Mia puppy is now 12 weeks old. She has been with us an entire month...plus. Where has the time gone? She is growing up so quickly and we are enjoying every minute!
The happiest event of puppy raising seems to be when they can go outdoors to potty solo! And I am happy to report Mia goes outside with the big dogs now. I open the door and she runs out with Alli collie and Ezra. She is able to pop down the deck steps (three steps total) and do her banking and then head back inside with her pack. I am so thankful for this turn of events, as we have had a few very cold days. Temperatures in the single digits with them plunging below zero a couple times...cold, cold, cold! I'm also thankful that these extremly cold conditions have not deterred Mia's brave heart from facing the elements to dutifully do her business in the great outdoors! I now get to stand at the door and watch, so I can be sure I know she has done the deed. I do have to give a big thank you to Alli collie for helping me train Mia to use the deck steps. I directed Alli to jump off the side of the deck which has the steps and she dutifully did so. She also would wait for Mia puppy to get around to doing her banking and then happily bound up the steps of the deck at my direction...Mia following every step of the way!
I am pleased that both Alli and Ezra have fully accepted Mia as part of the family pack. Even Maui kitty has thoroughly embraced Ms. Mia puppy. Everyone loves her and seems to enjoy the breath of fresh happy air that only a puppy can bring to a household. Both 10 year old Ezra and 8 year old Alli have been playing like puppies with little Mia! What a sweet sight!
Mia has been such an accomodating puppy from the start. At first we let her outside for the last time around 11 pm to potty. She would then wake us up about 5 am. Good puppy! Now 4 weeks later, Mia turns in at 11 pm and doesn't wake us up until around 6:30 am. She is coming right along.
I just read an excellent article questioning whether to allow your puppy/dogs to share your bed. The article pointed out several good thoughts on the pros and cons. First and foremost the decision to allow your dog in bed is a very personal one and there are no right or wrong answers. You also have to take into account the personality of the dog in question. Some dogs are not able to make it through the night without having an accident in the house. Some dogs are not able to go through the night without hopping off the bed and getting into mischief. These dogs are best confined during the night. Waking up to a huge mess is not something anyone of us find amusing. Some dogs are just too big and take up too much space on the bed and it is important that the human be allowed to comfortably rest through the night, right?
I also found the author's thoughts on why some trainer's recommend a no tolerance on dogs in beds interesting and worth sharing. It seems to go hand in hand with the more dominance style of dog training. Although, there are some dogs who truly can get a bit dominant and even aggressive about the bed, but I must add, usually these dogs are also allowed to be dominate in many other areas of life with their human. So they truly need intervention. In which case, contact me, I can help. :)
My husband and I have agreed that our dogs may share our bed. We have often been happy that we had a "3 dog night" when it is cold. Dogs are the best foot warmers! We have experienced that the benefits far out weigh the disadvantages. And I have to add here, it is a great advantage to already have good doggy role models in place to help our new puppy learn the ropes from the very first night. Thankfully we are both light enough sleepers who are aroused when the little puppy wakes and waddles around the bed saying they have to go outside.
Our puppies join us in bed from day one and we all get a good night's sleep from the start. With exception of our larger collie puppies, who often stay in a crate the first few months. Because of their size, they are able to jump off the bed and find a place in the house to relieve themselves. But once they are fully potty trained we allow them to make the decision to join us. Oddly enough, most of our collies will join us on bed at one point, but most of the time our collies just seem to enjoy their space and the ability to stretch out. Often times they will jump off and enjoy the doggy beds that we place by our bed.
Our Jack Russell Terrier puppies have been the easiest by far. Their diminutive size makes it easy for them to find a small space and snuggle right in between us and sleep happily until they wake us to use the great outdoors. Sweet Mia has fit our night time routine without one hitch.
Mia is an inquisitive and curious puppy, which I find very nice. Every new experience is a happy adventure and it is so easy to build on her outgoing nature and personality. She is socializing well with our ponies, our kitty, our other dogs and our grandchildren!
It has been 8 years since we have welcomed a new puppy to our family! As a dog trainer, I know how active a puppy can be. We thought long and hard before adding a new puppy to our home and family. Realizing in the span of 8 years we may have forgetten just how much energy it takes to train a bouncy new puppy.
We are so thankful we decided to go ahead and welcome sweet Mia to our family! She has been such a joy to us already in the 4 short weeks since her arrival. I am enjoying watching her grow and getting to know her personality. Such fun to develop her talents and gifts. I often wonder what is in store... Each of our dogs have taught us so very much and have taken us on new adventures. What dreams may come...the skies the limit!
And as always...Happy Trails!
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