Stew rang the potty bells!

[Jess & Stewart]

He was eating dinner then suddenly stopped, walked up to the bells slowly, touched them with his nose, then jumped away from them! I wish I had it on video, it was so cute! I took him out & he went potty right after I said "go potty"!

Go Stew! This makes me feel better. Stew also sits before I give him food, sits while I put on his leash, sits & waits for me before going through the door to go outside. I also worked on sit, down & give paw today. I'm trying to use both voice & hand signals. Anyone know more common signals for paw, roll over & any other fun small things to teach him?

Now I just need to hope I can tire him out enough that he doesn't bark a lot tonight. It got to me last night. Thankfully I was tired enough that I just buried my head under my covers & fell asleep. I tried the penny can & kept saying "quiet, good boy" at any lull in the barking/whining. I hope he didn't bark while I was asleep from 3 am to 5 am, but he barked from 2 until almost 3 am. I knew this would happen, but a lot of loud noises set me on edge, I hope it didn't come out when I was trying to get him to quiet down! I'm nervous about others in my building. I didn't have any angry post it's on my door though.

I'll be excited come Wednesday morning when I'll have my mom & sister here for Thanksgiving to be a buffer. All the socialization will tire him out!

Can't say enough how glad I have this site to come to!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Sounds like you and Stew are headed in the right direction. You both will fall into a schedule soon.

[Miss Ellie]

Way to go Stew...you're a fast learner...doodles are so smart...and Ro is right...once you have established a routine it will be smooth sailing...just takes time & patience.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Stew is really doing well so far.  His breeder must have gotten him off to a good start for you.  This phase is exhausting on the human but you can take comfort in the fact that it will NOT last forever.  The fatigue makes it harder.  Just keep telling yourself that it will pass - it truly will.

[BG and Gavin]

He will sleep through the night before you know it.  I would ditch the can of pennies in this instance as I think it would be too confusing/creating more excitement.  I used to dangle my fingers in the crate and murmur softly just to reassure.  Thing of how you would treat a crying baby - you would not make loud noises, you would touch them for reassurance and sing a lullaby.  Sound like Stew is being a champ.

[Jess & Stewart]

Stew went to bed at 10:30, woke me up around 11:50, went outside & peed. It's 12:20 now & I'm just sitting by crate waiting to know he's totally asleep. Each time I wake up, I keep thinking it'll be hours later, so I'm bummed when it isn't! I usually sit by the crate & wait about 3 minutes to make sure he's not going to wake up. Then I back away really slowly & shut the door, do the locks really slow. I try to get onto my bed at the part that doesn't creak also. At least I'm tired enough that I'll go back to sleep right away.

Typically even before the puppy I had trouble staying asleep & was always up in the middle of the night. Then I can't fall asleep & end up reading or something, just to get my mind off not being able to sleep. Checking DK in the middle of the night has become a thing, lol. Apparently the on-off schedule of sleep used to be optimal during old times, like prairie times & we should get back to that. I'm not sure of that's really what I do though...

[Bonnie and Kona]

I think Stew is brilliant. We put the small kennel right on the bed for the first couple of nights. Then on the floor right next to the bed. We didn't have a lot of loud howling. I hope Stewart sleeps more tonight. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Good boy Stewart!  Lots of progress in such a short time!  Hang in there-a full night sleep is just around the corner.

[Jess & Stewart]

Last night, Stew got up at 12 ish am, 2 am then again at 5 am. I was watching TV until about 11:30, he'd been asleep since 10:30 in crate. He went outside at 11:50 & peed on command. By 12:20 he was asleep again. When he got up at 4:50-5, he peed & pooped, then I brought him inside & he slept until 6:50.

I actually don't mind if 5-6ish is when he'll get up because once I go back to work, I need to be at work around 7:45, I think that'll give me enough time for bathroom breaks, breakfast & play before he's in his crate until I'm home for lunch.

I just got a call from the vet-fecal was negative for parasites from dogs, but he was positive for Coccidia from birds! I guess he got into some bird poop on the deck. I didn't see any because I cleaned it that day, but he'd gotten a hold of a few leaves!

[Jess & Stewart]

Speaking of getting onto a schedule, how many times a day is normal for them to poop? I think I've been expecting him to go after every meal, even though each poop may not be from the same meal afterwards due to digestion. Today, Stew pooped at 5 am & again at 12:15 pm. I'm trying to establish a 6 am, 12 noon & 6 pm schedule for meals to coincide with when I will be home from work. Today, he had breakfast at 7 am & lunch at 12. Is it OK if once I go back to work, if he hasn't pooped in the morning after eating?

Right now, he's sleeping after he fell asleep on his bed & I moved him to his crate. Also, so far during the days, I haven't needed or let him "cry it out", since he usually pees if I get him. I wait until he's silent for at least 30 seconds before getting him, so he doesn't think crying = out of crate.

[Leslie J]

Sounds like Stew is a little boy genius!