Zoie's Day 6.....a little help from our Shar pei

I didn't post yesterday, because I spent most of the day enjoying being a new Dad! I did get plenty of rest last night and the night before. All the training our Sharpei, Iku, put me through (waking me up several, random times, throughout the night, to goto the bathroom, needing her ears cleaned, or wanting fresh water), is paying off right now.

If you don't know anything about Chinese Sharpei, then you may be wondering... "how did his dog help him prepare for the "less sleep at night experience" that many new parents have difficulty with?".... Well, a quick overview of what it takes to care for a Sharpei may help you understand.

Chinese Sharpei have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train plus you need to socialize them early on with people and other animals. They may require extra care; wiping them after they eat (so they don't shake water and food everywhere), they need their ears cleaned weekly, and tend to have many health and allergy problems (food and environmental). If you know anything of Sharpei; just know Iku is one of the friendliest, well mannered and socialized Sharpei (or dog for that mater), that you could ever hope to meet!

Although, they may take a lot of ritual care on a regular basis, they are very quiet, independent and self entertaining (similar in some ways to a cat). We knew all of this before we purchased our Sharpei, and still think that this breed is perfect for us.

Unfortunately, our Sharpei was diagnosed with kidney problems and an ear infection. She started wetting her bed (so several times a night she may need to be let out), and she wakes up and shakes her head when her ear or ears are bothering her (after I clean or medicate them she is fine and goes to sleep). Prior to July of last year she had always slept through the night....and of course so did we. But now because of the extra nightly care that I have been giving her (our Sharpei) I have gotten used to waking up periodically throughout the night, and am now used to it.

Although, it's not the same as caring for a child in the middle of the night, caring for my Sharpei has gotten me used to getting up several times in the middle of the night...... which has definitely eased my transition into becoming a new parent (and I am very thankful for that).

Later today, I'll post a little more about Zoie's progress and what our German Midwife had to say... so stay tuned.