Financial cost of getting a Labrador Puppy

johnson293

Well, he's home!! :j

Our son has chosen his final name, which is 'Maxy'.

As requested, here are a few pics taken over the weekend, hopefully viewable to everyone...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=193229&id=656896445&l=8018e7822c

First night was like having a newborn. Understandably, he will have been anxious after leaving his first home and his littermates and parents. My other half stayed up all night with him, as when he went to sleep it was only for short periods, before he woke to go toilet or have another look around. We had a few accidents inside the first night, which was to be expected until he learned where he had to go.

We have bought a large crate (120 x 80cm base) and we have been feeding him in there.

We went some messages on saturday morning, and put him in the cage with the door closed - he cried a bit at first, but when we got back about 30 minutes later he was asleep in there. It didn't seem to affect him, as he came and went from it wth no further probs.

Saturday night we did the same - put him in the cage at about 10pm when we went to bed - he cried for about 10 minutes, then again for about 5, then he was ok and quiet until about 4am, so I got up and he needed to go out for 1's and 2's.

Yesterday we bathed him, as he was a bit wiffy, and put his new collar on him. The accidents in the hosue are getting fewer with only a few small pee's where he gets caught out. Everytime he's needed no. 2's, he's headed for the door.

Last night again, he was closed into his cage at about 10pm - but he only cried for about 5 minutes, then he was quiet until about 5am.

We are feeding him Bakers Puppy complete, roughly 100g/portion 3 times a day.

We also bought him a soft dog bed, which he seems to struggle to get comfy in, and tends to prefer to lie on the harder floor, either in the lounge or the kitchen.

But, so far so good - he seems a decent natured little pup, and can be a bit mouthy, but he has plenty of his own chew toys and we discourage him as soon as he looks like chewing anything he shouldn't or trying to nip. He seems to have settled relatively quickly, though its still early days.

I will post back with an update once he's properly settled in.

MJ

Youdontseeme

johnson293 wrote: »

Well, he's home!! :j

Our son has chosen his final name, which is 'Maxy'.

As requested, here are a few pics taken over the weekend, hopefully viewable to everyone...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=193229&id=656896445&l=8018e7822c

First night was like having a newborn. Understandably, he will have been anxious after leaving his first home and his littermates and parents. My other half stayed up all night with him, as when he went to sleep it was only for short periods, before he woke to go toilet or have another look around. We had a few accidents inside the first night, which was to be expected until he learned where he had to go.

We have bought a large crate (120 x 80cm base) and we have been feeding him in there.

We went some messages on saturday morning, and put him in the cage with the door closed - he cried a bit at first, but when we got back about 30 minutes later he was asleep in there. It didn't seem to affect him, as he came and went from it wth no further probs.

Saturday night we did the same - put him in the cage at about 10pm when we went to bed - he cried for about 10 minutes, then again for about 5, then he was ok and quiet until about 4am, so I got up and he needed to go out for 1's and 2's.

Yesterday we bathed him, as he was a bit wiffy, and put his new collar on him. The accidents in the hosue are getting fewer with only a few small pee's where he gets caught out. Everytime he's needed no. 2's, he's headed for the door.

Last night again, he was closed into his cage at about 10pm - but he only cried for about 5 minutes, then he was quiet until about 5am.

We are feeding him Bakers Puppy complete, roughly 100g/portion 3 times a day.

We also bought him a soft dog bed, which he seems to struggle to get comfy in, and tends to prefer to lie on the harder floor, either in the lounge or the kitchen.

But, so far so good - he seems a decent natured little pup, and can be a bit mouthy, but he has plenty of his own chew toys and we discourage him as soon as he looks like chewing anything he shouldn't or trying to nip. He seems to have settled relatively quickly, though its still early days.

I will post back with an update once he's properly settled in.

MJ

Oh god I want one!!!!

He is lovely :-)

buddys_mum

How cute, i remember when Buddy was that small. Huge big lolop he is now.

Kinski

johnson293 wrote: »

We are feeding him Bakers Puppy complete, roughly 100g/portion 3 times a day.

MJ

He's gorgeous :heart2:. You might want to think about changing him on to a better quality food Bakers is not a good food, it's full of cereals which dogs don't need they are only there as cheap fillers, also in saying the word ''cereals'' they will be buying the cheapest one on the market at the time so what's in the food will be changing all the time. Animal derivatives, that's the beaks, hooves, skin, fur, feathers anything that is left over from the animal once the rest has been used for us humans. E.C. additives, these could be BHA and BHT which experts think can cause cancer. If you do change over your wee ones food remember and do it gradually over a period of about 10 days.

Terri

johnson293

Cheers for that - I have also posted on the Labrador Forum, and got similar comments about the Bakers Complete.

They also commented that better quality food can help with puppy odours.

So next question - can anyone recommend some good quality food, that hopefully won't break the bank as his appetite grows?

We only started on the Bakers as that was what his breeder said he'd been eating - but yeah, if we do change, we'll start phasing any new stuff in with the bakers, and gradually phasing the bakers out.

Cheers

MJ

Sequeena

Good foods are Burns, Arden Grange, Orijen, barking heads etc.

Skinners is also good

Kinski

My pair ( shelties ) are on Orijen and it's a fantastic food, it is a more expensive one but because it's such a good quality you feed less so it can actually work out cheaper to feed, if I was giving them a poorer quality food I would need to feed more than double the quantity they are getting now. I should have also said that giving a dog a food with loads of cereals in it could well make it hyper as the carbs turn into sugar which is why dogs fed on the poorer quality foods often need to be scrapped of walls and ceilings :rotfl:.

Terri

manda1205

My lab is on James Welbeloved, I know some now think its not quite as good as Burns, Arden Grange etc, but my pup does so well on it, her coat is gorgeous and her poos good. I will just say though if you can, check your local small pet shops, I was getting JWB from Vetuk as I thought they were very cheap at £39 for 15kg, but then happened to pop into our local petshop and they sell it for £35 for 15kg, Burns was also even cheaper (£25 I think), just dont assume that all the big named pet stores will be the cheapest anyway, oh and also dont think you pay VAT on Burns and Arden Grange as they're classed as working dog food.
BTW your pup looks gorgeous, seems so long ago our Molly was that small. Enjoy him cos they grow so fast.

Sequeena

Burns and Arden Grange aren't working dog food as far as I'm aware. Burns is actually a food for sensitive dogs

manda1205

Sequeena wrote: »

Burns and Arden Grange aren't working dog food as far as I'm aware. Burns is actually a food for sensitive dogs

Thanks, wasnt sure, but pretty sure you can get them VAT free, thought that was maybe the reason, might be another make and Im totally confused, doesnt take much, lol.