Hi all ,
Im sure you are all sick of hearing that i get my beloved pup in just 10 days ! but whilst reading the active posts i read something that had not before accured to me.
Foxes.
My area ( Kent) is running alive with them
I know she will not be allowed out before all her jabs etc , but will she even be safe in the garden ??
We have foxes in the gardens back and front every night.
Is she at serious risk whilst in her own garden ?
Would it be best to keep her house bound untill week 12 ???
Any advice or input welcomed.
A worried "soon to be " Newfoundland owner
Zoe x x x

LOL @ Zoe :) Worry wart right enough :) :D
If only everyone was as worried and careful before they got a pup :) I think it's obvious that this pup of yours is going to be well loved and looked after :)

As for the foxes, I don't know. It's something I wouldn't have thought of either. It was reading Leigh's post about her pup getting mange that made me think.
Hopefully Leigh or someone else with experience of it will come along and answer you. She's put my mind at rest but Toby's an adult dog and it looks like there's only 1 fox in the garden sometimes.
Dot

every day i seem to come up with something else that we simply "HAVE TO DO " before she arrives to make it safe ! te breeders must be sick of emails like " would it be best to crate her or have her on lap when bringing her home ? " "we've just picked up a bag of her food , but worry that the protein levels will drop before she comes home" and on and on it goes....imagine what i'll be like when shes HERE !! i'll be banned from Champdogs ! for overuse !

Dont be sorry about being a careful new family for one lucky newfoundland baby. I think it is marvelous the way you are making sure all is Ok for when he or she arrives. I am sure people here are happy to answer a million questions and then some.

Well done from me.

regards
Jackie

oww thanx ! ( you could regret saying that though!!)

Mange could of course always be a problem but the chances are it will not! As for everything else, I'm not sure exactly what foxes can carry, (I should, I get around enough!) but the natural immunity from the bitch should cover her for the time being.

From the other side, I feel the risks of a poorly socialised puppy far outweigh the risk of the puppy catching something. You can never be 100% sure but on the balance of probability you are better taking her out into the garden. My own puppies go to the dog club at 8 weeks old. Sit on my lap and take in the sights and sounds. I know its a chance but it's one I'm prepared to take.

Regards, John

thank you , with our last puppy we would take him into the garden regularly and out for a bit of "lead training" at night down the street.He also went to what were called "puppy partys" where there were all sorts of youngsters , did him the world of good.Nothing like that near me here though.Maybe i should start my own !
( just think of the living room carpet !)

Hi :)

You can have your pups first jab from any time onwards of 6 weeks.... so maybe having his first one as soon as you get him might put your mind at rest a bit as he will have *some* protection?

Just a thought

Good luck - I was uncontrollably excited when I got Willis!
Chloe

Hi Zoe

I replied to this question in the foxes thread but I would not worry too much. I have foxes in the garden daily but still permit puppies, when I have a litter, to go outside so they can explore and exercise.

Christine

Zoe, I do hope you are going to relax a bit, you are not going to enjoy this puppy if you don't. I'm being serious your worry will transfer to the pup if you carry on as you are, try and be a bit more laid back, hundreds of pups a year all manage to make it through to their first birthday with a lot less care than yours will get. Relax and enjoy, thats what puppies are put on this earth for. Ja:)kie

I also worry a bit when someone is this excited as there is always a letdown with pups.

Before you get them you imagine this cuddly pup who will be perfectly behaved from day one and by day two you have this little monster who is biting everthing and everyone, showing all your dirty underwear to anyone who comes in the house, rearranging the garden, and driving you absolutely nuts and making you wonder why you introduced IT into your home. (There are of course rare exceptions :) )

Don't worry, by the time they reach about 18 - 24 months they start to really become the companion you thought you were going to get the moment they walk in the door.

Christine

It was not my first dog by a few, but I was at least as bad as Zoe before - and after! - I got my first wolfhound :). My anxiety didn't seem to transfer to her, but I made every mistake that its possible to make by being excessivly cautious about everything and probably put her hind movement off a little as a result.

Jackie & Christine are right Zoe - relax and enjoy :).

its not in my nature to relax! i think right now its more a case of "anything" i think of puppy related is better than the waiting , and waiting to get her!
I have had pup's in the past , so i know what monsters they can be.Our last dog was a Bernese MD.Almost each morning we would open the hall door to his "room" to find he had pooed against the door , so when it opened it was nicely squashed under the door..and we'd walk in it ! Ahh,how i remember those seven pairs of new comfy reebok he took fancy to!...
Still , im feeling low today , :( , i thought we were picking her up Tuesday 17th ( she's 8 weeks old the 15th) but shes now being vet checked on te 19th and we cant get her till the 21st...4 days extra waiting :( :(

Hi Zoe,
I been reading how excited you are and I know how it feels. Four more days will fly past, and it seems your breeder is doing everything correctly and I am sure you are pleased they are having the vet check.

A few breeders I know do not let their puppies go until 12 weeks, so nearly nine weeks is great.

Make the most of your four days of freedom, its kinda like the calm before the storm. It will be worth it in the end.

Kind regards ILOVEDOGS ;)

11 days to go ! i couldnt be happier with the breeders of my pup , they phone regularly with weight updates , they were willing to hang on to pups till after Xmas if needed.They let us come and view her at 4 weeks , then again at five to take some treasured pictures.She has been wearing a colar since week 5 so is used to that , they have been grooming and leading training them all.So i am over the moon , and would recomend them to ANY one who is after a Newf pup .
She now weigh's 17lb ! and my fingers are crossed for next Thursdays vet check.
While on the puppy subject , Neighbours of my parents have just got a 5 week old Yorkie pup.I would definatly not want to take any pup from their mum at 5 weeks .Apparantly the mother of the pup died and they got this little'un at 4 weeks...sounds very sus to me.Any one else think so?

Hi Zoe,

You'll be fine - don't worry about it. As you say, the more things you work through now the less you'll be worrying about them when pup comes home.

When I was growing up one fo the neighbours had Bernese MDs. They lived in a small 3 bed bungalow (they had 2 children) and had 2 Bernese and a Rough Collie. They were 3 of the best looked after dogs in the area but it always made me laugh when they went away in their caravan :D :D :D All that dog hair in such a confined space!!!

Good luck with the puppy,

Fiona
x x x

thank's . Every tome i think of my baby to be i have to come on the forum! just being around dog owners makes me feel better! so i keep posting every little worry!
I certainly wont turn nasty when i get my puppy ( not exact words i know~but somebody expressed concern for me when the pup arrives?) . Do not fear , kids are under more threat than the dog ( i AM jokeing before any one attacks! )
Zoe