Although I've been looking forward to getting 'Neo' for the past eight weeks the first night with a new puppy isn't something you look forward to so I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
Plan A was to settle him in his crate in the living room, go up to bed, put in some ear plugs and sleep, all best laid plans............
Mistake was I didn't put my ear plugs in straight away, I used the bathroom first and true to puppy form he whined and whimpered, once I'd heard him I knew I wasn't going to be following plan A! Ok so plan B came into action, armed with duvet and pillow I went back downstairs (hubby was on a night shift, good planning on his part!) ignored Neo and snuggled down on the sofa opposite his crate. Ear plugs in situ I tried to shut out the constant whimpering, after 15 mins I'd had enough, so without much faith of it working I loudly and firmly told the little bundle of fluff to be 'quiet', the was the last I heard from him until 04.00 at which point I took him out for his wee put him back in the crate, repeat of above and nothing more until 06.30.
That went so well I tried a different tactic the following night, put him to bed at midnight, stayed in the room watching TV, which I could just about hear over the din of puppy, at 24.30 he'd gone to sleep so I made a quiet and hasty exit up to bed, ear plugs in I heard some distant noise but was asleep before I could get all soppy!
A quick 'toilet' stop at 0300 then back to bed until 06.30.
Last night even better, didn't even need the ear plugs.
Since we got him home hes been a bit off colour, in fact I was starting to get worried as he wasn't acting at all puppy like, I know he has a fairly laid back personality but this was positively lethargic! He had little interest in his toys, even those stuffed with tasty stuff, wasn't' eating as much as he should and was very distant with us preferring most of the time to sleep at the other end of the room. And boy did he sleep, 5 mins awake and 2 hrs asleep! He saw the vet on Wed and was given clean bill of health but hardly noticed when he got his jab and a worming tab pushed down his throat.
I spoke to a friend yesterday about how un puppy like he was and she reminded me that on top of the stress of a new home both wormers and vaccinations will make them off colour.
As if by magic about an hour after this phone call I discovered that someone had taken Neo and replaced him with a very puppy like puppy! Complete contrast, lively, interactive, suddenly took interest in the toys he had barely sniffed at the day before and just followed me everywhere.
I think I had 'new mum' syndrome and was worrying about every little thing!