I wish I had known about this site when I first brought Miss Beasley home. I picked her up at 6 weeks because I didn't know the importance of her staying with her mama until she was at least 8 weeks …

[Debbie Daniels]

I wish I had known about this site when I first brought Miss Beasley home. I picked her up at 6 weeks because I didn't know the importance of her staying with her mama until she was at least 8 weeks old. It was summer time and I had a lot of friends in and out of my home. I had read that you shouldn't talk to a pup when inside it's crate and I also read to feed the pup inside for a few days so it would want to go into it. I soon made a list of rules for Miss Beasley so that everyone would be on the same page and I made them as if the pup was talking. She now loves her crate and goes into it for naps even when I am home. I never say things like "I'll be back " or "I know you hate this" at first I put a treat inside and said Crate when she would go inside I wouldn't say another word to her. As she got use to that I started saying Crate and hold the treat until she went in and then put it in the crate. I work 4 hours a day and she stays in the crate while I work and at night , I started seeing that she wanted in the crate even on my days off, so I put her in there and I go about doing whatever I want cleaning house , etc. I love the fact that she doesn't think that I'm always leaving just because she is in her crate. I do keep the crate in my bedroom .  As hard as it is, I also don't say a word to her when I get in from work ...I don't want her to be all excited to get out of the crate as if it's a bad place so I just come in and I'll open a door to another room put down my things walk over and open the door take her to the back door and when her leash is on her to go out, then I say "lets be a Good Girl " she knows that's to go potty and I make over her like crazy ! I will try to blog things as I remember them that has helped me along the way , in hopes that it may help someone else down the doodle road ! 

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Sounds like you are both doing great!  Miss Beasley is adorable!

[Miss Ellie]

So glad it is all working out for you...Miss Beasley is gorgeous:)

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Miss Bea is a cutie and you sound like you are giving her a great life! 

[DJ & Chance]

What a cutie, and Debbie you are doing a great job as Miss Beasley's human mom.

[Debbie Daniels]

Miss Beasley is doing great that's true but no one can teach a pup like it's mama can, It just would have been better for her to have had her mom taught her how hard to play and etc. As far as obedience classes, I have taught her to sit, sit stay, down, come, out, off, go to your place and ( okay ) to be released from a command. She has to sit before she can go out the door or come in and has to have the okay release, same goes for the car ... When she was about four months old I thought I'd pull my hair out because I couldn't get her to walk on a leash and she had so much energy, I got a hold of a trainer that told me to take all her toys away, all her food , no treats and she would see me the next day at 11:00 am, Miss Beasley always ate at 8:00am so I thought oh great she will bark until 11 but you know what she didn't, she went to her mat and was a little doll. Thirty minutes after the trainer was here Miss Beasley was walking at heel and automatic sitting. The trainer gave the leash to her four year old daughter and said please walk her and Miss Bea did great.. Now when we walk the park  Miss Bea is proud, she has a job to do and she is going to be sure she does it well! This pup  is the best thing that has happen to me other than my now grown children.  I try to teach Miss Beasley things that will keep her from getting hurt down the road...she knows some ticks but mostly it's training for us. We have come so far on house training, I don't remember the last time she used the house, we now are working on her holding it when I'm home. So that I tell her when to go. I know it sounds like she is perfect and okay she is ...but I have to say she can counter surf with the best of them and I don't know how to break her, she tore up one of my scarf's just tonight :) Any tips on that I'll gladly take them ! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You are doing a great job!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Congratulations on doing a wonderful job raising little Miss Beasley. Keep up the good work and enjoy her more and more. You haven't mentioned if you intend to take her to obedience classes. I have found that it helps a lot! They help to train you to train your dog.  

[Pat and Traveler]

Sounds like Miss Beasley is doing just fine, in spite of having left her mom and sibs so early.  Congrats on doing such a good job with her!

[BG and Gavin]

Sounds like you have a great system and she is doing well.  You are correct about the 8 weeks and in fact it is the law in many states.  I think your blog will be helpful to a new puppy owner.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It is thought by most dog "experts" that dogs should stay with the mom and litter until eight weeks to learn dog rules and behavior, like bite inhibition. That doesn't mean of course that some dogs do well before that. Lots of breeders will not let the puppies leave until they are eight weeks.