Episode 7: 14 weeks: He's Back

Bonnie

Staffordshire Terrior

Color: white with brown spots

Expected size: about 70-80 lbs

Current weight: 24 lbs

Clyde

Staffordshire Terrior

Color: Lilac

Expected size: about 80 lbs

Current Weight 28 lbs

WEEKLY ADVENTURE: He's Back

Nico is back for a visit for an entire week. At night, he will go home with Moxie and Penny. At some point during the day, he comes over to our house.

He is quite a bit larger than the puppies (80 lbs) but I have never seen such a happy-go-lucky dog. We knew that they would remember each other but Nico gave us a quick reminder of who he is and what he likes.

When the big dogs come over, we try to keep the puppies pinned for a few minutes so Moxie and Penny can get their love without being mauled. Then we let the puppies loose to play with them. This time, Nico was with them. All the big dogs ran in like normal, but Nico ran to where he thought the puppies would be. We had to let him into the pinned area but, being young himself, he pounced immediately at the puppies.

The three dogs, Nico, Bonnie, and Clyde, all remembered each other fondly and started playing. We again watched the excited Nico expose his belly, pounce, chase, wrestle, and make talking guttural noises. Bonnie and Clyde did the same (except the noises). It is just amazing to watch such a powerful dog be gentle enough for puppies. He still plays with them rougher than Penny, so they love it.

MOMENT TO REMEMBER:

Moxie now seeks out the puppies to play. They chase and wrestle her and she LOVES IT.

PENNY'S TURN

Every night, when I put the puppies to bed, I make a point to have them get up and walk to the crate themselves. I know this is the better plan when they are too big for me to move.

This night there was a lot of distraction upstairs and even with the stairs being blocked, they were totally infatuated with looking up at the second level. I needed them to go to bed so that I could as well, but they were not coming like normal. Luckily, I have some smart older dogs.

Moxie has already shown herself many times to be a great teacher, this time, Penny stepped up. She heard me calling for the pups and I kept using the phrase “go to bed.” Penny knows this very well, so she went and got Bonnie to follow her (then Clyde followed like a puppy dog-lol). She got all the way to the crate, but Bonnie would not go in. Penny crawled into the crate and Bonnie followed, but when Penny got out, so did Bonnie.

Penny tried again. She crawled in the crate and walked all the way to the back until both dogs followed her lead. I said, “Ok, go to bed.” The puppies laid down; Penny crawled back out then looked at me to close the crate door. She was super Penny!!!

Now, truth be told… I don’t know if Penny just wanted to go to bed herself and she knew that this was the quickest way or if she wanted them to quit disturbing her as she tried to sleep upstairs. Either way, this dog played an excellent game that night. She got them to do exactly what she wanted PLUS she shut me up (calling them over and over) all at the same time.

PUPPY PAD UPDATE: 95% accuracy

OUTDOORS: 40% accuracy

CUTEST MOMENT

Watching in awe at the enjoyment with Nico. They all reciprocate and love being around each other, Plus Nico plays amd plays and plays, The puppiesare worn out by the time he leaves.

WHY... JUST WHY MOMENT

The puppers are now big enough to climb on the furniture. They are not allowed on the furniture at all. We love them but this is not a boundary they are allowed to cross. If I was going to be out of the room for a short time, I would leave them out of the crate but still pinned. This worked great as long as I considered their bathroom schedule. But now, we have learned the hard way that this freedom can no longer be allowed until they are fully trained.

They have now eaten two coasters (mangled the base to an unusable degree), torn a throw pillow (fluff EVERYWHERE), and eaten the back off of the remote (which is now held by tape). They rip up every toy, dart back and forth around the furniture, and now they to the same things on the furniture.

Why… just why? We give them so many things to chew on, give them treats, and more affection than they want sometimes; why must they chew shoes, plastic, and wood? They now must stay crated unless someone is in the same room with them. Lucky for them, someone is usually there to spare them. I just remind myself that puppies sleep a lot and it’s not that bad.

Firsts

1. New Gate (made from old pen)

2. Barking at walkers instead of staring

3. Tasted apple and cheese (both ate it of course)

Training Commands

1. Watch

2. Sit

3. Sit before opening front door

4. Shake (offers paw)

5. Walking on leash (much better)

6. Wait for their name before reacting (pretty good)