Episode #20: RETURN MAIL

Amy Shackelford
Jul 5, 2021
6 min read

Updated: Jul 23, 2021

Bonnie

Staffordshire Terrior

Color: white with brown spots

Red Nose

Expected size: about 70-80 lbs

Current weight: 50 lbs

Clyde

Staffordshire Terrior

Color: Lilac

Red Nose

Expected size: about 80 lbs

Current Weight 60 lbs

Gotta go Postal so Bonnie and Clyde hop in the truck and take a ride. They are postal bond. Bradley, trying to break the negative pitty image, loves to show off the pups at his work. When they arrived as babies, they were tiny. Everyone loved them, even the ones who were adamantly against all things Pitbull (how can you Not love a puppy?). Now they are larger, stronger, and faster! Will they still feel the same way?

The goal was to show them at the Post Office so much, that they would see that these sweet puppies will are sweet dogs too. This was their third visit so the employees there are watching them grow (this blog helps as well).

The truck pulls up and after some potty breaks, they come in. They are immediately greeted by an employee learning to Not be scared. They shattered his glass ceiling then ran to the next human. They explored, sniffed, and greeted, and played, having a blast. (One employee even keeps a small blue ball for four legged visitors). Then, the true test came.

As our main target walked into the room, she gasped at how much they had grown. She asked if they were mean yet but just then Bonnie walked up to her and gave her a sweet look and waited for pets. Her fears melted (a little) as she gave Bonnie some attention (quickly followed by Clyde who wanted attention too). Before we left, she was taking pictures of them to show her family. PROGRESS!!!

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We went to the store and bought a small, covered trashcan for the bathroom so that Clyde can’t get in it! It works great. The children have learned to keep their doors closed as well, lest they walk into a “surprise” that they have to clean up.

This past Sunday after church, we all took a nap- all of us. Clyde woke up before the rest of us and decided to explore! All the upstairs doors were closed, except mine. He went into our bedroom, then the master bath. He did a little damage with the garbage, but that must not have been the taste he was after because it looked like he didn’t stay up there long.

He went into the downstairs bath and couldn’t get in the trash like before. But against the opposite wall was a shelf, fully stocked with toilet paper. Yes, he found it all, carried it to the living room and began shredding it. He also got into a box under the entry table and pulled out all the Swifter wet jet pads and carried the to his pile as well.

I must say, Clyde is making us aware of clutter and items not completely put away. Even if it looks okay in its storage spot or if it’s “hidden” from human view, the question is now, “Do I REALLY NEED to put this here?” The internal debate is real and will live on in infamy. We will be buying a closed cabinet that will fit in the little corner Clyde discovered in the bathroom and take yet another look around the house to foresee any potential targets. Maybe we should get on our hands and knees and crawl for a new perspective.

My daughter’s friend came in from Georgia for a few days. Bonnie gave her a greeting she will never forget. I think Bonnie managed to like every inch of her face as she climbed all over her.

It was firework city at my house. You could stand at the edge of our property and watch the fireworks in several places all down the horizon. Clyde stayed out longer enough to be calm, but I let him go inside before the neighbor let off a close, loud, bang. He was on edge the entire time, too scared to take a treat, and he stood beside me the entire time. He was scared but he was obedient. I want him to get used to the sound so that his fear goes away. I know that walking through the fear is better than running from it. He really did great (plus he didn’t pull the leash and make me fall!).

Bonnie loved the whole thing. We walked out the back, where another family had gathered, and she sat on the ground and watched. I gave her treats when she did especially good. There was so much noise, it was overwhelming at times, but I couldn’t have been more proud.

I only wish I had pictures but I wanted my hands to be free just in case they darted on me.

Our morning constitutional started as normal but on our way out the door, Pepe Les Pew made an appearance. He walked the entire length of the fence line of our backyard. Bonnie spotted him first (I was still handling Clyde). She didn’t run at him, thank goodness, but she did pull and pull. She was controllable.

The downside is that they both spent the remained of their time sniffing his trail. They sniffed the fence and laser focused of the path he took to the back field. I tried to get them to do their business, but I finally gave up.

WAIT (STAY) COMMAND

All dogs need to learn that every open door doesn’t mean they get to walk through it. There are times I need them to be still while I deal with other immediate issues (remove ticks, clip the leash, pick up poop etc…). They need to learn to wait their turn, wait to be invited, or wait to avoid danger. My pups have learned that waiting means to be still and stay calm until released from the command. I wish that I could say they were perfect at it, but that is not the case. But it has helped me out of many situations, and it will only get better.

I started with the “watch” command (when they started focusing on me 100 %, they got a treat). I began increasing the time that they had to stay focused. I sat a treat on my knee and had them wait before they could take it (including the hand gesture, STOP). While learning, I had to cover the treat with my hand many times before they understood the concept. Start small. As soon as you see they are waiting, even for a second, reward them with the treat (let them take it from your knee). Slowly increase the time and the temptation. (Moxie can leave a treat that is on her nose until released, Penny can leave it on her head!) It is easy to incorporate this hand gesture into life because of necessity. When we are outside a quick sharp of the leash gets their attention as well.

We are trying to train Bonnie and Clyde to jump “up” on the back legs. We like this for greeting, teaching a hug command, and teaching them to use these muscles when needed (jumping in and out of the truck). Neither puppy is great at it yet, but they do understand the concept.

Bradley and I were standing in the kitchen hugging and kissing. Bonnie walks over, sees us, and jumps on her back legs to be a part of the moment. Such a sweet princess.

We now keep the bathroom and laundry room doors closed every time we think of it. The stairs are normally blocked as well. But that is obviously not enough to keep them from mischief.

I was working at my computer; it was puppy nap time, so Clyde was under the computer desk. Many times, one puppy will not leave room for the other under the desk, so the second puppy has to sleep on the floor in front of the desk of find another place to sleep, Bonnie did this (or so I thought).

It was quiet for so long. I got so much work done! But the price I paid was not worth it. Clyde woke up so I decided to take him on a “potty break.” When we entered the kitchen, even in low light, I could see the evidence of a bored (not sleeping) dog. Bonnie had gotten into the pantry, pulled out a cardboard drink carton, and began having her vengeance on it. There were shoes from the closet, cardboard pieces, and the plastic covering that had a purpose at one time. The mess had Clyde written all over it (truth be told… I’m silently trying to figure out when Clyde did it!), and if he hadn’t literally been at my feet the entire time, I would have blamed him. But it was all BONNIE, why Bonnie… just why?