Oh, Pumpkin is soooooooo adorable.....I just love puppies.....also love dogs.....but always loved that puppy stage.

When I was breeding my eskies, we always let them go to their homes at 8 weeks old......was hard parting with them....puppies are just so adorable.

Pumpkin looks like she is full of personality....don't think I would let her out of my hugs for long...lol. Sounds like you are being a good mommy....it's fun working on them with the leash to start with. You just sort of go with them wherever they want to start with & apply a little pressure to get them used to the leash stopping them.....then it gets easier & easier. puppy training classes are definitely worthwhile....so is dog training classes to teach obedience. I have to admit that I only really trained one of my eskies thoroughly for obdeience.....it took years for us to get his obedience title though....he always had a mind of his own & never wanted to follow commands.....most breeds aren't quite that stubborn....but that's what made him Excell.

Glad the potty training is working well....crate training is the best starting place for that as you are doing.....then letting them out every hour or so until they get to the point where they can indicate to you that they need to go out. It is definitely much easier with only 1 dog.

What Lynn said about changing food is important...without slowly changing food, the possibility for diarrhea is much greater. I have been lucky when I had to abruptly change foods. Quality of food is also important....many dogs have allergies & the corn in the food is one of the big problems. I have to admit....I found one brand that is very very good....but very expensive called Natural Balance....there are others that are natural also......but it's important like Lynn said not to get anything with meat By-products in it. Good foods during puppyhood is needed for good bone & teeth development.

But the most important ingrediant is the one that you are full of & that is LOVE......hugs & kisses....you can always train them not to jump up on you in the future, but the hugs & the pets & the kisses are all part of the bonding process.....puppies are full of nothing but unconditional love & our unconditional love in return even with our corrections to wrong behavior are ok when done with love.

Know that you are just full of love for Pumpkin.....I am so excited for you. It is so wonderful to see you get your puppy that you have work so long & hard to find......know she will be (or more like IS) the love of your life.

happy puppy love,
Debbie