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| Cora Spreading Christmas Cheer - age 7 years |
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| Haddie giving the Gift of Love - age 18 months |
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| My family wishing you Peace in the New Year - kiddos age 13/11 in photo |
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
12 Days of Christmas
2 months to the day when we leave our driveway with our sweet Haddie in the back headed to California and Puppy College.
How I wish the days would move at a snails pace for both events.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Holiday Outing
This week our CCI class enjoyed a holiday outing at an outdoor mall. It poured rain sideways, catching some of us still under the overhang covering, and the wind was blowing some to add a touch of more bitter to the already cold night. But when you are surrounded by good people and amazing dogs, it is easy to continue to have fun under any weather condition!
The pups were expected to do a number of commands, similar to last year's outing at the same location. Last year Haddie was just shy of six months old and would not do an Up command on anything. It was a real struggle for her last year. This year, as it should be, she was breezing through all that was expected of her.
Minus one moment when she would not jump onto the bench with the other dogs. Had she gone up when it was commanded of her the first time, she would have had dibs on her space. But because she was lacking confidence and would not jump, other dogs were jumping up and taking her spot. Now, she had to jump and fit into a tighter space. Haddie likes her space.
The Trainer took over and made her get into position - and then we got this really cute photo!! Yes, Cat and Haddie could not stop lovin' each other.
We ended the night cozy'd into the St*r$ks with all our dogs underfoot. It was fun to overcrowd the coffee shop and have all the dogs flopped here and there in neat little piles at our feet. What a fun experience to take our puppies everywhere together!!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Secret Friends
It has been stated that I am not really sure that my pet Beagle, Cora, likes our CCI puppy. While Cora is older by six years, she certainly is not the one that controls the rules between the two. Cora is a lover that just wants to cuddle and that's it.
Haddie is a lover too, but she'd rather jump around Cora and get her enthused for a roaring game of chase. There have been countless times when Haddie will give up her favorite ball to Cora, encouraging the girl to pick.up.the.ball. to have no response from Cora. It is visibly frustrating to Haddie, you can see her look as if to say, "Are you serious? I am offering you my most prized possession and you won't even accept my gift?!" Then Haddie starts the crazy dance and takes back the ball all the while Cora continues to stare at her.
My son had been playing around with an App on the iPad that allows you to take single photos, and then stitch them together to make a video. He captured this moment while Haddie was on a tie-out chilling with her bone, and Cora's blanket. It is only during tie-out moments that Cora initiates the love to Haddie. Perhaps it is a sign that Puppy Play is not her style, but a more mature sharing of time is.
When I first saw this video, I admit to getting an eyeful of tears. The sweet music, and the genuine love that the two share comes through. Even in this video, Haddie is offering the blanket to Cora and Cora does not respond. One day, I keep telling Cora, you will miss this yellow, energized, furry friend.
I know I will.
Haddie is a lover too, but she'd rather jump around Cora and get her enthused for a roaring game of chase. There have been countless times when Haddie will give up her favorite ball to Cora, encouraging the girl to pick.up.the.ball. to have no response from Cora. It is visibly frustrating to Haddie, you can see her look as if to say, "Are you serious? I am offering you my most prized possession and you won't even accept my gift?!" Then Haddie starts the crazy dance and takes back the ball all the while Cora continues to stare at her.
My son had been playing around with an App on the iPad that allows you to take single photos, and then stitch them together to make a video. He captured this moment while Haddie was on a tie-out chilling with her bone, and Cora's blanket. It is only during tie-out moments that Cora initiates the love to Haddie. Perhaps it is a sign that Puppy Play is not her style, but a more mature sharing of time is.
When I first saw this video, I admit to getting an eyeful of tears. The sweet music, and the genuine love that the two share comes through. Even in this video, Haddie is offering the blanket to Cora and Cora does not respond. One day, I keep telling Cora, you will miss this yellow, energized, furry friend.
I know I will.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Santa and Haddie 2012
Haddie was one special puppy this week when she got to visit with the big man in the red suit; twice. Santa Claus came to all CCI Classes in our Region as part of a community service project (we all donated a huge amount of non-perishable foods for Santa's favorite food bank). I am chuckling as I say that Haddie was the only puppy to kiss Santa. The. only. puppy. Sigh.
I think she just wants something extra special in her stocking this year. Probably much bigger than a bone or toy; perhaps the perfect forever family match!! Okay, I can't really mind her kissing Santa for that idea.
Yesterday, we were invited to attend a two hour block at a Special Santa event for disabled children. It was a huge event held at a large church nearby our CCI Classes. One of the women on the board of this organization who hosted this event is a recipient of a service dog for her son, and so she had the connection to invite our group to this event.
It not only was the best kick-off to the Christmas Season for us, to see all the adorable children dressed up to see Santa, and "wait" in a highly organized room of activities and crafts (and puppy petting), but it was a real treat to know we were making a difference by educating the parents about CCI, and sharing the love of Haddie with those that wanted to pet and love back.
Haddie was a little keyed up for the first twenty minutes at our station, but she held her excitement with consistent four feet on the floor and head positioned at a correct level to not interfere with personal space. She was wiggly and wanted to break her downs and sits, but once she settled, she reallllly settled for the next hour and forty minutes. I know this picture makes it look like she truly passed-out, but she was still breathing, I promise (smile).
From there, any person coming to pet and love Haddie received a very mellow pup - the pup we are used to handling out in public and around our house on her best of days.
Before we left, we were invited to Santa's workshop for a photo. My kids and Haddie had their photo taken with the big guy, and we will receive a copy in the coming days. I will share when it is received; it is adorable.
However, Haddie, once again, went crazy over Santa Claus. She wanted to jump in his lap, whisper her wish, and give him a kiss again, but this time we were prepared and corrected her with a to sit on the floor with minimum wiggly-buns. It worked, but only after she tried so hard to get her way.
(Looks like I will be mall hopping to get her used to Santa's this holiday season. At least (?) she isn't fearful, just overly enthusiastic. Nothing high value treats can't fix, right?).
I love Haddie. I am going to miss her personality of high toddler energy, and her extra calm manners when it matters most.
Haddie was a little keyed up for the first twenty minutes at our station, but she held her excitement with consistent four feet on the floor and head positioned at a correct level to not interfere with personal space. She was wiggly and wanted to break her downs and sits, but once she settled, she reallllly settled for the next hour and forty minutes. I know this picture makes it look like she truly passed-out, but she was still breathing, I promise (smile).
However, Haddie, once again, went crazy over Santa Claus. She wanted to jump in his lap, whisper her wish, and give him a kiss again, but this time we were prepared and corrected her with a to sit on the floor with minimum wiggly-buns. It worked, but only after she tried so hard to get her way.
(Looks like I will be mall hopping to get her used to Santa's this holiday season. At least (?) she isn't fearful, just overly enthusiastic. Nothing high value treats can't fix, right?).
I love Haddie. I am going to miss her personality of high toddler energy, and her extra calm manners when it matters most.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Defeated
Haddie has been wound up as of late. I am trying to decide what has caused her shift in behavior. Age? Cranky? Bored? What gives? It is a mystery.
And nothing bothers my mind more than trying to figure out the naughty of a puppy. Any advice would be welcomed.
I am finding that Haddie is great on-leash. That fits perfectly for good behavior on Social Outings. Nothing phases her, she is under-control, she makes us both look good.
Get her off-leash as of late (ie: at home) and she is crazy-puppy. Visitors to the house saw a naughty puppy today, not the gentle soul and perfectly mannered pup found outside our home. Disappointed.
Example: twisting in circles in the living room. Not okay. Wanting to kiss the faces of those petting her, stretching in that annoying puppy-in-your-face-kinda-way, but never lifting four paws off the ground, is still annoying and not acceptable. Not listening is just plain naughty. She settled after about a minute, but that is one minute too long. It truly seemed like f.o.r.e.v.e.r.
She turns back to Calif in two months and I am hoping she is just going through a phase and gets her act together sooner than later. I am swirling thoughts of "Should have done..." in my head and relying on my next pup to be different. "Should have done..." in the moment tonight, and "Should have done..." all along in training.
While I can store this lesson's learned away for our next puppy, I have to keep open to that next puppies issues which may be completely different than Haddie's. Maybe he will be a gem at home manners off leash, and horrid on leash. And I am not sure which is better if I were to rate them, or if CCI is to rate them. I am sure they are equal. Sigh.
Puppy Raising is hard, but the challenge is interesting and I will still continue forth in raising again. Every dog will have it's challenges, every dog is new, and I am just learning along the way.
Defeated - yeah, my feelings are hurt that she has not been like herself, but I can only look to myself to get it under control. She won't do it on her own, that is for sure.
And nothing bothers my mind more than trying to figure out the naughty of a puppy. Any advice would be welcomed.
I am finding that Haddie is great on-leash. That fits perfectly for good behavior on Social Outings. Nothing phases her, she is under-control, she makes us both look good.
Get her off-leash as of late (ie: at home) and she is crazy-puppy. Visitors to the house saw a naughty puppy today, not the gentle soul and perfectly mannered pup found outside our home. Disappointed.
Example: twisting in circles in the living room. Not okay. Wanting to kiss the faces of those petting her, stretching in that annoying puppy-in-your-face-kinda-way, but never lifting four paws off the ground, is still annoying and not acceptable. Not listening is just plain naughty. She settled after about a minute, but that is one minute too long. It truly seemed like f.o.r.e.v.e.r.
She turns back to Calif in two months and I am hoping she is just going through a phase and gets her act together sooner than later. I am swirling thoughts of "Should have done..." in my head and relying on my next pup to be different. "Should have done..." in the moment tonight, and "Should have done..." all along in training.
While I can store this lesson's learned away for our next puppy, I have to keep open to that next puppies issues which may be completely different than Haddie's. Maybe he will be a gem at home manners off leash, and horrid on leash. And I am not sure which is better if I were to rate them, or if CCI is to rate them. I am sure they are equal. Sigh.
Puppy Raising is hard, but the challenge is interesting and I will still continue forth in raising again. Every dog will have it's challenges, every dog is new, and I am just learning along the way.
Defeated - yeah, my feelings are hurt that she has not been like herself, but I can only look to myself to get it under control. She won't do it on her own, that is for sure.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Kennel Cough
Haddie woke up yesterday coughing. It sounded awful and it proceeded for a few minutes. It was like when a puppy pulls too hard on their own leash and then has a coughing fit as a result. The deep, husky, loud kind. It sounds truly awful.
By late afternoon I had picked up the pattern that whenever she exerted energy, she would get into a cycle of coughing. Not knowing if our Vet would be open on Veteran's Day, and watching the clock run closer to closing time, I picked up the phone and thankfully was able to get her in.
I am so glad I did, because as the night went on, her coughing became more frequent, more loud, more depressing to hear. Had I not known what the diagnosis was - I just might think she had pneumonia and was dying.
Thankful that is not the case. She has Kennel Cough. Apparently there is a new strain going around, and some how the vaccine she has received prior is not fully protecting her. She is now on meds and the coughing should go away in half a week. Her temp is normal, her heart and lungs are perfect, so we just have this ugly cough to get rid of. Thankful it is just this, no matter how sad it is to hear.
No socializing, and no CCI class for this week, and my pet has already been exposed.
I do not know if the meds have any true side effect of hyperactivity, but Haddie is on one big naughty streak this morning. Silly puppy is doing everything she should not be doing in order to settle that cough. Running through the house seems to be her favorite past time.
Dear Haddie: when you are crazy-active, and being totally inappropriate, like you are demonstrating right now, you put yourself into a gagging, coughing fit. See the connection?? I promise this will go away, and we can get back to normal, appropriate activity. Until then, please, just mind your manners, and chill out.
By late afternoon I had picked up the pattern that whenever she exerted energy, she would get into a cycle of coughing. Not knowing if our Vet would be open on Veteran's Day, and watching the clock run closer to closing time, I picked up the phone and thankfully was able to get her in.
I am so glad I did, because as the night went on, her coughing became more frequent, more loud, more depressing to hear. Had I not known what the diagnosis was - I just might think she had pneumonia and was dying.
Thankful that is not the case. She has Kennel Cough. Apparently there is a new strain going around, and some how the vaccine she has received prior is not fully protecting her. She is now on meds and the coughing should go away in half a week. Her temp is normal, her heart and lungs are perfect, so we just have this ugly cough to get rid of. Thankful it is just this, no matter how sad it is to hear.
No socializing, and no CCI class for this week, and my pet has already been exposed.
I do not know if the meds have any true side effect of hyperactivity, but Haddie is on one big naughty streak this morning. Silly puppy is doing everything she should not be doing in order to settle that cough. Running through the house seems to be her favorite past time.
Dear Haddie: when you are crazy-active, and being totally inappropriate, like you are demonstrating right now, you put yourself into a gagging, coughing fit. See the connection?? I promise this will go away, and we can get back to normal, appropriate activity. Until then, please, just mind your manners, and chill out.
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