Hello from Louie

[bonnie Sullivan]

Hi there,
Just joined the group. I am adding pictures of Louie, a Spring Creek multiGen Labradoodle from Noble and Cherish. Louie is almost 4 months old, weighs 28.6 lbs, and goes to puppy kindergarten. He already knows a lot of commands from our work with him, but he is just learning to respond under the distraction of 6 other dogs! He is smart, sweet, and we think pretty calm for a puppy. We love Louie and he LOVES playing with our 2 year old grandson.

[Fenway's Mom]

Hey Bonnie

I've never considered the ear hair... I imagine it is getting plucked by the groomer, since I have to take him about once a month....

Fenway takes stuff, but only certain items. It is pretty cute and I have to try my hardest not to smile it is so funny. I don't want him to think this is a good thing. He is a certified sock stealer. He loves any and all socks, dirty or clean. I usually find a pile of them on his dog beds. When no socks are around, bras will do. And he loves stealing the toilet paper right off the rung in the bathroom while I'm in the shower. He is pretty good at "leave it". He thinks about it, I usually repeat myself, but in the end he drops it.

As far as "drop it" maybe you can try not chasing Louie at all. Instead, make it his decision to drop it for you. My trainer said to try showing something scrumptous he loves, but don't take it to him. Have Louie volunterily come to you and do an exchange. He gets a treat, you get a successful "drop it"... Then you'd eventually wean off the food for just praise. Fenway wants to please me so much, and hates when I am angry, that I'm not sure he'd continue to disobey for very long. And it might have something to do with daycare...

Dog bones:
http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_SearchResults_Ntt_natural+dog+bone_...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2750763

Now, there is one or two kinds of these natural sterilized femur bones that I really like cause they never ever seem to break or splinter. A couple of the brands will eventually splinter which should be taken away immediately when they do so they don't swallow it. I'm not sure what the brand is I have now (it may or may not be the same as the links I sent you). I could certainly send you a couple of good ones in the mail if you'd like. You can email me your address. It wouldn't be a problem.

Tara

[bonnie Sullivan]

I seem to have lost the reply I started, so if you get 2...
I will definitely try the drop it strategy you suggest- hope it works! In the meantime, we try to keep things out of his reach. Yes, Louie also has done his share of carrying around laundry- clean or not! He probably thinks it is much better not clean:)
Hate to have you send me bones, but I'd love to have Louie try them and I will happily send you a check for them and the postage. Maybe if you go to where you get them and note the brand, I'm sure I can get them here. I looked at the websites, but didn't see femur bones.A
Also, I see your name is Tara- more small world. Tara is our daughter's name!

[bonnie Sullivan]

Hi Tara,
Any luck identifying the femur bones? If you don't have it and are still willing to send me a bone, my email address is [e-mail]
If you send me an email, I'll send you my address rather than put it on this public site.
BTW, Your drop it strategy DIDN"T work with Louie to get him to drop something he "stole." I guess that's just Louie, and hopefully he will grow out of it!
Bonnie