I hope the framing isn't too wonky on any of these so you can enjoy them. All but the one with Brian were taken today. Poppy loves to play with Brian and Chuckie. She romps hard with the cat, and it seems to me that Chuckie is amazingly tolerant of a rough terrier puppy's antics. Poppy has not once yelped, even though Chuckie has batted at her and appeared to bite her. Poppy, on the other hand, has rolled her bigger playmate repeatedly!
The caterwauling is what I put up with most of the first two nights, but last night was MUCH better. The day before, I had corrected her with a "No" and a light thump on her crate when she started in while we were driving; she figured that out quickly. So last night at a friend's suggestion, I put her crate on a chair right beside my bed. If she started to fuss I quietly said "No," and only seldom had to add a tap on her door to get her to settle right back down. At 3:00 her whine sounded different so I took her out to pee; it was the only time between midnight and 6:30 AM. Tonight will reveal if that was a one-off or the start of better times.
This morning she slept quite awhile. But when she awoke, she was ready to PLAY.
That's it for now from . . .
10 comments:
I know cats! Chuckie has a new friend and he knows it! How grand! Puppies. So much work. So worth it.
Oh my, she certainly has been vocal at night! But, as you say, that may be getting much better already. You can't blame the little cutie as she's just missing another little body to snuggle with. Have you tried the old hot water bottle wrapped in a towel trick?
You probably know all this stuff, but since I've experienced it recently, I'll share my experience with you for what its worth:
I got Annie before she was 8 weeks old. Why so young? her mother was an old dog and had 2 litters one after the other. She dried up and shut off the pups! They are/were true working cattle dogs and grew up on a cattle feeding operation. We were all afraid they would get into big trouble after Mom weaned them and pushed them out on their own. It was an intentional pregnancy, but still, they were working dogs out on their own - in a dangerous place.
I kept a small kennel in my bedroom for Annie and a bigger one downstairs in the TV room. Annie slept in the bedroom with me to start. Like you, so I could get her out to pee at night. I didn't want the paper training habit to have to break later. It worked like a charm. We have had very few 'mistakes' and now we're OK. At my mother's suggestion, I threw in a dirty pair of my sweatpants inside the kennel for Annie. She seemed to like having my smell with her. Go figure.... After a couple of weeks, I started Annie upstairs and put her in her downstairs kennel after the midnight pee. She now prefers to be in her downstairs kennel all the time. She likes her space. I do too.
I took Annie to Puppy Kindergarten to help socialize her. One of the tricks the trainer suggested was to hide treats inside the night kennel so Annie would want to go in and discover the goodies. This, too, worked like a charm!
Good luck! You'll get rested up before the Fourth of July fireworks!
Elaine, they truly are buddies and seemed to be from the first meeting! Yesterday started out drizzly and Chuckie didn't come to the house, and it was clear that Poppy was looking for him and missing him. But we went with Rick to the barn in the afternoon (Lance is having more problems) and Poppy found Chuckie there, and Chuckie has been back up at the house waiting outside most of the time since.
No need for the water bottle, Mama Pea; last she slept (in her crate next to my side of the bed) from midnight to 5:30! And after a relatively short playtime, she put herself down for a nap, giving me a chance to do chores and shower for work. Yay!
Tim, each day brings positive changes; I'm just so pleased with this pup! When we picked up the puppies, both of us brought something to rub all over mom Lexi so the puppies had her smell to cuddle with. I've since washed that blanket, but since I hold her in that sometimes, it now smells like me (and her). This morning she curled up in front of the fireplace for her morning nap (she didn't complain when I moved her to the crate for insurance while I couldn't watch her); that's the first time she hasn't asked to cuddle to sleep or at least get in my chair.
I always do what my grandpa taught me... get a wind up alarm clock, that ticks really loud, and lay it beside her at night. Reminds them of their momma dogs heartbeat. Nice to see her settling in, none the less! Chuckie is the perfect big brother, and thanks for sharing that Little Rock Star!
Yay puppy! I'm so happy you have a ray of sunshine to brighten your days more. I hope you and Poppy have many years together!
:) aaahhhh...that's much better!
wyomingheart, Chuckie really is being the perfect big brother – sometimes he almost acts like a mother cat!
Thanks, Kat; she IS a ray of sunshine, even if raindrops still occasionally fall over Jackson.
What's better, Lorie?
Oh, Miss Poppy is plain adorable! I'd be a dog person if they stayed puppies. Hope you have many years of dogie love ahead.
Chucky seems just the right size companion for Poppy. She's got a pretty loud complaint voice for such a little bundle ;-D
Post a Comment