Literally all the photos I have for you today. I did have a lovely pot of flowers in the garden, but the rain has mashed them all down and somehow they seem to be half the volume now. I couldn't get the colours right on the camera anyway. A really dark plummy dianthus, the deepest petunia, a dark geranium and some bright pinks too. Maybe it will all recover.
The small chocolate dog arrived in full force on Sunday. The littlest boy is oh so happy. He's named him Bertie. Amazing how one so small can be quite so dynamic. I like to come home in the morning after taking the children to school and make the house tidy and quiet and calm and eat my breakfast and sit down at my laptop with peace and order all around. I REALLY like peace and order. Oh well, no doubt I'll adjust.
House training is not going well. The handbook says I should stand outside and wait. Bertie and I aren't really keen on that bearing in mind the torrential rain out there. He ate a petunia instead and we ran back inside. Maybe we'll do better when the sun comes out.
Any top dog tips gratefully received.
Awwwww. He is adorable. Good luck with the house training. I think better weather is forecast for tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteJacquie x
Bertie! Such a sweet name for a sweet dog. I don't blame you both for hurrying back indoors; we're having similar weather at the moment and I wouldn't hang around either! Keep us updated on how that peace and order is working out for you! xx
ReplyDeleteHe's adorable - what breed is he?
ReplyDeleteHe's so cute, good luck on the toilet training
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful little dog. His coat is so shiny and silky. I actually found toilet-training human toddlers easier than housebreaking a dog, so I'm no help. Just keep on him and bring him out often. I think I did every half hour for a few days, then went to an hour, and kept increasing until he could go several hours between outings. It took a month or so. Good luck! Enjoy your new baby.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet pup...and Bertie is a wonderful name! As for training, there is really something to be said for crate training. They live in the crate and come out to eat/play/toilet/and have a cuddle. It is hard, but it pays off in dividends when the training happens quicker than other ways. It also becomes their safe place when they feel scared. Always take them to the toilet immediately on bringing them out of the crate, within 5-10mins of meal times or drinking or vigorous playtime. Good advice from Jennifer to work it in, every 1/2hr to start. Exhausting I know but well worth it! Limit water intake at bedtime.
ReplyDeleteI also rubbed my pups' belly before setting him on the ground and telling him to go pee or poo(their mum's lick the belly to encourage elimination-the book I read yrs ago about puppy training explained this). I did this every time. Now he lays on his back with his belly up whenever I ask if he needs to go potty(this is when he has made it very clear he needs to go) and he is 1 1/2yrs of age. Always clean up any accidents in the house with straight vinegar & kitchen paper; as this eliminates the odour and they don't go in this same spot again. Oh and have lots of dog toys, which are always put in their mouths after removing off limit items and telling them NO. We have had great luck with this(no chewed furniture/clothing/knitting) and I believe it is because we were vigilant in giving acceptable options.
Hang in there, it gets easier as they grow up; our border terrier lays quietly now when I'm knitting, at my feet or in my lap...you just need a bit of age on them...it will come. Have fun with your new fur baby...our Riley has brought so much happiness and laughter into our home!
He is so precious..that little pink nose!!! I know it can be chaotic at first...puppies play hard and sleep hard. Have lots of toys and things they can chew on...those little teeth are going to fall out and they will chew anything they can get their little paws on. When I caught mine going for a shoe or something else, I removed it and stuck a bone or toy in his mouth. One word commands..."No", "Good dog", etc. Potty time. I took my Milo out to a small garden so there was little for him to snoop and he got right down to the duty. We got him in December, so there I was at 6 a.m. in the snow and cold in my jammies and Hunters, freezing my a** off. But he got the hang of it quickly. I did this every 2 hours. He was good to go in a week. He ran for the door when he had to go.
ReplyDeleteHope this isn't too much info. I still think the dog training classes are important and you can find Puppies for Dummies on Amazon.com.
Best of luck on your adventure. I know your kids are beyond happy!!! :)
Jane x
Awww look at his wee face, adorable. You'll forgive him anything, from peeing on your carpet to destroying your garden. Before you know it, Bertie will be a teenager and be all good. I think the best advice I can give is that everything takes time and patience and you need to find what works for you and stick to your guns even if the puppy book and all your neighbours and the Queen tell you otherwise. I find positive re-inforcement works well with dogs (and children), every creature loves a treat and a pat on their back. xx
ReplyDeleteLovely post and pictures. Bertie looks to have settled in well already. xx
ReplyDeleteConsistency, but not being militant about it, is key to potty training. If you are crate training (which I do recommend at night and when you are not at home), then take him out to go potty immediately after leaving the crate and use a lot of praise when he does go. They also tend to go after playing and getting worked up inside, so take him out then. And it helps if everyone in the house is using the same "potty language" so that he doesn't get confused about what he is supposed to be doing. It takes time - new place, new smells, new people, new routine - he has a lot to think about! Enjoy his puppy love.
ReplyDeleteOur pup is now a year old. Still living in utter chaos! We got there in the end with the house training though I did think I might actually go mad. Now I'm to Amazon to google "dog behaviour books". Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteJillxo
Hey CJ,
ReplyDeleteSo adorable. What a beautiful colour Bertie is. You know I can't remember toilet training Honey, but I obviously did. I think it helped that she discovered the cat flap, although she also got out of the garden too....
Leanne xx
awwww...he really is adorable. I love the name Bertie. It suits him, I can tell.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the crate-training camp. Emma still goes in her crate at night and during the day if we're not home -- she's quite happy in there and often goes in of her own volition to have a sleep, it's her safe-place and doesn't see it as punishment (it ought not to be used that way). She can't be trusted not to pee or poop in the house if she's unsupervised...so it's our only option. :) As everyone has said, it's mostly a matter of time and patience...and always being one step ahead of him. xoxo
Oh my goodness, what a cute dog! Bertie - perfect name. Hang in there, CJ, it'll be completely worth it. I've not had to toilet-train a dog (ours was trained when we had her) but have witnessed plenty of friends' efforts. Time, patience, lots of newspaper... Good luck xx
ReplyDeleteAwww, he's lovely. Bet he's forgiven..
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with crate training, we all need our own space :-)
ReplyDeleteAlso no toys that resemble things that you don't want Bertie to chew, so no "toy" shoe's, cans, newspapers.
I have taken all my puppies everywhere with me from as soon as they arrived in my home. Because they can not go on the floor at this stage I used a bag with a blanket in the bottom, puppy pee pad underneath for accidents, long strap so it could go over my shoulder keeping both hands free. Keep talking when your with him, tell him what he's seeing, try as many experiences as possible, in the car, on a train or even just at a train station, on a bus, walking in busy streets, quiet places. Try visiting a play group, Old people's home. Visit farms, zoo, aviaries, the sea. The more experiences they have very early in puppy hood the happier bomb proofed dog you'll have for life. Also Puppy training is vital, not because you can't train Bertie yourself but because it would be like Home Schooling children, yes it works but spending time with peer group is important too. I like to go to classes where there is a crossover of older (bigger) dogs coming for their classes so little ones learn good manners with older dogs too. Good luck and I'm sure your new fur baby will have a wonderful, enriching for him and all of you life.
When your living the tough days they'll seem like forever, but you'll soon look back and wander where the time went :-)
Absolutely adorable---what type of dog is Bertie?
ReplyDeleteThank you! He's a crossbreed - half cocker spaniel, half poodle. CJ xx
DeleteI thought that there was some poodle in there, so he's a cockerpoo is he?
DeleteBertie is a great name! I agree with Christina about the dog training. Find the thing that works for you, and positive reinforcement works as well with dogs as it does with people.
ReplyDeleteBertie is so cute I'm sure you'll forgive him anything... Even wrecking your peace and quiet. The training takes a bit of patience but suddenly it happens. Wishing you some dry weather so you can leave a back door open. That seemed to work for us.
ReplyDeleteAww...he's only a wee mite...don't want him catching a chill out in the rain now do you...he'll soon get the hang of it once the sun comes out.
ReplyDeleteOh my Lord! He's adorable! Forget peace for at least three years, but you'll be so swept up in what he brings to you all you won't mind xxx
ReplyDeleteHe's gorgeous. Good luck with the training. He's so cute, you'll get through it!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Bertie is adorable. I bet he smells great, puppy smell is the best. You will get through these interesting training times and he will be the best dog ever! Well minus Max that is.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important thing to remember is this - 'when they are awake, they are learning'. Everything you do will be absorbed, it's exhausting but constant praise when Bertie does well (we used normal kibble and Toby still gets excited to receive one) and ignore the bad, they just want attention. Their crate is their den - their space, a positive place, never a punishment.
ReplyDeleteWow, I could talk for days - but seriously ignore the whining, ENJOY THIS TIME and take a million photos. Oh and IT GETS BETTER! XXXXXX
Just came across your blog and wanted to say how much I have enjoyed my half hour reading. You have a friendly, natural writing style and beautiful photos and I love your sewing. Ok, enough sounding like a stalker! BTW Bertie is gorgeous and suits his name.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely comment, it's very much appreciated. CJ xx
Deleteoh my xxx gorgeous x
ReplyDeleteTotally adorable!
ReplyDeleteOh Bertie. He's just gorgeous Yes, the chaos. I forgot about that part. And the puddles. My tips: be stubborn and have gin on hand. X
ReplyDeleteWelcome Bertie! What a gorgeous pup! He looks... a bit naughty, very cuddly and extremely happy. That is a good combination I think. Might be a challenge at first but I'm sure you'll get around it. I have no dog training tips to share but there are plenty above. Will refer my friend who just became a pup owner to this blog post to read. Hugs and cuddles for Bertie!
ReplyDeleteXx
Annette
Bertie is so lovely, and looks so peaceful in your photos! I was at work most of the day when we first had Tavi, my husband did despair at the beginning. At least you have the warmer season on your side. It does get easier as time goes on! Sarah x
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