I missed Kinderpuppy thanks to a long, (bleeping) incident at work, so here's some pictures of Colin & Liz helping out at Kinderpuppy Class 2. The puppies also didn't get weighed this weekend, so we're in suspense if this is the week when Orion finally breaks ahead. He definitely got taller. All of a sudden about four days ago his legs got really long.
This weekend Betel got his 15 week shots - the "8 way", and there is an appointment next Wednesday for the big snip for the two boys, and Odin is getting his heart checked. He had a hard time "camping" (which was basically car camping) out at my friend Jem's cool 120 acres conveniently located only 3 miles from the big horse show grounds. Jem held "Burping Man" and Odin and I went (hence, the lack of weight, pictures, and tired Odin).
The boys are eating more. I think they're probably averaging about 6 cups a day now, though it's hard to know exactly because they eat a cup as treats probably, and some meals they are ravenous, and others they are more interested in the surroundings.
Ok, it won't post the pictures. I'll try once more, then I give up.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
More hot week photos
These are Bete wearing Odin's collar - so he looks like Mr. T before T gave up the bling. I think two puppies is definitely a great idea. We'll see how I feel in a few months, when they hit the mega-hyper phase, but for now, I feel a lot less guilty because they play with each other - compared to Odin's puppy years when all I basically remember feeling is guilt. These past few days they have been driving me crazy with the barking, but they are overall pretty good puppies. Orion peed on Kevin's bean bag a few days ago, but other than that, I'm not aware of any accidents for a few weeks. I don't understand the biting, barking, and yelping, because I thought the whole purpose of the bark and yelp in response to the bite was to say "Ouch! Too hard. Cut it out!" Also, Orion accidentally bit me today (he is learning to be greedy from Betel) and it hurt. I looked at my finger, and there was no hole, but a few minutes later it started bleeding from underneath the nail.
Note that in the posting about them being groomed, I did not make a joke about brushing your teeth with dog toothpaste. I'm so good.
Photos - Hot week! 14/12 B/O
The photo of Odin is of him with a National Geographic with a Eukanuba ridgeback ridge ad on his back. Funny.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
It's hot
Friday Olympia broke records with the 100 degree heat. It has been in the 90's yesterday and today (Saturday and Sunday).
Today the puppies got their first baths outside. Neither of them liked it (I would have - it was hot and it was nice cool water), but Orion in particular thrashed around on the end of the leash, choking himself. They also got their "grooming": ears cleaned, nails clipped, and teeth brushed. To add insult to injury, I wormed them this morning - probably for the final time.
They are doing really well with obedience. I work with them both at the same time, which sometimes necessitates a foot to block one dog from the other, but they are both doing sit, down, and "puppy push-ups" (sit, down, sit) just fine. Of course, when I have treats they follow me around, so we're not working on come. We also work on handling every day, though it didn't seem to help much when I was trying to do their nails today.
Their weights, for the start of Week 14 and Week 12 are the same again: 30.5 pounds. They are getting kind of heavy to pick up and balance while I'm looking down at the scale.
Washing Odin outside, while considerably easier than in the bathtub, was not the world's greatest idea. He immediately ran to the dirt (like a horse), tried to roll, and then jumped around in it, getting dirt caked onto his still wet head, legs, and undercarriage. I didn't have the heart to make him get back in his collar and stand back in the hose, so hopefully it will dry and fall off (like usual) not leaving him stinky like dirt.
This morning they woke up at 6 (Kevin is out at the beach, then hiking, with Colin & Liz) because it was finally cool, and would not stop barking. It was driving me crazy, so I'm sure it was driving the neighbors crazy too. When I put them out in the yard and sat out there with them, they immediately went to sleep, which is what they've done the rest of the day.
Today the puppies got their first baths outside. Neither of them liked it (I would have - it was hot and it was nice cool water), but Orion in particular thrashed around on the end of the leash, choking himself. They also got their "grooming": ears cleaned, nails clipped, and teeth brushed. To add insult to injury, I wormed them this morning - probably for the final time.
They are doing really well with obedience. I work with them both at the same time, which sometimes necessitates a foot to block one dog from the other, but they are both doing sit, down, and "puppy push-ups" (sit, down, sit) just fine. Of course, when I have treats they follow me around, so we're not working on come. We also work on handling every day, though it didn't seem to help much when I was trying to do their nails today.
Their weights, for the start of Week 14 and Week 12 are the same again: 30.5 pounds. They are getting kind of heavy to pick up and balance while I'm looking down at the scale.
Washing Odin outside, while considerably easier than in the bathtub, was not the world's greatest idea. He immediately ran to the dirt (like a horse), tried to roll, and then jumped around in it, getting dirt caked onto his still wet head, legs, and undercarriage. I didn't have the heart to make him get back in his collar and stand back in the hose, so hopefully it will dry and fall off (like usual) not leaving him stinky like dirt.
This morning they woke up at 6 (Kevin is out at the beach, then hiking, with Colin & Liz) because it was finally cool, and would not stop barking. It was driving me crazy, so I'm sure it was driving the neighbors crazy too. When I put them out in the yard and sat out there with them, they immediately went to sleep, which is what they've done the rest of the day.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Final set of Week 13 and 11 photos (for tonight)
I think both boys are ready to be snipped. And Orion's legs suddenly started getting long. Odin played and played today with both of them (but mostly Betel). In today's practice obedience, Betel did better with the down.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Kinderpuppy
Tonight was the first night of Kinderpuppy. I like the word Kinderpuppy. I've probably said it 50 times today. The boys did well. We had mingling with saying their name, grabbing the collar, and then a treat; sitting without the word "sit" but using a hand signal and the "Yes!" for the butt on the ground; and then down, which Betel was only able to do twice while everyone else did 25 times. Then we held them between our knees and rubbed their ears (Orion's needs to be cleaned), rubbed a circle on their muzzles, rubbed our fingers over their teeth, touched their feet, then stood them up and rubbed their backs and tails. And that was it for the first day of Kinderpuppy. (See? It just rolls right off the keyboard.) So we practice all those things three times a day (or more) until next week.
Then we went to the barn, where the boys went on a walk while I got Mercury ready for his second big jump day, and he did really well. I only rode him 45 minutes because he did two series in a row really well, so we are probably going to the Derby on the 5th and 6th. The boys fell asleep in their soft crate while I jumped and Kevin watched and moved poles.
Orion's legs are getting long. He is almost as tall as Betel now. He is a lot more shy than Betel, and likes to follow me and stand between my legs.
This next part is gross, so stop reading if you don't like gross things. For the second time, I found a poo smear in the bed. It has to be Odin (I don't think cat). The first time was several months ago, and I found it in the morning. I asked the vet, and she said to watch and if it starts happening regularly to let her know. Sometimes older dogs lose some control, but I'm not ready for Odin to be incontinent and need to wear a doggie diaper, which is a lot less fun to type than Kinderpuppy.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Go Daddy O!
It has gotten harder and harder to find the time to update the blog. Mercury may be able to show this season after all, so his vacation two weeks is over and it's time to whip him back into shape. (Get it? Whip him? Because he's a horse. Ha ha.)
This weeks photos didn't come out so well. I will try to take more today to get them posted. Betel is continuing to sleep on his back in hilarious postures (and appears to be ready for the big snip). The other photo, Betel is falling over (if you look carefully) because he just chased his tail in a circle too long, got dizzy, I snapped this shot as he started to fall, another with his butt on the bed, and then he flops over on the ground. It was hilarious. I didn't know that puppies ran themselves dizzy chasing their own tails.
This week Orion got his first vaccination, the 6-way shot. He had Bordatella last week when he got microchipped. I'm waiting until Betel is 15 weeks old to give him 8-way, and Orion will probably get it a little earlier than 15 weeks.
They are 12 weeks and 10 weeks old, moving into weeks 13 and 11. They each weighed 28.5 pounds today, so Orion did not move ahead in the weight race.
Last Tuesday was human Kinderpuppy orientation, and this Tuesday is the first puppy class. I learned a lot from orientation, and the boys are doing really well. They (usually) recognize their names, come when called, and sit. I have also had rapid improvements in jumping up. If you turn your back, in dog language, it means "I disapprove of that behavior", so when I come home and they're in the room, excited to see me, I walk up, then turn my back until they stop jumping on the baby gate. The first day it took a few times, but now they do one obligatory paws up, then sit quietly and wait for me to open it. It's amazing.
One of Orion's ears is crooked.
Other than that, there's not much news this week.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Finally, the hilarious and gripping thousand word part.
I forgot to write about how Betel went through a phase a few weeks ago that lasted a couple weeks where he bit Odin's tail (it was the stage after he bit Odin's hock when they were playing). It was pretty funny. Odin would clamp his tail real hard when they played and kind of scoot around.
One of those photos is of Betel sleeping on his back. He is hilarious. It seems to happen most often when it's hot out. He sleeps in his crate like that too.
The boys weighed the same this week! So this is the beginning of the end of Betel's reign of terror. They were both a whopping, monstrous (drum roll, please) 25.5 pounds! Holy cow! At first they were 29, but then it turns out I didn't magically lose 4 pounds.
They also went to the opening of the newest doggie daycare and Betel got his rabies shot and a bordetella shot. Orion got microchipped and Bordetella. Then they got a tour and met some nice, vaccinated dogs. It seems like it might be a good deal for the winter if they are too rambunctious their first and second years, if we can afford it. It will be about $42/day for all three dogs with their special deal.
As of today, Betel knows how to:
Sit for his food
Ring the bell to go out the door
Knows his name
Orion knows:
Sit when I push on his butt
Sometimes his name
We think Betel is a LOT smarter. But he is also a food frenzy shark, so he can't concentrate for a lot of things when food is involved.
They start Kinderpuppy (Puppy Kindergarten) next week. This Tuesday is human only orientation. It is 5 weeks for the puppies, then we will start regular obedience. I made a pretty elaborate calendar for the next 7 weeks of things for them to learn. Odin learned about 10 commands back in the day (he also failed out of obedience school).
I've got too much to do to post more details. They are all doing excellent. Both Betel and Orion have figured out how to get on the couch, so Odin sulks on the ground and they jump on and off and on and off.
One of those photos is of Betel sleeping on his back. He is hilarious. It seems to happen most often when it's hot out. He sleeps in his crate like that too.
The boys weighed the same this week! So this is the beginning of the end of Betel's reign of terror. They were both a whopping, monstrous (drum roll, please) 25.5 pounds! Holy cow! At first they were 29, but then it turns out I didn't magically lose 4 pounds.
They also went to the opening of the newest doggie daycare and Betel got his rabies shot and a bordetella shot. Orion got microchipped and Bordetella. Then they got a tour and met some nice, vaccinated dogs. It seems like it might be a good deal for the winter if they are too rambunctious their first and second years, if we can afford it. It will be about $42/day for all three dogs with their special deal.
As of today, Betel knows how to:
Sit for his food
Ring the bell to go out the door
Knows his name
Orion knows:
Sit when I push on his butt
Sometimes his name
We think Betel is a LOT smarter. But he is also a food frenzy shark, so he can't concentrate for a lot of things when food is involved.
They start Kinderpuppy (Puppy Kindergarten) next week. This Tuesday is human only orientation. It is 5 weeks for the puppies, then we will start regular obedience. I made a pretty elaborate calendar for the next 7 weeks of things for them to learn. Odin learned about 10 commands back in the day (he also failed out of obedience school).
I've got too much to do to post more details. They are all doing excellent. Both Betel and Orion have figured out how to get on the couch, so Odin sulks on the ground and they jump on and off and on and off.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Blogger is having some problems tonight
I've tried three times to put the new puppy photos up, but it isn't working, even though it tripled the tree photos.
This, while I eat something new. My favorite thing to eat at sushi restaurants (starting at Kotobuki in Gainesville) is rice with salad dressing on top of it. I've never known what made the salad dressing so good - and every sushi place I've gone to since, I try it (and it's never as good or as cheap, $1.50 a bowl at Kotobuki). The newest sushi place is called Sushi Boat (visited by my mom one day after using dog toothpaste). It has the closest (though still not as good) dressing, and they had on the menu what it is. Peanut butter, mayo, and some other things.
Ok, it sounds disgusting, but then Kevin looked online and found a couple recipes for pb/mayo/honey salad dressing, and I made it tonight and am eating it on rice. The idea of it is gross, the taste of it is ok (needs some experimentation), but I might have made one step towards freeing myself from sushi restaurants.
I also LOVE peanut butter and pickle (dill) sandwiches, so maybe it's just the way my taste buds are wired.
The puppies were calm today while the tree was being removed (as far as I know - I had to miss the critical loud part). They mostly slept on the couch or near me while I was reading, which made it (aside from the tree) one of the easiest work from home days yet. But when I went into the office to check on something, of course I should have been there all day because there was a crisis with the TFC.
I rode Mercury tonight for the first time in a couple weeks. He was ok. Felt kind of stiff but not lame.
This, while I eat something new. My favorite thing to eat at sushi restaurants (starting at Kotobuki in Gainesville) is rice with salad dressing on top of it. I've never known what made the salad dressing so good - and every sushi place I've gone to since, I try it (and it's never as good or as cheap, $1.50 a bowl at Kotobuki). The newest sushi place is called Sushi Boat (visited by my mom one day after using dog toothpaste). It has the closest (though still not as good) dressing, and they had on the menu what it is. Peanut butter, mayo, and some other things.
Ok, it sounds disgusting, but then Kevin looked online and found a couple recipes for pb/mayo/honey salad dressing, and I made it tonight and am eating it on rice. The idea of it is gross, the taste of it is ok (needs some experimentation), but I might have made one step towards freeing myself from sushi restaurants.
I also LOVE peanut butter and pickle (dill) sandwiches, so maybe it's just the way my taste buds are wired.
The puppies were calm today while the tree was being removed (as far as I know - I had to miss the critical loud part). They mostly slept on the couch or near me while I was reading, which made it (aside from the tree) one of the easiest work from home days yet. But when I went into the office to check on something, of course I should have been there all day because there was a crisis with the TFC.
I rode Mercury tonight for the first time in a couple weeks. He was ok. Felt kind of stiff but not lame.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
