Maddie's first night home (and as promised, pictures)

[ruthcatrin]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone! I appreciate each and every one of them, no o mention the great advice I keep getting!!!

UPDATE/MORE QUESTIONS

1. The potty training is taking ridiculously fast. *knock on wood* We had one minor accident yesterday and that was just a little pee when my girlfriend couldn't get her out fast enough. lol. Other than that, I take her out about every hour or so that we are home and have someone come buy to let her out while we are at school. As soon as I say "Go Potty" she goes into a squat. No treats at all, just praise, and she is absolutely amazing me at how fast she gets it.

2. Speaking of potty training, these guys/gals are poop machines. Lord, my yard already looks like a dog park and we are only on day 3. lol.

3. She seems to understand the yard as her territory and is very hesitant to approach the border of it. I'm assuming she will get a little more adventurous? I know I have to wait a while before taking her out into the world for walks, but I want to make sure she isn't scared of everything.

4. We live on the second floor of an old home, so we have wooden stairs leading up. I ordered and am installing rubber tread on all of them to provide grip. At what age will she start to have her legs under her to begin taking stairs? I'm fine carrying her for now, but my girlfriend is already starting to struggle. lol.

5. Mastiffs are burrowers?!? lol. This is her favorite thing to do. She loves the blankets because they build up static and shocks us.

View attachment 19854

1: yay!
2: yup lol
3: She's just had a major upset in her home life when she came to live with you, its normal that she be a bit hesitant to explore further for the moment, she'll get over it, and then you won't be able to keep her inside the boundaries!
4:I'd put her in a harness now, put a leash on the harness and support her going down the stairs now (well, maybe once you've got the rubber treads on). Since they're going to be part of her life for a while she should learn them now.
5: Apollo isn't, but he's a different enough mastiff I don't know that that means much!

 

[ruthcatrin]

Guinness is 10 weeks and if peeing was an Olympic sport he would be a gold medal contender, but like everyone has already said its taking him out often...after naps, feeding and playing
...Congratulations the journey begins...

Heh, we used to marvel at Apollo's peeing. We had him at my inlaws one day (they have a chow) and my FIL stood there and timed almost 3 minutes straight of peeing, which seems like an awefully large amount for such a small bladder, but he always peed like that!

 

[Neidermeyer]

Haha. She doesn't pee a ton right now, thank God. But then again, she doesn't drink a ton of water. I take it up late at night and she was looking for it and went and laid on the towel where I keep the water bowl. Broke my heart

As for the stairs, at what age do they get their legs under them? She walks, but she is sometimes uncoordinated and clumsy. Also, I feel like she doesn't yet have the strength to take the stairs. She won't even pull herself up one yet. lol

 

[ruthcatrin]

It varies. Apollo was managing the 4 steps up to our front porch by 11 weeks, and at 16 he managed the 15+ to the "studio" where the puppy class was held with little problem.

 

[Neidermeyer]

Thanks ruthcatrin. We have about 16 into our home. I hope these rubber treads will help her feel more comfortable with them. I know Iould carry her for another month or so, but she will have to learn because there is no way anyone else can get her out. lol

 

[ruthcatrin]

Once you have the treads I'd start working on them with her. A harness with leash would allow you to support her from behind on the way down and encourge her from the front on the way up. Even if she only manages a few at first. Do you have any outside steps, or know someone who has a short outside set of stairs you can have her practice on? At first we put Apollo's front paws on the first one, and then lifted up one back leg, and the other, and then lifted the front paws one by one to the next step....it only took a couple repetitions for him to figure out how it worked.

 

[Mojo]

Just on another note if you find her being shy with you try sitting with her and hand feed her her meals for a few days. You will be amazed how she quickly changes her perception in fact I have found even when not shy the difference in bond even after only a few days of every meal being from your hand makes.

 

[raechiemay]

What a cutie! I believe Duchess would burrow a couple times when she was little but doesn't do that anymore. She prefers my parents shag rug in their living room where she can stretch out with her back legs behind her. I call it the frog pose. Lol

 

[Neidermeyer]

Awesome. I get the treads in a couple days and will install them Friday. I'll pick up a pet harness, and since we are on spring break next week, see if I can't work with her on the stairs. We have two concrete steps outside, so hopefully that will serve as a training ground.

 

[Neidermeyer]

Also, we will be switching her over to a high quality food in about 4-5 weeks. The breeder feeds them Purina One Pro Plan, so yeah, kinda stuck with that until this bag is up. :/ Anywho, I am weighing some options and wanted to see what you all though

Earthborn Holistic
Solid Gold Wolf King
Eagle Pack Giant Breed

These three seem to come up a lot, so I thought I would check. Thanks

 

[ruthcatrin]

There's several discussions on appropriate food if you dig a bit. My personal preference of the three is Earthborn, but check the calcium/phos numbers you want calcium between 1.0 and 1.8 and a calcium to phos ratio of 1.2 to 1.0 and not ALL Earthborn matches that.

 

[Neidermeyer]

I can't find a single negative thing about earthborn. lol. The reason I was looking at Wolf King is because I really love Bison as an ingredient. Not sure if Earthborn uses that. (I dug up some of the older discussions but figured I would see what others had to say as well)

 

[musicdeb]

Maddie is gorgeous! You sound like a great dog daddy!

 

[Neidermeyer]

Thanks I already love her to death and am trying to do everything I can for her. lol. Someone told when I have kids it was going to be pitiful. I agreed.

UPDATE AGAIN:

First vet visit went great! Maddie is 7 1/2 weeks old and 18.2 lbs.