Polly's home!

[June and Polly]

Polly just arrived home last night and is adjusting beautifully.  If possible, she's even cuter than all her photos.  We have both just fallen head of heels in love with her!

 

She's struggling adjusting to her crate - especially after play time.  It takes a while for her to settle down and her crying just breaks my heart.  I think I should get a pen for her that I can move around.  Ideas?

[Christine & Shelby]

I did a play pen for my Shelby when she was a pup.   I used her crate only for sleepy time or for when I was out of the house.  Being single - she had the potential to be crated a lot, so I liked the idea of a play pen.   I set it up in my kitchen and could see her from both the kitchen and the living room!    Congrats on the new puppy.... enjoy the puppy year, it is fabulous, fun, exciting, and exhausting all at the same time!!!

[June and Polly]

Thanks SO much!  I'm off to buy a pen!

 

It's been 15 years since we've had a puppy and we know it's going to be quite a challenge.  But, she's so adorable and it's going to be worth it.  This is my first Australian Labradoodle and she's just a doll!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

She's adorable! Why don't you order a Snuggle Puppy? It's supposedly awesome to help little puppies relax and sleep in their crate.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Great ideas listed-just wanted to say CONGRATS! She is adorable!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Happy puppy-hood! I'm excited to hear all about your little Polly's antics. Glad you are so in love. ;o)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

We had an exercise pen for Tara when she first came home and we kept a crate inside of it. We still closed the crate door when it was nap time though but she also spent time in the pen just loose. It was nice to have that if I was on the phone or something happened that I needed to step away from her for a short time. I could just pop her into the pen.

Polly is absolutely adorable!!  I can see why you are both head over heels or is that head over paws? :)

[June and Polly]

I want to thank you all for responding!  It's so nice you're all out there for us as we all adjust to each other! 

I got Polly a pen and it helped enormously.  Although, today she's not used it once!  I'm so amazed at how smart she is and good.  She's stuck pretty close to me and has wandered safely around without getting into anything.  Once she fell asleep under the chair and another time I put her in her crate where she happily konked out.

We've started working on "Come" and "Sit" and she's doing well with both commands too.  I'm truly amazed.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Sounds like you have a good system going June! 

And be careful training that smart little doodle girl! If you aren't watchful she will end up training you!! LOL! Tara has taught me several nice tricks. She is currently trying to teach me to retrieve. She lays on the couch and throws her ball off as far as she can and then she wants ME to go get it and toss it back to her!!! What is wrong with this picture???!!! Maybe she thinks I look like I could use a little more exercise?? LOL! Just sayin'...

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh Ricki, You need to work that out a bit I think. Kona is actually the only dog we have owned that knows that game isn't called "Keep Away". Hoping Kona teaches Owen well. Fetch is a useful game.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Yes, Tara thinks the fetch game is useful too...especially if I am the one fetching! LOL!I'm working on it!!!

I've had several dogs who thought that "Fetch" was actually "Keep Away". Tara on the other hand used to think that "Fetch"  meant "Get the Ball and Hurl Yourself onto Mommy". That ended one day when I raised my knee to block her and it accidentally came up under her chin. She gave me "the look" to let me know that I was a mean, abusive mom but the hurling came to an abrupt stop!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Tara, You are too funny. Go get that ball for your Mama!

[Lauria Orr]

June,  Polly is so cute!  Congratulations!  This is a thrilling time.  There are great suggestions here already!