Casey visits (Chief & Gracie puppy)…

The Rope Toy

 

Doodles current favorite toy is a rope toy; which is also good for keeping teeth clean.

Bosley Picture (Chief & Libby puppy)

Tucker…

Hi again,

You were right Bonnie, I’ve found a couple of loose teeth so Tuck is well on his way to getting a new set of teeth. His gums look a little swollen where the new teeth are coming through but he doesn’t seem to want to chew on something all the time. So must look worse than it feels. J We weighed him yesterday and he is steady at 18.5 lbs. Who knows, maybe he’ll end up stopping at 25 lbs or so after all. I’m enclosing a few pics taken late yesterday and this morning. (I hope the files aren’t too big as the software which I use to reduce the size of the file isn’t working-if so will send in separate email) He is a tad rough looking and appears darker than he actually is especially indoors. There is one with Toby who used to be so much bigger then Tuck just to gage his size.

Class was interesting yesterday and mostly the dogs played around while we listened to the instructor. This class isn’t as much advanced as I thought it would be but I think it will work out fine. It won’t hurt to practice many of the basics and get them down solid. I don’t think Tucker is really ready for the next higher class anyway. Things will change next week somewhat in that we’ll be working more with the puppies during the class. We received a good outline and instructions for home in the class which will be good to refer to. This class is the same in that it is the “clicker” method. That seems to be working well with Tucker so we’re just following up on the same techniques.

Forgot to mention Tucker “seems” pretty well house broken too but I’m not ready to say it is a done deal yet. It has been a couple of weeks since we had any accidents (and then only one that last week) and he is the one going to the door to be let out. Not ready to call in the carpet cleaners just yet either. Want to make sure! When I/we leave for anytime, I make sure he and Toby are in the laundry room which they don’t seem to mind at all. Toby has never been 100% reliable when we aren’t home and I don’t want him teaching Tuck any new tricks while having the run of the house. J

 

Tucker’s mom responds to the email from Bosley

(I just love extended family through doodles)

May 1, 2009

How cute he is, LOVE the pics and in his “big boy bed” too. We had to move Tucker too into a larger crate too but we already had one. He likes it just fine but HATES cushions. Will paw and pull them to one side so he can lie on the cold hard surface. Go figure! Haven’t noticed any new teeth yet but will look next time I get a wide open mouth. J Looks like you are a stickler for keeping hair out of his eyes like I am. One class instructor even said to me, “He’s a Labradoodle? I can actually see his eyes!”

 

Went to the park again today – boy they had fun and they played with a couple of dogs. Tucker mostly. The big dogs pay him little mind but if they get too boisterous – back to Mama and between my feet in a hurry. My biggest thing is that he thinks every dog he sees is there to play with HIM. So he’ll run up to almost every dog he sees if given the chance. I guess you could say he is well socialized……can there be too much of a good thing? He’s whipped after a while at the park – all that excitement not to mention all the running around.

Bosley update

(I am behind in my updates as I have been in the garden… J )… Here is one from Bosley’s new mom

May 1, 2009

Hello Ladies, Had to share the pix of Bosley in his big boy bed. It just arrived today so he’ll be sleeping in it tonight. He’s out grown the crate from your house Vicky and he can’t really stretch out in Eddie’s crate so I ordered a larger one for him.. I’m hoping this will fit his adult size. I’m counting on him being a VERY GOOD dog and not chewing his nice, soft, fluffy cushion. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

MJ, doggy day care is going better than I could have hoped. The woman who is the day care dog wrangler said that Boz has really come out of his shell. When we went to pick him up last Tuesday he was playing with the largest, noisiest dog there. Some of the dogs are reform school drop outs…they are barky and pushy. I can see why their owners have them in day care. There are others that are well mannered. Of course, you know which crowd Bosley hangs with.. I’m sure if they could they’d be sneaking cigarettes behind the gym.. There are usually about 10 dogs in day care. The exposure has helped Boz and he is now fairly confident when we meet new dogs on our walking trail at the park. Most of the people at the park let their dogs off leash (not me…Boz will forever be on the flexileash) and sometimes the dogs rush up to us. He’ll hold his ground with all but the most barky, jumpy ones…with the really frisky ones he still tries to hide behind my legs. A big golden retriever came up to us this morning (happened to be named Tucker) and Boz put his front legs on the retriever’s chest to be able to smell his mouth. No hesitation at all. So my goal of day care helping him socialize with other dogs seems to be working. Plus it is heaven for me. Four whole hours of someone else caring for Bosley and then when he gets home he is beat. Sleeps for at least 3 hours and is wiped out the remainder of the day. A tired puppy is a good puppy.

 

Boz yawned today and I think I saw an adult molar coming in towards the back upper side. How about Tucker and Zoey….new teeth yet?

 

Take care all…Bosley sends puppy kisses. Bonnie

Bosley’s 12 Week Update

Hi Vicky and Jeff,

Twelve weeks old and Bosley is moving into another development stage. I liken it to moving from preschool to elementary school. I can see subtle differences in Bosley’s behavior. He’s more focused when playing with his toys and he is beginning to enjoy the scents that only a dog’s nose can pick up. The trees, bushes, plants and even the air are taking on a whole new meaning for him as he takes in the aromatic smorgasbord of the outside world.

 

Boz is so cute on our socialization outings. At first he sat quietly and perhaps a bit shyly in the child seat of the shopping cart. But after 3 weeks of ‘meet and greets’ he’s learned that strangers are wonderful, kibble dispensing beings. Yesterday he had his front feet on the back of the child seat actively looking for people to meet. If someone ignores him he can’t understand it and whines a bit as if he were saying “Look here…cute puppy…pet me.” Having the goal of meeting 100 people makes a fun game out of this important socialization experience.

 

Our training exercises are going well and the daily walks are becoming more and more of a pleasure as Bosley gets the idea of walking steadily by my left side…I think the warmer spring weather adds a lot to my enjoyment of the walks too. Housebreaking is moving right along. Bosley knows to go out the dog door to use the outdoor facilities. I still take him out quite often to go potty, and between the both of us (Boz and me) the inside accidents have been minimal. I must have been very pessimistic about housebreaking when I was stocking up on puppy supplies before Bosley came home to us because I bought the gallon size Nature’s Miracle to clean up after accidents…it’s never been opened. I haven’t even used half of the small spray bottle I also bought. He’s been very good.

 

And that’s another week of our Life With Bosley. He continues to be the happy heart of our home. There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t laugh out loud at his antics. He is a very bright spirit and we thank you for him.

 

 

When Sunny left the nest…

I know this is out of order, but I realized I had yet to post the picture of Sunny leaving for her forever home. Here is a picture of Sunny and her new family and some of Jeff giving Sunny some love before she leaves. I hope you’re all very happy!

 

Our updates…

Sorry to be slow in updates as there has been much going on this last couple of weeks. As you might have guessed our son is home from Iraq and we went to welcome him home. For our Christmas present he purchased tickets for Jeff and I and daughter to come to the happy event. Copper’s family watched Chief and the girls went to stay with Randy.

This all was happening as our puppies from Libby and Chief’s surprise litter were leaving the nest. We tried to keep the calendar free so we could see son home but Libby and Chief had a doodle on their minds…I must say, I am very impressed with their litter and am so happy with the puppies new homes and owners.

So, as we were busy with taking care of the puppies, work, and preparing for the trip. Five days before we leave, our mother had a heart attack and she ended up having surgery. The surgery is amazing, a story in itself and how far we have come medically. The new puppy owners still had puppies to pick up, work had me gone without it being planned, and my mother was telling the doctors at the hospital how she had to take a watercolor class that weekend where I of course promised we would if she would just be calm. She came out of the surgery “textbook” and although still recovering continues to amaze me with her spunk, humor, love and spirit.

We were able to leave after I was sure that mom was going to be okay, that brother was covered and the puppies and dogs were situated. I was still reeling from the fact I could have lost my mother; my best friend for a long time while I was busy with puppies and travel prep for welcoming son home. I was not as prepared as I would have liked for the trip and just happy to stare into our son’s eyes and know he is okay. Daughter and her boyfriend along with Jeff and I visited some tourist attractions while son was at work and we were yet again in a whirlwind of catching up and discussions of family and life. I was able to catch a few hours of sun and reading at the beach, putting my feet in the sand and snorkeling with fish in the shallow areas of Hanama Bay (glasses and masks don’t mix). I was just happy to have everyone alive and well. I got to visit with a very special boy, Avery, who is just a doll! And yes, so is his mom. J I also got more insights on daughter’s boyfriend and saw some love in action and level headedness in action along with some very insightful comments. Ah, life…

When we got home after going to work for one day I was surprised to find I had stomach flu and tried to get into work but my body was not cooperating. I am glad I was not sick while gone but also have work piling up but as any good mom does, now I worry about the fact I might have gotten the kids sick with this Oregon flu bug going around. I pondered the last couple of weeks rollercoaster ride while in bed resting. I pondered my own health, my family, my “puppies” leaving the nest and making their own nests. I thought of my mother when I left the nest and realized how lucky we are to have family, puppies, life, work, and love. Without some of life’s trials we don’t realize how lucky we are.

On another note, I will be working on changing over our internet as we are changing internet providers at the end of this month. Our email address is changing and I will be posting what the final email address change will be when I know what it is. J

Xxx hug the one your with, and call the loved ones your not with today xxX

Life with Bosley…

Can you believe that we’re on week 3 of “Life With Bosley”. As you can see by the pictures he’s growing. What a joy he is! We both speak of him and his abilities as if he were our human child. You know how it goes…”isn’t he smart”…”look at how clever he is” and we get especially puffed up with pride when a stranger compliments us on how well he walks, sits or how pretty (handsome) he is. Boz really is one special pup. He’s learned sit, come, down (lay down), out, and pen. He’s also great about being groomed. And Jeff, I trimmed his cowlick as you can see from the picture.

We’re walking twice a day and Bosley is quite the attraction. People just have to pet him…he’s so soft. We’re working on meeting 100 people before he’s 6 months old…we’re up to 63. Last week a couple rushed out their front door as we walked by and called “What kind of dog is that?” He has a cute factor that people cannot resist.

I was a bit concerned about taking on a puppy at our age, but really it is, and will continue to be I’m sure, such a positive experience. Bosley has such a zest for life that it is contagious. To see him running with abandon brings a smile to our faces. It’s hard to have a bad day when I’m greeted every morning with those warm, wiggly puppy kisses. It is also very satisfying to see the positive results of our training…he is such a biddable dog. He is still a puppy though and he does have his moments and that is where the x-pen comes in. Whether it’s nap time or time out the x-pen is the answer. I had never used an x-pen before and frankly I can’t imagine life without it. That is the one thing I would recommend for all your puppy people.

So here we are, Bosley will be 11 weeks tomorrow. We will continue doing what we’re doing because it’s repetition and rewards that get the desired adult behaviors embedded into our little puppy’s brain. And Bosley will continue doing what he’s doing, bringing joy and happiness to his humans.

Hope you had a wonderful trip and your reunion was exactly the way you wanted it.

 

Xxx