Females, Do they really learn faster?

Unusual I say.  How on Earth could the smallest, most dainty puppy decide that she no longer wants to sit amongst her brothers?  Well she does.  I have almost in entirely gotten the work documented on film.  Miss Hershey, aka escape artist, is the only one who climbs the run like a ladder.  Why is it that she finds the run so confining that she wants out.. Every morning when I wake, she is out.  Each time I walk Chloe, the same, she is waiting by the door. Should I turn my back, she finds herself on the common floors with her mom without aid. 

Truly unbelievable..  In this case, yes, the Female is the most bright..

Yes, I completely agree..

Yes, I completely agree.. Puppies aren't for rent, they are companions for life.  I think it is best when you take time to reveiw the history of the breeds to see which one fits with you/lifestyle before committing to a puppy who will in the long run overwhelm you, and become misplaced in the process.. that would be a crushing moment..

I placed an ad on KiJiJi with my puppies.. Some part of me is excited, but another part has a difficulty opening them to people I do not know.  They have become members of my family, so whom ever becomes their family, in a way, will be a member of mine.. I just don't know how else to put it. 

I want them to have forever homes, and be happy.  They are all blessings to enjoy and be around.. even when they are mischevious..  I love them all just the way they are..

Grown up? or more mature with Style

A few weeks ago, I tried a cute sweater on Hershey, and low and behold, by the evening, the boys had removed the buttons that were on it.. So I took it off..

Just yesterday, I decided to go through Chloe's toy bin.. and I found a number of cute Tee's: A- list (2), Socialite with bubbly (2) and a lucky horse shoe on a brown tee.. So I decided to dress everyone up. At first I was just being silly. They are simply too young to wear clothes, which is why they took the buttons off Hershey's Sweater in the first place.. but, it's always good to try something new!

Outside it was as chilly as ever with the wind pouring down into the streets from the west. And so, I put a short pink and brown athletic dog jacket (with hoodie) for our afternoon walk. She at first didn't like the idea of wearing the jacket, because she doesn't like the hoodie bumping on her ears, but when we arrived to the outside, she appeared to have no concern, as it balanced the cold weather.

Ironically, the little ones I left running around in the condo were at their best behavior. This was the first time I allowed them to run around without me attending to them, and surprisingly, they didn't re-organize, go to the bathroom or do anything but play with their toys. (These little ones don't seem like puppies anymore.. they becoming too mature..) As a matter of fact, they didn't bite the tee's either.. was it because everyone had one on and they had to worry about their own.. ? Or was it that they have just grown up? Humm..

I wonder..

The house cleaners..

It's been a while.. and I am happy to say, I think they are old enough to let me get the house cleaned. I had been holding off because there was so much cleaning before, and now that has subsided considerably since they understand the wee-wee pad. So, yesterday at 4pm, the cleaners arrived with 3 persons to clean the house.

Rather than leaving, I let the little ones and mom stay in my room for the duration for the cleaning. They were curious. I never have allowed them in my room.. They went to all the corners of the room sniffing and touching things with their noses.. I especially enjoyed watching them run under the bed.. some of them lay under the bed and others lay next to their mom on her faux fur plush throw.

In the corner by the door I placed a wee-pad so they knew that if they had the need, they could do the deed... :) and they DID.. and consistently.. (I am a proud surrogate mom..)

After they finished cleaning, we went to the front room, everything looked ideal and spotless, even their waxed paper.. I placed the run in the middle of the living room floor (as usual) and put them in the pen one by one. Wonderful. This was a picture perfect moment.

Day 1: Introduction of the "Toy Container" to their run..

Good or No-Go?

Hum.. Well the verdict is still out.. I have lots of toys for them.. and I want them to play as much as they feel like playing.. but, I don't like the look of chaos; so they have a new container - brass ice container - where I will use to hold their toys..

I think they will get the hang of it.. and perhaps I can even teach them to put their toys back in the box when they are done..

I am just going to have to wait if they understand the functionality of the container..

Puppy Etiquette & Tests Revisited

I know.. You probably are asking, 'is there such a thing?' And for me there is.. Let's explain..

First off, I am still working on them eating like normal dogs and not in the hurried way as puppies do.. NO, I don't like to see them devour their food.. so I have been giving them each their own bowls.. The funny thing is they still seem to enjoy to share.. and oftentimes I see two and three sometimes at one bowl.. but they are getting better.

Second test.. different FOODS..
I love it that they are still puppies and I can give them things that they will learn to enjoy when they get older.. for example, I started giving them carrots.. I think treats are great.. I only wish that my older dog would eat some of the natural treats that I have in my refrigerator.. Schnauzers have a sensitive stomach (I learned this the hard way when Chloe - the mom - was a puppy.) They can't eat lots of rich foods... Such as pigs ears or even some of the fatty treats that they sell in the stores.. If they do, you will find out immediately that their system can't do well with it as they will get diarrhea.. and if you give it to them for long periods of time they are susceptible to disease(please check out this link for suggestions when bringing up a min. schnauzer http://www.wy-os.net/advice.htm). As is such, we are back to the carrots.. I would like for them to enjoy some of the fruits and veggies that I eat.. like the apple, carrot and perhaps a little bit of banana.

Third test.. THIS TEETHING THING..
I had a friend over this past week.. and what a delight.. She brought her little ones Johnny 5 and Sydney 8 respectively.. They were great with the puppies. I feel like saying, KID TESTED MOTHER APPROVED.. :) and, yes, the puppies were great with the kids..

The pups, some in particular, have a habit when they are overly excited, like to nip-kiss!) I really want them to stop this..

I think it could be caused by their teething..

When they do this, I either tell them "no," or hold tongues down to help them understand.. I am currently looking into other possible ways to remedy this.. as Mozart (the really happy, loving one..sometimes overzealous to please.. and yes, he gets this way) and the others do from time to time..but randomly.. and if you tell them "no" once.. they curb it..

POTTY TRAINING..
Well, to be honest, I am quite impressed.. Each morning I wake, I can see the results on paper.. They poo and pee on their "spot." They know not to soil their pen. They sleep together on the blanket and pee/poo on the pad. When I wake, it is so easy to clean.. I'm proud..

When they run around the house though, sometimes they surprise me with a treat (no. 2) in the bathroom. They know that that is where I go to the bathroom and I presume they think that they can do it too... well.. I have a thought, perhaps should put a spot in there as well. They are learning, and although they get the no. 2 in sometimes the wrong places, they are catching on.. ++ I had a talk with all of them about that bathroom incident with the issue in question.. (aka poo in the bathroom..) I will have to take a second look later.. and see how they do!

LAST ONE:
Well, Brittani, my younger sister, introduced Mozart to playing with socks.. NO GOOD. I wish she had not done that.. Now it is catching up you know.. They are getting bigger, and each time they have a chance to go in her room, they always bring out a sock.. Of course I intercept it.. but they have this idea that it is okay to play with socks.. WOW.. it isn't.. as tug-a-wars can lead to rips in socks.. Believe it or not, the same one instigates.. So, I have to keep an eye on him..as he and Pacino are best buddies...

2nd Shots!

This Sunday we did as most people do.. waited in line with our little ones in crates and shopping cart to get the second set of shots.. The line (this time) luckily wasn't as long.. perhaps it was because it was almost lunch? Humm...

Well, ironically, the little ones witnessed a distressed young puppy getting a shot.. (screaming..for quite sometime and just in front of them..) I thought oh boy.. they are going to learn by example.. and so I started talking to them as they were waiting telling them.. oh it's going to be okay.. (Mind, yes, they are not human..but I wanted to cover all bases!) So I talked to them and now it is their turn.. I meet the veterinarian, and hand to her my 3 forms..with all their names and the list of shots to be administered.. They are 3 months old now.. And today, they are getting de-wormed and their second set of parvo shots.

As we arrive to the front of the line, the veterinarian suggests that we go in order of the names.. (luckily.. I wrote them in correct order.. Top crate first with Carter, Mozart and Hershey..

She calls the first and asks me to open it's mouth for the de-wormer.. I was shocked to hear her ask for the mouth.. I don't know what I expected, but Mozart was first. Mouth (de-wormer), then shot (parvo).. No screaming.. Next Carter, same.. No Scream.. No anything.. They were so good.. We went through the entire line of babies, and they were all good.. No whining or squirming or anything.. they were all good.. I am proud of my little troopers.. :)

Second set of shots accomplished~

Feeding Time.. Experiment -YES -This is a Test..

VS

Well, today I issued a test.. I placed equal amounts of Royal Canin in each puppy bowl and placed them in various locations around the house.. I wanted to do a test to see if they would eat as fast or need to share as they do when I have placed the 2 larger bowls in their pen. And, low and behold the result was interesting..

First off, not all of them could eat alone. First to move was Mozart (red ribbon)- our little lover.. He wanted to eat with Chubbs (green Ribbon).. Who is clearly the lead on eating food! So I placed him back to his bowl. Then ironically Pacino (orange ribbon), went to Carter's bowl.. I didn't expect that.. so I picked him up and put him back to his station at his bowl.

That wasn't all of the musical bowls though.. Miss Hershey came to Chubbs bowl, when her bowl too was more than half full.. After Chubbs was done, he rushed to Hershey's bowl as she was eating the last drop.. I presume they will need more one on one bowl time before they are ready to eat alone..

The funny thing was who finished first, second, third, etc..

Well here is the line up:
1. Chubbs
2. Hershey
3. Mozart
4. Carter
5. Pacino

Unbelievable really! I was shocked! I can understand Chubbs being first, but HERSHEY? And the smallest/lightest Mozart and Carter not placing in last.. unbelievable really!

New Medallions... and a new Attitude

Well, they were surprised when I put around the medallions around their necks! And they carry them well.

Our neighbors Lesley and Peter were so kind to give each of them one! I can't thank them enough.. I decided one by one which medallion worked with each puppy..

1. Pacino has the most unique, Skull and Crossbones
2. Hershey has the Pink one, with a crown on it
3. Mozart has the Red, with a crown
4. Carter has a Blue one matching his ribbon, with a heart on it..
Last but certainly not least,
5. Chubbs he has the purple medallion with the heart on it.. (purple heart)

I haven't taken them off since I paired them up with each of them.. and they fit their personalities so well!

Pacino & The hair Cut

The update since I spoke to you last.. Well, I trimmed another one.. Pacino.. And he (well..) took it well, until the little ones all jumped on him.. and really bullied him.. I didn't let them do it for long.. because I could see he was not as playful as the others.. so I picked him up and told him what a wonderful little boy he was and that his hair looks precious.. After coddling him for awhile, I put him with his mom in her chair.. He responded much more confidently (ironically). Chloe just smelled him.. just to make sure he was still hers.. but after that, everything was fine.

That's our little Pacino!

Just an evening walk around the living room..

It's night time, and the only thing to do before they go to sleep is to tire them out! So the gate opens, and they run around the house.. they play fight, they hide under the couch, they sniff the corners of the room, chew on things they shouldn't.. while you aren't looking.. and then gently sit by your toes when you are at the couch and wait.. or jump on the side of the couch to ask you to pick them up.. It is wonderful.

They are just the thing to come home to.. always full of energy, and lots of love. I love all them..

PS, they have figured out "the spot" designated for their bathroom habits..