I'm not 100 % sure but I think today starts the 30 days of posting for the month of November. So I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. I'm not really all that sure I will have that much to talk about, but as always we shall see.
So my second night with Bo last night was very tiring. He went to bed around mid-night and I thought great. But then about a half hour after I fell asleep last night I heard this whimpering little sound. Bo was peaking his head out of his bed and looking at me with this sad little look on his face. I gave him his blanket and put him back in his bed. Keep in mind that his bed is right next to me, just a few inches away. He went right back to sleep, as did I. 45 minutes later he started crying again. Again I talked to him for a few minutes and cuddled with him. I was figuring he was just scared from being in a new place. However, every 45 minutes all night he was up. I took him outside, I played with him, I talked to him, nothing was working, I would get him back to sleep, but every time I would take my hand off of him he would wake up. Finally around 6:30 I was so tired I could hardly see straight, I took him outside once more, and then we went up to bed. I wrapped him up all tight and snugglie in his blankie and put him on my chest. He out like a light for almost 2 hours. I know you aren't supposed to sleep with your dog actually on you, but I was so tired I was willing to try anything. Wouldn't you know the rest of the day he slept great. Figures...when I can't sleep, he is going to.
Tonight I went to Pet Smart and I found this little pillow for puppies. It is soft and will go in his bed with him. But there is a heartbeat sound in it, the sound is supposed to help with separation anxiety. I figured what the heck, it won't hurt anything. So far he loves it...again we shall see what happens during the night. I really hope it works because I'm so tired! I feel like a mom of a newborn baby for as many times as I was up last night.
Does anyone have any good tips for me? More Bo stories to follow...
Well tomorrow is the day...My 31st B-day, my first birthday without Shawn. I think my family and I are going to go out for lunch and then just come home and have a relaxing afternoon. Totally fine by me that's how I want this birthday to me. As normal as possible, in such an un-normal time for me.
Tomorrow I will post the letter that Shawn wrote to me last year for my birthday. It will give you just a small idea of how great of a guy is really was and how great he was to me.
I miss him more and more each and every day.
Talk more soon
18 comments:
I broke the dog rule too when our Ellie was a puppy. I just pulled her up in the bed and let her curl up right on top of me. We both slept great!
Happy Almost birthday. I knwo it will be harder than I could ever imagine. I will be thinking of you tomorrow
I hope that you have as happy as a birthday as you can tomorrow. I will be praying for you.
Cheryl
I've never had a puppy, but everyone I know who has had one agrees it is much like having a baby. Hope you get more sleep with the heartbeat thingamajig!
I don't know if you are kennel training. I'll explain it if you are not familiar. We bought an adult sized kennel for our new puppy that comes with a dividing wall to expand as the puppy grows. keep it small as possible. It makes them feel secure. It also keeps them from pottying in their kennel because they don't like to potty where they sleep. A dog can't really control it's bladder until they are about 3 or 4 months though, so I would use the towel I showered with in the morning and put it in his kennel for him to sleep on while I'm gone and it smelled like me and helps with anxiety, then when I get home I just throw the towel in the laundry since it has tinkle on it. Also, I would cover the kennel with a blanket. Dogs feel more secure in a cave-like atmosphere. If they can't see out then they are more calm and feel protected. About the crying, I just had to put him in his kennel with his towel with my scent, kennel covered up, and let him cry. I have an extra bedroom I put the kennel in to help with the sound. I also have a noisy fan I turn on anyway because I like the sound when I sleep. I know it's mean, but he will keep crying because he knows you will pick him up. Look into kennel training. It's a great way to potty train and to wean them from seperation anxiety. When I put my dog up he does not cry because he knows I will let him out when I come home. I would normally let him sleep with me, and I sometimes do, but he's 40 lbs and takes up a lot of room in the bed. When they are kennel trained well enough they can sleep with you and not tinkle on the bed. Sorry this is so long. I adopted a puppy (lab/beagle mix) from the pound last year and we trained him ourselves. I also rescue stray dogs and train (potty train and simple commands) and find them homes so I know a little bit about the anxiety and stuff. If you have any more questions just email me at tigerpolk at yahoodotcom.
There is some kind of spray stuff that you can get at pet stores that is supposed to calm dogs. We tried it with our puppy and it seemed to work. I'd also keep him awake during the day as much as possible and not let him take many naps.
Hey Jen.......I am Roxanne from South Mississippi......I also found your blog from Bring the Rain. I read the current post......then went all the way back to start and read from there. So so many things I feel I want to say to you.....but won't bore you with a super long comment. So I'll just say a few.....1st....You are an amazing woman......you inspire me to be a better wife and mother. 2nd...Your husband sounds like the angel we all know him to be now. I cannot imagine the pain you have endured. You speak beautifully. You sound like someone I would love to sit down and have many cups of coffee with and just talk. I will be thinking of you tomorrow on your birthday and hope that it can be a peaceful day.
Roxanne
I found your blog from "Bring the Rain" and have been reading for awhile. I love your honesty and you are such an inspiration...so I gave you a "i'm lovin' your blog" award....I know it's weird since you don't know me...see my blog to see your award!
Hi Jen. Happy 31st Birthday - I hope you have a relaxing day. I will be praying for you throughout the day as I know it will be difficult.
Poor you and Bo! You need some sleep. I kennel trained my dogs as well, so I agree with previous person about that. When my dogs were puppies, they slept in their kennel. Now, I would wake up with them occasionally and take them outside - I didn't want them messing in their kennel. That is just how I did it - it was usually just once or twice a night. Better than every hour!
I also kept them awake as much as possible during the day. A few naps with LOTS of playtime. And don't forget to limit his food and drink before bedtime.
Good luck with Bo! It is rough the first few weeks - I know what you mean about having a newborn at home. That is what it feels like - I think!
Thinking of you as you assimilate to the new little one in your life and as you, celebrate? Get through? your birthday.
((Hugs))
Happy Birthday!! I'm sure your day will be FILLED with puppy love!!
Will be thinking of you all day and hoping for a wonderful 31st birthday.
HUGS
Hmmm...I say just let him sleep with you if it keeps him quiet and let's you sleep. I dunno...my theory is the same for puppies as it is my babies...it works for me!!
Good luck with things.
MMm, my last puppy was also like that,it took 7 days to get her to sleep through the night for the first time and I thought I was going to loose my mind. What did work was rubbing her puppy blanket on me so that it got my smell and she didn't get such severe separation anxiety because she could smell me.
I hope you're having a good birthday.
(((Hugs)))
Hi Jen, Happy Birthday! I know today will be hard. I'm praying for you.
Hugs,
Amanda
Hi,
I also came over from Bring The Rain...
Having a puppy is indeed a lot like having a newborn baby. We crate trained our puppy and woke up every 2 hrs to take him outside to pee. It worked like a charm, but it took a while. We also didn't let him nap a lot during the day and limited his fluid intake before bed. Right before bed we took him out. We also covered his crate and rewarded him generously with treats (and toys) inside his crate when he obeyed as we instructed him to go to bed. The whimpering was torture for me but, as brutal as it sounds, it's something they need to go through. It's more about YOU getting through it though. I had to move the crate to another room so I couldn't hear him (and he couldn't hear me)...yowza...it was hard for me! I hope this helps and I wish you a peaceful birthday filled with the love of precious ones surrounding you. I don't know if you're a Christian or not but give prayer a try... pray for comfort...He really does want to comfort your broken heart. I'm sorry for your loss.
Darlee
Forgot to add...Happy Birthday, Jenny!!
Also...Bo's a baby who got taken away from his puppy mommy...a little extra snuggling with you at night isn't gonna hurt. I could NEVER myself do the crate training thing. I wouldn't last. (((hugs)))
In case I don;t get the chance tomorrow.....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to you!!!
I hope you have a great Birthday.
My only advice, and I know it's so hard, is just to let him cry it out. Unfortunately you would still be woken up each time.
It's kind of a tough love thing. Dogs do better when they are crate trained and have parameters (I found this out the hard way with our german shepherd- we got him when he was 6 wks old)
Hope you can get some sleep soon!!
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