It's been a rough week or so for us here with the boys; probably more for those with four legs than for those with two. It's got to be tough to be a puppy. Not only are you trying to figure out a whole new world with multitudes of smells, sounds, tastes, textures and rules, but your body is changing and growing. For many breeds, Cockers included, this means longer legs, big feet and floppy ears that get in the way when you're after that pesky housemate that won't leave you alone. Nothing ruins a good game of chase faster than stepping on your own ear while running around the corner on kitchen linoleum and sending yourself in a spinning slide across the floor.
Freedom and Tardis have had a bit of a rough week with struggling with changing bodies, learning rules for the new apartment, and figuring out... chewing gum. If you think it's obnoxious when you find it on the bottom of your shoe, or in your child's hair, try finding it in between your dog's rear foot pads! Freedom is still sporting some of the sticky goo as I've been unable to cut it all free. Getting in close to his large pad while he's growling and jumping around is tricky business, so we snip a little at a time, and it's getting out a little at a time. We also have an over-abundance of sticky oak leaves on the ground as fall sets in, and the boys love to pick them up. They stick to fur, feet, and noses, making our frequent walks a hoot as we try to free the icky leaves from the boys' fur. Of course, the boys are boys, and don't learn. They still chase every leaf they see (although they are starting to find the non-sticky leaves more fascinating, thank heaven!).
A blessing has come with the new apartment: lots and lots of other dogs. Freedom, as I think I've mentioned, has a terrible fear of larger dogs. Just seeing them from across the parking lot results in screaming and panic on his part. But thanks to seeing the variety of large dogs here at the new complex, and a few patient and understanding owners and curious, playful canines that we've met, Freedom is starting to learn that not all dogs are scary. He's even learning to approach, cautiously, and greet politely when he sees a large dog, without raising a big fuss. It's taken a lot of work, and Tardis always ends up looking at Freedom like he's lost his mind (probably not far from the truth) as Tardis will run up to every dog he sees, jump and want to play, regardless of the dog's interest in him. But with patience, and a lot of work introducing Freedom to dogs by hand (introducing him rear-end first, holding him on my lap, then setting him down and letting him watch me pet the larger dog and pet him at the same time, refusing to let him hide behind me), he's getting better. We aren't to a point of letting him meet them in a stressful situation yet (a pet store, or the vet's office, although the latter is far easier on him than the former), but I think we can get there. One of our local pet stores has a free puppy play time that we try to get the boys to for some socialization. So far, we've struck out and missed one, and were the only ones there for the other. *sigh* Oh, well! That's the way the doggie treat crumbles some days!
Just like babies, puppies have growth spurts, and Freedom is more noticeable in his changes when he's not feeling so great. His eating has been slightly off the past few days- he has been eating more, just in smaller, more frequent meals- he sleeps more, with more intense activity when he is awake, and he's grumpy when he gets tired. It's been weeks since he's played the growly, nasty pup when we pick him up at bedtime, but here he is, doing that routine all over again. But when he realizes that it's just us, he snuggles in close, and tries to fall asleep. He's far more clingy than he's ever been, wanting to be near me no matter where I am; and he's tipping the scales at 8.5 pounds with a sudden gain in weight that's been slow in coming. It reminds me a great deal of the changes the kids went through when their bodies would experience sudden growth spurts and they would hurt, eat and sleep and be cranky. Best treatment I found was to just leave them be and let them get their rest. So, Freedom is spending a good part of his day sleeping under my desk, with a good mile-long walk in the middle of the day to burn off energy (and some short walks after meals and any other times the boys need to get excess work in before they get into trouble...).
Tardis is growing far more steadily, and since he's more playful, more aggressive in his play and sleeps more, he's harder to tell when there's a growth spurt happening. But alas, his height is showing, he's slimming down, and his legs are stretching. He's showing his Cocker side in his face, with his long, spindly legs showing his Cavalier side. While still trying to catch Freedom in height, he outweighs his older pack-mate by at least a full pound. He's far more hard-headed when it comes to training, but is more independent about sleeping. With 5 weeks between them in age, though, we'll see what Tardis does as he approaches Freedom's age.
One decision has been made this week, however. Freedom and Tardis have officially begun their training as service dogs. Well, officially as they can. We've got the access test standards, and we're working on that, with obedience work happening during the day as well. We've found a trainer to work with who's AKC certified to do our Good Citizenship tests and can help us with the access evaluation as well, and she trains service and therapy dogs. As we take this next step, it's both exciting and a bit scary, but it will be very worth it.
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