Author Topic: Lulu's first day home!!! (Read 1219 times)

mylulu · « **on:** April 08, 2009, 10:31:13 AM »

Hi everyone,

So Lulu (11 week old shorkie pup) is coming home tomorrow. Any advice for making the transition as smooth as possible? I am open to anything you got! Thanks!

Ann · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2009, 02:46:12 PM »

WOW Congratulations!!!!!!!

Plenty of cuddles, put a little ticking clock in a jumper in beside her when she goes to bed at night. The clock reprecents mums heart beat.

You must be getting excited.

Good Luck!!!

brenlynn · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2009, 03:00:32 PM »

congrats and good luck!! i know when i brought roxy home, i took a week off of work to be home with her all the time. nights were VERY rough for about two weeks... we tried every trick in the book... the clock, a shirt with my scent on it, a radio so she heard someone talking, just about everything. we finally caved and brought her in the bedroom with a crate, so maybe try that right off the bat so lulu gets used to it.

Mai Tai · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2009, 03:30:12 PM »

We also put a crate in our bedroom, right at the foot of the bed, and Mai tai has slept there without crying every night since. We also sent a blanket to the breeder to have Mai Tai, his mom and siblings sleep on so it had their scent on it and then brought it home with us and put it in his crate with him so he would still have their scent with him. You can take a towel or blanket with you and rub it on Lulu's sibling so you can have it with you at home. Also, try not to play too much with her for the first few days and give her a chance to get adjusted. Cesar Milan says to take the puppy for a good walk before bringing them in the house so they can be more relaxed. Best of luck. Hope this all helps. Let us know how it goes.

Mojie · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2009, 06:37:48 PM »

Hi and congrats on lulu coming home! I have had Baxter for 3 weeks and he is 13 weeks old. The first night with us, he slept in a carrier which I put next to the couch that I slept on. We have a downstairs TV room/kids playroom. I slept on the couch (my back is still a bit sore) so that if Bax whined or barked, he would not wake the entire family. He never barked one night. When he would wimper-which was about every three hours, I would wake up and put him in the kennel cage, which was lined with pee pads. I would say go teetee. He would. I would praise hime, but NOT play with him (and didn't talk to him). This was strictly a business trip- and then it was back to the carrier. I didn't want him to think he could "cute" his way into a play session each time. He would go right back to sleep. I had one soft toy and one Kong chew toy in there with him so he had "company". This went on for a week. No barking, and every three hours he wimpered to tell me "I have to go". After a week, I moved him into an exercise pen with sort of a walk-thru divider to separate the play and sleep side from the potty side. On the play side was a doggy bed, toys and water bowl. On the potty side, a couple of pee pads (he knew what these were for from the kennel downstairs)This setup was close to my bedroom, so he could see my bed. I crossed my fingers and went to bed. He wimpered a little, so I showed him the pee pad (I ALWAYS say go teetee) then went back to bed. He figured wimpering was a potty signal and since he didn't have to go potty, he curled up and went to sleep in his bed. He barked one time that night for about a minute, but I completely ignored him. I didn't even move to look at hime cuz i didn't want him to see that the bark meant anything to me. It worked! phew! He stopped and that is the last time he has barked at night. He still sleeps in the exercise pen. The nice thing about the pen is it is 8 pieces hinged together so you can shape it any way you like. there is no bottom in it, so I put a sheet down. the whole thing folds flat for traveling, and it can be moved outside in nice weather under a shade tree.

Maybe this is too much information, but it worked for me.

Good luck with whatever setup you do, and happy puppying!!!

Mojie

mylulu · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2009, 07:49:08 AM »

Thank you so much for all of the tips! I'll let you know how tonight goes! I think I'm going to send my husband out to buy this pillow toy that is shaped like a dog bone, but has the heart beat sound in it. I am so anxious! I also wanted to know what I should do about the feeding schedule? The breeder had food available to the puppies at all times, but for potty training purposes, I want to start feeding her at scheduled times throughout the day. I am scared that she won't eat the food when I place it in front of her because she's used to having access to it everyday. Anyone have any advice how to transition her to scheduled feedings?

Cobysmom · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2009, 09:54:01 AM »

good luck tonight! I'm so excited for you I still have 6 weeks before we get Cody

! Where did you find the bone pillow that has the heart beat that sounds really nice I may have to pick one up too

Mojie · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2009, 10:10:09 AM »

Hi,

My breeder told me to feed Baxter three times a day 8-2-8 (and pick it up if he doesn't eat it after 15 mins.)....My vet said leave it out all the time (so their blood sugar levels stay balanced, because small breeds are prone to hypoglycemia)....I read many other suggestions....too much contradicting info!

What do I actually do? Put it out at 8-2-8 and leave it til he eats it...even tho it takes him about 30-40 minutes to nibble at it and finish it. He has not had probs with low blood sugar, and he seems healthy. He is 13 weekds old and 6-7 lbs.

Good luck!

mylulu · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2009, 11:38:12 AM »

The pillow with the heartbeat is at Petsmart. And about the feeding, Lulu is 11 weeks old and 2 pounds (only 2 hours till she gets here!)! So I am worrying about her blood sugar levels. Today I will probably leave out the food for her and then tomorrow try what you are doing with the leaving out the food until she's done eating it. Thanks again!

brenlynn · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:43:26 PM »

feeding schedules are tough... i grew up with a black lab and she ate all her food as soon as it was placed in front of her. roxy on the other hand nibbles. i leave her food out all day because she did get really sick one time and i am very convinced it had everything to do with the fact she does not eat as much as she should. she tends to eat the most overnight. the only time she will usually eat the entire serving is when i give her dry with canned mixed, which is seldom.

i didn't really like the heartbeat bone, roxy tried to tear it apart and it only turned on when they had to press on it and being as small as she is, i don't think she was able to press it hard enough. i feel like a ticking clock wrapped in a shirt works much better because it is constant. they sell stuffed animals and stuff on the internet that have heartbeats also, i am not sure if they have to be pressed also or if they have an on-off switch. good luck with lulu! looking forward to seeing some photos, hopefully!!!

Mojie · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2009, 06:21:38 PM »

just one more note about the blood sugar....keep some DYNE (Jefferspet.com) or Karo syrup on hand because if the sugar gets too low , this is a quick way to get the sugar in their system the fastest. My vet carries another product that works like the DYNE, but I can't recall the name of it. But you just give them a serving on a teaspoon (they can lick it off) or get a medicine syringe (no needle obviously) which you just put it in their mouth. Talk to your breeder or vet about dosage for your doggie's weight. Good luck!!

I bet you're sooooo excited!

Mai Tai · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2009, 05:36:12 AM »

We bought some stuff for Mai Tai also in case of low blood sugar. It was called NutriCal. They sell it at petsmart in a tube. We never had to use it though, since Mai Tai is such a big chooch. We fed him at 8-1-6, until he was about 6 months old then we went to 8 and 6. I don't like to feed or give water after 6, so that he doesn't need to pee or poop during the night. After 6, if he seems thirsty, we give him ice cubes which he loves. Because of his feeding schedule, we can pretty much predict when he will poop, so it has made our lives easier. Mai tai is on the big side for Shorkies (12.5 lbs) so he can tolerate a schedule better. I have a friend who owns 5 chihuahua's and she leaves food out all day because they are small and do get low blood sugar. I think you will get to know Lulu's system and work it out from there. Good Luck and let us know how you do. It really is so exciting.

mylulu · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2009, 03:29:35 PM »

So we survived Lulu's first night home! She cried for 30 seconds and then did not make another sound the entire night! She is already using her indoor dog potty on her own and her favorite thing is to cuddle with me! I couldn't be happier!

codysmom · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2009, 03:37:47 PM »

Yeah! I'm so glad the first night(and day it sounds like) went so good. That's great she's already using using the potty by herself!

Mai Tai · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2009, 07:52:30 PM »

That is fantastic. Isn't it great to have them and just sit with them? I am so glad she did not cry. Good luck and keep us posted.

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