I am living with a pogo stick these days!

The past few weeks have certainly had their ups and downs with Baxter. He is now 8-months old and as written before he has gone from being a demon boy to a devil dog!
Not all the time - but there have sure been moments.
We have what we call a ‘playpen’ in the backyard for the dogs. It is really an exercise area. They can run, play and do their business in a safe enclosure and at the same time we don’t have a yard loaded with ‘yellow spots.’
Anyway, for a good long while I was in heaven when I would call Baxy and he would stop whatever he was doing and run over to me.
Not these days.
I know good and well that he hears me. He cocks his head and goes in the other direction when I call him.
And the game of tag progresses. Eventually I will get him to come in but it really depends on how much energy he wants to expend first.
And walks are a low point to my day and a very high one for Baxter.
He enjoys them so much he bounces straight up in the air. Seriously it is like you are walking next to someone on a pogo stick! And when he sees someone he gets so excited it is hard to restrain him. And forget it if he encounters another dog …
And yes, we are in classes working on these issues. In class he does better than when he is on his own.
Baxter is also a thief. Anything made of material is fair game to him. Dish towels, doggie face towels are one of his favorites. He sneaks into the room where they are and quickly grabs one and runs back to his bed and lays there until he is caught. “Leave it’ does seem to have made its way into his brain thank goodness!
Later this month we will be going to the vet for his flu shot and an updated kennel cough shot if needed. The best part of the visit will be his weigh in. Can’t wait for the new triple digit!

Maybe we’ve hit a plateau. He’s beginning to listen – a little

No matter how many times I tell myself Baxter will outgrow this, I can’t help but wonder if he really will.
The leash pulling, refusal to make eye contact when he gets stubborn and the refusal to get into the back seat of the Jeep are still a challenge.
Take the other day when we went for a ride to our veterinarians for a weigh in. Yes his weight is the in the triple digits at 104 lbs. He wouldn’t get back in the car to go home.
No matter how hard I tried, he would back away from the open car doors. Fortunately I had my cell phone so I called inside and asked for someone to bring out a treat to help lure him in. And it worked!
Note to self to ALWAYS have treats hidden in the car in case this happens again.
And it did this morning. We went for an early morning walk and he refused again. Tossing a treat into the back seat got him in thank goodness.
And we seem to have the pulling issue under control with the Easy Walk Harness. He sits to have it put on and makes the cutest little noises of excitement.
The only problem on walks in public is whenever he sees people and especially other dogs he starts jumping straight up in the air. He is such a social dog.

Patience is not an attribute I have

He is getting into everything and ‘talking’ all the time.
The other day he gave a little yelp and spit out a baby tooth. Does this mean he is growing up?
I have the feeling the worst is yet to come. He isn’t quite at that ‘teenage’ age just yet.
It takes three years for a giant breed to develop.
Patience is the absolute key along with constant training.
Baxter will be starting classes at Paws N Effect in Hamden next month. The first of a long succession of classes to make him perhaps a Therapy Dog.
We will keep our fingers crossed on that one.
Housebreaking is coming along ‘okay.’
There are still those accidents or if he has too much water it’s like he has no idea he is supposed to do that outside.
Patience right?

Already a new collar

Today was a pivotal day for me.
Baxter needed a bigger collar. All of a sudden his collar wouldn’t expand anymore.
I had already decided the peace sign theme was going to be continued. Now it can continue until his neck reaches 24 inches. Will it really get that big? Oh my.
Potty training is still a difficult challenge.
Sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t.
It is truly a challenge with these really hot and humid days. He needs to drink more but then there are the consequences…

Lead breaking is a fine art

Boy am I full of hot air sometimes and yesterday was a fine example.
I was proclaiming Baxter lead broke. He is, really, in the yard with Chester and his moms as his only distractions.
In the yard he has learned the routine.
Yesterday driving to High Plains walking track Baxter was perched on the passenger seat watching everything, cocking his head when something caught his interest.
As we approached the track a tree was being chopped down on Orange Center Road opposite the track. Did I think twice about it? NO.
I got Baxter out of the car and confidently began walking. He sat and wouldn't move.
Read - Mom this is all new and strange to me. Besides - those noises scare me.With a little coaxing he reluctantly began to follow.
We did this back and forth thing for about a half hour. I was glad to be able to get him back to the car walking.
Leash training will be more of a challenge to me than I thought.
I am finding all this puppyhood stuff more of a challenge than I remembered.
And, I am not getting any younger, only older.

One week and counting!

Just one week to go and Baxter will be in his new home.
This has been a long ordeal on many levels.
Baxter’s mother died about two weeks after having the litter. His littermates had some difficulties with one of them developing a skin infection which put the litter on antibiotics. If it wasn’t for the antibiotics Baxter would already be in his new home.
I think we are set.
• New grain free food to decrease the likelihood of bloating.
• A small crate with a divider so as not to give him too much room at first.
• Special teething bone.
• Big brother Chester who will teach him how to come and listen to moms.
All we need is Baxter!
One week and counting.