First Day of dog ownership

We picked up Marco yesterday, our first ever dog, a 2 year old Portuguese Water Dog.

the drive back went well, it was a red hot day, but 2 hours journey home hat sat on the back seat with his harness on, and his head resting on my OH's lap.

We had a calm night, he barked a couple of times when we left him downstairs, then that was it.

My observations so far.

• He's not trained, or if he is then he's not responding to us. So we're trying to teach him 'Sit' for starters!
• He isn't too bad walking on lead, occasionally he bumps into us, walking under our feet so to speak.
• He keeps licking the cat's bum.
• He follows us around like a shadow.
• He's pretty quiet.
• Doesn't seem to want to play yet.
• He's a big clumsy thing. lol
• Nothing has phased him so far. We've walked up the town High Street with traffic around, we've met other people and, met other dogs, he has taken it all in his stride.
• Gave him a filled in an attempt to keep him occupied while away from him, he licked and chewed at it f

or about 1 minute, then ignored it.

But we're loving him already.

As I type, he's sat next to the dog gate whimpering a bit cause I'm up here.

David & CJ

I felt so excited when bringing my puppy home, I didn't sleep the night before or the night after - when it's your first dog it hardly seems real.

He'll settle down soon, he is two and you're probably treating him differently to what he was treated before Good luck

Sounds good, any photos?

Yes, pretty different, he was with a breeder and other dogs before.

Yes, I'd read about that sort of thing, so I'm trying to make sure it doesn't happen.

It turns out that it's very difficult to get good pictures of an all black dog! As not much shows any contrast. lol

But I've quickly managed to get a couple.


IMG_6618.jpg by David.Coleman, on Flickr


IMG_6614.jpg by David.Coleman, on Flickr

Oh I love him

Sounds as if he is going to settle in quite soon. I will look to seeing him progress

He is a lovely chap. It must be a huge shock to him to have such a big change of life style.

Have fun with him.

rune

Oh, he is handsome - welcome Marco.

Congratulations on the new arrival, exciting times ahead for you!

He looks lovely, if he has been a show dog they are very rarely taught the sit command.

Its the last thing you want your dog to do in the show ring.

Good luck

I hope so, I have a feeling he's a little anxious still.

Yes that drive home, realising life will never be the same! hehe

Very much so. And Marco says "Thank you!".

Ah right, that makes some sense. Well I've nearly taught him where his bed is, and the command for it, after that I need to work on getting him to stay there, else it's pointless him knowing the bed command. hehe

Oh he's lush

A Portugese is going to be my next dog

Good luck with him I'm sure his full personality will show in no time