Bringing Up Puppy: Day/Night One

I was up at an ungodly hour last night (Monday) not, for once, because I chose to be (I was really dang tired yesterday), but because db and I read waaaay too many puppy advice guides and turned into automatons, following the Letter of the Law. But what Letter? Which Law?

I took the stinky little goat, aka Finn, out to pee at 1:30 a.m., heeding the screeching hysterics who ululate that puppies have bladders the size of green peas! and must be taken outside at least every 13.2 seconds! (you criminal!) Since I was heading to bed and it had been more than 13.2 seconds since Finn had been outside, it seemed a good time to get her out of her crate and into the yard for the (possibly) last late night pee, at which point she decided she felt much better and that it was play time! The Dingo was only too happy to oblige, so we had PuppyFest 2005 in the backyard for a good 20 minutes, with romping and skedaddling and tail-wagging and play nipping and proto-rasslin' and lots of tongue-hanging outing. I was loving the cuteness, but my eyelids were drooping, and I had to bring the festivities to a gentle end.

I put Finn back in her crate and lo, what ensued but a whining and crying that would break Attila the Hun's heart. So, of course, db and I are lying there with visions of this poor puppy having been torn from her stinky brothers and she's never slept alone! and this is puppy abuse! and we deserve to go to jail! Long story short, we're too bleeding heart to let the puppy boohoo, and out she comes. Then we try again a short while later. More crying. Then we Google every permutation of "puppies first night crate crying" and, of course, get completely contradictory information. Like, exactly contradictory. Like, always let the puppy out -- what are you, a fiend? Never, for the love of all that is holy, let the puppy out. Thanks, Google!

Cut to: db and I rearranging beds, playing with her, feeding her, moving the crate, moving Kate's dog bed, and FINALLY all stinky furry people are in bed, w/ me soon to follow. Lordy. It's 3 a.m. Kate, whose bed was placed strategically next to the puppy's crate as a sort of hopeful message of doggy nearness, quickly left her bed and joined us in ours, deciding the puppy was a little weird. She was taking up my entire side! I had roughly an inch-and-a-half. More than plenty.

Today was a fun day w/ lots of puppy romping and cuteness, easy crate time, and the development of a fond appreciation for Milkbone Grillin' Chickin doggie treats. The finer dogs all across the land won't pee without them.

[Pix pending.]

Comments

[Meghan]

The first night we got Harriet home (golden retreiver) at 7 weeks she cried and cried. We let her cry it out, besides waking up twice I think to take her outside in the night.

She only did that the first night. Hopefully the little stinky goat will feel more an home tonight! They adapt pretty fast.

[ae]

Meghan, I'm so glad to hear you say that! It's gotten better every night, and if the damn puppy advice guides weren't so frustratingly contradictory, I think we'd feel more confident that we weren't torturing the poor thing. We've had some good advice in the last couple of days, including some "keep on keepin' on" advice from a wonderful dog trainer/behaviorist I know. She's so much fun, and such a little smartie, this stuff is no big deal. (Still don't know how you mommies manage though!)

[Skye]

When we got The Dog, she yiped so much about being crated overnight that she actually barked herself hoarse. Then we tried another piece of expert advice and put her on her leash and tied it to the dresser so she could sleep on her bed right next to our bed. She got out of it and I woke up with her curled up sleeping soundly under my chin. So we gave up and let her sleep in the bed. I have regretted it ever since, but she had actually bruised her own vocal chords! I would have felt like a monster otherwise! Not to mention how much the neighbors were probably loving it...

p.s. Please send Finn to Texas immediately so I can snuggle the heck out of that unbearably cute little dog!

[ae]

Hi, Skye! We were really worried that Finn was going to whine/yelp herself hoarse that night, the poor thing. I think we got lucky, because she only had two nights of serious whining/yelping/trying to dig herself out. She whines just a little now, but only because she'd rather be out playing, as would we all! After she learns to be in the crate happily, so she'll be a good traveller, she'll join us in bed along w/ Kate.

Finn would love a trip to Texas! She's thinking of running for governor.

[Skye]

Dear Candidate Finn,

Sooner would be better than later.

Thanks,
Texas