How are you????

[Holly Paterniti]

I wanted to see how all of you are doing these days :) We seem to be growing and I am LOVING it :) For our younger pups..........mom and dad how are they doing? Please keep us updated and keep posting the pics of our new family members :)

We really need to set a date in the summer to meet somewhere in the middle of where we all live to get the family together :)

[Kyoko]

Jillian, where do you keep his crate? He may be lonely and scared if the crate is in the other room or in the kitchen or something. I kept Charlie's crate in my bed room so that I can hear her if she needed to go out, and also she can hear me breathing, moving, etc...to know there is someone near by. I also remember sitting by the crate, holding her and petting her back to sleep. ( Don't laugh! sounds silly, but that's what I did!) and putting her back in crate. It really was like having a new born baby all over again. She loves her crate now, and when she is sleepy, she goes in by herself. I think it comforts her.
Also they said to section out the crate. It should be just big enough for him to turn around. They said if it is any bigger, the puppy will go in it. My crate came with the divider, so I used that. If you need the divider, I can give it to you. I am in Mt Lebanon quite often, which is not too far from you?

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/night-t...
http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/poop-an...
http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/nippy-p...
Here are some past discussion from Puppy Maddness group... I hope you find them helpful.

[Ken]

Just got up with Grady, Thanks for the info Kyoko! I have read one of them and now will read the others great info!!

[Jillian Petras]

hi Kyoko! Charlie' crate is in the room right across from our bedroom. I still lay next to the crate until he falls alseep which seems to work. We can still hear him when he needs to go out, but if the barking and yelping continues we will have to try moving the crate to the bedroom. Last night went much better. he slept for 5 hours, got up to potty, then i laid down with him again until he fell asleep in the crate. Whew! I was so afraid of a repeat!

I do know Charlie's crate is too big for him, but he does not go in it. He has always woke us up (except for the night before last when he was up all night). Do you still think I need to divide the crate? My crate didnt come with a divider. I am also in Mt Lebanon quite often... our family and friends are still there. I lived in Mt Lebanon for 3 years prior to moving out here to Canonsburg.

[Kyoko]

It's up to you Jillian!
Just let me know if you want it. Charlie's crate ( Confusing LOL!) is called "Icrate", black wire type. It is 28"Lx48"Lx30"H. So the divider is 28"X30" square. If it is going to fit, and you want it you are more than welcome to have it. We only used it for a little while - may be 2 months or so. It is clean and is in very good condition. That's so great that he slept for 5 hours!! Way to go Charlie!! It will only get better.... :-)

[Jillian Petras]

I think that might work! Would you like me to buy it off you? I tossed the box for my crate so I dont know the exact measurement... but that sounds like it would work. He has been so good about not peeing in the crate at night but during the day he always goes. I dont know if it is because the crate is too big? I would think if that was the case he would go in it at night too?

[Kyoko]

He may be able to hold only 4 hours or so during the day since he is still a baby....
I was lucky when we got Charlie, because my older daughter was still home and left for school shortly before I got home most of the day. So, someone was basically always home. I think some of the people kept the puppy in the ex-pen, and put a puppy pad in it during the day while they are at work... I am not sure. I think there are some discussion about that in Puppy Madness Group. I also have a "3 in 1 metal super yard" by North State. I bought it at Baby's R Us, because I didn't want to use ex-pen because of how they look! (Silly) It can turn into a straight long gate,bendable gate for odd places or to section out the room and an ex-pen. You can have the divider. It is just sitting on the top of the crate now....

[Ken]

Just got back from Ohio. I wish I knew I was going back in two weeks could have picked up Grady and done some other Biz at the same time. I could have done everything two weeks ago. Funny I don't think I have every been in Ohio then 2 times in 2 weeks:-) I could be getting to like this state.

Grady took notice. First night I was gone he had a tough night. He has been getting up only once at 5 to 6 am after he is down for the night. But, my wife was up 4 times in the nights I was gone. He did go right to his old schedule once I got home. I mention this because I think, I remember Tina mentioning her going out and her husband having some issues. They seem to really notice any change in schedule or the order of the day at this point.

He did have to be in the crate during the day while my wife was at work. He did fine but we had a neighbor come over and let him out mid day. He knows this neighbor well and I think this was the key.

I hope everyone is starting to get some sleep. I got very little in Ohio.

Cheers to all

[Tina Ricciardi]

Just wanted to give everyone an update...Jack had a very rough weekend. We went to the vet on Friday for the second time since we've had him to continue his puppy shots and the vet was concerned that his coat was not shiny at all. We also brought up the fact that he seems to need to go pee very soon after he just went and gets more excited for his water than his food. So Sat morning we went back to the vet with some of Jack "eliminations" for them to test. Poor puppy had round worms and a UTI (urinary tract infection). They gave him a de-worming pill and some antibiotics for the UTI. After a very hard Sat (my poor baby threw up twice) he seems to be doing much better. Just wanted to share in case any of the other puppies have similar symptoms.

[Jillian Petras]

Hi Tina -

I'm so sorry to hear Jack had such a rough weekend! I wanted to let you know that while we havent had any problems like this with Charlie, my girlfriend who picked up "Pink Camo" (now known as Georgia) also had a rough week. Her little Georgia was also diagnosed with a UTI. She was peeing constantly and just didnt seem to feel well. I'm trying to get my girlfriend Kelly to join us on here so she can keep in touch with everyone, but she hasnt yet. I have not spoke with Kelly since the vet said Georgia had a UTI and that was early last week.

Charlie does drink water like crazy and we take him out to pee about 12-20 minutes after he sucks it down. Either we arent really taking him out to pee every half hour or I have just gotten used to it! We see the vet tomorrow for his 10 week shots. I am going to ask about Charlie's obsession (or what seems to be an obsession) with biting at his privates! Yes, he bites at it! It's getting irritated and I am worried that it will get worse. The week before we picked him up Anita told me about an abscess she found right next to his little thing. He was on antibiotics for a week. That cleared up but now that he is biting his thing I dont know what is going to happen.

I thought I read another pup from this litter had a UTI or hernia or something like that? I cant recall! I really hope Jack is feeling better soon! Charlie sends his get well wishes :)

[Kyoko]

Sorry to hear about Charlie and Jack.... Poor guys....
I think it was Jodi's Bruno with intestinal parasite and hernia......

I hope everyone feels better soon.... :-(

[Ken]

I am so sorry to hear Jack and Charlie are having tough times at the moment. I hope they are feeling better soon. :- (

Grady will have his appointment at the vets Wednesday at 4:30.

I will ask him about his coat, as it is not shinny as well. I brush him every few days, he really enjoys it. (wanted to eat the brush at first - took him out on a long walk and then he was tiered he settles down ) It doesn’t seem to make him any more shinny. Actually less shinny after brushing and then looks good a little later. I think the breed is not suppose to have much sheen, having to do with their poodle side and the f1b’s are one more step back to poodle. For me it has been great, as I have allergies with almost all dogs and have had no issues with Grady from allergies.

Grady cleans him self pretty regularly but has not seemed to irritate him self, as of yet. I am going to bring both a stool and relieving sample to the vet and see if he feels we should have a lab check on either of them. I think they will do a stool check at this point for sure.

I will let everyone know how it goes and his weight etc.

We are all hoping everyone is feeling better soon.

[Jillian Petras]

Hello everyone...

I am just so excited about this that I had to share... Charlie finally slept through the night!!! 2 1/2 weeks of interrupted sleep was enough for me.

We had a vet appt last night and all seems to be very well. Charlie weighed in at a healthy 13.5 lbs. I was afraid we werent feeding him enough (he gets 1 cup twice a day) but the vet told us that is perfect and any more we would be over feeding him. The biting at his privates didnt alarm the vet which was a relief to us! The only thing we have to work on (and I mean my husband and I) is separating ourselves from him more often when we are at home. She told us that might be what is causing the extreme stress he experiences when we leave for work in the morning, causing him to wet his crate everytime. That will be hard... he is our baby and we treat him like that!

We did get to reunite Charlie with his sister Georgia last night. She is so much smaller than Charlie! I knew Charlie was the big guy when we picked him out but boy did I realize that last night more than ever! Kelly (Georgia's mom) took some pics so we will hopefully be able to post them soon. What a sweetie... Georgia was just precious!

Hope everyone is feeling better!