - well done to those that do :D!!!