Well here we are again. It is 29th October and Barney and his brothers and sisters are just over three weeks old. Barney is the second light coloured puppy at the front of the basket, up against his sister with the pink dot. All the puppies are equally adorable, but Barney left the others sleeping to stumble over to us (they have only just started moving around). I would like to say that he chose us - the fact that his mother had just gone out the door had nothing to do with it!!!!He seemed very relaxed to be with us, taking in our voices and cuddling up. I can tell that we are going to get very little done when he comes home. Talking of which, November 26th is 'Barney Day' - 4 weeks to wait. In the meantime, we have been doing lots of reading as to the best way to look after a new puppy. Times and ideas change - problem is, there is so much conflicting advice. With regard to puppys' first night home - many (including Victoria Stilwell of 'Its me or the dog' fame), say that puppy should sleep in a dog crate in your bedroom, so that he knows you are there, hopefully reducing the trauma of separation - he can also be easily taken out in the night for his 'bathroom stop' (this is going to be fun at 3.00 am in December!!). On the other hand, other experts say that the puppy should sleep where you intend him to sleep and he will soon 'get over' the separation, and that if you let him sleep in your bedroom you are creating a problem!!! Both make sense. Looking at the expression on Jonathans' face, I think you can gather that his hardline rule of dogs not being allowed to sleep in the bedroom, has just flown out the window!!!!! Watch this space as to the sleeping arrangements! We are going to go back to see Barney in a couple of weeks time - just for another cuddle. Really difficult to leave him, but he has a bit more growing to do before he starts his 'big adventure'.
Well here we are again. It is 29th October and Barney and his brothers and sisters are just over three weeks old. Barney is the second light coloured puppy at the front of the basket, up against his sister with the pink dot. All the puppies are equally adorable, but Barney left the others sleeping to stumble over to us (they have only just started moving around). I would like to say that he chose us - the fact that his mother had just gone out the door had nothing to do with it!!!!
He seemed very relaxed to be with us, taking in our voices and cuddling up. I can tell that we are going to get very little done when he comes home. Talking of which, November 26th is 'Barney Day' - 4 weeks to wait. In the meantime, we have been doing lots of reading as to the best way to look after a new puppy. Times and ideas change - problem is, there is so much conflicting advice. With regard to puppys' first night home - many (including Victoria Stilwell of 'Its me or the dog' fame), say that puppy should sleep in a dog crate in your bedroom, so that he knows you are there, hopefully reducing the trauma of separation - he can also be easily taken out in the night for his 'bathroom stop' (this is going to be fun at 3.00 am in December!!). On the other hand, other experts say that the puppy should sleep where you intend him to sleep and he will soon 'get over' the separation, and that if you let him sleep in your bedroom you are creating a problem!!! Both make sense. 
Looking at the expression on Jonathans' face, I think you can gather that his hardline rule of dogs not being allowed to sleep in the bedroom, has just flown out the window!!!!! Watch this space as to the sleeping arrangements! We are going to go back to see Barney in a couple of weeks time - just for another cuddle. Really difficult to leave him, but he has a bit more growing to do before he starts his 'big adventure'.
