So, yesterday we got home from vacation. Out of 6 days gone, 50 hours in the car...It was great to see family though and be back in Michigan, even if it was for such a short time. It made me really homesick though and I didn't want to leave.

While there, we visited Karnovanda Kennels and picked up our new boy Logan. He was born December 24, 2014. He actually did very good all of vacation through staying at three different places (family vacation home, hotel, and parent's house) and only had one accident (poop) inside. He slept in his crate well the first night, but wouldn't settle down in it at the hotel so he's been sleeping in bed with us at night. Not what I planned, but oh well.

Anyways, since we've been home, it's been a whole other story. He has peed in the apartment twice and pooped once. He hates the crate and will not settle down in it. I don't know what to do. I have to leave him alone tomorrow afternoon for a couple hours for a dentist appointment, then I go back to work Monday when a mid day dog walker will start. I know it's only been a day home, but I'm super stressed and questioning whether we should have done this.

(Edited to add: He literally just now went in his crate purposely to pee. I am leaving it open to get him used to it, feeding him in it, etc...and he just went in there and lifted his leg. Second time this has happened. And he has no warning signals for pee. I don't know how to make him think of it differently. I've cleaned it with Nature's Miracle each time. Just went out and bought an airline style crate to see if that will help. We were using Bode's old wire one)

Other than that, he's a pretty good boy. Typical curious puppy, but nothing too crazy so far. Him and Bode have been getting used to each other. Bode has had a couple incidents where he's gotten possessive, so we have to work on that. They have been playing like crazy though. Sometimes it's even too much since they won't settle down when they're supposed to. He's also very sweet. Loves to give kisses and isn't really mouthy at all. They started on him with some basic commands, so he knows sit and shake and is working on down. He also heels on a leash well.

Anyways, he's very hard to get pictures of. These are from my phone. If I have any other good ones from my camera itself, I'll upload them but I don't think I took many on there. There are lots of car pictures since that's where we were the majority of the time! lol

In the car after we picked him up
0611151654a by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

First ride with his new brother
0612151053 by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

You can see Bode is thrilled...
0612151108a by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

We discovered he likes to climb and lay on the luggage
0612151147 by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

With Grandpa! (my dad)
0612151650 by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Being a good boy eating on the patio
0612151801a by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Exploring
0612151902a by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Cuddling with Lucy, my parent's Brittany on the bed
0613150515 by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Hotel life
0613151935a by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Waiting for daddy to bike by in his race
0613150848a by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

A true husky...
0616150956a by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

He's just so precious. I love the look on Bode's face in that third picture. He just seems so unimpressed.

TwisterII wrote:

He's just so precious. I love the look on Bode's face in that third picture. He just seems so unimpressed.

I laughed at that one too; Logan looks like a great pup but in that picture I can just hear Bode asking "What did I do to deserve this???"

Sara that picture of Bode with Logan just says it all...I can just hear Bode> "Ah, Mom, about that rugrat in MY space..."

Sara, he's adorable. Don't second guess yourself, it'll not only get better but it won't be long til you all can't imagine what it would be like without him there...I promise!!! The look on Bode's face in the car pic is a look I know all too well, both with Kohdi when Mishka came, and from Anuschka when Malukhai came, I can only describe it as Bode doesn't know what to think about it all right now, it's all new to him too and why he's gonna need some extra attention from you guys congratulations Sara, seriously, you have a beautiful puppy there!

Congratulations!! He is very cute, alnost a male version of Miya

Congrats Sara! I'm so glad you were finally able to go get him! I think the name Logan suits him very well. He is just adorable.

Congrats Sara! Do not second guess yourself, you got this! It is probably just the getting used to part. Do not stress yourself out.

Sara - the whole getting used to the crate part? I think, in retrospect, that having both Ami and Archer stay overnight in the shop in the crate was helpful. Why? Because once I put them in the crate, I locked the doors to the shop, walked away. That building was far enough from the house we did not hear if they howled. And I know for certain, if Wayne heard them howl, crate training would have been out the window. My husband is a marshmallow heart and kids, dogs? If they give the slightest inclination they are unhappy he will move heaven and earth to remedy that. Which puts me in the "hard-heart" role.

So, though the first few days will be rough, hopefully you and hubby can be on one page and tough it out. One trick I learned with my first baby - if the crying gets to be too much, I took a shower so I couldn't hear her. So if crate training is wearing you down, maybe put Logan in the crate and the two of you go for a walk (you're in an apt right? no place to escape the cries?) I would crate him, treat him, leave the apt. come back in 10 minutes, let him out. Increase the increments that he is in - being out of sight, I bet he will calm down soon enough.

You should come down to Louisiana and let me have a photoshoot with Logan and Bode.


Seriously though, he's adorable. You just have to be patient with him. It's hard in the beginning because everything is disrupted and it's been so long since you've had to deal with puppy and potty training. You just have to stand strong and consistent. It'll get better!

cant wait to hug him to near death!!!

is he nurtured yet? maybe the marking is because now that you are home he smells bode all over and is marking HIS home and spot? hope the closed crate works or works to contain the pee. own a shampooer vac yet?
its gonna time him time to settle in, just try to make sure he gets better not worse with the marking.

He sounds an awful lot like Denali, who had a big peeing problem when I first got him. He desperately needs structure and discipline, but I think you'll see results pretty quickly. I can't wait to meet the little bugger

Oh Sara, great pics!! He is so adorable. Yea, Bode did not look too impressed, lol. Dig deep down for your patience, he is still a baby and everyone needs to adjust, it will take time. A couple of months from now you will forget how tough this is.

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. Today I left him in the crate for about 2 hours while I was at the dentist and came back to it intact and no pee, so that's a good start. I've also been in contact with Jenny and she's given me some tips, including e collar training, but we don't really have the extra $180 for the collar at the moment so I'm going to give it a few more days for him to settle in some more.

Some more pics:

Tug o War!
0618151209c by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Took the boys to our favorite Cider brewery downtown last night and they did great
0617151909a by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Snuggles
0617151444a by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Sara - I think you are on your way!

When Josh first got Archer, he was just about beside himself. Archer peed/pooped where he wasn't supposed, chewed on everything imaginable, howled his little head off in the crate. He was ready to give him up - Jess had experience with dogs and I made a few suggestions, nothing really unusual, just the voice of reason 1 step away from the problem. Things got better and he is a love to have in the house, now. You'll get through this. It's just an adjustment for everyone.

LOVE the snuggles pic! They sure look well behaved at the brewery

So we had a decent couple of days. He seems to be settling in better. Left him in the crate for about 4 hours on Saturday and while he was quite anxious when we got home, it seems he did good. Today is the first day back to work though. We have dog walker coming around 11 so we'll see how it goes. Oh, he also pooped inside this morning, but that was my fault. So there goes our 3 day accident free streak.

Saturday we met Erica, Darren, baby Karissa and Maggie the Malamute at the dog park. I was nervous for Logan's first dog park visit but he did wonderfully. We also met VERY high content wolf dogs and Bode decided to hump one...lol. They were super docile though. Afterwards we went to a brewery. Here are Logan, Bode and Maggie scheming...
three by sara.white.2012, on Flickr

Then Sunday Logan got to go to Jenn's house to meet Jack and Sierra. He was pretty excited to have a yard to chill in.

i could not get enough of his puppy cuteness! Could have done without him pulling out chunks of the new grass though!! its funny, Bode and now Logan both love to go into S&J's toy box and pull out all their treats/toys and make a mess inside and bring most outside to chew on, S&J could care less about it, glad they like hanging out with us

Yeah, sorry about the grass...we need to figure out how to get him to knock that off. And they love that Auntie Jenn buys all the good bones!

He looks like he is settling in great! Bode seems to be getting used to the idea too! He is adorable Sara.

Great pics Sara.....Love the last pic, he looks like he has always been there....How was the dog walker?

Yesterday with the dog walker went good! She texted me a pic around 11:40 and said they were both good, no crate accidents!

Yay! See, it's just going to take time. I'm sure when the time comes and I get a puppy I'll probably be beside myself not having had to deal with that for a few years. Lol.

Sara, he is just precious! I'm glad he's settling in and doing better.

Man, I think I just got puppy fever!

Those little Wookie noises are Logan...lol. Love the side eye look Bode gives me at about 19 seconds.