Catching up!

We've been so busy enjoying life with Indy that it's been ages since we've updated. He's a year and a half old now and just so wonderful we can't remember our lives without him.

He's fully grown now and weighs in at a trim 67 lbs. He's all muscle as he gets alot of exercise-waliing and swimming and good runs at the local dog parks.

His personality is great. He's not a barker unless something is wrong-he actually alerted us to intruders in our carport one day! We rely on him to keep an eye on things as we now know for sure he's really good at that.

Indy's got a new playmate. His little brother (same parents, new litter), a yellow lab named Dexter came to live with mum's best friend. Dexter visits often and they have a good time wrestling and sharing toys.

The latest

It's been awhile, but we've been busy. Indy completed his first training class and did very well. He's getting big-he's about 60 lbs. now. We love taking him for walks and he goes almost everywhere mum goes. He's good company and will curl up on the couch and just hang out.

He's learned to roll over and sit pretty and we've discovered he will work for cheese. He LOVES cheese! He also discovered snow and loves eing chest deep and hopping in and out of it. He'll choose the deepest part and dive right in.

We also took him for pics with Santa and he was really good. The money made (by donation) went to help dog recue so that was great. We'll have to do it again next year.

Indy is just the perfect little spirit for our family and we all adore him. He makes us laugh, he comforts us when we've had a bad day and always greets us at the door with wild enthusiasm. Who could ask for a better friend?

Steady As He Grows

Indy had his final set of shots a week ago. He was weighed and is now 50 lbs. He still looks sleek and when he's walking in the park and another dog is coming towards him, he reminds me of a cougar. His coat is incredibly shiney and people comment on it all the time. We've been asked if we feed him a special diet and we don't. It's just the way he is.

The vet seems to really love him. He comments every time we go there that he's a beautiful animal and so incredibly calm and well mannered. I do feel very lucky that he's such a great pup. He's smart and easy to train and a wonderful companion.

He's doing well with his training classes. He has two more for this round and it's made it way easier to walk him. He's also really good about not jumping up when we come through the door. Most of the time now he remembers to sit to greet us and we'll praise and pat him.

He'll be 7 months old on Wednesday.

Labour Day weekend

Indy's growing so quickly. In the last week, he's lost about 6 baby teeth. We keep finding them all over the house.

We've been taking him out in the yard and letting him run loose to chase his ball. Our yard is not 100% fenced in so it's good that he's not into running off. He can play fetch for hours!

Yesterday we took Indy to the ocean. The tide was way out at the beach we went to, so he was able to run on the sand and play in the tidal pools. He seemed to have a really good time.

Tomorrow he start obiedence classes. This should be interesting!

Dog Days of Summer

We took Indy to Stanley Park to walk the sea wall on Sunday. All in all, we did an 8 km loop, with a stop for lunch. We saw plenty of wildlife-eagles, herons, cormarants, raccoons and swans. Indy seemed to love meeting people and there were so many folks dying to pet him and ask about him. We need to make him a sign that says: "My name is Indy. I am a boy. I am 5 months old and a black lab. I am friendly and yes, I know I'm cute." *laughs*

Indy lost a bay tooth last night and I actually found it. He seems to have about half his adult teeth, according to the vet. I saved the tooth.

A friend who works for a vet taught us how to clip his nails on Friday night, so he's not scratching us accidentally when he plays. He's pretty mouthy when he plays, but while he is gentle with me, he seems to play rougher with my husband. Indy's caught a tooth in his hand a time or two and drawn blood, though no intentionally. I think it's just the way men play with dogs. I've told him if Indy gets him like that to yelp and then end the game. That's how pups learn what it too rough with their littermates. (I think because I do that, Indy never hurts me. He's more careful with me.)

Busy week

The vet called yesterday and Indy's test came back negative so he has a clean bill of health. I am so glad! I was pretty sure he was 100% healthy, but it's good to have that comfirmed.

Over the weekend it was pretty hot, but we did manage to hang out at Starbuck's with friends and one of the girls that works there got really excited when she saw Indy had returned. He got lots of attention.

He's getting less skittish abbout getting in and out of the car. He jumps in without me asking more than twice and can now hop out on his own. I think he probably never rode in cars before we had him. He 's really good walking on the leash and will keep pace with the leash loose. He's learning hand signals and "stay", which he's picking up really quickly.

On August 19th he goes to his first puppy class-puppy headstart. He will go to regular puppy classes in September. He is scheduled to be fixed, get a tattoo and get his second set of shots on September 8th.

We are all really enjoying him and everyone that meets him falls in love. He's so sweet and good, how could they not?

Indy goes to the vet.

Indy missed having a follow up shot on time for his puppy vaccinations (long story, but water under the bridge-it happened before we got him) so I got him in to see the vet today. The vet came recommended by a friend who works at another vet's office.

Our vet, Dr. G is SUPER nice. He's an older gentleman-just the sort you would imagine would be a vet-he has that kind, country doctor feel to him. I liked him right away and more importantly, Indy liked him. Dr. G talks calmly and is gentle with his charges.

He gave me a puppy package with all sort of info about puppy health care, which I will be reading today. He gave Indy two shots and some nose drops and we went home with some medicines (flea/tick stuff) and some ear wash for when we start taking him in the lake later on.

He said after 10 days Indy will be okay to go to puppy classes and we'll get follow up shots next month. He said Indy is perfectly healthy-everything checks out and he's a good weight as well. He commented on how calm and easy going Indy is. He couldn't believe how when he handled him, Indy just stood there quietly and let him. He didn't even flinch when he got his temperature take nor was given his shots. Dr.G said we have a really nice animal in Indy.

I just have to get a sample for his worm test and take it in, which I will try and do tomorrow.

SO glad he's okay! I was worried he wouldn't like being at the vet's but he didn't seem to mind at all and enjoyed seeing other dogs while he was there.

He's napping now after all the excitement.

Indy, day two

So Indy had a good day yesterday. I took him with me to Starbuck's to meet my best friend and her husband. He is getting better at getting IN the car. I just have to work with him on getting OUT.

He was a bit scared at first, but we spent 2 hours there and he got exposed to lots of people petting him (who doesn't love a puppy?), loud noises (big trucks went by) and other dogs. He got more confident as time wore on.

He also went for a walk with his boy and got to play with a friend's dogs, running loose in their yard. He had a very good time. I think he kinda misses his mum and the other dog he grew up with.

After talking with a friend who works for a vet, I discovered his shots and worming are so out of date that we have to start all over with the shots and get him wormed right away. He cannot start training classes till he's had at least 2 shots so now we are delayed till September. I am not happy about this because someone should have ensured his health care was up to date. It's irresponsible to have let it lapse like that and not tell us! (As new puppy owners, I think this should have been pointed out.)

So today I will call the two vets who were recommended and find out what their shot programs are and get him in either tomorrow or Saturday to get him back on schedule. I DO NOT want him getting sick!

He's finally playing with his toys and I can tell he is feeling more relaxed. I am glad he's feeling like this is his home and he's okay here.

I also think he needs to be fed three times a day right now, not twice. he's wolfing his food down and that tells me he's overly hungry. In the Lab book, it says puppies need 3-4 meals a day. The breeders only fed him twice a day. I will give him 3 meals today and then ask the vet when I see him what he thinks.

Indy's first day

Yesterday Indy worked hard at learning to get used to a leash. He did really well with lots of positive reinfocement and treats. He went out in the yard several times. At first he would sit down and refuse to walk, but with gentle coaxing and treats for following along, he soon understood what to do. He doesn't like when the umbrella opens-it startles him.

My guess is that because everyone in the house where he was born works, he spent alot of time outside and not interacting with the family, except on the evenings. Strangers make him a bit nervous. He will allow them to pat him, but he looks unsure and shakes occasionally. We know over time, with gradual exposure, he will get used to people and not be nervous. He's smart and it won't take him long to understand meeting folks is a good thing.

He also didn't seem to know what to do with his toys because I don't think he had any. I gave him his kong with some low fat cream cheese and a cookie in it, which he loved. He got all the cream cheese out, but not the cookie, so I tipped it out later for him. This morning, he's playing with his toys on his own, chewing mostly as he is teething, but it's good to see him starting to relax.

He was really happy to see his boy and dad come home last night. He ran to them, body wiggling like crazy and tail going a mile a minute. He didn't bark when he heard them put the keys in the door. He just watched intently to see who it was. He also didn't jump up on them, which is really good. They told him to sit to get pats and he did.

Indy comes home

So last night we brough Indy home with us. He's 4 months old and the most mellow puppy I have ever seen. Granted, we met him in the evening after he'd had a whole day of being outside playing, so I figured "Hmm..how long is this going to last?"

He was a bit anxious when we first got him into the car. He made some funny noises, but once we were off, he settled right down. He'll be really good in the car-he lies down and that's it. No crazy running to and fro in the back seat or jumping into the front seat. I was a bit worried about his car behaviour prior to meeting him, but no more.

We had a kennel waiting for him at home, thinking he would have to sleep there so we wouldn't have to worry about him shredding the house in the night, but he's always slept loose in a bedroom and so last night we let him sleep in ds' room. He lay down on his bed and that was it for the night. *boggles*

Right now, I am in the studio. The guys have gone off to work and Indy is curled up on his bed in here, napping while I am working.

His only issue so far is that no one ever put him on a leash and he doesn't know what to do when you leash him and want to get him to come with you. He just doesn't get it. I am going to have to do some work with him today on name rcognition and getting him more used to his leash. Part of the problem is the collar I bought is way too big. (I had no idea what size he was.) I need to get a smaller one so it doesn't slide around so much. That will help him to know a gentle tug on the leash means "Let's Go!"

He's s sweet, sweet boy and THE most laid back pup I have ever seen. His temperment is perfect for our family and I can tell once he's trained, he's going to be a wonderful companion dog.

Incidentally, ds came up with his name. He walked into the studio the other day and said in his best Sean Connery imitation "We named the dog Indiana." I burst out laughing because that was a brilliant suggestion! I have been in love with Harrison Ford since I was 6 and it's the perfect name for a dog. So Indiana it is, Indy for short.