Well we are home with the Hogan pup

We picked him up around 10, and it took just over 3 hours to get home. Most of the time he was fine, slept a lot of the way, but started whining about 10 minutes from home - not a scared whine, but I think a rebellious "I want to explore the car" whine as he was scrabbling to climb out of my arms

As soon as he came in he peed on the floor but we did manage to have a poo outside!

Later in the afternoon we went out in the car again, as we had to check on the horses. On the way, he started scrabbling again (Toni was holding him) and whining when she wouldn't let him go. She tried putting him in the footwell which resulted in him whining louder and louder until he was screaming. She didn't want to pick him up again while he was doing that, so waited until he was silent for a second before scooping him up.

I wonder whether as he has travelled over 3 hours in the car today whether it is all too much, or whether he has a problem with the car? The long term "travel" plan is for him to be clipped on to a car harness to the seat belt so I want to make sure I nip any problems in the bud. What do you guys advise? Wait and see how it goes? When he is whining what should we do? I didn't want to punish him because it's a lot for him to take in today, it's just it's not a frightened whine, it's a rebellious "i can't have my own way" whine...

The other question, he doesn't seem to give me ANY notice when he's going to pee! Just squats and then he's done! Each time he's done it i've taken him out to the garden, but by then it's too late and he doesn't need to go anymore! I also take him out regularly to pee or poo but he doesn't go... any tips on encouraging him?

He's asleep in his crate right now, he fell asleep on Toni's sons lap so we carried him in there to get him used to it. The door is open, I have a feeling we may have a screamer on our hands tonight, he's not one to hold back on letting his feelings be known!

Anyway, thanks for any advice that you can give me, and enjoy the following pics.... the rest are on facebook (for those I am friends with)...

Shelley

Sleeping on the way home

In the garden

Playing with his toy

Oh hai!

Handsome boy

Finally asleep and letting us all have a rest!!!!!!

Oh! He is CUTE!

Be patient -- it's only day one. I wouldn't judge behaviour today. It will get better. Week one there will probably be a few accidents as he's still little and learning.

Keep him taking him outside regularly. If he pees or poops, give him LOTS of praise and a treat. Eventually, he will get the idea, and you can wean him off the treats.

Very cute little boy.  He looks like he is going to be a handful.  As for the car, give him a chance to get used to everything.  Ringo's first ride home was 4 hours and he was restless and cried for the first hour or so until I found out he liked audio books.  Would calm him right down.  Now he is a great rider.  He gets in the car and crashes (actually my entire gang will crash in the car).  They all love to go too.  Just take him every chance you get.  I start mine out in the back seat as I don't allow them in the front seat of the car.  They learn from the get go that they have to ride in the back.  I take them everywhere when they are little and make sure that we have fun when we get to our destination so they associate good things happen when I go in the car.  It doesn't take long.

As for the peeing, just remember he is a baby and has to go out often.  A good rule of thumb is every hour, after eating, after a nap, or after playing he goes outside.  Watch for sniffing around and looking for a place to pee and put him out.  Don't fuss if he has an accident.  If you catch him in the act do exactly what you did, scoop him up and put him out.  Praise when he pees outside.  It won't take him long, but expect some accidents. Be sure you clean up anywhere he pees with something that kills the smell or he will go back to the same spot and pee there again.

Congratulations on your new baby Puppy!! He is precious and just love those long GSP puppy ears!!! Love his color and markings, especially the fine stripe down his forehead. His paws look BIG too. He is going to be a big boy!!! His eyes look very intelligent and intense with eagerness to learn new things. Best Wishes with him!!

He's gorgeous and I love his name. Can only offer the same advise as everyone else with regards to the house training. Give him time

One thing I did with Baira though was to tell her to "do a wee wee". When she was little I took her outside and kept saying it until she did one and then praised her for doing it. She will now wee on command. Even if she doesn't need to go she'll squat and squeeze a drop out.

Thanks for the advice, keep it coming!

Well we survived the first night... just!

I put him to bed at 12pm, and went to bed myself. I had sworn to myself I would not go to him when he cried - he SCREAMED for half an hour, screaming, crying and howling - it was torture!

I had decided I would go down at 3am, and 6am. At 3am I went down, put his little coat on, took him straight out with no fussing into the garden. He peed straight away I then put him bacl in the crate and went back to bed. He cried for another half hour and went quiet again.

I went down at 6am and did the same, he peed straight away again. Each time he doesit I give him lots and lots of praise and a treat.

He then came back in, but after 5 minutes he started sniffing around, especially by the front door I quickly took him out and he went outside So no accidents in the crate.

Toni then took over I went upstairs for some more sleep, and since then he's been for pee/poo in the garden twice, with no accidents in the house.

You're right - it seems to be about 30 mins after a meal.

We are going out in the car again today - I might get one of the kids to hold him in the back as that is where he is going to be travelling eventually, with a harness on.

Also, he seems to get the hiccups an awful lot, is this normal? (He's had them about 5 times already!)

When would it be ok to wash him? I have puppy shampoo ready. I don't want to overface him.

Any more info would be greatly, greatly appreciated. I'm sooo paranoid about him, all I can say it thank goodness I'm NOT going to having kids

One more question - I think he may be what you guys refer to as a "power chewer"

I gave him a puppy nylabone yesterday, in 10 minutes he had chewed the end off. It says that he can pass through parts of the bone which are the size of a grain of rice - but he had chewed big chunks off which I had to retrieve from his mouth. I have taken the bone from him and replaced with a tough nylon toy - I am worried though, will the replacement be too rough for his teeth? I am also very paranoid about him swallowing parts of nylon/edge of carpet/parts of toy and then getting an impaction.

Thanks!

More pics? Well you asked for it

He has been great today. We've had a few wee accidents, but each time I have picked him up to stop him mid flow, then scooted him to the garden and he has finished his business outside.

He has also started moving in the general area of the door when he needs to go, so that's great!

We went to my parents for sunday lunch. I thought it was going to be a nightmare - but I put his bed behind mine and Toni's chairs, in the sun, and he slept their (looking very very cute) while we were eating! I was so proud of my little boy!

He is currently fast asleep curled up on his bed, in front of the hearth. We have a woodburner/multifuel stove (in fact it's our only source of heat apart from oil filled radiators and I think he likes the heat. Don't worry I'm very careful he won't get too hot, we also have to be careful, he seems very interested in the log basket and coal pot

He's becoming a lot braver, today we did some hoovering and he stood by Henry the vacuum sniffing him! We've also had the hairdryer on, and the kids have been on the Wii shouting and yelling, he's coped very well with that too - luckily he was well socialised at the breeders as she had 5 year old twins

Shelley