18 Weeks/4 1/2 Months

18 Weeks/4 ½ Months

It’s been a LONG time since mommy wrote something about me to update you all on my progress. She says she has been “busy” but I think she is just “lazy.” Woof;) Anyway, we have been traveling quite a bit. At 12 weeks I went to the vet for regular puppy vaccinations. Mom was worried about my belly so they did a couple other tests. They determined it is just me being a puppy. While at the vet, I met some puppies. Mommy said their names were Jack. How silly that they would name every puppy Jack. I did hear her mention Russell, so maybe that was another one of the names and I got it wrong. (Jack Russell Terriers). That vet has tons of them running around. We went back yesterday to finish up all my puppy shots. I only saw one of them Jacks. It was walking along the desk and counter. The vet thinks I’m doing just fine and does not anticipate seeing me again unless something comes up.

Let’s see, what else … I’ve been camping several times this summer. Mommy took Gizzy and me with her to Holland State Park where I got to go into the lake. Gizzy detested it but I didn’t mind. We also got to visit a wooden boat. For the 4th of July mommy took me to someone’s cabin. It was like a weenie dog convention or something because those people had like four of them and even built a float looking just like them for the parade. I wasn’t allowed to hang out with them though. But mommy spent most of her time with me anyway. She took me to the lake (8-Point Lake) to cool off and I got to go for several walks. Everyone said how cute I was and asked all sorts of questions about what I would be doing.

Mom has had some events come up that she said wouldn’t be a good idea for me to go to so I went to Suzanne’s (another puppy raiser) while mom went on a kayaking trip and to Florida. There, I met a PAWS pup, Chyna. Suzanne told mom that I was really good when Chyna was there but then after that I had a lot of crate accidents. She could only explain that it was like I was bored or something. Mommy has to deal with this too once or twice a week. We just can not seem to figure it out. Anyway, when mommy picked me up after all her events, she was sooooooooooo happy to see me. I got a new toy right away and mommy kept kissing and hugging me. She asked where her puppy went because I grew really long in those two weeks. Right now, I am really long with short legs … I just wanted to look like those weenie dogs for awhile is all. Yesterday, I weighed 32.7 pounds. Mommy said she thinks I’m going to be bigger than Cato.

Yesterday, I also went to PAWS class. I worked on going up and down the big stairs and walking backwards. Mommy said I did pretty darn good. I walked around the art sculptures too and didn’t pay them any attention. She was really proud of me and gave me a big treat. Last month, we had class at my house. We got to investigate all the toys and play equipment in the yard.

Also, mommy babysat some kids. She kept telling me I had to behave around them. I was trying to nibble on the toddlers toes so I got in trouble for that. Then she kept grabbing her food with her hands and trying to share with me. I tried really hard not to take anything … mommy’s not sure but I may have had a small bite of strawberry cake (I’ll never tell).

This past weekend I got to go to a “Shin-dig” at Tessa Mae’s house. Me and Tessa got to play a whole bunch until the festivities got underway. Then Tessa went inside. I hung outside with most people. This one lady fell absolute head-over-heels in love with me. She kept giving me ice cubes from her cooler. I tried investigating what else was in the cooler but they wouldn’t let me. Some really loud music was playing inside the barn so mom didn’t take me in there while that was going on. I just laid down by the ice lady and fell asleep. Mommy kept checking up on me to make sure I wasn’t being a pain for the lady. The lady kept telling mommy to go have fun. I don't know what got into mommy. She usually isn't a social butterfly but that night she talked and talked and talked and laughed so much. She says if it wasn't for me to have something to talk about she has a hard time being social. So while she is teaching me to help someone, I guess I'm kinda helping her too. Also, Tessa visited us for a week so I had someone new to play with.

One last thing, I made mommy really proud one day. We were over at someones house and I was laying on the porch on a tie out. The tie-out got stuck between the wooden slats of the porch. I went up to the tie-out and grabbed it with my mouth and got it unstuck. Mommy came up to me all smiling and stuff and told me how good I was for doing that. She said I was problem-solving.

Mom says I’m doing really good for my age other than that potty problem once or twice a week. She said she wants to give it another week since I’ve only been back a week and see if it’s just adjustment back to a routine. She loves me just the same.

11 weeks

I have been keeping mom very busy! Still not so good with potty training. For a few nights in a row I make mommy happy and then I get a sudden urge and am stuck in the habit of going in the crate for a few days. Sometimes, mommy gets me up a couple times through the night to help me but it doesn’t matter, I still have accidents. Other nights, I am just plain whooped out and don’t go. I over-heard her saying that she thinks I wake up and get bored, then that’s when I have accidents. When I don’t, mom keeps telling me how much of a good boy I am and hurries me out the door as soon as she opens the crate door. After I go, she pets me and snuggles me and keeps saying, “YES!”

I do have a schedule that I expect her to keep. Usually, I go to bed between 10-12. It doesn’t matter how late she keeps me up but I wake up promptly at 7 am. Mommy tries to ignore me sometimes but I won’t stop whining until she gets up. She has been pretty good about it. I think the latest she made we wait was until 8. She tries to play this game with me. I will whine, cry, and bark. She won’t let me out. If I am quiet for a couple minutes, then she comes and gets me and tells me that’s a good boy.

As soon as I go potty outside in the morning, I get breakfast! Sometimes, I get so antsy, mom doesn’t make her coffee right way. When that happens, she is a little grouchy. After breakfast, I always take another urgent potty break … you would think she gave me coffee the way I jet out the door. So, anyway, that is our typical first hour of the morning. Sometimes, mom is taking my crate outside and hosing it down. She makes a lot of fuss, making some gagging noises and calls me stinky after that. Same thing happens when she brushes her teeth so I don’t know why she is blaming it on me. If it is raining, I have to come in right away. She has this towel she wipes my feet with every morning. I get silly and try to grab it while she is handling my paws. She always tells me, “Leave it, Jedi.” I bark a sassy bark at her, telling her, “No!” We play in the kitchen for about and hour and then I’m exhausted, plop down and drift off to sleep. If it is not raining I get to play outside for awhile, checking out all the new sniffs in the yard from the 3rd shifters who romp the yard. I’m not sure who they are but I think they have interesting smells. Gizzy usually joins in and we frolic in the morning dew. We’ve become two peas in a pod, her and I. She showed me this place where I can go and hide on mom. It is SO fun! Along the back fence is a wood pile and some trees. I try to conceal myself in there and when she calls my name, I crouch down and peak just a little bit to see if she means it. I lay there, giggling to myself until she starts to become somewhat frantic. Then, I come barreling out like none other and crash into her. Usually, I take a mid-morning nap in the kitchen on the nice cool floor. I don’t always let her know when I wake up and end up having an accident. Mom caught me mid-stream this morning, boy was I in trouble! She took me outside and kept telling me break out there … too late.

I’ve been going to a lot of places too. On Thursdays, we go to hang out with some older people who gush about me (of course). They weigh me every week there. I average about a pound every week. Last week being 18 lbs. Mom says she bets I gained a couple this week. I’ve gone to the grocery store a couple times. I’ve been to Tim Horton’s/ColdStone … they didn’t give any coffee nor any ice cream. They did offer a tid-bit but mom said no, “meany.” It’s just not fair. There, I was scolded by mommy because I kept barking when she was flapping her jaws for too long. She said, all in all, I did really good considering all the yummy smells. Oh, we went to a picnic also. We took a day trip across state one day. Mommy’s aunt rode with us there but never came back with us. We had to stop twice so I could go potty on the way there (mom got bit by a couple big flies while I was taking my time) but I slept the entire ride home. Mommy put the small crate in the front seat next to her, turned on the AC, and we jammed to some Adam guy. Mom kept singing … the only way to escape listening to THAT is going to sleep. We went to aunt Libby's house and hung out. I got to torment a couple cats and Brenden played with me. We also went camping twice. The first trip I played in the river and mom kept making me run up and down a hill. I also got to go for a small ride in the kayak. It was fun at first, then we started going down stream. I was a little spoked by this. The second trip I was the only dog. There were several kids who fought over who was going to walk me next. I got really dirty on that trip. Mommy loved me anyway

Mom has been teaching me some new commands. She takes me for walks and I get treats. In the driveway, we pace back and forth and she tells me “Heel”. Besides “Sit”, I know, “Leave It”, “No”, “Come”, “Let’s go”, “Crate”. I don’t always do it, but I know it. Mommy keeps saying I have a stubborn side to me. I’ve been working on down and stay. My biggest challenge is all the fresh grass clippings mom forgets to rake up. She said a foster brother, Cato, got really sick on that stuff. She told me to lay off the grass … But, I really like to lay ON the grass. When the leash is on me, I get annoyed and end up sitting there with my front paws locked out straight … this usually happens when mom has somewhere to go and needs me to break or at night. We both get a little frustrated. Now, she says I have to have the leash on again every time I go outside for break because she says I am obviously not ready for that much freedom.

Well, we are going to post this now so everyone can hear how I am doing. Hopefully, we can figure out how to put pictures throughout the blog. Mom has some great ones to share while telling this story. Mission accomplished (thanks Andrea)!

8 1/2 Weeks and growing

Well, it's been a busy week for me but I have lots to share. Since arriving at my new mommy's home. I met Gizzy, my new sister. She did not seem to like me much. She would walk away every time I came near her. Don't tell her but I think I've grown on her since then ... now she thinks I'm the dog's woof. We love to play with the ball together and chase each other around the yard. It's not fair though because she gets to lay on the couch and IN THE BIG BED! Also, I met Britta. She is seven years old - way old. She is sooooo nice to me:) She would make a good mommy.

Sunday, I didn't feel too well and made lots of messes for mommy. Other than night-time, it was the first time mommy had to keep cleaning up behind (ha ha) me. Before that, I had only one accident in the house. After some medicine I was doing better by morning. Mommy was pretty sick too, but she still took me to school on Monday. School was so cool. I got little bits of my dinner every time I did something right. There were more puppies there but I was the youngest. Everyone seemed to like me and wanted a turn with me. I think it's my chubs. I walked up and down stairs and mommy was really excited about how well I did. She said I was really brave.

On Tuesday one of my school pals, Danka came over for a surprise visit. We got to play for a really long time. It was so FUN! That was also the fist day my sister actually wanted to play with me too. It was such a great day! I slept really good that night. At one point mom thought I was sleeping and she said I have a stubborn side. All I know is I have a right side, left side, and back side.

So far, I've learned to give eye contact in order to get my food. Sometimes, I have to spend my whole lunch doing just that. Mom sits on the floor by me and asks me to sit. Once I sit she says my name and I get food each time I look at her. She says I'm really smart because I'm learning to do two things at once. She doesn't know it but I think I knew how to sit before she got me;)

A couple times a day mommy does tummy time with me. I love getting my belly rubbed but then I end up falling asleep. It's a conspiracy! Sometimes during tummy time mom rubs my feet and looks in my mouth. When mom looks in my mouth, she always says "hello, hello, is there anyone in there" ... what a weirdo. She loves me though, I can tell. She looks at me with really sweet eyes and tells me "yes" every time I do something good. Not to say I haven't been testing her patience. She says I am mouthy. When she tells me "leave it" I tell her arf and give her dirty looks. Then I lay down, give her sad eyes, and pout. She says she doesn't care how cute I am, I'm still not getting my way. She then gives me one of my toys and I start playing with it and she tells me "Yes" again. We do this all day, well between naps, eating, and other puppy stuff. Speaking of ... may the force be with you.

Introductions and what not

I was born on 3/22/10 at host home of Ken and Margie. They took really good care of me and my brothers and sisters - "J" litter. Everyone called me Timmy a.k.a. Mr. White until my foster mommy picked out a name for me. On 5/09/10 my host family brought me to PAWS HQ to get checked in with the program and what not. It was a sad morning. Lots of tears and prayers but I snuggled up to them and let them know, I's gotta be somebody some day. That was also the last day I got to see me really mom, Hope. I sure hope she is doing okay after parting ways. I bet she sure is glad to be done nursing me ... I sucked 11 pounds out of her, lol. Ken and Marge did great at taking care of me. They took lots of pictures and sent them to my foster mom. I will just call her mommy from now on I think. Mommy picked me up on 5/11/10. She was so excited when I seen her. She wasn't allowed to know which one I was until after orientation ... but she already knew because I was the only male from the litter at the SEMI office. After orientation, Aunt Becky offered to drive home so mommy could focus on me ... that was very sweet of her. They stopped for a quick bite to eat and I had an accident in the crate. Mommy said it was okay to walk threw water puddles that night. She wrapped to up in a blanket to dry me off for the rest of the ride home and took lots of pictures.