Routine

Since I have become a new mother, I just cannot help myself. I am constantly reading and researching for tips on dog training and behavior. The one thing that is consistent in all of my readings has been consistency in training and commands and scheduling to aid in potty training. With it just being Kaleb and I, it has not been too hard to stay a united front in Bauer's training and schedule. After all, we are the pack leaders. Most articles claim that staying on a schedule helps the dog to stay balanced and happy, and so far it seems to be working like a charm!

From the second day we got him we have been exposing him to new people and places fairly consistently while taking along his own crate, blanket, and toys for comfort. He has been to several Oklahoma State football game days to root on the Pokes and play with his puppy cousin Indy Ana Jones, to a fraternity house, and on several visits with the grandparents to explore the farm and play with his big dog uncle, Duece. This has worked extremely well with him. He is very social both with people and other dogs and is not afraid of much of anything new. He is just curious, and whenever he gets cautious, we just encourage him and reward him for trying new things.

We have also settled into a really comfortable routine with the little brown dog. In the mornings after he goes out to potty, we let him come onto the bed to cuddle and play before the day starts. He really looks forward to this, and after pottying will go and stand by the door and wait for the one of us that got up with him to put him into bed. After a little cuddle and wake-up time, he eats breakfast and hangs out until time for us to go to work. Then we put him in his outside kennel to play until his lunch break, and then again until after work. After I get home in the evenings, we play a little fetch in the yard and go for a nice brisk walk. We started him out right after we got him going on short walks to get him used to the leash, and we are consistently adding some additional distance. He loves it, and he so much better behaved when he has this kind of positive outlet for his puppy energy. After his walk, he gets to eat and then spends time playing with us and his toys throughout the evening. He could play fetch forever, and he loves to retrieve his duck! Typically he winds down by about 9 or so and catnaps or lays on his bed until bed time. Then, he goes out one last time to potty and goes into his crate for the night.

The Grandparents Came to Visit!

On their way home after going to Colorado for a week to four wheel in the mountains with their friends, the little brown dog's grandparents stopped in to spend part of the weekend and meet him for the first time. Bauer just loves a slumber party! He just loved them, and they loved him too. I don't know how long it is going to take to break him of all of the new bad habits, but man he had fun!


Getting some attention from "Poppy," and thinking... "I have got him wrapped around my finger already!"

He played so hard that at the end of the night he crashed. He definitely loves a slumber party!

Water!!

It is a fact that most Labs love the water. From early on, we have been exposing Bauer to the water and making it fun for him in the back yard, but we want to expose him to all kinds of water since he will hopefully be a duck dog. So, when we went to Kaleb's parents for the afternoon on Sunday, we took him to the creek. We were a little nervous that maybe he wouldn't love it. Kaleb took him and put him in the water, and he wasn't super sure. Then he followed Kaleb around for a bit. About that time, his dog uncle Duece came running by and splashed into the water, and Bauer took off chasing him. He had a blast and even got into water over his head and had to swim a bit. It was great, and as you can see from the pictures... I think he liked it!

Crate Training

I have read how important it is to crate train your puppy to help with potty training and to help your puppy have a safe place or den of their own. From the time we brought him home we began crate training. We had purchased a wire crate with an adjustable divider so he only had room to sleep and not to play. We also put a soft blanket and one of his toys in the bottom.

Bauer's first night was a little rough. He woke up about every three hours, so we would take him out to potty and then kneel down beside his crate and tell him firmly to go to sleep. You could tell he just missed his puppy brothers and sisters and was adjusting to his new family. It worked pretty well once he figured out that he was ok even though things were new, and he was not going to get out to play. However, we were soooo exhausted the next morning after a night of taking turns getting up with him. The second night, after going to Stillwater to meet his Aunt Sarah and Uncle Cayton, he was tuckered out. He slept through the entire night without whining! Now, six nights in, he is consistently sleeping through the night and only waking up in the morning to go out. During the day while we are at work, we are also crating him. He is doing so well, no whining or complaining so far... just happiness to see us when we come home.

Also, I had read about hanging a bell on your doorknob and ringing it whenever you take your puppy out to potty to train him to ring the bell to go out. Eventually you can take the bell down, and the dog will just go to the door when they want out. So, I decided to try it. I got jingle bells from Hobby Lobby and hung them from the doorknob on a lanyard. Remarkably, two days later... HE IS RINGING THE BELL TO GO OUT!! The hardest part about it is that whenever they ring the bell while they are learning, you have to let them out. So, when I am in the floor playing with him and he rings the bell, I am trying not to take offense. I am sure it has nothing to do with him not wanting to play with me... I am cool... And, he loves me, after all! :)

Bringing Home Baby!

Today is my 27th Birthday, and although I was out of town all week on a business trip,my husband drove three hours to go pick up Bauer, so I could have him on my Birthday. Such a sweetie!! So, I came home to the two sweetest boys that a girl could ever ask for! I know this is going to sound silly, but I instantly fell in love him. With Kaleb it took months, but this was instant. This must be a fraction of what it feels like to become a parent for real.

Seven Week Pictures

After the puppies had their shots at 6 weeks they could finally go outside for pictures. There is nothing cuter than a Chocolate Lab puppy! Here are some of my favorites...

Puppy Pick Day!

Today we got to pick out our puppy. From the early pictures Kaleb and I have had a favorite two puppies. We were so scared since we were not the first or second pick that both of them would be gone by the time it was our turn. Luckily, only one of our picks was chosen when our turn came. Whoo Hoo!! Since there were seven males in the litter, the breeder has been identifying them by the names of the seven dwarfs. We picked Happy! We just hope he is true to his dwarf name, and is a happy little guy! He seems super social and inquisitive! Here are some pictures of him over the past few weeks...


At three weeks... Isn't he so cute just laying there like, "Yeah, I am cute. Pick me."


At five weeks... A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!