[KayMitch]

Congratulations Grannie Heatheranne. Lovely to read all the news of the new arrivals. Good luck with finding homes for then.

[Sara Arell]

Heatheranne, we still crate Lucy at night because she is too small to get off of our bed in the night and we are still working on housebreaking her anyway. It's quite amusing - during the day, if she gets tired she goes right to her crate and kind of scratches at the door so she can go in for a little nap. I always thought crate training was not the way to go, but I think I'm beginning to like it - and our Little Lucy is so small that I am really afraid that she could get caught somewhere or something at night roaming the house - or like this morning, she got into Chris' room and helped herself to some bubble gum that he had left out! What a mess and not good for her either!

Isn't it about time for an updated picture?

[Heatheranne]

That's great Sara! Dogs are den animals so they do take to crates quite well and it does help in training them. It's a good bedroom for a dog and a place of security in the daytime, although I think the door should be left open in the daytime. That way, they can go into it any time that they want the security.

Cats hate crates and of course, they're not needed for training, but carrying cases are needed for transport to the Vet and whatnot. I used to put my carrying cases, will a cozy pillow in them, in the corner of a room with the doors open, so they would use them for sleeping. They weren't as apprehensive about going into them for traveling, after I did that.


My dogs were adult when I got them, so I had no crates for them and I don't have the room for large crates. They've found corners of the bedroom that they like and use though, unless they get on the bed. As for training without a crate, it can be done with a leash. Tok and Carley both did boo boos when I first got them. Whether it was because of a new place, they were more used to being outside, or whatever, I had to stop it quickly. A crate was out of the question, for the sake of room, so I tied each one to the bedpost with their leash and had a doggy bed for them to sleep on. A couple of weeks tied to the bedpost, then there were no more accidents, when they were allowed to roam. If they had to go out they would wake me, but Carley has reverted back or just not well or something, so I have to get her back into waking me.

Carley is having a problem right now and isn't waking me, so I'll have to try to tie her tonight, which could be awkward with the pups, but I'll see what I can do. I did shut the bedroom door last night but it got opened during the night and not closed again, from habit.

[Sara Arell]

Well, Heatheranne, I am sure it will all fall into place for you soon - when my cat had kittens, she insisted on having them in a very high spot in the garage - I must have moved them all three or four times and she would move them back as fast as I moved them - it just wasn't a safe place and it was cold - during the day, Lucy cuddles in my lap or in Rich's lap and she is getting better but we are still working on the house training - we can't let her out on her own - she runs down the street so we have to tie her out and I don't like doing that but she's so tiny that I'm afraid she will get lost or hit by a car - I know the pups keep you busy.

[Glorie]

Goodness, what a whirlwind of events you have going on. I'm sorry Carley isn't doing the best right now, is she due to see the vet again soon? As much fun as it sounds to have a puppies born in ones home, it is much more than just looking at them and ooing and ahhing over them, I'm guessing! It sure sounds like you know what you are doing and will take very good care of Mom and babies!

[Heatheranne]

The Vet is away, but I have been speaking to the other Vets and staff for information, as well as doing searches online. I do have to make an appointment for her and the pups when they are a couple of weeks old. You're right, even though Carley is a good mom, there's a lot to the care of them, which I won't go into. I had a little fun on the boards, but now I must go and find that ribbon, clean the mattress - hopefully, do more laundry - it's unbelievable how many sheets and towels get dirtied, re-clean the floor spots and more, so I'm busy. Have a great day! :-)

[Sara Arell]

It's like having babies all over again, isn't it Heatheranne? It will get easier in time but I can see you have your hands full right now.

[Heatheranne]

Ummm, not really like having babies, but it is keeping me busy and expect it will for a long time. I've just spent an hour trying to get onto the site, so I could shut all the games off again. Now I have to delete several hundred emails from the twenty or so games that have been going and my times up for a while. roflol :-)