Here are some pictures of Rex.  He is growing so quickly.  He truly is a snuggle bug.  He loves hugs and kisses and like to give them as much as get them.  We are so happy he is a part of the family.  I hope the other pups are as happy as he is.

Hi Sunny!  

  Miss Pink is still doing well.  She's settling in and learning the new rules of the game.  She really enjoys playing in the yard, which is fenced with chain link, and we live in a nice residential neighborhood where people walk a lot so she's getting to observe all kinds of new things pass by on the sidewalk.  Old people with canes, babies in strollers, kids, etc.  She quickly adjusted to the noise levels - we have a cargo train track a mile away and a commuter train half a mile away, and we have neighbors much closer than yours, so it is definitely a different level of background noise!  She has learned her name and come, sit, down, and the command to eliminate.  She's really smart, and I will be the first to say, you were entirely correct when you said not to be fooled by her cute face!  She can be quite the little monster, but she is also very sweet and cuddly.  I hope her energy levels will be much more manageable when the weather warms up and I can play with her outside and really tire her out.  It has been unseasonably cold here (read 50 degrees!) all weekend, and it isn't much fun to be out and about.

 

   She's been sleeping nights in her shipping crate but she doesn't really like it.  She whines for a few minutes when we put her in and then quiets down eventually.  I think she'd prefer to be in bed with us, but barring that, she's got a nice LL Bean dog bed that she likes to sleep on.  As soon as I trust her at night I'll stop crating her and just let her sleep on the dog bed.  We have a wire crate in our living room and she seems to like that one well, as she'll go in and take a nap on her own accord.  She also likes to nap on laps or feet or any other available body part...  She enjoys playing with toys, but I think her favorite toy is hands and feet.  She's getting good at inhibiting her bite, so mostly she's just kind of mouthing, so it isn't too bad.  We have given her a few stuffed Kongs but I don't think her jaws are strong enough to chew the treats out, so she tries for 5-10 minutes and then gets bored when nothing comes out.  We'll keep trying that one until she gets it!

 

   I do have a couple of questions for you.  How long until I can reasonably expect her to sleep through the night?  So far I get her up every 2-3 hours, and she goes outside to pee like a good girl, and she slowly seems to be adjusting to pacific time.  Yesterday she was ready to go at 3:30 AM, today it was 4:30, so I'm hopeful that in another couple of weeks I'll be able to sleep from 10-6 like a normal person!  Also, do you have any good tricks for teaching a puppy not to jump on furniture?  She really wants to be on the couch with us but we're trying to discourage it given how big she'll be as an adult.  If you have any other advice about puppy raising or about anything we're doing wrong or should be doing differently, please let me know.  We're trying to do right by her but gosh is it a lot of work!
Thanks again,

Jen

 

Hi Jen,

Yes, it IS a lot of work -- just imagine those moms who have twins or triplets!!  I'll tell you what Ray does now -- he is sleeping in the laundry room which is between the kitchen and our 'family' room.  I have baby gates at either end so between the washer, the dryer and his crate he really only has a space of about 3 x 8 at night.  I'm usually off to bed really early since Jim gets up at 5 a.m. but right now I am up until about 9 p.m.  I make sure I've taken his food and water up at about 5 p.m. so when he relieves himself at 9 he will be pretty much empty for the night.  So far he has not relieved himself indoors at night since we are up so early.  As soon a Jim (or I) get up in the morning we zoom outdoors with Ray in hand or tow -- and wait until we see him at least pee before coming back indoors to make coffee/etc.  During the day we keep an eye on him like a hawk and take him outside every few hours just to make certain he doesn't need to go.  He had multiple accidents yesterday after drinking a LOT of goats milk (my granddaughter thought a puppy should drink about a quart and he agreed...)  but today he hasn't had any.  I recognize that our lifestyle is not what yours is ~ we have a fenced area outside the back door with the door cracked open today so that is helpful when I'm outside ~ 

As for jumping up on the furniture, yes, I'm sure she does want to be up there on the cushy cushions with you!  We have a zero tolerance policy here in regards to the dogs on the furniture ~ they are too often dirty from the barn or the river, etc.  Ray so far hasn't wanted to go up but his time will likely come and I will be very stern in telling him 'No.' and standing up and going away from the chair.  If he is a total pest I would put him in a crate.  Like some of the other pups in this litter, he has no great love for the crate yet but that will come in time.

Pretty much the puppy rule is that you don't allow the puppy to do anything you wouldn't want done as an adult ~ life in black and white at this stage :)

Give her a pet from all of us here and I hope this helps!  P.S.  I Always say "A Tired Puppy is a Happy Owner!"

Our Puppy is doing great and really getting along well with our whole family.  She loves the ambient noise of my 5 and 7 year olds and is plenty happy in her crate right in the middle of our family room/kitchen where we spend 95% of our waking time.  Sleeping with me in the same place and getting up every 90 minutes on the nose to go potty when she wakes me up.  Eating fine and has been really pleasant.  Does not enjoy the crate in the car and I suspect that may have to do with the airplane trip.  We will ease into that.

We have named her Tommika.  I am a cyclist and have a passion for racing.  One of the current top professional racers in the world and a favorite of mine is a Belgian named Tom Boonen, nick named Tommika.  He hails from the Flandres region and won one of the most prestigious Spring Classics, the Tour of Flandres, on March 24^th  this year.  He then won the next weekends Queen of the Classics, Paris Roubaix, a feat seldom accomplished in the over 100 years of these events.   Seemed fitting and original.

Rainy and cool here all weekend so it has been great to devote a lot of time to her initial bonding with her new home.

Hi Karl,

That all sound good for such a short time and what a great name!  My only suggestion would be getting up every 90 minutes -- that sure seems like a lot unless the change in altitude is causing her to drink an enormous amount of water?? -- 

Sunny

Our fellow Man Ray - ears cut off and down with a cold, he's feeling funky today.

Sunday update: the cough and cold seems to be over already!  I guess it wasn't kennel cough he got from the vet office after all ~

Our Pocket Rocket!

She has been in the pond walking along the edge, it was rough and splashing hard, she did fine even swam a bit.

 

She is circling the chickens, they are bigger than her-wont run after them.

 

the cat saved her from falling in the pond, Harry made an out right effort to go between the puppy and the waters edge & rocks, he mumbled at her for a good ten seconds and both moved away from the edge (two feet to the water not deep) Harry has taken on the older bro role. He is an amazing cat. She was not in danger of anything other than getting wet. Harry swims and showers

 

She has very good stamina and memory, there is something under an old car here she wont forget the smell, we will be some ware in the yard and she will get a whiff or remember to go looking, she has a very good nose and decision making for seeking out items by smell we've been playing hide and seek.

 

She has pretty much mastered the rocks (our steps, yard and the shore line) and can get in or out the door with a hop

 

she sleeps buy/on our feet if we are sitting, sometimes she goes to her crate or just lye's down where ever she gets tired inside or out.

she has made her special spot under the bench out side already.

 

In a crate at night up stairs next to the bed, she sleeps all night till about 5, she fusses a bit and waits for me 530

 

We have a wind chime that dings in heavy wind or when its needed, it has been windy, and if we ring it she heads for the house. She knows where home is from any part of our land already.

 

She has figured out her food is for ever and eats when she feels like it and leaves a little for latter no hording gulping or growling.

I put her bowel up on a brick to stop the lazy eating-that changed everything for her. She drinks a lot of water.

 

Teeth -Pee and sleep

 

That's the update

m&m

REX!

Sorry I was not in touch before today.  We have been busy with that baby.  He did great on the ride home.  He cried for a bit , but settled.  He would cry a little less after each stop.  We crate him at night and he loves it.  He does not complain at all.  He just goes in and falls asleep.  The biggest project right now is potty training and we doing OK.  There have been accidents, but only a few.  We focus on getting him out often.  He loves the yard.  He likes to go out and lay on the top level of the deck, like he is the king of the castle.  When he is alone in the yard, he runs around like a maniac making fun for himself.  He throws leaves up and barks at them.  Grabs them again and starts over.  He is enjoying his toys.  He loves to cuddle.  We are also working on the nipping…man that guy can pack a punch with those teeth.  Overall, it is easier than expected.  He is a little man who seems to be doing a great job adjusting in my estimation.  My sister-in-law stayed through Monday and she and my brother are coming back today.  He is getting a lot of love and also time to enjoy himself without being suffocated by two eager big brothers.  I cannot thank you enough for the gift of Rex.  We love him.  We will send pictures.  It just requires me to become more technologically savvy.  I will happily keep you posted on his progress.

8.4# ~ going to Maine

 

11# ~ going east in Wisconsin

11.6# ~ going to Minnesota

10.3# ~ going to Minnesota

10# ~ going to California

13.25# ~ going to Canada

11.4# ~ going to Montana

12.5# going to Illinois