:bang::bang::bang:
I am sorry but this is just a ridiculous set of statements and cannot be left unchallenged and ties in with a growing issue with some of your posts. If I recall Coco is your first dog you have owned as an adult -- plus she is only a puppy still with which you have had numerous issues yourself-- so please, how can you make a statement like this as if you are speaking with knowledge and experience?
Zumie I have spent a long time saying nothing but feel as admin that I have to ask you please not to give advice in areas where you have no knowledge and are just making things up -- this for example is very serious difficult decision for a dog owner (where you, please recall, are not noting the one area in which you DO have experience -- you yourself returned several pups and thus you actually did the exact opposite of what you advise). For about a year, you kept getting puppies and then dropping off the board when you returned them to the breeders for various reasons even though at one point you accepted this was not a good time to get a puppy at all (which I guess must have changed within months). Anyone can see your past posts over time on this. Eventually you returned here with yet another puppy and this time have begun to post on nearly every single thread where someone asks for advice. People are always encouraged to participate, don't get me wrong, but half the time your advice comes from way out in left field and reflects no experience at all of actually owning a dog. Please be more cautious in advising people what to do if you are not speaking with any personal knowledge!
As to the points made here:
Have you ever put a dog through daycare? I don't think so. If you have ever put a dog into daycare you will know they do not get 'spoiled' :sl*p: -- they have fun and exhaust themselves. Do you truly believe allowing dogs to enjoy themselves with other dogs 'spoils' them? Dogs *need* to get intense interaction and activity *every day*. Daycare is a great way for dogs to get playtime and learn self control and self discipline (that owners often fail to give them).
What do you mean in saying that a dog should avoid all the fun of play and critical socialisation -- ask any trainer and they will say, the more dogs the better!! -- because of fear of 'disease'? What 'disease'? Vaccinated dogs are not going to encounter any problem issues in socialising with other dogs and to deprive them of play is silly and cruel. Would you argue that children should stay inside all day and have no friends and avoid school because they might get colds? :bang: If you are aware of diseases that dogs could get that might pose a risk, please let us know what those are and why we should all refrain from having our dogs mix with others.
This owner is facing some serious decisions. If you wish to share the area where you have advice -- making a decision to actually return puppies in such a situation as the owner faces -- that is a legitimate contribution, but this is damaging advice that comes from no personal knowledge or experience at all.
Sorry. So let me back up here then. Parvo, distemper, parinfluenza, and kennel cough are diseases dogs can get. Immunization against these pretty much eliminates the risk. Kennel cough however is still possible to contract regardless of vaccinations or not, because it mutates like the flu does. So a flu shot doesnt necessarily make you immune. Plus there is always a possibility of getting giardia or parasites from other dogs.
Spoiled is the wrong word to use I suppose. The doggy day care may simply just be giving the pup so much exercise that she is building up endurance, therefore needing more and more. Just like athletes. People who are not as active cannot sustain high levels of activity for long. People who have trained need to be active for longer and longer periods of time to get an adequate work out. I am just putting two and two together here and giving an opinion, and not looking to be excused from doing so.
I understand this is a serious matter for the owner which is why I wanted to give my own two cents. It is up to the OP how to take what is said, not for others to make that decision for her.
I have put a dog through day care before. My last dog was a Rottweiler. We took him once a week and found that it was better for us to exercise him, as it saved us money and got just as much energy out of him. Also, visiting dog parks worked good as well, but one can never be too careful about diseases. Dogs can get sick just like people. Please point out where I said that Gracie should not go to doggy day care. I simply said she might be building up endurance and that exposure to lots of other dogs increases risk of catching something. Doggy day care and dog parks are great ways for dogs to have fun, socialize, and let out energy. I never said that people should not do this.
I was a dog trainer for 4 years, and feel pretty confident about advice that I do give. But, I am not a god and do not know everything. Part of the reason I joined this forum was to learn more.
I am sorry if I have lead the OP in the wrong direction, but I do not feel it is fair for you to ask me to not participate in places I have no experience. I am the one to judge my level of experience, and appreciate constructive criticism, as I appreciate learning more. I am however offended to be asked not not participate.