Check a stool sample for worms on your pup.

Cute as a button!

I'd let him play outside for 15-20 minutes if he wants, on lead, chasing a ball or whatever. You might try a play session just before he goes to sleep for the night as well.

My son put a t-shirt he'd been wearing in the crate with his Maltese puppy and that kept her quiet. Be careful with that though. My GSD has always loved to rip fabric to shreds and swallow every shred - he loved and still loves to eat fabric. You might test your pup and see if that's the case with him. Not until recently could I even put a blanket in there for him. But towels or shirts would be eaten. Maybe put it just outside the crate out of reach but where he can smell it? Smelling your scent might help him calm down.

The panting may be stress or too much excitement - temporary probably.
Ed was posting while I was, so didn't see his advice to check for worms.

Carry a stuffed toy with you all day so it has your scent on it, then put the toy in his crate for him to snuggle with. Have two toys so you can switch them each day. I've heard a ticking clock or talk radio can help him too.

By the way he's VERY cute! He's going to be quite the looker when he grows up!

self-limited play is all the exercise an 8 week old puppy should have.

as for the panting, definitely get a complete check up by the vet. it could be stress, but it also could be a heart condition.

to keep the pup quiet at night, for the first week, have him in the crate in your bedroom, and put a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel in there with him, also a ticking clock wrapped in a towel is good. this gives him the sensation of his mother's body and heartbeat.

after a few days, he should be much quieter.

He was wormed on 10/29...11/12...and 11/26 with Panacur Liquid but I'll bring in a sample just in case.

Alice, I did try the hot water bottle...it ended with water everywhere from a popped bottle. It was well wrapped in a towel but he somehow managed to get it undone AND puncture the bottle...all while screaming his head off non-stop.

And my fiance shakes his head and says, "You were the one who wanted the working line Shepherd."

Aw-w-w-w, I love that 1st one where he's all zonked out !!! A sleeping puppy is a GOOD puppy <:-)

 Quote: Candi Campbell

Aw-w-w-w, I love that 1st one where he's all zonked out !!! A sleeping puppy is a GOOD puppy <:-)

yeah, he's all worn out from protecting us from sleep the night before. Sigh.

Amber, I too put my pup in his crate in a guest bedroom and joined him during the night by hanging my arm down onto the top of the crate. He seemed to like this much better than being alone in the room. I also gave him a giant stuffed "Blue" (the dog). He didn't shred it. He laid on it every night in the crate. I think it was his second best friend (after me) .

There were only one or two real bad nights where I got no sleep. One night I couldn't take the crying anymore and went and slept in our basement putting two flights between us. I did this only after making sure he didn't have to go to the bathroom. It was during these very trying nights that I often explained to him how lucky he was that he's cute!

Regarding the dust allergy - me too! Nothing makes me sneeze faster but I take Benadryl which also makes me sleepy. If you routinely take allergy pills, why not take one at bedtime for the next couple of nights and lay with him till he's used to his new digs? How long have you had him?

We got him on Friday night, and while was stuck to my side (or more truthfully, between my feet)for every second, he wouldn't stop whining. CONSTANTLY. I was worried about that at first, but after the first 24 hours it has completely stopped. Now it's only for a few minutes after he gets out of the crate.

I'll give him being in our room another shot. Everything else is improving rapidly (I guess he's realizing we're not going to eat him) so maybe this will be a better night. I hate to leave him downstairs where he SCREAMS, but even though he tones it down to whining while in our room, it still gets majorly old. It's like someone is poking me with a needle every few minutes to keep me awake. Earplugs tonight, and fan.

In other news, he's a rockin' good pup. He's a big bucket of love and teeth. He LOVES Bitter Apple. Oh good. He smells scrumptious, he's easy to interest, and he follows me everywhere. The leash is redundant.

Speaking of that: Do certain breeds of dogs "imprint" on people? I ask because the other Shepherd I had when I was younger did the same thing, only she'd leap next to me...sort of walking on her hind legs. My Corgi will stay in the same general area but Carbon won't let me out of his sight...he even follows me across a small room. If I sit on the floor, he's in my lap for a snooze. It's pretty cool, actually. Well, you know, except during bathroom breaks!

What a beautiful pup! I like the snoozing pic, too. Made me laugh to watch my pup suddenly run out of juice and hit the floor asleep...all in the blink of an eye!

We had our pup in the bedroom with us for the first few days then came a horrible night when he wouldn't stop and we were so worn out that we put him inside the office next to the house. I don't think I could have done that if Ed hadn't said it was ok to put him where you can't hear him.

The next day he was hoarse (yes, he screamed himself hoarse) but that was the end of the constant crying/whining at night and he's been crate-trained and happy since then.

I'd put a drag leash on him even if he's with you constantly. It won't be too long before he's ready to explore on his own and you'll want him used to having a lead on.

Have fun...it goes by so fast!