Ollie boy's night-time adventures!

[Smita, Ollie and Juno]

First of all, Ollie and I thank all of you for extending such a warm welcome.
Ollie's first night was quite an adventure after a fairly uneventful day. We decided to use the airline type crate even though we have the wire crate set up, just because it was easier to carry it to our bedroom. And boy-oh-boy, our little fella did not appreciate it. He would sleep for about 40 minuted and start whining. We must've taken him outside, a million times, thinking he wanted to go potty. But he would refuse to step out into the unusually rainy fall night here in California. I was completely confused as to what he wanted...poor boy.

Yesterday during the day he had a couple of piddle accidents when hubby was watching (?) him !! Other than that he did really well with the potty part.

In just 1 day he has learned the sit command.

Last night was a bit better. We set his wire crate up downstairs and I think he prefers it to the plastic one. I kept it covered and the radio and a small light on for him. He slept at 2 hour stretches. He would whine for 10 minutes and again sleep for 2 hours. Hubby and I took turns taking him out when the whining got too loud, took him outside and then right into the crate. He would still whine but fall asleep after a few minutes.

Some general observations my experience of having my first ever puppy:

1. After reading several books, watching the dog whisperer, talking to other dog owners and obsessively visiting DK, I am still completely clueless.
2. Ollie whines and cries much louder than my human babies ever did as infants. He even woke up my kids with his whining. It is hard to imagine a little 7lb thing being so loud.
   
3. He is much smarter than I ever imagined. He seems to like his crate but positions his head so that I can't close the door. Now that he has figured that I give him a treat when he sits, he sits even before I ask him to when he sees the treat (instead of jumping like he did before)

And...the thing you really want to see instead of my long rambling post...Ollie's photos.

[Smita, Ollie and Juno]

Thank you BruceGirl and Susan. Ollie was in our room the first night but he was so loud that he kept waking up our girls who have to be up early for school. Their room is close to ours and it was way too disruptive. We then made the decision to put his crate in the family room downstairs and leave a light and a low volume radio on. He whines no more downstairs than he did in our room. He seems to like his crate during the day so hopefully it will work out,

[Susan and Sasha]

Ollie is such a cutie pie...and he will bring so much love and joy into your lives!
You will have challanging days...and wonderful days...and you will...at the end of the day...come to the conclusion...that you enjoy them all!!
The best is yet to come...

[BG and Gavin]

Is Ollie in your room at night? That really helps at first - you can gradually move him out if you don't want him in there long term.

[Smita, Ollie and Juno]

Thank you all. 3 nights of whining and crying gets quite frustrating. I feel like maybe I'm doing something wrong. Reading all your replies and being here on DK is very reassuring!!

[Nina]

Hi- When I brought my puppy home she would cry when I put her in the crate. She didn't really like it. My breeder told me to hold out when she cried and I did. It was hard. I would go into the room where she was in the crate for small bits during the day so that she could see me/smell me. After about a week, the crying stopped. It is hard at the beginning, but once you and the dog have time together to figure it out, it gets so much better!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

He is precious. Things will calm down. He had gone through a lot in the last few days. Big adjustment for such a little guy!!!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

awww he is soooo cute! Sleeping in the typical "squashed frog" pose I see!!!!!!

[BG and Gavin]

I found that heavy breathing, sighing, snoring noises really soothed Gavin his first night. We got up to take him out during the night - carried him out actually. After a while we could not rouse him to go outside, so we let him be. Ollie sure is a looker!

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a handsome puppy. Just adorable and it does get better!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

What a DOLL!!! I remember that it took a while for us to develop a system of communication with Tara. For us to understand her and for her to understand us. I too thought I was SO prepared for a puppy because I had watched, read and listened to everything I could find about puppies. THEN reality hit!!!! LOL!! It sounds like Oliie is quick to pick up on things so it won't take long for you to get your communiction system down too!!