Over The Moon Labradoodles Puppy Care

Puppy Health Care Assistants

2014-03-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

This is my big healthy girl, Sage. We love her shaggy look but as you can see she is almost ready for a visit to her groomer.

When you have a beautiful shaggy dog like Sage, or me for that matter, you will have a harder time finding lumps, bumps, small creatures or even hidden bald spots on your big puppy.

It has been my groomer who has discovered lumps on my friend, Annabel which at that time turned out to be treatable but cancerous growths. This gave Annabel the gift of another happy two years of running around the fields at home. The growths were in an odd spot and no amount of petting or even brushing disclosed them.

I had a friend who had nasty little mites which made a bald patch on his head. He had so much glorious coat that nobody noticed until the groomer discovered the problem and his family trotted him off to the vet.

If you are your puppy's groomer you will be using clippers and combing and brushing fur carefully right to the skin. You are being your own veterinary assistant because other than a hairdresser that is in fact what your groomer can be.

We don't usually have veterinary check ups every couple of months but if we go to the groomer that frequently problems won't go unnoticed.

Our annual vaccine is a time when the doctor can do much more than simple poke us in the rear end with a nasty looking needle. Our doctor brings out her stethoscope and listens to our heart, looks in our eyes and feels about to see what is what inside us. Even if you don't have vaccines every single year it is a very good idea to go to the vet for a check up.

We doggies don't say much and if we are just a little out of sorts sometimes you won't know. This why a little assistance from a professional assistant is such a good thing.

Little Snacks for Little Puppies

2014-02-09T12:57:00.002-08:00

We all like to snack. I have to confess that I do and I think it is terribly unfair that since I had a little accident with my leg I am not quite as active and seem to be on a perpetual diet. Those little cookies they offer me for coming and sitting nicely are always pitiful and small.

However there are healthy snacks for dogs such as myself and small puppies that won't wreck the diet plan. Vegetables! I know that human children would usually prefer a chocolate chip cookie to a carrot stick, but puppies are not usually that fussy. A little piece of raw vegetable can be quite an attractive offering.

The best veg for puppies are carrots, yams, zucchini, beets and green or yellow beans. Some veg such as potatoes are not as good. Pieces of apple and pear are also a nice treat. My friend Sophie will wait for hours just to be given the apple core left by some human apple eater.

When puppy comes home he should be able to eat dry kibble. If he can eat this easily he can eat pieces of vegetable. Make sure he isn't eating so fast that he tends to choke. Sometimes a big carrot to chew on is actually better than a small piece. When puppy is five months old it shouldn't be a choking problem but I am always careful with young puppies.

Often even organic produce is coated with yucky waxy stuff. Make sure you wash the fruit and vegetables for puppy just as you would for people.

Now I think I'll go and see if somebody will give me a snack, maybe a piece of yam or zucchini (I could do with a piece of cheese if the truth be known).

Guini

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Greedy Little Puppies

2014-02-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

Puppies love to eat! Like babies sometimes I believe they think with their little mouths. They will happily eat dust specks from the floor, old kleenex, stringy bits from a toy, cookie crumbs and dirt.

Puppies will also eat their breakfast quicker than an Olympic runner sprints to the finish line. Sometimes, if I am not careful one puppy will eat two breakfasts if his brother is not paying attention.

Not only are puppies devoted to their meals they can sometimes over eat. I have noticed that humans have this tendency as well. My puppies would ask for more food so expertly that if one is not hard hearted one could over feed the little darlings and that will cause the dreaded diarrhea.

More food than the little tummy is accustomed to will often cause a loose bowel movement. Often when we give puppies a little more food at a meal because they are growing and it is time for a little more in the bowl I notice right away that the poop becomes a little runny.

For this problem we add a little tinned pumpkin to the next meal. A heaping tablespoon to a quarter cup of food is about the right amount. We do this for several meals and the problem usually disappears. Plain tinned Pumpkin is our doggie miracle drug and puppies seem to like it as well as they like everything else. I must say that as a grown dog I too can over indulge and the pumpkin does settle my tummy.

Of course, diarrhea can be a sign of illness so it is important to pay attention. If the diarrhea gets worse and becomes a squirty puddle or if it smells particularly bad it is time to call the vet.

A Nice Clean Puppy

2014-01-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

A Clean Puppy

As a dog I have a very different standard of clean than my human family. It seems I finally find some lovely slime to roll in and they want to bathe the perfume away.

As humans will persist in this doggie bath thing there are a few pointers I have to share.

My puppies don't mind showers. Some of them really rather enjoy them and splash around like they were at the beach. Baths are a little more stressful but the worst is the blow drier. The sound is very scary. If you want the process to be fun rub them in a towel and then run around leaping and shaking all over the house to dry. Save the fluffy blow dry do for the groomer.

Don't do what my mum did and think you are doing puppies a favour by using expensive human shampoo. Many years ago before I was born she didn't have doggie shampoo in the house when Annabel the standard poodle was ready for her shower. Mum used some of her very expensive people shampoo from the hair dresser. Then she added some conditioner! She thought it was so terrific she used it several times on Annabel's long coat.

One day Annabel's curls began to fall out one by one. As you can imagine Annabel was very distressed. The curls began to fall because the shampoo is too harsh. Even special human shampoo is too harsh for we more delicate creatures. Stick to a good doggie shampoo and all will be well.

Pretty Little Collars

2014-01-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

Here we all are at home….fresh from the groomer. You can hardly see Lexi, Savannah is on the left, old poodle Dundee in the middle, me with a very short hair do after puppies, and then there is little Sophie. As you can see we are all wearing collars and scarves. Very chic.

When your puppy is too young for the groomer but wears a stylish collar be very careful of her little neck that is growing every day. It seems obvious but you would be amazed at how easy it is to overlook the pretty collar's size. It seems to be shrinking as puppy grows. One day poor puppy wakes up to find that he is in a very tight, miserable collar.

Every few days put a couple of fingers in between the puppy collar and the little neck. Fingers should slide in easily.

A loose collar is a health hazard as well. I can remember a puppy howling in circles because his little bottom jaw got caught in his collar. Poor little fellow. The collar should be just able to accommodate your two fingers but no bigger.

A big collar seems comfortable but puppy could become frightened by something and back out of the collar faster than the speed of light.

I like to see my puppies in harnesses when they are on leash. The harness is safe and if it fits nicely they can't escape when they are frightened by something like a passing truck.

Dress your puppy well. I like my collars sporty, some like diamonds. To each her own.

Love Guini

Sadie's puppies at 9 days

2013-11-11T19:47:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/v/QhUpeC4DBTI?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=qMNseCMhaL-0kVpYl18obQ&feature=share&autoplay=1&autohide=1&showinfo=1

Nasty Little Creatures That can Plague us.

2013-10-15T16:35:00.001-07:00

I don't like to talk about them but as a mother I have to confront the fact that when my puppies sniff poop, eat dirt and roll in rodent droppings they can pick up little worm eggs. Kids will be kids and sadly worms are a part of life.
Sometimes ailments like coughing or stiff joints can be caused by various kinds of parasites. Did you know that puppies are all born with worms? Even well bred, lovely puppies like mine need to be wormed at three weeks of age. There is a regular worming program of three, seven and nine weeks until the puppies go home.
It's a good idea to worm doggies at the change of each season which is every three months. I know it keeps me well. Sometimes mum has us checked out if she is not sure. She does something at the vets called a fecal float. Not sure about the sound of that! Anyway my advice is to ask your vet about a worming program for your darling.
The picture is Lexi feeling good, happy and parasite free!

Car Ride!

2013-09-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

We have a friend, a little boy who is almost two who doesn't like to go in the car because he lives in a lovely town where he can go almost everywhere in his stroller. Interestingly enough I have a puppy who hates the car as well. Most likely he feels he can walk everywhere he needs to go.
If you want your puppy to love the car make sure you start taking him out in it every day. Even if there isn't a good reason puppy should travel with you until it is second nature. I suggest our mum put puppy in a crate with a dog bone. If the puppy drools or is upset make it short with a treat or a walk at the end whenever you have time.
Everything you want puppy to do as a grown up dog it is a good idea to start doing as soon as you can. Myself, I love the truck. I live to go to the dump.
This is a picture of an enthusiastic Ruby puppy with his new mum on his first ride home.
Guini.

You're Going Potty Again!

2013-06-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

When my puppies are very little I keep them clean and nobody has to worry about where they go to the bathroom. As they get older we encourage them to go in a litter box in the pen. When they are preparing to go to their own families it is time to think about waiting to go to the bathroom outside.

New parents are often amazed at just how often a puppy has to go to the bathroom. Often!! My puppies are bigger than little mini puppies and have bigger bladders, they can last a bit longer however, when they are running and playing in the kitchen they can have to go pee once every hour or so.

When you take puppy out it is likely he will go to the bathroom fairly soon after he feels the nice absorbent grass under his little feet.

Praise puppy as soon as he pees so he knows he has done the right thing.

I notice that in this house it is easy to forget a puppy playing in the corner and Jean sets a timer on the oven so that she remembers to take the puppy outside.

Don't be upset when he goes to the bathroom under the table or in the corner. He really doesn't know what he has done wrong but thinks to himself "gee...peeing couldn't be good". Then he will slip away and try to pee when you are not looking...maybe behind the sofa.

Our friend read in a book that when a puppy pees in the house take a rolled up newspaper and hit yourself over the head with it. I thought that was pretty funny.

Cheerio

Guini

Labradoodle Puppy Advice. No from Puppy Should Not Mean No.

2013-04-05T10:41:00.002-07:00

No!

I must tell you I hear that from my puppies every day. Puppies, like human children, get to an age when they realize they can do just as they please. I don't allow that. I gave mum some good advice when new puppy Lexi decided she didn't want to go on car rides.
Puppy Lexi (who is a little spoiled) came to us at 10 weeks old and right away decided she didn't want to go in the car. Now I ask you what dog doesn't run when they hear the words 'car ride'?
Lexi ran but in the opposite direction! So mum did just as I suggested.
Every day, sometimes twice a day Lexi was picked up and put into a crate in the car. In the crate was a really good chewy bone. It was the kind I really wanted to steal from her but I wasn't allowed. The car crate was the only place that Lexi got that great chewy.
We just went five minutes away. She was too young to walk on the town streets so we went to a friends house to play or we would have a really great treat like chicken at the end of the ride.
When Lexi was older she went on little walks at the end of the ride and walked around showing off her long coat. I think she's a bit of a show-off.
The crate helped her understand that you don't jump all over the place when it is a car ride. Now she lies on the floor of the van and sometimes chooses to go in the crate. Sometimes she has a chew but she doesn't need one. It took some time and some coaxing but step by step and little by little Lexi became a good car dog because mum followed my good advice.

Food Glorious Food at Over The Moon Labradoodles

2013-03-26T13:42:00.001-07:00

As you can see by this family photo I am a busy mum. With nine babies I haven't had my hair done
in two months. They are now three weeks old but my pregnancy was as you can imagine exhausting.
I supervise everybody rather carefully so that all nine can grow up certain of themselves, fat and happy.
Happy to me has a great deal to do with breakfast, lunch and dinner. When I am not planning a family or having puppies to nurse they give me a cup in the morning and a cup in the evening. Really, a paultry amount of food but Dr. Ruth is worried that I will run to fat which is hard on the joints. Although I love to eat I don't want to become old before my time and apparently that is what I will do if I eat too much.
Now with my nine I am in heaven. I have two cups first thing as my first little breakfast and then I get a second little breakfast with gravy. I look forward to a good lunch, teatime, dinner and then a little night lunch. Life is good.
I have a little goats milk with some of my meals and sometimes a little vegetable or tinned food. I love a good culinary surprise.
I have a quality diet and now my puppies are having my food ground up with warm goats milk to supplement my feedings with them.
Quality is everything when it comes to dog food and how is a person to know? It all looks alike!
Jean and Liz go to www.dogfoodanalysis.com to find out what exactly is in all those kibbles. They are also rated. If you want your puppy to grow strong bones and be a healthy boy or girl it is a good idea to check out what exactly is in his lunch. Even if it says 'organic' and other fancy things and even if it costs more than your steak it still could not be the best food.
We are eating Horizon Legacy right now.

Over the Moon with Visitors Visitors Visitors

2013-03-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

Expecting Company!

Mr. March is out of the nursery with his sisters and is waiting on his cushion for company to arrive.

Every day Mr. March meets a person or maybe more than one. He is getting happier and happier with being picked up. and cuddled

I have puppies of my own but they are just two weeks old and not yet receiving many visitors. I do allow people to pick up my puppies but I am very understanding and they have to wash their hands first.

Mr. March is four weeks old and he and his sisters are regular social butterflies.

When his family takes him home my advice to them is to keep the strangers coming. Big ones, man ones, baby ones and everybody in between. The more people he meets the happier he will be meeting people. As soon as he can get out to walk about town and be admired the better.

A puppy about town who develops social graces will never be the puppy that is shut in the basement when company comes because you just don't know if he will bite Aunt Minnie our growl at the baby.

Over The Moon Labradoodles puppy walking

2013-02-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

Walking the puppy is the most natural think in the world. How else are you people forced to get excersize?? My puppies are usually wonderful walkers but sometimes people forget that walking nicely on a leash isn't the most natural thing for a puppy. Puppies want to move it and shake it and smell it!

First step is to have puppy walk beside you without a leash. Bring a treat and puppy will happily trot along in hopes to get the treat. Next do the same thing only attach puppy with a leash. Sometimes a harness is a good way to go if puppy pulls at the leash and pretends to be a bucking bronco.

When puppy pulls stop the fun. Stand still and have him sit nicely. When he looks at you to ask 'what happened? ' begin again and when he pulls stop and have him sit again.

With young puppies they will quickly learn this is dumb and begin to look up and pay attention to you so that together you can explore the world.

Older puppies are often not so motivated. Our puppy Lexi sits and pulls, sits and pulls. My mum put a halti on her, it is called 'gentle leader'. Some people think it's really really mean but the little cloth halter around her muzzle just makes it not fun to pull. In five minutes she was walking like a dream instead of pulling mum down in the snow....so nobody got hurt.

Hopefully she will soon learn the habit of walking nicely and the halti will go back in the closet.

I enjoy walks still although being pregnant I don't want to walk so far.

Manicure/Pedicure for puppies

2012-07-16T07:47:00.003-07:00

My nails are always lovely because every six weeks I go to the groomer. She fusses over me and makes sure I am always at my stunning best. Little puppies have nails that need a trim quite often, long before they need to go to the groomer. It's not hard or scary to trim their nails because they have been holding out their paws for the job since they were three weeks old.
Buy some little nail clippers from any pet shop. They have a size just for puppies. If your puppy is several months old you can use regular size clippers. Just take off the pointy end. If you do this regularly puppy won't mind and it will keep her comfortable. Imagine walking on claws that hit the ground before you do!
My puppies have little dew claws on their front feet so don't forget to check for them as well.
.....A Mani pedi is such a great thing.
Guini

DINING WITH THE OTHERS

2012-06-29T07:01:00.001-07:00

We dogs love to eat. The thing is we are never sure when dish has the best food. Cruising dinners is just the most natural thing to do. Maybe the puppy has something better than I do??! There really is nothing like that soft gooey baby food.
This puppy Archie, the chocolate one, he likes everybody's dinner and will travel from dish to dish. Little Cedar, the blonde will easily just give up and say okay just have it. Personally I like Annabel the standard poodle's dish so if I can get there I will just stare at her until she lets me have it.
If you have more than one dog at home it is usually best to feed them in separate places. They can concentrate on the job at hand. It is sometimes hard to read our subtle and not so subtle dinner time conversations but unlike people they are not always cordial to one another.

2012-06-22T10:01:00.001-07:00

FINGER NIPPING GOOD!!
I must confess even my puppies have nipped at a finger now and then or tugged on a pant leg. I have tried to explain that humans have no sense of fun in this regard but it takes them a while to understand.

If your puppy nips at you he is just wanting to have a bit of fun doggie style. Do exactly what I do when a dog nips me too hard, yell. At first a little yell could be sufficient. However, if he just thinks you are enjoying the game then scream...use your drama. Then be still and stop the game.
That is what we dogs do to tell another that they are playing too rough. Let's face it with you humans nipping is always too rough so you have to let your puppy know right away that it is just not your cup of tea. Perhaps find a tug tug toy or some other thing you can do together that is mutually enjoyable.

WALK ABOUT

2012-06-19T09:09:00.001-07:00

TIME FOR A LITTLE WALK
We dogs like our walks but when puppy comes home he's not going to be ready for your five mile morning constitutional. What he loves to do is follow. My puppies follow me and they will follow you. They get a little older and they say 'nope...you're not the boss of me" but little puppies are wonderful followers.
Start your walks by having puppy follow you around the garden or some place where he won't get a disease from strange dog poop. He'll love it.
When you are having a good time with that put on a harness with a leash Harness are so much nicer than attaching a leash to a collar. He should follow you on his leash quite happily. If he pulls or jumps just stop for a minute until he has collected himself and off you go again.
If you are on a sidewalk and he gets nervous he could back our of a collar but with the harness he will be happy and secure.

2012-06-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

ALL THE THINGS A PUPPY WILL NEED TO KNOW

One thing I have noticed about puppies is that they learn lots and lots in the first six months of life. After that they would prefer to cruise on what they know. Actually, they can learn lots of stuff like dance steps and finding the treasure at any age. However, stuff about the world like 'hats are not scary' or 'people are not waiting to steal my food' are things best learned young.

If you want puppy to behave a certain way try to do it young. I know a very smart, lovely dog who decided he had better not eat when he was staying at a relation's house because mum and dad were on vacation. I understand this. Loyalty has it's price.
I think it might be a great idea to practise sleep overs....with dining involved...when the puppy is young. I know my friend Annabel has certain issues about going to the bathroom on a leash because she never had to do this as a young puppy. We all have our problems. Anyway, trying to figure out all the things puppy will need to do as a grown up and giving them a little practice when he is young is a good idea.

WILL COME FOR FOOD

2012-03-05T15:34:00.003-08:00

My puppies all love adventure. Sometimes they get very busy seeing what is over the next hill and I can't really say I blame them. However, I have always come when I am called and I expect my puppies to be the same way.

The coming when called started innocently enough.

When I was very small I noticed there was food that belonged to me in a dish on the counter. Even in pockets there was food that was mine. In less than a week of living with them I had them trained to give me the food at really regular intervals.

They would say my name out loud because they loved me so much. I would run and sit at their feet. Sitting was convenient because she always put the food just above my head. Wow it was great. Every time I sat like that they would pop a kibble in my mouth.

I have suggested to all of my puppies they follow my example and train their loved ones to give them kibble just for sitting at their feet.

Even now when there is a deer in the meadow I chase only a little bit before I hear that voice and thoughts of treats overwhelm me and I come racing for that cookie.

Puppy Care ... from my point of view. FOOD

2012-02-27T14:25:00.005-08:00

Woof

Today I really haven't nursed my puppies at all. And!! when I ate three breakfasts (don't ask how I got them) and regurgitated the food nicely for my seven week old babies everybody had a fit and ran around with cloths and mops. Honestly I hope they feed them as well as I had planned to feed them.

When puppy comes home it is the best idea to keep them on the food they were on from the time they were three weeks old. My puppies are eating a mix of Acana Wild Prairie and Horizon Legacy food. This is fairly expensive food but it is cheaper than the vet bills.

The picture is of me in my youth. I was the Easter Bunny that year.

The puppy is Poppy. She enjoys all of her meals.

They are just beginning to eat some dry food and that can make a puppy choke if they are too enthusiastic. We spread it around for them and mix it sometimes with food that has been soaked with hot water.

These are a quality foods. Sadly none of the Supermarket foods are very good and we shop at the pet shop. The pet shop gives out treats to mums like me.

2012-02-16T16:57:00.000-08:00

Dear People,
I remember the day I came home. We drove all the way from Seattle and I had
a litter box in the van. Everybody thought I was adorable when I was set down in the living room. I was so excited I peed.
Oops. Mums had put me down on the ground in the garden for a few minutes but I was sniffing the new sniffs and didn't get around to the peeing part. I guess it takes a little longer than mums thought.
Note to everybody.....patience with the pee because it comes eventually and it comes every hour to hour and a half if your puppy is awake.
That first day they lifted me up on the couch for a cuddle. I loved it! I have been a couch potato ever since. Oh well. It's an old couch and I'm only fifty pounds. However
Note to good housekeepers.....if you don't want Fluffy to live on the couch don't give her a happy couch experience that first day.
Woofs to all
Guinivere
PS I am the blonde on the right and the puppy is my boy, Coriander.