Episode 3: 10 wks: At Large

Bonnie

Staffordshire Terrior

Color: white with brown spots

Expected size: 70-80 lbs

Current weight: 14 lbs

Clyde

Staffordshire Terrior

Color: Lilac

Expected size: 80 lbs

Current Weight 18 lbs

New Collars and Leash

So, we have not been taking the puppies outside. We have been using puppy pads. Not successfully by the way, but using them all the same. We have stayed on top of all of the other potential issues and getting them adjusted to it early.

1. Getting them used to us touching their ears.

2. Putting our hands in their food bowl while they eat

3. Clipping their nails

4. Putting clothes on them

5. Brushing their teeth

6. Baths

But we have not made them wear their collars because they have not been outside. Now that we have made the decision to take the puppies out to potty, they must wear collars and use a leash. They scratch at the collar and bite at the leash. They are not handling it well.

Weekly Adventure: Outside awaits

First Trip

We knew from last week's post office visit, they get cold easily so we bought them sweaters (made Clyde's from baby clothes). We anticipated seeing them enjoy all of the new smells and sights outside. Boy, were we in for a surprise!

Bonnie (the little fireball) squirmed, pulled, and yiped in the house the entire time until we picked her up and sat her outside. She tried to eat every blade of grass, rock, and leaf. She did not like the leash control and faught at times, but accepted the change so that she could explore. She was too excited to use the bathroom but, baby steps.

Clyde, timid, scared, and reserved, just sat stubbornly indoors; refusing to move (even for a treat). He didn't like the collar. He didn't like the leash or that you could control him, and he was scared to go outside. He would look at you with the sadest puppy-dog eyes (he had mastered that already). He faught against our gentle tugs and tried to run and hide. Enough was enough! We took the leash off, picked him up and carried him outside. Once out there, he trembled, sitting in the yard, waiting to go back to his comfort zone. He is terrified, shaking, and cold. He sat down just outside the door and wouldn't move. We tried offering treats, but he was not having any of the newness. Too fearful to use the bathroom, we brought him back into the house where he immediately peed on the hard wood floor. It was all very overwhelming for Clyde.

Second Trip

The second day was even better for Bonnie. She went "potty" several times and explored even more. But then there was Clyde. He sat! Anytime you took him past the safety of the patio concrete he would immediately sit, refuusing to move. We took off the leash and he moved a little. If he caught a glimpse of Bonnie, he would take a few steps in her direction. As for actually going "potty," that was not even an option. He again, would come back into the house and pee in the floor.

Third Trip

Later that day, I took Bonnie out with Moxie out, hoping Moxie would teach Bonnie. They both were great but Moxie was NOT wanting to deal with either of the puppies, especially connected with a leash. Bonnie came close to her (which was the goal so Bonnie could learn) but Moxie jerked, slipped her collar, then stood and looked at me as if to say, "I told you I don't like this." She came right back to me and let me put her collar back on, then we came inside. She didn't try to get away from me, just Bonnie. It was a FAIL!

I took Clyde out with Penny, not sure what to expect after the Moxie fiasco. Penny, the super strong muscle machine that pulls non-stop on her walks, walked slow enough for Clyde to keep up but fast enough that he had to keep moving. Penny did a great job with Clyde. She taught him that the outdoors is not scary. She showed him how to act. Now Clyde wants to go outside as much as he can. He even started going to the back door and staring out the window.

PUPPY PAD UPDATE: (accuracy =65%)

By the end of the week we had started giving treats when they used the pads. Bonnie caught on because she peed, got a treat, peed again, got a treat, peed again (just droplets at this point) got a treat, then repeated a final time. I know that's not really the way it works, but I'll take it!

Moxie and Penny

This puppy adjustment is of huge importance. Moxie has always been Queen of the Castle and any new member of her pack must be willing to let her, uncontestedly remain the alpha dog. Penny was young when she came along, so she accepted this willingly. Now, Moxie and Penny get along great. Moxie taught Penny to do so many dog things and helped her overcome fears. We watched Moxie, first hand, communicate and teach several different dogs in different situations how to behave, how to complete a scary task that dog hesitates to do, or how to communicate with her people. They are both well balanced dogs, thanks in part to Moxie.

We were so excited to watch Moxie teach these new puppies and watch Penny "mother" them. But that has not happened at all. We should know better than to think that our well laid out plans are the same as the dogs reality. So, here's how it has gone for two weeks.

Moxie comes in the door, smells and hears puppies, and shoots you this, "Are you kidding me? Why are they still here? How dare you betray me" look. Ninety-five percent of the time she goes straight upstairs without greeting anyone (opposite of her normal routine). But when she does choose to grace us with her presence, as soon as the puppies try to even get close to her she jerks like she was just stung by a bee. Because she jumps, Bonnie and Clyde thought she was playing so they came at her with more vigor trying to play. She would continually try to run away, which they thought was more play and they would continue to chase. She would run in circles around the couch or recliner, they chase her, she would growl at them, they wouldn't listen and chase her more. She would run to the other room, they would chase her, she would growl, they wouldn't listen. Then she inevitablely would run upstairs (puppies can't manuever the staris). Now, Moxie stays upstairs most of the day and night when she visits our house. She stays upstairs so much that we have put a water bowl upstairs for her. She only ventures downstairs when she hears a cheese wrapper, smells meat cooking, or needs human contact (she is part Jack Russell so that is not often). But even then, she stays at the entrance to the kitchen, refusing to come in fully. She refuses to into the room or even walk through any doorway if one of the puppies are standing on the other side (even to go outside). Every now and then she will be in the same room as Bonnie and Clyde for a few minutes (lastest development). She repeats the same ritual with the pups or sits off to the side growling at them evey time they come close. But it looks like she is just enduring their presence to have a little human connection.

Penny would sniff them curiuosly and reluctantly endured their sniffs, ear pulls, and tail bites. As long as they didn't approach her from behind, she handled their presence patiently. She does growl at them to teach them boundries, because they have NONE! As the weeks progress, she became more invested in them and began to hover around them for protection. She wasn't real sure how to play with them but you could see that she wanted to.

In a rare moment, Moxie came down stairs. Moxie has always read the room very well. In the few minutes that she endured the puppies, she saw that Penny was unsure and needed help with them. She noticed what the puppies needed, she just didn't want to to fill the "mother" role. In true Moxie form, she allowed the puppies to chase her and she wrestled with them briefly. This was all the instruction that Penny needed to understand how to play with them. Penny is more comfortable around them now thanks to Moxie.

Moxie, came out of hiding long enough to be the teacher once again. Penny took up the mantle but Moxie is still, even reluctently, leading the way! Thank you, Moxie.

Funniest Moment

We offer a crate to snuggle up with her brother, laps galore, and several blankets stategically placed around the livingroom floor but still Bonnie finds weird positions to sleep in. It's like she goes and goes until 100% of her energy is drained, and then PLOP! It causes me to cramp up just thinking about the positions. She falls asleep anywhere and is totally zonked out. If you stir her to put her in a more comfortable position, she looks at you, curls up again, and falls back asleep within seconds. We know this from her immediate snoring!

Firsts

1. Going outside

2. Potty outside

3. Wearing Clothes (pics below)