Puppy Anti-Socialization Classes

Since Bailey got her second series of shots on the 18th, she can now attend Puppy Socialization Classes.  I've found two in our area that I'm taking her to.  The first is on Monday nights at Canine & Company, where I've been taking Chica for daycare and where I board the kids when needed.  The other is Wednesday nights at Dog Days of Buffalo.  This is where I used to take Peanut for daycare and where I'd board the kids, but it caught fire in the October snowstorm a few years ago and was closed for over a year.  Some former customers re-opened the daycare and grooming, but not the kennel.

Dog Days is where we went for our first class.  Bailey started out well, playing with a Black Lab named Maybe.  Then Maybe got a little too excited and started playing a little too rough, so Bailey spent the rest off the hour either trying to hide behind me or sitting in whoever's lap happened to be on the ground.  She did seem to get along well with a Cane Corso puppy named Dozer.  He was as unsure of Maybe and Hazel, an equally excited Chocolate Lab, as Bailey.  They told me to keep coming and I will.  We missed this Wednesday's because Curley had to go to the vet, but we'll be back this coming week.

Monday's session at Canine & Company didn't go well at all.  First they put her with this scared little dog that wouldn't interact with her at all.  Then they moved her to another area with two Shih Tzu puppies and a Beagle mix.  She did great there until a Pug came along.  First the Pug started with the Beagle mix and when the Beagle's owner picked it up, the Pug set his sights on Bailey.  Bailey wasn't having any of it and the person supervising the room asked US to leave, saying it wasn't good for Bailey, but not explaining what was wrong, only saying we should come back and try again in two weeks, as they're closed for Labor Day.  Bailey wasn't the only one asked to leave.  The dog they originally put her with was asked to leave about 10 minutes before we were and they'd planned on boarding it there this weekend.  Before they left they were told it would need an evaluation first.  Frankly, I think the Pug should have been the one to leave, or moved to the other side of the gate with the more rambunctious dogs.

Another First Has Passed...Happy Birthday Peanut!

August 20th would have been Peanut's 11th birthday.  I did really good until I went to Wegman's to pick him up a balloon and a card and a little cupcake cake for me.  The tears didn't start coming until I got to the parking lot.  I miss my little boy so much...

I'd planned on taking Chica to Emery Park to send him his balloon, but the day got away from me and we went up on the roof instead.  When I lost sight of the balloon, it was heading in the direction of Emery Park.  I know he got it and in return he sent us a beautiful sunset...

Happy birthday, Baby Boy, we love and miss you so much!!!

First Family Photos!

After weeks of trying, Alex and I were finally able to get the kids out to Emery Park in East Aurora, NY on Sunday, August 19th.  We didn't get there until about 6:30, so the sun was starting to set and we couldn't stay long, but the time we had there was a blast and we can't wait to take them back.

Curley had the best time of all.  He was running all over the place, but not until he smelled every inch of our shelter for any food left behind.

Bailey, ever helpful, took it upon herself to walk Curley for me.  She tried to do this frequently.  He's very tolerant with her, thank goodness, while we wait for her to outgrow these little puppyhood-isms.

She tried the same thing on Chica, but even at 10 years old, those long legs of hers still make her faster and Bailey quickly lost interest.

We can't wait to get them back out there!

Bailey Conquers Her Biggest Fear

It took her almost three weeks to overcome her fear, but yesterday Bailey finally went down the stairs!  I followed Cesar's advice and sat a few stairs down, then held the leash loose, without tension, but without enough slack where she could run away.  I let her figure out on her own and patiently waited for her to do just that.

After she made it down the first one she decided another rest was in order and it was a bit before she tackled another step, but she eventually got the hang of it and got a whole lot of loving from her Mommy at the bottom!  No food rewards were needed-the happiness she saw in her Mommy at her accomplishments was reward enough because she goes down them like a champ now and we're working on potty training in earnest.

Love that last picture of her!  So proud of my big girl!  Now I just have to get her to stop picking on her brother and sister when she beats them to the top of the stairs on our way back in...

Bailey Learns To Play Ball

We found another way to help drain some of Bailey's energy.  I broke out these little pink tennis balls I bought for her and she loves playing ball!  It's rather funny watching her sliding across the hardwood floor after one.

She kind of brings them back...or at least to within arm's reach of where I roll them from.

Chica, of course, hates it.  She hates anything that isn't calm and sedentary.  While we play with her at one end of the family room, she lays at the other end growling.  So funny!  But the girls are getting better.  They actually laid together today and took a nap!

Earning Their Keep

Friday the younger two got a chance to earn their keep for a change.  Late Wednesday evening our landlord knocked on the door.  Friday they were going to bring a Beagle in to do a bed bug inspection on all the apartments in the three attached buildings, so we had to get the kids out for the day.  Three of the five people in my department were already scheduled to be out that day so I was in a real bind.  Fortunately, we have an amazing President and he was happy to let me bring the kids into the office for the morning.  I can't take Curley to daycare because he's deaf and blind in the one eye and I can't take Bailey yet because she hasn't had her second series of Distemper/Parvo vaccines.

So Friday morning I got up early and got ready.  I took the kids for their usual walk and then set about getting the apartment ready for the Beagle to come.  We had to pack up all food, medications, cleaning products and poisons.  We had to empty and remove all the dog food and water bowls.  We put all the dog beds except the one I was bringing to the office in the kitchen and gated that room off.  Then I had to close all the windows, shut off the air conditioner and fans, turn off the air purifier, and shut off the automatic air freshener.  I made our bed, packed up some toys and some food, threw a fleece bed, and a gate into the trunk, and we were off.

Our first stop of the morning was Canine & Company to drop Chica off.  She loves going to daycare!

Bailey and Curley came in with us, then I brought them back to the car and we set off for the office.  I was actually able to get them and all the stuff they needed into the office in one trip.  And since I got there before Laura, Curley had time to check the place out while I set up Bailey's temporary crate.

Then I got him settled in and my computer turned on just in time for Laura to arrive.

The two of them were perfect!  Bailey hardly made a peep and since Curley got a little anxious in an unfamiliar setting if I tried to go anywhere without him, he did get a chance to see our main office (they put us claims people in a separate office as we tend to spend most of our time on the phone with people who are upset with us :).  When Ed told me I could bring them in, his condition was that I bring Curley by to say hello, so that was our first stop.  Ed pet him for a few minutes while we chatted, then when he withdrew his hand, Curley the love bug moved closer Ed wasn't able to say no to him.

He adopted Laura as an honorary Aunt, so a little bit into the morning I took the gate down and he spent most of the time looking out the window.

Before I knew it, it was 1:00 and I had the all-clear to bring them home.  I took the kids back through the main office to meet those they hadn't met when we stopped in after our vet visit two weeks ago and then loaded them up in the car.

I got them settled in at home with the beds and bowls back where they belonged and the air and fans turned back on, then headed back to the office for the last two hours of the day.

Chica was glad to see me as always, and Curley was glad to have her back home as well.  And as for me, the day couldn't have gone better!  It went exactly as Cesar had taught me to visualize it.  I saw Bailey sleeping in her crate all morning and that's exactly what happened.  I did get her up twice to go out.  I visualized no accidents and no messes and that's exactly what happened-Curley was a perfect gentleman!

I hope I get the chance to bring them in again because they certainly were good stewards for next year's "Bring your dog to work day!"  This is one proud mama!

Progress And Things To Work On...

I'm making progress!!!!  Yeah me!!!!  Chica was the first to trust me to control Bailey.  I do my absolute best NOT to lose sight of her, but it does occasionally happen, like last night...And when she does go after Chica or Curley, they are quick to let me know it!  It's usually Curley because he's also a Cocker and must remind her of her Mom.  I don't think they'd mind her...if she wasn't always trying to bite them...but I guess that's how puppies play.  When Peanut was a puppy we didn't have any other dogs in the house, so I didn't see this with him and when we brought Chica home, she was so submissive she didn't dare go after him.  There is NOTHING submissive about Bailey, though.  She's just a happy-go-lucky, love-me-to-death puppy!

And as long as I keep her sufficiently exhausted, the other two will lay near her.  To that end, we continue to go on mmmaaannnyyyy walks every day.  So many, in fact, that I lost almost four lbs last week!  Since I was off, we started with a walk to the corner and back as soon as everyone was up (Curley's the late riser).  We'd usually go around the block once everyone was up from their morning naps.  They'd go down again until after lunch and since it was hot out we'd usually go up to the corner and back.  Then, as the sun was setting, we'd go around the block one more time.

Things are a little different this week because I headed back to work.  Half-days today and tomorrow, then leaving at 1:00 Wednesday, with full days Thursday and Friday.  I wanted to gradually get Bailey used to staying in her crate for extended periods.  So last night we went for a walk and then we were all tucked in bed a little after 10:00.

The alarm went off at 5:20 this morning and because I'd gone to bed so early, I didn't have any trouble getting up.  In fact, I was up a little before it went off.  Jumped in the shower, put my pjs back on and took Bailey and Chica out.  Then I blocked Bailey and I in the front hall while I did my hair and make-up.  I left her there with breakfast while I ironed my clothes.

By 6:40 we were heading out the door.  We had enough time to get around the block!  Then it was off to work for me.  Alex came home about 9:45 and took the kids out.  He called to say all had peed and were back in their respective homes with Bailey being the only one protesting her lot in life.  And before I knew it, it was 11:30 and I was on my way home.

After lunch, we headed up to the corner and back as it was too hot to go much further.  They went back to sleep and didn't get up again until Alex came home.  He kept them amused while I made dinner and then I grabbed Bails and we headed up to PetSmart.  I needed to get some cleaning solution for her ears and a water bottle for her crate.  I also picked up some bows for her hair. The ladies there made such a fuss over her.  They couldn't get over how well she walked on a leash for being so young!

Back home again, I picked up Chica and Curley and we set out for our evening walk.  Our street was crowded, so I headed down Summer to Norwood and up Norwood.  Instead of turning down Bryant, I headed up to West Utica and turned there, then down Ashland.  We met many nice people (thanks to Bails, of course!) and at the end of our walk had gone a full mile!  Everyone is now happily snoozing away!

But it's not all beans and rice in the Cedeno household!  Over the last day and a half or so, some character flaws with Curley have come to light and I think a lot of it has to do with him being deaf and blind in one eye.  He does NOT like runners.  He lunged at one on yesterday morning's walk.  He does NOT like other dogs-he has been barking at them and pulling with the leash to the point where he's up on two legs.  And he does NOT like little kids on scooters.  So, Alex started working with him on our walk last night after the bit about the kids reared its ugly head and I continued to work on the other dog problem this morning.

We switched Curley from the flexi leash back to a short leash and Alex had him walking by his side.  Curley was tense at first, but then relaxed and walked right next to him.  On this morning's walk, we ran into some dogs and the timing on my corrections was so spot-on there was no growling or pulling.  He only saw me.  This evening's walk my timing was not as good as we came around a blind corner to a woman walking a lab or some other large breed.  Since I was looking behind me to check on Bailey, he saw them first and got off a bark or two before I was able to correct him, but there was no pulling and no temper tantrum.  He again looked to me.  I do not think it will take us long to iron these minor problems out since Cesar has taught us so well what to watch out for and because I stayed calm and assertive when Curley barked, he responded to my pulls instantly.  I have not had to resort to a touch to snap him out of it.

And as for my Chica...it's takes some convincing to get my little home-body started, but once I have her going, she walks like the pro she is and although Cesar would disagree with my use of a flexi leash and allowing her to walk ahead of us, until Bailey gets bigger, this method is working best for me.  She follows Chica's example and isn't getting strangled if Chica gets spooked by an unexpected sound.  There will be plenty of time to get the three of them to walk behind or beside me in the years to come.  For now I just want to keep them happily exhausted....