What to expect of a new puppy at 4 months..

[MaryAnn]

You are so correct...any reputable breeder /kennel will take a puppy back...BUT I am with you.....no matter what....I couldn't give it back either.

It's a nice bonus that the Breeder /Kennel will board the puppy/dog when you have to leave town for awhile. This is great for two reasons...1. You know your puppy/dog will be well cared for, and 2. The breeder will love seeing the wonderful puppy again that they brought into this world.

My dog is two years old now, and her breeder and I still chat and visit, often. She loves hearing all about my gal's accomplishments and enjoys receiving pics of her.

[mia]

Exactely, I stay in touch with my breeders also, in fact tomorrow is my little Yorkies 1 year birthday so I will have to take a ton of pictures and send them. She loves to get them and all the emails we send back and forth.

[MaryAnn]

That's wonderful Mia....A wonderful, professional, and caring and loving Breeder is one to cherish. Continue to take lots and lots of photos, as they aren't puppies for long. My little one is just a little over two years old and I have already filled 6 Photo Albums (300 pics per album).

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY to your little Yorkie. Are you giving him/her a Birthday Party? I have given my little gal and her sister (littermate) two birthday parties thus far. However, the first one was a huge one with out-of-town guests arriving with gifts. Quite the social event of the (dog) year! HA!! HA!!!

Have fun tomorrow.

OOPS!!! I just realized your little Yorkie's birthday was the 23rd. Hope it was terrific and you took lots of photos.

[psuek2007]

Two weeks ago we purchased 2 toy poodles (females). We have been reading books and watching DVD's on training puppies. Several resources are saying that puppies that growl, bite & hurt each other are to be addressed immediately by contacting a behavioralist as it is the beginning of an aggressive personality. We are really concerned now as the two girls get fighting so badly that that often make each other yelp. They sound like "mad or rabied" dogs at times. We break them up and separate them. Is this normal play or are we heading for behavioral problems? How do we stop them from acting so fierce with one another?
They get walked approx 3-4 times every day. They get play time outside in a large kennel. They are crated several times throughout the day and at night. They have chew toys and raw hide chews, balls, and other toys as well.
Other times they just love each other.... sleep on one another, lick each others hair... they play chase together. 80 % of the time they play gently but it is the 20% of the fierce fighting that worries us.

[MaryAnn]

When they are in this type of play (growling & biting each other) if you make a noise AND they stop to see what in the world you are doing.....they are just playing.

If when they are in this type of play and you make a noise to startle them or say "Hey" AND they do not stop but continue.....they are not just playing and you will want to stop that type of play immediately.

The "yelping" is the sound they make to tell the other one to back off..that hurts.

When puppies play-fight, they are learning how to read signals, how to inhibit their bite, and how to get along with each other.

When my little one would play with her sister (litter-mate) you would think we were running an illegal dog fight....but when I either made a noise or said "Hey"...they would both stop and look at me....and I knew that it was just play. They are 2 now and very well adjusted. They have learned to read the signals of other dogs when out on walks, etc...Whether they should approach and "meet & greet" or just ignore that particular dog.

Next time they are engaged in this play....do what I suggested and see what happens....then you'll know more.

[psuek2007]

When they are in this type of play (growling & biting each other) if you make a noise AND they stop to see what in the world you are doing.....they are just playing.

If when they are in this type of play and you make a noise to startle them or say "Hey" AND they do not stop but continue.....they are not just playing and you will want to stop that type of play immediately.

The "yelping" is the sound they make to tell the other one to back off..that hurts.

When puppies play-fight, they are learning how to read signals, how to inhibit their bite, and how to get along with each other.

When my little one would play with her sister (litter-mate) you would think we were running an illegal dog fight....but when I either made a noise or said "Hey"...they would both stop and look at me....and I knew that it was just play. They are 2 now and very well adjusted. They have learned to read the signals of other dogs when out on walks, etc...Whether they should approach and "meet & greet" or just ignore that particular dog.

Next time they are engaged in this play....do what I suggested and see what happens....then you'll know more.

Maryanne,
Thank you! What you are saying makes great sense while also provides us with a sense of relief as we were able to stop them momentarily with a loud "stop!" . So hopefully it is just playing. It makes sense that they are actually learning. That the play fighting helps them learn the degree of their bite and when to let up.
We are looking at it a bit differently now.
Thank you!
Pam

[psuek2007]

Yeah.... It's me again!

Question: Is there any natural or harmless spray that repels mosquitoes? At any given time when we are outside walking.... there's always a minimum of like 35 mosquitoes landing on the pups. (Has to be useable on puppies 17 wks old).
Thanks!
Pam

[MaryAnn]

Pam...Your Welcome regarding the "Playing"

Regarding the "Mosquito" question...I am not sure. I do not take my little one out when I know the mosquitos are out. I choose other times of the day or other activities during the time when I know the mosquitos are bad.

I suggest you ask your Vet ...maybe they have an answer for you. My suggestion is to avoid being out during this time frame.

[psuek2007]

Regarding the "Mosquito" question...I am not sure. I do not take my little one out when I know the mosquitos are out. I choose other times of the day or other activities during the time when I know the mosquitos are bad.
I suggest you ask your Vet ...maybe they have an answer for you. My suggestion is to avoid being out during this time frame.

MaryAnn,
Here in central New York we are having a huge mosquito problem everywhere. No matter what time of day or night.... hot or cool out... even light rain.... there will be at least 15 mosquitoes trying to attack you or your animals. The worse part of it is.... the mosquitoes have tested positive for "EEE Virus" - Not good. It is impossible to avoid going outside as the pups need to go potty. We tried the pads and it just didn't work out. They'd lay on them... chew them to shreds... even with that plastic tray that holds the pads.
I am going to try to call the vet tomorrow though as I am pretty concerned about the EEE Virus. I don't know if it affects dogs.

Pam

[mia]

Hi Pam,

I am not familiar with that EEE Virus. Here we have the mosquito Heartworm disease and all my dogs are on Heartgard from June through November but my sister in Phoenix gives it all year because those critters are around all year.

I try to avoid going out also like MaryAnn stated but sometimes you cannot avoid it. Maybe you could put a sweater on them and use some human spray just on the sweater. I know it is scary, I do not want to expose my girls to any chemicals either.

Good Idea, see what your Vet says and Please keep use posted, it seems that those things are all over although I thought we had them all here in ND.

Good Luck.

Mia