So... yes, he's Bear 
Thought I would create a thread to track his progress and escapades. Sorry, this might be a bit boring.....
Today he's nine weeks and two days, and weighs just over 7.5 kilos. He's absolutely hilarious and a joy to be around. He is sooooo bitey but we just shove a toy in his mouth as often as possible.
Sleeping and Rest
He's brilliant overnight. I had thought I would have him upstairs for a few days to keep him calm, but he's a very confident puppy and happily sleeps downstairs in his crate and pen set-up. I spent the first night sleeping next to him, and the next three nights sitting by the side of the pen until he was asleep. Now he sleeps through the night for eight or nine hours (one night was nearly ten!) I know it makes toilet training just a little longer using puppy pads and a pen, but as I have to be alert to work full time I need my sleep. Plus Monty gets some alone time with us on the bed every night and proper rest. I plan to remove the pen in late July time and just use the crate, hopefully by then he will manage seven hours overnight.
In his first few days with us, he didn't seem to sleep enough in the day, but since yesterday he has taken to napping on various beds, and under my feet while I work, of his own accord. Each day he is getting at least one proper nap inside the pen, to make sure he knows he has to sleep there too.
Toilet training
Bear gives out brilliant signals when he needs to go, it was pretty obvious after a few days. He wees a lot.... and often in pairs. He'll wee straight after a snooze, but will also go again within the next 5 minutes or so. We've had the doors all open today, and at least three times he has taken himself up the ramp to go on the lawn. Probably averaging one wee in the house each day, but it's our fault - we are good at the after food / sleep wee, but sometimes forget he still needs to go at least every 40-50 minutes as well. Five to six poos a day, mostly well formed, always outside on the lawn or on his puppy pad overnight.
Food
He's on a mix of Eden (kibble), Nutriment (raw minced food) and goats milk. He was a chubby monkey last Monday, but already today he looks leaner and I can see his last ribs through the puppy fluff. We are in touch with his breeder who kept a puppy too, and as she is increasing food for her pup, we will match as appropriate. He gets two small kongs each day with raw inside, and sometimes the milk / kibble on a licky mat. He's also having a piece of raw / frozen carrot each day which he loves. He knows that the kitchen is where the food is kept, and can be found sitting at my feet while I'm preparing meals. When the raw food comes out he does this awful squealing sound like he's in pain....but it's just excitement and impatience. After nearly giving me a coronary the first time, I'm now just ignoring and turning my back to attempt to fade it out. He also likes to eat stones, or at least hold them in his mouth and try to eat them. I've removed at least eight today. But Monty did this, and then just grew out of it without us even realising he had stopped.
Training
This dog is so bright. He sits automatically, so it's easy to put that on cue. He's doing nose touches pretty consistently, and lies down fairly well. We have three steps leading up to our small lawn, and he has learnt to use the ramp up and down in just a few days by luring. (In fact, I swear he loves running down the ramp like a child going down a slide). The steps are the bane of my life, I spent four days lifting him up and down them, and each day, he does clamber up them at least a couple of times. I'm so wary of protecting his joints.... but I know that he does have to learn about steps and stairs a bit. So the fact he has taken to the ramp so quickly is good. Haven't really done much with recall yet, I'm mulling over whether to use a whistle or not.
Socialisation
This has been a bit tricky. We took a car ride to the vets last Friday and he was pretty good. We sat outside on the front lawn and walked around the drive on his lead and collar, hoping for something exciting to happen... as we live at the end of a cul de sac, absolutely nothing happened! He's met my SIL and nephew who had a little play with him in our front garden , and a neighbour popped some goats milk round for him, and he was very happy to be petted and stroked by her. There are sounds from neighbours, people, and dogs on the track behind our house, and construction noises from the field beyond. However this pup is uber confident. He just looks confident as he struts around. I need to get him used to the harness over the next week or so, ready for when he can venture out.
Relationship with Monty
Monty has been a complete star. Many of you will know I was so concerned about having a puppy, due to Monty's ED and HD. Monty has completely taken Bear under his wing, playing with him, gently telling him off for biting (I would actually like Monty to be just a little more insistent with his corrections, I think he puts up with a bit too much, and Bear often bites his neck or lips causing him to squeal a bit.) However, Monty also instigates a lot of play, especially tug (this seems safer as slightly less contact between them). We make sure Monty gets a couple of rest periods every day, as well as at night. Bear gets trodden on occasionally by Monty, if play looks too rough I just go in and airlift Bear out of there. They don't curl up and sleep together yet, but that's fine. I think they will have a lovely relationship given time and space.
Thought I would create a thread to track his progress and escapades. Sorry, this might be a bit boring.....
Today he's nine weeks and two days, and weighs just over 7.5 kilos. He's absolutely hilarious and a joy to be around. He is sooooo bitey but we just shove a toy in his mouth as often as possible.
Sleeping and Rest
He's brilliant overnight. I had thought I would have him upstairs for a few days to keep him calm, but he's a very confident puppy and happily sleeps downstairs in his crate and pen set-up. I spent the first night sleeping next to him, and the next three nights sitting by the side of the pen until he was asleep. Now he sleeps through the night for eight or nine hours (one night was nearly ten!) I know it makes toilet training just a little longer using puppy pads and a pen, but as I have to be alert to work full time I need my sleep. Plus Monty gets some alone time with us on the bed every night and proper rest. I plan to remove the pen in late July time and just use the crate, hopefully by then he will manage seven hours overnight.
In his first few days with us, he didn't seem to sleep enough in the day, but since yesterday he has taken to napping on various beds, and under my feet while I work, of his own accord. Each day he is getting at least one proper nap inside the pen, to make sure he knows he has to sleep there too.
Toilet training
Bear gives out brilliant signals when he needs to go, it was pretty obvious after a few days. He wees a lot.... and often in pairs. He'll wee straight after a snooze, but will also go again within the next 5 minutes or so. We've had the doors all open today, and at least three times he has taken himself up the ramp to go on the lawn. Probably averaging one wee in the house each day, but it's our fault - we are good at the after food / sleep wee, but sometimes forget he still needs to go at least every 40-50 minutes as well. Five to six poos a day, mostly well formed, always outside on the lawn or on his puppy pad overnight.
Food
He's on a mix of Eden (kibble), Nutriment (raw minced food) and goats milk. He was a chubby monkey last Monday, but already today he looks leaner and I can see his last ribs through the puppy fluff. We are in touch with his breeder who kept a puppy too, and as she is increasing food for her pup, we will match as appropriate. He gets two small kongs each day with raw inside, and sometimes the milk / kibble on a licky mat. He's also having a piece of raw / frozen carrot each day which he loves. He knows that the kitchen is where the food is kept, and can be found sitting at my feet while I'm preparing meals. When the raw food comes out he does this awful squealing sound like he's in pain....but it's just excitement and impatience. After nearly giving me a coronary the first time, I'm now just ignoring and turning my back to attempt to fade it out. He also likes to eat stones, or at least hold them in his mouth and try to eat them. I've removed at least eight today. But Monty did this, and then just grew out of it without us even realising he had stopped.
Training
This dog is so bright. He sits automatically, so it's easy to put that on cue. He's doing nose touches pretty consistently, and lies down fairly well. We have three steps leading up to our small lawn, and he has learnt to use the ramp up and down in just a few days by luring. (In fact, I swear he loves running down the ramp like a child going down a slide). The steps are the bane of my life, I spent four days lifting him up and down them, and each day, he does clamber up them at least a couple of times. I'm so wary of protecting his joints.... but I know that he does have to learn about steps and stairs a bit. So the fact he has taken to the ramp so quickly is good. Haven't really done much with recall yet, I'm mulling over whether to use a whistle or not.
Socialisation
This has been a bit tricky. We took a car ride to the vets last Friday and he was pretty good. We sat outside on the front lawn and walked around the drive on his lead and collar, hoping for something exciting to happen... as we live at the end of a cul de sac, absolutely nothing happened! He's met my SIL and nephew who had a little play with him in our front garden , and a neighbour popped some goats milk round for him, and he was very happy to be petted and stroked by her. There are sounds from neighbours, people, and dogs on the track behind our house, and construction noises from the field beyond. However this pup is uber confident. He just looks confident as he struts around. I need to get him used to the harness over the next week or so, ready for when he can venture out.
Relationship with Monty
Monty has been a complete star. Many of you will know I was so concerned about having a puppy, due to Monty's ED and HD. Monty has completely taken Bear under his wing, playing with him, gently telling him off for biting (I would actually like Monty to be just a little more insistent with his corrections, I think he puts up with a bit too much, and Bear often bites his neck or lips causing him to squeal a bit.) However, Monty also instigates a lot of play, especially tug (this seems safer as slightly less contact between them). We make sure Monty gets a couple of rest periods every day, as well as at night. Bear gets trodden on occasionally by Monty, if play looks too rough I just go in and airlift Bear out of there. They don't curl up and sleep together yet, but that's fine. I think they will have a lovely relationship given time and space.
. 
Yep puppies are knobs
