Welcome Home Mai Tai

[Ann]

Good luck Karen. Hope Mai Tai settles in well . I can't wait to see your photo's. Give him a big hug and Kiss for me.

[Mai Tai]

Ann,
That was so sweet of you to remember we were getting Mai Tai today.  We actually ended up getting him last night as my friend was too busy today to bring him to my house.  I went to her house yesterday and picked him up.  Needless to say, I have been very busy ever since.  He is a sweet, sweet ball of fluff.  He has not one aggressive bone in his body, Thank God.  I am a little concerned because he seems very sleepy today, but I think that may be normal as it is a new house and he was at the vets yesterday and had shots.  I just have what happened to Rowan in the back of my mind and it is making me a little concerned.  Mai Tai slept all night last night and only cried when he could not see us, which may become a problem, but I hope not.  He is fine in his crate as long as he can see one of us.  He even went into the crate on his own tonight after being out for a failed potty attempt.  It is after 11 and he has not peed since 6, so that has me concerned too.  He had enough water today, but I took the bowl up around 6:30, so he won't have to go in the middle of the night.  Was that too soon to take it up?  Also, he is not eating as well as he did at home, but that is to be expected too.  I picked up some NutriCal paste just in case.  Anyway, I am babbling.  Can you tell I am excited?  He is doing great with my cats too.  He growled once, I told him no and he has not done it since.  Amazing. Well I had better get some sleep while I have the chance.  Thanks for reading all this.  I am sure I will tell you more soon.

Take Care,
karen

[Ann]

Don't worry too much about him being quiet as I find Toby is that way when he has had a big day the day before. when I got Toby he cried all the time when I put him in a room where he didn't see me in the end I gave up and brought him into my bedroom. I put his bed beside ours and told him to go to sleep (This was when I was sure he was toilet trained). He has been going there ever since and I have never had any trouble with him going to bed, When I go to bed he just goes straight into his and goes to sleep. On the very odd ocasion he has woken me up but it has been for a good reason to go to the toilet etc. One day I was very sick with a migrane and had to stay in bed. My husband got up and tried to get Toby to leave the room and go with him but he wouldn't leave my side accept for to go to the toliet. I was so amazed.

I do understand your concern after rowen mommy but remember you know the breeder of your pup and I'm sure you trust them.
He will settle down just give him time.
Toby didn't eat or drink much for the first week. I was so worried I kept ringing the vets asking all sorts of questions. I'm sure they got fed up with me.

I know that your also concerned because they are so small and vunrable that you get very worried about them and if you feel that there might be some concern you go ahead and ring the vet and ask questions. As I beleive that you can never be too carful.

Congraulations on your new additon to your family lol

[Mai Tai]

Hi Ann,

Thanks for all the advice.  Mai Tai seems perkier today, but that boy sure can hold his bladder.  I take him out every half hour or so, but he held it for 5 hours.  I guess that is good.  I will soon start to be able to predict when he has to go.  He does not like to go outside as it is too cold.  He tries to sit on my feet to keep warm.  I finally had to buy wee wee pads to use outside so he can go on them.  That seems to work, though I hope I am not giving him bad habits.  I have to go take him out now, so I will write more later.  Thanks again, so much.

[Mai Tai]

Wow, what a good puppy Mai Tai is.  He is great with kids.  I had my 5, along with 4 other children over yesterday, and he was gentle and good with all of them.  I had to make him take a nap for his own protection. Crate training is proving to be a little problem though, as he poops in the crate and does not seem to mind.  I have it sectioned off so it is a small area for him.  I make sure he has done all his business before he goes in.  He sleeps in my room so I can hear if he whines to go out.  He never whines to go out, yet in the morning I find fresh poop in the crate, at the very end closest to the door, as if he did not want to have it in the crate.  What should I do?  My friend had 9 dogs in the house along with Mai Tai, and I think the puppies pooped in their bed and the mom just cleaned it up, so Mai tai may not know that he should not be going there.  I never yell or scold, as that would not help.  I give him treats whenever he goes outside and poops for me.  Do you think this will pass?  Any ideas would be appreciated.  Other than that, he is just perfect.  I gave him a bath today, and he loved it.  I really love this kind of dog.

[Ann]

I don't know much about crating as I never did it. Please don't get me wrong I have nothing against it.The only sugestion I can give as far as him pooing in his crate is try cleaning the area with vinegar after he does it. I found Toby very quiet at first and he also would have accidents because he would get up and go to the door with out crying or anything. He learned to jump up at my side of the bed and wake me. He will also wimper a little now when he needs to go if we don't get up striaght away, but at first he will just stand at the door.
They are reasonably quiet dogs. Which is another plus for shorkies!!!

[Mai Tai]

I agree, they are reasonably quiet dogs.  Mai Tai rarely barks or whines, only when he cannot see us.  I did find that he growls at the neighbors dog though, which I find strange, since he is soooooooo submissive to people.  I hope he is not a dog aggressive dog.  I will be taking him to puppy socialization classes as soon as all of his shots are done, at around 16 weeks or so. 

[Studiogirl]

Benji is pretty quiet too. The only time he really barks is when the neighbors are walking their dog and he can see them from the balcony. He's great at the park with every dog and person he comes across.

[Mai Tai]

Benji is adorable.  How big is he now?

[Ann]

Toby barks and growls at dogs and cats and anything that comes near the house but as soon as they come in the yard he is all over them wanting to play. So please don't get worried about the growling that is a normal thing to do. You will find that puppy pre school will be great and I'm very gald you are takeing him it does help with their socialising. I took Toby and found it the best.

I will say though with the growling, when I take Toby to obedience training he sometimes growls to get the other dogs attention and it worries me that the other dogs might attack him but I was assured that the other dogs would understand that he just wants to play. I still try to stop him though just in case. 

[Mai Tai]

I try to stop Mai Tai from growling too, but when is it ok for them to bark and growl?  Mai Tai was barking and growling at my daughter's hand held video game today, and I made him stop.  I don't want him to pick up any little obsessive or irrational fears and ticks.  Also, he barked and growled at some men playing baseball in the field past our yard.  I stopped him, but felt he was just being playful 

[Ann]

Yes he is just being playful but anything that you don't want him to do you do need to stop him now,cause if you leave it it will be harder later. It sounds like you are doing very well with him. It's just like with a child you make a desision on each situation on whether or not it is harmful and act on it accordingley. I think you will trian him very well. Just as you need to be with children you must be consistant.

[Mai Tai]

He makes it very easy.  I just have to say, "EH," when I am not happy with a behavior and he stops right away.  I don't even let him look at the cats with any kind of interest as that will lead to chasing, and now he ignores them.  We give him plenty of play, with a ball, nylabone, rope, etc., but we don't play aggressive games like tug of war.  I am going to go on a website and see what good games there are to play with puppies so that he does not get bored.  He loves to run with my daughters, but I only allow that for about 15 mins at a time as he is still a very young guy.  Anyway, thanks for your encouragment.  It sounds like you have done all these things with Toby too.  I know you said he is great with your grandchildren.  How old is he now?  I wish you the best.

[Ann]

Toby is 2 years and 7 months. He is still the same with my granddaughter as he was when he was a puppy.

[Mai Tai]

That is great to hear.  I hope he never changes.