The Diagnosis
Our beloved Sobe was diagnosed with congestive heart failure at 5 months of age. It was a relief to come to some conclusion because we couldn't figure out what was wrong with him initially but it was definitely not something I expected and it has caused me so much pain.
Sobe developed a cough at the end of March and was being treated for a respiratory infection but the cough wouldn't go away. An x-ray was taken, a CBC/ Chemistry panel was done and they were both inconclusive. A few more vet visits and another x-ray brought to light that his heart was shaped differently. We got sent to a larger animal hospital where they did more extensive tests which determined that his mitral valve was not working properly and that he was already at the later stage of heart failure. There was no cure; Sobe was doomed. I was so devastated and heart-broken with the news that I cried for days. It was even more heart-wrenching to see him play and not realize he was dying. The vet said Sobe's prognosis was very poor and if we were really lucky, he would have a year but realistically, he said Sobe only had about a couple of months to go but each dog is different. Sobe was given a cocktail of medication and I was given instructions on what to do in case of an emergency. We had to keep a log of Sobe's respiratory rate and if there was any increase, we needed to bring him to the hospital asap.
Mitral Valve Dysplasia
You can read up online or click on the links I provided to get the detailed explanation of mitral valve dysplasia but my quick version is the valve that pumps blood into the lungs isn't working. The valve is supposed to open and close with each pump of the heart but in Sobe's case, the valve doesn't close which doesn't provide adequate pressure to pump the blood into his lungs. Instead, the blood flows back into the heart and over time, the heart enlarges and fluid starts to build up in the lungs. Basically the fluid in the lungs create the coughing and in severe cases, the dog will feel like he/she is drowning. This was what happened to poor Sobe.
The Day of...
Our weekend started off with the usual: me getting up at 7am to walk Sobe, feed him and put him on our bed while we slept a couple more hours. I noticed that morning that Sobe was coughing a bit more than usual but figured the Lasix (diuretic medication) would work. At 12 noon, as we prepared to go to the park, he was still coughing which was concerning so I gave him another dose of Lasix. We had a nice time at the park with the beautiful weather. We brought a blanket, sat under a tree in the shade and people-watched. Sobe didn't run around - he stayed by our side taking everything in. He continued to cough but not as much as when we were at home earlier. On our way back home though he continued to have coughing fits and I noticed that his breathing was getting more frantic. I knew that we needed to get him to the hospital if it didn't improve. We went home to drop off our things and gave Sobe 10 minutes to rest and relax. There was no improvement and he was lying on the floor, his ribcage moving in and out as he coughed and gagged. We rushed to the hospital as quickly as possible with me driving and Rick holding onto him. It was so difficult for me to drive while watching him struggle for each breath. At this point, Sobe's head was extended trying to breath and there was panic in his eyes.
When we got to the hospital, the nurse took him quickly to give him oxygen and an IV. Rick and I waited in the waiting room for 15 minutes before the vet came and brought us to his office for the "talk." He basically asked what our plans were and what we expected out of the visit. He was honest in telling us that Sobe would probably not make it out of the crisis and even if he did, it would happen again. It was so difficult sitting in that room with the obvious weighing in around us. It was awful to make the decision to end a life but this was the second time Sobe had a coughing episode which ended him up at the hospital and this was more severe than the first. It would only get worse and who knew if we would be home to catch it the next time around. We were actually lucky that this happened on a weekend when we were home with him. Rick and I decided that it would be best to end his struggle no matter how difficult the decision was. To stabalize him and then have him go through this again would be extremely selfish of us.
The next step that occured after we decided to put Sobe to sleep is something that will remain in my mind for a long time. The vet brought Sobe in for us to say our good-byes. Sobe was wrapped in a blanket and he was gasping and wheezing. Just remembering his pain brings tears to my eyes. Sobe who normally fears the vet and snuggles as close to me as possible, was so focused on breathing that he was hardly aware that we were there. I held his face and looked him in his eyes and told him I love him. He looked back at me and continued to gasp and I knew he wanted out. There wasn't anything else I could do for him at that point. Rick and I held onto him and kissed him as the vet injected the sedative into his arm. The pain made him look up at me with wide eyes and I held onto him and kept telling him I love him. Eventually he put his head down on the table as the vet gave him the last injection. I saw his eyes change. They lost focus and Sobe stared out at nothing. His gasping stopped. His body relaxed and it was over.
Chewie Chewbacca
Through all this, I was staying in touch with the breeder and kept her posted on Sobe's condition. Because Sobe got sick with what was a congenital issue, the breeder is sending us another puppy. Rick and I picked out the puppy and he will be sent to us this coming weekend. The puppy is a grizzle coat Lhasa we named Chewbacca aka Chewie. The goal was to have Sobe take Chewie under his paws and teach Chewie the behavior we expect from him. It's so unfortunate that Sobe left us so abruptly. Sobe would have made a great big brother.
I've never owned a dog before and Sobe was my first. I am so proud to say that he did everything I expected of him and more. He accomplished all the goals I set for him. This last month, he became housebroken, he was able to conquer walking down the stairs, he had no problems going for walks as long as we walk slowly for him, he did all his tricks including the new, "high five", he slept in his crate with the door open, and much more. Sobe loved to be put on our bed in the morning so he can relax with us before we started our day. We would watch the morning news or nap while he played with Mr. Lobster or lick Rick's ears. Boy he loved licking Rick's ears! I am sure Sobe was very happy to have us as his parents. He showed how much he loves us by always wanting to be with us, teaching us patience and making us happy. Sobe we love you to peices. We're sad to see you go but are happy to know you are no longer suffering. You're too special and that's why they put you on the express to Doggie Heaven.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Housebroken??!!
Sobe is now approaching 5 months old and he has been with us for 2 whole months now. Feels like he's been around forever though! I still can't believe I've been waking up everyday at 7am for 2 whole months and counting!!!
In this entry, I'd like to revisit Sobe's potty training. His last accident was on Monday morning when Rick and I were getting ready for work and we gated him outside the hallway to our bedroom. He whimpered, scratched at the gate and ended up spotting on our rug. I think he was nervous/ excited and panicking but still, an accident's an accident, whatever the reason. Aside from that Sobe has been very good and holding it in. I notice myself relaxing more lately and can even leave him in the room alone for a short amount of time. His crate time has been shortened. We used to leave him crated in the evenings for a couple of hours before his last walk of the night. Now, he's out and about and we haven't had any accidents (fingers crossed). We still crate him when we leave the house but I hope that by next month, we can confine him to the kitchen or part of the room where he can run around during the day and crate him at night. Rick and I basically stick to a rigid schedule with him since he still doesn't communicate his need to go outside. Let's see how this month progresses!!
In this entry, I'd like to revisit Sobe's potty training. His last accident was on Monday morning when Rick and I were getting ready for work and we gated him outside the hallway to our bedroom. He whimpered, scratched at the gate and ended up spotting on our rug. I think he was nervous/ excited and panicking but still, an accident's an accident, whatever the reason. Aside from that Sobe has been very good and holding it in. I notice myself relaxing more lately and can even leave him in the room alone for a short amount of time. His crate time has been shortened. We used to leave him crated in the evenings for a couple of hours before his last walk of the night. Now, he's out and about and we haven't had any accidents (fingers crossed). We still crate him when we leave the house but I hope that by next month, we can confine him to the kitchen or part of the room where he can run around during the day and crate him at night. Rick and I basically stick to a rigid schedule with him since he still doesn't communicate his need to go outside. Let's see how this month progresses!!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Ear Infection Blues
Eventually I was able to convince Rick that it's much better for Sobe to get through it as quickly as possible instead of prolonging a bad experience. The last couple of times, Rick put Sobe on his side and held him still while I put in the medicine. There was even less struggle this time! Rick doesn't have to be the bad guy now and I hope Sobe will finally see a glimmer of halo over my head.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Places To Go and Doggies to Meet
It's been over a month since we had Sobe and in addition to him doubling his weight since day 1 (he's a 10-pounder now!), he's kept us busy every weekend! Not to mention he's waking me up every single day at 7am regardless of Daylight Savings or weekends, rain or shine. You figure cloudy days can trick him into thinking it's still nighttime but nope. He starts whimpering at 7am on the dot and if I treated him well the night before, he MAY give me an extra 10 minutes. Did I mention that the bags under my eyes are growing at the same rate he's growing? I'm about to invest in another $25 tube of concealer but that's a story for another blog on aging.
On weekends, because Rick and I feel bad for leaving him crated at home more than we have to, we take him everywhere with us. Since we typically visit our families, Sobe gets to enjoy car rides and hanging out with the family pets, Tarzan and Boots, and getting hissed at by Tiggy. I take him for walks in the different neighborhoods so he gets to meet various dogs and people. Socialization really isn't an issue with Sobe. I'm starting to think the issue is he's willing to take off with just about anyone. I thought Lhasas are supposed to be loyal!
A couple of weekends ago, Rick and I dogsat for our friends. Bandit is a very rambunctious Havanese puppy and when he and Sobe get together, they play non-stop and all you see is fur tumbling around on the floor. I call the two of the Blazin' Bandit and his sidekick Sobe. The good thing about the two of them playing is that when they nap, they knock out for hours. They even go to bed early at night around 9pm but come 7am....... dammit Sobe!
This past weekend, Sobe met Keila, our friend's German Shephard puppy of 9 months. She does not look like a puppy at all! Keila is super sweet and such a smart dog. I must brag that I taught her how to give her paw on Saturday! For some reason, Sobe picked on her and would bark at her everytime she swatted him with her paw. Poor Sobe must've had the Napolean complex!
He was able to exert his "ferocity" by chasing the mallard ducks out on Long Island the next day. Surprisingly, he walked around the entire park. I've been having a difficult time getting him to walk these days. He will sit down and not move at all once he's done his business. I'm not sure if it's because I'm training him to walk on a leash and collar and he's not liking it. I can pull until his little tongue pops out and he gags but he still won't budge. He had his harness on at the park and was walking fine. He was quite happy actually!
As the weather continues to get nicer, I plan to keep taking him out with me so we can all get our exercise and be healthy! He'll be equipped with his flea and tick medication and ready to dive into the patches of grass! Now if he can just learn to sleep later!
On weekends, because Rick and I feel bad for leaving him crated at home more than we have to, we take him everywhere with us. Since we typically visit our families, Sobe gets to enjoy car rides and hanging out with the family pets, Tarzan and Boots, and getting hissed at by Tiggy. I take him for walks in the different neighborhoods so he gets to meet various dogs and people. Socialization really isn't an issue with Sobe. I'm starting to think the issue is he's willing to take off with just about anyone. I thought Lhasas are supposed to be loyal!
A couple of weekends ago, Rick and I dogsat for our friends. Bandit is a very rambunctious Havanese puppy and when he and Sobe get together, they play non-stop and all you see is fur tumbling around on the floor. I call the two of the Blazin' Bandit and his sidekick Sobe. The good thing about the two of them playing is that when they nap, they knock out for hours. They even go to bed early at night around 9pm but come 7am....... dammit Sobe!
As the weather continues to get nicer, I plan to keep taking him out with me so we can all get our exercise and be healthy! He'll be equipped with his flea and tick medication and ready to dive into the patches of grass! Now if he can just learn to sleep later!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Tiggy's New Prey
Tiggy the Cat: History
In 1997, I got a cat to keep me company while I was away in college. I decided on a cat for the companionship since I rented an apartment off campus and I knew I didn't have the time to devote to training a dog. Cats are so independant and I love that about them. Tiggy kept me company through all my years in school and she was very much attached to me. After graduation, I moved back home to my parents' house and Tiggy absolutely loved the larger living space. She would go from the 2nd floor to the basement and even visit our neighbor on the 1st floor when he leaves his door open during the summer. After getting married and moving out, I decided to leave Tiggy with my parents because it would be another adjustment for her and I didn't want to have her move into a smaller space when she enjoyed the house so much. Rick thinks I abandoned her but I truly think that she loves my parents house and it wouldn't be fair to put her in a small apartment with no one at home during the day.
As Tiggy got older, she became more and more grouchy. She wouldn't hide from visitors but she wouldn't be friendly either. If a stranger goes near her, she will hiss and swipe with her paw. This has happened to family and to friends who thought, "Cute kitty!" and reached their hands out to pet her. Until this day, my dad and I are the only ones who can pick her up and set her on our lap without her getting upset.
Canine Victim #1: Tarzan
In 2001, my brother, Dennis, brought home his Yorkie puppy. Tiggy wasn't happy at all. She initially wanted nothing to do with him but Tarzan always wanted to play with her. Tiggy taught him a lesson (actually, she's still teaching him these lessons) by chasing him and scratching him. There were days when the house would be quiet and we wondered where Tarzan was. One of us would find him cornered by Tiggy against the wall, sitting there motionless, afraid to move an inch because Tiggy would strike. These attacks have subsided because Tiggy figured out that Tarzan isn't going to disappear anywhere but she still uses him to cure her boredom every now and then.
Canine Victim #2: Sobe the Newbie
Since I've gotten Sobe, I've taken him to my parents' house a handful of times. Most of the time, Sobe was too busy playing with the family or with Tarzan to really notice Tiggy's existence. There were a couple of instances where Sobe saw her and tried to go towards her but with his short attention span, he would quickly refocus on something he thinks is more interesting.
Yesterday was a quiet day at my parents' house and Tarzan wasn't around. Sobe discovered Tiggy as if it was the first time and tried to go sniff her. Tiggy gave warning hisses and growls to back him off. It worked and he knew his boundaries but his curiousity is so strong that it got him in trouble.
Seeing that Tiggy was taking her cat nap, Sobe siezed the opportunity to go up to her. Now we all know that cats never really sleep that deeply! They can be sneaky little things! So the minute Sobe got close, Tiggy was on alert and hissed at him. Sobe backed off and decided to go back to her again, as though he can't believe she doesn't want to be friends. This time, Tiggy let Sobe get closer to her. Straining his neck, Sobe leaned in to sniff Tiggy, not seeing her paw lifting. In the blink of an eye, Tiggy swiped him on the head and left Sobe yelping and running for cover. He hasn't gone near her since this incident!
Tiggy was always good at catching things: mice when my parents had a couple a few years back, waterbugs, roaches and dogs.
In 1997, I got a cat to keep me company while I was away in college. I decided on a cat for the companionship since I rented an apartment off campus and I knew I didn't have the time to devote to training a dog. Cats are so independant and I love that about them. Tiggy kept me company through all my years in school and she was very much attached to me. After graduation, I moved back home to my parents' house and Tiggy absolutely loved the larger living space. She would go from the 2nd floor to the basement and even visit our neighbor on the 1st floor when he leaves his door open during the summer. After getting married and moving out, I decided to leave Tiggy with my parents because it would be another adjustment for her and I didn't want to have her move into a smaller space when she enjoyed the house so much. Rick thinks I abandoned her but I truly think that she loves my parents house and it wouldn't be fair to put her in a small apartment with no one at home during the day.
As Tiggy got older, she became more and more grouchy. She wouldn't hide from visitors but she wouldn't be friendly either. If a stranger goes near her, she will hiss and swipe with her paw. This has happened to family and to friends who thought, "Cute kitty!" and reached their hands out to pet her. Until this day, my dad and I are the only ones who can pick her up and set her on our lap without her getting upset.
Canine Victim #1: Tarzan
In 2001, my brother, Dennis, brought home his Yorkie puppy. Tiggy wasn't happy at all. She initially wanted nothing to do with him but Tarzan always wanted to play with her. Tiggy taught him a lesson (actually, she's still teaching him these lessons) by chasing him and scratching him. There were days when the house would be quiet and we wondered where Tarzan was. One of us would find him cornered by Tiggy against the wall, sitting there motionless, afraid to move an inch because Tiggy would strike. These attacks have subsided because Tiggy figured out that Tarzan isn't going to disappear anywhere but she still uses him to cure her boredom every now and then.
Canine Victim #2: Sobe the Newbie
Since I've gotten Sobe, I've taken him to my parents' house a handful of times. Most of the time, Sobe was too busy playing with the family or with Tarzan to really notice Tiggy's existence. There were a couple of instances where Sobe saw her and tried to go towards her but with his short attention span, he would quickly refocus on something he thinks is more interesting.
Yesterday was a quiet day at my parents' house and Tarzan wasn't around. Sobe discovered Tiggy as if it was the first time and tried to go sniff her. Tiggy gave warning hisses and growls to back him off. It worked and he knew his boundaries but his curiousity is so strong that it got him in trouble.
Seeing that Tiggy was taking her cat nap, Sobe siezed the opportunity to go up to her. Now we all know that cats never really sleep that deeply! They can be sneaky little things! So the minute Sobe got close, Tiggy was on alert and hissed at him. Sobe backed off and decided to go back to her again, as though he can't believe she doesn't want to be friends. This time, Tiggy let Sobe get closer to her. Straining his neck, Sobe leaned in to sniff Tiggy, not seeing her paw lifting. In the blink of an eye, Tiggy swiped him on the head and left Sobe yelping and running for cover. He hasn't gone near her since this incident!
Tiggy was always good at catching things: mice when my parents had a couple a few years back, waterbugs, roaches and dogs.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A Follow Up to Sobe's To-Do List
Just want to follow up on our To-Do list for Sobe that was written back in February. I had listed a few things we needed to work on with Sobe and I'm extremely happy to say that we've completed a couple of these goals!
The following were the 4 things on his To-Do list. My comments on his latest progress are written in purple beneath each item.
1. Commands & Vocabulary - Sit, Outside, Lie Down, No bite, Off (when he jumps on us), Nite Nite, Slow (when he tries to run off on the leash when walking. He's pretty good at responding to this now!), Come here (he's SO stubborn with this one!), Get Over There (when he hovers and smothers you while you're trying to do something like clean his pee!)
Done: Sit, Lie Down, Off, Nite Nite, Come here. Since he's teething, "No bite" is an ongoing battle although when he does grab my hand now, he doesn't chomp down on it like he used to. "Slow" is also an ongoing battle because he gets so happy when he sees other dogs and wants to run up to them and play. I have to stop walking, step into his space and block his view to be able to get some kind of control over the situation. I hope consistency pays off on this one! We haven't really been using "Get Over There" just mainly "Off" to get him to stop hovering by our feet when we're trying to walk. By the way, I just stepped on him this morning because of his hovering. Hope he learned a lesson!
New Commands: Stay, Paw - both of which he is proficient at.
2. Walking into the elevator at the lobby - he did it this morning for the first time!
He's been soooo good about this now! There are times where he will hesitate but if you take a step back to walk right next to him, he'll start moving forward again. I think he's still a bit spooked by the big mirror in the lobby. He even goes straight into the elevator without hesitating anymore. The only thing I need to be cautious of is when we go out from our apartment. There have been times when Rick and I had to clean pee up from the floor while waiting for the elevator. Sobe obviously thinks that as long as he's out of the apartment, it's all fair game. So for now, until his bladder gets stronger ,we have him walk out the door but then carry him outside.
3. Signal for going out - Training him to sit by the door before going out.
Nope, hasn't happened, not happening, don't know when it'll eventually happen! Since we keep him out of his crate for 2 hours or more now, he's had a couple of accidents on our floor. And I'm talking about full bladder accidents without giving us a single clue.
4. Wee wee pad - We usually let Sobe play after his walk. After about an hour, and if he's not crated we'll find him sniffing which means he probably has to pee. We need to bring him near the wee wee pad so he can learn to go on it. He's already starting to use the pad but still has accidents. I was skeptical about this one at first but a neighbor said that teaching him to use the wee wee pad as an emergency method will alleviate stress for us and for Sobe. Sobe won't have the burden of holding it for hours and we won't have the burden of hurrying home if we can't make it. Sounds good to me! I hope to slowly eliminate it as his bladder get stronger.
Rick and I eliminated the use of the wee wee pad pretty much a day after writing this initial entry back in February. We've been really good about taking him outside on schedule. Sobe is now able to hold his pee outside the crate for 2 hours and sometimes longer depending on how distracted he is! So he's enjoying more time outside the crate these days.
Oh! Sobe also lets me wipe him down without struggling as much anymore! The Devil Dog came out once again last week but I've been consistently giving him a treat everytime he gives me his paw to clean without the nipping.
New Items for Sobe's To-Do List:
1. I would love to work on him not being distracted so easily on his walks. And when he does get distracted, I'd like to get him to respond to me when I say "Stay" or "Sit" instead of not hearing me at all.
2. Still going to work on getting him to go to the door if he has to go outside!
The following were the 4 things on his To-Do list. My comments on his latest progress are written in purple beneath each item.
1. Commands & Vocabulary - Sit, Outside, Lie Down, No bite, Off (when he jumps on us), Nite Nite, Slow (when he tries to run off on the leash when walking. He's pretty good at responding to this now!), Come here (he's SO stubborn with this one!), Get Over There (when he hovers and smothers you while you're trying to do something like clean his pee!)
Done: Sit, Lie Down, Off, Nite Nite, Come here. Since he's teething, "No bite" is an ongoing battle although when he does grab my hand now, he doesn't chomp down on it like he used to. "Slow" is also an ongoing battle because he gets so happy when he sees other dogs and wants to run up to them and play. I have to stop walking, step into his space and block his view to be able to get some kind of control over the situation. I hope consistency pays off on this one! We haven't really been using "Get Over There" just mainly "Off" to get him to stop hovering by our feet when we're trying to walk. By the way, I just stepped on him this morning because of his hovering. Hope he learned a lesson!
New Commands: Stay, Paw - both of which he is proficient at.
2. Walking into the elevator at the lobby - he did it this morning for the first time!
He's been soooo good about this now! There are times where he will hesitate but if you take a step back to walk right next to him, he'll start moving forward again. I think he's still a bit spooked by the big mirror in the lobby. He even goes straight into the elevator without hesitating anymore. The only thing I need to be cautious of is when we go out from our apartment. There have been times when Rick and I had to clean pee up from the floor while waiting for the elevator. Sobe obviously thinks that as long as he's out of the apartment, it's all fair game. So for now, until his bladder gets stronger ,we have him walk out the door but then carry him outside.
3. Signal for going out - Training him to sit by the door before going out.
Nope, hasn't happened, not happening, don't know when it'll eventually happen! Since we keep him out of his crate for 2 hours or more now, he's had a couple of accidents on our floor. And I'm talking about full bladder accidents without giving us a single clue.
4. Wee wee pad - We usually let Sobe play after his walk. After about an hour, and if he's not crated we'll find him sniffing which means he probably has to pee. We need to bring him near the wee wee pad so he can learn to go on it. He's already starting to use the pad but still has accidents. I was skeptical about this one at first but a neighbor said that teaching him to use the wee wee pad as an emergency method will alleviate stress for us and for Sobe. Sobe won't have the burden of holding it for hours and we won't have the burden of hurrying home if we can't make it. Sounds good to me! I hope to slowly eliminate it as his bladder get stronger.
Rick and I eliminated the use of the wee wee pad pretty much a day after writing this initial entry back in February. We've been really good about taking him outside on schedule. Sobe is now able to hold his pee outside the crate for 2 hours and sometimes longer depending on how distracted he is! So he's enjoying more time outside the crate these days.
Oh! Sobe also lets me wipe him down without struggling as much anymore! The Devil Dog came out once again last week but I've been consistently giving him a treat everytime he gives me his paw to clean without the nipping.
New Items for Sobe's To-Do List:
1. I would love to work on him not being distracted so easily on his walks. And when he does get distracted, I'd like to get him to respond to me when I say "Stay" or "Sit" instead of not hearing me at all.
2. Still going to work on getting him to go to the door if he has to go outside!
Monday, March 1, 2010
I'm a Slave For You!
Another snow storm swept across NYC from Thursday to Friday. We had over a foot of snow and a freebie long weekend due to school and business closures. Whoopie! I remember waking up as usual on Friday morning at 7am and taking the Royal Highness to potty, still bleery-eyed. Remind me, who owns whom??? When we got downstairs and saw the dunes of white, I remember saying out loud, "Oh my gosh, Sobe!! How are you going to walk out there?" Luckily a few brave souls went out before me that morning and left a trail of deep footprints for me to walk on. I carried Sobe most of the way, wondering how he'd go potty without getting buried. Eventually, I had to resort to plowing a trail by doing a rollerskating motion, pushing what I can to the side. Thank goodness I wore my tall rainboots! Sobe was able to follow the bit of trail I made and do his business before jumping into a snow dune. I let him play for a bit before taking him back inside. He had little balls of ice clinging to the fur along his belly area and it was painful for him when I tried to pick them off. I had to give up and just let him defrost on his own and then wipe up the water from my floor. Remind me again, who owns whom?!
With each walk on Friday, Sobe spent a lot of time hopping around and digging in the snow. I gave up trying to give him a disciplined walk and just let him play and exhaust himself. By early evening, he was pooped.
With each walk on Friday, Sobe spent a lot of time hopping around and digging in the snow. I gave up trying to give him a disciplined walk and just let him play and exhaust himself. By early evening, he was pooped.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Potty News & New Revelations - Meet the Devil Dog
Now that I know Sobe can hold his pee for an hour without accidents, I am keeping him out of his crate for 1.5 hours plus an extra 15 minutes. Yes, that's me pushing it! We've had a couple of accidents already this week because after the 1.5 hours, he will pee on the floor. Last night was a record for us. I walked him at 7:30pm and I kept him out of his crate until he peed on the floor at 10:30pm! He could have held it in for a half hour longer until his walk if Rick didn't get up and run to the kitchen. Sobe excitedly ran after him and with no signs of sniffing or circling, the little guy just squatted and peed.
It sucks that Sobe still doesn't know to go to the door when he feels the urge. Although this morning, I sat him by the door to leash him up and he peed there. I'm not sure if that was because he just couldn't hold it any longer or if it's because he associated the door with being outside and it triggered his bladder to just let loose. I'm hoping it's the latter because that's a sign that he's finally understanding!
The Excorcism of the Devil Dog
One thing of concern I'd like to mention is that Sobe HATES when I wipe his paws down after going outside. Sobe used to wriggle about and try run away from me whenever I use the baby wipes on him but last night, he started growling and biting! I tried the whole Cesar Millan thing on him where I'd poke him in the ribs and make the infamous, "Sshh!" sound but that aggravated him. Then I put him down on the ground and held him there but he was growling and barking even more and really tried to snap at my hands. I don't know how Cesar does it but it didn't work for me! Maybe it's my "energy". I must admit I was getting pretty pissed off at the 3-month old four-legged furball. How can this little thing try to dominate an adult human, higher up in the animal kingdom?? Instead of keeping him on his side, I picked him up and held him in my arms and didn't let him get away. He still wriggled about and growled but I felt that I had better control of his kicking limbs. Eventually the growl turned into an anxious whine and finally, I felt his tail go limp and drop. I wanted to do a victory dance but to keep up the pack leader image, I walked him to his crate and told him "nite nite." Sobe was exhausted so he crawled in there, I dropped him a couple of treats, and went to bed. Where was Rick, you ask? Rick was snoring in bed since it was close to midnight. It was only me, Sobe, and the Devil Dog.
If anyone has tips or tricks on how to control his awful behavior, I'm all ears! This morning, I used treats to get Sobe to let me to wipe his paws. Puppy snacks can be like holy water to deter doggy evilness!
It sucks that Sobe still doesn't know to go to the door when he feels the urge. Although this morning, I sat him by the door to leash him up and he peed there. I'm not sure if that was because he just couldn't hold it any longer or if it's because he associated the door with being outside and it triggered his bladder to just let loose. I'm hoping it's the latter because that's a sign that he's finally understanding!
The Excorcism of the Devil Dog
One thing of concern I'd like to mention is that Sobe HATES when I wipe his paws down after going outside. Sobe used to wriggle about and try run away from me whenever I use the baby wipes on him but last night, he started growling and biting! I tried the whole Cesar Millan thing on him where I'd poke him in the ribs and make the infamous, "Sshh!" sound but that aggravated him. Then I put him down on the ground and held him there but he was growling and barking even more and really tried to snap at my hands. I don't know how Cesar does it but it didn't work for me! Maybe it's my "energy". I must admit I was getting pretty pissed off at the 3-month old four-legged furball. How can this little thing try to dominate an adult human, higher up in the animal kingdom?? Instead of keeping him on his side, I picked him up and held him in my arms and didn't let him get away. He still wriggled about and growled but I felt that I had better control of his kicking limbs. Eventually the growl turned into an anxious whine and finally, I felt his tail go limp and drop. I wanted to do a victory dance but to keep up the pack leader image, I walked him to his crate and told him "nite nite." Sobe was exhausted so he crawled in there, I dropped him a couple of treats, and went to bed. Where was Rick, you ask? Rick was snoring in bed since it was close to midnight. It was only me, Sobe, and the Devil Dog.
If anyone has tips or tricks on how to control his awful behavior, I'm all ears! This morning, I used treats to get Sobe to let me to wipe his paws. Puppy snacks can be like holy water to deter doggy evilness!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
No Accidents!
I'm so proud to report that Rick nor I had to wipe up pee from the floor yesterday! There were no accidents in between Sobe's walk and crate times, which is a first. My poor overwashed hands are tremendously thankful! Not having any accidents can probably be attributed to the fact that it was a Saturday and we were both home most of the day keep him in check. It was more regulated compared to last weekend which was filled with car trips and house visits for Chinese New Year. The articles I've read in my research are absolutely correct in saying that puppies must be supervised 100%. You have to watch them like a hawk to prevent anything unwanted from happening. There were times when I myself had use the bathroom and I'll come back to a puddle or find him chewing on my phone charger.
There were a couple of things Rick and I did yesterday that makes us believe Sobe has made definite progress with his potty training. We both went out yesterday for 4 hours but Sobe didn't soil his bedding (no bacon bone this time!). I also kept him out for an extra 30 minutes after his walks. We typically let him play for about an hour after a walk and he would usually pee a little before or after the hour. After referring to Sobe's Potty Journal, I noticed that his accidents were starting to occur mostly after the hour so yesterday, I kept him preoccupied with his toys for the extra 30 minutes to see if he can hold it for that long. There were times when I caught him leaving his toy to sniff around but I would redirect his attention to the toy. I basically hung out on the floor with him, waved the toy in his face or called his name whenever he would start sniffing. When the full 1-1/2 hour passed, Sobe would be exhausted from play and I'd bring him to his crate. This worked yesterday and I hope to keep this up with him, gradually extending his time out of the crate.
I've got 5 episodes of the Dog Whisperer on my DVR to keep me patient and motivated!! :)
There were a couple of things Rick and I did yesterday that makes us believe Sobe has made definite progress with his potty training. We both went out yesterday for 4 hours but Sobe didn't soil his bedding (no bacon bone this time!). I also kept him out for an extra 30 minutes after his walks. We typically let him play for about an hour after a walk and he would usually pee a little before or after the hour. After referring to Sobe's Potty Journal, I noticed that his accidents were starting to occur mostly after the hour so yesterday, I kept him preoccupied with his toys for the extra 30 minutes to see if he can hold it for that long. There were times when I caught him leaving his toy to sniff around but I would redirect his attention to the toy. I basically hung out on the floor with him, waved the toy in his face or called his name whenever he would start sniffing. When the full 1-1/2 hour passed, Sobe would be exhausted from play and I'd bring him to his crate. This worked yesterday and I hope to keep this up with him, gradually extending his time out of the crate.
I've got 5 episodes of the Dog Whisperer on my DVR to keep me patient and motivated!! :)
Friday, February 19, 2010
Splat!
The little superhero decided to leap off of Rick's lap last night from the couch. I was cooking in the kitchen and I heard this big crash followed by howling/wailing from Sobe. When I rushed to the living room, I found Sobe on the ground just sitting there, wailing. His cry was so heartbreaking! Rick told me he just jumped for it. Sigh... I think when we have kids, I'm going to have to put a safety belt around Rick and the child so the two of them don't separate. After about 2 minutes of crying, Sobe pushed himself up against Rick for comfort. We checked his limbs and everything was fine. I think he was hurt but was more shocked and scared than anything.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Disappearance of the Bacon Bone
What a long day it was yesterday for me, Rick and Sobe! Rick and I both worked all day, which meant Sobe spent about the same amount of time in his crate. Poor little guy! I walked him in the morning and I went home around lunch to walk him again and play with him. He was able to hold it until then! What a good sign! Before I left to go back to work, I opened up a bacon-flavored chew bone for him to work off his boredom since the afternoon will be a 4-5 hour stretch for him until one of us gets back. I thought the bone would last a good while.
At the end of the day, Rick and I left work around the same time. I ran to catch the train home, hoping Rick would get there before me to rescue Sobe from being crated all day. I pictured Sobe lying belly-up in his crate, exhausted from gnawing on the crate wires with hopes of breaking free. And who needs physical therapy for a recovering ankle when I have a puppy who makes me walk him several times a day and run through rush hour swarms of people to get home to him?
I speed-walked my way home from the train station and by the time I burst through my door, I saw the crate door open and Sobe gone. Phew! Rick made it! I calmed down, settled in and peered into the crate. I saw there was no water left in his water bowl. Sobe sure was thirsty! That was when I noticed that his food bowl was still full and there were crumbs all over his blanket. I searched for the bacon bone and it was gone - nowhere in sight. Sobe apparently chewed and ate away at the entire bone! Which explained why he probably got thirsty and drank all his water and was too full to eat his regular healthy (and expensive!) food. When I grabbed the bedding to get rid of the crumbs, I also found that he peed on it. Go figure with all the water he lapped up. Now I know not to buy anymore bacon bones for him!
The rest of the night was thankfully more relaxed and Sobe did not end up with constipation after eating that bacon bone! We used up the last of the wee wee pads so Sobe ended up peeing on the rug next to it a couple of times. I need to teach him to go to the door when he needs to pee!
Things Sobe mastered today: Going up the steps in front of the building, walking into elevator without hestitation, and the highlight - he learned to lie down!!
At the end of the day, Rick and I left work around the same time. I ran to catch the train home, hoping Rick would get there before me to rescue Sobe from being crated all day. I pictured Sobe lying belly-up in his crate, exhausted from gnawing on the crate wires with hopes of breaking free. And who needs physical therapy for a recovering ankle when I have a puppy who makes me walk him several times a day and run through rush hour swarms of people to get home to him?
The rest of the night was thankfully more relaxed and Sobe did not end up with constipation after eating that bacon bone! We used up the last of the wee wee pads so Sobe ended up peeing on the rug next to it a couple of times. I need to teach him to go to the door when he needs to pee!
Things Sobe mastered today: Going up the steps in front of the building, walking into elevator without hestitation, and the highlight - he learned to lie down!!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Law & Order
I am constantly strategizing on how to train Sobe... what we can do to make it work for us and for him. I think that as he's approaching his "terrible 2" stage, we need to be more strict with disciplining him. (He's already testing the water with us and trying to get his way). Here's what I researched so far that I think will help us help him. It's also helpful that I establish some training rules so that Rick and I are on the same page and remain consistent.
1. Affection - We love Sobe and he's a ball of fur and we want to pet him all the time but we should only show him affection when he's calm, when he does something right or listens to a command. If he's out of control (not the normal playful energy), we need to calm him down before we give him affection. So for instance, if we're playing with him and he gets hyper and nips/bites, poke him in the ribs (or use massager) and say, "no bite!", then don't play with him anymore until he calms down. He's usually a good boy and plays on his own on the rug so I think he deserves affection most of the time but we just need to be careful on when not to give it.
2. Working it! - Before food, treats, toys, or playtime, we need to make Sobe sit and wait before he can get it.
3. Pawing - I notice that Sobe's been trying to climb on top of us and paw us when he wants something. This is his way of exerting dominance and so we need to cut that out ( I didn't know at first). Until he stops and sits, he doesn't get what he wants.
4. Walks - Remember to keep the leash loose and let Sobe walk. Stay next to, or a step ahead of him. Tighten leash when he goes in the opposite direction, followed immediately by slacking the leash again. This is how he knows that life will be easy and struggle-free when he doesn't pull. It's ok if he walks horizontally but just not the opposite direction.
Things to work on:
1. Commands & Vocabulary - Sit, Outside, Lie Down, No bite, Off (when he jumps on us), Nite Nite, Slow (when he tries to run off on the leash when walking. He's pretty good at responding to this now!), Come here (he's SO stubborn with this one!), Get Over There (when he hovers and smothers you while you're trying to do something like clean his pee!)
2. Walking into the elevator at the lobby - he did it this morning for the first time!
3. Signal for going out - Training him to sit by the door before going out.
4. Wee wee pad - We usually let Sobe play after his walk. After about an hour, and if he's not crated we'll find him sniffing which means he probably has to pee. We need to bring him near the wee wee pad so he can learn to go on it. He's already starting to use the pad but still has accidents. I was skeptical about this one at first but a neighbor said that teaching him to use the wee wee pad as an emergency method will alleviate stress for us and for Sobe. Sobe won't have the burden of holding it for hours and we won't have the burden of hurrying home if we can't make it. Sounds good to me! I hope to slowly eliminate it as his bladder get stronger.
Below are pictures Rick took of Sobe on his afternoon walk. He's walking pretty confidently now even in the sleet and rain. He's also trying to climb the stairs to our building. Don't you love his little army jacket? It says "Rebel" in the back. If he has the army hard hat, he'll look like a true soldier marching down the street!
1. Affection - We love Sobe and he's a ball of fur and we want to pet him all the time but we should only show him affection when he's calm, when he does something right or listens to a command. If he's out of control (not the normal playful energy), we need to calm him down before we give him affection. So for instance, if we're playing with him and he gets hyper and nips/bites, poke him in the ribs (or use massager) and say, "no bite!", then don't play with him anymore until he calms down. He's usually a good boy and plays on his own on the rug so I think he deserves affection most of the time but we just need to be careful on when not to give it.
2. Working it! - Before food, treats, toys, or playtime, we need to make Sobe sit and wait before he can get it.
3. Pawing - I notice that Sobe's been trying to climb on top of us and paw us when he wants something. This is his way of exerting dominance and so we need to cut that out ( I didn't know at first). Until he stops and sits, he doesn't get what he wants.
4. Walks - Remember to keep the leash loose and let Sobe walk. Stay next to, or a step ahead of him. Tighten leash when he goes in the opposite direction, followed immediately by slacking the leash again. This is how he knows that life will be easy and struggle-free when he doesn't pull. It's ok if he walks horizontally but just not the opposite direction.
Things to work on:
1. Commands & Vocabulary - Sit, Outside, Lie Down, No bite, Off (when he jumps on us), Nite Nite, Slow (when he tries to run off on the leash when walking. He's pretty good at responding to this now!), Come here (he's SO stubborn with this one!), Get Over There (when he hovers and smothers you while you're trying to do something like clean his pee!)
2. Walking into the elevator at the lobby - he did it this morning for the first time!
3. Signal for going out - Training him to sit by the door before going out.
4. Wee wee pad - We usually let Sobe play after his walk. After about an hour, and if he's not crated we'll find him sniffing which means he probably has to pee. We need to bring him near the wee wee pad so he can learn to go on it. He's already starting to use the pad but still has accidents. I was skeptical about this one at first but a neighbor said that teaching him to use the wee wee pad as an emergency method will alleviate stress for us and for Sobe. Sobe won't have the burden of holding it for hours and we won't have the burden of hurrying home if we can't make it. Sounds good to me! I hope to slowly eliminate it as his bladder get stronger.
Below are pictures Rick took of Sobe on his afternoon walk. He's walking pretty confidently now even in the sleet and rain. He's also trying to climb the stairs to our building. Don't you love his little army jacket? It says "Rebel" in the back. If he has the army hard hat, he'll look like a true soldier marching down the street!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Happy Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day! Sobe's Family Gatherings
February 14th marked the arrival of the Year of the Tiger and also a day to celebrate love. Happy Chinese New Year!! Happy Valentine's Day!! Rick and I were happy to have Sobe a part of the celebrations albeit the walks and pee-pee spills in between. I was worried that the weekend celebrations would throw him off schedule but I tried my hardest to walk him and feed him around the usual times. Sobe did have a couple of accidents at mine and Rick's parents' house despite sticking to the schedule. It could've been from the excitement of being in new places and being around Boots (Rick's family's Pekinese) and Tarzan (my brother's Yorkie). Then again, Sobe still has accidents at home despite his frequent walks! Like I said, it's a work in progress!
New Faces, New Places
We took Sobe with us to visit Rick's dad, his brother and sister-in-law, Pat and Grace on Saturday evening for Chinese New Year's eve. This is the time where Chinese families do ancestral worship and rituals at home and gather for dinner to welcome the new year. Because we knew we would be there for most of the night, we packed Sobe's food, food dish, carrier, blanket, toys, and Nature's Miracle odor eliminator/cleaner for his accidents. It was like packing a diaper bag for a baby!
When we arrived at Pat and Grace's place, I didn't let him out of his carrier until Boots the Pekinese sniffed him and didn't feel threatened. Boots is not very social with other dogs and tends to display anxiety followed by aggression towards them so we were all trying to give Boots as much control over the situation as possible in his home and not overwhelm him. Once Boots was done sniffing and felt that Sobe was okay, we let Sobe out. At this point, Boots retreated and ran out of the room, not wanting anything to do with Sobe. Sobe was very calm and relaxed and did not run after him. I'm so happy that Boots accepted Sobe in his own way! I think it helped that Sobe didn't agitate him by chasing after him to play. When it came to interacting with people, Sobe loves to be cuddled and held. He would go limp once someone holds him and allow the person to handle and manipulate him every which way. Hmmm.... he's not really like that at home! He's a bit more rambunctious and mischievous!
The very next day, we took Sobe to my parents' house to visit for New Year's day. We didn't pack as much since my parents live only 10 blocks away. Again, he was very social, mellow and calm and allowed everyone to hold him and cuddle him without struggle. Makes me wonder if he doesn't like me very much since he's not like that with me! (Hmmmm again.) When Tarzan the Yorkie arrived, I brought Sobe outside to introduce them before going back in the house. Tarzan being a more energetic dog played with Sobe for hours! Sobe received an uncountable amount of wet willies because by the time I went to get him to leave, his head and ears were all wet from Tarzan licking him. I think Sobe got him back because my brother said there was pee on the floor and Tarzan rolled all over it. My brother and his wife had to deal with a smelly pee-matted Tarzan on their 45-minute drive back home.
Needless to say, Sobe was exhausted that evening. He slept quite a bit! By the way, his walks have improved. He is more willing to walk and we've conquered his fear of my building lobby. My next goals will be for him to let me know when he has to go outside by sitting next to the door and knowing to use the wee wee pad if he has to go in between walks for emergencies. The emergency wee wee pad has been set out since he arrived but he either ignores it or chews it up. The past couple of days, he has gone to pee on it on his own but often times still has accidents elsewhere. I'm also working on "lie down", "come here" and "stay". He's about 75% done with the last two commands. We and Sobe have survived Puppy Bootcamp week 1!!
New Faces, New Places
We took Sobe with us to visit Rick's dad, his brother and sister-in-law, Pat and Grace on Saturday evening for Chinese New Year's eve. This is the time where Chinese families do ancestral worship and rituals at home and gather for dinner to welcome the new year. Because we knew we would be there for most of the night, we packed Sobe's food, food dish, carrier, blanket, toys, and Nature's Miracle odor eliminator/cleaner for his accidents. It was like packing a diaper bag for a baby!
When we arrived at Pat and Grace's place, I didn't let him out of his carrier until Boots the Pekinese sniffed him and didn't feel threatened. Boots is not very social with other dogs and tends to display anxiety followed by aggression towards them so we were all trying to give Boots as much control over the situation as possible in his home and not overwhelm him. Once Boots was done sniffing and felt that Sobe was okay, we let Sobe out. At this point, Boots retreated and ran out of the room, not wanting anything to do with Sobe. Sobe was very calm and relaxed and did not run after him. I'm so happy that Boots accepted Sobe in his own way! I think it helped that Sobe didn't agitate him by chasing after him to play. When it came to interacting with people, Sobe loves to be cuddled and held. He would go limp once someone holds him and allow the person to handle and manipulate him every which way. Hmmm.... he's not really like that at home! He's a bit more rambunctious and mischievous!
The very next day, we took Sobe to my parents' house to visit for New Year's day. We didn't pack as much since my parents live only 10 blocks away. Again, he was very social, mellow and calm and allowed everyone to hold him and cuddle him without struggle. Makes me wonder if he doesn't like me very much since he's not like that with me! (Hmmmm again.) When Tarzan the Yorkie arrived, I brought Sobe outside to introduce them before going back in the house. Tarzan being a more energetic dog played with Sobe for hours! Sobe received an uncountable amount of wet willies because by the time I went to get him to leave, his head and ears were all wet from Tarzan licking him. I think Sobe got him back because my brother said there was pee on the floor and Tarzan rolled all over it. My brother and his wife had to deal with a smelly pee-matted Tarzan on their 45-minute drive back home.
Needless to say, Sobe was exhausted that evening. He slept quite a bit! By the way, his walks have improved. He is more willing to walk and we've conquered his fear of my building lobby. My next goals will be for him to let me know when he has to go outside by sitting next to the door and knowing to use the wee wee pad if he has to go in between walks for emergencies. The emergency wee wee pad has been set out since he arrived but he either ignores it or chews it up. The past couple of days, he has gone to pee on it on his own but often times still has accidents elsewhere. I'm also working on "lie down", "come here" and "stay". He's about 75% done with the last two commands. We and Sobe have survived Puppy Bootcamp week 1!!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Massager Turned Training Tool
As cute as Sobe is when he's playing, the minute he sinks his tiny dagger teeth into my hands, feet, clothes, or other non-chew toy items, it can quickly become annoying. He was biting my pants the other night and I gave him a push saying, "No!" but he would jump right back at me, thinking it's a game. I shoved him away a couple more times and said, "NO!" in a louder, stern tone but it was still useless. Sobe became relentless. He really tested my patience with the biting and I must admit that I did what every professional trainer out there would frown upon: I gave Sobe a spank on the butt. He was shocked at first and jumped aside but in a couple of seconds, he darted right back for my pants. I felt hopeless and I didn't want to just walk away because that would mean that he got his way. I felt the need to make him stop. While I sat on the floor trying to come up with a plan, my eyes fell upon a little electric hand massager I had gotten for Christmas one year. The massager has three nubby legs and vibrates when you press a button. I grabbed it and while Sobe was preoccupied with gnawing on my pants, I pressed the massager's nubby legs against his butt, pressed the button to buzz him, then quickly turned it off and hid the device behind me. I said, "No bite!" The buzzing shocked him and he quickly jumped away and tried to see what caused it. After a few seconds, he turned his attention back to my pants and started to go for it. I buzzed him with the massager again, and he darted away, shocked. I repeated, "No bite!" This time, he walked away from my pants.
I tried this again when I found Sobe chewing on Rick's bookbag. I initially told him "No bite" but when he didn't listen even after a few times of me telling him, I used the massager. He would quickly stop. I used the massager in a couple more instances when he was overly hyper and chewing away on anything other than his toys. Thanks to the massager, he is already responding to "No bite" pretty well now.
In case anyone thinks it's torture, the massaging tool is not painful at all (it's meant for us humans without the thick fur!).
Thursday, February 11, 2010
What's He Up To?
I'm sitting at work on my lunch break now wondering what Sobe's up to. I heard from my husband at around 1:15pm telling me he walked Sobe at 12:30pm. Sobe peed on our foyer rug before going out, peed outside, and then came back home and peed on our living room rug. Just wonderful! Rick put him in his crate before leaving for work at 1pm. In addition to putting Sobe in there, he also put in his food and water dishes! I just KNOW I'm coming home to a surprise this evening. It's been over an hour since his walk. I hope he can hold it until I get home. I also am wondering if he's crying since he probably got used to us playing with him at this time of day when we took days off earlier this week.
I'll keep everyone posted on how Sobe handled his first afternoon alone!
Okay, so Rick actually went home earlier in the afternoon but we agreed to test Sobe's bladder control. Rick texted me with a note, "He's doing fine. Still sleeping." That was 4pm. 4:30pm: "He's awake now. Just chewing on his rawhide. He whined a little but seems fine." Rick had to leave by 5:00pm to attend a mixed martial arts class (which deserves a whole other blog). I left work at 5:30pm and got home as fast as I could. I was running up the stairs of my building by 6:15pm and found Sobe sleeping on top of another blanket in his crate. His initial fleece blanket was tossed aside to a corner of the living room. His bladder couldn't hold for all those hours after all. I found out later that when Sobe saw Rick getting ready to leave for class, he cried and just let loose. However, holding his bladder from 12:30pm - 5 is pretty darn good! We decided to stick with a midday walk for Sobe until he gets it.
Sobe's evening bathroom activities have been more or less the same. A walk at 6:30pm, Sobe peeing in the apartment around 7pm, another walk at 9 and again at 11:30pm before we all go to bed. One improvement today is that he is finally walking into the lobby of my building and towards the elevator!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Snow Day Frustrations
A snow storm struck New York today blanketing our cars and streets with the white stuff. We woke up this morning at 7am and saw about an inch on the ground already. Our wonderful neighbors who own a 1 year old daschund, Joy, left a gift of 2 jackets for Sobe. They fit him perfectly! Sobe started the day off well. I took him out for his morning walk and he did his business and played in the snow. He was extremely cute to watch! Rick and I walked him one last time an hour later before we left for work and then dropped him off in his crate.
Sobe did so well in his crate. Rick got home at around 1pm and found Sobe waiting for him. No whimpering at all. Because it was a snow day, Rick didn't have to go back to work. Instead, Sobe got taken to my parents for some snow shoveling action. Guess we'll see how he handles his afternoon crating tomorrow when we will both be at work a full day.
The frustrations started in the evening. I took him for his 6pm walk and he did his business like a good boy. He met a couple of dogs along the way and one growled and barked at him. Sobe stood his ground and remained calm. On our way back home, I noticed he was leading and pulling on the leash more. I couldn't get him to calm down. Maybe because of the snow?
An hour later, Sobe had an accident at home. I took him back out again and this time with more snow, he didn't quite stay focused on getting business taken care of. I continued walking and we ran into another dog. The two sniffed each other and Sobe began to growl and bark at him. I've never seen Sobe act this way before and it was disturbing. Is he learning this behavior from other dogs? This isn't the type of behavior I would want to condone. Again, he tugged and pulled on his leash as I brought him back into the apartment.
20 minutes later after playing with his toys at home, he had another accident! These accidents are small amounts, not a full bladder of pee. I didn't catch him in time so I just cleaned it up. Another 20 minutes later, our neighbor (the daschund, Joy, and his dad) rang our bell to ask about the jackets from this morning. Sobe went out to meet Joy and the two were roughing and tumbling. Joy kept knocking Sobe over and Sobe eventually bared his teeth and growled and barked at him. Again, very disturbing to me. I grabbed Sobe and told him "No!" He calmed down until Joy bounded over again and jumped on him, causing it to start all over.
It was pretty rough this evening with him growling, pulling on the leash and having accidents in the house. I also felt my training efforts were constantly being interrupted with our neighbors' dogs outside. I guess that's a part of being a puppy parent. I'm pooped!
Sobe did so well in his crate. Rick got home at around 1pm and found Sobe waiting for him. No whimpering at all. Because it was a snow day, Rick didn't have to go back to work. Instead, Sobe got taken to my parents for some snow shoveling action. Guess we'll see how he handles his afternoon crating tomorrow when we will both be at work a full day.
The frustrations started in the evening. I took him for his 6pm walk and he did his business like a good boy. He met a couple of dogs along the way and one growled and barked at him. Sobe stood his ground and remained calm. On our way back home, I noticed he was leading and pulling on the leash more. I couldn't get him to calm down. Maybe because of the snow?
An hour later, Sobe had an accident at home. I took him back out again and this time with more snow, he didn't quite stay focused on getting business taken care of. I continued walking and we ran into another dog. The two sniffed each other and Sobe began to growl and bark at him. I've never seen Sobe act this way before and it was disturbing. Is he learning this behavior from other dogs? This isn't the type of behavior I would want to condone. Again, he tugged and pulled on his leash as I brought him back into the apartment.
20 minutes later after playing with his toys at home, he had another accident! These accidents are small amounts, not a full bladder of pee. I didn't catch him in time so I just cleaned it up. Another 20 minutes later, our neighbor (the daschund, Joy, and his dad) rang our bell to ask about the jackets from this morning. Sobe went out to meet Joy and the two were roughing and tumbling. Joy kept knocking Sobe over and Sobe eventually bared his teeth and growled and barked at him. Again, very disturbing to me. I grabbed Sobe and told him "No!" He calmed down until Joy bounded over again and jumped on him, causing it to start all over.
It was pretty rough this evening with him growling, pulling on the leash and having accidents in the house. I also felt my training efforts were constantly being interrupted with our neighbors' dogs outside. I guess that's a part of being a puppy parent. I'm pooped!
First Few Days 2/6-2/9 - Adjusting to New Home
Since I am starting this blog a few days after getting Sobe, it's difficult to remember all the events that happened over the past few days. I'll try my best to categorize what I've been working on with Sobe. I've been doing a lot of Googling trying to research as much dog training material as possible hoping to become the Puppy Whisperer. I appreciate any tips/suggestions along the way!
Socialization
Sobe socializes very well with other dogs and people. My brother and Sarah brought their dogs over and Sobe was quite calm and confident. He wasn't timid, scared or aggressive. He exhibited very good energy. After getting acquainted, Sobe was very playful. He and the dogs ran all around the apartment. I'm thankful I have an understanding neighbor who lives downstairs! He acts in the same calm, confident manner when meeting dogs outside on his walks. He only barked and fended for himself when a daschund played too rough with him and tossed him around a few times.
Our neighbors love him when we take him out for walks. Again, he's not afraid on strangers and does not show signs of aggression. Just curiousity at first and then he wants to take off with the person! Hmmm... need to work on his loyalty!
Housebreaking/Crating
Rick and I decided to use the crating method to potty train Sobe. The crate is placed in a corner of the living room where Rick and I mostly hang out. The breeder told me that she was already working on housebreaking him and the training shows. He is able to hold his bladder for a good 2 hours when he's outside his crate and when he's in his crate, he's able to hold it for 7 hours. The first night we got him, I ignored his crying at 5am thinking that if I didn't pay attention, he will learn to stop crying. He stopped after 10 minutes and started crying again at 7am. This time, he was not only crying, he was scratching the crate and trying to free himself. I went out to the living room and got hit with the smell of poop. He somehow got it all over himself. I felt so bad for him. Now I know not to feed him too late and know that his cries in the morning means he needs to go outside!
After the first night's mishap, I've been diligent in sticking to a good schedule. I remove his food after his evening feeding and he sleeps through the night until 7am. When I hear him whimper, I get up and take him out immediately, using the word "Outside." When he comes in, Rick plays with him as a reward. He runs around with his toys for an hour and we put him back in his crate for a nap. We've been keeping the following schedule with him and so far, he's down to 3 accidents in the house:
7am - walk/feed
12 noon - walk/feed
3pm - walk
6:30pm - walk/feed (figure this will be about the time I get home from work)
9pm - walk
11pm - final walk before bed
He always plays for an hour or so after each walk before we put him in his crate. When we put him in during the middle of the day, he will whimper but hiding treats around his blanket has made it a better experience for him.
By the 3rd day with us, he already knows to sit and stay, especially when we go for walks and come back. He sits and waits when I put his harness on or remove it. Initially, he would squirm and wriggle but he realized he wasn't getting anywhere because I would have him clamped between my knees. It's amazing how quickly he learns.
We still have a some ways to go with the housebreaking. If we don't crate him after an hour, he will pee on the floor. Hopefully now that Rick and I are going back to work, he'll be more accustomed to the schedule.
Walking
Sobe absolutely refused to walk the first time I took him out. I think this is because he's not used to walking on concrete and the sights, sounds, and smells were brand new. It was such a struggle and I wanted to teach him good walking habits. I had to pick him up a lot in certain spots where he would just sit and not walk but by the second day, I started using treats to lure him along. This worked great. When he tries to turn around and go the other way, I stay put until he can't go any further and has no choice but to go towards my direction. The walks were tough the first couple of days with him fighting the leash, not wanting to walk, and trying to pull in the opposite direction. Patience does pay off. I had to stand in the cold for a long time and wait for him to walk then praise him. He's been really good with the leash now. My only problem now is to get him to walk in my building lobby towards the elevator. No amount of coaxing or treats can get him to walk in there!
How It All Started
(Sobe's half brother, Benny)
It all started with a Girls Trip up to visit a friend in Boston. One of my girlfriends, Sarah, decided to take her new Lhasa puppy, Benny, with her on the trip. Benny is one of the most mild-mannered, loveable dogs I have ever met. He was great during the 4 hour drive up to Boston, didn't show signs of anxiety or aggression and slept through the nights in Boston without making a fuss. Like all puppies, Benny would have accidents in the house and can be overly playful and get into mischief but he was easily controlled and tolerated discipline from his momma. It was that weekend I decided I want a dog just like Benny!
That Monday, I went online to look for Benny's breeder. Karen Kennedy of Kennedy's Stoneridge Kennel out in Oklahoma had pictures of the latest Lhasa litter posted on NextDayPets.com. After looking through each puppy picture and reading the personality profiles, I decided on Sobe (formerly known as Winston). Karen has been extremely helpful in finding a match with my lifestyle and personality. It's difficult not to be able to interact with the dog prior to purchasing but I was confident after reading reviews on the breeder and interacting with Benny that Sobe would have the similar personality traits that Benny has.
Sobe arrived just this past Saturday. My husband, Rick, and I picked him up at the airport and we could tell he was scared and tired. He wasn't a fresh smelling puppy either! After a bath and a few hours later, he proved to be the most loving dog any first-time dog owner can ask for!
Breeder Info:
Karen Kennedy
Kennedy's Stoneridge Kennel
Jay, Oklahoma
9185294578
http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/dogs/breeders/1100165/11556~1.aspx
That Monday, I went online to look for Benny's breeder. Karen Kennedy of Kennedy's Stoneridge Kennel out in Oklahoma had pictures of the latest Lhasa litter posted on NextDayPets.com. After looking through each puppy picture and reading the personality profiles, I decided on Sobe (formerly known as Winston). Karen has been extremely helpful in finding a match with my lifestyle and personality. It's difficult not to be able to interact with the dog prior to purchasing but I was confident after reading reviews on the breeder and interacting with Benny that Sobe would have the similar personality traits that Benny has.
Sobe arrived just this past Saturday. My husband, Rick, and I picked him up at the airport and we could tell he was scared and tired. He wasn't a fresh smelling puppy either! After a bath and a few hours later, he proved to be the most loving dog any first-time dog owner can ask for!
Breeder Info:
Karen Kennedy
Kennedy's Stoneridge Kennel
Jay, Oklahoma
9185294578
http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/dogs/breeders/1100165/11556~1.aspx
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