Puppy in the HOUSE!

[Aloros]

My fiance and I have finally got around to adopting a dog. She came from a foreclosed home and she''s cute as a button! She''s 9 weeks old, and a chihuahua-terrier mix. My cat, although seemingly puzzled by her puppy antics, has been tempted into playing with her and will groom her when she holds still. He took to her very quickly (she has been with us for a week). Her name is Devin.

I asked the people who''d taken her in if they knew what sort of terrier she was mixed with, but they didn''t know. She was the smallest in the litter, but she is growing SO fast.

This is my first puppy, any puppy tips?

 

[Aloros]

Here she is pouncing on my cat. She''s such a little squirt! She''ll tease him until he grabs for her, and then she''ll run away.

 

[Aloros]

This is her "No more pictures!" look.

 

[Maisie]

Awww what a cutiepie! I love puppies and yours looks so precious!!!

 

[HollyS]

Snuggly cute!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Your puppy is so cute!! I love little dogs. That terrier in her will make her perhaps tend to be a little dominant and headstrong, so really being a leader will be important. Of course, that terrier temperment will also make her awesome, so have fun with her!

Well I highly recommend crate training, it not only helps with house training but it also helps with teaching he dog patience and that you are the leader/boss! I really liked the book, "Before and After Getting Your Puppy: A Positive Approach to Raising a Happy Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog" By Ian Dunbar, it is easy to read and explains the crate training method really well. He also covers issues like chewing and mouthing and everything in between. He is a little overly-dramatic about the horrible things that will ensue if you don''t follow the puppy-training rules (one accident in the house will not actually spell disaster

) but if yo utake it with a grain of salt it is a great book. It really helped us feel less confused when our puppy was being a mental case, which all puppies basically are

They don''t really grow a brain until they are a year old.

Oh, and little dogs can take a really long time to house train. Their little bladders just take a long time to develop. It took our Seamus about 6 months, which is a long time compared to many larger dogs who are totally trained by 3 months, so crate training really saved our nerves and our carpets!

 

[gemgirl]

Oh is that a kissable face!! What an angel face!

Yup, crate training is definitely the way to go. If you start when they''re mere niblets, they''ll learn and value "their place, their den". Even at almost four (so hard to believe) Bella is very territorial about her crate and goes into it freely to nap, chilll out or to enjoy a special treat that she doesn''t want swiped from her by my older dog. In fact they both have crates, but my older one only goes into her''s occasionally, but she still knows it''s hers. Occasionally, they both try to cram themselves into Cassie''s.
That''s really funny.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/25/2008 9:00:35 AM
Author: gemgirl
Oh is that a kissable face!! What an angel face!

Yup, crate training is definitely the way to go. If you start when they''re mere niblets, they''ll learn and value ''their place, their den''. Even at almost four (so hard to believe) Bella is very territorial about her crate and goes into it freely to nap, chilll out or to enjoy a special treat that she doesn''t want swiped from her by my older dog. In fact they both have crates, but my older one only goes into her''s occasionally, but she still knows it''s hers. Occasionally, they both try to cram themselves into Cassie''s.
That''s really funny.

LOL! Ours used to do that all the time so we got a larger crate and now they sleep in it together at night, they just love snuggling together!

 

[Madam Bijoux]

She''s a sweetie! Best of luck with her.

 

[Skippy123]

Ahhhh, look at that face, what a cutie!!!

 

[littlelysser]

HOLY ADORABLE PUPPINSKI BATMAN!

She''s sooo cute!

I second crate training. It keeps the pup safe and keeps the house from being destroyed while you are gone! It is sooo nice. And the dogs really grow to love the crate. It really is their safe place...

We have two dogs, one of which is a rescue. I will say that sometimes rescues come with their own quirks. We got our rescue pup at around 8-9 weeks...and she was very very fearful. We just needed to spend a bit more time with her, reassuring her. She''s now a happy, healthy, UBER bossy 3 year old dog...but it took a bit of time to get her adjusted.

Congrats! And if you have any specific questions, don''t hesitate to ask...there are many dog lovers here!

 

[movie zombie]

1-that is one adorable puppy!
2-thank you for accepting an abandoned pet into your home.

movie zombie

 

[E B]

I LOVE HER! What an adorable baby. I can just smell the puppyness now.

Congratulations!

 

[girlie-girl]

She is so darling and tiny next to your cat! lol Good luck with her, I hope you enjoy many years together.

 

[Aloros]

Thanks for the advice! Dreamer, I''ll check out that book. It sounds really helpful.

Right now we keep her in an exercise pen while we''re gone, with her crate, toys, and potty pad. She goes into her crate to sleep and to work on her chew toys. She has been very good with her potty training! One or two more weeks, and I think we''ll have that clinched. I''ve taught her to sit, and she picked that up right away.

She is VERY bossy! She''s good with my fiance and I, but she bosses my stepson around like nobody''s business. I''ve been trying to show him how to properly interact with the puppy (and not to let her get away with things!), but he is very forgetful. I think I will have to work with them both a little more. She is very rambunctious, but will calm down right away if I give her the "sit" command, so maybe that will work with my stepson.

She''s brought so much joy to our lives!

 

[tberube]

OMG....so freaking ADORABLE! I love the sudden explosion of new pets on this board! She's so small, I laughed out loud of the picture of him with your cat...I had no idea she was so TEENY!!

She looks like a stuffed animal. So lovable.

The best advice I've gotten about new puppies is DO utilize crate training, use positive reinforcement when training rather than negative, lots of socialization with people and other dogs. Make her sit before you feed her, so she's calm and knows you're her leader. Get her used to everything as early as you can, take her in cars, show her the vacuum cleaner, test taking away her food when she's eating it, touch her everywhere (paws, ears, mouth, belly, tail) when she's very young so she's accustomed to it later on and doesn't react badly to your behavior. Be her boss always and she'll love you for it.

OH...and lots of love and hugs and kisses!! Congrats on your new furbaby!!

 

[Amandine]

Date: 8/25/2008 1:05:51 PM
Author: tberube
OMG....so freaking ADORABLE! I love the sudden explosion of new pets on this board! She''s so small, I laughed out loud of the picture of him with your cat...I had no idea she was so TEENY!!

She looks like a stuffed animal. So lovable.

The best advice I''ve gotten about new puppies is DO utilize crate training, use positive reinforcement when training rather than negative, lots of socialization with people and other dogs. Make her sit before you feed her, so she''s calm and knows you''re her leader. Get her used to everything as early as you can, take her in cars, show her the vacuum cleaner, test taking away her food when she''s eating it, touch her everywhere (paws, ears, mouth, belly, tail) when she''s very young so she''s accustomed to it later on and doesn''t react badly to your behavior. Be her boss always and she''ll love you for it.

OH...and lots of love and hugs and kisses!! Congrats on your new furbaby!!

I second these suggestions! Socializing her while she is young is so important. Take her everywhere! Also, as you touch her everywhere...make sure you do so a lot in the mouth area, right around her teeth. Just rub your finger along her teeth and gums, so she will be comfortable with tooth brushing later. Get her accustomed to you taking food or toys away from her, so she won''t react aggresively later. My Edgar lets me open his mouth, reach in and grab his tongue and move it around. He doesn''t let FI do it, but its a useful, if funny, trick. Great for all those things puppies like to pick up and chew on that they are not supposed to!

 

[Linda W]

Date: 8/25/2008 10:31:42 AM
Author: movie zombie
1-that is one adorable puppy!

2-thank you for accepting an abandoned pet into your home.


movie zombie

I second what MZ said. Your puppy is so darn adorable, I love her. Love the "no more pictures" look. ha ha ha. She is so precious. Bet you love the puppy breath.

Linda

 

[LuckyTexan]

OMG what a cute dog!!!

 

[Aloros]

I am trying to expose her to lots of different things - I hope I am not missing anything! I''ll try to run the vacuum today so she starts to get used to it.

We had her closely supervised in the front yard, and she ran for the door the first time a car went by! We don''t have many cars going by on our street, but she seemed to get used to it after a couple more went past. I''m going to have to start training her to walk with me on a leash.

Oh, and she is getting plenty of hugs and kisses! It cracks me up to watch my fiance with her. Even when he''s all grumpy, or he''s had a bad day, he''ll see her and go, "PUPPY! I looooooove you!" *SMOOCHES* He''d better be careful or he''ll start making me jealous!

 

[bee*]

Aww she''s so beautiful! I''d definitely recommend starting her vaccines soon and also getting her wormed. I just love her little face!

 

[Kaleigh]

How cute is she?? Just adorable, what is her name?

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 8/25/2008 3:41:10 PM
Author: Aloros

Oh, and she is getting plenty of hugs and kisses! It cracks me up to watch my fiance with her. Even when he''s all grumpy, or he''s had a bad day, he''ll see her and go, ''PUPPY! I looooooove you!'' *SMOOCHES* He''d better be careful or he''ll start making me jealous!

AHAHAHAHA omg, that is SO freaking cute. My husband does that with our kitties too!

She is absolutely adorable, what a little sweetheart. I can''t believe how little she is!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/25/2008 3:41:10 PM
Author: Aloros
I am trying to expose her to lots of different things - I hope I am not missing anything! I''ll try to run the vacuum today so she starts to get used to it.

We had her closely supervised in the front yard, and she ran for the door the first time a car went by! We don''t have many cars going by on our street, but she seemed to get used to it after a couple more went past. I''m going to have to start training her to walk with me on a leash.

Oh, and she is getting plenty of hugs and kisses! It cracks me up to watch my fiance with her. Even when he''s all grumpy, or he''s had a bad day, he''ll see her and go, ''PUPPY! I looooooove you!'' *SMOOCHES* He''d better be careful or he''ll start making me jealous!

I think pets are good for your heart and soul... they are the best thing we ever did for our relationship, we get such joy from them every day!

 

[gemgirl]

Date: 8/25/2008 3:41:10 PM
Author: Aloros
I am trying to expose her to lots of different things - I hope I am not missing anything! I''ll try to run the vacuum today so she starts to get used to it.

We had her closely supervised in the front yard, and she ran for the door the first time a car went by! We don''t have many cars going by on our street, but she seemed to get used to it after a couple more went past. I''m going to have to start training her to walk with me on a leash.

Oh, and she is getting plenty of hugs and kisses! It cracks me up to watch my fiance with her. Even when he''s all grumpy, or he''s had a bad day, he''ll see her and go, ''PUPPY! I looooooove you!'' *SMOOCHES* He''d better be careful or he''ll start making me jealous!

That''s too funny but it''s very true! Puppies turn their Daddys into real mush! I love that!

The one thing I wanted to add is to make sure she gets used to you touching her food, her treats and her toys. My Vet recommended not only taking their food away once they''ve started eating, but also for us to put our hand in their bowls after they''ve started eating. We''ve done that with both of our dogs and they would never ever snap at us for taking food away from them. I didn''t do that with my very first dog (who has since passed) and she would bite someone''s hand off if she even thought someone was going to touch her food, never mind try to take something away from her. You will establish yourself as "the leader of the pack" and the one she depends on for everything. I always thought it was so funny that they think they''re exactly like us, with the exception of us being in the dominant position and the pack leader they depend on for food, water and care.

 

[Krissie]

What a sweet little girl! I love the pouncy kitty pics. LOL

 

[Sabine]

What a sweetie! She is such a mixture of cuteness that I bet it couldn''t be replicated if you tried!

 

[WishfulThinking]

She is SO ADORABLE! I love little dogs, and your puppy is just the cutest!.

Devin is a sweet name for such a little cutie.

 

[Dogmom]

Cuteness overload! What a sweetie!

 

[zoebartlett]

Devin''s ADORABLE! She looks half the size of your kitty! I''m glad you found her and gave her a nice home.