He's a Feroucious Boy!

I have had Potter for a week and what a week it has been. He is so sweet but at the same time he is very independent which is the nature of Westie's. I can already tell that he is growing. He is so adventurous too. he loves to climb the porch steps but can't get down and so he barks and barks at those steps as if his barking will suddenly move the steps to allow him down.
Potty training is coming along slowly but surely. I have been trying to pick up the signs of when he needs to "go" but there are accidents every now and then.
He is also teething so he has been quite the chewer. I bought him one of those Greenie bones and he LOVES it, which is a plus since it distracts him from chewing on my hand.

The only thing that makes me a little anxious is the crate. I have read up on this and all the sources say that the crate is the best and safest place for the puppy to be while your away. I just hate it though for him. At night he sleep in his crate and it isnt a problem. He will whine on occasion when I first put him in there or when he hears a noise or what not but for the most part the nights are great. But I hate putting him in there during the day. We play together for an hour in the morning and then I put him in his crate when I leave for work and he cries and cries. I come home at lunch and play for an hour and then again he cries and cries when he is put back in but in the afternoon I give him a little treat in his crate which helps occupy him but I still hate it.

I also noticed when cleaning out his crate that he has had a couple of accidents in there. I think this is probably due to the fact that he is only 7wks old and just cant hold it that long. But still it worries me.

Any advice on crating would be greatly appreciated.

I think I just have to remember that he has only been with me for a week... we still have a long ways to go :)





This is Potter and the neighbor dog, Hubble. It is so funny because Hubble is about 80 pounds bigger than Potter but he gets so scared of him!