Puppy Updates...

Hey all.   Hope the summer treated you well.   So those of you wondering how the pups are doing, here's your info:



DUCHESS:

Duchess at the park

She's becoming more social at the dog park.  She's always been a bit of a loner. She'd be walking along the fence line or searching in the woods all by herself. She may run with a dog or two, but she's never really played with any dog.   She's never been overly affectionate and tended to be aloof.

Prior to Peryn she would become playful with her food, tossing it in the air and such. She and I would play a bit after I gave her a cookie.  She had her 2 stuffed animals: Lambchop & Hedgehog that she would play with on the bed.    

She would play with Athena until Athena discovered other dogs, now they don't play (or I should say Athena doesn't really play with her).

Since Peryn though, the jealousy Duchess has is showing. She competes for attention from Peryn. 
After getting over the initial "shock" of having Peryn in the house, she often played with him. Actually it was more of her pushing him around.   Peryn loved it though and her rough play helped him out.
With our wanting to socialize Peryn as much as possible, we often had meetups with others to have the dogs play. This additional one on one time with other dogs has made Duchess a little more comfortable around other dogs.  

While at the park she still tends to be by herself, she'll join in with the group more often than not.
Additionally at home she tends to seek out attention and affection much more often. While she still isn't very affectionate (she does NOT lick ) she has mellowed some.  She tends to curl up against us all the time now.   Her competition with Peryn has made her a much sweeter dog.

While the two of them do not play together as much, and I think that has to do with the constant exercise and dog park visits, pay too much attention to one or the other and a "fight" aka Playing starts.

Duchess is a good dog and very protective. I still don't trust her with strangers.  

One good thing that has happened is now that the dogs play often with Huskies (remember Duchess is half Husky) things are better.  I don't feel I have to explain her when she does some things (like her drive buys or aggressive play) because I'm with others who have dogs that are the same way.

So overall Duchess is good.   She is "aging".  Her snout which had been brownish when we adopted her 3 1/2 years ago is all white.  I am unsure her exact age and that worries me as Duchess is my favorite dog of the current 3.   

Current Likes:  Loves Grafton, Kirtland, & Medina dog parks for their sizes. She loves Grafton because it is wide open and in the country. She LOVES the country.  She loves Median for the woods. And she loves Kirtland for the water and the play area.  She loves to splash. She loves to explore and run free.
Loves running with ponies.   Loves her schedule: morning brusha and cookies & her out times.
Loves to lay or sit at the back of the yard, in the shade, and monitor. She loves to lay out on the patio and sun bathe.

Favorite toy: Anything that dispenses treats as she plays with it.
Car rides?   She is a horrible traveler. HORRIBLE. She paces back and forth and whines and husky howls until she can stick her nose out an open window.

Favorite sibling: Peryn

Athena getting some loving at the park

ATHENA: Athena has come such a long way. I was looking through her paperwork from when we adopted her.  She's gained weight (14 lbs),stronger legs, and her infections are gone.
Personality wise, Athena hasn't really changed much over time. She's pretty much the same dog as she's always been.
She really loves us and loves being with us. She loves playing with other dogs..sort of.
She'll play with Peryn, MC, & Bridger, but at the dog park she's happier to run after other dogs and bark at those wrestling.   
She and Peryn are ok. Peryn loves to bug the crap out of her. He will "munch " on her as she goes up and down stairs.  
They're more likely to play with one another than Duchess and Peryn would.   

She loves loves loves going to the park to "play" with other dogs. She's still obsessed with smaller dogs as she tries to mother them. She tries to break up "fights" (dogs wrestling with one another) and sometimes ends up as a protector of weaker dogs by doing so.

She does not sleep in the bed with us as the uneveness of the bed bothers her legs. She still has weak legs from her life before us. While we've strengthened them by allowing her to play and walk, she still has issues with them.  Her own bed is either the big chair next to the bed or the dog blanket/bed on the floor in front of it. 

She has a bladder of steel and once she's in bed for the night, she won't get up until we force her out the next morning.

She's the best listener of the bunch.   Call her once or ask her to stop and she does. She is a barker.  I call her Barky Bark and the Furry Bunch...
  

Current Likes:  If the place has dogs, she loves it.  She loves other dogs.
She's a doll who loves to be outside. She could be outside watching all day long if we would let her. 

Favorite toy: Rocky the Raccoon.

Car rides?   She is a horrible traveler. HORRIBLE from the minute she got in the car with us. She's better than she was, but only if no one (Duchess or Peryn) encroach on her space in the car.  

Favorite sibling: Peryn

PERYN the Pup: Peryn. Peryn. Peryn.   Lil dude is a handful.  He's an extremely happy dog who loves his Mommy very much. He loves Daddy too, but it's like a 60/40 attachment with Mommy being 60.  Personally I think it's more, but we don't want to upset Daddy!

Peryn loves playing.  Other dogs, balls, toys, anything he finds on the floor, the tie outs... 
He is full of life and loves to show it.    He still is not to be trusted alone, so is crated during the day. 

He loves to swim, play rough with his friends, and most importantly FETCH.   The dog can play FETCH non-stop for hours if you have it in you to keep up.  

He LOVES bodies of water. He loves to run, play, & swim in water.  It's going to be a long winter for him.

If you read up on Cattle Dogs, he's matches everything perfectly.   He has more than the regular puppy exuberance.  We've had 2 dogs at the 9-10 month age and neither of them had Peryn's energy.    We've discovered that if he is not regularly exercised, he's a monster.
He will chew anything he finds, walk all over Mommy in the middle of the night, and just bug the heck out of you until you play.  

We started him in day care 2 days a week-starting last week.   A big difference it's making.  It makes dealing with him the rest of the day and the whole next day much more bearable. 
Yay!


He has a few friends he LOVES to play with: MC, Akira, Apollo, & Kato (last 3 are huskies)

Current Likes:  Fetch, balls(Squeakier the better), going on rides, parks, other dogs, walks, playing

Favorite toy: ALL

Car rides?   He's WONDERFUL in the car.  He's like Galen was.  Quiet, comfortable, and enjoyable. He is a great traveler.


Favorite sibling: to play with: Athena.  TO sleep around & run with: Duchess.

SO So SO much

Hi!! Peryn here. My first time. Isn't it exciting. I have so much to tell you about. Really it's all awesome. I am so glad you're here. I can't believe I get to tell you all about it and did you know I love my Mommy? She's the bestest.  She is awesome. I hate when she leaves and I can't go with her.  I can't keep her safe if she's not by me.  It sucks. It really does.
I love life. I love my Mommy. I love my sissies.  Athena is awesome. Duchess is cool except when she tries to get on the bed at night. I don't care if she's been sleeping there since day 1. No one can be there except ME!!

I love balls and playing fetch and playing with other doggies and playing in water. I love water. I love to swim and I love to chase other dogs in the water and I love to splash. It's so much fun.  Mommy and Daddy take me and my sisters to the parks where I can do all of this.   It's just awesome!  I love to ride in the car and I just love it.

Mommy says I'm real big now.   I'm still much smaller than Duchess and Athena and most other dogs I play with, but I'm not as small as I was.     r
I met my Grandma & Grandpa . Duchess said they're cool and pawesome, but I don't know yet.   They didn't play with me much.

I just wanted to tell you that I love my life and my toys and my sisters and my Mommy.......
~~~~~~~~~

Sorry it's been awhile to post an update on the dogs.  Been pretty busy the past month or so.
July 23 we drove down to Columbus to attend the Annual Cattle Dog Cookout.   Peryn travels so well. He slept most of the way down. He got to meet his "peeps".  MANY MANY ACD's were there. It was super hot and he loved swimming (big surprise. He loves water).

We try to get the kids to the park once a week (at least). We've been taking trips out to Canine Meadows to let them run, play, splash, swim.  In fact, we did that today. The kids are POOPED.

Peryn's about 45 lbs now.  Heavier, longer than tall. He's a pain in the butt, but he's a loveable guy.
Duchess tolerates him to a point. Athena and Peryn still love to play.  Peryn also loves playing with Athena's friends: MC & Bridger.   Let's be honest, Peryn loves playing with everyone and every dog.

Duchess is definitely a lot more affectionate these days thanks to her jealousy of Peryn.   Very interesting.

The Dog Report: May 28

The Dog Report

Duchess: That little rat continues to try and steal "MY" attention, "MY" food, and "MY" bed.   Why did they bring him to live with us?  He annoys me.
OK, he's not all bad.  He's fun to wrestle with. One of the only few who like to play like I like to play.  It's pretty cool.
I am however making sure I secure my spot in bed.  I'm so sweet and cuddly at night.   I take the premium spots and he has to work to get in a cuddle.   he he.

ZZZZZZ

Something is going on. Daddy has been walking us everyday after work for weeks.  We haven't walked in days.  We haven't been to the park in days......why??  Then again it's like really super hot here.   I go outside and run and run and run around and then poof! I have to lay down.  I can't do anymore.

So, I had this awesome bed that I liked to lay on. No one could reach me, well until Peryn began to jump and make it.  It was really high and comfy. Then one day they came and took my bed!   They being those people who come with the guy that looks and smells like Daddy and those kids and OH! That nice Stacey that is nice to me.      But they TOOK MY BED.

Mommy got another that wasn't the same, but I can adapt.   THe thing that sucked is it was shorter and so HE has no problems getting on it. Athena can jump on it too.  sigh.
THEN Mommy moved it.  She had to move it and now .....oh my world is falling apart.

It's right by the windows.  So yay-I get to lay and look out. BUT  and it's a big one.  HE is always on it too AND Athena jumps on it all the time to get to her bed at the other window.   SIgh.    I miss having my own stuff.


Athena: Daddee loves me! He was home yesterday and we sat and cuddled and it was really awesome.  I love my Daddee.   My baby brother is fun to play with but he won't leave me alone on the stairs. I go up the stairs and he has to chew on me. I go down the stairs and he chews on me.   I can't play on the stairs!!
The weather has been awesome. It's that weather where I can sit outside in the shade all day and just watch.  There is so much happening out there.  There are animals I need to chase and there is noises from the back part that I need to bark at.  Oh!  And there is machine things on the other side of the grass and trees...and people.. I mean there is so much for me to watch!!!

The bed

I feel bad that I haven't played with MC & Bridger for a long while but Peryn just takes up so much of my play time.     A few times recently we went to the park and Peryn and I had so much fun running around the grassy field.  It so cool.   Sometimes all 3 of us run together.  It is really cool.  
Daddee was walking us a lot but hasn't the past few days. It's ok, I think my Daddee is tired and needs his rest.   I want my Daddy safe and healthy.   I can live without a few days walk.  

Mommy moved the bed that was Duchess'  Now I can choose to lay on it or my other bed.   It does make it difficult to get to my spot, but at least I have choices.

Ok, let me be honest....Peryn is a cool kid.   I don't like when he makes Mommy or Daddee mad---and they call his name ALL the time.   He made Mommy REALLY mad when she discovered he'd been eating on the bed. The corners are chewed up ..she was not happy.  But Mommy doesn't yell at him ....only when she catches him. She told Daddee there was no point since he did it and they didn't catch him.

 

Peryn:   Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi.    Who are you? Where are you at?  Can I kiss you...oh....squirrel!   no really...I have a bunch of them. They are all these little squeakie things that goes in this tree trunk thingy.  OOh my wood thing.    Mommy said it was a hanger or soemthing at one time but I call it my Wood thing.    Did you know I'm getting bigger?   I'm going to be THIS MANY ....oh you can't see that?? sorry.....Mommy said I am going to be a 5 month old big boy!   SOoo cool.

Me and one of my squirrels!

So I'm s'posed to tell you about things I like.   I like ....lots of stuff.   Let's see I like to play with the things that hold our food and water.  When they're empty, they look all lonely so I take them with me and we play around . I like the things mommy moves across the floor.....I love to jump on them. I like anything I find really. If it's on the floor, I play with it.     OH! I love to play fetch......love love love it.   Only inside of course.  At the park or outside...too much other cool stuff to do.  I like the doggies next door.. I like humans.   I like....Mommy. I really really like my mommy. She lets me play on her and land on her and jump on her and lay on her.  She's just the bestest thing in the world. Daddee is awesome too. He takes me on these really cool walks.  I never walk with the sisters which makes me sad...but I do get to go with Daddy around our house area.  

I like the wet dirty stuff-mom calls it mud- that I find at the park. Did you know you can dive into it?

HI!!

Uhm. I really really like people and dogs and treats and bottles and squeakies and beds and furniture and shoes.....love shoes.     I like lots. I like Mrs Lissette and Daniel and Master Chief.   I see them lots. I also like Bridger too.   I don't get to play so much with him since he's further down and I can't reach him.   Let's see ......Well............oh look! String!!

Mommy's Turn:

Things are going well. Peryn is growing so big.  He's about 32 lbs of fur.  His nails were Ninja like knives (we call him a Ninja) and he was marking me up pretty badly.  The number of large scratches and times he's drawn blood were getting ridiculous.  We had them trimmed and he's now just bearable.  He really does like to be around me. He uses me as a launch pad, landing pad, wrestling mat and his favorite thing to do is climb all over me when I'm in bed.

Mommy! Get up!

Oh HI there!!

And I mean he gets on top of me and walks across me.
A few times he's even lept off the chair arm and landed hard on me.   NOT FUN!  I'm posting a pic of what he did to me the other morning that we were able to catch on camera. Mind you this is a regular thing.
This morning he nearly choked me when he chose to lie across my throat.

He's been cleared for dog Park play.  We took him twice to the local park to get him used to playing with other dogs.   It was a let down as none of the dogs really liked to play.  Tomorrow however is a Husky meet. The first one we can attend since adopting the kid.   It's at their favorite pakr (the one we've gone to many times because usually no one is there).  So that will help him with his comfort.  This is is first foray into some REAL dog play.  

Depending on the dogs he meets he'll either dive right in to running and wrestling or he'll get all nervous and try to hide from them.   I'm not too worried, his big sisters are good at keeping an eye on him.

Tell you more about it later....

Taking a break

Love this place

Mud. Mud. Mud.

Happy Mother's Day

Duchess

HEY!!  Happy Mother's Day!

Puppy's are doing well.  

Athena went for her annual and is doing well.   She's happy and healthy and loves her little brother.

Duchess has been good, but seems to be a bit off today.   She is loving the fact that her baby brother is growing.  Their play has become increasingly more physical and anyone watching better stay out of the way.

Peryn is growing like a weed.   He is about 30 lbs and just loves life.  We've also discovered he loves mud puddles.  At the dog park the past two weeks he's found mud puddles and loves to roll in them.

With Daddy.

He can hold his business overnight and all day when in the crate.  However, we're still working on the letting us know when he needs to go out and he gets the excited "leaks".

He's officially over 4 months.   He's a handful, that's for sure.   Daddy has taken to walking the kids after getting home for work. Peryn gets the longer walk.
It was great at first, he'd come home pooped.   Well, now it's barely having an impact.   If he doesn't get a walk, he's a monster at night. Playing in the bedroom and walking all over his Mommy.    Not fun for Mom at all.

I'm tooo tired.

 He definitely loves his sisters. He loves Athena quite a bit. He irritates her at times, but she allows it. They are pretty sweet together.  At the dog park, Athena likes to keep an eye on him and they tend to run the park together.

However, when it comes to naps and bed time, Duchess is his go-to girl. They tend to nap near one another.
The girls may act annoyed by him, but they do keep an eye out for their brother.

Peryn loving the park

The muddy little bugger. 

His most favorite toy-the Alligator

His favorite nap spot when we're having dinner.

Nap Time.