NoodleNut

This is probably the wrong place to put this but I felt if what I am about to say assists other new puppy owners then perhaps it is the 'right' place Noodle - nearly 17 week old Hungarian Puli is fully crate trained!!! Yahoo!! Tonight Noodle got up off the kitchen floor and stood listening to the dishwasher, looked towards the laundry where the dryer is going, moved out of the way of the 5 year old running through the kitchen for some errand for daddy .... and........ went over to her crate (door was shut) ....... when I opened it she went in and has settled down to sleep!!! She has completely ignored the kids and hubby out the back room cleaning windows and put herself to bed! No, she is not sick, just pooped from another big day of play and not much sleep during the day. PEACE!! Noodle slept in her crate last weekend (Easter) in the tent with us .. not a peep for the entire weekend! No soiling in the crate either. She was pretty stuffed each night from big walks on the beach ... nothing like freshly washed sand and an 11m lead. The most that Noodle has ever walked in her little life. Pity we are back to the reality of having to wait another fortnight to get out and about after the second dose of the C5 vaccine on Thursday ... groan ... she has had a taste of what is to come now. For all of you with new pups out there ... persistence is definately the key and crate training really works and makes life so much more comfortable for everyone. I do not want to go back 8 weeks when we got her ... crying at night, scratching the inside of the pen, howling and making a real racket in the pen and then later in the crate when we started to shut the door 3 weeks ago..... but as they say 'it does happen'. I am so pleased and proud that we persisted and 'blocked our ears'. Noodle has a safe place of her own and it is portable. Not even the horrendous thunder and lightening disturbed her in the tent last weekend ... left the rest of us staring at the inside of the tent for 30 minutes though!! Noodle just curled up and went to sleep .. not even a bark, wimper or howl! I am also proud to report that Noodle has only had one accident in the house in the past 3 weeks ... yesterday on the kitchen floor .... even she looked a little bewildered My error,... she was outside and in her dog house asleep when it was raining and I bought her inside ... didn't think to head her towards the lawn first .. silly me ... full bladder poor darling. She usually stands up and barks or shakes herself a couple of times and looks towards the door .. 10/10 times it means toilet. Yesterday I think she was still half asleep when I brought her in!! Hope this encourages others. Thanks for the support DOL's!!!

Hi! I can empathise ... our Puli (also a working dog) has a tendency to nip heels ... BUT it seems to follow a pattern of her being either tired or beside herself with excitement about going for a walk. In the instance of the 'tired' pup (she is 16 weeks now) .. I put her to bed in her crate or remove her from us .. outside or tethere din the kitchen out of the reach of our body parts In the situation of excitement I play a few rounds of fetch with ehr and that definately takes the edge off! Then we can walk in relative peace .. sometimes a correction or two with the lead but no more. If she is really over the top excited it is LOTS of corrections and not a 'nice' walk I happened to speak to some Kelpie owners/breeders (dunno if they were breeders but they had pups there) at the RSPCA Open Day in Melbourne the other week as I recall my aunts dog (a Kelpie) doing the nipping of heels when we were young). Two of the kelpie owners suggested I head to Bunnings and buy a cheap plastic rake. Next time I walk with her and she is 'nuts' shove the rake down at the back of my leg so it is an unpleasant experience for her.... not to hurt her but lets face it, ... lunging and nipping at a rake is not quite the same as a lovely ankle. I haven't tried this method. Any other DOL members used this method before for their working 'heel nipping' pups?

Hi! We are also new to this but if it is any encouragement to you.... we persisted with the crate training ... at 16 weeks our pup now sleeps in the crate in the kitchen ... we have just been camping in a tent for 4 days and she slept like a baby in the crate every night at the end of the tent. We also took her pen and put it up outside and she would go in there after our long outings to the beach for 'quiet time'/'time out' and snooze. She was a much happier puppy when she came out .. no nipping/mouthing. We have found if she is very tired or first thing in the morning she is worse with the mouthing .. needs to either get rid of the excess energy with a game of fetch or have time out on her own. Our pup was like yours in that she disliked the pen, wanted to be with us 24/7. But persistence as the other DOL members have said is well worth it. A screaming crying pup now means that in a couple of days you will have one that is more pleasant to be with, happy to be in his space .. portable in that you can move him around in the crate and he feels safe.... no poop or wee on the carpet!! That is a bonus in itself I am sure. Set the ground rules now. Ours does not, and never has had, access to the house in the 8 weeks we have had her. When she is not out playing, walking, sleeping or eating she is tethered on a long lead in the kitchen (easy to clean up the floor and to monitor her for toileting purposes .. important in those early weeks) as that is where we spend most of our time and the computer is there. We do not trust her off the leash inside. She comes off occassionally if it is only one of us up at night (like now ) and can keep an eye on her. Too many things for her to wreck/chew/swallow etc. We also have parquetry and she knows not to go on that already. She is also not allowed on the rug in the lounge .. I let her on it twice in the early days and both times she wee'd on it .. I think she thinks it is grass!! ) We also had the pen in the kitchen from 8 weeks of age until 13 weeks of age .. she also had an absorbant pad for mostly at night when I couldn't get to her fast enough to get her outside. She has now graduated to the crate only at night and the door is shut with a bowl of water. We didn't/and don't put our pup in the pen when she mouths .. we just stear clear of her. Both of the children, 5yrs and 9 years only have to take one step back out of her space to be out of range .. she is learning fast that 4 paws on the ground and a mouth that is shut gets her attention. We all do the 'turn our backs, look at the ceiling and cross our arms and ignore' .. sometimes walking off completely and coming back a few minutes later to try again. If we are outside when she does it we come inside. Hang in there. You have a gorgeous little pup!

DITTO!! Well, our 15 month old is a 'poo eater' ...revolting!! :D I have been monitoring the situation and she doesn't always do it - intermittently. Having read the read the thread on 'copo .. what'sit' I have come to the decision that she has the need to clean up after herself. She was initially in a pen inside at 8 weeks and I was often cleaning up after her, she also watches when I clean up when we go for a walk and often will try to get to it before me. The times I have seen her do it outside is when she poo'd on the back deck (hubby's precious new backdeck that he built). We have only every praised her for eliminatin outside and she has NEVER been growled at .. jsut taken to the 'right place' if she starts to go on concrete etc. Noodle also licks her butt after going to the toilet .. almost catlike. Boredom is not something I would consider as a reason .. she has four 'sets' of toys that go outside in rotation and two bungee thingos (one is a knot and the other is an Ozziedog?? one) that goes outside on days I am working or when I have done the washing as a precaution, I feed her at least one of her meals using a Kong and the like. She also has the sandpit to dig in and at least one but mostly two walks a day. I have tried to spray the poo she is eating .. well, what is left on the ground with Bitter lime but by the time I run inside and grab the spray and run back out the last bit is well and truly gone and Noodle is licking her lips and I make a run for the backdoor before she tries to lick me!!! I usually will wait for a few minutes and than give her a chicken neck to eat .. gotta clean that mouth somehow. On that point, I have wondered if the chicken neck does make the poo taste more appetising ... can't say I have seen a pattern though. Ooops! On re-reading it is meant to be '15 WEEKS OLD'!! Just feels like we have had her for months!

Well mine this morning .... good grief ... stoppped a game of 'fetch' (she loves chasing the ball and bringing it back!!) to do a poo and then proceeded to eat it!! :rolleyes: Stuff the Game!! What is with that!! Poo eating has taking precedence over a good old fashioned game of fetch!!! ... I said 'Uh Uh!! turned on my heel and walked the other direction (usually she follows) not this time ... continued on eating ... YUCK!! She did learn that poo eating means end of game, pat, play!! No time for the water bottle to spay her ... bitter lime ... nothing!! I feel like I have to patrol the yard looking akin to Inspector Gadget with botlles, balls, soft toys and goodness knows what else ... plastic bags ... rarara hanging around my waist like a tradie!!!

DITTO!! Well, our 15 month old is a 'poo eater' ...revolting!! I have been monitoring the situation and she doesn't always do it - intermittently. Having read the read the thread on 'copo .. what'sit' I have come to the decision that she has the need to clean up after herself. She was initially in a pen inside at 8 weeks and I was often cleaning up after her, she also watches when I clean up when we go for a walk and often will try to get to it before me. The times I have seen her do it outside is when she poo'd on the back deck (hubby's precious new backdeck that he built). We have only every praised her for eliminatin outside and she has NEVER been growled at .. jsut taken to the 'right place' if she starts to go on concrete etc. Noodle also licks her butt after going to the toilet .. almost catlike. Boredom is not something I would consider as a reason .. she has four 'sets' of toys that go outside in rotation and two bungee thingos (one is a knot and the other is an Ozziedog?? one) that goes outside on days I am working or when I have done the washing as a precaution, I feed her at least one of her meals using a Kong and the like. She also has the sandpit to dig in and at least one but mostly two walks a day. I have tried to spray the poo she is eating .. well, what is left on the ground with Bitter lime but by the time I run inside and grab the spray and run back out the last bit is well and truly gone and Noodle is licking her lips and I make a run for the backdoor before she tries to lick me!!! I usually will wait for a few minutes and than give her a chicken neck to eat .. gotta clean that mouth somehow. On that point, I have wondered if the chicken neck does make the poo taste more appetising ... can't say I have seen a pattern though.

Hi Storm, No, not showing her ... just a member of the family. Just very aware that Noodle needs to be well socialised and develop some good manners with consistent training and get used to being groomed by either myself or a professional. Melbourne has been unusually hot these past few weeks so a bit of a waste taking her to a groomers. Any suggestions about recommended groomers in teh outer easter 'burbs of Melbourne ... am I allowed to ask that question on DOL?? Apologies if I have asked the wrong thing ...... There are not many Puli around so having her 'look her best' is helpful when promoting the breed or people ask questions ... hope that doesn't sound ridiculous. We don't want her in full 'show coat' ... more manageable shorter coat ... have to wait and see really. Our first Puli. She has been for a walk this morning before the heat and is now laying underneath my chair She had fun chasing butterflies this morning ..... must be one of the cutest things a puppy can do ... bounding around trying to catch a butterfly. Her training at home is going really well ... persisting ... can't wait for obedience to start at the end of the month.

I had no idea that Puli were working dogs(or anything about them for that matter). But I do groom a lot of Borders who go dryer crazy which is why I immediately thought of that. Thanks for the info!! Hi Clyde ,... as a groomer .....What age do you advocate a dog attending the grooomers? To get used to someone else handling the dog? I am intending to groom Noodle myself but must admit in the dead of winter I may relent and have someone else bath her and dry her off (not completely of course ... they would be there for hours!! ) I am bathing, trimming the hair under the pads of her feet, trimming a bit around her back end (need to consult my breeder or other Puli breeders about that one) drying her, trying to pluck those ears of hers ... darn hard .... I'm working on this skill .. not a skills I have ever had to acquire or master as my past dogs were a Husky and a Heinz 56 terrier growing up . Slightly off the originally thread but still under the same subtopic of 'grooming' ... LOL .... feel free to add comments (anyone out there in DOL land).

Ahhh ... good point 99!! Hadn't thought about that. She also does not like it when we blow in her face (another strategy we use if she starts to nip - our 9 year old uses this as his strategy of choice whereas the 6year old has the 'Aha' down pat (with the usual turning the back looking at the ceiling and ignoring by walking away... both strategies works...she is only 15 weeks so she is getting the point that mouthing gets you no play and either ignored or blown in the face I haven't seen Noodle on a windy day ... cringe .. I hope this is not going to set her off (groan). This forum is great - lots of different perspectives! Thanks guys.

You don't actually need the dog dryer until the cords have started or unless you are finishing for a show, but it is essential you get your pup used to the big dryer early. Hi Pulilover I agree I don't need to use the drier ... just trying to get her used to lots of things before she gets too old/big ... much easier while she is little. I agree the advice is great ... will try it out next time she has a bath and persist. My hairdryer is noiser than my dog drier and a higher pitch - would imagine this would be more distressing for her .. I aslo have more control of the noise/airflow on the dog dryer than the hairdryer too.

Hi Clyde, Well, you are on the money with that comment. Not sure what the rest of the Puli community would say but Puli are working dogs, intelligent and from what I researched before we decided on the breed (I spent from March last year researching breeds before deciding on a Puli and then got her in Jan this year) very similar in temperament to a Border Collie or Kelpie. But she is a PULI ... like no other dog .... grin ... just a touch biased!! :p

Ahh..... so glad you said that about the every week wash .. that is what I am doing (for that very reason of getting her used to the bath before she is full grown and it is in the middle of winter).. it is hot too at the moment so a good time to get her used to water and the whole bath process ... she is really starting to calm down and not fret or shake for that matter while being bathed ... thank goodness!! I get drenched!. Justa very small amout of mild shampoo and conditioning rinse (doesn't seem to have any problems with her skin. She is happy enough for me to clip the hair between the pads on her feet .. ususally weekly - doesn't usually kick up a fuss. The vaccum she doesnt mind at all ... no fear or barking .. nothing .. same with the lawnmower, wipper snipper, goats, ponies etc. However the mop and the broom are another story ... barks at both when they are being used .. what is it about mops and brooms ... weird!! I will try the technique you have described Rysup asn see how I go.

Thank you all for your comments - looks like perserverence and treating her like a big baby in getting her used to the drier will be the order of the day. Being a Puli whe has a very wash and wear coat. It has been so darn hot in Melbourne that I haven't needed to use the drier as she 'drip dries' herself (with a lovely tumble in the microfibre towels and the help of a very absorbant chamois ... works a treat to get the drips out!) and it is a great way to cool her off and then get her to expend all of that pent up energy that she has been keeping from keeping still and cool all day!! I realise she needs to get used to it though - a catch 22. I will persist ... just another one of those times where persistence is worth it in the long run, toilet training etc (we are crate training her too ... she has really settled down so it is heartening to see her sleeping soundly in her 'den'). You are right that she is not 'stressed' just VERY HYPED!! I found that last time I used it that it was better if our daughter held her and I dried her and our daughter - might try that again as it may desentsitise her. Tara is nearly 6 so I am not sure how long she will be able to have her on her lap (Noodle is growing like a mushroom!) keeping her calm. Noodle knows to go to Tara for pats and to sit on her lap so she is very comfortable with her (mind you Tara can go right off at Noodle when Noodle is mouthing a little too much! Arms crossed, back turned and looking at the ceiling and she has the 'Ah Uh!' thing down pat) Thanks again for the advice!

I tried using the drier (proper dog drier) on Noodle (15 weeks old) last weekend when I bathed her (been so darn hot that I have not needed to use it and she has gone 'el natural' ... cools her down) Important that she gets used to the drier ... she is a Puli!! Good grief! She is having a dream in her crate .. goodness knows what she is dreaming ... sheep perhaps LOL ... I digress .. back to the question ... The drier .... 'Not happy Jan!" She tries to 'attack' the nozzle of the drier. I turned it down very low (barely a breath of air ) and she was still not happy. Barked, growled at the nozzle and tried to 'get it' .. didn't bite it but had her mouth open ... not sure if it is the wind in the face reaction (dog out of car window mentality .. no she doesn't do that .. just trying to give you an example) or what No I wasn't pointing it at her face ... she would turn to do this. Any suggestions from members as to techniques I can use to improve her reaction to the drier? Tried liver treats and bit of cheese ... absolutely NO interest. have posted this message in teh 'Puppy Problems' thread as well. Help :D

I tried using the drier (proper dog drier) on Noodle (15 weeks old) last weekend when I bathed her (been so darn hot that I have not needed to use it and she has gone 'el natural' ... cools her down) Important that she gets used to the drier ... she is a Puli!! Good grief! She is having a dream in her crate .. goodness knows what she is dreaming ... sheep perhaps LOL ... I digress .. back to the question ... The drier .... 'Not happy Jan!" She tries to 'attack' the nozzle of the drier. I turned it down very low (barely a breath of air ) and she was still not happy. Barked, growled at the nozzle and tried to 'get it' .. didn't bite it but had her mouth open ... not sure if it is the wind in the face reaction (dog out of car window mentality .. no she doesn't do that .. just trying to give you an example) or what ;) No I wasn't pointing it at her face ... she would turn to do this. :D Any suggestions from members as to techniques I can use to improve her reaction to the drier? Tried liver treats and bit of cheese ... absolutely NO interest. Might cross post this on the grooming thread too.

I am feeding him fatty mince meat as that is what the breeder told us to do ('good for puppies'). It's only for the next month until he is three months old and then then on it'll just be dry food. Surley just three months of fatty meat won't lead to health problems? He is doing much better now that it's been a week since he arrived and I'm taking the food after 10 mins. He still isn't eating as much as the breeder suggested he would but I'm thinking that may be as someone suggested beacuse we have no other dogs. As I've already said he's a little plump so can afford to slim down a little without loss of form anyway. Hi! Our pup is now 15 weeks and she was similar in her eating patterns (did not eat as well as the breeder suggested) to what you have described. She was also a bit 'loose' but it soon resolved itself with boiled chicken fillet and rice, Noodle is fed Advance rehydratable ... need to make sure I rehydrate it enough or we end up with a constipated dog!! Noodle enjoys chicken necks. The breeder had been giving her one as a substitute for one of her meals every second day. She eats all of it. Even now I give her a chicken neck if we are going out/working ... at the moment I am buying them in bulk and putting them in snaplock bags and freezing them .. I give one to her frozen .. great for the teething and something worth waiting to defrost. Noodle is not fed with us ever ... fed outside most times ... although there seems to be wasps and ants around at the moment and her food seems to attract them so occassionally I bring the bowl inside. I leave it there 15 minutes and then take it away. Noodle is not fed food we have althought she often will watch us eat but none is offered to her (tonight we had chicken and I did get some scraps of meat and give them to her, outside away from us - licked the bowl clean!!). She has never eaten when we eat. If she is inside she is on a lead in the kitchen and can watch but can't get to us at all. So far so good. Noodle has 'upped' her food intake ... she has increased in size too .. gowing through another growth spurt! :D

Every time I put her in the crate, the environment is very quiet and I generally potter around the bedroom while she is in there. She's not really too excited about going in the crate, however if I am in the room with her (reading a book a metre away on the bed) then she is fine. It is when I get up and leave the room that she starts crying/screaming. Night time is fine as I place her in there, she is sleepy, and we go to bed at the same time, so she is content in having us in the room with her. I can't reward her for being quiet in the crate because she's not noisy when I am around - only when I am out of the room. Not sure what to do - or if I need to be doing anything to help this. I would like to get her feeling comfortable about being on her own as she will have to be on her own at times eventually (there has always been someone with her since she came home almost two weeks ago). And yes, patience seems to be the primary virtue, as I have learnt over the past couple of weeks. My only concern is that I am setting her up for stressful situations when I place her in the crate and leave the room, resulting in her becoming rather distressed. I am just wondering if I should persevere and continue to put her in there and ignore her crying (hoping that over time it will improve), or if I should be taking a different approach. I really don't want to make the crate something she associates with unpleasant encounters. How is the crate training going? We waited until Noodle was 13 weeks before shutting the door on the crate. Good or bad it seems to have worked ok for us. No-one told me to do that .. it is just what I decided to do ... The reason for waiting a little longer to shut the door on the crate was that she was very inconsistent with her toileting ... 11pm, 2am and 4am .. EVERY NIGHT from 8 weeks to 12/13 weeks. We had the crate in a penned area in the kitchen with absorbent pad for her to go to the toilet on .. more often than not I could not get to her quick enough to get her out to the toilet ... LOTS OF FLOOR CLEANING! Exhausting work I must say. We only fed her up to 5/6pm each night but it still didn't seem to assist and she was just 'havin' to go!!' Number ones and Number twos!! groan. The first night I shut the door on the crate - decided on 13 weeks when she was holding her bladder and bowels through the night from 11pm to 5:30/6am) she went berserk ;) and it was a bad decision to do in on a Thursday night when the kids were asleep, hubby had an important meeting the next day and I was just generally stuffed from all the getting up and down! I had to wait for a gruelling 30 minutes for her to even settle for 1min to get her out .. she then went berserk in the penned area she was so wound up and I had to put her outside. All bad!! Stupid me! I started again the following night and crated her when we all went out for 1.5hours ... didn't need to listen to the kerfluffle she was making .. upset me more than anything but I know consistency is the key. When we got home she had been asleep as she stretched and ambled out of the crate. Teh following day on teh Sat afternoon while my husband was doing some work around the house, kids in the lounge and me on the computer in the kitchen I crated her again with teh door shut and let her go bananas (we were all otherwise occupied and as it was in the afternoon no-one was asleep so it was less stress listening to her) I gave her a liver pieces (when I put her in the crate - nothing more substantial as I was concerned she would get so worked up she would toilet in the crate) but as soon as she had consumed them she started up. Since this first weekend she has slept every night in the crate. Occassionally carried on when i put her in but it is only once in 3/4 days ... becomeing less frequent. I have tried not to have a pattern to the crating .. apart form at night ... she goes in when we are at home .. and she is napping on teh kitchen floor, when we go out for 2 hours or so ... on Friday 40deg she was crated in the afternoon in the cool from 12:30 -3:30. I went back to work. She has only peed in the crate once .. a hot night when she had drunk heaps and I slept through her 'shake' ... she shakes herself and I hear her dog tags ... get her outside to toilet and then straight back in to the crate .. no talking on praise for the 'wee'. I got her out to clean up the wee (I thought that must have been all in her bladder ... turned around and she had done another one on the kitchen floor .. took her outside and she did a poo! :D Hang in there .. I am with you on the fatigue! It is worth it in the log run! Noodle is in her crate as I type ... will get her out in a few minutes for a toilet stop and then to bed. She didn't complain this afternoon or tonight. What also helps is if she has had enough exercise.

How are you and Hiro going? Still up to your eye balls in wee and poo? LOL

Glad to hear that someone else freezes them ... fabulous for this hot spell Melbourne is having. I have been freezing the necks for our Puli and she is now 14 weeks and has been having one every second day since 8 weeks. I initially thought it would just slow her downa nd give her something to do ... the safety point is a good one I hadn't considered.

How's Noodle going so far? I know how you feel when it's late at night and you just feel like doing anything to keep the pup quiet and not getting your neighbour pissed. I was in that situation too when Hiro first got here last week and had to confine him and it was made worse since I live in apartment. Luckily my neighbours are very nice people. Besides, I've never complained when their put their home theatre on at 2:00 AM in the morning Thanks for asking LB I have had two nights now where she has gone in her crate ... sat down and not a peep ... 11pm until 6am!!! We have turned the corner!! I decided day visits to the crate were a good idea when we were home and sometimes when we were out (so that the crate was not associated with any particular time of the day or night... much easier to ignore the crying and carry on during the day when every one is awake any way and pre-occupied with doing other stuff. I put her out this morning and I thought I could hear her wimpering a bit later - she had got under the side gate (a pool fence) and was in teh driveway (secured by a rollerdoor on the carport so she wasn't going anywhere) and couldn't get back under ... silly mutt! Persistence is definately the key to crating, toilet training etc! It has been so hot today that Noodle has been inside most of the day sprawled out on the kitchen floor. She went for a walk to get the newspaper this morning with my husband (only 5 houses up) and a couple of rounds of fetch and that is it. She will brighten up a bit later this evening when it is not so hot. Being a Puli she has plenty of energy that needs to be exerted. I agree neighbours are a concern. Hence why I have tried to do the 'habit changing stuff' during the day...bit easier on the ears. Mind you she was out there carrying on before... a piece of paper blowing in the breeze .... nutty Noo!! Any more photos of Hiro? Mine are under PULI! on the breed subpages.

We have been using the training pads (on the 'holder' ...thing that the pads can sit in and a frame clicks over the edge .. prevents our pup from chewing them) and found them to be very absobant. Our pup was going on teh pad a couple of times at night and not a problem at all .. just unclip it and throw it in the bin and replace. To help her get the hang of where to go I did 'mop up' a bit of her week on one of the pads .. I knew she would go to the pad because of it .. the rest I cleaned up with the 'Urine Off' so this made the pad the only place she would sniff. The pad was in the penned area outside her crate and away from her food. Worked well for us. Noodle is now going 6-7 hours without needing to go to the toilet so she has only use the pad once in teh past week - the rest of the time I have put her out in the morning to go. From 8 - 10 weeks she went more often on the pad even though I toileted her 11:30pm, 2am and 4am (each time she went outside on the grass) .. if I did not make it in time or if we were out and she was in the pen she would use the pads. From 10 - 13 weeks she was outside more on her own during the day - don't need the pads, and at night in the crate she would use them ... again slowly holding her need to go until 6am when she goes out. Thank goodness! We were going through about 3 - 4 pads every day and sometimes a couple at night. This past week she has used one (she is 14 weeks today0 .. this morning when I was a little slow in getting to her to put her out.

I agree, stupid me picked a very bad night to decide to shut the door on the crate for the first time (I am ususally pretty good at planning but did not envisage she would 'go off' to the point of keeping the entire house awake at 11pm!!) ... hence I had to wait until she calmed down to be able to let her out. At least I did that right! She didn't come out until she was quiet of her own accord. I started again last night (Fri) and again different times today - she is in the crate as I type ... started with a yummy chicken neck ... sat happily and ate it all as it was dinner time and then started up .. it is only 6:30pm and she has carried on for 10 minutes and now settled down (we have all completely ignored her!) .. she seems to be happy t the moment even though I don't want to look This is a long weekend so I am hoping by the time we get to Monday night we will have turned the corner .... fingers crossed.

Hi LB, I hope for your pup's sake that he has decided to relieve himself The photos are fabulous! You are fortunate you are able to get some fantastic shots. Our Puli is incredibly hard to photograph even when on a contrasting background .. with black it is incredibly difficult to distinguish her features. On the crate issue .. I shut the door of the crate (which is in a pen in the kitchen) last night on Noodle ... well, ... what a terrible racket she made .. very VERY upset! I put liver treats in there and some biscuits but she was NOT impressed I ignored her for about 30min but she only settle a few times (for about 2 minutes at a time) and the rest of the time we were worried she would wake up the kids! In the end I opened the crate next time she was quiet and praised her quietness. Noodle then wouldn't sleep in the pen at all she was so worked up... I ended up putting her outside and she slept there last night. Tonght I tried again and we went out for about 1.5 hours (I find it difficult to deal with her crying :p and I know persistence is the key) and when we got home she had been asleep and happily came out (without any fuss from us) and went for a lovely walkpups ... exhausting but fantastic! :p

Thanks for the input NoodleNut. Tonight will be my baby's third night at my friend's place. So far he had only one accident which was my fault because once we woke up, I went to the toilet first instead of taking him to the backyard. I have found that my Hiro likes to eliminate on grass area and wont pee in the pads if he's really forced to. I will be coming back to my apartment tomorow and a bit confused. I think the only way is to regularly bring him out to the ground floor in the tiny grassy area on lead and hopefully he'll want to eliminate there. Will let you guys know how it goes tomorrow. Cheers Hi Lost boy, Yes, no time to go to the toilet yourself! No slippers on ... no passing 'GO' to collect $200! I learnt that early on ... their urge to pee is a lot greater than mine!! LOL Don't worry 'it will happen' .. just seems like a long time going back and forth and using the crate/penned area or a grass patch. I have had two children and toilet training them took a heck of a lot longer .. 5 weeks is nothing in comparison to a baby .. feeding and changing nappies! I agree that crate training is the way to go - worth it in the long run. We are going to be camping fairly soon so the crate will be coming with Noodle which will hopefully mean a 'dry' tent and a peaceful night!! At 13 and a half weeks I haven't had to wash the kitchen floor now for over a week (well, I have washed it but not because of Noodle! Grin .. don't want you to think I'm a slob or something). Keep at it.... your persistence and consistency will reap rewards in a clean floor. Got any pictures to brag about LostBoy?

Hi thank you for your quick reply. At puppy school we did sit, drop, recall, food manners, some basic agility type activities (through tunnels etc) and socialisation with other pups - no lead training in the 4 nights. The obedience club has said we have to wait for 3 weeks from time of second vaccination to be able to have her start obedience classes. The vet said at least 3 weeks for it to 'kick in'. We have been sensible and been taking her out and about (not into parks frequented by dogs - only on the footpath (the vet and puppy school were of the opinion that this was 'safe' in that it has rained intermittently to clean off the paths. She has not been near unvaccinated dogs or near any droppings on our walks. Both vet and puppy school were of the opinion that more dogs are put down due to poor socialisation in the early days than from parvo. Yes, we know this is the risk we take. So far we are pleased with how 'unfazed' she is by trucks, cars, lawn mowers, other children, goat (yes, she met a goat at 10 weeks!), cats and ducks ... no barking as yet at any of these.