Help - I have a puppy - Not Prepared Scared to Death!

[LisaC22]

My 19 year old daughter came home with an adoreable rott/black lab mix. Long story short, he's from a puppy store. He's also only 7 weeks old. Very sweet puppy that sleeps all the time.

After much ado, daughter talked me and her dad into keeping him. We took him to the vet the very next day. He has cocsidea and is on meds. He's missing a toe on his right front paw toe and another one of the toenails is damaged and permanently deformed on the same foot (daughter told it was an "injury that would heal"). Vet said it won't impair him at all.

Call the pet store to get some of her money back due to the deformity, and they offered $50.00 or I can bring the pup back with a letter from the vet since she was misled. They know they will sell the dog to some other sucker.

Here's my delimma.

I was not ready for this, but I'm trying. We've already got him used to leash. We are crate training him and I have puppy books on how to train a puppy. I've already called a reputable school (no petsmart crap) and am awaiting a call back to schedule classes.

I'm worried about a huge uncontrollable dog. My daughter is home now to take time with him, but in late August, she goes back to college, home on weekends. The dog could possibly be crated for 6 hours at four months of age (critical time). My husband and I both work.

I'm worried about my house, dog smell, shedding, my other little dog (bichon), and most of all, I'm worried about the dog. I don't want to start off strong only to ruin everything by having to leave him for hours when she goes to school. I don't want to be one of those people who give up a dog to rescue because they couldn't handle him past the cute little bear stage and could not train properly.

My options? Take the dog back to the store. Is that terrible?

Keep the puppy. What are my chances if I have to crate him for 6 hours 5 days a week?

Any insight?

Sorry to burden you all, but I can't sleep. I'm wracked with anxiety and need to make a decision quickly. This board has been super informative to me, and I'm ready to take any heat you give me, and I need your honesty.

By the way, my daughter will NEVER purchase a dog from a store again after the way the vet ripped into her about mills and taking a dog away too young from his mother. (I knew he would).

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Lisa

[LisaC22]

In case you were wondering.

[Maverick]

This is really a choice that only you can make.... but whatever choice you make you need to follow through for the dogs sake.

Crating for 6 hours isn't the end of the world, but it would be best if someone could let the pup out half way through for the first little while. Then eventually the puppy should be trained and over his chewing stage and you will be able to leave the puppy out of the crate while your not home.... At this point everything will seem worth it.

[Miabella]

Honestly, I would make her take him back for a full refund. There are many things you can do to train and socialize the pup, but it is not unlikely that this pup will have major health and/or temperament problems down the line. Places like this care about one thing, their profit margin. This translates into carelessly bred dogs, with no attention given to proper temperament or major health issues like heart disease, congenital blindness, or hip dysplasia. So you are likely headed for major vet expenses and liability if the dog has poor temperament and you are unable to keep it from biting someone.

I know you feel badly for this pup, but by purchasing from a store like this, you encourage them to keep up these terrible practices. The only way to stop the puppy mill industry is to not buy from them.

[Bucky's Mom]

Hi Lisa :)

You came to the right place for information.

I think you have to honestly ask yourself if YOU want another dog because obviously your daughter will not be in the equation.

I don't think the crate time is an issue as much as how will YOU feel taking this dog to obedience class - probably for THREE years.

I wish you well in making your decision - you can also search the archives here for LOTS of information on puppy raising and time commitment required.

[LisaC22]

I'm going to use the Nutro diet for him. I know good food is a must. Can you tell me:

Do they get smelly?
Do they slobber?
How often can I bathe him when he is an adult?
Do their nails scratch hard word floors?
I don't mind vacuumming everyday, but is the shedding bad?
Are even the best trained dogs uncontrollable sometimes?

[Bruce Lanthier]

I would return the pup to the store, demand a full refund and demand the cost of the Vet fees due to them selling a sick puppy. Sure, you can go to a great deal of effort to make a go of this and the pet store will now put a new pup in the cage that was vacated by this sick puppy. I don't think your situation with this puppy will improve as the pup gets older, it will probably get worse. I would also have a stern talking to with my daughter about bringing home a puppy she cannot care for. Not very responsible.

[Bucky's Mom]

Do they get smelly? Not if you keep them clean and brushed.
Do they slobber? Yes they can
How often can I bathe him when he is an adult?Unless Bucky has gotten into something nasty - I bathe him maybe 3 times a year-the rest of the time the brushing does the job
Do their nails scratch hard word floors? You should start out training the puppy to accept having their nails clipped regularily
I don't mind vacuumming everyday, but is the shedding bad? Your vacuum cleaner is your friend - yes they shed
Are even the best trained dogs uncontrollable sometimes? That is a contradiction in terms

[miccmill]

I'm going to use the Nutro diet for him. I know good food is a must. Can you tell me:

Do they get smelly?A well groomed healthy dog won't smell bad
Do they slobber? They can
How often can I bathe him when he is an adult?Frequent bathing not necessary, frequent grooming/brushing is.
Do their nails scratch hard word floors? Nails should be so short you don't hear them on the floor.
I don't mind vacuumming everyday, but is the shedding bad? Bond with your vacuum cleaner. You'll be spending a lot of time together
Are even the best trained dogs uncontrollable sometimes? No

[LisaC22]

Oh my daughter got it. She knew I was "considering" getting a LAB. I know that breed well and I was going to go to a dog show to talk to some breeders. I don't want a show dog, but I don't want to support puppy mills or back yard breeders.

Her intentions were good. I did the same thing at her age. She asked if they came from puppy mills (very naive), they said "of course not" - only private breeders. Right. They told her it would be a great dog because it was a "mix" and won't have the inherited problems full breeds do - just the best of both breeds. The calm controlled Rotty and the sweet Lab.

She knows better. Taking this dog back is going to be hell for us.

There something in my gut telling me to keep him. Not just the usual cute puppy stuff. Just a got feeling. Am I crazy? Don't answer that!

Lisa

[LisaC22]

micmill:

How do I keep the nails so short they don't touch? I've been playing with his paws and I even tipped them off yesterday (of course I only had two nails on the front paw -that was a almost a relief).

He was very good, but yelped when I cut 2 of the nails. I only tipped them off - no blood. All black - hard to see the quick, but I'm really afraid of hurting him. Why would he yelp if they didn't bleed?

I have a dyson. I love to vacuum. No problem there. The nails and the smell concern me.

Does your house smell on warm humid days like dog?

[Mochasmom]

Personally I would return the pup and as Bruce said get your money back plus the vet bill. By keeping it you are supporting BYB and puppy mills.

If you want to get a new pup go to a COE breeder or www.petfinder.org or a local rescue since there are many labs and rotties looking for homes.
Good luck

[sophie's-mom]

Originally Posted by LisaC22

Why would he yelp if they didn't bleed?

Hi!

Clipping nails......if he hasn't had it done before (which he probably hasn't) probably isn't the most comfortable feeling in the world and he wanted to let you know.

Welcome to the network!

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by LisaC22

They told her it would be a great dog because it was a "mix" and won't have the inherited problems full breeds do - just the best of both breeds. The calm controlled Rotty and the sweet Lab.
......................................
There something in my gut telling me to keep him. Not just the usual cute puppy stuff. Just a got feeling. Am I crazy? Don't answer that!

Lisa

I am always amused when people assume that only the GOOD traits get inherited.

What if it has the BAD HIPS of BOTH Breeds?

What if it has the shy fearful temperment of the poorly bred of BOTH breeds?

AND - the fact that they sold a congenitily deformed puppy without disclosing this is not a good start.

And BTW - NO Code of Ethics breeder gives their puppies to a pet store nor would they intentionally breed mix breed dogs

[JeanT]

You sound really ambivalent, and I can understand that. A puppy is so weet and vulnerable.

No matter how short the nails are, they will scratch the hardwood floors. Unless they always walk verrry slowly. Really. Even very short nails have a traction function, and the depth of the scratches depends on the weight of the dog.

House smell - no moreso than most other dogs, including purebred Lab. More than a Bichon? Yes.

I would not take the pup back to the store because he will suffer as much there as at the shelter. (Yes, I'm ignoring the economic impact on the store, but it's really a pittence and not worth the puppy's suffering now that he's out of there.)

I would give myself just 2 choices: 1) decide to keep and care for and train the dog no matter what and have the obligation for 9-12 years no matter what; or 2) take him to the vet to be euthanised while I cuddled him.

I don't know whether I've gotten meaner or crazier or what in my "old age". This idea would have appalled me ten years ago. Mostly what I think of now is all of the pets suffering horrible slow deaths in cages and shelters and realizing that I can't and never could help them. A 9-12 year commitment to a puppy who may well have many health and behavior problems - it's too much suffering for both of us, even though I know that there would also be good times and lots of love.

Edited to add:

just got a feeling

and that is fine and I really do wish you the best if you decide to keep him.