Week one with Sasha

[Melanie & Sasha]

Well it has been an eye opening week. I forgot how hard it was to take care of a puppy. When we first met the breeder she told us she is very shy and very quiet, which in our case is fine because we do not have children. She was just beautiful and sweet! She had already been adopted in the past and returned because they realized that a puppy was a heck of a lot of work. Anyway we knew right away, she was the puppy for us. The next day, we picked her up and brought her in our truck as soon as she sat down on that seat, everything was wet! She was drooling like there was no tomorrow. I felt so horrible for her! There was BUCKETS of drool everywhere! After what seemed to be an hour ride (actually 15 minutes) we got home. Like we thought, she fits right into the family. We own two cats and when we walked through that front door they were shocked and on guard. After a few days everything seemed to relax around the house.

 

The first night we decided to try to crate train her right away. Let's just say we were the only ones willing to do so. She was hysterical, she hated it and she made sure to let us know. So we tried putting the crate in our bedroom to see if that helped. It did somewhat. She woke us up a few times that night, which was great because she was letting us know she needed to go out. But when it comes to -21C outside, in the middle of the night, half asleep, you really don't feel like it. Anything for our loved ones!

 

We bathed her the next day because she just smelt horrible. She loved that and being groomed. She just lays there and takes it. We are really trying to brush her every day, so she can get used to it.

 

We wake up early every morning. 5:30-6:00am we're down in the basement watching our morning Netflix with our coffee. Only thing is, Sasha is just horrible for jumping on us every few seconds. No matter what we do. We are trying to work with her on that. Another thing is she always wants to eat. She tries to eat the cat food all the time. We don't know where to put the food anymore because she figures out a way to get into it.

 

Another thing we're been thinking of doing soon was training her for her walks. We don't know if it's too early to start walking her on the sidewalks. We have been walking her around our house, trying to get her used to it. We've been trying to take some energy out of her because we are both very busy people and out of the house most of the day. I've always had small dogs growing up that didn't need much exercise. A bigger dog is totally new to me.

 

We are hoping she will get over drooling in the truck because we travel a lot. She is just a sweet bundle of joy and we love her dearly. I can see her growing up with us as a family. Going ice fishing in the winter, fishing in the summer, even the occasional mud play.   

[Jeanne Rose]

What a sweet pup! I too loved your blog, really! I know in time she will
be doing the things you want if her. I feel for you as I get to wonder how
I got through the "puppy days" with our last dog. Oh how we forget:)
Things do get better, keep posting. So much to learn and it seems this
site covers it all.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I loved your blog.  You have a great sense of humor - this will come in handy as she eats your treasured items.... Maybe she will like fetch and you can get some of her energy out w/o going out into the -21 degree weather.  Good luck with the crate.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

She's adorable. Don't worry she will settle in soon enough.  Sounds like she'll have a nice, active life :)

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Cutie pie!  How could anyone return such a sweet face?  I am glad he found your family.  

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Sasha is too cute.  As for the cat food, I put the cat's bowl on a chest of drawers that the puppy and later grown dog could not reach but not too tall for the cat to easily jump on.  And the covered litter box with the door facing into a corner of the room.  Most dogs LOVE "cat crackers".

[Melanie & Sasha]

Thank you everyone for the great comments and information! We took her out yesterday for a short ride, in the front seat on me a there was a lot less drool. We will try to do this everyday and see if that works. Eventually we are going to set her up in the back seat. Our biggest worry right now, is getting her to stay 'dry' for our hour ride to her vet on Wednesday. Wish us luck!!

[Pat and Traveler]

Sasha is adorable! 

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

She is so cute Melanie and so lucky to be in your family.  As for the drooling, Libby does the same thing, but she is getting so much better.  Karen and Joanne advised me it is due to anxiety and stress from being in the car.   They told me to take small trips around the neighborhood and make sure she is in some kind of a harness and I have done exactly that and she is soooo much better.  I also put one of her cloth beds in the back seat and she immediately laid down and was no longer going from window to window like a nervous Nellie.  I open each window a little for fresh air and she seems very comfortable.  Usually the back seat was drenched by the time we went anywhere!  Very little now and she is excited to get in the car.   We have not gone on any long trips yet, but when we feel she is ready, we will try. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh my goodness, she is just adorable! What a sweet face. I have heard that taking them out for incrementally longer periods in a vehicle helps. I don't know but I imagine people with experience will chime in. I'm so glad you adopted this little love bug. 

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

She's so precious!  

My Bender used to drool during car rides.  I think it was because he was nervous...what helped him was the AC on full blast so he can put his face in front of it and chill out.  I think she will just have to get used to it eventually.  Now Ben doesn't drool at all  :)