Settling In

Flip did great yesterday! He didn't mind his crate at all and was good as gold when I got home. He went right outside and did his business and then went back and checked his crate to make sure his kong was still there. :) Then, he had lots of visitors! Mimi came over to meet him - and got some great shots! Here is a Mimi shot of Flip:

Cutest pup!

Then, Suzanne came over and we took Flip on a very short walk (it was freezing, windy, and raining). BUT, Flip did take a walk poo that I had to pick up. I was very nervous about this because it looks gross as hell. But we had special poop bags that I got at Pet People. They are thick (and biodegradable!) so I barely felt anything through it. It was a piece of cake!

Cuddle snooze.

The cats remain leery and have set up residence in the basement. They will come out at night while Flip is in bed and they will come out during the day when he is crated. Progress!

Flip is working on a few things. First, he is a puppy, so he can be mouthy. He doesn't chew anything, but when he gets overly excited, he enjoys nibbling on people's gizzards and/or hands as you pet him. Apparently we are supposed to yell, "OW!" and stop giving him attention for a minute or so when he does it. Luckily, he never, ever nibbles Wm. He seems to know that he needs to be extra gentle with Wm. So Wm never gets excited nibbles. Flip also loves other dogs. I mean reeeeeeally loves them. So much that he jumps all over them. So the feeling is not mutual. We will have to work with Flipster on that too! I am signing up him some dog training classes, so he should be good as gold soon!

He is smart and he's a fast learner! He has already mastered 2 things:
1. When it was time to go out or come in, he jumped all around and I couldn't get the leash on or off. After just a few times of refusing to take him out or let him in until he was sitting, he now sits nicely to get his leash on and off (and paws cleaned off now that it's wet!)
2. After being told "no," he immediately stops what he is doing very nicely. So he doesn't really jump on people or beg for food at the dining table while we are eating after he's been told not to. He's a people pleaser!

We are still figuring this sleeping thing out, too. Flip really enjoys sleeping with Steve and I. But, he also enjoys laying diagonally across the bed and chasing rabbits in his sleep. I spent one night on the couch after Flip stole my spot. And, last night, it was great for me, but he was all over Steve. His dog bed arrives today. Hopefully he takes to that!

Sunday is supposed to be sunny and in the mid-70's. So, Flip gets to go hiking!! Wm is SUPER looking forward to that!

And here is Flip trying his best to contain his puppy excitement after I got home from work yesterday: