Training, Training, and More Training

It seems that one of the few diversions that helps shift the focus of our "wrestling team" away from the perfect take-down is a refocusing on treats...and that means training. We've started giving "cookies" for going potty and using the doggie doors. This is helping, but we have a ways to go yet before we can claim proficiency.

Today we started working in earnest on teaching them to sit. We found some tips online that really made a difference. They actually sit without us touching them at all and I think it may be sinking into their psyche's. We also taught them how to climb the stairs. Don't ask me why ... it was done on a whim. Perhaps just to see if we could do it. We did and now we're thinking maybe that skill could have been delayed for a time. Now there's no escaping from the wrestling match by trotting up the stairs ... they can follow! Soon the whole house will be vulnerable to bio-accidents from the kidz.
This photo shows our kidz after victoriously achieving "base camp" on their first climbing expedition. Getting down is another matter, as it often is in any climbing experience. Duncan chooses to slide against the wall while letting gravity do most of the work. Dakota is more proficient in the traditional descent, but then she's a little bigger than her brother.

The next training challenges are "down" and walking on the leash. (Duncan is more like a ship's anchor than an agile puppy.)

Woof Woof!

A Day in the Life of our Kidz

Today is like any other day really. The routine begins early in the morning (no sleeping in this household!) with a parade outside to go potty. First in the parade is the on-duty parent (we take turns) clapping hands and encouraging little puppies to follow, next come the puppies in an unmilitaristic swagger/walk/run, and bringing up the rear (when occasion permits) is the off-duty parent making sure that the parade keeps moving forward without pauses. We march out to the dog-run and offer generous praise as the kidz do their thing. Next it's back into the house for some water, food, and wrestling. When the intensity level gets high we send them outside.

Eventhough they are outside, we have to watch them because they have figured out how to get into the garden to dig. Duncan is a digger and whatever Duncan does Dakota does! Some of our bean plants have been sacrificed for the sake of a good chew and a little tug-o-war. You've seen the videos in previous posts so you know that the great outdoors is just another wrestling venue.

Once the kidz start to wear down it's back inside for a drink and something to chew. Generally they chew on each other. We're grateful because it means they aren't chewing on us! Today we offered them a short piece of a wax-wood staff that had been cut from one of the Kung-Fu weapons. It's long enough for both of them to chew at once so we bypass the usual fight to possess whatever the other puppy has. There was peace and contentment for a time...aaahhhh blessed peace!Eventually they wear completely down and go to sleep on the cool tile kitchen floor. Once they recharge the whole routine repeats and we do it all over again, time after time, day after day. Perhaps we should have realized that it would be more like bringing home a wrestling team that just a couple of cute puppies .... live and learn!

Trip to the Vet

Today was the kidz first visit to the Vet. Dakota is now 10.8 lbs. and passed the check-up with flying colors. She's doing well. Duncan weighed in at 9.3 lbs. but unlike his sister, the Vet has concerns about a heart murmur. He appears to be doing well so we're hopeful that this may not be a big problem. The Vet, Capt Barkei (cool name for a doggie doctor!), has referred Duncan to a specialist for an echo cardiogram to determine exactly what's going on in that little puppy heart. We'll keep you posted on the latest news as we find out more.

In the meantime, we have a few more pictures to share. It's hard to take pictures of their cute little faces because when they are awake, they seem to always be moving.

This last movie segment reflects a typical day in the back yard with the kidz. Enjoy!

Journey Home

Duncan and Dakota are standard poodle puppies born 22 April 2008 in Gilbert, Arizona. They are the pups of Angelique Joli Gardner (white) and Master Jacques-O Gardner (black). They have one other sister and 4 brothers. Four puppies are still at home living with Mom and Dad.
Duncan is the runt of the litter, although he is true to his Irish name ... he's an adventurer and a little scrapper. Even though he's the runt he has such big feet. Dakota is all girl, sometimes timid, but ready always for a tussle with her brother. Because she is bigger that Duncan, she often ends up on top in the family wrestling matches ... girl's rule! Dakota's name fits her personality.

They already have some nick names, i.e. the 'Dunc Meister' and the 'Divine Miss D'. More names will soon follow as they grow and develop.

The following movies show their rambunctious and frolicking natures on their journey home to Albuquerque, NM. Enjoy!