I am 1 Year Old!

Hello everyone.  I am so sorry that my daddy has not posted much in a long time.  His work has kept him very busy which we are all very thankful about.  His and mommy's jobs keep me enjoying great toys and treats and the occasional trip to see my favorite Vet, Dr McDreamy, as my Aunt Kelli calls him.

So much has gone on the past few months.  I got to play with a bunch of sheepy friends at an Old English Sheepdog round up.  I was sent to this nice man's place where he kept me and trained me while mommy and daddy were down visiting some mouse named Mickey.  I have had loads of fun walking the neighborhood and playing with lots of things.  Some of the things I have played with apparently were a no-no according to daddy.

Yesterday was so much fun. Mommy even got me a special treat and put a candle in it.  And TOYS...I got lots of toys.  Well...why don't I just show you some things I have been up to in this video that daddy put together for my birthday and Christmas present since I was born on Christmas day.  Hope you enjoy.

"I Gwaduated"

Today was such a great day!  All of my hard work and listening to mommy and daddy paid off.  The trainer had mommy and daddy put me through some tests to see if I had learned what we had been practicing during our training sessions.  First she had me sit for a few seconds.  Then I had to lay down and stay down for a few seconds.  Then I had to sit and stay while mommy walked away from me for a few seconds and then the biggie...I had to follow mommy on her left side as we walked around in front of everybody else.  The trainer lady said I did great and look what she gave me...

And then the news got even better.  Mommy and daddy were given an autograph book at during my first training day.  I was supposed to meet as many people as I could between the first and last class and have them sign my book.  The doggie that got the most autographs won something on the last day.  Guess what??  I won!  The very nice trainer lady gave me a new toy as a prize (which I have already torn to shreds).

But maybe even a bigger story is how much more comfortable I am around my classmates.  Daddy put together this short video to show my progress.  

I have come a long way huh?  Well if I heard mommy and daddy correctly, I will be taking more training classes very soon so stay tuned for more updates on my behavioral progress.

Training, Grooming and the Vet...Oh My!

Can a day get anymore dramatic for a pup like me?  First...mommy and daddy took me to my 3rd training class this morning.  I have to admit, I am starting to warm up to some of my classmates.  One of my cool new friends is named Remo.  He is a Great Dane and I am pretty sure he will be a big dog like me...probably even bigger.

Remo and his daddy

I am really starting to break out of my shell as you can see in the picture below and I have the "sitting command" pretty much figured out.  I like to sit.  I like to simply sit and watch the other dogs going crazy.

Ok, so you get a sense that training is going well and it is not as stressful as it was to me on day one.  Next week is my final puppy class and, if all goes well, I will be receiving my "puppy good manners" certificate at the end of the class.

So, we leave class and head to a nice little park area where mommy and daddy let me out of the car for a bit to walk around, poop and pee.  The day was really looking pretty good.  We got back in the car and I assumed we were headed home, but my keen sense of direction told me we were on a path that did not lead back to my bed, food and toys.  A turn here and a corner there and the next thing I knew, we were right back somewhere that I had been about 3 weeks ago that had prompted me to use every defense mechanism in my arsenal (pee on daddy, drop a poop bomb near the door's entrance etc).  You can refer back to my "Dr McDreamy" post for full details.  

This time was not as bad it seemed.  I was in and out in about 20 mins.  They took me back and weighed me again and said I was a healthy 32.5lb OES.  Dr McDreamy put some more shots in me which I was not particularly fond of, but overall, not a bad visit.  I think mommy had a worse time than me because she got back in the car and told daddy that there was a mean old coot in the waiting room that commented on my name, and not necessarily in a positive way.  I think mommy wanted to trip the poopyhead on her way out of the office.  

Anywho...things were better so I thought.  I made it back home where daddy and I headed immediately upstairs and had some quiet nap time.  life was good once again.  But then the doorbell rang.  I jumped up excited as I usually do because that usually means food being delivered or someone has come over to see me and ooooh and awww over me which I love dearly now.

Two nice people walked in and introduced themselves.  They seemed rather harmless and very friendly.  But then daddy picked me up and put me into the arms of one them and they whisked me off to some big van looking thing.  Next thing I know I am sopping wet, they got their hands in my ears, in my mouth and I am pretty sure someone got to know me well in my nether region.  Then the furious drying and obsessive brushing and this is what they made me look like...what in the world??

Well...that is how my Saturday has gone which is NOTHING like I pictured it when I woke my mommy and daddy up at 6:30am this morning.  Maybe I will play possum on Saturdays for a while and see if these things can somehow be avoided.

Wordless Wednesday...Cuddle Time

First Day at School

How many of you remember your first day at school? Raise your paw if you do.  Well mine was just this past Saturday.  Mommy and daddy tried to get me excited about it all but I was a bit unsure.

I am starting to put some pieces together; getting in the car does not always mean we are headed to the park.

So we arrive at this new place in Nashville that I will also refer to as "a den of terror."  I am herded inside where I am greeted by this very outgoing little dog named Copper.  He seemed harmless enough and I thought I must be assigned to a small class for the gifted and talented puppies.  But then I am carried by daddy down to this other area where all "you know what" breaks lose.

Puppies everywhere!!  Some liked the front of me...others seemed to want to know what my fluffy butt smelled like.  How rude!  It was obvious that some in the class were not that gifted so now I am realizing I am in this class with ALL of these pups.  UGH!  Quiet place...take me to my quiet place.

Mommy and daddy kept trying to encourage me to play with the other pups, but I was having none of it.  So daddy makes this video to show how my first day really went...in a nutshell.

To be continued...