Got some more questions already!!!

[LoobyLou]

Help on these points if you can.....

1. When I get puppy at 7 weeks he cannot touch the ground outside our house until 12 weeks old. What will he weigh about 12 weeks? Have seen dog buggies and front pouches I can carry puppy in. Is the buggy a waste of money? Are the front pouches simply not strong enuf for such a big fast growing puppy? Do I just have to carry him around? Am thinking of trying to do as much socialisation as possible as soon as I get him!

2. Thinking of bed.....well, we spend most of our spare time upstairs on computers when kids are in bed. But....puppy not sposed to do stairs until when??? Doogey's bed (18month old lab) is upstairs in this room. Do I just carry puppy up here in the evenings?
In the daytime I am all over the house. Do I have a bed for him downstairs too? Will be putting two baby gates up....
So...when he wants to escape from us all will he be confused by the fact that he has two beds???
Don't like the thought of me up here in the evenings and him downstairs all alone.
Also...surely it is better to have the two dogs together.

Would love your thoughts on these two issues.
Cheers
Love
LoobyLou
xxx

 

[vici76]

Hi Lou,
you have a pm.
i wouldnt waste my time on a dog buggy! Maddie could be easily carried around at 4 months so i doubt you will need one. my breeder took her for her first jab at 6 weeks at my request. when we picked her up at 8 weeks we took her for her second injection and after a week she was in the sea!
as for the bed i would recommend you take the puupy upstairs and put him with your other dog for the time being when you are upstairs for long periods. or maybe encourage your other dog to stay downstairs with him sometimes.
maddie is spoilt and has her own sofa, it saves slobber on ours. she also has a bed in the kitchen and a room under the stairs so has plenty of hiding places for when she gets fed up with us. we let her decide where they were as thought it best for her to feel comfortable.
now the weather is getting warmer she spends most of her time outside under the tree or in the pool wallowing!!
hope this helps!!

 

[wrknnwf]

Why is the breeder letting puppies go at 7 weeks? That's too young! Do these pups get any vaccinations before they go home. No offense, but I would be suspicious of this breeder.

 

[Pam G]

I agree with Jane. 7 weeks does seem very young. Most breeders don't let the pups go until 9 or 10 weeks.

 

[wrknnwf]

Also is the breeder doing heart checks? Usually those aren't done until around 10 or 11 weeks I think.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

I agree, Jane! That is a critical age period between 6-10 weeks for socialization from mom, plus required vaccinations and heart checks. You also said you plan "to do as much socialisation as possible as soon as I get him!" You should wait for him to have all his shots. He gets a series of shots and should be done about 4 mo of age.

 

[Mrs Beblo]

~ As WE mentioned before, Buford was 8 weeks and we're still dealing with repercussions! ( All due respect to Heidi...give me something to blame!)
Don't do it.
As Kenny Rogers used to say "Know when to walk away, and know when to run!"
You're in for nuttin' but TROUBLE!
I'd call 'the law' in your neck of the woods. It ain't fittin'........it just ain't fittin! (Help Me Lord, I'm in a quoting mood!)

 

[TerriW]

7 weeks? That's the first question I'd ask! I got Ben at 14 weeks and he was still a baby!

[ 04-29-2007, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: Terri P ]

 

[camel24j]

i got simba at 8 weeks and i had to teach him how hard he could or couldnt bite and a hole lot of other stuff he should have learned from his mom and siblings.

 

[wrknnwf]

I hope you will go to the "Questions to ask breeders" thread at the top of this forum and read it well. You should be asking this breeder a LOT of questions before agreeing to take a dog from him/her.

And get proof of everything the breeder says. Documentations (i.e. signed certificates) for health tests for the sire and dam, list of shots already given (could be given by the breeder but you need the written list), proof of showing dogs since they state that they do. And then verify those things either online or with the breeders vet, etc. Be sure to ask if the breeder is a member of any dog club (i.e. Newf or all breed club) and then verify that through their membership.

I just have a hard time believing that this breeder shows dogs regularly but will send pups home at 7 weeks. Perhaps things are different in the UK but I kind of doubt it. It's pretty much universal that responsible breeders keep pups until around 10 weeks or older.

 

[DreamTime Newfs]

7 weeks is entirely too young for a pup to be leaving it's Mom and siblings. Please listen to the advice of the folks who already posted. This is a big red flag.

 

[Brody the Newf]

It's really hard to look for red flags when you are SO excited about getting a Newfie puppy. You might want to pause for a moment and make sure you are blinded by puppy cuteness.

 

[LoobyLou]

This is the advert on epupz. Have spent considerable time on the phone to the breeder and she sounds good. Have contacted the Newfoundland Club and they verified all her credentials. She has said she will look after puppy whenever we need her to rather than going into kennels. She is only half an hour down the road and appears to be very supportive....could call on her in times of trouble I believe.
Mom and Dad have colour flow ecco dopplar test. Also got hip scores for MOm and Dad which are fine.
Don't know if it is just over here but we got our lab puppy at 8 weeks...most ppl say 7-8 weeks over here.
Is that ok?
Cheers
LoobyLou
PS Thanks for all the advice about beds and carrying. Have a weekend away planned which will be cancelled but I reckon we could manage it for the day!!!


EPUPZ AD:
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[ina/puusty]

What the others have said..about the various issues..is true and correct. Wanting..your puppy..is understandable..but that puppy..if it comes 'home to you'..at 7 weeks..will result in so many issues of health and training..I won't even try to sort them out for you. As has been mentioned..there are some threads which cover your questions..and will be a help. It will sound harsh of me..but coming to the variety of people..on this board..will, now and again..cause new 'furkid parents'..to feel like all their questions and happy-dancing..about a puppy..is being ignored. It isn't being ignored..it is us saying..we absolutely want you, AND YOUR PUPPY..to have a great, healthy, long life together..and that means ..'first things first'. Try imagineing that the breeder..chooses to give you the puppy..at 4 weeks? How about 2 weeks? You must allow the mother newf time to generate the breast milk, and training and time with its sibs. Now..if the 'breeder'..is one who sees no problem..with handing out the 7 week old pups like cookies after a tea party..I have a real problem..with that. I wish you..and a new puppy..the joy, and health I have had with my HB..over the years here..and know that when you do the research you are doing now..you will one day..be in a position of waking up in the morning..knowing your sweet furkid..is waking up too..looking forward to happy, healthy, wonderful day..with his/her family. Hugs..and good searching to you and yours today.

ina n HB

 

[najlaa]

7 weeks is WAY too young! plus she needs to be giving you heart check results for the PUPPY ur buying rather then his parents!! please take a moment and concider picking the puppy up a bit later! good luck

 

[vici76]

i didnt notice the 7 weeks!!!!
we got Maddie at 8 weeks, we did suffer her biting us but other wise she has been very normal.

one word of warning though the breeder did keep in touch with us for a couple of weeks, and offer to look after her instead of going into kennels etc she gave us food for her a book all about her and socialisation etc and toys.
we havent heard from her in months even though we email regularly and call.
some breeders get caught up with their other dogs and forget their promises.

you are correct though in the uk it is the norm to pick your pup up at 8 weeks

 

[LoobyLou]

Woweee! I was away from computer for a bit....what a load of interesting replies.
Have just phoned breeder with a great long list of questions and she will be phoning me back tomorrow...hubby answered phone so I am dying to see what she says.
I got all the questions off questions to ask breeder and will ask all these questions before seeing the cute puppies on Thursday. This way I will not be swayed if worried.
Due tot he fact that she has been in the Newfoundland club for 22 years and seems sound I think it is all ok.
I am happy to wait another few weeks...even an extra week...as 8 weeks is the norm in the UK.
Isn't it strange how we differ???
Will let you know her answers tomorrow
Cheers for the advice
Love
LoobyLou
xxx

 

[wrknnwf]

I commend you for asking questions and it sounds as though you are prepared and have done your homework and are doing follow-ups. It is strange that we differ and most NN folks (at least from the US) will be appalled at sending a pup home so early so that's why so many replies to that subject.

In the end, only you can make the decision and if it's based on asking good questions and following up on answers then you've done you're best.

Please understand that this is an EXTREMELY caring group of people on this forum. We have read so many heartbreaking stories and wish we could have given our advice beforehand. We may disagree at times but we all have a common goal to support each other through good and bad.

While membership in a club is desirable and certainly something we advise people to look for, not all club members are as reputable as we might like or suspect. It is simply one of the many, many things that we feel is helpful. The Newf club normally has a code of ethics for breeders and/or members so you may want to use that as a tool for evaluating a breeder. In the event that you have a dispute with the breeder, you may bring it up to the club for review so that's another reason to look for club membership in a breeder's resume'.

Please know that if you bring the pup home at 7 weeks some of the things you may encounter are normal puppy stages that would likely have been dealt with by the dam or the breeder. Typically, some of these might be nipping and excessive boisterous play biting due to lack of socialization with other dogs at a critical point in life. Since your pup won't be able to socialize with strange dogs until after it's rounds of shots, he/she will be missing one of the most valuable socializing experiences which he would get by staying with littermates for another few weeks. Also, you may encounter some early fear periods that will need to be handled appropriately. There will be other things but these are the most obvious.

We wish you the best!

 

[LoobyLou]

Thanks very much again.
I do remember with Doogey, who we got at 8 weeks, that he had to be taught about biting...

I thought puppy could play with dogs that are vaccinated indoors....I have doogey and we know a few others that I hoped to introduce before we get outside.

Thanks so much for your support.
It is fantastic that I have found this forum
Love
LoobyLou
xxx

 

[wrknnwf]

Your pup probably can play with vaccinated dogs indoors but I would discuss this with your vet first.

Also, it's important that your pup play with dogs that are close in size and age. Many older dogs won't tolerate normal rough puppy play and may become resentful towards a pup. Now a minor warning is nothing to get excited about and may be entirely appropriate but you don't want an adult dog becoming unhinged if it gets nipped with sharp puppy teeth. Many adult male dogs are fearful or suspicious of pups but fine with other adult dogs. Pay particular attention to body language.

Puppies can be easily injured by older dogs also. Their bones are still fragile and their muscles aren't developed enough to help protect puppy joints.

Also Newf puppies are HUGE in comparison to some other breeds so you want to be careful that a pudgy, clumsy Newf pup doesn't doesn't inadvertanly squish a small breed dog, causing it to retaliate.

You will just have to supervise all encounters and watch for play that might escalate into a fight or an attack.

If at all possible, try to match your pup with another playmate who is close in size and age especially since your puppy will be so young. You might ask your vet if he could recommend another client with a puppy who would meet those requirements.