So we survived another night 
We had some friends around last night who have had a puppy, and some of the things they said made me think a little. I wonder if my expectations of him have been too high - I have never looked after such a young puppy, only 4 - 5 months before. They said everything to him is a game, he is not deliberately being defiant, just wants to play.
I have found a good tactic, when he is mouthing my hand with his sharp puppy teeth I either say "OUCH!" or squeal high pitched - he stops immediately and the friends last night said this is what a littermate would do if something hurt?
This morning I decided I would take a bath, so put him in his crate. I also want him to know that every time he goes in his crate we aren't going to dissapear (go to bed or go out). I got luke to sit on the sofa on the Wii, ignoring Hogan but just being there while I went in the bath. He whined for a few minutes then curled up on his bed and went to sleep  When I got out he was sat patiently waiting in the crate! Good puppy.
I have started picking him up and holding him on his back every now and again, as a routine thing. I want to make sure he knows I am the alpha. I also roll him on to his back and stroke his belly. Sometimes he resists, other times he lies there and enjoys it. I also now make him wait and the door and "sit", and I walk through first. He still tries to bolt through first but it's early days! He's getting the hang of it.
The potty training is also coming along well.
I have also started picking up all his toys and putting them away, before they were just lying around. I want him to know that they are MY toys but I allow him to play with them. This seems to be working out well. To start with when I took away he leapt up but a stern LEAVE seems to work.
I had a panic yesterday about his food, you remember I said he was being picky? Well I googled his food, he was on Bakers Puppy - after a comment someone had made. Oh my gosh - full of additives - the equivalent of putting cherryade in his water bowl one website said!
I have bought him some JamesWellBeloved - it is additive free and all natural (and christ don't you pay through the nose for that sort of feed!!) and have been putting a few pellets in each feed to start gradually trying to change him over. I thought it might be hard as the Bakers is clearly full of naughty but nice things and who would prefer salad over chocolate.... but he has been wolfing it down!
This morning he went for his first walk (AKA: carry inside jacket). We met a horse and rider (AKA scary monster), a cyclist (AKA scary monster with wheels), a car (AKA scary monster with sore throat) and a tractor (AKA I don't care what type of monster it is but I'm going to hide inside my jacket and pretend it's not there)...
Here are a few more pics to keep you amused. Texas Belle I will get one of him in his harness for you asap... he wears it in the car now, still sat on someones lap. The next step will be to take him off a lap and strap him in!
Unfortunately, Charlotte (Toni's daughter) has just been taken to hospital with suspected appendicitus, and I have to go to work at 1pm, so puppy will have to go into the crate and be left for 4 hours. It's not great and normally he wouldn't be left as I am on part -time hours while he is young to make sure he was not left but you can't help emergencies - would it be better to shut the curtains etc and make it seem like night for him?
Well done if you got to the end of that, and here are the pics!
I think perhaps he is dreaming about running!
Very tired mummy!
GRRRR I is a hunting dog!
Oh hello!
Wearing his little coat
A little video - sorry about the angle!
Shelley x
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