Saturday

[Mark Hess]

Trainings is going well. She is warming to me and the family. She shadows my movements in the house.

[Mark Hess]

Thanks for the tips - just learning the system

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Mark, It sounds like things are going along normally. I wanted to say it might be easier for people to respond to your question about your wife's anxiety over crating if you post a new discussion. Discussions are much easier to respond to than blogs as you can respond individually to someone's remark. As far as the food, you could also join the Food Group and ask the weight/food question there. They will want to know what kind of food you are feeding, but it is an extremely informative group and every dog owner would be so lucky to have a place to go with food issues.

Everything is so new to Skylar and the weight issue sounds minimal to me. Scales weigh differently and stress does make you eat less (or so I have heard. Stress has the opposite effect on me....LOL).  I bet at the next visit...after a month or two...the weight will even off.

As for your wife, I think I read somewhere that this is her first dog...right? There is going to be a major adjustment period for her, too, to find her new normal now that she is a dog owner. It is more work, more restrictions on your time, etc., but so worth it in the end. I think you are going to have to be encouraging with her as you are with Skylar :) It really is in her best interest to crate Skylar and be able to get out of the house. She doesn't want to start feeling like a prisoner in her home because she will start to resent the dog. Maybe she could do some bonding stuff alone with the dog....throw the ball, a nice walk, brush Skylar, cuddling, etc. I hope she slowly comes to love and adore having a dog. My DD married a non dog lover and they now have two dogs and he is dippy about them. It can happen :) Good luck!!

[Mark Hess]

Day 6 - Skylar is becoming more playful. She loves to ride in the car and chase a ball. She brings it all most back most times. The crate thing is going better. We had our 1st vet visit. The checked her weight. It was 4 pounds less than the SPCA reported. Maybe stress? Maybe different scale? Thoughts? She came in at 43 pounds compared to 47. We are feeding her 3/4 to 1 cup of food 3 times per day plus treats for command practice.

[Mark Hess]

My wife was having some anxiety yesterday. She felt "trapped" at home because of Skylar. She didn't want to put her in the crate so she could go out. I had to work away from the home yesterday. I think that the anxiety will lessen as the dog matures. Any thoughts? May need to train my wife on crating the dog at the same time crate I train the dog.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

For the nipping the most recommend thing is to usually have a stuffed toy handy and when she nips, tell her "no nipping" and put the toy in her mouth.  As for her learning how to be a puppy I think that time will take care of this.  Just engage her like you would a normal puppy and I think that she will eventually catch on.  I know that when I had my four Doodle fosters it was normally 2 weeks or more before I really started to see their true personalities come out.  So just be patient with her and I think you guys are headed in a good direction.  If you haven't already I would suggest joining the Puppy madness group as it sounds like you will probably have many of the same issues that new puppy parents have.  If she escaped and didn't run, it sounds like she knows she is in a good place.  Keep up the good work.

[Mark Hess]

Day 4 and things are getting better. She was in the crate Sunday for over an hour while we were at church and all went well. She escaped from the back yard and didn't run. Came right back. Nice!! She is being playful nippy now and it's like she didn't get to do that as a young pup. She doesn't know how to play it seems. Any thoughts from the group? Loving her more every day

[Camilla and Darwin]

Sounds like good progress is being made. Keep us posted!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Mark, I hope you see progress every single day. It takes time, but it sounds like you are off to a good start. I am so glad to hear she slept in your room last night. Nancy said it perfectly. Good luck!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You are making such progress. Great job.  You will see a difference in 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months a year. It is amazing.  One day you will realize that she has given a big sigh of relief and realized that she is really in her forever home and really loved.

[Ginny Nightingale]

PROGRESS!! Don't be surprised if there is some regression--it is not always straight uphill and takes time.