The Gates Girls: Life with Birdie

Life with our sweet puppy is so fun! She's super smart, totally adorable and really perking up! Our first vet visit was a little alarming to find out that she was underweight, had kennel cough and had giardia. She had gone through quite a bit of travel in her little life up to that point, so she could have picked it up anywhere. Now we can control and shelter her better from risks. We switched her food (which she didn't seem to like much) and she's eating really well. Figuring that when you are competing with your littermates for food you don't really like, you don't eat much... Sad for our girl.

Training is going well - there was one night a few days after she first arrived that we were up literally ALL NIGHT with her crying in her crate. It was BAD - kids were up, we were up, trying to use white noise on headphones and not give in to her crying... Sucked. However, after that, it seems to have paid off and she only cries to go out to potty. About 1-2x a night for now, but seems to be improving. Really is like having a little baby around!

Taking a puppy out in the middle of the night in the cold sort of sucks. Especially when they just want to bounce around and play instead of potty....

For the first couple weeks it felt like she was depressed and sullen - adjusting? missing her siblings? feeling physically yucky? we'll never know, but that little adorable "smile" is showing lots more now!

Lia thinks it is hilarious to watch Birdie when she is practicing her violin. Can't figure out if Birdie enjoys it or if it hurts her ears.... She doesn't leave the room tho...

She has an obsession with socks and all types of clothing - especially dirty clothing. She has dragged clothes out of laundry baskets outside to lay/roll/chew on. Silly. One funny moment was rounding the corner to the kitchen and seeing the little stinker running outside with my bra!!

We will find pants, socks. shoes, and undies outside if we aren't keeping a close eye on her.

Originally we had a gate set up in the kitchen to keep her in a smaller, safe place which worked well, but she was so sad to be left out of fun things going on in the living room. We extended the gate a bit and she did very well. Then, she figured out how to push the gate open or sneak around the edges. I'd be in the kitchen, with her, and I'd look up and she would be sitting pretty on the other side of the gate - just to show me what she was capable of... silly girl. Needless to say, we've pretty much let go of the gate attempts and are trying to keep our doors shut. Usually she does very well especially if the back door is left open so she can go out anytime. Still working on her "asking" to go out instead of peeing on the floor right next to the door. We'll get there...

She's been amazing to train and really is very smart. Takes about 5 repetitions for her to learn a new skill and knows about 10-15 words now. She's still learning to be brave and go outside when it is raining/wet (that's when we get the most accidents in the house) and tends to be nippy when she is really hyper which is tough for the kids. They are at the perfect age to understand that she isn't being mean and that behavior means she needs a break. I'm hoping it will go away in time.

Lia LOVES Birdie and wants to carry her everywhere. She is desperate to sleep with her in her bed (maybe when she's bigger...) and loves to play with her. Erin and Halle are doing very well and are still learning how to play with a dog and trust this animal not to hurt them. Little by little. :)