Dogster

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My wonderful Life

Today is our 1 year Anniversary as a family!

Today, I have been living with my family for a whole year! When my family, on this day last year, went to the Puppy Rescue they found me. Most the puppies there were between 8 weeks and 12 weeks and were tiny compared to me at 14 weeks. I remember, looking at all the people taking puppies to other bigger pins to play with and I was thinking... "hey, I wanna play". Thats when I locked eyes on my mommy to be. I didn't say anything, just looked at her and cocked my head ever so slightly. I sat like a pretty girl, with my back straight, and wagged my tail. It worked, and now I have a pretty awesome life!
I learned not to potty in the house after just 2 accidents. It wasn't hard, Mama, just said "outside" and picked me up in mid pee and took me outside. When I did potty outside she acted like it was the greatest thing in the world. Yea... I know, my mom is a little weird thinking potty is pretty cool, but hey, anything to make her happy.
I also learned sit, down, shake and stay before Christmas. Come, I knew, but I chose when to listen.
Then we went to a trainer, to help mom get my come perfectly, and learn how to heel and she wanted help with some "behavioral" stuff. Well... this trainer wasn't for us, but we learned the hard way. I wore a choke collar, and when I didn't listen, it was yanked on. I just learned to pull harder, and just to behave enough on leash. Once the leash was off, though, I still refused to come. Thats when mom started using more rewards and treats. She said that it was caused positive reinforcement, and she learned it from other dogsters like you. She also started using this at the Doggie Daycare we worked at when other dogs were being naughty by barking or playing to rough. She did say, and still has problems with more naughty behaviors though.She doesn't know how to help me not be so protective of the "best" toys at the dog park, or any food from other dogs, especially small ones. I just don't wanna share, that's all. So, it has come, until I stop guarding broken or squeaky balls from small dogs, I am not allowed in off leash areas for now. I tell mama, that if the little dogs just let me have it, I have no beef with it, but its when they try to take it from me, or growls at me for trying to take it from them, that when I have a problem!! She said this is very bad, and until I can be trusted with all dogs, I can not be trusted with any unknowns! Also, if it is a dog close to my size, I never try to take the toy from them, and if they try to take it from me I just run away and get a game of catch me if you can.
Any way... I am still pretty happy. We go on more walks now, and longer ones too. Also, I get to play with my bff (that's best fur friend to you) at least once a week.
My new favorite tricks right now is "touch", when the target is held way up high, and I have to jump for it! Also, When my mom tells me to "wait" and drops a treat on the floor, I look in her eyes until she says "alright". Sometimes she takes way to long to say "alright" though, but I've become pretty patient. I used to bark after 15 seconds, telling her to let me have the treat, but now I know, she just wants me to give her googly eyes, because I'm to darn cute!
So, yeah... a whole year! I hardly ever chase the kitties any more. I do still try to play with Riley, the old kitty, and the boss... don't know what I can do to get her to play with me more. Oh well.
So... if any of you know how to help me not be the bully to small dogs with cool toys, please let me know. I play with small dogs who are yappy, really well, as long as there isn't a toy, well I did when I was allowed too!

My first whole day alone and not crated!

OMD doggies... today I was left all alone in the house for... over 8 hours!! Thats a long long time doggies, a long time for this puppy, very long! Usually I get put in my crate when my mama and papa are both gone, but lately they've been letting me stay out. I've only done it twice before, and they were for short periods. Mama said I did so well those times that she let me stay out today. It was my grandparents 50th anniversary today (I don't know what it is, all I know is I couldn't go). So papa and mama went to the mountains without me. I did real good! Actually I did super:) I played with my toys (I left them all over), I had a kong with peanut butter and I laid on my bed and on the couch too. I didn't pull the cushions off the couch or chew on the wall or try to break into my dog food! Well at least not that mom can tell;) Ohhh... I dranks lots of my water too! Oh boy did I have to pee... but I didn't, I waited! When mama and papa got home I was so happy that I howled and whined and showed my belly and jumped! You know what my mama and papa did? They kept walking and IGNORED ME!!!!!!!!!! Once I settled a bit mama told me to sit and gave me much love:-)~ Then I went outside and peed 5 times! Mama was so grateful that I was able to hold it that long without being in the crate. I heard her tell papa that someone was suppose to let me outside at 3, but I guess she came to early, which was right after mom and papa left. I was glad to see her, but I wish she would've come after I drank all that water. Oh well... I did good... so no need to worry any more mom:)

Jeepers I'm getting big!!

So sometimes we go to the dog park and I run and run and run there! I love to meet new dogs and love for them to chase me and love to chase them too! Yesterday we went to the dog park and all of a sudden mom kinda freaked out a little. She noticed that I was bigger than all the other dogs and since I still have some growing to do I guess that alarmed her! We stopped by the vet and I stepped on this thing that tells everyone how much I weigh and it said 73.5 lbs! I guess thats pretty big for a 7 month old puppy! My best friend is a year old Great Dane pup and so I guess mom always sees me as being small... well everyone is small next to Scarlet duh! So now mama has noticed I'm bigger than most the pups at doggie daycare to. Most of them are labs and Golden's and small to med size breeds. I'm already a little bigger than the labs! We do have 2 standard poodles that are taller than me oh and labradoodles too... so we'll see if I catch up to them in height. I am only 7 months you know! Good thing for ma that we are learning the heel thing now, cause who knows how much bigger and stronger I'm going to get BOL! Alright... we must go practice heeling so I get an "A" and get to practice on the sidewalk next week!
Bark at ya later!