Hermann's home! (long and lots of photos)

[Nicky&Chris]

Actually Hermann came home almost two weeks ago and I've been intending to post pics and news every day since and have been very bad at getting round to this - the last two weeks seem to have gone by in a haze of pee-breaks, snuggles, games and "offs"!!!

He's generally been a real little angel, is currently asleep under the kitchen table next to where I am typing on the computer as he went out for a big old romp in the snow in our yard this morning and it completely pooped him out.

We had a huge drive to bring him home from the east side of Washington State to the west coast of Vancouver Island - we made it onto the Island in one day, but it did mean he spent most of that day in his crate in the back seat of our car - apart from pee/poop breaks. We learned that putting the radio on stopped him crying in his crate. We got him out of the crate while we were on the ferry and he sat on our laps in the car for cuddles - we felt they were well deserved after he'd been such a good boy in his crate and then we played like mad with him when we got to the hotel for the night.
When we got home the next day he settled right in and (thankfully!) seems to love living with us!

He's picking up things very quickly - he's learned:
- his name (well, when he's not in intense, crazed, sniffing in the yard mode - then he forgets)
- kind looks at the door when he needs to go out, (so we go out what feels like every ten minutes after each "kinda" look)
- steps on the towel when we saw "Paws" when he comes inside so they can be wiped off (now need to work on stopping the biting during this process...)
- fetches (not sure if we taught him that, he might have picked that up by accident...)
- sits like a little darling whenever asked and bores into your eyes with his (as that's the way he gets bits of weiner...)

He doesn't cry in the night anymore. We only got up with him to take him out the first three or four nights, then we decided to see if he could hold on and he did.
Wish he loved his crate a bit more - he ADORES the cave-like feeling under the kitchen table, but just doesn't seem to realise it's even more snug and cozy in his crate. We wonder whether the initial long crate experience in the car on the way home has put him off it. He does stay in it all night and now doesn't wake us up crying at any point during the night - but no matter what we do he just won't go in there voluntarily during the day. If we pick him up and pop him in there while he's sleepy he'll just sit there awake with his head up until we let him out, then he immediately rushes off and curls up somewhere else and goes straight to sleep - all a bit back to front.
We're persisting with daily sessions of giving him food and treats n the crate and he'll sit in there happily while we feed him chicken and weiner but just won't ever choose to go in there by himself - he's definitely not scared of it, just think he would rather be out in human world with us - he certainly seems to just want to be close to us all the time - and he is still only just ten weeks old today so he is still a baby after all.
We are lucky enough to be here all the time as we work from home (have a B&B) so we have had the luxury of being able to concentrate on his training staight away, which is very rewarding for us - to see this little ball of cuteness sit and stare at us just makes us go all melty!
We're going to start trying to "stay" today.
And we need to try to clamp down a bit more on the constant hand-nibbling - going to do the loud "OUCH", hard stare, walk away routine to see if that works.
Anyway, now the best part - here are some photos of out lovely little bundle of joy who is bringing so much into our lives - we feel so incredibly priviledged to have him.

[Nicky&Chris]

Oops - the captions for my photos didn't show up - I must have entered them in the wrong place.
The first photo is on my hubby's lap in the car on the ferry on the way home.
And in the photo with his crate in it, I can promise you we are not cruelly trying to get him to sleep in a hard plastic crate - he'd hauled out the cushion and towel from inside and was enjoying how comfy they are outside the crate - apparently they are not so nearly comfy when they're inside.
But as you can see - under the table is the best place of all...

[tuffystar]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! He is wonderful! I can't say this enough He is a heart breaker!!!

[MaxandMe]

welcome and CONGRATS!!!! Hermann is soooo adorable!!!
and i love all the pics but the one of him asleep AWAY from his crate and under the table ...priceless

sounds like you're doing a great job with puppyhood...Hermann sounds like a cutiepie

[annabelles mom]

Gorgeous - love the "snow" beard !

[lindamarie]

Awwwwwwwww! What a PRECIOUS little pupple!! I absolutely love his markings! So CUTE!!!

[Nicky&Chris]

Thanks guys - we are just loving having him around, we're just totally pupple absorbed - in fact we are getting virtually nothing else done!
We both keep looking at him and sighing "Oh god, I really love him" - I guess this must be what parents feel like with their non-fur babies.
We were both brought up with dogs and have always wanted our own, but always worked long hours out of the house and it wouldn't have been fair, but now we work from home it's perfect. So he's pretty much been about fifteen years in the waiting!
Also I am severely allergic, was on drugs the whole time I was a kid to cope with our family dogs - so since May I have been undergoing desensitizing shots and so far they seem to be working very well. Normally when a dog licks me and it gets under my skin my skin would come up in hives, but even with a pupple scratching, biting and licking my hands all the time I have so far not had a single hive. Also I've had only about ten pup-induced sneezes in the two weeks we've had him, so that is just wonderful. He's also an F1b in an effort to lessen the chances of a reaction as much as possible.
The first shot I had after we got him though did put me in hospital for the night (had to have adrenalyn, the works) the thinking is that having him around had for a week since the previous shot had set off my allergies, but no so much that I noticed any physical symptoms, but then the allergy shot on top of that tipped me over the edge.
So this week I'm going back to a weaker dose (finger crossed) and will work my way back up again to the more concentrated shots.
One of the nurses at the hospital thought I was mental - to quote her "You're risking your life to have a dog????????". Before I could chime in the other nurse with her said "Oh I would certainly do what she's doing to get the love back from a dog". Thank goodness she spoke before I did!
So that's how much of a wanted pupple he is - it's been a long time in the planning - and we're just beside ourselves with delight. But he is most definitely not going to be spoiled - we're doing training sessions with him every day. We can absolutely not have any of our B&B guests complaining about noise or annoyance from a dog so he has to be extra well behaved.
Now, if only we could get the sharp little teeth put away....

[curlygirl]

Congratulations!!!!

He's Beautiful! I love his markings. Very unique.

Now you are officially "one of us".

[blueteal]

Congrats he is adorable..............
Wonderful pictures...........
You guys got double the snow we did and nice to see pupple enjoys it................

[julie_s]

Congratulations on Hermann! You really went through a lot to get him, and he is lucky to be so loved already. I am sure he will be a big hit at your B&B and (in time) will become the perfect host for your guests.

You know he will also entertain your visitors, too! Maybe some sock stealing and Doodle 500s?

Enjoy his puppyhood. You know, they only stay little for so long...

[Raleighsmom]

But he is most definitely not going to be spoiled -

....Hmmmmmm.....hahahahaha...Congratulations on finally getting your little Herman!!! He is absolutely adorable!!!! I'm glad your allergy is under control so that you can enjoy all the love he has to offer!!! Just keep us posted with his antics and pics!!!

[tuffystar]

So much love for your baby! The love you get back is so special. I am glad your ok.

[Lora]

What a precious baby!! You all are going to be wonderful parents to your pupple!!

[Lucee&Rusty]

What a little heart melter!! He is so adorable.
We used the ouch and yelping like a puppy when Lucee was little. Seemed to work with her.
Funny how some puppies are all teeth and others aren't.
He is such a good boy to sleep through the night!
Lots and lots more photos and stories of puppy antics please!

He is just adorable!!! I love his markings.

Just a thought on the crate thing. Sadie and Maya didn't like their crates when they were out in the open but as soon as I put them under the kitchen table (on the one side) they will go in by themselves on occasion. They do prefer to be with us on the couch though!!