New puppy, fireworks and a show for the neighbours!

Debt_Free_Chick

I find that Labs do smell particularly doggie. I think it's the oil in their coat (genetic, as they're water/working dogs). For this reason I wouldn't bathe the dog - you'll wash out the natural oil from his coat - at least for a while, until he generates more of it.

Over time, you'll adjust to the smell and won't notice it. By this time, you'll probably smell of dog too :rotfl: I have a lab, springer and a rottador and I'm sure I must hum a good bit to a non-dog owner :rotfl:

I don't mean this as sarcastic or rude but ..... did you not think of the smell before you committed to a dog? And the hair in the carpet, on the furniture even in the fridge! :eek: Lab hair, in particular, gets everywhere!

If you have done so yet, get started on a 10 minute daily grooming session. You need to get dogs used to this from an early age. Not only will you remove the loose hair and any dried mud/dirt, but it may reduce some of the doggie smell.

I've found that pups tend to develop a doggie smell which then subsides when they're older (teenagers, around 2 years old) but it can return when they're older (8 or 9 or so).

My 3 yo springer has only ever been hosed down and only then when he's caked in mud (working dog, so prone to get filthy in winter after a day working on the shoot). But then again, Springers are happiest when they're wet & muddy so he probably does it on purpose :rotfl:

Penny_Watcher

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

:eek: Lab hair, in particular, gets everywhere!

We play the game "First One To Find The Dog Hair" in any meal . *shudders*

zebidee1

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

I don't mean this as sarcastic or rude but ..... did you not think of the smell before you committed to a dog?

Yes, of course we did. I just wasn't prepared for the intensity of it.

I've been in many a dog owner's house and the smell has been negligible....but you open my front door and you're immediately aware of it.

Someone suggested that not only is he smelling of himself right now, he is also carrying the smell of all the other dogs he was kept with (7 puppies/4 adults) which is why he smells quite strong. No idea if that is right or not but I may bath him once just so I will have a better base line to judge his future 'smelliness' on, iyswim.

He is also scratching a lot, although there is nothing to see on his coat/skin, and when he passes wind........we almost pass out! I'll query this with the vet again at his second jag app.

We are trying to get him used to his brush right now. He is particularly mouthy and sees everything as fair game for a chew, so we're doing our best to distract and disuade so we can give him the once over.

He has definately got a problem locating sound, we held a squeaky ring above his head and he had absolutely no idea where it was, he just sat and looked puzzled, so at least that helps with distraction, lol.

We've ditched the plug in air fresheners (with some regret as they were freebies got from a thread on here...:rotfl: ) and bought a couple of scented candles as replacements. They're ok are they?

I'll post some pics shortly of him doing what he does best........lazing! :rolleyes:

Debt_Free_Chick

Penny_Watcher wrote: »

We play the game "First One To Find The Dog Hair" in any meal . *shudders*

:rotfl: :rotfl:

The other day my OH brought me some sausages from the fridge and asked "Are these OK to eat?" After a sniff I passed them as "fine" only for him to whinge "but they've got hairs on them - LOOK!!!!" :eek: :eek: :eek:

From HIS labrador, I have to add. Men! :rolleyes:

Penny_Watcher

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

:rotfl: :rotfl:

only for him to whinge "but they've got hairs on them - LOOK!!!!" :eek: :eek: :eek:

Gah! The big softy. :rolleyes:

A quick rinse under the tap then straight into a hot frying pan - no harm done.

RooBee

Frequent bathing does not 'ruin' the coat. It does remove the oil from the coat temporarily but, like with our own hair, the oil returns over a period of time. Many show dogs are bathed frequently and it obviously doesn't do any damage as they generally have to be in top coat condition for the show ring.

One of my dogs (a heavily coated water loving breed) had to be bathed weekly for a prolonged period as treatment for a skin condition and it did no harm to her coat whatsoever.

Your puppy will still have some of the 'litter' smell on him more than likely. My youngest had it when she came to us and it was pretty pungent. It will wear off in time but there will be no harm in bathing him if he is now pretty settled in your home. Bathing is one of those things that he will have to experience during life so best to start on getting him used to it while he's young.

kr15snw

I couldnt give him back if it was me, it would be like giving away a child because you found out they were deaf (know what I mean?).

One of my friends has a deaf collie and he wasnt that bad to train, and is now a gorgeous dog! They ahve just taught him hand signals instead, and he cant go too far off the lead.

zebidee1

kr15snw wrote: »

I couldnt give him back if it was me, it would be like giving away a child because you found out they were deaf (know what I mean?).

I know exactly what you mean.

Although to be fair, I think a decision like this isn't just based on the dog.

Other factors would come into play too....such as what other issues you have to deal with in your life and for how long etc. You also have to consider how the dog's difficulties would affect others, especially those who have disabilities of their own.

It's all well and good focusing on one aspect only, but when you take into account other situations in your family, the decision becomes less straightforward and much more troublesome. You need to be sure you are doing your best for everyone, dog included.

I'm glad things worked out for your friend and her dog. I've read quite a lot on the internet about deaf dogs who have been trained successfully.

What would happen if the person the dog was meant to be a companion for was unable to learn hand signals though?

I think if it were just me, there wouldn't even have been anything to think about, the dog would have been kept no question. I have other things to balance though and I have to be responsible to everyone.

I've made a decision I hope I dont live to regret. The dog is loved by everyone and has settled well with us. I've also lost weight since we got him because I'm run ragged already trying to deal with everyone and everything that needs dealt with all at the same time, lol!

There's always an up side to everything.

Debt_Free_Chick

Although my dog has all his hearing (well, as much as you can expect from a Springer), I trained him to the spoken word, whistle AND hand signals. (The hand signals are a must for him, as he's a working springer and the paying guns don't take too kindly to a mad middle aged woman hollering at her dog).

I find that for certain commands, he responds better to the hand signals than anything else - sit and wait/stay being the two that immediately spring to mind.

The one thing you can't do, though, is to give a hand signal to a dog that's running away from you, to sniff at a !!!!! (edit: the word is b_i_t_c_h!!!), chase a rabbit etc - so your primary focus should be to get the dog to keep his attention fully on you. Easier said than done, but you have the best possible chance with a Lab (and pretty much no chance with a Springer!).

I wonder ...... would your pup respond better to a whistle? I'd be inclined to buy a couple and try them out. Not the referee style whistles - you need an Acme Gundog Whistle - although the thunderer, which is referee style, is generally used to give an "Emergency Stop" command (as the tone & pitch is different).

Many pet shops sell these whistles for about £3-5 so it might be worth a try. Training to the whistle is as easy as training to the spoken word and can easily be combined with hand signals e.g. short pip for sit, with one hand raised in the air. The dog will learn to sit to the pip and sit to the raised hand, separately

Debt_Free_Chick

zebidee1 wrote: »

Yes, of course we did. I just wasn't prepared for the intensity of it.

oooohhhhh..... really sorry

The extra smelliness may simply be hormonal, as he's growing up at a faster rate than a human. Yes, ask the vet next time you go.

As for the mouthiness when you brush him - give him something to chew on whilst you brush. To him, everything you have in your hand is either food (which he can smell) or something for him to play with.

Try a kong toy stuffed with treats - that will really distract him and will help to prevent against food guarding/aggression over food in later life