Lucy, our new puppy is a handful. She's 75% Austrailian Shepard and 25% Lab. Totally crazy, all the time, it's great, being unemployeed (still) helps - I get to spend a lot of time with her. It's so great. It's so much constant work, last night for instance: potty breaks at 10pm, 1230am, 3am and 6am, taking her out to potty is better than cleaning up shit and piss all over my house, so Megs and I and take turns. We've had Lucy for 7 days, in that time she's put on 1 pound per day - she's up to 17lbs, the Vet says that we can expect a "healthy" 75-80lbs dog! That's a lotta dog. Today (like most days) we practiced "sit" "come here" and walking on a leash, in addition we go on 2 walks consisting of 1 hour each. We also play in the house, we go to the dog park for about 45-60 minutes. EVERYDAY we do this - all to keep her from getting bored and chewing up shoes, table legs, carpets, bags and whatever else is within her reach (drapes). Tonight's potty breaks will be slightly coolder than last night's - the Forcast: Clear and cold. Lows around 3. Three! I had a nice conversation with the Columbus Liberarian today, she said "those people in Florida, with their swimsuits and nice tans, they don't know what they're missing." I agreed. They have no idea what 3 degrees feels like.
Megs works at Mounds, all day she sees people who have no idea what they are doing with their puppy - we will not be one of those people. Just the other day, at the vet, a woman was there with her puppy (same age as Lucy, 13 weeks) the woman has not even attempted to put a leash on her dog, nor did her little dog go anywhere except in her lap or on the countertop when she was paying her bill. I swear I could hear the jealousy in her voice when she complimented me for having such a young puppy walking on a leash.
2 comments:
Why don't you try putting her in a crate at night. Make sure the crate is only a little bit bigger than she is so she can stand, turn around comfortably but that it about it. Most dogs will NOT pee and poop in their crates, especially if you feed them in there. She is old enough to hold it a little longer than those crazy baby hours you are keeping with her at night. Since she pees in the house if you don't take her out constantly, she hasn't yet earned the right to have free run of the place yet. She is still a baby. Crate her at night and when you aren't able to watch her 100 percent of the time. Those Aussies are very smart and I bet she will catch on in no time. She is very cute!!!!
ahem, it all sounds like good advice, so i won't comment on other breeds' (a certain crested dogs') ability to pee/poop at will.
p-lip, if you need a medium sized crate you're welcome to borrow ours until lucy grows out of it.
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