Episode 8: 15 weeks: Mayhem

Bonnie

Staffordshire Terrior

Color: white with brown spots

Expected size: about 70-80 lbs

Current weight: 26 lbs

Clyde

Staffordshire Terrior

Color: Lilac,Tri-color

Expected size: about 80 lbs

Current Weight 31.5 lbs

WEEKLY ADVENTURE: Outside Mayhem

The puppies have gotten a lot of outdoor time this week. We are really pushing the potty training outside (which is super hard since they had finally gotten pretty good at using the pads). We are trying to get our back yard fenced so that they can play, but for now we go on LOTS of walks!!!

Clyde loves the outdoors. His normal, shy personality takes on a new persona as he leaps and runs. The one attribute that is the same is that he is like Ferdinand the Bull. He looooooves the flowers, leaps to them, and eats every one he can reach before we grab him. He looks so cute, but they are hard on his tummy so he can't enjoy them as much as he would like. When he is outside, he is happy. He doesn't pull too bad (unless he has a target), he relaxes and enjoys EACH BLADE OF GRASS!!!!!

When I walk them, they are much better than they use to be. Since they have become comfortable with the outside, they actually walk more (don’t get me wrong, they still stop and sniff A LOT, and wrestle, and dig, and eat dirt)! Every walk takes forever.

When Bradley comes along, he has the big dogs while I take the pups. Right off, that sounds reasonable. But Bonnie and Clyde pull like little demons to reach the other dogs. So, the walks start out with me holding the pups, but their exuberance soon overcomes my body. By the time we start back to the house, I have Moxie (older and calmer) and Bradley taking the rest!!!

Park behind house

They didn't want the ball, they fought over the stick.

Sitting in the backyard, extended their leash so they could play.

Clyde eating flowers

MOMENT TO REMEMBER:

While Nico was visiting, he slept in the puppy’s crate, since it is so large. Bonnie and Clyde slept in the smaller crate since they snuggle anyway. One night, we were putting everyone to bed and the phrase “let’s go to bed” was put into action. Bonnie and Clyde immediately went to their normal crate as I was trying to let Nico use it. Nico climbed in after the two pups, but there was no room for him to even sit. The three pups just sat and looked at each other, no one willing to give up their space. Timid Clyde sat in the back of the crate and never reacted, but Bonnie defended her turf. Little 25-pound Bonnie growled at the 80-pound Nico to get out of her bed. He was so gentle; he did not growl back. Bonnie doesn’t back down and she thinks she is bigger than she really is.

Photo shoot with all five pack members! Top: Moxie, Nico, Penny Bottom: Clyde, Bonnie

PUPPY PAD UPDATE: 95% accuracy

OUTDOORS: 60% accuracy

CUTEST MOMENT

Every morning, the munchkins go through the same routine. They go outside to the bathroom (hopefully), eat breakfast, then play until the last minute before they are crated so that I can leave for work.

I have an alarm set on my phone reminding me that I have two minutes to leave the house. Now, when the alarm goes off, the puppers get up and go to their crate and go back to sleep.

WHY... JUST WHY MOMENT

Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie, you vex me!

She has now learned that she can run from me and she is faster also. She escapes from her leash or even darts out an open door. She makes sure that she never gets close enough to be caught (she also considers the length of the leash in her defile). Even when I fed Clyde treat after treat, she was not fooled! Usually, someone else has to grab her for me but once Clyde stepped on her leash accidentally and she thought she was caught so she stopped.

Firsts

1. Pulled out of hands while on leash

2. Bonnie's hair raised at a dog

3. Started giving paw freely to "Shake"

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)

7. Down

8. Spin