First couple of weeks with a puppy and surprises, what are yours?

[Margo]

Hi, Lily, our new puppy is 9 weeks today, and quite the young sophisticate. It seems like each day brings a new surprise. Here are ours over the past couple of days.
- How many baby wipes we use. I didn't even know I needed them, but it became apparent quickly that they are a necessity for wiping paws and faces (and, of course, rear ends). With all the rain we've had here in SC this week, my yard is teeming with critters and loamy nature, all quite disgusting.She doesn't love being wiped off, but she sure loves all this mess she finds in the yard.

- the first few days she had no interest really in food, or all these expensive fancy treats I've stockpiled, based on the fact that all dogs are supposedly so food motivated. I wondered, how will I train her if we don't have treats? Well, it doesn't matter now, because she has seriously become quite interested in food and treats after a few days of settling in.

- I thought the whole "hand feeding" idea that I got from Ian Dunbar's book sounded kind of unlikely, but it turns out that it is working great for us. Now that she's food motivated and all, it's a great way to keep her attention to use her kibble as training food... since everything we do, it seems at this early stage is training.

- How much time she can spend with a bully stick! (I didn't know about these, but a dog owner friend suggested them) She is a world class chewer. It keeps her in one place when we are hanging out and she's still hyper, which is definitely a good thing.

[Stephanie]

Brody does the "squat and pee" thing too!! My little turd bucket!!! Its like he squats so low that I think he's sitting...then I realize he's not...ALL while he's STARING RIGHT AT ME! AHH!

And the peee right after you get inside thing...yup...Brody too!! I sure hope they'll catch on!! Cuz if not, we're going to have some pretty big messes to clean up when they grow up!!! LOL

[Sam]

Hi everyone! We have just got our puppy and he is now 9 weeks old and it is amazing reading your stories - sounds like you have been in my house.... He seems to become more confident every day and our big thing at the moment is him chewing everything..... I've got some tips from puppy school so we're working on that.

I have my first day at work tomorrow since we got him and he will have to be on the deck all day :-( I have stocked up on new toys to hide for him but does anyone have any tips of what else I should do????

[Stephanie]

How is the weather where you are? Hot, cold, or pretty 'mild'. If its hot or cold make sure he has somewhere to be to get away from the environment. Do you have a kong for him? Stuff it with something he really likes (cream cheese, peanut butter, or something else he likes) and freeze it so it will last.

I would also start another discussion about this so you will get more responses!

[Tamara & Giada]

I was very surprised how much she slept also. my first dog was a bit older when we adopted her, and you forget too. We have been pleasantly surprised at how layed back she is. And, the "little" puppy stage went too fast :(

[Margo]

My biggest surprise the past few days (Lily is 10 wks today) is the wildness. She gets the puppy crazies especially in the evenings but first thing in am too. What did someone call them here, the "zoomies"? It cracks me up but I'm very glad I knew about them in advance or I'd be concerned that I'd never have one of these laid back doodles everyone talks about! She eats Taste of the Wild dog food, which seems fitting. Everytime she starts galloping full throttle around the house, we make jokes about her having had her "taste of the wild".
Thanks for everyone's replies... every little morsel of info is so helpful! Sam, I'm curious to hear how it goes with your puppy on the deck today. We start puppy class on Saturday and are looking forward to it.

[Sam]

Hi Margo, Ollie went really well yesterday although he was very excited to see us. We couldn't help going and playing with him in the garden before we even got into the house (which goes against what the puppy school said about doing your own thing before you say hello to him!!!!) He obviously found the toys we left but I can't wait for him to bigger so that we can let him on the grass as well when we are out (I think he might get through the fence at the moment...) Have fun on Saturday - we are madly trying to teach Ollie a cool trick for our last day at puppy school....

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

Well I just got my 2nd doodle about a month ago and the suprises were so different since I already had an older doodle (1 year old). The second was so much easier. My Mocha took care of the new puppy constantly...at first I was bummed because Ozzie (the pup) didn't seem to want much to do with us (humans). People told me a 2nd dog would be easier...and they were right. I was very fortunate. Although two is the limit for us.... it has been a great experience.... he now pays a lot of attention to me also.... which makes me VERY happy!!

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

Hi Lori,
We found it much easier with the new puppy too. Seems our 1 and 1/2 yr old is a little mommy/supervisor/bully, but always with the new puppy. He's 4 months old this week and they're always together. He is, on the other hand, much more cuddle oriented and spents more time on our laps than our older one did. Loving that too!

[Margo]

Well alert the media... here is our surprise today: Lily didn't like her crate AT ALL for the first week or so, and until today I would have said she still didn't like it. She started going into the laundry room (where the crate is) and of course I followed her thinking she was just sneaking away to pee on the floor, and instead she just sat in front of me facing the crate. I put her in, having no clue what she wanted and sure she would protest but she actually seemed very pleased about it, circling around making herself comfortable. Just a few minutes ago she even went in the crate by herself. I went in the room and saw her there and just shut the door.

Everyone said that this would happen, but you know how you think that your pet, will be the one exception?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We've had a few surprises too...

-I was surprised at how quickly I fell totally and completely in love with this puppy.

-I was surprised at how "motherly" our one year old male Doodle (Guinness) could be, He takes such great care of the puppy, although he does give him the "evil eye" when I'm giving him "puppy cuddles".

-Even though it's been less than a year I forgot how often they have to pee and how they can do it while running through the living room (a little path of drops), and then they look at you like nothing ever happened. Did they not know they were going?

-I forgot about how every new sound and experience is interesting to them, and that fascinated look on their little faces the first time they hear something. Today it was a loud flock of geese and my grandson crying (wailing actually).

-I am surprised at how Murphy can lay at my feet and nibble my toes without ever hurting me.

Every day there are more, and every puppy is different. I can't think of anything more fun than this.

[Carol and Banjo]

What a darling Guinness is!!!! So sweet!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thank you, Carol. I feel the exact same way about your little cutie Banjo!