My sweet Ollie!

[Smita, Ollie and Juno]

Anybody who saw my desperate post yesterday about Ollie's growling and nipping knows how upset I was. Today is a new day.I am definitely reading him better. He tried the growling thing again today. I stopped everything and then walked away and sat at my computer. He tried nipping at my toes a few times. Then he realized that I was ignoring him. He calmed down right away and lay down by my feet and even licked my toes. May be my being worked up yesterday keyed him up. They read us better than other humans do don't they? Today I was calm and he was too. Much more enjoyable!
I even groomed him a bit to get used to the brushing. He nipped at the brush a few times but treats helped him calm down. He also needed a bath about an hour ago since he stepped in his doo (aaargh! the joy!!) and managed to get himself all dirty. He was not happy with the bath but then he got all sweet and licky when I was drying him :-) He is looking curlier than he was before his bath and is all soft and smells like a baby!
He is also learning to walk nicely on a leash and already learned 4 commands in the 4 days we've had him. I know I am bragging but he really is so smart. He knows 'sit' , 'down' , 'paw' and 'back'. the back command is really funny. he slides back on his butt while sitting. It cracks us up every time.
Thank you to all of you fantastic people on DK. It was a huge help yesterday for a newbie like me to have the support and know that growling is not an indication that my sweet puppy is turning into a sinister 'Cujo'.

[BG and Gavin]

What a difference a day makes. I also found during the first week I was operating on very little sleep, which made it difficult to keep some of the ups and downs in perspective. Ollie sounds super-smart!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Glad that you had a better day. Rooney comes home tomorrow - we hit the road at 7:00 a.m. We are going to be talking to you a lot - lol. We'll be going through it together. Tell Ollie his new buddy Rooney will write to him soon.

[Linda Karell]

What a great Ollie! What a great you!

It helped me a lot when people with very lovely adult dogs told me that there would be days when I would just come unglued--tears, frustration, etc. Those times were fewer because I knew they were normal. My main tantrum wasn't at Chervil, but when DH, in a moment of pique, got all stompy and pissy out of annoyance at the puppy. My response: "I don't particularly need two babies today, so grow up." You learn a lot about yourself with a puppy!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm so happy that things are better, and yes there will be lots of "great" and "lousy" days during the puppy stage. I so agree with you that it's great to have this awesome DK group to come to when we're ready to "pull our hair out" or to "celebrate".

[Susan and Sasha]

Isn't it great...what a new day can bring?
It sounds like Ollie is very smart...and he will be learning...Very fast... Every day!
Sounds like you are too...so keep up the good work! (smile)
Yuck...about the "little accident"....but a great opportunity to bathe him...and it looks like he did well with it! You too!
Sounds like the training is going well...and he seems to be a very smart Doodle!
I know it's a lot of hard work...but it will pay off later...when Ollie gets to be a Big boy!! Lol...
Sasha and I can't wait to hear more of "The Adventures of Ollie"!
I'm sure you will be having Many more exciting chapters to share...
Good Luck!!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

What a smart little boy you have there!!! Other than the "doo" part :( it sounds like a wonderful day!!

[Kyoko]

I'm glad that things are better today!! Hang in there!! Ollie is such a cute little boy!!!