Hooch came home..help!

DukesMom · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:10 am Post subject:

Pretty soon he won't be sleeping as much. Enjoy it while you can! Gracie is usually asleep, then up to potty, then eat/drink, then plays for 1/2 hour - 1 hour and then she's tired again. I watch her and play with her and love on her while she's awake, but the minute she gets sleepy I am thrilled and she's off to the crate. That's when I get my cooking, cleaning, laundry, phone calls etc etc done. It's great! Duke has gotten pretty easy and I don't have to worry about him much. Don't walk around the house tip toeing and trying not to wake him up. Just go about your business as you normally would. And maybe try leaving the TV on for him at night?

hoochmamas · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject:

sounds good. i think i am going to sleep on the couch bed for a couple of weeks in the den where he is crated.. just so we all can get some rest. today i am putting him in alot! i even opened it before when he was sleeping, and he looked at me, and went right back to sleep in there with the door open for another 15 minutes while we all went about our business in the house. the vet said no public walking until 16 weeks!! does that sound right to you?! i thought we would be clear, but rabies and parvo vaccines aren't until 16 weeks.. oh well. thanks for all of the encouragement..

DukesMom · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject:

Yes the Vet is right. He should have his Parvo at 8 wks 12 wks 16 wks and Rabies at 18wks. There has been a huge Parvo outbreak where I live and I have to be very careful. The rabies isn't as big of a risk at this point. Unfortunately they need lots of socializing during this time so take him over to "safe" friends/family members houses and invite lots of people over-especially if they have vaccinated friendly dogs they can bring. I would sleep on the couch for longer if I had to just so everyone gets sleep. And in/out of the crate all day long! Sometimes door closed/sometimes door open. And just go about your business. Usually when Gracie is in there resting/sleeping and I walk by she kinda opens her eyes and might lift her head but then she lays right back down. Just a bit ago she was really getting vocal in there and I thought "what the heck?" I let her out and she RAN to the door to go out. She had to poop Wink

hoochmamas · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:19 am Post subject:

lol.. we have a few friends with very friendly dogs and fenced in yards, so puppy play dates are in order. obedience classes start up soon, as well. he gained 4 pounds since he came home! he's gonna be a hearty one..
my instincts were correct.. slept in the crate initially without a peep with me in sight on the couch.. still had to pee 2x, and protested a little after going outside about not snuggling on the couch with me and having to go back in his crate, but nothing like what i know he is capable of.. was over it within 2 minutes. once he can sleep through the night i think i will move the crate for bedtime into my son's room. patience, love, patience, love...

DukesMom · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:55 am Post subject:

anne · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject:

DukesMom · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:24 pm Post subject:

Really Anne? I had no idea on the rabies. Unfortunately it's too late for Duke as he got it at 18 weeks.

DukesMom · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:26 pm Post subject:

And I have tried to read the k9 recommendations on the website you provided many times, but I just get an error message.

DukesMom · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject:

And I must add that I am unhappy with all of the Vets in our town and don't really know who to go to. I did discuss with my Vet the issues with autoimmune disorders in Weims and she was a little on the abrupt side with me for even questioning her. Her response was that she had never had any problems with any of the Weims that she's vaccinated (which I doubt are many). I don't like my old Vet because he is just way too pushy and the Vet that I was taking my dogs to before that for the same reason. I am really so confused on all of this as well as when the best time to spay and neuter. This Vet says one thing, another Vet another and people here say something totally different! My Vet said that we had to ignore Duke's 6 week shots by the breeder because chances are the Mother's antibodies fought it off anyways. Than my Vet insisted on a 4th Parvo booster because of the recent outbreak here. It's just so hard to know what to do. I don't want to put my dogs at risk for Parvo or any other disorders, ya know?

anne · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:17 pm Post subject:

I totally understand and it's apersonal issue. And always an issue of weighing the pros and cons.
I do not follow the WCA protocol BTW.
Rabies... remember there are legal issues with the age you get it done. If possible I like to wait. The reason is that the chances of a dog getting rabies is very slim. The immune system matures at 6-12 mos. So the best reaction you will get is when they are older. Parvo of course is a puppy dieases so you want ot be sure they areprotected.

DukesMom · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject:

Anne, please see your email about the two female weims at the shelter.

DukesMom · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject:

And how is our Hooch doing?

hoochmamas · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject:

hey there. he is like a different pup. he crates quite often during the day for naps with zero protest, and sleeps in it securely as long as one of us in on the couch.. we don't even turn it anymore, just move the cover so he has a little peek-a-boo window to see out of.. still pees 2x a night, but goes right back in his crate after.. maybe at the 4am pee he will whimper for less than 2 minutes, but the panic is gone. we are no longer feeding him meals in there, and he started puppy preschool this week.. he is quite timid around other dogs, and my hissing cat, but warms up quickly to a friendly vibe.
i have become the alpha dog, so he acts out a little bit with cassy, but we are working on it.. i am with him 85% of the time, and DO NOT give in to his cute face. he has to earn everything from me.. she's a bit easier to push over.. he is now banned from the couch until he accepts everyone as the pack leader.. sucks cause now when i want to snuggle, i have to lay down on HIS couch, and only for a few minutes.. so sad.. but worth it in the long run. thank you for all of your help and support.
love him to pieces..
how are your 2 star pupils doing? they are so beautiful..

DukesMom · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject:

Thank you for the compliment! My dogs are doing good. We've had a bit of a setback in the potty training with Gracie cause it's been pouring down rain for the last 3 days and she doesn't like to go outside in the rain. She's been going in her crate or Dukes crate to pee! I just finished washing all her bedding (again) with tons of vinegar to remove the smell, folded it nicely and made a nice little bed for her in her crate and turned my back for one second....and yep she pee'd on it! I just threw my hands up in the air and said "I give" until this rain stops!!! Grrrr....she was doing so well too. But the crate training is great! I put her in there tons throughout the day (she's in there now). Well it sounds like Hooch is doing great and will make you a fine dog some day. Just keep it up!!!

hoochmamas · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject:

is it still raining, duke and gracie's mama or is gracie back on track?
hooch slept from 9 to 4am before he woke me to pee.. not counting on a repeat, but it was nice to get a solid 6 hours of sleep!