I'm not going to claim to have the smartest puppy ever but, HELLA SMART! I expected to have never ending tales to weave when we welcomed Phoebe Farklepants into the family, cuz, puppies are messy. But so far the only chewing casualties have been one flip flop and a Nerf gun bullet. I've found that as long as I keep an eye on her she isn't given much chance to get into trouble. It's the luxury I have being home full time.
She loves to go for a ride in the car. When our previous dog, Baby, was a puppy I worked full time up until Boy-Child#1 was born. So I didn't have heck of a lot of time to spend with her during the day. Hence her lack of car rides. Then when Boy-Child#1 came along, then Boy-Child#2 and being straddled with a toddler and an infant and trying to wrangle the infant seat into the stroller and simultaneously keep the toddler from darting into parking lots and traffic or wandering aimlessly; I didn't have the patience or appropriate amount of appendages to corral the dog too. By the time Girl-Child came along, Baby was eight and passed her formative puppy years. And by this time, she hated car rides and leaving the house in general. Any trip we took her on was riddled with chronic heavy panting, visible shaking, and tucked tail for the entire amount of time we were away from home. To say she hated it is an understatement.
This time is different. Learn from our past, I always say. Phoebe joins me when it is time to pick the boys up from school, softball practices and games. She's learned that if she wants to go bye-bye she needs her leash. She's learned that that leash is located on the dining room table. She knows what "bye-bye" means and also knows that if she wants that leash attached to her collar, she has to sit. So she sits.
She also has learned to scratch at the back door when she needs to relive herself. Mostly. I was all set to tell you that, while she's had some setbacks in peeing on the floor, it has been since Wednesday April 18th since she last crapped on the carpet. An event that included Mr. Farklepants jumping up and grabbing her mid-evacuation in order to usher her outside; an event that activated the launch sequence and Phoebe became one who flung pooh. Which came dangerously close to my beloved couch. Which caused hyperventalating and myocardial infarction.
I was all set to tell you that. But while mentally composing this blog post, Phoebe squatted and lost half a pound on my living room carpet. Fortunately it was a firm one.
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Power of Suggestion
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17 comments:
If I could lose half a pound by squatting for a few minutes, I'd take laxatives like nobody's business.
I agree with Karen.
I could so not have a dog tho.
also? hellza cute!
Phoebe sounds very well behaved for the most part.
We all have our days. :)
You make me want a dog and not want a dog all in the same post.
Well done!
She sounds adorable. Well...flying poo aside.
Phoebe is a darling girl! The potty training will proceed successfully, I am sure, and in a few months this will no longer be an issue.
I am totally envying you your puppy - me with my empty nest here, I am longing for a sweet puppy. Maybe this summer.....
Hint - Keep feeding her dry food, to keep those little deposits solid until she's housebroken.
I'm not bitter that Phoebe is potty training faster than Cody. Nope, not at all.
perhaps you've discovered the newest diet fad. Squat and lose!
...but she's so cuuuuuute!
Half a pound? pfft! that's nothin'
Just a little tip...
If you don't want her to "scratch the back door" which will then cause you (or the Mr.) to have to paint said door, hang a bell on the door knob. Show her a few times by taking her front paw and jingle-ing the bell and she will learn. A friend of mine taught her dog and I think it's the coolest thing ever. No matter where you are in the house, you hear the bell and saves you a lot of painting!
I do that to the cat when he pukes, which is frequent.
My dog also has an anxiety attack when riding in the car. Perhaps because she only goes to the vet or the groomer's.
Ah, puppies. They do learn really quickly when you can be home with them all the time, don't they? We got ours the summer after I finished grad school, and I spent the whole summer playing puppy mama and alternating that with making her play human tag-along. It makes for a very well adjusted dog. Have fun!
I like the bell idea. We have small dogs and put in doggie doors in last house and this one, makes it much easier.
Glad you are training her - hope to see some videos of good tricks.
With new puppies we are grateful for the firm ones! My new girl turns 4 months this week and is also very good. I am home with her all the time but the kids are all grown and out of the house. I didn't realize how much they want to play. Guess the kids took care of that with our other pups. So she does keep me busy throwing her a ball in the house. Our little girl rings a bell at the door. She too has been very good.
Sounds like you've gone all Ceasar Millan on Phoebe's ass! You rock.
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