House Training Your Puppy
For anyone adopting a new puppy, here are my two principles of house training:
1) Keep your puppy nearby (attached by leash is best) for the first few days you get him and EVERY SINGLE TIME he starts sniffing around take him outside to the same spot and give the same command (“go pee”, “go potty outside”, “hurry up” or whatever you want).
2) For the first month or so, after every transition, take your puppy outside (see #1 above). That means after waking, playing, eating, drinking, chewing, coming out of the crate, or snuggling. Do this every single time. I know it sounds terrible and it is true, you do end up taking the puppy out Read the rest of this post »
A Trip to the Vet
Today was a stressful day for everyone. All eight puppies and Annie went to the vet for their checkup and vaccinations. Getting everyone into their crates (two in one crate, three in the other two) and those HEAVY crates into the car was a task for little ol’ me! Then the drive was stressful. There are two or three puppies that are really barkers – sharp, piercing, gotta-make-them-stop-NOW kind of barks. I understand how sound can be used to torture…plus my mommy instincts made me even more susceptible – puppy barks are a lot like little baby cries, just tugging at you to see what’s wrong and help them feel better. Read the rest of this post »
Mop Versus Puppies
Here is a very cute video clip of the now 6-week old pups having fun with clean up time! Watch as they dance and dart around the mop in their play room.
Puppy Personalities Shining Through
Puppy personalities are really starting to come to the surface. Here’s my description of the puppies’ personalities thus far:
- Dancer and Cupid – A tie for most energy, most nippy and most rascally! They will be a lot of fun but will need to have their energy burned off daily I predict.
- Vixen – a close second for energy. SO sweet! Will cuddle and when she wags her stub of a tail her whole body moves back and forth! She is adorable looking! My friend’s favorite.
- Dasher – will settle well and likes tummy rubs. One of my favorites.
- Donner will be the last one standing when my son is playing with them. He’s the one he is teaching all the tricks to. A medium nipper, will stop if you squeal. Will be a very beautiful Read the rest of this post »
Annie gets new people
Today I confirmed with Annie’s new home that she is indeed going home to them in a couple weeks. It was a bittersweet phone call for me. In this short time I have become very attached to her. She would definitely be easy for me to adopt myself if I had room in my heart. Still, I know it is best for her to go. I know that she needs and deserves a family of her own that has more time and love to give her.
In these past few weeks she has really calmed down. She rests more easily and cuddles with me on the couch every night. She loves getting tummy rubs and she will Read the rest of this post »
Pups Get Some Fresh Air
We took the puppies outside today for the first time! The weather was warmish (temps in the 50’s!) and wet but they all took to exploring immediately! They loved it and I felt proud of my instinct to wait until now to introduce them to outside. Their noses took over and everyone of them explored the snow. A couple pooped immediately (yeah!) and most ate snow and ran around. It was fun but short lived. They were all wet and shivery within 10 minutes so we went back inside and they promptly fell asleep.
