Communication

Sometimes I think that one of the biggest missing links in training a dog is each party's figuring out the other's language. We have to figure out what they're saying and vice versa. Slowly, I believe we are getting it figured out. Accidents are becoming fewer and farther between as we begin to remember to take Luna out every couple of hours regardless and as she begins to figure out how to talk to her goofy parents. For whatever reason, she just hasn't quite picked up that we were hoping for her to learn to use the bell on the door/puppy gate to tell us she needs to go. She has, however, begun to try to tell us other ways. She will put her front paws up on us to get our attention or be more persistent than usual at trying to get between the couches to the other side of the living room or just act a little wierd. I do feel like we're making progress, though, and that is good.

Yucky Tummy

Luna woke us up yesterday morning by making yucky tummy noises, heaving in her den. The first time she threw up I didn't get too excited. The second time I turned into an overprotective parent and called the vet. They reassured me, and we started our day with small meals and taking it easy. The nausea apparently didn't phase her much, though, because she barreled into the day as usual, as playful as ever, becoming more so as the day wore on. Today she seems to be 100%, thank goodness.

In the afternoon, we went for a walk while Dad was gone to Jacksonville. Luna was definitely feeling her oats by this point, and Big Sister finally got enough. She barked! And growled!! And snapped at Luna!!! I was SO proud of her! She can, after all, teach Luna her manners much better than we can.

Check out these Gremlin ears. Aren't they GREAT?! They're a new development.

Oh, and potty training is still a bit hit-or-miss. Yesterday, no accidents. Today...THREE. Argh!

Briefly

We have little on which to comment today. We are simply moving along. Luna has had two and a "half" accidents today but we are picking up on her cues a little better and have avoided as many as we have had. As much as potty training, inappropriate chewing has creeped into the picture as a small issue. She seems to want to gnaw on everything, not exactly chew it up, just gnaw. When we tell her no or spat her, she will occasionally talk back, grumbling and barking. She is quite a vocal puppy which is entertaining since Big Sister and Bigger Sister (our deceased black lab, Chelsea) have never been particularly talkative. Big Sister continues to require a diaper though we have gotten one that is a bit easier to manage and I would imagine a bit more comfortable for her. Hopefully we'll only need that for another week, maybe less.

Both Ends of the Spectrum

We can't have progression every single day, so instead we get today. Not one, not two, but three accidents, rebellion in the form of tasting everything she could, bugging the Big Sister incessantly, raising nine kinds of Cain while in her den, and generally being a pain in the heiney. But then she does this and just melts the heart. She LOVES Big Sister. (Pardon the phone pic. It was the only thing I had handy.)

Our First Vet Appointment

The girls and I have had quite a day today with a trip to Gainesville to PetCo, a trip to the vet, and a trip to visit friends. When we got to the vet's office, we were informed that he was in an emergency surgery and our appointment would have to be bumped back by a couple of hours. This was okay with us, though, because we had already been considering a drive to PetCo for some goodies. Big Sister stayed in the cool car while I took Luna inside to pick out some treats, get some Big Sister food, get some ID tags engraved, and find some more comfortable diapers for the Big Sister. Frankly, I didn't think I could handle both puppies at the same time, and I wanted to be able to concentrate on Luna's first social experience. She was a little afraid, but handled herself nicely. Initially I carried her, but when I finally put her down, she handled being on the leash nicely and was slightly shy around the strangers, not aggressive or over ebullient. Abbie handled being in the car well and was lying down calmly when we got back.

By the time we finished at the pet store, we had just enough time to get to the vet for our rescheduled appointment. We needed Abbie to be seen to get her claws clipped and have a small mass on her face examined which turned out to be essentially a sebaceous cyst--no big deal. And Luna, of course, was there for an introduction, another set of vaccinations, to be microchipped and for a referral to an ophthalmologist. Dr. Clint Greene at Hilltop Animal Hospital said that Luna has a great bill of health with the exception of her dermoid which we will remove in a few weeks, and a very small umbilical hernia which will be repaired when she gets spayed. Her hips had no click or evidence of dysplasia, and we'll continue to keep an eye on them and on her elbows which apparently can also have some issues in GSD's. Big Sister and I were very proud of Luna. She never flinched, not even once, and never offered to bite. She even walked well on her leash the whole time.

Dr. Greene and Mario check out the baby girl.

After our vet appointment, we dropped Abbie off with Dad and headed to Miss Pam's house to visit Beefy (Miss Pam's French bulldog) and Miss Pam's family. We had hoped Lulu the shih tzu would be there too, but she was out. Luna did well, acting politely and pottying only outside. As a matter of fact, we've had only one itty-bitty accident in the last three days. We've had a big, big day!

Luna's First Adventure

Dad correctly assumed I would want to participate and woke me early this afternoon so I could participate in Luna's first adventure around the homestead. Ever intuitive, or maybe just hopeful, Abbie headed out ahead of us as soon as we were all out the door. Luna followed her step for step, sniff for sniff, in perfect Big Sister adoration.

We even jumped a deer while we were out.

The potty training is going some better with scheduled time in and out of the den. So far, no accidents for the last two days. Our first vet appointment is tomorrow, another adventure to add to the list.

Waffles

We saw some new behavior from Luna today while I was cooking dinner. After taking her outside to potty, I came in to cook dinner. Shortly thereafter, Luna shimmied her way into the far corner of the living room and began to whimper. This whimpering and cowering was different from her fear behavior exhibited thus far. Each time she has been afraid or startled up until now, she has taken a step or two back, growled and then barked, gradually coming back to check out whatever it was scared her. We couldn't figure out what was the matter. Marc took her outside to potty again just in case that was the issue, but she didn't want to come back in the house. When she did come back in, she pressed herself up next to the door and resumed her whimpering. We kept thinking she was acting like something was hurting her, but we didn't know what it could be. While she and Dad had been outside, I noticed that the steam coming off of the waffles I was making was hissing very softly and wondered if maybe they were making a sound as they cooked that hurt her ears. Sure enough, when the waffles were done and the waffle maker empty, she was suddenly fine and happy again. Sensitive little puppy ears!

Abbie watches dad and hopes for food, Little Sister watches Big Sister and hopes for love.

Potty training went some better yesterday with no accidents to report. Dad kept her crated in intervals for the first half or so of the day, taking her out specifically to potty then play for a half hour to an hour every 2 hours or so. For the last half of the day, she was let to roam just the living room, again barricaded from the rest of the house. She is doing well with not soiling her den, having stayed in it for about 6 hours last night between the time Marc went to be and the time I came home without pottying. This ability to control her bowels and bladder in her den leads us to believe she is not entirely too young to expect progress with potty training, so we are hopeful that we are on our way to real progress. She is picking up other things (like not jumping up onto people and not biting to love and play) quickly, so we think we are just not communicating what we want very well. We'll just have to work on the message we are sending.