First haircut

Tomorrow both of my girls get to go to the groomer!! YEA! This means, mommy will get a chance to clean rugs, carpets, and floors!! Okay, so that isn't exciting, but it does give me a chance to do a few things without fear of stepping on a small black fluffball. And if I'm lucky, I'll get a complete, uninterrupted, unbarkable, NAP in :)


I love my groomer. She and her daughters are the main groomers at this place, and they are fabulous! This will be the 4th cockapoo in the family she will be grooming! And I know I won't even have to ask.... she will likely come out with a small baggie of Snicki's hair, so her mommy can scrapbook the first clip! I am planning family portraits tomorrow afternoon/evening. I only have one picture me and the girls together, and it is just a snapshot. We'll see if I can swing it on a tripod, or if I need help. And of course, if there is cooperation and non biting from the puppy...

Status Update for the girls

The following is a list of where we stand with the continual training, and loving, or Snickerdoodle!

Still Needs Serious Help:

"stay"
"come here!"
"Snicki NO!"
Drinking without putting feet in the water bowl
Not biting or chewing hands, toes, backs of mommy's legs, collars, leashes, clothes, carpet, couches, molding, Skittle's appendages, doors, outdoor cement steps, rocks, leaves, sprinkler heads, Malibu lights, cabinet hardware, rugs, chair legs, pillows, bedsheets, comforters, her bed, Skittle's blankets, towels, rags, bottoms of garbage sacks, etc
Not stealing shoes
Allowing mommy to make the bed


In progress

Leaving the bath mat in place while I'm showering
Using the GRASS as a toilet. Still using the patio, but that's better than inside
Walking with Skittle on a leash
Walking alone on a leash
Getting along well with Skittle
"Down!"
"Speak!"
Sitting still for photo sessions


Doing Fabulously!

Eating
Sleeping
Making mommy happy
Loving Skittle
"Sit!"
Playing in the swimming pool
Playing by herself
Pooping
Watching Skittle
Getting under mommys feet
Running!


And only ONE item to mention for Ms Doo (of the Skittle persuasion):

Doing Fabulously!

Being the BEST example for Snicki to follow in every way, shape and form. Despite some early trepidation at being given the job :)

Snicki resembling Skittle

Okay so Snicki has a white streak down her front, and perhaps Skittle is getting a little grey. But the puppy-isms are starting to look familiar. Snicki has started to settle in a bit. Not always running from toy to toy or room to room. She is settling in on toys to really chew. Right now she is getting quit comfortable with small stuffed animals. Particularly those with ears, arms, or other small appendages to quietly chew on. The little dragon has a soggy little ear. The Pet Smart hotdog dog is missing an ear. And she is learning to love tennis balls and "swimming" as much as Skittle!

I have high hopes that my two girls will turn into BFFs :)

More than a week later...

I think Skittle and I will survive puppyhood with Snicker. I wasn't so sure those first two or three days. But I think so now. We have all gotten into more of a routine. I now know a few tricks to keeping the pup busy, and I am okay with using the kennel for "nap time" while I get things done.

The girls are very much enjoying the baby pool on hot nights. It kills at least an hour, and tires both dogs out. It also gives me a chance to breathe and not have to make sure the puppy isn't chewing something she shouldn't, and a chance for Skittle to do something she absolutely loves. PLAY IN THE WATER!!!

Snicki is still chewing everything in site. I had not really expected that to change in 9 or 10 days. But it is a bit more tolerable. It is just the repetitiveness of "NO SNICKI!" and/or snatching her away from what she shouldn't be chewing. After about the 1000th time, perhaps she will get it? And the potty training continues on. We go outside often and use the words "go potty" or "go poop" over and over, and over.... I know she will have accidents for a while, but she is getting to go outside all the time. Hopefully her bladder will continue to grow too! And on our weekend shopping trip to the puppy stores, I purchased a door hanging set of bells (Pavlov's dog anyone?) for her to hit when she needs to go out. For now, it is me making her paw or nose hit it every time we go out. :)

Trips to the doggy boutiques and bakeries are going to be a weekly thing too. I found out that one of the local places has Puppy Play Dates every Saturday morning at 9am. Guess where we will be from now on? Then a trip to Foxy Paws to visit our friend Michelle, and see what fun things she has that week!!

30 Minutes

This is my new time frame for everything. Thirty extra minutes to let dogs potty, eat separately, and potty again. Thirty minutes before the pup quits barking once put in the kennel. Thirty minutes for Skittle and I to chill together in the evenings by ourselves before WE go to bed. Thity minutes between potty training attempts outside. And 30 minutes of redirecting the pup to chew toys and both the furniture, my fingers, my shoes, or Skittle, is just about the limit of my frustration level.

Every day gets better and better. Look for a list of positives in the next post!

Day 3 - The Chew Zone

It's Monday, my first day back to work since getting the new puppy. I feel like I have been on a rollercoaster of emotions learning to deal with my first "baby" as she adjusts to life with my second "baby". I have found myself way more concerned about Skittle than is probably necessary, and not fully enjoying puppyhood with Snicki like I did with Skittle.

Today was a bit more rough tho, because Skittle is not showing her alpha side much at all today. Instead, when the puppy starts annoying, jumping on, or chewing at her, Skittle leaves the room. I know she needs a break, but it breaks my heart in the meantime knowing I have disrupted her life.

Snicki is adorable. She is cute, she is sweet as can be when she is sleepy, and she is FULL of life. But right now, we seem to be right in the middle of "the chew zone". It goes from fleeting moments chewing on toy to toy, to almost obsessively trying to chew the rugs, the sprinkler heads, the couches, or Skittle. Now I can handle her chewing on me. And I have NO problem correcting her and saying "no" all day long. I know for a fact that Skittle went through this same stage. She chewed on her sister/littermate Winni! But it seems so much harder to deal with this time. Trying to keep Snicki from annoying Skittle, and in the meantime loving on Skittle whenever I can, is so hard!

I know I was able to raise Skittle from a 7 week old crazy pup to a wonderful 7 year old dog. I know I can do the same with Snicki. Now if I can quit obsessing over Skittle's reactions to everything, and enjoy the fun moments as they come.....

Snicki adores Skittle, looks up to her, follows her, and is DYING for Skittle to play with her. Skittle is not 100% on Snicki yet. Hopefully each week will get better and better. Shoot, we are skipping the potty pads and going straight for the outdoors! Snicki is doing fantastic with that! So there is my good thought for the day.