Two labs and biting

I thought I would take my post to the Labrador Retriever board and post it here as it is a great update as to the ongoings in our house at the moment. *smile*

Cheyenne lost 3 of her puppy teeth this weekend and is a little biting monster. Mostly she is biting Dakota's legs as she is walking. We have given her the command of "no bite" and that works but only until we turn our backs. Poor Dakota wants to stay outside most of the time when Cheyenne is having a bad teething day and we feel so bad. We have given Cheyenne chilly bones, ice cubes (not too many), and other chewing items but when Dakota is around, she goes after her legs again (and sometimes the face and neck). It was funny the first couple of times but now we need help.Any advice, other than keeping them apart, in order to get Cheyenne to stop chomping on her sister? We don't want to separate them all the time because they do love each other and play well with each other during the not so bad puppy teething times... any advice? Anyone?

I have gotten a great amount of advice from the board such as using bitter apple on Dakota's legs but we didn't think Dakota would care for that when she was cleaning herself. (laugh) So, we have decided to deed those with a lot more knowledge about multiple dog households and just let them be. It seems that most big dogs will allow the little one to chomp on them while they are small and then once they are big enough they will finally tell the little one to knock it off. The most important part is to not interfere. Just have to keep repeating to myself that even though they are our children, they are dogs and have their own language. *wink*

~Shan
http://www.angelcove.us
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden

Accidents will happen

Four times in one morning! After days of not even one - she had to have four accidents in one morning. Yes, Cheyenne had a few accidents today. She made it to the back door area but all I had to do was sneeze and I would miss her entirely while she was going to the bathroom on the floor. By the time I would turn around, she was back in the living room, playing with her toys. Why? Well, I can't blame it all on her. First, I left the water bowl out for the whole morning because I thought we were over the hump. Then I kept her out of the crate longer while I was working from home. Again, this was because I thought we were over the hump. Heck, even one time when I was across the house, she sat by the back door and let out a whine. As soon as I heard it, I came running and we went out right away with lots of praise. So why then were there other accidents?

My husband seems to think that she may have a UTI. I don't think so since the vet said that it takes 1-4 months after you bring a pup home before it will be housebroken. We still have a couple of months to go but I just so wish this would end. She is awesome in her crate and can last almost 8 hours as long as she is crated but she has accidents when she is out. If she had a UTI, then she would have accidents in the crate as well. I understand that some are easy to train where others are not. I just pray it gets better because she so wants to please us.

~Shan
http://www.angelcove.us
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden

Housebreaking Trends

It seems that we are finally getting somewhere. I know I should knock on wood as I type this but I am going to say it anyway - Cheyenne has gone more than a couple of days without having an accident in the house. Could we finally be making some real progress? Could there finally be a light at the end of the tunnel? The vet said that it could take 1-4 months after the pup comes home before they are fully housebroken. Cheyenne is now almost 4 months old, which means we have had her with us for only 2 months. Well, that is enough time for me given that Dakota was housebroken right around 12 weeks old. We were amazed that Dakota was so easy to break of her bad bathroom habits and figured that it would have been as easy with Cheyenne. Alas, we were wrong and it has taken quite a bit longer.

Major piece of advice for those that are looking for a puppy: remember that taking a puppy into your home during the winter, especially when you live in the upper Midwest, you will have to take the puppy out every couple of hours - no matter how cold it is outside. Taking Murphy's Law into account, the puppy will most likely have to go potty in the middle of the night and in the middle of the ice storm. It seems that Murphy's Law loved our family during this puppy's housebreaking training and we are not sorry to see Mr. Murphy leave!

~Shan
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden

Homebound Dogs

With the cold rushing into the cheese state, we decided that it was a day best spent indoors. We don't get to spend as much time with our pups as we would like so it was a treat to have the four of us home together. At first, we were a little nervous - thinking that our lab pups would be fired up with energy and bouncing off the walls. We were so wrong; they were really good and actually bonded more with each other. There were times that the girls actually cuddled with each other and it was the first time they have actually done this. Usually Cheyenne is running around after Dakota, biting at her ankles, and annoying the heck out of her. Dakota will usually try to find a quiet hiding spot and tell Cheyenne she is annoyed even if Cheyenne even looks at her. Today was not one of those days and it was a blessing.

When you have two young pups, there are days that they will get along and others where you wonder if you made the right decision to bring another one into your house. In the long run, having more than one dog per household is a good thing. The dogs keep each other company when you aren't at home, they play with each other, and they learn from each other. Yes, there are times where it can be hectic and after a bought of kennel cough, you start to question having two. But, I can honestly say, from our own experience that having two - a 27 lbs., 15-week old, and a 83 lbs., 1-year old Labrador Retrievers is well worth it!

~Shan
http://www.angelcove.us
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden

Happy Birthday Dakota!

I couldn't let the day go by without wishing my big baby, Dakota, a very happy birthday! We have had her since she was a 8-week old puppy and now she is an 83 lbs., almost full-grown, chocolate Labrador retriever - dare I say it? - adult! Yep - she is a 1-year old as of today and we are amazed at how much she has grown but still wonder how many years of puppy energy she will have left. Sure, it was cute when she was 8-weeks old - bouncing off the walls and such. But now, having an 83 lbs. lab with all of that energy is cause for bruised knees and some broken furniture. She has no idea how big she is and still runs into me full force as if I am a sheet of paper blowing in the wind.

And to think, Cheyenne is now 27 lbs. and 15 weeks old! Better get some ice for my knees cause there will be two 80+ lbs. Bruisers running around our house in no time flat! Maybe we can keep bribing them with treats like we bought today - doggie apple birthday cake, doggie brownie (huge), and some all natural doggie cookies. Hmm, now that I think about it - that may have them running at me more! :)

Happy 1st Birthday to our big sweetie! Life just wouldn't be the same without you!

Which one should we choose?

It was almost a week ago that we went to the local Pet Expo. Unfortunately, we couldn't bring the girls with us but there were so many rescue dogs that I wanted to bring home with us. From the Saint Bernards to the Siberian Huskies - I wanted them all. Alas, my husband wouldn't allow it and as he reminded me of how big our house is, it became clear that I cannot save them all. So, I turned my attention to the training booths to see what we can do with Dakota's overflowing energy.

Dakota has great stamina and even though she is an English Labrador Retriever, she can easily clear any gate we put up in the house at a complete stand still. My mind automatically turned to agility and course training but then there are the dock dogs - her leaping skills are second to none. Of course, this will not deter us from having both labs become therapy dogs and visiting the local hospitals with us. But, which one to choose - agility or dock dogs? Her focus is less than perfect on commands but she is still a puppy and has a lot to learn.

In the meantime, the little hunter (AKA Cheyenne) is starting to show the same abilities as her sister. It seems that even though the breeder insisted that this girl was going to take after the sire, and be a laid back sort of pup, the breeder was quite wrong. Both girls take instinctively after their dame, who is from a long line of hunting champions and is now a goose hunter herself.

I guess we will just have to go through the stacks of brochures to figure this one out. Dakota most definitely needs something to focus on instead of trying to sneak onto our bed when we aren't looking.

Closeness in Dogs

It is amazing, that the less the girls have of doggie daycare, the closer they grow to each other. Our labs were going to daycare 3 days a week and then came down with kennel cough. So, they spent a week home while they were getting better and by the end of the week they were best of friends. Once they started daycare again on Monday, they Dakota started to get annoyed at Cheyenne once again. Either she wants to go outside or hide from Cheyenne's biting.

Yes, Cheyenne still bites but I have to admit that she is getting much better. She also isn't housebroken yet, which is quite annoying. Dakota was housebroken at 12 weeks old and Cheyenne is now 15 weeks and still having accidents in the house. Luckily, there has been no poop accidents but her ability to keep her bladder in check just isn't working as well. No, she doesn't have any problems with it - the vet said it can take 1-4 months after you bring a pup/dog home before they are housebroken. Gee! Great! Just what I wanted to hear! (laugh) Some days she is very good and other days it is one accident after another. And yes, she can physically hold it because she can go 5+ hours at night and 5+ hours during the day in her crate without a single accident. But, once she is out, forget-about-it! You would think that having a role model like Dakota would teach her about going potty outside but, unfortunately, Dakota wants outside every couple of minutes because she just loves hanging outside in the cold and on the tether. So, maybe Cheyenne thinks she should go out every couple of minutes too - I don't know. I just hope it ends soon so we don't have to keep a tight eye on her every minute when she is not in her crate.

~Shan

Few More Days

Only a few more days left and our lab girls can go back to doggie daycare. Dakota seems well over the cold and Cheyenne is just starting to lose her cough. For a days it was nothing but stereo coughing fits but otherwise the girls were acting pretty normal. They still have a few days left of antibiotics before they are all clear and it makes me wonder whether or not they will be somewhat protected when they return. We have thought long and hard about having them return to daycare and we will at least let them use up the last of their bulk days before deciding if doggie daycare is truly worth it. Yes, they get worn out and are well socialized because of the daycare but it costs us a fortune to let them go there and then on top of it there are the colds they get from being in a small enclosed space and extra shots and vet exams. No, money isn't everything but their well being is more than worth it.

Keeping them quiet

Two bully sticks and they are perfect little angels. Even the coughing from their dreaded kennel cough is quiet. Well, that is a given considering it is when they get excited that kennel cough is at its worse. Right now there is no excitement, only content. And, this content flows over to the human realm as well - quiet labs equals the ability to hear the TV and watch one of our favorite shows. I know the quiet won't last forever so I am going to enjoy it while I can.

~Shan
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden

Dogs and Drugs

It was confirmed today that our Labrador Retrievers do indeed have Kennel Cough. They sound like frogs in stereo and today I called the vet to let him know that they were worse. So, the good doctor gave us antibiotics and cough suppressant for the girls. Two doses of cough suppressant and the girls have totally forgotten about their colds and have begun their normal behavior - running after each other and destroying the house in the meantime. It was only when daddy returned from the dentist did the lab brats get even more excited and yet their coughing fits didn't slow them down a bit. No, because daddy was home, it was time to turn up the energy a few notches!

Lucky for us, we don't have a lot of furniture in our house. If we did, there would only be particles left and the girls would cost us more than the $80+ in medications for the kennel cough. Little price to pay considering these are our only kids and normally bring such joy to our lives.

~Shan
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden

Twice the cold

Now both of the labs are sick. Dakota has a hacking cough that could wake the dead and Cheyenne has now started with the same cough. On top of it, Dakota is sleeping more. The vet said that Dakota didn't have kennel cough when he examined her last Friday but either he was wrong of they have some other kind of cold. All my research online has led me to believe it is another cold. So, they are now getting a mixture of dog food and boiled chopped meat/rice for their meals to help them keep down their food when they go into one of those coughing fits. On top of that, no doggie daycare of all of next week. They will just learn how to be normal dogs and stay in their crates for 4 hours at a time while we work. We will be taking turns coming home at lunch to walk them, feed them, and let them out for a while. Everyone online says that colds like these last around 1 week so hopefully they should be over this soon. In the meantime, we will continue to give them the treatment they need: mixed food, cough syrup, and lots of rest. They have until Wednesday to show signs of improvement before another venture to the vet. Hopefully it won't have to come to that!

~Shan
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden

Sleeping Brats

Yes, the girls are finally sleeping - sprawled out comfortably on our livingroom floor. With two walks and plenty of outside play in the freezing cold, these two have had a hectic day. Of course, that is nothing compared to what we, as Labrador Retriever owners, had to go through today with them. First, they do not understand why they need to wait for us to get our jackets on in order to bring them outside. They figure we have invisible fur and can easily walk outside without a care in the world. Second, I have yet to figure out if it is easier or more difficult to have a sick child or a sick dog. Dakota does not have kennel cough but she does have a cold. She has been hacking from time to time today and luckily the anti-vomit medication has kept all her food down. I had to get up early this morning to boil ground meat and cook up some rice so that the girls had a bland meal (per vet's orders). What fun! Lastly, can someone tell me why it takes 1-4 months after you bring home a new puppy before he or she gets fully housebroken?!?! Yes, Cheyenne is still having accidents. Granted, they are less frequent and she is getting better at holding it longer but still, it wasn't this difficult at all with Dakota. I know, dogs are different just like children are different. Each learns at its own pace and you need to treat each as an individual.

So, this may not be the same as having human children but it comes pretty close when you have labs. I love my girls and, alas, I would not give them up for anything. Well, maybe for a few weeks of being able to sleep a full 8 hours - just kidding!

~Shan
http://www.angelcove.us
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden

Kennel Cough

Just when you think the day is going to go according to planned, a wrench the size of a Labrador Retriever gets thrown into the middle of them. My dear husband drove the girls to doggie daycare and 20 minutes later, he comes back home with our 11 month old, Dakota. It seems that while he was in the waiting area, Dakota was pulling on her leash and started to choke herself and gag. Well, the owner of the daycare heard this and declared that Dakota most likely had Kennel Cough and could not be permitted into the daycare. What? Kennel cough? No way! Not Dakota! She had no symptoms of kennel cough or I would have noticed it - she was only coughing because she was pulling on her leash/collar.

So, I had no choice but to get her to the vet or the daycare would not take her back. Luckily the vet was able to take her right away and after spending $105 for a check up and blood work, the vet determined that there was indeed no kennel cough. Thanks a ton doggie daycare! I knew she didn't have it but it was a catch-22 situation. Now we are down $105 for nothing and the daycare apologized and allowed Dakota to come in later today to stay the afternoon. Guess they think we needed a scare and needed to be down $105!

~Shan
http://www.cafepress.com/dakotasden