puppy class 05.30

A total disaster.

1. I was late for the 6:30pm class, without registration. The instructor was kind enough to let me in. I blamed Cartman for being late since he was a total PAIN. I had to fight/threaten him to get him the ride to petSmart store, while trying to hold on all the forms and all his stuffs.
2. Cartman never got quiet during the one-hour class. He tried to kiss all the puppy students he could reach, then trying to jump onto them. I had to control the leash all the time, and didn't hear anything the instructor was saying, oh, except when she asked "does your puppy have bite, chewing problem?", "jump to people", "still not potty trained?" I was always one of owners raising hands.
3. And he had an accident in front of all puppies and the instructor. A big one. I had to clean it up, at least I was not lying when I raised my hands on not potty trained.
4. Why all the other puppies so nice, so quietly sitting besides their owners, instead of consistently fighting, trying to break out even with the cost of breaking his own neck?

Maybe he is suffering separation anxiety? Just now he was whining in his crate, refusing to sleep, still in hype mood, wanting to play, run around aimlessly. Oh, is this a disaster or not?

With comparison, then I know I have a problem puppy.

"it is never the puppy's fault, it is always our fault". That's what I learned today from our instructor.

yeah, last a couple of months has been hard for Cartman, since I had to work so many hours. To have a puppy, to make him healthy and happy, is not a small deed. :(

being obnoxious

He drives me crazy. He jumps into my face, he eats half of my books, and starts to eat my belt too, it's leather, hence very delicious, to him, I guess. Today he ate the wire to computer speaker, the second time. Fortunately only half of wires got eaten, so I still got right side of speaker ... I had to confine him in my room, he just got extremely hype, and ran around breathless and made endless circle between my chair, the bed and the door "oh, is he ok? does he catch Rubies?" that was my small voice. HE WAS CRAZY.

Ok, that is that. Then I found the cure for him: I just held him firm and tight, he just started to calm down and get quiet. Actually, it might be some kind of aftermath of separation anxiety. He was left alone at home now day for 8 hours during workdays. Maybe that was too much. But I could not make any break last a few weeks, since it was tape-out weeks. Our chip is still yet to be taped out. Even when I was home at night with him, I consistently working in the computer, and ignore the poor little guy. So IT'S MY FAULT AFTER ALL. We need some quality time together every day. A puppy is hard to ignore, and he could tell. No lies and postponed promises for him. A lesson learned.

eleven pounds

He is BIG. 11.5 pounds now. And he is *obnoxious* too. sighn... :(

why there is such yoga pose as "downward dog"?

see how he sleeps...

love walking, both of us

things for his teeth

notted bone
beef bone
another bone, half eaten
and me, his favorite chewing toy

what stinks?

I have been perplexed for two days: my bedroom smells, something stinky is hiding somewhere. Well, my room has become Cartman's another playground, when I am working, he plays in the room with me. The arrangement is perfect, except I am in deep need of a new bookshelf, to keep my books out of reach his mouth. Unfortunately Cartman has as good taste as me, on books: he eats them. Ok, tonight, after sniffing for 15 minutes inside room, BTW, Cartman was amazed by my sniffing, he stared me with his usual i-dont-believe-you-are-you-from-mars expression, but added with intense interests on me, he must think: "why mummy is using her nose so hard? I didn't smell anything?" Ok, minutes later, the stinky bomb was discovered, it was right under my nose: the tiger doll! Cartman's one of favorite toys, he went to his crate with him. It really stinks!! Cartman played with it too much, he always used his mouth to carry him, bite him or throw him. The saliva of the puppy over the couple of months made the small tiger go spoiled. Oh, don't we learn something everyday?

good to be picky

It turned out I am a bad "mum" to Cartman. The other day, Cartman didn't eat the food in the bowl for some time, I was puzzled so instead of his normal food, I fed him more treats, those beef jerky and dry chicken breast which made him vomit last time. He enjoyed those. I was thinking, what a spoiled guy he is going to become... Then, sometime at night, while sitting around his food bowl, I suddenly noticed a very foul smell. It took some time for me to locate the source of the smell, well, I do not have Cartman's nose, it was the food. I haven't changed his food for maybe two days, I just added on more food and more water. Well, it was certainly not a good idea to be lazy. THAT WAS WHY HE STOPPED EATING, BECAUSE THE FOOD WAS SPOILED. As soon as I put down a bowl of fresh food, Cartman dig in and started to eat. I was so happy on 1) he was too picky to eat the bad food, so he didn't become sick because of my mistake; 2) he likes his food the same as his treat; 3) he was really hungry and so happy to be fed properly at last. There was no need to wash his bowl for this fed. And the second serve was immediately in order.

Conversation with a puppy

"Cartman, stop ticking my feet, haha... Go chew some books."
...
"No, dont chew on my National Gerography, chew something else."

A big milestone

Today, Cartman and I took a walk outside the house. I had to put the leash to his tag collar instead of the leash collar since the later is too loose for him, and, he bites everything, there is no way he could stop playing with the leash collar besides his mouth. The tag collar worked very well, after I got him started walking, he just settled in and running with me along my feet, which was one of best things I knew so far. :) Big thanks to Dr. Ueno for giving Cartman his shot this Monday, so now my puppy becomes the walking companion, finally. I am so looking forward to the pounds supposely I could lose according to my secret vigorous dog walking plans.

the fourth week

"hyperviligance":

Cartman threw up for the first time after taking the weekly shower. He acted funny 5 minutes out of the longer, thorough shower (his 4th time since arriving to this house): he walked out of balance, lost interests in food, and generally a bit depressed. In Monday's vet visit, out vet explained poor Cartman might be suffering some sort of hyperviligance due to the stressful shower. (ha!) A tea spoon of honey might help him to overcome the low sugar level and etc... AND, "less shower please!", the dog says, our vet agrees.

"opposite attraction":

Saturday this house welcame a 6-month Chiwawa(?) guest, her name is TingTing. She is also the first dog Cartman ever (formally) met so far. Cartman, the 3-month 7.5 pound guy fell in love with the girl immediately. The two were consistently involved in chasing-running games. The male did the chasing part, of course, what a boy. Cartman quickly recovered from morning's shower incident, tried all kinds of approaches trying to smell, tick(or kiss), touch, push down the girl. TingTing is lean, quick, and not easy to be pleased. The two made the house full of laughers, the sound of their feet on the hardwood floor, was like the sound of first spring rain. Cartman was exhausted after the longest running day ever, he slept and slept the other day...