New QI photos, mini update and thanks!!

Oh my gosh, your puppy looks like a stuffed toy himself! How cute!

Nancy in NS

Thanks. I really think he's adorable too, but then I'm a bit biased.

What a cutie!

Please pat the offended Samson for me too.

Oh Charlotte, he is so lovely. Thanks for the pictures! . In message , Charlotte Hippen writes

What a sweetheart! I don't envy you the potty training part, but he looks like he'll be worth the effort.

He is a cutie, I just got a puppy, well she was actually born at my house but sent to the mother's house at 3 days old, my animials are all out doors, but our cat is 14 years old and she has taken to the puppy really well. Now she hates her mother, who happens to belong to my nephew and they live right behind us, but I would hold the pup in my arms and gradually set her down beside the cat. The cat plays with her as if she were another cat. Now at time the cat will smack her but when he does his claws are never out. Yesterday they even started eating together, funny thing is the cat likes the puppy chow and the puppy likes the cat food. I figure by winter they will be sleeping together, the puppy is just a mutt but we love her just the same, well the cat is an alley cat too and we certainly think he hung the moon. But if you introduce the cat and puppy to each other a little at a time they will get use to each other. I trid this with the mother dog and no they never did get use to each other. I think it is the puppy thing that bonds them, one being young and one being old.

Jacquel>Photos have now been added to my QI album (webshots link is in sig. line). >

Jacqueline

Very cute! Any idea how you will be able to tell if Samson will be on the small side vs. large (20lb). Linda in Tx

What a cutie!

Awww...what a cuddly little thing he seems! I suspect he might forget how to walk if he were in my house. ;)

Charlotte.

Wow. First off Darius' coloring is gorgeous. I love his eyes.

Samson is a total doll.

A few words of advice that you may use or ignore at will. :-)

1. Get him used the rain as SOON as possible. Walk him outside no matter what. We have a wet and dry season where I live. One rescue dog REFUSED to go outside when it rained. So I had to find her a new home, where the people stayed home and could take her out. She is still going strong and they love her dearly.

1. Water regulation: Samson can drink his fill at the top of every hour, then put the dish away. In about 20 minutes take him outside and keep him outside till he goes. No water an hour before bedtime, or before he is crated (if you are using that method) or left alone.

2. Find a command that will work for potty, like Hurry Up. etc. One of my dogs it was Potty (which my ex hated :-) and the other dog's Number 2 cue is Hurry Up! You can try Now! as well. When he goes, lots and lots of praise.

1. Chew Toys: Nothing vinyl, as they tend to chip and can get lodged (per my dog trainer). I used to take old t-shirts and cut them into strips and braid them. Really helped Cliff the Mutt and me survive his chewing stage, and was a LOT cheaper then the rope toys, which he dearly loves now.

2. Nylabones are your best friend and Samson's. These things are great.

1. Rotate the toys. Get him a selection. Swap them out every couple of days. Dogs get bored too. That again is per my dog trainer. Worked with Cliff. Teach him how to fetch, and tug of war without being aggressive.

2. Food: Dogs can be taught EARLY to wait for their food. Took Cliff a couple of days. He's a little guy, but I didn't want to get tripped on the way to his food dish. Every dog we have waits in a Sit Command, till I put their food bowl down and release them with ", Go Ahead" (PS this doesn't work with cats. ;-)

1. Crating and or holding it: puppies can only be expected to hold it according to the following formula:

age in months + 1 = length of time in hours puppy can be expected to hold before an accident.

With water and food regulation to can extend that somewhat. But still, cannot be expected to truly hold it for 8 hours till he is about 7 months old.

1. If you like it, don't put it where he can reach it. :-) Cliff loved everything Mom. Wouldn't go after hubby's stuff, only mine as I was the one he bonded with.

1. Have lots of fun and post lots of picture. He's gorgeous.

Jenn > Photos have now been added to my QI album (webshots link is in sig. line). >

See comments with in the post.