Jennifer Lyon


Monday, November 1st, 2010
I Got Two Things

This weekend I got to things:

A stomach bug and…

This is Sadie, an 8 week old shepherd mix. We got her late Saturday–I love her. Wizard and I were instantly impulsive smitten.

But I’m going to be honest, I’m not 100% sure we can do this with such a little puppy. We’re going to try, and I want this to work! But OMG it’s a lot of work.  We’re trying to crate train her and get her to, you know, sleep at night.  PLEASE!!!

It’s seriously bad timing that I’m sick.  That’s why I don’t sound excited by the way.  I am–but overwhelmed too! And worried.

How was your weekend? (I may be slow to answer…this week (month!)is going to be a huge challenge.

13 comments to “I Got Two Things”

  1. B.E. Sanderson
    November 1st, 2010 at 8:11 am · Link

    First off, Boo that you’re sick. I hope you feel better soon.

    Now…

    SQUEE! OMG, Sadie is so cute. I’m so happy you finally got your dog, Jen, and yay for Wizard falling in love with her, too. You guys will make awesome puppy parents. =o)

    Starting out with such a bitty-baby might be hard, but I’m betting it’ll be worth it. I’ve never gotten a pup quite that young. My youngest adopted dog was 12 wks when we got him, and I had another dog at the time to help with training, but he was my baby.



  2. Val
    November 1st, 2010 at 8:14 am · Link

    Congratulations! Wizard finally came to his senses. Have faith, with some time and patience Sadie will learn and then you will have a friend for life.

    Hope you feel better soon, being sick sucks, especially when you have a lot to accomplish.

    My weekend was relaxing, didn’t do much at all.



  3. Silver James
    November 1st, 2010 at 9:58 am · Link

    OMGOMGOMG SQUEEEEEEEEEEE! Sadie is such a cutie! Crate training is the way to go. Buy puppy pads to line the crate with. They are so much easier to deal with cleanup. Give her an old shirt of towel that you’ve worn/used. Your smell on it will help calm her at night. Dogs are pack animals and she’ll want to be with you whenever she can. I know it’s a pain, especially when you’re sick, but as soon as she eats, take her outside to do her “bidness.” Do the same if she gets a big drink. She’ll get it figured out soon enough, especially when you tell her she’s a good dog when she goes. There may be some “oops” along the way. A mixture of white vinegar, water, and dish soap will clean the spot. Put down a puppy pad there, just in case. Once again, easier clean up.

    Being sick, having revisions, and new puppy will be an exercise in “OMG What was I thinking!?!” but y’all can do this. Just look at her big puppy eyes. Hang in there!

    I was sick most of the weekend, too, but I think I’ve about got this darn flu licked! Today started NaNoWriMo for me so I’ll be scarce this month, at least until I meet my word goal every day. No, I haven’t yet this morning but I needed a break while my brain mulls over which direction to take this scene I’m working on. I have a good chunk of words under my belt so far, so I’m good.

    Hang in there! And OMG SQUEEEE! I love Sadie. :D



  4. Gretchen
    November 1st, 2010 at 10:01 am · Link

    Your new puppy is too cute!! Congrats! My husband and I did the puppy thing 3 times and I hear you on the crate training but after the countless all night crying sessions they now couldn’t live without their crates. It helped mine to have them covered with a blanket so it was more “den” like. We also would leave them in there for just a few hours at a time – so we could get some sleep too ;)

    Good luck with her and I hope you get to feeling better soon!



  5. Jen Lyon
    November 1st, 2010 at 10:07 am · Link

    B.E., thanks! I love her already but I’m not sure Wizard can do this. We may not be puppy parents, which is hard to admit. So we’ll see.



  6. Jen Lyon
    November 1st, 2010 at 10:09 am · Link

    Val, being sick is miserable! Wizard fell hard for the puppy but he’s really not sure now. So it’s kind of up in the air. But she really is cute and smart!



  7. Jen Lyon
    November 1st, 2010 at 10:11 am · Link

    Silver, thanks so much for all the tips! I’m really trying! She’s already learning, but I’m not sure Wizard will adjust :-)

    I really hope you feel better! You have a nasty flu. I’m still off this morning, but it’s not the flu as far as I can tell.



  8. Jen Lyon
    November 1st, 2010 at 10:13 am · Link

    Gretchen, thanks on the covering tip. We’ll try it. She’s so adorable. I just hope we can keep her. Although her rescue mommy will take her back if we fail as puppy parents.



  9. Amanda
    November 1st, 2010 at 11:02 am · Link

    Oh she is adorable. I agree with the covering the crate with a blanket, we did this with one of our dogs and she LOVED her crate after getting trained. She would go in there to sleep on her own after a while.
    Sorry you are sick though. :(



  10. Kat
    November 1st, 2010 at 2:09 pm · Link

    Yea :-D A PUPPY!!!! Good for both of you. Now you will get all the first time puppy parent tips and find all the good puppy web sites. Here is the best tip I ever got (works on Kids and Puppies) when you take her out to go potty train her to a specific word I use “potty” with my dogs (with kids you get them to sing the potty song) so that the dog will get the urge to go when they hear the word. It will help later on when you have to travel with her to have her go to the bathroom on command (did I say it works on kids when potty training? :oops: It still works on my kids- before we go out I start to hum and they are rushing to the bathroom). A parent does what they need to to survive. I am sure you will both be great puppy parents. Don’t give up and hey who really needs sleep.



  11. Margaret A. Golla
    November 1st, 2010 at 6:30 pm · Link

    Very cool! Crate training is easy. We crate trained Maggie, our sheepdog at 8 wks. It takes a few days for them to quit whimpering and crying. If they bark, or overly whine, tell them “NO” and DO NOT COMFORT HER. Cover the crate with a blanket and make it ‘cave-like’ Use washable towels in case of accidents. And take her out before you go to bed and first thing in the morning. Stay outside UNTIL Sadie PIDDLEs and give her tons of praise when she does. Take her to the same spot in the grass.

    Just remember that she’s a baby, if you give in to her night yowlings, she’ll never sleep through the night.

    Good luck! And have fun! Maggie loves to go in her crate and heads there every time she senses we are leaving.

    You won’t fail.–give it a week.



  12. Cecile
    November 1st, 2010 at 11:07 pm · Link

    OMG…. I cannot believe what I flipping miss!!!!
    Oh Jen………………… super duper hugs to Wizard!!!!
    YOU FINALLY GOT A PUPPY!!!!!!
    ****DOING HAPPY DANCE DOING HAPPY DANCE DOING HAPPY DANCE***** That is awesome!!!!!!!! She is precious!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Hubs still out of state… Halfing Witch Bday/party is over…. My bday/Halloween party is over… I got a new job…. started today… In the medical field – talk about a change (go from bookkeeping to medical)…. I am sorry I have not been around!
    Hugs my dear friend!!!!



  13. Jen Lyon
    November 2nd, 2010 at 8:58 am · Link

    Thanks everyone! All tips are helping! I am learning. Sadie has the potential to be a great dog, so I want to do this right!

    Margaret and Cecile–so great to catch up with you both! I’m so sorry I’m short on time and energy to reply as much as I wish I could right now. Still fighting this stomach thing.



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