Meet Lila...

[Logan]

Maybe mine are a bit "dumb", but no one, to this day, ever tries to get over the baby gate. We still use them, actually, since we have changed houses and have one with a bladder problem and lots of carpet, which I didn't have before. I have never crated a dog, although I don't think it is a bad idea at all, if used wisely.

Sorry you aren't getting more support from your husband and family, but if you have an area of your home, which is not carpeted, where Samantha and Lila can stay, use it! Mishaps are much easier cleaned up on non-carpeted areas! At least that way, you get a little control. And Samantha will help keep Lila company while she adjusts to her new surroundings. I know the first night is horrible. And the subsequent nights might be too, but if you're exercising her a lot before bedtime and making sure she does her duty, outdoors, then she will adjust and be just fine. The gates I have cost $11 each at WalMart. They are just wooden gates. We have learned to climb over them and the dogs are perfectly content to stay behind them. It has added peace to our family, to have them isolated, and on occasion, we do let them join us in other areas of the house under supervision.

I am an insomniac by nature and hear every single thing. It has helped me to not have 4 dogs sleeping in my bedroom. The cats are bad enough!! I have decided that it is not cruel to distance your dogs from your bedroom if you need to, to allow sleep for yourself.

Good luck.
Logan

[Samantha Puppy]

Thanks for the support. I don't think your pups are dumb, but Samantha is nuts. She used to jump over my parents' couch FROM BEHIND and clear it, so I *know* she won't take to staying penned in the kitchen or extension (both with pergo flooring). LOL I don't think Lila could quite make it over right now but if she grows as fast as Samantha did, she'll be leaping over it very soon... unless add something on it that makes it taller than average.

I am 100% dedicated to making this work. I don't want to lose the dog. I know yesterday/last night was rough because it was new for everyone but I know it gets better... I just hope the ol' ball and chain is willing to stay the course too...

[Aspen and Misty]

Originally posted by Samantha Puppy
Thanks for the support. I don't think your pups are dumb, but Samantha is nuts. She used to jump over my parents' couch FROM BEHIND and clear it, so I *know* she won't take to staying penned in the kitchen or extension

Nova can also do that, but when there is a baby gate she doesn't, I say try it.

I also say give it more then a day. If we all based our Decisions of our pets on the first day I think no one would have any. The first week to 2 weeks are the worst! Just hang in there and see if it works out.

Ashley

[Samantha Puppy]

I am going to have my husband stop at Wal-Mart on his way home tonight to get a baby gate. Samantha has always had run of the house so I'm not worried about necessarily keeping her penned behind it. And hopefully the the time Lila gets old enough to clear it herself, she'll be housebroken and able to be trusted to be loose like her big sister.

I know the beginning is the hardest. I'm just really nervous with having two dogs now, one being a new puppy that needs so much training.

[Pam]

These hard days shall pass....

When we got Bella it had been YEARS since I trained a puppy. Her predecessor died at the age of 14 so it was 14 years! I used a crate as per the breeder's suggestion and also since I had used it with my other dogs. The first night I made the mistake of having the crate downstairs. All Bella did that first night was cry. Through the wonderful folks here at PT I got the suggestion to put the crate in my room. It was like magic. She settled down and fell asleep in her crate the minute I turned my light out.

During the day while we worked she was also crated, but I am fortunate in that I work half days so the most she was crated was about 4 1/2 hours. Occasionally it was longer but not often. The breeder even said that if I was a "home all day person" that she still recommends the crate for short period in between meals, exercise and pottying. I don't think I could have survived without the crate. She didn't hate it and she learned the routine so well. She'd see me reach for my keys in the morning and she'd go into her crate.

I know it seems overwhelming right now. Actually when I was thinking of getting Bella a "sibling" I worried about going through all of the *puppy stuff* again. Fortunately for me, Ripley was already housebroken. Whew!

I think you would feel a lot better if hubby and other family members were more supportive. Let's hope they quickly grow to love Lila as much as you do and will help you more and give you a little more emotional support. (((hugs)))

[dukedogsmom]

I had an idea while reading this: How about 2 baby gates? One stacked on top of the other. That would solve the jumping problem. She sure is a doll. Just wait. It will get better. I will really look forward to seeing them both together. Glad Samantha is having fun with her. I'm so jealous of people that have two dogs.

[lbaker]

I used an old screen door between the kitchen and the dining room when the dogs were pups. I was fortunate when I first ended up with 4 dogs to raise by myself and work too - because I have a large, shady fenced yard and was able to just leave the basement door open to the yard in case of bad weather. I had to be gone 10 hrs a day and the guilt would have been intolerable had I not had those options. Did you and your husband discuss this before bringing dear little Lila home?

[ParNone]

Oh what a cutie!!!

Hang in there Sam's Mom! The first week is always the roughest as the puppy's getting adjusted to you and your routine. The first week I had Gully, I swear I thought he was Deaf. I even went so far as to ask the vet to check his ears. I finally decided the problem was me, not him. So I started working on attention stuff. I'd take his dog food and say his name, click, toss a morsel to him to eat. I did this for all 3 meals. After one day of doing this, he was a different dog. Totally focused on me. Once I got his attention, it made everything easier from housebreaking to what not to chew on, etc. So he really started to settle into a routine that 2nd week. I'd say by the 3rd week, I was getting a full night's sleep again and some of my free time back, so I felt like we were back on the trail to a sane existence.

Par...

[heinz57_79]

Major AWWWWWWW factor! She's a doll! More pics!

[jazzcat]

She's adorable!!!

[fuzzbuttbuddy]

hey get dog pen.....they really work!!!!!

samantha can have the run of the house... but set up a metle doggie pen in the kitchen... she won't jump it..and its her own space...to piddle in..

i say try it...

www.drsfostersmith.com has some really good ones! and have great free catalogs!!!!!

try it!!!!!

[lbaker]

A doggie pen! What a great idea! Sam can still keep her company and she will have more freedom than a crate. That's a great idea

[Kfamr]

Oh dear.. I really hope this does work out.


Any updates on her?

[Samantha Puppy]

She's had a couple more accidents in the house but some of them I don't think were accidental. She has taken to going out of site and peeing. But now that we're on to her, we will be curbing that.

At Aly's suggestion, we moved the crate out of our room last night and kept it downstairs by the stairs so I could still hear her. She whined for a few moments right after we put her in and then I didn't hear her until 3:30am until she barked to let me know she had to go outside. But that was the only time I had to let her out - so that's good.

Last night, my husband said that we could look into getting a pet-sitter. I contacted one this morning and set up an interview with her for Sunday morning. But when my husband found out how much it would cost ($15/visit), he canned that idea really fast. I think he's thinking of asking one of the neighborhood kids if they'd be interested in earning $20 a week and if that doesn't work... I don't know what to do.

[Kfamr]

Oh... If only we lived close, cause I'd come and give them visits daily for FREE!

Along with that you'd have a bajillion pictures of them LOL