Monday, November 13, 2006

Quick Update

We had a rough weekend...Ethan can't decide if he loves or hates Savannah and Libby goes whichever way he does. So, we've backed up a bit and are only having dogs out in pairs for the most part right now. Seems to help. Got to get Ef reassured that we're not going to bite his head off if he acts normal with little "get outta my face, kid" growls, but that he will be in trouble if he goes overboard. I also think Savannah may smell a bit different and he's a bit torn between her and Libby. We'll just keep working it. We know it'll have to be this way when Savannah goes into heat, so I guess we're getting practice now.

Tonight was Savannah's regular puppy class. She's pretty skittish at first...of course, the bully pem puppy jumped on her the minute I set her down. Once things calmed down a bit and the instructor, Charlotte, grabbed the pem, she came out of her shell again. Charlotte wants us to bring her to the Thursday classes, too. I guess she had one drop out and one puppy actually was killed (puppy and older dog got out and puppy got hit on the highway...older dog stayed to protect it...very sad!!!), so the Thursday class is small. Charlotte says she wants her to come and have more exposure since she'll be a show dog. Funny that she's completely outgoing at home and not at all fearful, even with Ethan and Libby being buttheads sometimes. She does all the tricks that class would offer her, so it's just for socialization. We'll also start handling class after her fourth shot next week. She's definitely growing now. She's up to 14.8 lbs at 15 weeks, so that's good. And I think it was mostly legs, length and nose this week. We'll try to get some more pictures tomorrow. Oh, and the people at class asked if we'd shaved her...guess she's growing into her hair. She's not going to be one of those black undercoated blacks, though, I'm afraid...the grown up undercoat is coming in red. Figures...we're a household of reds...one way or another. :)

4 comments:

Traci said...

I really wonder what ethan's malfunction is... I can understand being protective, but to be that way with a PUPPY? makes me wonder what's running through his pea brain... :(

Jeri said...

Nice that it sounds like you have a good trainer! I've been debating puppy class with Lizzie. She's not a chicken, but I don't think she would take it well to be mauled by bigger puppies, which is pretty much what our puppy classes are like. Leo loved them, but she's not Leo and not sure I should expect her to be.

Sorry to hear you're still having issues with Ethan. :( For what it's worth, Brady is less than thrilled about Lizzie too. I don't know why, he welcomed Leo with open arms but apparently his limit is 2 dogs in the house LOL. Last night Brady and Lizzie were playing and all of a sudden he went nasty on her...I was watching and there was no reason for it. Crotchety old man anyway. He has been getting better overall but still bullies her sometimes.

CardiLover said...

Ethan's a weird 2 1/2 year old intact male...or maybe he's more normal than sweet Dakota...who knows? Sounds like Brady and Ef have similar ideas about puppies. We've had two great days, but you know darn good and well it'll change again in a bit.

Paul said...

This is Savannah's Daddy!

Ethan seems to be calming down when we start scolding Savannah for harassing him. My theory is that this is the job of Alpha to make sure the pack members don't annoy each other too much.
Since we are disciplining Savannah, Ethan won't feel the need to do so.