July 24, 2008
day 6
Day 6:
Today with Bean was lots of fun. My sister watched her for the morning so I could get some extra sleep (5-6 hours a night might be perfect for Bean, but I like 8-9!) and then in the afternoon we went over to my friend Teresa’s apartment and we spent the rest of the day there. There were no accidents, and she had no problem peeing and frolicking in the grass outside the apartment each time we went out like a happy, well-adjusted puppy should!
It was also Bean’s first experience with cats – Teresa owns two. One, Samus, was positively friendly with Bean and they politely sniffed noses a number of times. The other cat, Ham, was terrified of Bean for no apparent reason and batted at her just once before she ran away and hid for the rest of the time I was there. Bean didn’t hold a grudge, and overall doesn’t seem to mind cats – which is good, because someday I hope to own one. <3 A long way off, in my apartment someday.
In other but very related news I got my job with the photography company, so photographer Maddie will be making some good scratch to pay for Bean’s new crate, surgery, and name tag (besides a bunch of things that I want to save for that have nothing to do with Bean, of course, lol) in the near future. I start training on August 1st! Yay money!
Teresa agreed with me – Bean is the cutest thing on four legs. I love the improbably positions in which she manages to sleep; draped over a single leg, propped up with her head drooping backward, etc. Sleepy Bean is a floppy mess! Cutest thing of the day…she got the hiccups while sprawled on her back across my lap, to all appearances otherwise asleep.
Because we were in an unfamiliar place she didn’t eat as much as usual today (maybe a total of ¾ a cup of food, where she’s supposed to eat about a cup and a ¼ each day), but the majority of that food she ate was on the way home from Teresa’s. She also didn’t poo until we got home, but she DID go outside before she went to bed tonight. About 7 minutes of barking before she gave up and went to sleep. <3
- me
Today with Bean was lots of fun. My sister watched her for the morning so I could get some extra sleep (5-6 hours a night might be perfect for Bean, but I like 8-9!) and then in the afternoon we went over to my friend Teresa’s apartment and we spent the rest of the day there. There were no accidents, and she had no problem peeing and frolicking in the grass outside the apartment each time we went out like a happy, well-adjusted puppy should!
It was also Bean’s first experience with cats – Teresa owns two. One, Samus, was positively friendly with Bean and they politely sniffed noses a number of times. The other cat, Ham, was terrified of Bean for no apparent reason and batted at her just once before she ran away and hid for the rest of the time I was there. Bean didn’t hold a grudge, and overall doesn’t seem to mind cats – which is good, because someday I hope to own one. <3 A long way off, in my apartment someday.
In other but very related news I got my job with the photography company, so photographer Maddie will be making some good scratch to pay for Bean’s new crate, surgery, and name tag (besides a bunch of things that I want to save for that have nothing to do with Bean, of course, lol) in the near future. I start training on August 1st! Yay money!
Teresa agreed with me – Bean is the cutest thing on four legs. I love the improbably positions in which she manages to sleep; draped over a single leg, propped up with her head drooping backward, etc. Sleepy Bean is a floppy mess! Cutest thing of the day…she got the hiccups while sprawled on her back across my lap, to all appearances otherwise asleep.
Because we were in an unfamiliar place she didn’t eat as much as usual today (maybe a total of ¾ a cup of food, where she’s supposed to eat about a cup and a ¼ each day), but the majority of that food she ate was on the way home from Teresa’s. She also didn’t poo until we got home, but she DID go outside before she went to bed tonight. About 7 minutes of barking before she gave up and went to sleep. <3
- me
Day 5
Day 5
Oh my goodness (it feels so strange to write that out instead of omg, lol!), I am so proud of Bean!!! Tonight when she went into her crate she did not cry or bark AT ALL! Just blessed, blessed silence. It isn’t only that she is exhausted from a long day, since yesterday she got LOTS more exercise (a trip to a park! With running!) and she barked for 10 minutes last night. The consistency has really paid off!
Every day Bean grows by leaps and bounds. Today she has begun willingly greeting strangers. Her tail is down but not tucked, and she’ll let a nice, slow moving stranger scratch or pet her head while on the ground. Oh what a good girl! When I first welcomed her to my house she would run from people she didn’t know, hide behind my legs and bark at them from that position. She has started venturing out from my side, running ahead of me when we’re in the back or front yard. Though it’s awesome to see her being more independent, it does mean that I have to keep a much closer eye on her to keep her out of trouble, and new commands like “leave it” and “come” are more and more important! At this point she doesn’t bounce away from me more than 10 feet or so at the very most before she realizes she’s alone and figures out where I am so she can race back. But still, I’m so happy for her. A confident dog is a happy one!
Her adjustment to living with two big boxer dogs is really going well. There’s no more barking or snapping at them – she’s come to realize that she is, for sure, at the bottom of this food chain…er…pack. lol. She all on her own sniffs their faces or butts, or whatever she can reach (she only comes up to their ANKLES) and when they walk around her she sometimes wags her tail and looks at them. This is product of both the positive reinforcement of giving her treats when they’re all together, and the tiny spritz of water every now and then to discourage barking and defensive behavior around them. The boys, even when they’re really excited and insane, know by now not to play rough with her because it scares her so (and because I don’t want them to step on her!!).
One small accident today, no one can figure out when it happened…just on the rug, but a different one, different spot. Otherwise potty training is still going well. I know it could take a while for her to really understand that outside is the ONLY acceptable place to pee, and I’m alright with the long haul. I look forward to the day when she is as well trained as the boys – we let them out of their kennels and they go sit by the door. We open the door – they go out and pee. Then they come back. It’s awesome. That will be a good day.
Tonight, I accept the success of crate training. Yay crate training! <3
- me
Oh my goodness (it feels so strange to write that out instead of omg, lol!), I am so proud of Bean!!! Tonight when she went into her crate she did not cry or bark AT ALL! Just blessed, blessed silence. It isn’t only that she is exhausted from a long day, since yesterday she got LOTS more exercise (a trip to a park! With running!) and she barked for 10 minutes last night. The consistency has really paid off!
Every day Bean grows by leaps and bounds. Today she has begun willingly greeting strangers. Her tail is down but not tucked, and she’ll let a nice, slow moving stranger scratch or pet her head while on the ground. Oh what a good girl! When I first welcomed her to my house she would run from people she didn’t know, hide behind my legs and bark at them from that position. She has started venturing out from my side, running ahead of me when we’re in the back or front yard. Though it’s awesome to see her being more independent, it does mean that I have to keep a much closer eye on her to keep her out of trouble, and new commands like “leave it” and “come” are more and more important! At this point she doesn’t bounce away from me more than 10 feet or so at the very most before she realizes she’s alone and figures out where I am so she can race back. But still, I’m so happy for her. A confident dog is a happy one!
Her adjustment to living with two big boxer dogs is really going well. There’s no more barking or snapping at them – she’s come to realize that she is, for sure, at the bottom of this food chain…er…pack. lol. She all on her own sniffs their faces or butts, or whatever she can reach (she only comes up to their ANKLES) and when they walk around her she sometimes wags her tail and looks at them. This is product of both the positive reinforcement of giving her treats when they’re all together, and the tiny spritz of water every now and then to discourage barking and defensive behavior around them. The boys, even when they’re really excited and insane, know by now not to play rough with her because it scares her so (and because I don’t want them to step on her!!).
One small accident today, no one can figure out when it happened…just on the rug, but a different one, different spot. Otherwise potty training is still going well. I know it could take a while for her to really understand that outside is the ONLY acceptable place to pee, and I’m alright with the long haul. I look forward to the day when she is as well trained as the boys – we let them out of their kennels and they go sit by the door. We open the door – they go out and pee. Then they come back. It’s awesome. That will be a good day.
Tonight, I accept the success of crate training. Yay crate training! <3
- me
July 16, 2008
Day 3
Well, today lots of progress was made, mostly in the way of our pack dynamics!
Bean is getting more and more comfortable around the boys, although it's still a rocky road. She's intimidated by their size, and she is used to being close to the top of the pack (as she was in her first home) whereas in this one she's bound to be on the bottom. She's not liking this adjustment, but with the boys being so big, that's how it's got to be - although she'd admirably defend her rank in a tussle with the boys, there'd be too much risk of her getting injured because of her size and her back (you always have to look out for a doxie's back, it's a fragile spine since it's so long!). If she's on the bottom and can be firmly assured there was no chance for her to get higher and could come to accept that role, she would not have to be pushy and fight to protect her position. And that's good. I don't want a crazy yappy pushy little dog - I want at dog that is happy with it's place in life and knows that it's where it should be.
Now, becoming the omega female is hard for little Bean. She doesn't want to give up things she thinks are "hers" and this guarding behavior is NOT acceptable. So I, being the higher up, occasionally take her toys when she's not playing with them and give those toys to the big dogs. This says to the big dogs "anything you want of hers, you don't have to nicely ask - you're higher up in the pack than she is" and says to Bean "you may like your things, but if the bigger dogs really want it, you don't have much of a say about it." The boys have exclusive rights to their food, and if Bean tries to nose in when they're eating or try to guard it, she gets shooed away. Bean occasionally barks at the big dogs when they nose her (they're not pushing her or even hurting her in any way at all, but she freaks out at them!). When she barks at the dogs, I've squirt her with a squirt bottle that I've taken to carrying around. I try to be sneaky about it so she doesn't know where it comes from - I don't want her to associate the startle and unpleasant wet with ME instead of with the BARKING. And she's already starting to understand that barking at the boys or showing them any kind of genuine aggression means bad things. Today Baccio took a toy and ran around the back yard with it, and when Bean and Samson chased him, Bean was wagging her tail! She hardly ever does that except for when I'm playing with her or when she's being praised for a good piddle or poo!
On that front (the potty training one) there were lots of successes, and only one failure. She got under the table when we were all at dinner, and she (seriously, how ew is this) peed right next to my foot, getting my sock wet. I had JUST taken her outside not 5 minutes before and the whole time we'd been out she'd walked around and chewed on the grass (she does it ALL the time when she's outside...only the long stuff. I don't know what's up with that but it's cute as hell) so it was just an honest accident on her part. Being that it was the only failure and there were so many successes, I'm overall SUPER proud of her - especially her last outing of the night where she peed AND pooed in one trip! Who ever knew I'd be so excited about a dog's elimination and excretion? I can't wait for the day when she just feels like she has to go, and walks HERSELF outside to do it. Oh, that will be a glorious day!
Her anxiety has improved as well. She will sleep in her bed on the floor next to me while I sit in the lazyboy watching tv or reading my book, and she's come to realize that jumping on my leg and whining for attention has the opposite effect. In order to earn my attention she has to sit and look at me patiently - and even then, sometimes I won't. It's on my terms. I know puppies need to be played with a lot and never doubt we play until she's tuckered several times a day, but nothing is free when it comes to training! Sometimes I just can't help picking her up and having her fall asleep on my lap...but it's a rare treat. She might be called a "lap dog" but knowing that she'll see it as getting to treat a the top dog in the pack like her personal throne, I know it's something that would undermine my training.
Finally, crate training. I'm not using the crate to potty train her, I'm using the direct method. But her crate is where she sleeps at night, and I think she's coming to accept that inevitability. Last night she barked for a half an hour straight, and then gave up. Tonight she barked only for 10 minutes! I think it helps that she can hear the sleeping sounds of the boys, as they're kenneled right next to her. My hope is that she feels like she's more in the pack this way. <3
I always feel like there's more I can say about our days together. Until we get the potty training and the anxiety straightened out she occupies the majority of my day's focus - but once she settles in and pees where she's supposed to I won't worry about her as much. She is just a puppy in a very new place with very new rules. And I just know that if I'm consistent and patiant with her, she's going to be the awesomest little dog ever!
Commands we know (wip = work in progress!):
sit
out (for the kitchen - she's not allowed to wander about my feet and trip me when I'm cooking and whatnot!)
no (haha, most of the time)
down
stand (wip)
wait (wip)
HER NAME! Today she responds readily to it!
go to bed (wip0
kennel up!
That's all for this day! Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. <3
- me
Bean is getting more and more comfortable around the boys, although it's still a rocky road. She's intimidated by their size, and she is used to being close to the top of the pack (as she was in her first home) whereas in this one she's bound to be on the bottom. She's not liking this adjustment, but with the boys being so big, that's how it's got to be - although she'd admirably defend her rank in a tussle with the boys, there'd be too much risk of her getting injured because of her size and her back (you always have to look out for a doxie's back, it's a fragile spine since it's so long!). If she's on the bottom and can be firmly assured there was no chance for her to get higher and could come to accept that role, she would not have to be pushy and fight to protect her position. And that's good. I don't want a crazy yappy pushy little dog - I want at dog that is happy with it's place in life and knows that it's where it should be.
Now, becoming the omega female is hard for little Bean. She doesn't want to give up things she thinks are "hers" and this guarding behavior is NOT acceptable. So I, being the higher up, occasionally take her toys when she's not playing with them and give those toys to the big dogs. This says to the big dogs "anything you want of hers, you don't have to nicely ask - you're higher up in the pack than she is" and says to Bean "you may like your things, but if the bigger dogs really want it, you don't have much of a say about it." The boys have exclusive rights to their food, and if Bean tries to nose in when they're eating or try to guard it, she gets shooed away. Bean occasionally barks at the big dogs when they nose her (they're not pushing her or even hurting her in any way at all, but she freaks out at them!). When she barks at the dogs, I've squirt her with a squirt bottle that I've taken to carrying around. I try to be sneaky about it so she doesn't know where it comes from - I don't want her to associate the startle and unpleasant wet with ME instead of with the BARKING. And she's already starting to understand that barking at the boys or showing them any kind of genuine aggression means bad things. Today Baccio took a toy and ran around the back yard with it, and when Bean and Samson chased him, Bean was wagging her tail! She hardly ever does that except for when I'm playing with her or when she's being praised for a good piddle or poo!
On that front (the potty training one) there were lots of successes, and only one failure. She got under the table when we were all at dinner, and she (seriously, how ew is this) peed right next to my foot, getting my sock wet. I had JUST taken her outside not 5 minutes before and the whole time we'd been out she'd walked around and chewed on the grass (she does it ALL the time when she's outside...only the long stuff. I don't know what's up with that but it's cute as hell) so it was just an honest accident on her part. Being that it was the only failure and there were so many successes, I'm overall SUPER proud of her - especially her last outing of the night where she peed AND pooed in one trip! Who ever knew I'd be so excited about a dog's elimination and excretion? I can't wait for the day when she just feels like she has to go, and walks HERSELF outside to do it. Oh, that will be a glorious day!
Her anxiety has improved as well. She will sleep in her bed on the floor next to me while I sit in the lazyboy watching tv or reading my book, and she's come to realize that jumping on my leg and whining for attention has the opposite effect. In order to earn my attention she has to sit and look at me patiently - and even then, sometimes I won't. It's on my terms. I know puppies need to be played with a lot and never doubt we play until she's tuckered several times a day, but nothing is free when it comes to training! Sometimes I just can't help picking her up and having her fall asleep on my lap...but it's a rare treat. She might be called a "lap dog" but knowing that she'll see it as getting to treat a the top dog in the pack like her personal throne, I know it's something that would undermine my training.
Finally, crate training. I'm not using the crate to potty train her, I'm using the direct method. But her crate is where she sleeps at night, and I think she's coming to accept that inevitability. Last night she barked for a half an hour straight, and then gave up. Tonight she barked only for 10 minutes! I think it helps that she can hear the sleeping sounds of the boys, as they're kenneled right next to her. My hope is that she feels like she's more in the pack this way. <3
I always feel like there's more I can say about our days together. Until we get the potty training and the anxiety straightened out she occupies the majority of my day's focus - but once she settles in and pees where she's supposed to I won't worry about her as much. She is just a puppy in a very new place with very new rules. And I just know that if I'm consistent and patiant with her, she's going to be the awesomest little dog ever!
Commands we know (wip = work in progress!):
sit
out (for the kitchen - she's not allowed to wander about my feet and trip me when I'm cooking and whatnot!)
no (haha, most of the time)
down
stand (wip)
wait (wip)
HER NAME! Today she responds readily to it!
go to bed (wip0
kennel up!
That's all for this day! Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. <3
- me
July 15, 2008
Day 2
Well, today was exhausting, but great progress was made!
Yes, last night was a little rough, but after about 45 minutes Bean gave up her crying and slept through the night quietly. I am going to have her closer to me tonight, which will be both harder (for me) and more comforting (for her). I know it's frustrating now, but I know that as long as I'm consistent she'll adjust eventually. She's currently in her kennel, asleep - but the kennel is on my bed, lol. I'll move it to it's final location after her last pee in a few minutes.
Although there were a few accidents, I would say the majority of piddling and pooing happened OUTSIDE today! So much praise! I felt so proud.
Also today the boys and Bean met on level turf outside. If anything, Baccio and Samson are the ones in trouble - Bean is ferociously protective of her personal space around them, and is very barky and snappy to them unless distracted with treats and toys. They may be big but the boys cowered away from her for at least the first 4 hours they were in eachother's presence, and from then on kept a healthy distance but play bowed and whined. We worked on this for most of the day, and by this evening I think the power dynamic is on a positive shift toward the boys. This is a very good thing and I'm helping Bean accept her role in the pack as gently as possible while reassuring the boys that this newcomer will not be usurping their positions. There will be no unsupervised time with them all together, ever, but things went surprisingly well for their first time.
Bean made use of her little oval bed for the first time today, and that was a relief! I'm working on helping her with her anxiety and helping her gain some independence, and I have some great online resources that are helping me with it. She is SUCH a good dog, but she IS shy and I have to to show her that not only is there nothing to be afraid of - but that since I'm big and tough I can protect her.
I'm looking forward to what will probably be another long night.
- me
Yes, last night was a little rough, but after about 45 minutes Bean gave up her crying and slept through the night quietly. I am going to have her closer to me tonight, which will be both harder (for me) and more comforting (for her). I know it's frustrating now, but I know that as long as I'm consistent she'll adjust eventually. She's currently in her kennel, asleep - but the kennel is on my bed, lol. I'll move it to it's final location after her last pee in a few minutes.
Although there were a few accidents, I would say the majority of piddling and pooing happened OUTSIDE today! So much praise! I felt so proud.
Also today the boys and Bean met on level turf outside. If anything, Baccio and Samson are the ones in trouble - Bean is ferociously protective of her personal space around them, and is very barky and snappy to them unless distracted with treats and toys. They may be big but the boys cowered away from her for at least the first 4 hours they were in eachother's presence, and from then on kept a healthy distance but play bowed and whined. We worked on this for most of the day, and by this evening I think the power dynamic is on a positive shift toward the boys. This is a very good thing and I'm helping Bean accept her role in the pack as gently as possible while reassuring the boys that this newcomer will not be usurping their positions. There will be no unsupervised time with them all together, ever, but things went surprisingly well for their first time.
Bean made use of her little oval bed for the first time today, and that was a relief! I'm working on helping her with her anxiety and helping her gain some independence, and I have some great online resources that are helping me with it. She is SUCH a good dog, but she IS shy and I have to to show her that not only is there nothing to be afraid of - but that since I'm big and tough I can protect her.
I'm looking forward to what will probably be another long night.
- me
Day 1
Today's my first day with little Bean. On the way home she puked and puked, whether out of nervousness or plain old car sickness. She looked miserable but I promised her a clean, soft bed as soon as we got home!
We made it home in one piece, and I set her travel kennel (cleaned, of course) next to her bed in my room. Within five minutes she had crept out and smelt around the whole room. I got on the floor and introduced myself...with treats. Gradually she decided I was worth knowing and she became really comfortable with me! Now we're the best of friends - she follows me all over the downstairs, and has (AT LAST!) discovered the joy of her toys! She's currently lying on my bed with me, telling her pink hotdog who's boss. I take her outside on her leash every 2 hours. She doesn't like it very much yet, but she'll have to learn leash etiquette sooner than later! She loves to curl up in my lap and fall asleep there.
Today she briefly met the boys through my window. She growled and protected me, but I reassured her and felt her relax since I was relaxed, then she just ignored the other dogs completely. It's going to be a LONG time before they're nose to nose on the ground!!! I'm just happy to see her relaxed in my room, eating and drinking although she's yet to pee or poo (and oh, I'm sure that'll happen soon enough!). We seem to be bonding pretty rapidly but I'm trying to keep her from bonding exclusively with me - I want her to be equally friendly with all my family members and strangers too!
We worked briefly on sit and stand commands, which she's grasping rapidly. I didn't want to over-treat her though, so we didn't make a ton of headway. lol
We made it home in one piece, and I set her travel kennel (cleaned, of course) next to her bed in my room. Within five minutes she had crept out and smelt around the whole room. I got on the floor and introduced myself...with treats. Gradually she decided I was worth knowing and she became really comfortable with me! Now we're the best of friends - she follows me all over the downstairs, and has (AT LAST!) discovered the joy of her toys! She's currently lying on my bed with me, telling her pink hotdog who's boss. I take her outside on her leash every 2 hours. She doesn't like it very much yet, but she'll have to learn leash etiquette sooner than later! She loves to curl up in my lap and fall asleep there.
Today she briefly met the boys through my window. She growled and protected me, but I reassured her and felt her relax since I was relaxed, then she just ignored the other dogs completely. It's going to be a LONG time before they're nose to nose on the ground!!! I'm just happy to see her relaxed in my room, eating and drinking although she's yet to pee or poo (and oh, I'm sure that'll happen soon enough!). We seem to be bonding pretty rapidly but I'm trying to keep her from bonding exclusively with me - I want her to be equally friendly with all my family members and strangers too!
We worked briefly on sit and stand commands, which she's grasping rapidly. I didn't want to over-treat her though, so we didn't make a ton of headway. lol
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