Our first 24 hours

[renaultf1]

@tanza:

It is funny about boys with puppies… they really, really HATE those baby teeth... be prepared that he may not want to play with her until she looses those teeth... but then typically the boys really warm up to them... And it has been a long time since I brought in a pup that was not born here, but I do remember when I got Mickii... she was quite the same.. for 3 days she fought sleep... then she settled in pretty easily... and it was she that taught OJ that puppies with baby teeth were NOT fit to play with... ggg... only when those teeth were gone ... then he loved to play with her...

You are doing all the right things and sounds like all if really going well... and be prepared for lots of noise with your two adults as they "teach" her the way things should be...ggg.... but sounds to me like they have already accepted that she is not leaving anytime soon... I don't wonder if because when you were out that, but your brother was there that she wanted out...

What is her registered name going to be?.... If I remember right, you are going to maybe show her?.....

Congrats on your newest addition!!!! Can't wait to see pictures.....

Thanks Pat for that note about boys. It hasn't been bad, but I just wish he'd play with her more…but from your info (and from talking with Pam) I think you're right about the puppy teeth. He doesn't dislike her...in fact yesterday she went to lie down in the sun, and he went and plopped down right near her in the sun...his paws were touching her, and that was not the only sunny spot in the room.

I played a ton with her yesterday...and have been keeping a toy and 2 nylabones (a regular one and a dental dinosaur) with me regularly...so if she starts to chew something (or me) that she shouldn't I immediately redirect her attention and she has been really good about it. She was exhausted by the time she went to bed last night at 10pm. She cried for about 5 minutes, then all was quiet...she woke up around 2am, made a couple whimpers, and then was silent until 5:15am...when she was up for good. I waited until she stopped crying (screaming & howling) and sat quietly. So she made it the WHOLE NIGHT...fantastic!!! :D:D

This morning all three had a serious b500 in the living room...Ruby and she were really going at it...I loved watching it. Even Brando played with her a little bit, and included her.

I am amazed at how well it is going over all. She is so confident, and even when she receives a noisy correction, she might cry because of the surprise, but she isn't afraid at all of either Ruby or Brando. She hasn't had an accident in the house since yesterday 7am...and she is already pottying on command outside. I think I'm going to take the litter box out downstairs and only keep the one in the xpen. I'd rather focus her on going outside during the day and evening. She doesn't seem to mind the cold and just enjoys exploring the whole pen. If Ruby & Brando are out with her, she is always the last one to end up wanting to go in.

Yes, she is going to be shown. Her registered name is Eldorado's The Chosen One (the registered name came because Liyah was the dam's (Monroe) favourite). I also love it because Pam & Sheila were going to keep her for themselves but knew I really wanted her because she is Ruby's grandbaby and the only one from the litter that has some of Ruby's red - she's a brindle but not darkly brindled. Her pics are on Eldorado's website, if you go to the pups section, her butt is the one in first pic and if you go to the link of the young hopefuls on the pup page, her 9 week on happy feet is there; her pics are also in the Monroe/Sean litter section. I haven't really had any time to pull out the camera myself...things are really busy. This pic was taken with my cell phone...it's all I have right now.

My main question is about the xpen and the adults growling. If Liyah cries at night in the xpen, Brando is lying on the bed and will let out low growls. This morning when we all got up, Ruby went over to the xpen and growled at her when she was crying. Is this something I should try to control…

[renaultf1]

@Nemo:

I'm happy to hear things are going pretty well for you. Can't wait to see the pictures either!

Thanks…overall, I'd say it is going better than I expected. I'm off to check out your thread now and see how Zoni is doing!

[tanza]

About the xpen, while I have never used one as you are doing.. so not much experience there… but I would do nothing... dogs have a language of their own... and I would just see how it plays out... and I would guess that once she gets past puppy stage she will not be in there?

Very nice name and she is very pretty.... I have looked at the pups on Pam and Shelia's site... you will have lots of fun with her.

[LiveWWSD]

Oh she is such a cutie…she reminds me of Zaire at that age.. Congrats on the GREAT intro to your other two.. Sounds like everything is going very well with your little pack.

Cheers,

[renaultf1]

@tanza:

About the xpen, while I have never used one as you are doing.. so not much experience there… but I would do nothing... dogs have a language of their own... and I would just see how it plays out... and I would guess that once she gets past puppy stage she will not be in there?

Very nice name and she is very pretty.... I have looked at the pups on Pam and Shelia's site... you will have lots of fun with her.

Thanks Pat…I really am happy with both her names, I love her look, and she has a great personality :D. I think the showing will be fun and I'm looking forward to it. I'm planning taking a George Alston beginner handling clinic since I have no idea what I'm doing.

No, she won't have the xpen once she is reliable with the house training or I need to crate her during a full day at work (whichever comes first). In that case, she'll be on the bed with the other 2. In the meantime, I've arranged to work afternoons from home...luckily graphic design is job conducive to working away from the office. Not to mention that I work for a great company in regard to home/work balance.

So far, it has only been a bunch of noise, so it isn't something that seems aggressive...so I think you might be right about it being a language issue. And I thought 2 were noisy! :D:D

I really appreciate all your advice and help! Kim

[renaultf1]

@LiveWWSD:

Oh she is such a cutie…she reminds me of Zaire at that age.. Congrats on the GREAT intro to your other two.. Sounds like everything is going very well with your little pack.

Cheers,

Thanks! She's much less brindled than Zaire, but she does remind me of her in the pics you've posted. I'm really happy with how it is all going…but know it has only been a day and a half at this point. I'm starting to get a routine down, which is helpful.

BTW, the only reason I can use the computer right now is because she's sleeping.

[Quercus]

She is ADORABLE!!! About the growling during the crying..yeah…my dogs tell each other to shut up all the time. We ignore it. Usually at our house, it is a male complaining about being in a crate, and the female next to him roars 'SHUUUT UUUUP!" then all is quiet. I wouldn't worry about it. I *think if you correct the adults for trying to correct the puppy, it might upset the way they need to sort things up. If gets carried away, and the puppy looks truly scared, I would redirect the adults, without reprimand, most likely.

[tanza]

And a tip about having a show dog… be sure if you don't have one, get a grooming table and put her on it... don't worry about "stacking" her... just get her used to being up on something that is high off the floor... if you don't have a grooming table, use anything... the counter, washing machine, kitchen table...etc...

[renaultf1]

@Quercus:

She is ADORABLE!!! About the growling during the crying..yeah…my dogs tell each other to shut up all the time. We ignore it. Usually at our house, it is a male complaining about being in a crate, and the female next to him roars 'SHUUUT UUUUP!" then all is quiet. I wouldn't worry about it. I *think if you correct the adults for trying to correct the puppy, it might upset the way they need to sort things up. If gets carried away, and the puppy looks truly scared, I would redirect the adults, without reprimand, most likely.

LOL, that's great…I absolutely bet that Brando has been telling her to SHUT UP :D:D With pretty much everything that has been going on, I've been letting them all sort it out, without my intervention. So if it escalates at all around the xpen, I'll keep the redirect without reprimand in mind...Liyah hasn't been acting afraid of much so far, so I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks!

[renaultf1]

@tanza:

And a tip about having a show dog… be sure if you don't have one, get a grooming table and put her on it... don't worry about "stacking" her... just get her used to being up on something that is high off the floor... if you don't have a grooming table, use anything... the counter, washing machine, kitchen table...etc...

Thanks for this…washing machine I think it will be. Another thing I hadn't thought of. Also, Pam & Sheila have the line on a set of happy feet (or is it legs?) for me that I'm picking up in the next couple weeks.

[sharronhurlbut]

Your b is lovely.
Thanks for the photo.

[renaultf1]

Thanks Sharron!

[tanza]

@renaultf1:

Thanks for this…washing machine I think it will be. Another thing I hadn't thought of. Also, Pam & Sheila have the line on a set of happy feet (or is it legs?) for me that I'm picking up in the next couple weeks.

Happy Legs… and you really should get yourself a grooming table.... practice with the Happy legs both on the floor and on the table.. and if you use the washer... be sure to put something on it (like a rubber mat) so she doesn't slide around.....

http://www.happylegs.com/productinfo.html

[Kebasmom]

What size happy legs is best for a Basenji?

[tanza]

@Kebasmom:

What size happy legs is best for a Basenji?

Medium size is the one that I have. It is also the one that they recommend for Basenjis. I think that I have the small box

[Nemo]

@tanza:

Medium size is the one that I have. It is also the one that they recommend for Basenjis. I think that I have the small box

Is training on stilts, like with happy legs, pretty much how everyone does training for stacking? I get that impression but wasn't sure.

[kiroja]

Sometimes I use them and sometimes I don't. But they sure are handy for problem children, and just a nice asset to have overall! They definitely help, although just as nice results can be achieved without it, if you put in the work.

It is soo funny to watch puppies the first couple times they are on them and realize there's nothing underneath them. lol

[renaultf1]

@kiroja:

Sometimes I use them and sometimes I don't. But they sure are handy for problem children, and just a nice asset to have overall! They definitely help, although just as nice results can be achieved without it, if you put in the work.

Problem child is a good description of Liyah :D:D:D…when Pam was trying to do her 8 week pics without Happy Legs, she said to me "good luck with this one". :D:D

[renaultf1]

I need to say thank you to Andrea, Pat & Lisa…the info here and in the "Zoni" thread has been a huge help. I am now 100% sure that Brando is telling Liyah to SHUT UP...and it seems to be working :D:D:D.

So far I have a really good sleeper - one night she cried for a half hour, but 2 of the nights she has slept right thru. Much of that credit is going to Ruby & Brando. In the morning and evening, they have been have really funny B500s with the puppy...sometimes she is the chaser and sometimes she is the one being chased. It is hilarious when she is being chased by them. :D:D

Brando has been much better with her I'd say. The thing that Lisa said about one of her dogs wanting the puppy around on his own terms is exactly what is going on. She is finally giving him some respect when he starts to growl at her telling her to get away. Sometimes she ignores the cue and then he lets her know in no uncertain terms...he did it yesterday and she cried because she was scared at first, but then she actually stood up to him, standing on her hind legs and growling back at him :eek::eek::eek:. When she did that, Brando stopped growling and just walked away. A couple of times he's growled at her to back away, and if she doesn't go far enough away, he will follow after her until she gets to where he wants her to be. She definitely gets what he is saying then :D.

Brando is now coming up on the couch if the puppy is up there. I spend a lot of time petting him with the puppy around so that he still sees he'll get attention if he is near me. Also, if Liyah goes to sleep during the day, I'll move away from her (so she is on her own) and spend time with Ruby and Brando together, or separately.

This whole interaction/dog language is fascinating to watch. The corrections that Ruby gives her are really interesting. Ruby is super patient but when the biting is too much she just stands there and turns her head away from her and stops the play. As well, if Liyah is really going after Ruby and she wants to rest, she has put Liyah on her side with her mouth around her neck and growled...Brando has done the same thing. One time when Brando really growled at Liyah, Ruby got up and stood between Liyah and Brando :D:D:D.

Oh, and we got a foot of snow here (Maine) yesterday and Liyah had a blast running around in it. She is such a brave and adventurous little kid. I know it is cold out, but I figure the more she gets used to it here as a pup, the less issue I'll have with her as an adult in bad weather. So far she has been out when it is raining and when it is snowing...just one more adventure. I'm trying to give her a bunch of new experiences every day.

Things feel like they are going so well...:D:D:D