10/17/11:

Harrison is great! He's the best puppy I could have ever imagined. :) Everyone that meets him falls in love with him and he has an amazingly calm disposition. He seems like quite the thinker! He likes to sit and watch things... like cars going by, leaves rolling around, the waves at the lake when we were camping... so cute.

Crate training is going pretty well, although I haven't left him in for long (except overnight) because he sounds like he's being tortured to death! I'm sure he'll get better and get over it, but I don't want my neighbors thinking I torture puppies in my spare time. I've been keeping the crate in the bedroom at night and he's now learned what "bed time" is and that when he goes in/lights are out, it's quiet time. I tried leaving the crate in the living room a couple nights ago, but again, tortured puppy cries. I tried leaving him for about 10-15 minutes to see if he would calm down, but no such luck. When I came to get him he was still upset and panting a bit so I figured I should keep him in the bedroom and slowly move the crate further and further from the bed until we're eventually out into the living room. What do you think?

He's REALLY smart too! Already knows sit, down, roll over, give, drop it, and is sort of getting come, off, leave it, and drop it. He's not the greatest with "come" when we're outside, but I think that's because he's gets too excited and there are so many more distractions. Same with "leave it", he likes to bite the side of my couch if I leave the kitchen and he can't follow (I put up a baby gate). I've been trying to get him to fetch as well, which he does, but when I tell him to come he runs right at me and then right past me... haha. Silly pup.

My mom and I have been pretty good with letting him out all the time (waking up in the middle of the night is tough!) and haven't had too many accidents. He gets along pretty well with my cat Honey too. They touch noses and Hun rubs up against him. :) Harrison always wants to play with him though and Honey isn't really interested in that yet so he hisses at him when he gets a bit rough and sometimes gives him a swat or two.

So, other than the bit of separation anxiety, he's great! I'm sure that will get better and pass as time goes on and he learns that I haven't really left, I'm just around the corner in another room.