Getting bigger!

Gypsy and Tango are almost 4 months old already! Where does the time go? They're both doing well with their training and seem to enjoy each other's company. I have to be sure that I separate them from time to time so they both learn to be individuals and not just a pair. Separate walks. Separate car rides. Separate events. Raising two puppies together is more than double the work! People seem to have this false idea that if you have two puppies it's less work. It's a falsehood!

I am going to be taking Gypsy with me today to do a talk at a school about safety with dogs. It's an anti-bite program. So she will be accompanying me and Tango will be cooling his heels at home. Unhappily.

If anyone else is interested in me giving the talk at their school or church or what have you, just let me know.

Poor dog 😉

Somebody stole my blankets!

Sunday Stroll

The harder it is to get at, the better they like it!

Every day that I work in my office I bring in Gypsy and Tango to keep me company. And so they can learn to settle when required. I always bring in a bone for them to chew or a treat dispensing toy so they can lay quietly and be rewarded for doing so. I have found the harder it is to get at that reward, they more they want it! I wish I had my camera handy right now because all I can see are two puppy butts sticking up from under a stool, which is under a table! The treat dispensing toy rolled under the guest bed (which is still down after having summer visitors). The puppies both crawled under the very low Futon to try and get the toy. It rolled out from under the bed, to under the stool which is under the table right beside the bed. It is hilarious! The harder it is to get at, the more they want it! The antics they are going thru to get at that toy is unbelievable! If I had put that same toy down on the floor, it wouldn't have been nearly as exciting for them. So keep that in mind when you are trying to think of things to keep your mischievous puppy busy while you make dinner. The harder it is to get at, the better they like it!

And just for a chuckle. My original title was "The harder it is, the better they like it!" I thought I best change that one. 🤣

Mary Ann

My Gorgeous Boy

I know I'm a little prejudiced but Oh My Goodness! He's gorgeous! Rommel is going to be 10 soon! Where do the years go? That's so hard to believe!

People are strange

I met a woman this past weekend who saw a picture of my puppies and insisted that I had glued the puppies ears together over their heads! No matter how many times I tried to tell her that I did not do that, she was sure that I had glued them.

But speaking of ears, there are some things you can do to help them stand up tall and strong. Number one, don't rub them! That will soften them for sure! Things you can do, is supply your puppy with lots of things to chew on. Raw knucklebones, bully sticks, etc. No rawhides! Dogs choke on rawhide and sometimes need abdominal surgery to fix a blockage. So, SAFE chewies!

Another thing you can do is leave them outside at night. Not all night! But in a safe environment or under your supervision for an hour or so. They tend to listen more at night. And that strengthens the muscles that surround the ears on the skull. It's those muscles that will help hold those big ears up nice and straight!

Mary Ann

Growth Plates

When you came to pick up your puppy, I talked to you about avoiding too much exercise for your puppy otherwise you will ruin their joints.  I want you to look at Pele's x-ray which has her dislocated right hip.  Notice there is only a marginal cup in the pelvis to hold that femoral ball into place.  Notice the huge gaps between her bones!  Even her tail!  These are all growth plates.  Cartilage that will eventually turn to bone.  But what happens if you over-exercise your dog and wear the cartilage?  There's nothing left for the calcium to lay down on to make a good joint!!  So be very careful with your puppies until 18-24 months when the growth plates will all be closed.  

Mary Ann

Echo The Arson Puppy!

This is Echo the Arson dog in training!  Echo will look for accelerants in burned buildings, burned vehicles, pretty much burned anything!

These beautiful photos were taken by 20/20 Photography Inc.

  

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