Have I finally found my friends? (Palmer has crossed over the Bridge)

Hey-what's going on??!! I just posted a reply to Leslie and a separate one to Marie. They're gone!
Meanwhile, I went and caught up with Marie's story. I had replied to Marie that I was so very sorry for your loss. I am amazed at your resilience. I will share one thought I had while reading your story....every story is horrible in its own way. Cancer is one nasty disease. I just had two good friends die from it. It sounds like it disfigured Maddie and I know how distressful that can be. I did see, that while it went so fast, it was a definite issue and you had enough warning that you could cuddle up and share some love. You seemed to be very aware of where this was going. With Palmer, he had an excellent ACTH report on July 7 and was gone on August 5th. His last week was spent in a hospital receiving fluid transfusions. He lost 6 pounds. We brought him home and felt we had at least the weekend. The next morning we took him in to give him peace. His poor little body just shut down. I often wish I had seen the signs sooner. Looking back it seems they were there.....and I just missed them. It would not have changed the outcome but I would have smothered him with even more love that last month. I hope this doesn't sound insensitive to you and your Maddie. NO matter how it goes, the specifics may vary, but the loss is the same.

Hey-Addy!! I like this breathe in breathe out "movement" you've started. I think it's a wonderful idea. And I think all of us doing it at once makes a lot of sense. We can exhale all those hurtful feelings and take in fresh, clean air.

-Susan

:confused::confused:And then there are those phantom posts!!!:confused::confused::eek::mad:
They're back now. It's probably just me.

LOL Got good drugs? LOL

Here is a link to Trink's photo album here. The first ones are the newest and the last 3 are before her painful little eyes were removed.

Beauty? Oh my! She is so special, Susan! In spite of all she has been through and is still going through, she is the sweetest, most loving little soul. Full of life, curiosity, courage, and strength...she is truly beautiful inside and out!

Hang in there! and keep those drugs on board! :p

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/album.php?albumid=246

Hey Susan,

LOL seems like you day improved alittle:) Glad you like my yoga breathing session idea. I still think we should all do that once a week. LOL we will probably all just bust up laughing but that is a good thing too!!!:D:D:D

Hope the Schnoodle pups come soon!!!!!

And I agree with you, Marie is amazing.

Hugs,
Addy

Hi gang-
Well, my Monday crying session seems to be over.
It's no joke about the drugs. :confused::confused: Friends came by yesterday and she said-Susan you told me to bring you something funny....... and then she had these cute little ducks that light up when they hit water. I said-"I DID?:confused::confused::eek::eek: Well that was rather bold of me!":(
That is about the fifth or sixth memory I am missing. Funny thing is I've been off the "drugs" for 2 weeks. Maybe I should go back on them? [just kidding]

I'm glad Abby you're not miffed about me going back to the schnoodle place. I feel kind of hypocritical but a friend said to me-"That's where you were then. Now things are different for you." It's so nice to know I'm not totally flipped out!

I'll keep you posted.

susan

Leslie-what a cutie! Thanks for the link. Do you have any idea how old she is? How is she doing without her eyes......or maybe she's not been able to see for some time now? Kudos to you kid!
-Susan

Susan,

Thank you for your kind words. I wasn't sure it would go as fast as it did with her, but we knew we were not going to put her through all the testing just to find out there really wasn't much we could do. It made me think what could they have done with how fast she shut down, but I could have given them lots of my money for nothing. The weakness was already there in her hind legs with the Cushings so this just contributed to it and I know it wasn't her to be so confined to the house or the rug in our family room. She was a trooper to the end still taking care of us in her limited way.

We are all lucky in that we had them in our lives to share and they had us--a good give and take relationship. I do feel sorry for the people who have never experienced this joy because they do not want animals in their lives--my sister in law is one, but her grown daughter has a lab who watches over her 2 little twin girls so maybe there is hope.:)

Take care!!!

Hey Susan,

Thanks for the compliments on Trink! She is a doll, huh?

As for how she does without her eyes, I think this little story tells it best -

On her first visit to Dr B's office, she was exploring the waiting room when he came in and stood watching her for a minute. After a bit, he looked up at me and said, "Well, Leslie, I believe she can see a little bit." To which I replied, "Dr. B, she ain't got no eyeballs!" :p:p His face expressed absolute dumbfoundedness! She maneuvers around her world as if she had the sight of an eagle...nothing phases her. In fact, she is so brave she scares the crap out of me at times. Trink will approach a drop-off, check it out, then back up, run at it and fly off with her little front legs tucked up under her chest! :eek: I have caught her several times in mid-air!

So, to put it bluntly...she has no idea she is blind! :p OR that she weighs less than 5 lbs! She has that "small dog attitude" that leads her to believe she is a Great Dane!

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Leslie & Company-

What a hoot!
:eek::eek::eek::eek:......is right! The little guys and gals never cease to amaze me. I sure hope you don't take her to Niagara Falls or some such place.;)

Palmer used to do that flying swan thing at the end of our bed. And he always did it suddenly. Palmer had a way to know that it was time to play and he was off and running. It was so funny to see him from behind.:D


There's no schnoodle news on this end. I did send an email today saying.....
Perhaps someone should tell Ana that she has done the first part of her loving job and it's time to move on to the next phase!!
-Eagerly awaiting news

Ana is the mommy.

When I looked at Trink's pictures, from how she looked to me on my computer, it was not really detectable that her eyeballs were gone. If that is the color of the hair around her eye (sockets), that's great.

It makes me feel guilty for complaining about my foot. I am so sick of this hardware and this stupid shoe and needing to limp. I think I could pull the two pins out okay, but that shaft looking thing looks scary! :eek::eek: (I would never do that, by the way.)

Keep us posted on how it is going.

-Susan

Hello friends!

Still no puppy news. I called but they don't answer the phone on the weekends.:(

There is news in the foot arena. Golly gee....one of the pins just happened to fall out. Imagine that.;);) They're two inches long :eek::eek::eek::eek:
My foot has started hurting and I think it has to do with the hardware in there. I'm going to try to see the backup doc tomorrow and have her take out these other two pieces. I tried getting the second pin out, but it won't even budge now. I'm not about to attempt to remove that rod myself.

Have a good week!-Susan

Just FYI- I added one picture of Palmer and I added the prospective Mom and Dad = schnoodle
-S

I am amazed that it's almost 6 months since Palmer was here.......and how hard it still is. I don't remember anything like this with our first dog, Peaches. I worked all of Peaches' life. I was home with Palmer for most of his life. What a difference.
It's Monday. I'm crying again. It's so hard living without a dog. It's so hard letting a loved one go. I'm not sure which is worse. :(:(
-s

Sending you hugs today, Susan.

Hope you can feel them.

Love,
Addy

Hi Susan,

Thanks so much for posting more pictures of Palmer. They are adorable and they melted my heart.

Glynda

Thank you Addy & Glynda. It helped just being able to come in here and express those feelings. I do feel the hug. I'm a big hug fan.....I don't give that many out, I just think a hug that is meaningful, as opposed to those Hollywood hugs, can recharge my battery.

I am feeling better today and am coming around to thinking about Palmer's memorial piece. :)

STILL no puppy news. :(:(:(:( I will call before the end of their day if I've heard nothing more by then.

-Susan

Susan, this is Carole and I am so sorry about Palmer. I lost my Fritz almost a month ago and I am sitting here crying as I write this. I would love for you to email me and we could console one another. . Please Susan let me hear from you as I am so aware of your pain. I too, need a friend to commiserate with as I am still riddled with guilt over the loss of my precious Fritz. I pray I hear from you.

Carole

NEWSFLASH!!! NEWSFLASH!!! NEWSFLASH!!!
6 puppies, boys and girls, were born yesterday. I am trying to get them to send me pictures so I can decide and they can set mine aside for NO TAIL DOCKING!!!

More information forthcoming as it develops.

-Susan :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Hey Susan,

I hope this works out for you and you get the perfect little baby! How exciting! :p

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Oh Susan,

How exciting!!!! :D:D

I have been looking at little ones myself--there were ones born on the day Maddie died--this could be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. We are looking at a different color of Aussie, but the funny thing is as I was looking there was a litter born on Maddie's B-Day and they were all the same coloring as her and then this breeder referred me to the one born on the 8th--a small world...

I am sooooo happy for you---see this day is turning out to be better than it started!!!:):)

I totally agree with Marie!! ;)

Susan, I'll be keeping all fingers crossed that this adoption will work out just as you hope. I know you'd prefer to wait and really have the chance to personally interact with the new pups. However, I will say this -- all three of my dogs ended up being selected by somebody other than us -- and I still fell in love with each one as soon as I held them in my arms and looked into their little faces.

I was actually grateful that I was spared the angst of making a decision myself. I am indecisive, obsessive, and probably one of the biggest second-guessers that the world has ever seen. I'm betting I would have been paralyzed had I actually been placed in the puppy pen and told to pick out the little soul who was going home with us. So I was spared that torture. A dear friend picked out our Cushpup boy from a litter in another state and then arranged to transport him to us (love at first sight :)). You've already heard the story of Peg, the little girl who ended up unclaimed by her intended owners and then was given to us (love at first sight :):)). And Luna was selected for us by her breeder (once again -- love at first sight! :):):)).

So I hope that if it works out that you want a puppy from this litter, things will work out similarly for you -- that the puppy that is placed in your arms will capture your heart from the moment of the first hug. :o

I'll be awaiting updates anxiously!!
Marianne

Okay-great news (I hope!) I will put the litter picture on the page where Palmer's pictures are. I don't think he'll mind.

Born yesterday, weighing in at ? ounces. Miss Spengler will reside in Delaware as of the end of March.

There’s one boy, the rest are girls. We have selected the one that has the most brown on her.

Updated pictures in 2 weeks.


The litter is 1 male and 5 females. They're all mostly black, so you won't be able to tell much in the picture. They all do have some brown on their feet, so I asked her to select the female with the most brown on it. Poor Palmer suffered when the sun hit his black coat.......but who knows? With our first two-the first puppy was completely black and when she got her first grooming she came back to us a gray doggie. With Palmer, he was this gorgeous brindle. He gradually turned totally black except for some white on his chin and a white spot on his chest.

I am so excited.:D:D Now we have to chart our trip to Alabama..a mere 19 hour drive, one way. On the way down, we're going to stop at several places and visit with friends we don't get to see. The trip back will be non-stop (just kidding.) I'm expecting the long ride home may be challenging. :confused::confused: I don't know if we'll be able to select a name before then. Maybe we'll pick something generic and then be more selective once she's been with us a few days.

This is so wonderful!

-Susan

Hi Marie-
I have been trying to steer clear of a dog whose coloring might remind me of Palmer. When we got Palmer, we tried not to pick one who looked like Peaches. Palmer's character and his coloring were sufficiently different that I didn't find myself comparing him to Peaches. I feel like I want to honor each one. I am not looking for a replacement. I am looking for a new family member.

This new little gal may wind up looking a lot like Palmer. They have all been poodle mixes. If I had had a choice, I would have preferred one with more brown or more white. As the mom is entirely black, I knew that was less likely. So now- here I am maybe with what I was trying to avoid. Each dog has its own individual personality. This little miss won't look like Peaches and it will help that she's a girl and Palmer was a boy. I will be home most of the time with this little gal and her own personality will emerge. If she reminds me of Palmer from time to time, I'm just going to take that to mean that Palmer is stopping by just to make sure everything is all right. (We need a little icon for a warm heart.)

My guess is it all comes back to-this will work out exactly as it is supposed to. I think that's true for all of us here.

-Susan

Hi Carole-

I am very sorry for your loss. It is indeed very painful. We cannot torture ourselves by going back over the last bit of time and try to figure out how we could have made it come out differently. We make the best decisions we can with the information we have in hand at that time. Oh that they would have longer lifespans.

I have put all my postings right here on this forum-and other forums that are here. You will find great support here and people who have been down the same road as yours'. There are tons of life experiences to be shared here. I am sure as we all get to know you that you will find the support you are looking for. :)

-Susan

Oh my, how will you wait? Can they send you pictures every day?

Puppies, Susan, I am so happy for you.

Hugs,
Addy

Yeah Susan,

I hope they video tape the puppies. I was on one website and they did that with each one in the beginning and then said it was going to be hard to do when they all started moving around--haha!!!

You know it really doesn't matter what they look like in the end because they will have a special place in your heart no matter what--just like Marianne said Love at first sight!!!!:)

I am so happy for you!!!! ((((HUGS)))) This did turn out to be a wonderful day!!!!:D:p

Hi for Tuesday-

There are two other litters that will be born in Mid March. I think there's a chance that some of the puppies will have white/tan and or gray. The mother is a wonderful looking gray schnauzer. The father is supposedly a poodle....but he looks like a poodle mix. He actually looks a lot like Palmer in his expression and color. So I emailed them and said.....tell me what you think those puppies will look like. Meanwhile I discussed it with hubby. He left it up to me. I've now emailed them back and told them final, final, final decision. We will go with the little gal we chose yesterday. I didn't want to wait an extra two months and I just figured....well I've checked all this stuff out to the nth degree. I made my pick yesterday. That's how it was supposed to go.

They do take pictures....but not daily. 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, a temperament evaluation @ 7 weeks (that should be a video). I will post anything I get as soon as I can.

Thanks for sharing in my joy! :):D:):D

-Susan

Susan, I am so very happy for you! I know what you mean about trying to avoid picking a pup that bears a resemblance to Palmer. I was not looking for a Harley "clone", but that first girl I was going to take bore a pretty striking resemblance to the little demon dog. In a way, I'm glad that didn't work out. I admire you for taking on the trials & tribulations of "puppyhood", & wish you the best with your new little one.

Debbie

Well-the "birth announcement" went out from the kennel. :) Now we are working on a name, which is very hard to do not having seen the personality. The front runner at this point is "Bailey." Another name on the list is "Ember" as she is black with rusty brown paws. This has to go through a 3 person approval...but I have declared veto rights. :D

We have decided to let miss stay for 2 extra weeks in Alabama. That will allow for individual training with a certified trainer 24/7 and is supposed to give us one big step up on the training process. That makes pick-up/take home to April 8th. :( In the meantime I am going to try to catch up and all I can and, if I accomplish that, to get a few things more taken care of.

It's pouring here. That's okay because I put down some grass seed. The freeze/thaw pattern of winter buries the seed for you. Plus-there aren't many birds around now to dine on my seed. The temperature has started to fall. (That's my horticultural report for today.);)

-Susan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Palmer's Mom

We have decided to let miss stay for 2 extra weeks in Alabama. That will allow for individual training with a certified trainer 24/7 and is supposed to give us one big step up on the training process. That makes pick-up/take home to April 8th. :( In the meantime I am going to try to catch up and all I can and, if I accomplish that, to get a few things more taken care of.

-Susan

---

OK, I am being a Nervous Nellie and also a big Buttinski here...:o :o

But does this mean that Little Miss is going to live elsewhere with a trainer for those two weeks, or is it the breeder/s themselves who are doing the training on site? I shouldn't open my mouth without being able to cite references, but my feeble memory seems to recall that the 8 - 12 week time period is a critical one for bonding and socialization. And so I'm just wondering whether you really want to turn over the initial training/bonding experience to somebody else? If this is a procedure that you followed with your other pups and it worked out well for you, then I will be quiet. But if not, I'm being brazen enough to ask a bit more about the arrangement.

I know that puppy training can be exasperating at times. But during those first weeks, you also are developing a lifelong connection and learning style. Plus, if the trainer is somebody whom you haven't even met, I'd worry whether the approach is one with which you'd be comfortable. When I went with Peg to our first set of puppy obedience/socialization classes (to an instructor who was "highly recommended"), I was horrified at how physically severe and demanding he was with a little puppy. I left after the first class and never looked back. I found another group which offered a training style with which I felt much more comfortable. And even though it probably took us three times longer to master certain behaviors due to my own inexperience, it felt really good that Peg and I were learning the techniques together.

Those early weeks are so important and so formative. As I say, I hestitate to throw a monkeywrench into the machinery. And others who are more knowledgeable about training may offer a totally different opinion. But I just want to make sure that this is an arrangement with which you are really comfortable.

Marianne

The trainer is on the staff, but the puppy goes to the home of the trainer. They only take max two at a time.
I'll continue to listen to what others have to say before I change my mind. :confused: They have their own forum and I will read further there.
Thanks for speaking your mind.........all help is welcome. I'll take what I want and leave the rest. :)
-Susan

Hi Susan,

First of all, congrats on the new puppy! :) I'm sure it will be an exiting couple of weeks/months till she comes home to you and your family.

Like Marianne, I was at least surprised that the little thing would go to a trainer first. Was that your idea? The breeders? And could you tell me what the benefits are supposed to be? In my opinion, a 2 week training for a puppy that young, will not give you a trained puppy :) It may learn sit and stay...but the hardest part of raising a pup is definately in the months ahead, not those first 2 weeks :) Sit and stay are things you can easily learn the puppy yourself...so I can't help but wonder what the benefits would be? I know what the downside would be. Not having the pup during the most critical weeks of her life, having the pup go through one extra (in my opinion unneccesary) transition in her oh so young life (from breeder to trainer and then to you).

So it might help a lot if I understand what the reasoning behind this decission is :)

Saskia and Yunah :)

ps is there a website of this breeder?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Palmer's Mom

Thanks for speaking your mind.........all help is welcome. I'll take what I want and leave the rest. :)
-Susan

---

And that's just the way it should be -- that you take only what seems helpful to you. I did (and continue) to feel hesitant to write about this since I have no personal expertise in training. But I do feel ("hope" because I am a slow learner!) that I have learned many valuable things from one of my best friends who IS a trainer and has had the pleasure of owning national obedience champions. She lives far away so has coached us from afar with our pups. But she has always stressed the importance of that early "window of opportunity" in terms of bonding.

What she has also suggested is that it's best to approach formal training in those early weeks in "snippets" -- very time-limited periods interspersed with lots of free play. It's great to work on some specific skills (as Saskia says, things like "sit" and "stay"). But mainly the puppy is adapting to her new pack and the general rules of the household where she'll be spending the rest of her life.

One thing that I've always taken to heart (and is the reason why I left that first class) is my friend's suggestion that the manner in which the earliest training is approached will shape a dog's receptiveness to learning for the rest of her life. If it is initially fun and a mental game, the dog will always want to learn more. This is perhaps more of an issue for someone who is wanting to actually train a dog for service work or for competitive obedience or agility. But I've still felt it made sense even for my pets. Plus, I am living proof that it is the owner who really needs to be trained alongside the dog :p! At my first-ever puppy class, I was stunned to discover how much unwanted behavior I was inadvertently reinforcing!! :eek:

Now, having said all this, I promise to shut up. Without any doubt, I know that you will have investigated this arrangment to your own satisfaction. And if you choose to proceed, it is because you feel it is a positive and worthy option. Thank you for listening to my thoughts along the path to your decision!

Marianne

Hi Susan,

I just wanted to say that I agree with everything Marianne and Saskia have said and I also have the same questions Saskia has about the breeder. Being in rescue, I'd personally like to put designer dog breeders out of business for any number of reasons but mostly because millions of designer dogs die in shelters every year. I've tried to figure out what motivates people to breed mixes besides the money and I come up with a big fat zero. That makes your breeder suspect and this two week training your breeder is recommending is more than suspect and in my opinion, a really, really bad idea. I can't imagine any reputable breeder suggesting that you take a puppy away from it's mother and the only home it's known for 12 weeks of his short life to go bond with a total stranger and then two weeks later traumatize him yet again. I certainly hope that you have not agreed to pay for this.

Susan, what we have to say may not carry a lot of weight but before you commit to doing this to your puppy, please make a few calls and talk to professional trainers or behaviorists and ask them if this is such a good idea and please share what you find out.

Glynda

Susan,

Very glad you are going to have a new one.

What I want to add to this mix is our experience with Talos.

We saw a picture of an eight week old pup and when we went to collect him he was according to our Dr. one year.

He is loving but also fearful. He barks at strangers and if Vandy and I raise our voices for any reason or if there is a loud unexpected noise he hides.

The first time I had to leave for several days he destroyed part of a wall, this was after he had been part of our home for several months. That is the only episode of destruction.

He is the first one I have had who was not a new pup. I agree with everyone who thinks the pattern of how they perceive the world is set early on.

Scott

Oh geez........here's the site.....http://smeragliaschnoodles.com/ . You can read all about the puppy prep school on there.

I appreciate everyone's feedback-truly. I just have spent hours and hours looking for a schnoodle. I have talked to these people.....well-mostly email...but there were a couple of phone calls. I had a "bad" experience with a kennel in Minnesota-or was it Wisconsin?
That woman never answered my emails until I wrote the last one which said I had emailed her 3 times before and I thought she might consider taking off her site the statement that she wanted folks to email. She then proceeded to tell me I was not good enough for one of her puppies. :mad::mad::mad:(And that is the very short version of what she had to say!!)

I don't really want to miss those two weeks. I'd like the little gal now.....but I know she needs her mommy now. I also was concerned about the transition to the trainer and then to us. Poor little pup needs as much stability as I can give her.

The breeder did not propose it to me...I just read about it on their site and at the time it made a lot of sense. The only issue I have with the breeder is that they require payment in full at birth if you want to "save" the tail. Otherwise they get docked. :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

My husband is agreeing to this because I want it - he loves me. If it were up to him I think there might not be another pet. I made it real clear before Palmer left us that there WAS going to be another dog. Those were the same circumstances under which we got Palmer - he did it because I wanted it. He never related to Palmer a whole lot. He loved Palmer but did not play with him or interact with him other than taking Palmer for walks. Palmer was mostly "my" dog. He lacked patience with Palmer. He did play a big part in treating Palmer's cushings. It took both of us to get those pills into Palmer. :eek: I tell you all that only to explain that my idea with the puppy prep was, if it worked as they say, that the puppy would have a head start and there would be a shorter time for us in the house training/crate training departments.

I do know that training should be done in 5 - 10 minute increments. I may be blind but I have been impressed with the thoroughness, kindness of this kennel. Since I have spent so much time reading their text, looking at their videos and corresponding with them -and I am sure also because I know I really need/want a doggie to love - this place has seemed like a gift from heaven.

Now-I do want to continue this topic. I just ask that you remember that this little puppy is paid for and there won't be any refunds, barring health issues, since the tail did not get docked. One way or another this puppy is coming here not soon enough. :) So the conversation can continue on trainer vs straight home---although I think you've already convinced me - but it is out of my hands now as to whether I deal with this kennel.

We did try to find a rescue dog and I came up totally empty handed with anything that seemed reputable.....that would be for a schnoodle. All I could find, and I do mean all, were pit bulls or pit bull mixes. I'm not looking for a "designer dog" - we have previously had 2 poodle mixes, were extremely happy with those experiences and the benefit of being non-shedding.

I am grateful that you all are speaking up now. Your experiences are invaluable.
-Susan

Dear Susan,

please don't feel you have to defend yourself and your decissions here, you don't :) I think some of us were simply a bit concerned about the prep school part, nothing else. And I can sure understand, having read the website, how anyone would feel that the prep school would be a good idea :) We know that all you want is the very best for this little girl and every decission is with her best interest in mind, there was never a doubt about that.

Being a dog behaviorist myself, I would not let a puppy go to prep school for any reason. Raising, training a pup is a lot of work that needs dedication and commitment but also is meant to make you laugh out loud at all their silly antics and the trouble they can get in to ;) The fact that a puppy will learn to be in a crate without crying, after it left its mom and siblings, doesn't mean it won't cry when only 2 weeks later it will be rehomed again and it has to adept again to new surroundings and people. So to me, that would not be a reason to opt for prep school. Let the little thing go through all that stress of being seperated from everything she knew, in the safe and warm environment of her forever home, not in an in between home...so she has to face that stress another time, that would be my plea. It will build her confidence in you and will make for a wonderful start of a wonderful relationship :) And she might be one of those pups that transition easily, you don't know ;)

Have a plan ready, discuss it with your husband, so he too knows what to expect :) For example... take her to bed with you but in her own crate. Place the crate beside your bed so whenever she cries, you can just drop your arm into the crate to comfort her (no talking or taking her out of the crate) and so that she knows that she is not alone. That way there won't be a crying puppy downstairs, depriving everyone of their sleep :) This might work well with your husband as well when he knows how things will be like in the days/nights to come once the little thing arrives :)

Don't feel bad, we all know and recognize the need for another furbaby in our lives and how we sometimes have to juggle all the different interests and needs and such. You did well as far as I can tell... It's just that I personally would never opt for prep school but it is, in the end, your decission and I'm okay with that :) As long as you know what your options/alternatives are.

Best of luck,

Saskia and Yunah :)

Susan, I want to "second" everything that Saskia has just written so beautifully!! In no way do I want to tarnish the joy and hope that this little girl will bring into your life. But like Saskia, I am just advocating that you bring her directly home at that 8-9 week mark, right when she is ready to leave her canine family and bond with her forever mom and dad.

I definitely understand why some pre-training sounds appealing. As I continue to age, I recognize that puppy-wrangling has become more physically demanding for me. And you have the added challenge of being in the midst of recovering from your foot surgery. Somehow it seemed a lot easier fifteen years ago to get up in the middle of the night for those puppy potty breaks!! But a huge trade-off is that now I am no longer working. So even though I myself may not have as much energy as I did years ago, I have the luxury of time and attention to devote to a puppy. And it sounds as though that is the case for you, too.

One additional worry that I had at the time that we brought baby Peg home -- just three months after Barkis died -- was whether I was still just too tired and emotionally drained to properly care for a baby puppy. We had not expected to get another dog for several more months when she suddenly became available. But even though there were energy challenges for me, the emotional richness turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. I had no choice but to place my grief in the background and to move Peg's needs into my foreground. This little baby totally focused my attention from the moment I picked her up and we brought her home. I will not lie -- there were plenty of tears of frustration along the way and my coping reserve was already depleted (she seemed to take FOREVER to potty-train - and then we learned the poor little thing had a UTI and probably had all along…). But the daily tears of grief over Barkis ended. And I finally slept again at night. She needed me, just like I needed her. And her needs came first. She truly had come to heal my heart.

Plus, just like Saskia has said, there is such delight at all the loony antics during those first weeks. The learning process happens so quickly in young pups. When I think how long it takes a human baby to mature -- first step, first word...it is astounding how quickly a baby puppy learns and develops. I do think that most of the skills that Little Miss would learn at the trainer's are ones that she will also learn quickly with you. Or at least I hope that will be the case. But she will not be your first puppy. So you already have a sense about all of this stuff.

OK, I'm rambling now. Out of everything I've written, the most important thing is for you to know that, no matter what, I remain excited and joyful about the prospect of Little Miss joining your life! And whatever decisions you end up making will be the best ones for you and your own situation.

Marianne

Saskia - "...you can just drop your arm into the crate to comfort her (no talking or taking her out of the crate) and so that she knows that she is not alone. That way there won't be a crying puppy downstairs, depriving everyone of their sleep :) This might work well with your husband as well when he knows how things will be like in the days/nights to come once the little thing arrives :) "

Saskia-really? If I drop my arm and comfort my husband too, he'll know that he's not alone??? ;););)
(I just could NOT resist that!!:D:D:D
Thank you for your response.

Marianne-
Thank you for your thoughts as well. I guess I am struggling with making this happen. I'm apprehensive about my husband's response. I SO want this to work. I feel a tad guilty following the loss of Palmer with another pet so soon. I am indeed emotionally drained.

I remember when we brought Palmer home, saying to Bob...."I don't remember this part of it," meaning the potty training part. They don't warn you about that as they don't warn you about all that you will feel and go through when that tiny little thing has lived out its life and leaves. :(

Bob has been wonderful, as he always has been, with this foot surgery. He takes me anywhere I need/want to go....which is mostly dr appts. He is doing all the cooking, laundry, fetching and coming to me when he hears me start back downstairs to see if I need help. He has completely understood my struggle with losing Palmer. So the puppy prep school sounded like it might be a way to bypass some of the earlier hassles. I felt that would ease the transition for him.

I like Saskia's suggestion about the crate beside the bed. We have always put the puppy on another floor all by him/herself. Now that I think about it, that's kind of cruel. It also never really worked. I also was concerned that I might miss that "springing puppy" stage...the one where they don't seem to walk or to run, but seem to hop like bunnies....or bounce as if they had springs on their paws.

So-everyone's comments make a lot of sense to me and I will forgo the trainer. Marianne-thank you especially for your last sentence. I guess I knew that, but it was comforting and reassuring to hear. [here's where that "warm heart" icon I think we should have would go.] With the money we will save by not going to prep school we will be able to pay for most of the trip down and back!!:D

Let me tell you about Peaches. Peaches came home around 8-10 weeks. She was the first puppy either of us had had in adulthood. We tried keeping her in the crate and it just was not working. Of course-she was in the dining room and we were upstairs in the bedroom. It never occurred to me how she had recently lost her mom and had spent time in a pet store with who knows how many people handling and poking her. Our neighbors had two huskys. She had raised them from pups and had used a baby pen when they were quite little. She offered us the use of it for Peaches. So off we happily go, with this new to us baby playpen and put it in the dining room and Peaches in it. The barking would not stop. We put the playpen down into the basement. Not only did the barking not stop, but she figured out how to get out of the playpen. When we went down that first morning of the playpen, we opened the door to the basement, there stood Peaches - at the top of the steps. :eek: Then we tried putting the playpen upside down. Peaches got the top (bottom) open and got out of that and was sitting waiting for us at the top of the steps. :eek:Then we put a large juice can on top of the bottom of the pen-which was now the top of it, to try to keep Peaches in. The next morning she was at the top of the steps. :eek: I think it was after that that we moved Peaches to our bedroom.....I think in her own bed.:)

Now I think I'll go look to see if I can find any pictures yet of little miss.
-Susan

Hi Susan,

I just read the posts about a prep school and glad your decision is to do the teaching yourself. Books and the internet are great for suggestions and when they are old enough a good puppy kindergarten class with you there to learn how to teach them worked great for us. We were the ones being trained:D:D.

I found when Maddie first came home as a puppy we just started taking her out when she woke up and after she ate to do her business. This seemed to work great because it didn't take very long and she just knew. Of course there were a few accidents, but this method worked great for us. I was so good as she was older (haha) I could tell her to go potty and poop on command--of course I am sure she had to go anyways!! :)

I am so excited for you--this is a good thing like Marianne said it helps fill that emptiness in a very good way.:):)

Hi Susan,

I, too, am glad the trainer is going to be bypassed. You would miss out on so much and Little Miss would have more adjustments to make right off.

Squirt was only 5 weeks old when I got her and we followed the same schedule as Marie with the potty training - after every time she ate and immediately after she woke up. We also went out at least every 2 hours. Once she had done her business, I would ask, "You through?" and she learned that meant she would get much hugs and loving and a return to the house. That phrase still works today. :p She was completely housebroken by the time most pups are just leaving their moms - Squirt is a very smart girl and eager to please. ;)

I remember once our lawnmower broke and it was several weeks before the back yard got mowed. The grass was higher than Squirt was tall, which really didn't take much, and we were out in back one day when the neighbor across the fence asked if she was in the house. I told him no, she was around somewhere. Then he laughed and said, "There she is! Looks like a rabbit hopping out there!" And sure enough, this little honey-colored fur-ball would bounce up over the grass only to disappear again...over and over, having a blast! Just like she was spring-loaded! :p

Can't wait to see your baby!

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always