Mac!

Mac!

Friday, January 19, 2018

I call him clever.

I hate when folks label their dogs. It sometimes, no, most times is a prophecy come true. I hear: stubborn, naughty, bad, evil (seriously?), dominant and more. So I start off with positive labels instead. Prince? He's clever, curious, handsome, friendly, problem solver, motivator and tenacious if it's something he wants.

Helped me take down my Christmas tree today. Sort of  an unorthodox way though. He wanted to be in the kitchen with the big dogs. So he leaped over the barrier, knocking down the tree, leaped over that and was in the kitchen.  So it motivated me to take the whole thing down. And to be more creative in barrier building.

At night I put all his toys in a box. In the morning he takes great joy in taking them all out and chewing on the box. His favorite? His foxy we call it. Second favorite? His Kong with a Himalayan chew stuck in it.

When he's out with the big dogs, he just runs and runs. Level of recall=0. We're working on it. I need more high powered treats because that snow is calling him. Big time.

We will be starting puppy classes next week. Oh boy! 🎓

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

The Puppy Zoomies!

Oh yes, the puppy zoomies! I almost forgot what it was like even though I taught puppy classes for 15 years. It's one thing to teach about it, it's quite another to experience it first hand. Reality is such a great teacher.

The Zoomies time usually happens around 8 or 9pm. Runs around like a maniac. If you are not in the room with him, he will chew on anything and everything including the couch, the heater, your shoe. So I figured out what helps him through trial and error because puppies are different. So around that time I sit on the couch with a few of his toys. We play tug, fetch and any thing else I can think of. He has literally a dozen toys of all kinds plus his enrichment toys. We also cuddle and hug and pet for a while. He LOVES attention! We make a last potty run and more cuddles and pets then I'll take him over to his bed. We call it his Nite, Nite. And he goes in and sleeps all night.

Whew! at least this works for now. Redirecting is HUGE. If he's chewing on something of mine, I'll redirect to something of his. I might have to do this many times as their attention span is less than a gnat's. But this too shall pass. All too quick. He will be a 100+lb pup soon enough. He's almost halfway there.


  


Sunday, January 14, 2018

On raising a puppy

Yep. I went and did it. 2 weeks ago yesterday. 15 weeks old. Pyrenees pup. Named him Prince. I wanted something regal, positive, strong. I thought about the different princes:Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Charles, Prince (Purple Rain Prince) and Fresh Prince of Belair. And still liked the name. He gets called everything from pup pup to the baby to Princey.

He's so sweet and delightful. Just what I needed. 4 mos and 41lbs-he's going to be big. Really big.

He's learning every minute so I have to stay on top of my training game. Just today he went out back with Mac and Tulip for the first time. It went well in the snow but I supervised carefully. Tulip weighs twice as much or more than him. And you know she is the Queen. I took it slow for her sake. And his. I didn't want to stress him or scare him at this vulnerable time of his life.

He just has this look of devotion in his eyes. I just can't ever be mad at him. I positively interupt him and redirect. And for whatever reason he LOVES praise and petting. Even more than treats. I found that hard to believe when folks told me that about their dog. But I swear it's true with him. After he potties he sits and looks at me to pet and praise him. He waits for me to go out and in before him. He's got the puppy eyes down pat. And it works...

He loves to forage and shred. Sage was my shredder. Any chance he sent Prince my way?

He has his own page on Facebook The Amazing Adventures of Prince The Great Pyrenees Puppy. Follow his training adventure and see all his pics there.