The Puppy Honeymoon is (Nearly) Over

Two weeks have passed, but it feels like 2 years since my sister and I drove down to Tennessee and came home with my super cute puppy, Marlee.  She's already grown since we got her, now measuring about 17 inches...and I'm pretty sure she's doubled in weight because she eats like a horse!

Marlee, 10 weeks, 17 inches

Her adorableness is just ridiculous, and I'm trying my best not to, but I think I must be spoiling her rotten.  I'm sure this will come back to bite me in the butt (or in the pants legs as the case may be).  I shouldn't complain about her really...it's only been two weeks and already Marlee seems to be crate trained and has learned some basic commands.  She has not pottied in her crate for almost 4 days!  But that small accomplishment does not provide much motivation when I have to drag my butt out of bed at 4 in the morning to let her outside.  I should be thankful that I am not cleaning up pee and poop every morning, but if I never have to see 4 a.m. again it will be too soon.

The emotional swings I have with this puppy would make anyone crazy.  One minute she is adorable and loving and making cute little puppy noises (especially when she gets the hiccups...adorable!), and the next she is on a tear to eat everything in sight, including fingers and toes (and those stupid little helicopter things off the trees).  I go from wanting to run around and play with her all day to being so frustrated at her nipping and mouthing and barking that I can barely stop myself from just sitting down and bawling my eyes out...like I nearly did the other day when she barked through my entire violin lesson.  And I'm pretty sure the vet (and probably my dad too) are tired of me calling and asking bazillions of questions...should I be concerned that she is still sneezing? why is her poop runny? why does she keep biting at me? when should I take her to puppy school? when can she meet other dogs? should her poop still have worms in it? how much weight should she be gaining? The list goes on and on.

But, even when I'm frustrated, one look at that puppy face and my heart melts.  We go to the vet next week, and then we start puppy school soon after that.  I'm hoping the puppy school will help with the mouthing.  Marlee is only 10 weeks old, and everyone tells me that the mouthing is normal...but DANG those puppy teeth are sharp! 

Happy Marlee!

I guess all the holes in my pants legs and shirt sleeves and shoes, and all the scratches and teeth marks on my hands and arms and legs, are worth it.  One thing is for sure though...the puppy honeymoon is over (well...almost).