There is still hope! I've been in touch with the rescue group that has her and have filled out an application with them. I'm not "local" to them, but they'll consider us with a strong vet reference. The foster mom said that she never broke out with parvo symptoms, so they plan to watch her for about another week just to make sure she is through the woods. Keep your fingers crossed!

Thanks flatcoat - that's a great idea. I will definitely ask the breeder for something to take with us. Well now I'm feeling silly - you are right on the hot water bottle/clock thing - but at least the snuggle puppy looks like a stuffed animal (my desperate attempt to justify the exorbitant amount I spent on this thing). Well, I suppose if it makes him slightly happy or brings him security, it will be worth it. I just couldn't believe it when EVRYWHERE on the internet was sold out of these things! Not even on eBay! mazer - a nice thought, but the little guy will be in his crate at night. He's only going to be 10 weeks old, not even remotely housebroken.

OK, my advice is going to be a bit different than some of the others, but you have to figure out what works for you and your dog. When our dog was a pup we put her crate downstairs in the main living area. Our bedrooms are upstairs. I did this so that we would not wake up and be tempted to positively reinforce crying or whining unless it was loud enough to really mean something. I have a pug, and they have small bladders, so in the beginning I set my alarm for 2:00 am and got up to let her out to potty ONLY. No play, no cuddling, etc. Just potty, back to crate with a small treat. This method worked wonders. She only cried a bit for two nights. After that, she learned to cry only when she had to go and we were able to move the crate into DS's room at night. Now that she is trained she sleeps in DS's bed. I think if you put the crate in your room and speak to the puppy or pet him when he cries, that is still reinforcing the behavior and you are likely to have to deal with it longer. And quirkyquerces is, of course, right about making the crate Disneyland. We taught our dog the "crate" command by tossing her a treat every time she went in. Being a food-driven pug, she learned to zoom for that crate pretty quick. She still does it and it cracks up our friends. Just don't put lots of gooey treats in at night or you may find a mess in the morning. Perhaps a safe, tasty chewy of some kind, like a nylabone, to keep her occupied? Also, it sounds like your crate is a too big for a pup. They feel more secure in a smaller space and they are less likely to soil a smaller crate as well. A rule of thumb is that it should only be large enough for them to stand up, lie down and turn around fully. You can decrease the size temporarily by putting a wooden box in the back of the crate to take up some of the space. Good luck!

Gatsby Picard updates. Gatsby now has his own FB page! - Gatsy Picard Gatsby continues to grow! I heard this call for help from DH but had to snap a picture before giving aid! He is teething. I am making treat cubes and giving him meatscicles and yogurt kibble pops to sooth those sore gums i haven't weighed him in a week- but guessing he is over 25 lbs. His ribs are showing so not over eating - which is rare in this breed anyway. I gave him some new bigger kibble today - large breed puppy and he made a statement. He gobbled down the big kibble and left the baby kibble in the bowl. I will transition him slowly to the big kibble. He loves his morning naps! Playing with his 13 lb cairn terrier at Thankgiving. I can't believe Gatsby is sitting still in this picture. They were running all weekend! Gatsby hiding from his cousin- he grew while under the chair and we had to rescue him Gatsby about to meet Hercule. Hercule jumped into the car to greet him! Gatsby greeting a 3 year old Picard. Gatsby will look similar as an adult but will be lighter.