It HAS been awhile, hasn't it? hmm. Well, all I can say is raising 4 human kids and a puppy is much like I'd imagine a rip in the fabric of the space/time continuum must be. Things happen, seemingly in slow-mo, and the next thing I know, it is weeks later. Like to me, we just got this puppy a couple days ago, right?
Not so much, Speedy. Try more than a month ago.
And at first, I couldn't see that she was even freaking growing at all. but then i compared some recent photos of her to the ones we took when we brought her home and... she's definitely grown. and weighs more. her ribs are still visible, but almost not really, anymore. I have always had a habit of holding her upright, forepaws on my shoulder* and when we first got her, her back end came to about mid-chest. Now I hold her the same way, and suddenly her hind end is nearly resting upon my lap. I mean, I have a short torso and all, but clearly this demonstrates growth on her part.
I ended up increasing her food, too. the eXXXXtreme skinniness was worrisome to me. I now feed her 2 1/2 cups of kibble, one small jar of meaty baby food, and half a med. size jar of a green beans/rice mix. 1 cup kibble in the AM, 1/2 cup around lunch with the meat puree, and another cup for her evening meal, with the beans/rice puree. this seems to be working much better, as she is not only gaining weight, but seems much more satisfied. I've even seen a decrease in her attempts to eat non-food items.
Cesar is right, too; lots of daily exercise for her also makes her a much happier pup. She's always been sweet and snuggly, but the change in diet and activity has calmed her down considerably. the last few days, we haven't heard a peep from her about being in the crate, and have had no more messes made in there, either. Progress!
She still has the occasional accident in the house, but that is always due to someone not watching her properly, and taking her out when she should be (ex: after feeding or play). I was also finally able to give her more space in the crate, because she's been so very good about not messing in it, lately, and that has helped as well. she doesn't freak out or fight being in there, which is a godsend. I think maybe she figured out that the crate is her space for quiet play and rest.
yes, all in all, the changes in her care have resulted in a much happier dog.
oooh. and she has finally conquered the stairs. she can now go both up AND down them on her own, which is great because for a little while there, I was getting concerned that I'd be carrying a huge dog up and down stairs for the rest of her natural life. And she definitely knows her name, now. She knows more commands, too. "Sit" was practically mastered in a day, and she now knows "wait", "down", and "drop it". she usually knows what "go potty", "come here", and "go get it" mean, too. I still can't get her into a laying position upon command, though. she just does NOT want to work her front paws forward from a sitting position to a laying one. I'd worry, except i know she's really smart and will do it in her own time when she's ready.
Oh yeah! also! she has the basics of leash-training down pat. she can now go for short walks on the leash, and willl walk next to or behind whoever's leading, but never in front of. Once she becomes accustomed to a routine including a daily walk, we'll work on having her sit and wait by the door until we've passed through before she joins us.
I have to say, if she continues with the same personality she's been showing, I do not think we'll have many problems with her jumping on people by way of greeting. she doesn't even bark when people come in the house, just sort of sits or stands there, checking them out visually, and will sit upon command from people she doesn't know. She's not terribly excitable with most people, except maybe little kids. I think that is because they are closer in size to her, so she probably thinks they look like hairless puppies because her behaviors all practically scream, "come on, let's play!" we are working on teaching her to wait for an invitation to play and what play behaviors are okay and which ones aren't and she is trying so hard to learn it.
yep, we have a winner. between the smarts and quick training, the generally great beahavior, and the amazing snuggling, I'm starting to think I might just have the best dog in the whole world.
And ok, I know I'm being a Braggy McBraggerPants, but I cannot seem to help it. I love my pup. she's awesome. Adopting her was one of the absolute best things we ever did. She just makes every single blessed day feel like a gift, because she's just so eager to please and so very very good. plus, she's awfully cute and those puppy hugs and snuggles are freaking amazing and so so SO rewarding. yay for dog ownership!
*i know, i know, she's gonna get huge, and then what am I gonna do? but dog hugs are some of the best ever, and I'm training her not to do it unless someone asks for it
Not so much, Speedy. Try more than a month ago.
And at first, I couldn't see that she was even freaking growing at all. but then i compared some recent photos of her to the ones we took when we brought her home and... she's definitely grown. and weighs more. her ribs are still visible, but almost not really, anymore. I have always had a habit of holding her upright, forepaws on my shoulder* and when we first got her, her back end came to about mid-chest. Now I hold her the same way, and suddenly her hind end is nearly resting upon my lap. I mean, I have a short torso and all, but clearly this demonstrates growth on her part.
I ended up increasing her food, too. the eXXXXtreme skinniness was worrisome to me. I now feed her 2 1/2 cups of kibble, one small jar of meaty baby food, and half a med. size jar of a green beans/rice mix. 1 cup kibble in the AM, 1/2 cup around lunch with the meat puree, and another cup for her evening meal, with the beans/rice puree. this seems to be working much better, as she is not only gaining weight, but seems much more satisfied. I've even seen a decrease in her attempts to eat non-food items.
Cesar is right, too; lots of daily exercise for her also makes her a much happier pup. She's always been sweet and snuggly, but the change in diet and activity has calmed her down considerably. the last few days, we haven't heard a peep from her about being in the crate, and have had no more messes made in there, either. Progress!
She still has the occasional accident in the house, but that is always due to someone not watching her properly, and taking her out when she should be (ex: after feeding or play). I was also finally able to give her more space in the crate, because she's been so very good about not messing in it, lately, and that has helped as well. she doesn't freak out or fight being in there, which is a godsend. I think maybe she figured out that the crate is her space for quiet play and rest.
yes, all in all, the changes in her care have resulted in a much happier dog.
oooh. and she has finally conquered the stairs. she can now go both up AND down them on her own, which is great because for a little while there, I was getting concerned that I'd be carrying a huge dog up and down stairs for the rest of her natural life. And she definitely knows her name, now. She knows more commands, too. "Sit" was practically mastered in a day, and she now knows "wait", "down", and "drop it". she usually knows what "go potty", "come here", and "go get it" mean, too. I still can't get her into a laying position upon command, though. she just does NOT want to work her front paws forward from a sitting position to a laying one. I'd worry, except i know she's really smart and will do it in her own time when she's ready.
Oh yeah! also! she has the basics of leash-training down pat. she can now go for short walks on the leash, and willl walk next to or behind whoever's leading, but never in front of. Once she becomes accustomed to a routine including a daily walk, we'll work on having her sit and wait by the door until we've passed through before she joins us.
I have to say, if she continues with the same personality she's been showing, I do not think we'll have many problems with her jumping on people by way of greeting. she doesn't even bark when people come in the house, just sort of sits or stands there, checking them out visually, and will sit upon command from people she doesn't know. She's not terribly excitable with most people, except maybe little kids. I think that is because they are closer in size to her, so she probably thinks they look like hairless puppies because her behaviors all practically scream, "come on, let's play!" we are working on teaching her to wait for an invitation to play and what play behaviors are okay and which ones aren't and she is trying so hard to learn it.
yep, we have a winner. between the smarts and quick training, the generally great beahavior, and the amazing snuggling, I'm starting to think I might just have the best dog in the whole world.
And ok, I know I'm being a Braggy McBraggerPants, but I cannot seem to help it. I love my pup. she's awesome. Adopting her was one of the absolute best things we ever did. She just makes every single blessed day feel like a gift, because she's just so eager to please and so very very good. plus, she's awfully cute and those puppy hugs and snuggles are freaking amazing and so so SO rewarding. yay for dog ownership!
*i know, i know, she's gonna get huge, and then what am I gonna do? but dog hugs are some of the best ever, and I'm training her not to do it unless someone asks for it
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