For those of us who are unaware of what Doris mentions, the thought of living in a crate and being loved just don't seem to go hand in hand.

Evidently Molly's parents were both Champions and the breeder is very much into showing dogs..one at a time it seems. She no longer shows the mother, but shows the brother.There were four in the litter. One was sold and I don't know anything about it. Then, she had a brother and a sister who were kept by the breeder with her. The brother is a Champion, but the girls were never shown and were kept for breeding and they just came into maturity last year. For some reason, at that point, they started to fight with one another and could not be let loose together. The breeder decided not to breed them and felt that keeping them caged, so they didn't hurt one another, was unfair to the dogs. They seem to really love the dogs, and the dogs are all very loving and outgoing, so they appear to have had lots of love. I noticed the "father" called them all sweetheart when he took them out and Molly's nickname is cuddlebug. She has no phobias...shyness, aggressiveness, lets you touch her paws, etc., so this is good. Maggie was very submissive and somewhat fearful. I think she had been hurt at some point in her life.

I know it takes several months for them to truly settle in, so we'll keep her sleeping in the crate at night and staying in there when we are gone so she gets in the habit. I would like to wean her away from the crate at night once I know her habits.

I was told her bedtime is 9:30-10 every night, so I put her in her crate tonight and she started barking. I had read somewhere that they feel more comfortable in a covered crate and her owner told me tonight Molly is used to an airline carrier instead of a wire cage. So, I covered up the crate with a sheet and she quieted down. Hmmm..maybe we should have bought the carrier? She's been in her kennel now for 1/2 hour,and all is quiet, so I guess the sheet worked. I wonder what time she will get up tomorrow am?

She loves to cuddle and constantly kisses. She seems very, very sweet.

She didn't make a number two today for us and has never done one on a leash. I'll have to work on this tomorrow. Any suggestions?