Just got collared by a neighbour asking for advice on a a new puppy she got last night.

She asked what she can do to stop it crying. I asked all the usual questions how long had she had it , how old it was what breed was she and what is she being fed on , has she being wormed.

The pup is a Lab/ GSD cross is six weeks old and the breeder ( well if you can call them that as the bitch was mated with the dog next door :rolleyes: ) said that they were just feeding it on weetabix. She didn't know if it had been wormed. The breder also said that just give her a coupl of toys and she will be fine and not chew anything she shouldn't

So I have given her my vets name and told her to get her checked asap suggested a reasonable food I have used on my pups ( not barf as thought that was a step too far for the moment ;) :D ) and said I will help her with any problems questions she has over the next few weeks/ months. When I said that she looked so relieved that I offered to help.

One thing she did say is that she had surfed the net for advice but she found it very difficult to decide what was the right or wrong advice. Something I think alot of people totally new to dog ownership will come across.

She said they were also going to call her Daisy which was going to be the name of our newbie so back to the drawing board for us :D

Lucy
xx

>One thing she did say is that she had surfed the net for advice but she found it very difficult to decide what was the right or wrong advice. Something I think alot of people totally new to dog ownership will come across.

Absolutely right. There's so much conflicting advice it's enough to make your brain dribble out of your ears. Someone came into the surgery yesterday asking if there were any small leaflets about the things to expect when getting a puppy, and of course there's simply too much to put onto an A4 sheet! But there's definitley a niche out there for something basic like that.

I was semi-chuckling to myself yesterday, reading an article in one of the dog magazines whilst sitting waiting for the vet to see my girl. Someone had written in to the magazine's 'experts' saying that they were thinking of another dog, already had two dogs (both bitches, I think) and should they get a dog or a bitch of the breed they were interested in.

Three experts had all given different opinions - one said get a bitch, one said get a dog and make sure you neuter it, the other said get a dog but make sure you don't neuter it (due to breed).

I'm sure that really helped the poor letter writer, but does just go to show what differing advice you can get, even from three very sensible and reputable people, all with valid reasons for their responses. It's a minefield for anyone to sort out, I'm sure.

M.

But there's definitley a niche out there for something basic like that.

I wrote a small book like this about ten years ago, it's available in most pet shops (I always check LOL and all I've been in that has any books have had it) and some other shops as well, it costs only around £2. (And no I don't get a penny for it these says, and it was written under a previous name of mine so I hope I'm not advertising. :) )

said that they were just feeding it on weetabix. She didn't know if it had been wormed

Poor baby!  6 weeks old and only been fed on weetabix. :-(

You have to blame the woman for even buying the pup from someone who knows nothing about breeding, if she had bought from a reputable breeder she would have constant help and advice.

At least she has found you, why not point her in the direction of CD where she will perhaps get the odd bit of conflicting advice but when it come to raising and caring for puppies most of us are on the same wave length. :-)

> the odd bit of conflicting advice

LOL Carrington - nicely put :D :D :D :D

Daisy

When we got our girl we had already decided on what breed we wanted (Thought it over and researched it for over a year!)
I think everyone should be made to do that and then you can get books on that breed and know everything you will ever need to know and never be in the dark, and of course not buy of dodgy back yard breeders! :D

> then you can get books on that breed and know everything you will ever need to know and never be in the dark

Goodness - no :) :) Books are very useful, but even people who have been in the same breed for many, many years will never say that they know everything there is to know :) :) Reading a book before you get a puppy is only the beginning of your quest for knowledge :D :D :D

Daisy

Was meant in a general sense!! :D :)  :D

At least basic knowledge is achived by aving a number of books and advice from breeders, we wouldnt have even dreamed of getting a dog we knoew nothing about in terms of breed temperamant, needs, living styles etc.

My dogs never read the same books i did anyway :D :D :D

odd bit of conflicting advice but when it come to raising and caring for puppies most of us are on the same wave length Yes but some are on a different planet sometimes :D :D

I will go round and see the pup later and check her over myself and see if they have everything they need and see how big the cage is they have got. I don't think you can't blame the woman as some people just haven't got a clue and as she said she did do some investigation on the internet but just didn't really get to grips with what was right or wrong.

She can also use my pair to help with socialising as well as the poor little mite will need it.

Have just been round to have a look at her and she is very sweet :)

Looks very healthy and is definately Labx but can't see any GSD in her at all :) More like Collie/Labx

She is more like 9 to 10 weeks old as well.

Anyway I have given them some complete puppy food to start them off and given her little five year old a good talking to about how she should behave in front of the pup as told her if she is very loud and runs around screaming it will wind the puppy up and it will bite her and jump up:) The little girl looked very seriously at me and said yes she would :) The parents also agreed with me so hopefully they will continue with this as the little girl can be a bit boistrous.
I also told them the right size of the cage as they got her in a small pet carrier so hopefully the will get it all sorted. I have told her to come round anytime of they have any questiosn or concerns so hopefully they are now on the right track with her. I will periodically pop round and see them :)

Well done, Lucy :) :) Hopefully they'll have the confidence now to ask for more advice :) Most people just need information - so much is just down to ignorance (in it's best sense), most people don't want to do the wrong thing :)

Daisy

She trusts me as well which helps :)

Excellent :) :)

Daisy