Another thing I've particularly noticed today is that he's more aware of who and what are happening around him. He's more excited to come get petted, quick to come to go out when he hears the bell. (I don't remember if I mentioned that I'm bell training to go out.) Seems to really understand "Let's go." And he's figuring out that if he pees, he can come back in. I need to get him to understand that pooping outside is good too, but he's pretty regular and if I watch his behavior in the house, he'll start sniffing around for a place to go, and I can call him outside. All that means we're Both getting better!
He's had a lot of exposure to those young chickens today. We were sitting outside this afternoon, and half a dozen ran around the side of the house. He stared at them, lifted one foot, then sat and watched them. A little later when they ran again, he took two steps. When I said "unh-uh," he stopped and sat again and just watched. He got lots of praise and petting, which he is appreciating more and more as a Good Thing.
We went to walk at the park this evening, instead of this morning. It's a whole new dynamic in the evening. Lots of people, dogs, noise. The ball field we've been walking around had people playing on it. The skate ramp area that has been quiet had noisy skateboards rattling loudly. There were belligerent dogs whose owners had to hold them on a short leash to get them by. Reilly sat and watched the dogs go by. He sat and watched runners and walkers go by. He paused to check out the action on the ball field, then he walked by. He paused again to listen to the noise from the skateboard ramps, and watched it for a minute, then walked on by it too. No startling, skittishness or other sign that any of it was a problem. I'm so proud of him! When we got home and we were going in, he first went into the grass to pee, then came to the door to go in. What a boy!
He's had a couple fleas on him, which he finds tremendously irritating. The big Boys have Comfortis to keep the fleas off, but he's too young, so we must resort to bathing and flea combing. He's certainly not covered in them, but I've found two or three. He can't have the Comfortis until he's fourteen weeks old, so another month to go. Hopefully, Murphy and Jake being on it will keep the fleas under control. The topical liquid stuff just doesn't work on fleas for more than a week here, so I hate to use something systemic for so little benefit. We were still using that stuff last summer, and had the most horrible flea outbreak ever. We'd put it on the Boys, it'd cut the population for a week, and then they'd be back with a vengeance. We spent every evening flea-combing the Boys, and bathed them with flea shampoo as often as the label permitted. I was so pleased to try the Comfortis and find it worked. For now. The fleas will evolve resistance to this too, eventually. Hopefully not soon!
He's so funny when he hears a treat container in the kitchen for the big guys. He's right there wanting his, too. He's a little grabby and gets my fingers, so we're working on taking things gently. Puppy teeth are very sharp! He doesn't get most of the treats the others do, although there are a few things he can have. He still loves his carrots, which I will encourage.
So, a good day today. No accidents in the house since early morning when we weren't yet going about our day properly. Lots of puppy attention, puppy paying attention to words, and minding. Can't get any better than this!
Meg and Reilly
No comments:
Post a Comment