Bonnie 62.8 pounds
16 months
Clyde 68.4 pounds
16 months
WE'RE BACK
After several months of technical issues and camera malfunctions, we are back. So much has happened over the past few months. There were birthdays, fights, stitches, special treats and more. And the pictures!!! There are SO many. I narrowed it to a little over 200, but it started at almost 500. So, you will be seeing them over the next few episodes.
Happy Birthday
The pups officially turned one years old, and it has been a crazy ride. I haven’t posted in a few weeks so let me catch you up.
1. Something got their attention and they decided to scrape a hole in the wall. When we came home and found the hole, we also found two puppies with WHITE, dusty paws (but no drywall crumbs on the floor because they ate it as they went).
2. On Thanksgiving, we hosted a small gathering and Clyde, overwhelmed by the guests and the continuous noise began biting people. This sweet pup started
choosing his targets, but we don’t know if he was excited causing him to jump, nip, and scrape or if he was feeling threatened and lunging. We do know that he has it in for my dad. We are working on this problem.
3. Nico came for a visit and now Clyde is very powerful in his play. You could tell that they enjoyed each other but when they got to excited, the two powerful dogs would be hard to separate so we kept them calm as much as possible.
4. Christmas came along and Bonnie decided to unwrap the first gift that went under the tree. Clyde decided he must taste the plastic covering on the lights. They had a loud crunch!
5. We broke down and bought them a doggie birthday treat. I wanted to get hats and sing to them, but I never got it together.
They are doing great. We allow them upstairs a lot more now so that they get used to that being their home too (so they don’t poop up there). So far, so good. But Clyde has found the trash a few times.
Lately Clyde has felt (and taken) more liberties with using the bathroom in the house. He’s not bad, but we are left enough little surprises that we hesitate to let them out of the crate when we’re not home. Bonnie is great. She signals us and holds it in until we help her.
Still a work in progress, I guess.
All four dogs were at the house. We let them into the backyard and the had to use the bathroom. I get it when one dog covers the first dogs pee with his own. He is claiming that spot as his own, fine. But then a third dog goes in the same spot and Clyde completing the ritual as well. What does this mean??? It means dead grass in that spot, that’s what it means!
Clyde finally got it. I could see the lightbulb turn on in his head when he figured out that doing the tricks equals getting treats. Now he does down, spin, play dead and were working on beg (hard… he is SOOOOO heavy).
Now both dogs are great at the tricks. They both know shake, wait, off, sit, high-five, fist bump, walk, beg, and come. Plus any non verbal cues.
Bonnie and Clyde tried to play under the couch again. It was adorable and hilarious to see them try but not fit (not even close).
Bonnie inevitably, trying to take shelter under the couch,
under the swing,
or under your legs when you’re sitting. I’m waiting for the day that she realizes that she doesn’t fit anymore.
I promise we feed these pups. Why do they insist on finding the nastiest thing in the house or in the yard or on a walk and eating it? Bonnie went to the bathroom and was struggling. I went to help her and discovered that she was pushing out underwear. She had torn them to shreds and ate some. Why Bonnie…just why?
PENNY vs. BONNIE
Penny and Bonnie have started having some issues. They have had several “scrapes,” but one thing remains constant… Bonnie always loses. Penny attacks her in the muzzle and Bonnie attacks back. Penny is older, and wiser and ALWAYS wins. It has been difficult to pin down what is going on. Some of the current theories are…
1. Resource guarding from Bonnie (which Bonnie does often)
2. Jealousy of Ashley (both Penny and Bonnie love Ashley and want to be loved by her with both hands and a lap).
3. The hierarchy of dogs. Moxie put the dogs in their place when they were young, but Penny let them run all over her because they were young. Now Clyde doesn’t push back, but Bonnie tests her limits and Penny must correct her to maintain the statute of power. It is more severe now because Bonnie is so big and will fight back.
4. Bonnie is putting off a vibe that Penny will not tolerate (and she tolerates a lot).
5. Their personalities clash.
Nevertheless, we love both dogs and will get to the bottom of it. Bonnie’s face keeps looking worse and worse, but she doesn’t give in (or learn her lesson). Hopefully, one day soon we will figure what causes their conflict or they will both settle the issue and stop fighting!
EXTRAS
Saying Goodnight
Sun Bathing
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