So here I am again, hapless puppy owner..ooh sorry, I meant Clueless puppy owner. We've had our 9 month old for 7 months now. He's gone from being a terror to being one of the family (well, within reason of course..most of the humans in our family don't chew on the sofa or the baseboards..well, at least not when they're sober).
Inside the house he's a little angel. When he's not in a deep sleep, he's usually playing with one of his toys. Sometimes he'll curl up next to one of us and lick our hands and legs. He loves to get pet..a lot. Occasionally, he'll run circles around the house and try to annihilate a pillow or bedspread, but for the most part, he's pretty good. Even when I'm alone in the house with him, he's really calmed down from that biting beastie he use to be.
But, outside of the house, things aren't as smooth.
When hubby or son walk him, he is a dream dog. Other owners stop and marvel at how well behaved such a young pup can be. Total strangers stop to talk to them and ask them for the secrets to their success. When I am holding the leash, but still walking with either hubby or son, pup may pull a bit and try to get onto every lawn within a 20 km radius, but he's still pretty much OK. A quick tug on the leash and most times he's beside me again. The real problem is when I walk him alone. Without the comfort of testosterone, pup goes completely nuts. The second the garage door opens, he tries to make a run for it. I've learnt over the months, to make sure we don't leave the house unless he is in a completely submissive state. Sometimes, I'll just stand there, leash in hand, the garage door up, pup and I standing on the threshold. I won't leave until he's calm. Luckily this no longer takes too long. Luckier still, because with the windchill, it's been minus 30 this week. Occasionally, my hubby will open the door leading from the garage into the home, and he'll scream out something about the house freezing up. Of course, with my hat, earmuffs, hoodie, and hooded ski jacket, all I hear is a muffle that sounds a bit like a squeaky toy. It's not until I notice his red face and his hand pointing to the thermostat, that I've realized I've been letting minus 30 into the house for about 10 minutes!!! But hey, I figure that's the price to pay for leaving the comfort of my home with a calm dog.
This calmness does not last very long!! The second the garage door is down, the leash is in pup's mouth. There is absolutely nothing I can do about it. He gets into this trance-like state. His eyes glaze over. All he sees is the leash and he must bite it. He wraps it around his head so that I can't pull it out of his mouth. He just growls and barks and pulls. The only time he lets go is when he takes a moment to relieve himself. Then it's back to all the biting and pulling. I can't stand it. He gets so hyper and excited when he's doing this that he will not hear any command. I'll try using the words he knows..I'll try snapping it out of his mouth. Nothing. He pulls and pulls and pulls. He pulls in front of me, he pulls next to me, he pulls behind me. Actually, I think he's either broken or sprained my pinkie. This happened when I was holding the looped portion of the leash and he quickly pulled without any warning. My little finger snapped back. This happened a week ago and it still makes a little snapping noise when I move it around.
Our walks are barely around the block. To do the math, I'm 130 lbs. Pup is close to 53 lbs. When he uses all his might to yank, he propels me in every direction conceivable. The only thing that stops him from going any further is that once he reaches the end of the leash, he flips back in the opposite direction, turning me back and forth like a weather vane!!! When I try to reign him in, he just pulls the leash over his snout and grabs the rest of it in his mouth. This happens every single time we go out!!! I have come to the end of my leash at this point. People walking past us blush when they hear the names I call him. Logically, I know that dogs don't understand words, so my screaming at him is useless. Also, I know that dogs sense when you've lost control, so I know it's in my best interest to remain calm. But I just can't!! This adorable ball of fluff has turned me into a blubbering idiot on the street.
Finally, today I had just had it!! I knew that due to circumstances in my home (namely football!!), the men in my house would not be walking pup today. I knew that I'd be walking him for 3 of his 4 walks. I was bracing myself for the worst. Well, that 1st walk I had was horrible. I came home 10 minutes later in tears. Once inside the house, pup became that adorable family pet that we all loved. A few hours later, I started dreading that second walk. Well, once again, as soon as the garage door went down, pup had leash in his mouth. I walked just long enough for him to void and then I started heading for home. He began pulling and pulling. I couldn't take it (plus broken finger was throbbing). I just stopped walking, turned toward him and kept walking toward him, into him. The more he hopped away, the more I kept walking into him. At one point I had him cornered into some bushes. Still I kept walking into him, changing his path with my body. Then I noticed that the leash was no longer in his mouth. He was walking where I wanted him to go!! By then, we were home, but I was curious to see what our last walk would be like.
Well, I just got home from our last walk. Yes, he pulled quite a bit, but, there was absolutely no leash-biting. We walked about 40 minutes and I almost enjoyed it!! Now, it might just be a coincidence, but, just to be sure, tomorrow afternoon, when I take him out, I'll see if I can use my body again to make him stop biting the leash.
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Monday, 9 January 2012
Sigh, NOT the Sharpest Tool in the Shed
Way back, before hubby and I decided on a PWD, we had done research on the breed. Lots and lots of research. We knew about the high energy level, the kind of coat they had, their fondness for water. We knew well in advance about their need to have something constantly in their mouth, their agility, and of course, their very playful personality.
We also read up on training. Every piece of literature on PWD's alluded to the fact that this breed was so smart, that you constantly had to outwit them before they outwitted you!! We read that because of their brilliance, you always had to assert your place in the hierarchy, because, if a PWD sensed you were not in charge, well then they'd walk all over you and completely destroy your home and environment.
Well, anyone who's been reading my blog since July, will know the struggles I've faced with this adorable little pup (9 months) of mine. They'll know how I took him to puppy school, gave him lots and lots of toys to keep him from getting bored, and I give him tons of exercise. (I don't know this for a fact but I suspect that dogs that live in the country only get half the exercise of this city pooch!)
So, you can imagine my frustration when, at every turn, this pup constantly outwits me. We've gone through 8 leashes, hundreds of dollars worth of toys, shoes, clothes, bed comforters, sofa seats and cushions. I still can't walk with him without him pulling me down the street (he's over 50lbs), without him jumping in front of me pulling the leash, and without him shredding the leash with his lovely bright white well brushed teeth.
So, like any PWD owner, I turned to a friend who also has one. Hers is older, so I always look to her for advise as to how to break certain bad habits. So there I was, sipping a tea and venting my frustrations over the phone, when I said to my friend, "Well, if I'm going to be outsmarted on a daily basis, at least it's by one of the top 10 smartest dogs in the world!" Hmmm, over the phone I heard a noise that sounded suspiciously like my friend spitting out a liquid, choking, and then laughing hysterically. I did not like the sound of this at all. After she got herself together, she said, "I hate to break it to you, but PWD's are not in the top 10....not even in the top 75"! I couldn't believe it! Everything I had read told me the opposite. Then my wonderful PWD-loving friend pointed out that the only lists or magazines that place PWDs in the top 10 are actual PORTUGUESE WATER DOG MAGAZINES AND LISTS. Fearing the worst, I opened up a couple of links she sent me. There it was, in black and white...every list not sponsored by the PWD association listed Boarder Collies first, followed by Poodles second, etc. down the list it went. List after list, it was always almost the same. Then after about the 6th or 7th list, I went to the PWD site. There it was, in black and white, Boarder Collies and Poodles were always #1 and #2.....but somehow, PWDs had sneaked onto the list at #10.
After the shock wore off, I realized that I was not getting outwitted by a genius, no, no, no far from it. This university educated snob was being outsmarted by a moron (but I mean it in the nicest possible way ;)) All this time, I accredited his wily ways to his smarts. Now I realize that I'm just a bad trainer with a slow learner!!!
Oh well, I'm off to buy him yet another leash and go on yet another disastrous walk. And, maybe on the road I'll stop by a magazine store and pick up a PWD magazine....not to learn anything new about the bread, just to make ME feel better about my brilliant dog that's smarter than me...
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
We also read up on training. Every piece of literature on PWD's alluded to the fact that this breed was so smart, that you constantly had to outwit them before they outwitted you!! We read that because of their brilliance, you always had to assert your place in the hierarchy, because, if a PWD sensed you were not in charge, well then they'd walk all over you and completely destroy your home and environment.
Well, anyone who's been reading my blog since July, will know the struggles I've faced with this adorable little pup (9 months) of mine. They'll know how I took him to puppy school, gave him lots and lots of toys to keep him from getting bored, and I give him tons of exercise. (I don't know this for a fact but I suspect that dogs that live in the country only get half the exercise of this city pooch!)
So, you can imagine my frustration when, at every turn, this pup constantly outwits me. We've gone through 8 leashes, hundreds of dollars worth of toys, shoes, clothes, bed comforters, sofa seats and cushions. I still can't walk with him without him pulling me down the street (he's over 50lbs), without him jumping in front of me pulling the leash, and without him shredding the leash with his lovely bright white well brushed teeth.
So, like any PWD owner, I turned to a friend who also has one. Hers is older, so I always look to her for advise as to how to break certain bad habits. So there I was, sipping a tea and venting my frustrations over the phone, when I said to my friend, "Well, if I'm going to be outsmarted on a daily basis, at least it's by one of the top 10 smartest dogs in the world!" Hmmm, over the phone I heard a noise that sounded suspiciously like my friend spitting out a liquid, choking, and then laughing hysterically. I did not like the sound of this at all. After she got herself together, she said, "I hate to break it to you, but PWD's are not in the top 10....not even in the top 75"! I couldn't believe it! Everything I had read told me the opposite. Then my wonderful PWD-loving friend pointed out that the only lists or magazines that place PWDs in the top 10 are actual PORTUGUESE WATER DOG MAGAZINES AND LISTS. Fearing the worst, I opened up a couple of links she sent me. There it was, in black and white...every list not sponsored by the PWD association listed Boarder Collies first, followed by Poodles second, etc. down the list it went. List after list, it was always almost the same. Then after about the 6th or 7th list, I went to the PWD site. There it was, in black and white, Boarder Collies and Poodles were always #1 and #2.....but somehow, PWDs had sneaked onto the list at #10.
After the shock wore off, I realized that I was not getting outwitted by a genius, no, no, no far from it. This university educated snob was being outsmarted by a moron (but I mean it in the nicest possible way ;)) All this time, I accredited his wily ways to his smarts. Now I realize that I'm just a bad trainer with a slow learner!!!
Oh well, I'm off to buy him yet another leash and go on yet another disastrous walk. And, maybe on the road I'll stop by a magazine store and pick up a PWD magazine....not to learn anything new about the bread, just to make ME feel better about my brilliant dog that's smarter than me...
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 1 January 2012
My Dog Hates Me
Pup turned 9 months old today. I still can't believe that I've had him for 7 months!! I never, ever had a dog before, so I never had any idea what my life would be like. People with dogs always made it look so easy. They'd walk their dogs, feed, their dogs, and play with their dogs. Everyone always told me how dogs were their best friends. Everyone said that having a dog would be the best thing ever....
...I'm not so sure....
Of course I see the benefits to having a dog immediately. Because our dog is so high energy, hubby, son and I walk the little fella a lot. Whenever possible, we run him, take him to parks and socialize him. (Pup actually has a 12 month old girlfriend...a pretty Golden-doodle that has the same energy level as he does) We walk him morning, noon, and night. This puppy has forced us to go from being sedentary people, to being real out-doorsy kind of people. I love what all this exercise has done for us. Hubby has lost close to 30 pounds just by walking. I look GREAT in a skirt!!! For the first time ever, I can honestly say I love my legs. Also, walking right before or after meals has many health benefits too. So, for this, I am very grateful for my little puppy.
But...
Pup hates me!! He does not see me as alpha at all. In his eyes, the chain of command is "Hubby", followed by "14 year old son", followed by the pup himself,... followed by various twigs, rocks, and toys...maybe followed by a few other dogs, an afternoon nap, his favourite meal...and maybe, just maybe, I might be hiding in a little corner of his mind as an afterthought!! Pup does not respect me not one iota!!! When he was 3 months old and we took him to puppy school, the trainer actually had hubby and son sit in a corner of the room. She worked hard to get the pup to listen to me. A few times before and after the classes, we had the trainer come over to the house so she could observe my relationship with the dog. This dog just would not listen to me.
So, fast forward 6 months after the courses were over, and pup still won't listen to me!! Whenever I'm alone with him, he'll jump up on the furniture, hump the cushions and eat our shoes. Pup does not DARE do this when hubby and son are around. The worst is our walks. I come home from work ever day at lunchtime to walk him. Well I gotta tell you, the walks have been getting shorter and shorter. The reason being is that as soon as I put the leash on him, he jumps in front of me, puts the leash in his mouth, growls and pulls. It makes no difference if I put the leash on his collar or on a harness...the outcome is always the same..he pulls, barks and growls at me. We went from taking 40 minute walks to only one quick walk around the block.
Last week I was in tears!!! I couldn't believe that this is what my life had been for the last 6 months. I saw no end in sight...and sadly, pup's behaviour with me was really hindering me from bonding with him. It's not that I didn't love him..it's just that I really didn't like him all that much...and I'm absolutely certain the feeling was mutual on his part. Finally, after another disastrous walk, as I sat on the stairs in my house, sobbing, when hubby told me that he had left a message for the trainer. Almost on cue, the phone rang and there was that comforting voice on the other end of the line. All she told me was one thing, "Ignore the dog".
So I did. I acted as though there was no dog in the house. I walked right past him, I only paid attention to the humans in the house. Also, instead of telling him what to do, I only used silent cues, finger snapping etc.. Three days later, a miracle happened. Hubby was asleep and son was in the basement watching TV. Pup was alone with me. I saw that twinkle in his eye as he went for the Christmas tree. I snapped my fingers and blocked his way with my body. Seeing he couldn't get to the tree, he ran for the cushions on the couch. Once again, I snapped my fingers, blocked his way with my body, and put my hand out indicating that he should sit. 3 days ago, had I done this, he would have barked or growled at me all the while ignoring my commands and going for the couch. But, because I had ignored him for 3 days, all of a sudden my status was elevated! He sat down at my (silent) command, and then lay down next to the tree. He started whimpering. He was not happy. This went on for about 10 minutes. When he saw that I wasn't going to back down, he just lay there until I walked away. He then went to the top of the stairs, whimpered some more, and fell asleep.
I felt strangely liberated that night. Like a huge weight was taken off my shoulders. Now I'm at 5 days of ignoring him. Our walks aren't perfect but they have gotten better. Time can only tell. The only thing I am looking forward to now, is that bonding sensation so many people have told me about. I'm hoping that in time, he too will become my best friend.
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
...I'm not so sure....
Of course I see the benefits to having a dog immediately. Because our dog is so high energy, hubby, son and I walk the little fella a lot. Whenever possible, we run him, take him to parks and socialize him. (Pup actually has a 12 month old girlfriend...a pretty Golden-doodle that has the same energy level as he does) We walk him morning, noon, and night. This puppy has forced us to go from being sedentary people, to being real out-doorsy kind of people. I love what all this exercise has done for us. Hubby has lost close to 30 pounds just by walking. I look GREAT in a skirt!!! For the first time ever, I can honestly say I love my legs. Also, walking right before or after meals has many health benefits too. So, for this, I am very grateful for my little puppy.
But...
Pup hates me!! He does not see me as alpha at all. In his eyes, the chain of command is "Hubby", followed by "14 year old son", followed by the pup himself,... followed by various twigs, rocks, and toys...maybe followed by a few other dogs, an afternoon nap, his favourite meal...and maybe, just maybe, I might be hiding in a little corner of his mind as an afterthought!! Pup does not respect me not one iota!!! When he was 3 months old and we took him to puppy school, the trainer actually had hubby and son sit in a corner of the room. She worked hard to get the pup to listen to me. A few times before and after the classes, we had the trainer come over to the house so she could observe my relationship with the dog. This dog just would not listen to me.
So, fast forward 6 months after the courses were over, and pup still won't listen to me!! Whenever I'm alone with him, he'll jump up on the furniture, hump the cushions and eat our shoes. Pup does not DARE do this when hubby and son are around. The worst is our walks. I come home from work ever day at lunchtime to walk him. Well I gotta tell you, the walks have been getting shorter and shorter. The reason being is that as soon as I put the leash on him, he jumps in front of me, puts the leash in his mouth, growls and pulls. It makes no difference if I put the leash on his collar or on a harness...the outcome is always the same..he pulls, barks and growls at me. We went from taking 40 minute walks to only one quick walk around the block.
Last week I was in tears!!! I couldn't believe that this is what my life had been for the last 6 months. I saw no end in sight...and sadly, pup's behaviour with me was really hindering me from bonding with him. It's not that I didn't love him..it's just that I really didn't like him all that much...and I'm absolutely certain the feeling was mutual on his part. Finally, after another disastrous walk, as I sat on the stairs in my house, sobbing, when hubby told me that he had left a message for the trainer. Almost on cue, the phone rang and there was that comforting voice on the other end of the line. All she told me was one thing, "Ignore the dog".
So I did. I acted as though there was no dog in the house. I walked right past him, I only paid attention to the humans in the house. Also, instead of telling him what to do, I only used silent cues, finger snapping etc.. Three days later, a miracle happened. Hubby was asleep and son was in the basement watching TV. Pup was alone with me. I saw that twinkle in his eye as he went for the Christmas tree. I snapped my fingers and blocked his way with my body. Seeing he couldn't get to the tree, he ran for the cushions on the couch. Once again, I snapped my fingers, blocked his way with my body, and put my hand out indicating that he should sit. 3 days ago, had I done this, he would have barked or growled at me all the while ignoring my commands and going for the couch. But, because I had ignored him for 3 days, all of a sudden my status was elevated! He sat down at my (silent) command, and then lay down next to the tree. He started whimpering. He was not happy. This went on for about 10 minutes. When he saw that I wasn't going to back down, he just lay there until I walked away. He then went to the top of the stairs, whimpered some more, and fell asleep.
I felt strangely liberated that night. Like a huge weight was taken off my shoulders. Now I'm at 5 days of ignoring him. Our walks aren't perfect but they have gotten better. Time can only tell. The only thing I am looking forward to now, is that bonding sensation so many people have told me about. I'm hoping that in time, he too will become my best friend.
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 25 December 2011
My Christmas Sweetheart
Christmas!!!
Oh how I dreaded the thought!! No, not the thought of having 15 very loud relatives over...not the thought of all the cooking, cleaning and preparations I would have to do...no, no, no. I dreaded the thought of how pup would behave after everyone was gone!
Please, let me explain. Last October during Thanksgiving, pup had behaved like a dream. It wasn't until everyone had left, and my overnight guests were getting ready for bed, that pup decided he didn't feel like sleeping. He actually kept us awake all night, barking from midnight to 8am every hour on the hour. Well, this time, the only overnight guest we had was my mom, and I certainly didn't want the poor lady to be kept awake. Hubby decided that today we would do everything the complete opposite of that fateful October day!!
The day started like any other. We got up, we walked the dog in the morning. Then, hubby and I proceeded to clean the house and start up the cooking...but, learning from our mistakes, we tried to keep to pup's routine as much possible. At lunch time, I dropped everything I was doing, and took pup out for a walk (he's used to me coming home at lunchtime every day, and I kept to the same route). After we came home, I continued my cooking and cleaning, and pup took his usual midday nap (man that pup sleeps a heck of a lot!!)
As hubby and I continued our work, we put on soothing Christmas music instead of the upbeat rock we listened to during our cooking last October. Pup seemed good with that as he lay on the floor and had a deep, deep sleep.
Around 4pm..roughly an hour and a half before the guests would arrive, son took pup out for another walk. Once again, pup is used to son walking him after school, so once again, in pup's mind, he was just following his usual routine.
Once the guests started arriving and the noise got louder and louder, hubby and I exchanged nervous glances..but it was OK..pup wasn't too excited with all of this. He was just happy to have new people around him showering him with affection.
As we sat at the dining room table, carving the turkey, pouring the wine, and everyone talking above everyone else, pup just sat and looked at us..perfectly happy with all this life and activity in the house. At one point, I asked hubby if he knew where pup was (as I had noticed he wasn't in his usual spot). One of the guests told me that pup was under the table, sitting on one of the guests' bare feet..keeping them toasty warm.
I have to say, after 7 months of putting up with his biting, pulling, growling, jumping, leash-biting habits, this was the first time that pup really felt like the family pet. He was just wonderful. A real pleasure!!
Finally, once all the guests were gone and the dishes cleared, hubby took him on his last walk of the day. The snow had started falling heavily at that point, and, as I looked out the window, I could see pup frolicking out in the snow, trying to grab snowflakes out of the sky. I finally felt something that had been evading me for 7 months. I finally started feeling a warmth spread over me as I saw how happy he was. Yep, on that Christmas day, my pup gave me the greatest present of all....pup gave me the gift of love.
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Oh how I dreaded the thought!! No, not the thought of having 15 very loud relatives over...not the thought of all the cooking, cleaning and preparations I would have to do...no, no, no. I dreaded the thought of how pup would behave after everyone was gone!
Please, let me explain. Last October during Thanksgiving, pup had behaved like a dream. It wasn't until everyone had left, and my overnight guests were getting ready for bed, that pup decided he didn't feel like sleeping. He actually kept us awake all night, barking from midnight to 8am every hour on the hour. Well, this time, the only overnight guest we had was my mom, and I certainly didn't want the poor lady to be kept awake. Hubby decided that today we would do everything the complete opposite of that fateful October day!!
The day started like any other. We got up, we walked the dog in the morning. Then, hubby and I proceeded to clean the house and start up the cooking...but, learning from our mistakes, we tried to keep to pup's routine as much possible. At lunch time, I dropped everything I was doing, and took pup out for a walk (he's used to me coming home at lunchtime every day, and I kept to the same route). After we came home, I continued my cooking and cleaning, and pup took his usual midday nap (man that pup sleeps a heck of a lot!!)
As hubby and I continued our work, we put on soothing Christmas music instead of the upbeat rock we listened to during our cooking last October. Pup seemed good with that as he lay on the floor and had a deep, deep sleep.
Around 4pm..roughly an hour and a half before the guests would arrive, son took pup out for another walk. Once again, pup is used to son walking him after school, so once again, in pup's mind, he was just following his usual routine.
Once the guests started arriving and the noise got louder and louder, hubby and I exchanged nervous glances..but it was OK..pup wasn't too excited with all of this. He was just happy to have new people around him showering him with affection.
As we sat at the dining room table, carving the turkey, pouring the wine, and everyone talking above everyone else, pup just sat and looked at us..perfectly happy with all this life and activity in the house. At one point, I asked hubby if he knew where pup was (as I had noticed he wasn't in his usual spot). One of the guests told me that pup was under the table, sitting on one of the guests' bare feet..keeping them toasty warm.
I have to say, after 7 months of putting up with his biting, pulling, growling, jumping, leash-biting habits, this was the first time that pup really felt like the family pet. He was just wonderful. A real pleasure!!
Finally, once all the guests were gone and the dishes cleared, hubby took him on his last walk of the day. The snow had started falling heavily at that point, and, as I looked out the window, I could see pup frolicking out in the snow, trying to grab snowflakes out of the sky. I finally felt something that had been evading me for 7 months. I finally started feeling a warmth spread over me as I saw how happy he was. Yep, on that Christmas day, my pup gave me the greatest present of all....pup gave me the gift of love.
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Brrrrr....
Our wonderful little puppy was born on April 1st, 2011. We brought home our little April fool on May 28th, 2011. All of 8 weeks old. We went through a challenging Spring together, and an easier Fall. However, this is everyone's 1st Winter together.
When we used to go for walks in the dead heat of the August sun, Winter was barely on anyone's mind. Our quest to look for sprinklers and water fountains pushed the menace of winter further and further out of our minds. Pup, of course, would have absolutely no idea that this white stuff even existed!! As Summer faded slowly into Fall, and the days got shorter and the wind got brisker, we'd throw on an extra sweater and laugh at how pup would put his nose up in the air to smell the unique aromas that Fall brings.
Then it happened!!! The weather started getting much colder. Now, to be fair, I have to say, it's December 18th and we still haven't had any snow on the ground. But, it has gotten considerably colder. At first, I felt kinda sorry for pup. I went out and bought him boots so his little feet wouldn't be too cold. I put them on him, and the poor thing hated them. He kept walking on his ankles. At one point, he had the strap of his front paw in his mouth. There he was, walking on 3 legs with the other leg at a right angle, foot in mouth!!!! All this before he had reached the end of the driveway!!! Needless to say, I took the boots off him. He seemed much happier, and, get this, the cold didn't seem to bother him at all!!! He loved it!!! It was as though the cold air made him come alive!
My husband has a theory. Although my little Portuguese Water Dog's roots are in southern Europe, this breed was originally bred to carry messages from boat to boat in the rough seas of the Atlantic. That's gotta be some seriously cold water!! So, although they are moderate climate dogs, they love the cold. At first I laughed at this logic, but the more I saw my little pup frolicking on the cold frozen ground, the more I realized that this pup will really give me a run for my money when the snow starts falling. My fantasies about sitting in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine and the dog at my feet are now shattered. I foresee a long cold winter, me dressed in layers upon layers of clothes...nose and eyes watering in the cold...while pup will be running up snow-banks, digging tunnels, getting drenched in the cold, cold snow, and crying when it's time to go inside!!!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
When we used to go for walks in the dead heat of the August sun, Winter was barely on anyone's mind. Our quest to look for sprinklers and water fountains pushed the menace of winter further and further out of our minds. Pup, of course, would have absolutely no idea that this white stuff even existed!! As Summer faded slowly into Fall, and the days got shorter and the wind got brisker, we'd throw on an extra sweater and laugh at how pup would put his nose up in the air to smell the unique aromas that Fall brings.
Then it happened!!! The weather started getting much colder. Now, to be fair, I have to say, it's December 18th and we still haven't had any snow on the ground. But, it has gotten considerably colder. At first, I felt kinda sorry for pup. I went out and bought him boots so his little feet wouldn't be too cold. I put them on him, and the poor thing hated them. He kept walking on his ankles. At one point, he had the strap of his front paw in his mouth. There he was, walking on 3 legs with the other leg at a right angle, foot in mouth!!!! All this before he had reached the end of the driveway!!! Needless to say, I took the boots off him. He seemed much happier, and, get this, the cold didn't seem to bother him at all!!! He loved it!!! It was as though the cold air made him come alive!
My husband has a theory. Although my little Portuguese Water Dog's roots are in southern Europe, this breed was originally bred to carry messages from boat to boat in the rough seas of the Atlantic. That's gotta be some seriously cold water!! So, although they are moderate climate dogs, they love the cold. At first I laughed at this logic, but the more I saw my little pup frolicking on the cold frozen ground, the more I realized that this pup will really give me a run for my money when the snow starts falling. My fantasies about sitting in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine and the dog at my feet are now shattered. I foresee a long cold winter, me dressed in layers upon layers of clothes...nose and eyes watering in the cold...while pup will be running up snow-banks, digging tunnels, getting drenched in the cold, cold snow, and crying when it's time to go inside!!!!
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 11 December 2011
The Allure of the Wood
My 8 month old PWD loves WOOD!!! Lots and lots of WOOD!!! He doesn't care how big, small, rough, smooth wet, brittle, treated it is...he just can't get enough WOOD!!
When he was just a pup, our walks would be very frustrating because his nose was so low to the ground, that absolutely everything would go in his mouth. Rocks, paper, grass, mud, sticks...it really didn't matter. However, as pup started getting older, his tastes became more refined. Sure, he still likes to kick back with the occasional used Kleenex, but his real passion lies in wood. Twigs, branches, tree bark, etc....as long as it once belonged to the tree family, he's in!!
Every lunchtime walk starts out the same. I put the leash on him, up goes the garage door, pup waits for me to lead the way!! He's an angel. Right up until that first pee 4 seconds later!! Once he's been properly relieved, he begins his never ending quest for that perfect twig.
At any given time, I look down and he's got a small branch in his mouth. He chews on it until it's almost gone, spits it out and continues the hunt. The next branch might be much larger. He loves dragging humongous branches, with all sorts of off-shoots, and all the leaves still in place, down the street!! Most times, the branches are larger than he is, but that only makes it more fun!! Many times, I'll be walking him, when all of a sudden, I'll feel a whip like sensation across my shins. I'll look down in pain, only to see him carrying a skinny twig, about 4 feet long, happily in his mouth whipping everyone on either side of him (Mostly me..of course). Getting the wood out of his mouth is never an easy task. The stronger I pull, he more he resists. The more he resists, the more excited he gets. The more excited he gets, the harder it is to pull the wood out of his mouth. Actually, I've found that the only thing that works to get him to drop the stick, is to entice him with another stick!!! My 14 year old thinks I'm nuts. He's sure pup will choke on the wood someday. I'm not so sure, however. The appeal for more and more fresh wood is enough to keep him alive forever!!
Last week, during one of our walks, I let him onto a lawn to relieve himself. He grabbed what I thought was a skinny twig. I was wrong!! Turns out the people who lived in that house must have been winterizing their front yard....chopping down bushes, covering plants, etc... My pup came back with a 4 foot rose bush twig!!! I knew I couldn't pry it out of his mouth because he would swallow, or get hurt by all of the thorns. Let me tell you, he was not going to let go!!! I tried everything I could think of. I tried to be authoritarian..make him drop the twig. Hah!!! That wasn't gonna happen. I tried to gently pry his mouth open, trying hard not to stick him with any-more thorns...fat chance of pup letting go!!! I tried to entice him with more wood, but pup was really happy with this new flavour and sensation in his mouth so that wasn't gonna happen either. Then, in desperation, I thought of the only thing I could. I started running with him...we ran really fast, we ran for over 3 blocks!!! My rationale was that if he started panting, he would eventually let go of the bush!! What a sight we were...me, holding onto a leash, running like the wind...my 8 month old pup, tail wagging, running beside me...a rose bush branch firmly embedded in his mouth, whipping my legs, and the thorns tearing into my pants!!! Needless to say, this plan did not work!!
Finally, after all that exercise, pup sat down and in the time it takes to blink your eye...I had taken the branch and flung it across the street.
I'm OK with wood as long as it's outside of the house, but today, as I was dusting my living room antique coffee table, I noticed a corner had quite a few teeth-marks in it. I wondered if that wonderful antique table was made from rosewood :(
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
When he was just a pup, our walks would be very frustrating because his nose was so low to the ground, that absolutely everything would go in his mouth. Rocks, paper, grass, mud, sticks...it really didn't matter. However, as pup started getting older, his tastes became more refined. Sure, he still likes to kick back with the occasional used Kleenex, but his real passion lies in wood. Twigs, branches, tree bark, etc....as long as it once belonged to the tree family, he's in!!
Every lunchtime walk starts out the same. I put the leash on him, up goes the garage door, pup waits for me to lead the way!! He's an angel. Right up until that first pee 4 seconds later!! Once he's been properly relieved, he begins his never ending quest for that perfect twig.
At any given time, I look down and he's got a small branch in his mouth. He chews on it until it's almost gone, spits it out and continues the hunt. The next branch might be much larger. He loves dragging humongous branches, with all sorts of off-shoots, and all the leaves still in place, down the street!! Most times, the branches are larger than he is, but that only makes it more fun!! Many times, I'll be walking him, when all of a sudden, I'll feel a whip like sensation across my shins. I'll look down in pain, only to see him carrying a skinny twig, about 4 feet long, happily in his mouth whipping everyone on either side of him (Mostly me..of course). Getting the wood out of his mouth is never an easy task. The stronger I pull, he more he resists. The more he resists, the more excited he gets. The more excited he gets, the harder it is to pull the wood out of his mouth. Actually, I've found that the only thing that works to get him to drop the stick, is to entice him with another stick!!! My 14 year old thinks I'm nuts. He's sure pup will choke on the wood someday. I'm not so sure, however. The appeal for more and more fresh wood is enough to keep him alive forever!!
Last week, during one of our walks, I let him onto a lawn to relieve himself. He grabbed what I thought was a skinny twig. I was wrong!! Turns out the people who lived in that house must have been winterizing their front yard....chopping down bushes, covering plants, etc... My pup came back with a 4 foot rose bush twig!!! I knew I couldn't pry it out of his mouth because he would swallow, or get hurt by all of the thorns. Let me tell you, he was not going to let go!!! I tried everything I could think of. I tried to be authoritarian..make him drop the twig. Hah!!! That wasn't gonna happen. I tried to gently pry his mouth open, trying hard not to stick him with any-more thorns...fat chance of pup letting go!!! I tried to entice him with more wood, but pup was really happy with this new flavour and sensation in his mouth so that wasn't gonna happen either. Then, in desperation, I thought of the only thing I could. I started running with him...we ran really fast, we ran for over 3 blocks!!! My rationale was that if he started panting, he would eventually let go of the bush!! What a sight we were...me, holding onto a leash, running like the wind...my 8 month old pup, tail wagging, running beside me...a rose bush branch firmly embedded in his mouth, whipping my legs, and the thorns tearing into my pants!!! Needless to say, this plan did not work!!
Finally, after all that exercise, pup sat down and in the time it takes to blink your eye...I had taken the branch and flung it across the street.
I'm OK with wood as long as it's outside of the house, but today, as I was dusting my living room antique coffee table, I noticed a corner had quite a few teeth-marks in it. I wondered if that wonderful antique table was made from rosewood :(
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 4 December 2011
The 10 Minute Demolition
10 minutes!! That's all it takes for anything to last in my home once pup's been at it.
Before we got our Portuguese Water Dog, hubby and I did lots and lots of research. We knew that PWD puppies were notorious chewers, and, because they are classified as "working dogs", we knew that unless they had lots of stimuli, they got bored really easily. Unfortunately, in a PWD's case, boredom = destruction.
So, because we knew all this, hubby and I went out and bought him every toy we could think of. We bought him squeaky toys, balls, unstuffed animals, stuffed animals, kongs, and strong braided rope-like toys. Well, let me tell you, it doesn't matter what pup has in his mouth, he will destroy it in 10 minutes or less. We have had pup for exactly 6 months now, and absolutely NOTHING lasts. Every toy he gets is ABSOLUTELY RUINED before the 10 minutes is up. How could he be so fast? Each toy we get him is "designed for the serious chewer". However, nothing, but nothing lasts.
It would be great if the story ended there, but alas it does not. As I mentioned, PWD's are working dogs so they constantly need something in their mouths. Now, since the toys didn't last very long, my pup started dragging the cushions off the sofa. So, I've started putting all the cushions in a closet. I have to remember to take them out when people come over. So, no cushions, equals no chewing..right? Wrong. Now pup sees the sofa as his empty canvas. We've had to take 3 of the seats to be reupholstered this week. The guy at the shop told us there was not much he could do, so he's just kind turning them around and flipping them over. Sob!!!
Does the story end there? Of course not. Since pup has chewed up all his toys, cushions and seats, I've taken to giving him used bits of clothing. An old running shoe that doesn't fit my son any-more, an old T-shirt that's got a couple of holes in it..the list goes on. Each time, pup gets a hold of the new article and it is DEMOLISHED in less than 10 minutes!!! My 14 year old son, who has more sense than I do, pleads with me to stop giving pup clothing. That we are helping him develop a whole new set of BAD habits. Deep down I know he's right, but I just can't help it...pup's gotta chew and I have to be able to leave him out of my sight for a few minutes to get ready in the mornings.
When it was warmer outside, I use to tie him up in the backyard while I got ready. Well, after he chewed through his 4th leash, I started using a bike chain. No, not the metal ones, the ones that are coated in plastic and are pliable. He couldn't chew through them and I felt confident he wouldn't escape the yard. Well, now in December, it's started getting colder. Although we still don't have snow on the ground, I feel uncomfortable leaving him outside. So, being the conscientious (doormat) owner I am, I started putting him in the vestibule (a little foyer, if you will, between the front door and the inner door to the house). I figured he'd like it there, 2 large windows to look out of, and lots of space. Well, in the 2 times that I put him in the vestibule, I started noticing that my baseboards were shrinking! Yep, that's right. Not only has he eaten his toys, clothes, cushions and sofa...now our wonderful 8 month old dog has started eating the HOUSE!!! By the way, yes I feed him enough food, yes it's very good food, yes he gets plenty of exercise!!! He just loves to chew and chew.
So...last week, hubby and I went out and bought "bitter apple" spray. This is "supposed" to deter dogs from chewing on furniture and baseboards, etc.. The smell makes me gag and I certainly never finish my breakfast or coffee after hubby has sprayed the furniture. My son gets up from a deep, deep sleep and closes his bedroom door to block out the putrid smell. Pup, on the other-hand, walks over to the remaining frame of the sofa...his tongue out, as he licks up every last drop of that wonderful spray....
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
Before we got our Portuguese Water Dog, hubby and I did lots and lots of research. We knew that PWD puppies were notorious chewers, and, because they are classified as "working dogs", we knew that unless they had lots of stimuli, they got bored really easily. Unfortunately, in a PWD's case, boredom = destruction.
So, because we knew all this, hubby and I went out and bought him every toy we could think of. We bought him squeaky toys, balls, unstuffed animals, stuffed animals, kongs, and strong braided rope-like toys. Well, let me tell you, it doesn't matter what pup has in his mouth, he will destroy it in 10 minutes or less. We have had pup for exactly 6 months now, and absolutely NOTHING lasts. Every toy he gets is ABSOLUTELY RUINED before the 10 minutes is up. How could he be so fast? Each toy we get him is "designed for the serious chewer". However, nothing, but nothing lasts.
It would be great if the story ended there, but alas it does not. As I mentioned, PWD's are working dogs so they constantly need something in their mouths. Now, since the toys didn't last very long, my pup started dragging the cushions off the sofa. So, I've started putting all the cushions in a closet. I have to remember to take them out when people come over. So, no cushions, equals no chewing..right? Wrong. Now pup sees the sofa as his empty canvas. We've had to take 3 of the seats to be reupholstered this week. The guy at the shop told us there was not much he could do, so he's just kind turning them around and flipping them over. Sob!!!
Does the story end there? Of course not. Since pup has chewed up all his toys, cushions and seats, I've taken to giving him used bits of clothing. An old running shoe that doesn't fit my son any-more, an old T-shirt that's got a couple of holes in it..the list goes on. Each time, pup gets a hold of the new article and it is DEMOLISHED in less than 10 minutes!!! My 14 year old son, who has more sense than I do, pleads with me to stop giving pup clothing. That we are helping him develop a whole new set of BAD habits. Deep down I know he's right, but I just can't help it...pup's gotta chew and I have to be able to leave him out of my sight for a few minutes to get ready in the mornings.
When it was warmer outside, I use to tie him up in the backyard while I got ready. Well, after he chewed through his 4th leash, I started using a bike chain. No, not the metal ones, the ones that are coated in plastic and are pliable. He couldn't chew through them and I felt confident he wouldn't escape the yard. Well, now in December, it's started getting colder. Although we still don't have snow on the ground, I feel uncomfortable leaving him outside. So, being the conscientious (doormat) owner I am, I started putting him in the vestibule (a little foyer, if you will, between the front door and the inner door to the house). I figured he'd like it there, 2 large windows to look out of, and lots of space. Well, in the 2 times that I put him in the vestibule, I started noticing that my baseboards were shrinking! Yep, that's right. Not only has he eaten his toys, clothes, cushions and sofa...now our wonderful 8 month old dog has started eating the HOUSE!!! By the way, yes I feed him enough food, yes it's very good food, yes he gets plenty of exercise!!! He just loves to chew and chew.
So...last week, hubby and I went out and bought "bitter apple" spray. This is "supposed" to deter dogs from chewing on furniture and baseboards, etc.. The smell makes me gag and I certainly never finish my breakfast or coffee after hubby has sprayed the furniture. My son gets up from a deep, deep sleep and closes his bedroom door to block out the putrid smell. Pup, on the other-hand, walks over to the remaining frame of the sofa...his tongue out, as he licks up every last drop of that wonderful spray....
For more blogs, please visit http://cluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/ and http://thecluelesspuppyowner.blogspot.com/
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