So all is well - and Soul has become very comfortable in our home and as a new member of our pack!

The potty training is going well - today he went to the door three times and whined to go out. Last night he made it through the night outside of his crate with no accidents!! A little while ago, as we sat on the deck and he was inside sleeping - he awoke and grabbed his leash and yipped at us to let him out! This pup is pure intelligence and I am thoroughly impressed!!

He is a little biter - working on it! We have broken him of chewing on our toes after he almost took off one of my little ones! He has also been broken of eating the cats food - so much so that he detours it to get to his food by going under the table and through the chairs! Oops - that might have been overkill!

He went to Marshall to visit his outlying pack this past weekend and wore himself out. Travel in the crate was a little trying - but after a few minutes - just like a baby who only is pacified in the car - he was out like a light.



He's found his little puppy bark this week - and has tried it out on some very strange things. Barked at Bri's bowl of macaroni, at his toy in the middle of the floor (as he looked at it like it was an alien), at the TV when a commercial for Zyrtec came on, and at the cat. Just little gruff barks - almost silent but he gets a big head each time he does it.

Soul had his first pontoon ride yesterday and loved it. We had to hold him back from jumping in though - he really is curious about the water and we deemed it too cold at the moment (not quite 50 degrees yet) for a swim!

It's been a good week and the pictures and vids keep coming! WE sooooooo love our little guy!!

I will add more later...for now, enjoy the slideshow!

Well the last 24 hours have been exciting! Late last night Soul had to make a "potty" run - so out the back door we went. Have I mentioned that the hubby has yet to place any light other than solar lights on the deck and in the lakeside yard?

Well Soul took off for his regular area where he takes care of business...and I was on the phone with my girl Shana when all of a sudden he disappeared from under the tree and I couldn't see him! I immediately started to panic thinking he had run for the front of the house and toward the road...or perhaps toward the lake? I hollered his name a few times, clapped my hands, and then told Shana to hold on just as I heard a large splash...

Yes - Solstice had decided to take a little "midnight" dip! As he came bounding up the hill at a pace such as that of having the devil on his tail...I am assuming it wasn't one that he planned! :-) You see, the lake is at the bottom of a little hill and he has been bound and determined to roll down it several times. During the daylight hours, it is easy to stop him...at night...well as we found not so!

He was none worse for the wear except for some wet, soggy channel sludge stuck to his belly and I guess it taught us both a lesson as now when the lights go out - we use the leash!

Today was a tiring day - as I am a little under the weather...and Soul is not! Full of spit and vinegar - he decided that nothing was going to wear him out! So after three jogs around the house, a rambunctious game of ball, and a small tug of war involving my new Aero jeans and shoestrings...we both laid down on the floor (he in his crate and me in front of it) and crashed...that was before noon.

Round 2: Well Geddy Lee (the resident feline) has decided he really likes his new brother...especially when he gnaws on his neck and scratches his ears. When Geddy gets tired of Soul's play or Soul gets a little too dominant...a quick left and then a right (he's declawed) sends little bro rolling. What is great (and I'm trying to get it on video) is the way Soul stalks the cat. He perks his little ears up, lays close to the floor and pretty much pulls an Elmer Fudd (Be vewy vewy quiet...type of thing) before he pounces! Freaking awesome!

Lesson today: Leash training. More Soul walking me with the leash proudly held in his mouth. The prance is another need to catch on video!

Picture video to come soon!!!

It has been a wild experience getting to know our little guy! He is so intelligent and intuitive - amazingly so!

Last night he was up and rowdy until about 1:00 a.m. and I finally couldn't keep my eyes open any longer...so I picked him up, raised Brian from the dead off the couch, and we headed to bed. We considered the crate for the first night - but the singing was not conducive to our sleep - so into the bed he went with us. He situated himself at the end of the bed with Geddy Lee (our HUGE cat) and they slept together looking out the window.

He had a little accident in the middle of the night - not a big one - but a cold awakening at 4:00 a.m. LOL...

At about 4:30 a.m. Brian got up with him (he was running around the bed...Soul not Brian!) and took him out. No accidents since!

He has learned to roll the cat and is fitting in wonderfully. We are now going outdoors to work on the boundary training!

More later!

OMG OMG OMG... He is everything everyone claimed he would be and MORE!

After a brief panic while checking the tracking on "Soul" (that name is sticking and he knows it all ready...WOW) - they had him on the wrong flight coming into South Bend (he would have been stuck in Cincinnati for 6 hours) - he arrived on time! As soon as we got him out of the airport and to the truck - he began showing his little personality. First Brian's shoelaces, then he tried to find mine (had them tucked into my shoes)...then he started wagging that little tail and his energy went WHAM...he is a little firecracker. In fact, right now I am trying to type and he thinks its a game to bite my fingers.

On the 1 1/2 hour drive home he cried a little and then crashed out in the crook of my arm and slept the entire ride. At home he had a blast checking out every corner of the house and decided he liked the taste of the "seaweed" our dad-in-law had drudged out of the lake today. We will have to break him of that one.

Off he ran after Brian - one call of his name and BAM - like a little lightening bolt he took off and ran around chasing the hubby! It was great. I am not sure I have laughed this hard in a very long time...Thank you, Song Dog kennels and all who participated in getting the little guy to us!

We got in the house finally (took two times of coaxing and he now manages the steps VERY well) and he went directly for the cats food bowl. So we loaded up his bowl and he chowed down (we only gave him a little at a time - weren't sure when he had ate last). Then he decided to check out our cat (who is twice his size)!

After about 15 minutes he went to the door and did a little dance (he spun around in circles) and cried - out we went and he did his duty and then right back up the steps! WOW...I am amazed!!! Truly amazed!!

One little accident while I tried to find my jacket about 10 pm tonight - but other than that - three times at the door doing a little dance and yipping and out he goes...WOW...

I will post more tomorrow on the blog. Let's just say he is fitting in VERY well. The cat has shown him whose boss in the sleeping area and Soul has shown the cat that the crate is his...a cute standoff.

He has dragged two chew rag bones and his blankie that I made him to the middle of the floor and put them in a pile. He has climbed on the back of the couch and slept with his head on Brian's shoulder and right now he just took a big sigh and crashed on my leg.

We love him - he is a little prankster and will keep us busy. Just what we wanted! OH and his eyes...WOW...

Our long wait and tons of patience is paying off today. Solstice Son is being placed on the "silver stork" at 6:15 a.m. and flying into South Bend Regional Airport by 5:43 p.m. Our little guy will make a stop in Salt Lake City, UT and Cincinnati, OH before arriving in South Bend, IN. As soon as we pick him up and get home, we will post pics and videos!!! Excited is an understatement!

Allison and Kim have told me that he is a little bundle of energy - is very vocal when he is in his crate - and likes to untie shoes! Woooo hooo!

His little bed is ready, we will pick up some "extras" today on our way to the airport (his doggy bowl has not arrived yet, so we need to get an extra one), and have a great day hanging out together as we wait for him. We offered to let Briana come with us, but she doesn't want to miss her soccer game - so Mom and Dad Ash are taking over soccer duty today! It's going to be a day trip for us - figure we can bum around SB while we wait for his flight!

More later!!!