Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Walking Ritual
When Spence and I go out for walks around the block, we have a ritual. We run to the park, unless he's to busy with his nose against the ground.
After that, we either jog or walk, depending on if he's being nosy and snuffling every single blade of grass we walk past. Jogging is great. It's the only time I let him have his full six feet of leash, so I don't step on him. We jog, and he looks so bloody happy it should be a crime :P
My favorite part of our walking rituals? When we get back home. Haha, that sounds mean, doesn't it? No, not when we get inside. It's when we get to the driveway.
Spencer rushes ahead of me, and I let him have his whole leash. He sits or lays down, then turns his head to me. I sit six feet away, and he runs, pouncing into my lap. He hugs me, or cuddles me, and I feel warm because his fur is so thick. He sometimes rolls onto his back, laying across my lap, head propped up on my foot, and he just stares. After ten minutes, we get up and come inside. But those moments in the driveway? They're special to us both.
If anyone walks by, or tries to pet him, he gets up and moves away. Those are our moments, and we don't share them with anyone. Spencer and I are on the same wave length in those minutes, and we both treasure them. Its the time when the line between man and dog fades, and we're just two souls looking to each other for comfort. Two beings, huddled together in the cold, knowing that it's going to be okay, cause we have each other to hold onto.
After that, we either jog or walk, depending on if he's being nosy and snuffling every single blade of grass we walk past. Jogging is great. It's the only time I let him have his full six feet of leash, so I don't step on him. We jog, and he looks so bloody happy it should be a crime :P
My favorite part of our walking rituals? When we get back home. Haha, that sounds mean, doesn't it? No, not when we get inside. It's when we get to the driveway.
Spencer rushes ahead of me, and I let him have his whole leash. He sits or lays down, then turns his head to me. I sit six feet away, and he runs, pouncing into my lap. He hugs me, or cuddles me, and I feel warm because his fur is so thick. He sometimes rolls onto his back, laying across my lap, head propped up on my foot, and he just stares. After ten minutes, we get up and come inside. But those moments in the driveway? They're special to us both.
If anyone walks by, or tries to pet him, he gets up and moves away. Those are our moments, and we don't share them with anyone. Spencer and I are on the same wave length in those minutes, and we both treasure them. Its the time when the line between man and dog fades, and we're just two souls looking to each other for comfort. Two beings, huddled together in the cold, knowing that it's going to be okay, cause we have each other to hold onto.
Just Keep Walking
Walk -again- didn`t last as long as I would have liked. He`s still all hyper, but now hims got hims bone :P He`s tossing it around the house and chasing it. Apparently, the rule of thumb is "If you're not tripping over their toys, they don't have enough" when it comes to distracting puppies.
Ever since I got home? Yeah, he's been amazing. That puppy so knows I'm his Alpha, haha!
He's a good dog, he really is :)
Our walk was eventful! The park was full of squirrels, and birds, and other things he wanted to play with. Some man had a Jack Russel Terrier out there though, and he got scared again.
I've taken to keeping him on my left side, because he likes to cross over infront of me, and I stepped on him by accident. So now, I've shorted his lead so he only has a foot of space. It's just until he can wak properly :) He's doing good so far though, and he knows that pulling gets him no where, and that if he wants to go somewhere he has to ask.
Ever since I got home? Yeah, he's been amazing. That puppy so knows I'm his Alpha, haha!
He's a good dog, he really is :)
Our walk was eventful! The park was full of squirrels, and birds, and other things he wanted to play with. Some man had a Jack Russel Terrier out there though, and he got scared again.
I've taken to keeping him on my left side, because he likes to cross over infront of me, and I stepped on him by accident. So now, I've shorted his lead so he only has a foot of space. It's just until he can wak properly :) He's doing good so far though, and he knows that pulling gets him no where, and that if he wants to go somewhere he has to ask.
UGH!
Of course, we set the crate up last night. So today, I had to go out for an hour. I put Spencer in it, told him he was good, gave him a treat - I had also taken him for a walk prior to the crate, but praised him for being so good - and then...I left. I could hear him crying while I was outside, but its something that has to be done until he knows to not chew things.
Of course, my cousin KE let him out as soon as I left, because he didn`t want to listen to him. Then left him UNSUPERVISED. Yeah. He tore a few boxes right open.
When I put the freaking dog in the crate, I`m not trying to be mean. Yes. He`s going to cry. Of course he is! He`s a baby for crying out loud! But just like a toddler, you can`t give him everything he wants. When you do, he`s just going to keep taking and taking. Next person who uncrates him after I put him in one, is going to get a wooden spoon across their hands. It`s not Spencer`s fault that the humans here can`t follow the rules. I can`t get mad at him for doing things he doesn`t understand he shouldn`t do. It`s KE`s fault for letting him out.
Anyway, the boy and I are going for a walk now. I want to get him to tire out a bit. Probably only a half hour one, because he gets tired pretty quick outside. If he`ll sit still for me, I can maybe get some more pictures up tonight...you know, ones that don`t involve chewed up boxes :P
Husky, Perhaps?
I don't know what it is, but Spence doesn't respond too well to voice commands. This morning - not even an hour ago, haha - I sat down to eat a bowl of soup and he started jumping on me. I kept pushing him off and telling him no, but he didn't care at all. Finally, I got frustrated and snarled at him, teeth and all! I tend to 'growl' (it's a noise in the back of my throat) when I'm aggitated, and it slipped out at him. He flew backwards and started whining, then settled down at my feet and patiently waited for me to be finished. I let him lick the spoon after that. I don't know why he's like that, but using animal noises...he listens to those.
Also, another thing we think is the Husky, is when he's playing with the cats. After they hiss at him, he flattens right to the ground and whimpers/yelps at them.
Any thoughts on the "animal noise training technique"? Should it stay, or should it go?
Also, another thing we think is the Husky, is when he's playing with the cats. After they hiss at him, he flattens right to the ground and whimpers/yelps at them.
Any thoughts on the "animal noise training technique"? Should it stay, or should it go?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Organic
Spencer is the only dog, out of all the dogs that I know, who loves organic food. He was on Iams Puppy Chow, and we mixed Pet Valu`s Performatrin Puppy Chow. He picks the organic bits out, and eats them.
Also, he loves Benny Bully`s dog treats. He goes crazy insane for them, no lie. He jumps up, flips, runs in circles, everything. He even tries climbing up the wall to open the cupboard, he`s so silly.
Today mom got him the Peanut Butter flavored Buddy Biscuits. He also loves them, and they`re 95% natural.
We had our walk, which didn`t end up being as long as I wanted it to be. We went to the store and bought his Benny Bully`s, then sat around outside. Just soaking up the rays! He had fun playing in the sun. I was going to walk to the park from the store, but as soon as we got near our drive way, he wanted inside. He really knows what he wants.
The boy gets multiple walks a day. Sometimes they`re only for five or ten minutes, but by the end of the day, he`s had five or six hours outside. He`s out until ten at night, then he`s put to bed.
Well, I`m off to set up the dog crate! If I get the time, I`ll try to do one more picture post.
Oh, and just to say this: I really do recomend trying out the treats and his food, with fussy dogs. They`re healthy, natural, and apparently delicious! (Or maybe my dogs just a freak :P)
Also, he loves Benny Bully`s dog treats. He goes crazy insane for them, no lie. He jumps up, flips, runs in circles, everything. He even tries climbing up the wall to open the cupboard, he`s so silly.
Today mom got him the Peanut Butter flavored Buddy Biscuits. He also loves them, and they`re 95% natural.
We had our walk, which didn`t end up being as long as I wanted it to be. We went to the store and bought his Benny Bully`s, then sat around outside. Just soaking up the rays! He had fun playing in the sun. I was going to walk to the park from the store, but as soon as we got near our drive way, he wanted inside. He really knows what he wants.
The boy gets multiple walks a day. Sometimes they`re only for five or ten minutes, but by the end of the day, he`s had five or six hours outside. He`s out until ten at night, then he`s put to bed.
Well, I`m off to set up the dog crate! If I get the time, I`ll try to do one more picture post.
Oh, and just to say this: I really do recomend trying out the treats and his food, with fussy dogs. They`re healthy, natural, and apparently delicious! (Or maybe my dogs just a freak :P)
Big Paws!
Spencer has a problem with digging, and smacking. I guess it`s not fair to call it a problem because he`s a puppy, and we just got him, but it`s starting to get...difficult. Don`t get me wrong, we`re not freaking out on him or screaming or locking him away or anything like that, haha!
No, it`s just getting annoying. I settled on the floor with him earlier, and he brought his paw right down on my face. If I wasn`t wearing my glasses he probably would have really hurt my eye. I`m trying to break him of this habit, but it`s not working. Does anyone have any tips?
I've started reading different methods for breaking his begging and biting habits - really, they aren't that bad, all things considered, but I want to get him out of it while he's really young.
I've started trading the things he chews on - the cat bed, the cat tree, the bench, the carpet, our shoes - for toys. So, when he grabs something he shouldn't have, I give him his bone or his BunBun, and praise him. So far, it's working to distract him!
Also, cleaned out the living room and put his food and water near the fireplace mantle, in an effort to get him to stop eating catfood. His catfood munching habits haven't changed at all, but I'm hoping they will soon.
I sound like I'm expecting miracles, but I'm not! I know he's just a baby, and that it's going to take a while. Just want to keep updating this blog! It's going to be great to look back in a year, and see how far this boy has come.
Speaking of the boy, he's sprawled out in front of the door, having a puppy nap! Once I'm done watching At the End of My Leash, we're going to go out for an hour. Then, we'll come home and do the dishes.
Except at least one more update before the end of the day, as well as a picture post, if I can get Fido here to sit pretty! <3
No, it`s just getting annoying. I settled on the floor with him earlier, and he brought his paw right down on my face. If I wasn`t wearing my glasses he probably would have really hurt my eye. I`m trying to break him of this habit, but it`s not working. Does anyone have any tips?
I've started reading different methods for breaking his begging and biting habits - really, they aren't that bad, all things considered, but I want to get him out of it while he's really young.
I've started trading the things he chews on - the cat bed, the cat tree, the bench, the carpet, our shoes - for toys. So, when he grabs something he shouldn't have, I give him his bone or his BunBun, and praise him. So far, it's working to distract him!
Also, cleaned out the living room and put his food and water near the fireplace mantle, in an effort to get him to stop eating catfood. His catfood munching habits haven't changed at all, but I'm hoping they will soon.
I sound like I'm expecting miracles, but I'm not! I know he's just a baby, and that it's going to take a while. Just want to keep updating this blog! It's going to be great to look back in a year, and see how far this boy has come.
Speaking of the boy, he's sprawled out in front of the door, having a puppy nap! Once I'm done watching At the End of My Leash, we're going to go out for an hour. Then, we'll come home and do the dishes.
Except at least one more update before the end of the day, as well as a picture post, if I can get Fido here to sit pretty! <3
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