[sonais7]

Hi All, I'm a new mom. Love my gorgeous girl, Cali. She is 9 weeks old. The perfect birthday present.

As a first time mom, I have no idea what to expect. Of course I went out and brought the cutest things possible, from Tutu's to Car Seats to NFL jerseys. I searched high and low for the best vet and socialization classes.

My fellow pup mom's all insist 'Patience' is the key to a successful transition for me and baby.... which I already expected. My question, however, is one of mystery. What are the things about being a pet mom that they don't tell you about?

Cali is only 9 weeks and is a dare devil. She walks past her puppy pad and pees next to it, sometimes, I think on purpose. She knows the steps look dangerous but still try to follow me down, even after a stern 'NO'. She is oblivious to how small she is and tried to keep up with the bigger dogs. Luckily, she's still in her lazy puppy stage so her antics are short lived before she's back into a light slumber.

I'd love to hear stories of the first few weeks with new pups.... "the things they don't tell you in school".....Like, how long will it take to rid her new birth smell? When can I expect her to start having 'real' barks? Is it true she should be walked every hour of her age (every 2 hours for 2 months old, etc.)? Whats the best way to determine whether she is simply not hungry or doesn't like the food I've chosen? When can I realistically begin to train her simple commands like come or sit and it not overwhelm her?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.