Day 1 as a doodle owner...

[Oliver]

We have many nicknames for the pup. So far we call him: Ollie, Ollie-Ollie-Oxen-Free, Oliver Twist, Mr. Twist, and Fetus face (because he has such a baby face in comparison with the rest of his body lol).

Yesterday (during the day), when he fell asleep while we were playing in the living room (being a puppy is HARD WORK!) we'd transfer him into Chloe's crate to see how he'd react. We're using Chloe's old crate at the moment since we wanted to wait to see how tall he would be, but we'll probably need to get a new one in a week or 2! Anyway, he could care less that he's in the crate...which is great! I was scared I'd have to be up all night listening to him cry and resisting my urge to take him out (thus teaching him that if he cries- a human will come rescue him!) It must be weird sleeping alone for the first time since he was used to all of his brothers and sisters snuggled in next to him...I think, in this respect, having Chloe makes him feel much more secure about his new surroundings.

After heading to bed around 11pm I awoke to him whimpering at 1:30am so I hurriedly took him outside to potty (using his paw/nose to touch the poochie bells before going out the door). He pottied immediately and then climbed the stairs to get back in the house (I'm amazed he can climb stairs -both up and down- so quickly!). Then I popped him back in his crate and back to sleep he went! I was amazed. He woke up again at 3am and we did the same thing, only he peed twice before going back in the house. He's a good boy and I'm trying so hard to never have him have an accident while he's in his crate because people say once that happens, it's really difficult to stop.

Other than that, we started our day early this morning (6:30am). I promptly took him outside again and he peed immediately. Then I gave him his breakfast...and afterward we went outside again to his designated potty area and he finally pooped. Yay! Afterward we played-- and OMG does he love Chloe! Chloe gets excited when she watches him play from a distance...but when he comes barreling at her she growls and lets him know he's being a bit too wild while being THAT close to her. He's learning she's the boss, which is good. We're giving her tons of praise as well. We're giving (both of them) treats after they potty and at first Oliver didn't even understand what a treat was...after watching his sister, I think it's safe to say he GETS the hang of what a treat is now, ha.

He's such a cutie pie...right now he is tuckered out next to me. So I think I'll go hop in the shower.

Tomorrow we take him to the vet!

[Adina P]

those first few days are sooo fun! Sounds like you are both doing great!
I was just in awe of Rosco and couldn't take my eyes off him! He didn't feel that way toward me yet..LOL.
If he does happen to mess his crate...do not worry...it doesn't mean anything for the future =)

[Oliver]

wow! how old was she when you first got samantha?

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Welcome Home Oliver!!! I slept in the den where Samantha's crate was (it is long gone) so when she rolled over I would hear her. Just like my 2 children when they came home, Samantha only got up 1 time during the night. She went out, peed, and right back to sleep. Just like with my humans, I didn't sleep much but they did. Didn't take her long to sleep through the night without having to go out. Samantha is still a great sleeper and can hold her bladder 9 hours which is longer than me and she HATES to wake up early which is lucky for me.

[Oliver]

so far i've been getting up about every 2-3 hours with him and take him outside just in case and he always goes...potty training is going really well! much better than i was expecting after hearing so many horror stories on here!

[Leslie and Halas]

When I first got Halas, I just set my alarm for every 2 hours during the night to get up and take him out. He was kenneled on the main floor, but I sleep upstairs, so I didn't want to plan on waiting for him to whine. As long as you let him out every couple of hours at first, he'll be fine. It sounds like he already knows to tell you that he has to potty, so that's great. Halas is 14 months old now. He hasn't slept in his kennel for a few months now, but he never did have an accident in it. You may already know this, but, if you get him his own kennel, try to get him one with a divider. That allows you to keep his area smaller at first, and then give him a little more room as he grows. If the kennel is too big for him, that will allow him to potty in one corner and sleep in another corner. If it's just big enough for him to stand up and turn around in (I think that's the general guideline), he won't have extra space to potty, and he won't want to potty if he has to sleep in it.