getting ready for wilson

joe's first words were "oh my gosh i feel so sorry for this dog" when he saw my file folders and 3 ring binder full of wilson notes! i am so excited for welcoming wilson into our home & fun new life!  yes he may have his own legal pad, doctor appointments already scheduled, and toys set up just right, but he is going to be so loved when he gets here on dec 9th! 

after percy was brought into the guertin family i knew i needed a pup of my own 

& soon! with joe's hectic schedule wilson is perfect to keep me company! i have a list of things that i know i do/don't want wilson to do and after reading three dog books (into my 4th already) this is pretty much the norm for what the first few months of wilson being home will be like...visitors take notes!

no dog should be allowed in your bed or on furniture ever as it is a sign of dominance over the owner and the dog thinking he's the B-O-S-S...wilson will learn he may be 3rd in control in this house but far from the boss! to make it simple, our bedroom is off limits to wilson period. we are only in there at night for sleeping so he can hang out with us enough all day long! 

also for our visitors wilson will also be trained not to jump at visitors (the most annoying thing ever) or snap/chomp at toys showing his teeth.

wilson is immediately getting enrolled in puppy school. he may not be thrilled that i'm already booking his schedule but getting a pup into school before 16 weeks is critical so the dog [& parents] can learn as well.  so he's already in on tuesdays for an hour for 8 weeks! lucky wilson & even more lucky ali!

by 8 weeks either by the classes or my official kennel club book wilson will know the following (or he's going back to school!) in addition to being chew toy, crate, and house trained...sit/stand/down (& stay with all those), staying in general, heel/lead trained, watch me, leave it, easy (eating out of hands, accepting treats, etc), shake, high five...i think thats it...

what we are going for here is to have a rock star pup which i'm pretty sure we will have! he will get lots of love and attention and being around the holidays when he comes home will give us ample time for crate training! i hope everything i ever disliked about other pups was a learning experience for what is important for wilson to do to be a "good boy!"

anyway...my amazing books i have been recommended by many people to read and have are as follows...dog owners are more than welcome to borrow my copies! 

Before & After Getting Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar

The Official AKC Wheaten Terrier Book by Juliette Cunliffe

The Official AKC Puppy Training Book by Charlotte Schwartz

Good Dog 101 by Christine Dahl