Hello from the Two of Us!

[Avery&Kristen]

Hello! I have enjoyed The Daily Puppy for some time, and since Avery came home with me and my husband three days ago, I thought it was time to speak up!

Avery is a mini Australian Shepherd, black tri. She is nine weeks old and has been an angelic puppy so far, which is good since she is our first baby! She is adjusting well to the crate at night and is already working on sit and lay down with much success - not to mention that she has practically potty trained herself already.

[Phyrie]

....she has practically potty trained herself already...

Heh, ya gotta love a newbie, doncha? But I'm not gonna burst your bubble for ya! LOL!

Welcome to the DP. Avery is adorable.

I'm Phyrie, with a Cavalier called Kiba, here in BC, Canada

[Avery&Kristen]

....she has practically potty trained herself already...

Heh, ya gotta love a newbie, doncha? But I'm not gonna burst your bubble for ya! LOL!

Oh no! I don't like the sound of that!

[Deerie me]

....she has practically potty trained herself already...

Heh, ya gotta love a newbie, doncha? But I'm not gonna burst your bubble for ya! LOL!

Oh no! I don't like the sound of that!

I think all Phyrie means is that often potty training goes really well for a while and then you have a hiccup and feel like you are going backwards for a bit, so just accept the rough with the smooth and don't expect it to be easy all the time.

Welcome to the Daily Puppy from Deerhounds Loki and Idun and their mum in England.

[RubyJeansMom]

Hi Kristen, Avery is an adorable little girl.

Welcome from RJM, Ruby and Kessler

[Molly&Hudson]

Hi Kristen,
what a lovely looking puppy,...i hope you stay with us,..keep posting shots of Avery as she grows,..like Phyrie,..i am smiling to myself,...not to worry,...it comes in fits and starts,...but its well worth it all,...congrats on your first puppy.


oops i said he!!!!,...corrected it

[Phyrie]

Tracy is right, Kristen. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have expected you to "get" my sense of humour yet! It was just a little "dig" at you as you blithely tip-toe through the tulips, all shiny and new, while an experienced owner like our poor, dear, Sampson's Mom has crumbled into a teary ball. She will survive, and you will crumble, as we all have, in our turns. It's almost inevitable, but we soldier on, because love our dogs, and know that although it seems impossible at the time, we really won't remember the trying times while looking into the faces of our well-trained, grown-up dogs. Being able to commiserate with people who have experienced exactly what you're going through is a big help when tears threaten and you wonder what the hell you were thinking bringing home this creature!

I'm not trying to scare you, just tease you a little. Welcome to a whole new world!

[Avery&Kristen]

Thanks, everyone!

It'll be nice to have a community backing us up as she grows!

And I hope that we can get through the potty training with no major setbacks, but we'll take them as they come

[Phyrie]

...And I hope that we can get through the potty training with no major setbacks, but we'll take them as they come ...

That's all you can do, Kristen! Preparation is great, but nothing teaches like hands-on experience.

Did you mention where in the world you were? There is someone on here probably at least 20 hours a day, so we can accomodate most time zones for "HELP!!"'s. LOL! I'm usually here "latest", till at least midnight Pacific Daylight Saving Time, and Tracy and Philip would probably be earliest. No, maybe Chandra? Hmmm. I don't know, but you know what I mean, right? LOL!

[Avery&Kristen]

and you wonder what the hell you were thinking bringing home this creature!

I've already wondered that, when she woke me up at 4:30 and 6:00!

haha Nah, I'm kidding. Part of it.

And Kentucky, so Eastern Time Zone.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Hi Avery & Kristen! Welcome to the Daily Puppy from Oliver & Henry, and their Mum of course in London, Ontario

Avery is just adorable. Puppies are fun and every other thing everyone has said. The DP is a fun place to share all things dog, and a few others as well. Glad you joined

[Phyrie]

We know you're not kidding. You can expect little sleep for a while. It's OK, we've all thought the same thing, some to more degrees of desperation than others! It's OK. We understand.

There was a very, very long thread that chronicled the adventures of Cindy and her dog Charlie. Charlie, a large, mixed breed mutt, spent the first two years of his life attempting to EAT Cindy. His teething stage lasted longer than any dog any of us had ever heard of! He nipped, he bit, he tackled her from behind, he chewed on every part of her body he could reach. At one point, she even became frightened of him, and she despaired that he would ever get better. She was covered in scars, but she loved him, and was determined to live through this "stage" with both of them sort of intact. The thread is gone now, as they age out after a year, but it was a brave testament to the ultimate in faithful animal guardianship, and we are lesser for it's loss. Cindy NEVER gave up on Charlie, even when bruised and bloody and hiding behind a door to protect herself from him.

Although she no longer posts here, I still hear from her every once in a while. Charlie has grown to be a wonderful, well-behaved, much loved dog, companion, and guardian, just as she wanted. But the struggle she went through would have crippled some of us, or caused us to re-home Charlie. But with the group's help, she prevailed, and she would tell you it was all worth it.

Each and every one of us has a story to tell you, advice to give you, and support to help you. If I haven't personally experienced some particular difficulty you're having, you can be sure someone else will have done. You're in good hands, even when those hands are covered in poop and dog slobber.

[Sadie G]

Welcome to the DP! Avery is beautiful!! I know you will enjoy everyone on this site and get lots of good information.

A big welcome from your neighbors in Indiana , Sadie and Linda

[Mali, Sasha & Me]

Welcome to the DP from Mali, Sasha and Chandra, Dubai UAE. Your pup is beautiful!!

[Kristen&Bailey]

Welcome to DP from another Kristen (and my dog Bailey) Avery is beautiful.