ATTENDANCE: 14 today.  Absent:  Bruce, Charlie, Iko, Hudson.  New:  Isla Catahoula/Lab, Angus Cairn Terrier and Hattie Yellow Lab.  Everyone Else:  Lily Aussie, Emmie Doodle, Lucy Doodle, Stella Bulldog, Freddie Boston Terrier, Cooper Doodle, Dexter Puggle, Max Golden, Cullen Schnauzer, Gemma Cocker Spaniel and Eden Schnauzer.  Great bunch!

REMINDER:  DWD will be CLOSED for the week of August 22-29.  School reopens on August 29 for the Monday class.  School will also be CLOSED for Labor Day Holiday on Monday, September 6.

PLEASE...there is NO PARKING in front of my house on Ocean Street.  PERIOD.  You will get ticket if you park there, and I’ll get in trouble with the City as well.  You are welcomed to park in my driveway (turn your car around to face out if you are able) or on Simmons Road just past my house.  Please be swift in dropping off/picking up your dog so that others don’t have to wait in the street for a parking spot.  THANK YOU!!

OUR DAY:   What a lovely summer day so far!  The humidity seems to have eased and there’s even a nice breeze.  We love this.

Wow!  It’s been a super-busy first half of the day here in the yard.  Some dogs have GROWN a lot and it’s time to talk about graduations.

Lucy Doodle will graduate today.  I’ve notified her folks via e-mail, as this was not foreseen but is necessary based on Lucy’s play with the newer/younger pups in the class.  Lucy has had a hard time learning self-control and listening to play signals from other dogs and as she has grown, this has become more of an issue.  Today, it was very much a challenge, as Lucy LOVES the squirt bottle and it has absolutely no effect on her behavior.  Lucy would do well at an adult doggie daycare where she can learn from the older, larger dogs to contain herself and observe the play signals she’s receiving.  It’s been a joy watching her recover from her anxiety and fear about interacting with other dogs and become a confident pup!

Next week, Emmie Doodle will graduate.  She, too, is growing fast and this becomes a safety issue here with the smaller/younger pups.  She has done amazingly well as a student here and has recovered from her fear/anxiety as well, just like Lucy!  Emmie might enjoy Elsa Larsen’s Adventure Walk program next, as she’s a local SoPo girl.  She would be among friends, as may DWD large breed graduates work with Elsa and have fun in her program after leaving DWD.  Cooper will miss her!!!

Beyond the above-named two dogs, it looks like Max, Cooper and Lily will be next in line....and maybe Charlie Lab.  Not sure when additional graduations will happen, but I’m hoping to keep everyone a few more weeks at least!  It all depends on two things:  growth and play behavior.  I keep every pup as long as I possibly can, with safety being foremost in my mind.

So...on to the NEW PUPS!  We’ve got three today!

Angus is transitioning from the Tiny Tots Pack because he became a bit too rough and wild for many of his playmates and was in need of some further “shaping” of his behavior through socialization with larger pups.  It’s working!  Angus has had to meet/greet and form new relationships with a pack of pups who already have a pack order, so he has had to be on his best behavior.  He’s tried to test limits and has received the right feedback on his behavior to help him grow and become a better, safer playmate.  Thanks, pups!  He’s really enjoying the Schnauzers, Cullen and Eden, but he’s also been with the new gals, Isla and Hattie a lot as well.  Angus played with Lucy Doodle for a while in the early morning, but he got pinned by her and he did not enjoy that at all, so he seems to be steering clear of her now, except for sharing the pool!  Ha!

Hattie Yellow Lab is new today and she is fitting in really nicely with the other pups.  She’s joyful and playful and is into everything!  Total Lab!  She has been in the pool and enjoys soaking and splashing with the Doodles, Lily Aussie and others.  We are working a TON on Hattie’s play barking today.  Whew, does she like to use her voice!  This is normal and we are teaching her (and others) voice control using the squirt bottle followed by “uh uh, no bark!”  When she quiets, I switch to a higher/sing-songy voice and praise her saying, “good quiet!”  She’s a little love!  She will be T-I-R-E-D tonight, Mommy & Daddy!  She has obviously been learning basic commands at home, as when I ask her to sit, she does a little circus act of paw and sit and down all at once, as if she’s saying “look what I can do” and “which thing do you want, Miss Julie?”  She cracks me up!

Isla Catahoula/Lab Mix is our final new pup of the day.  She hit the ground running and got right into play and I swear she didn’t even meet me formally until about 9 a.m.!  She had no use for me.  Haha!  But....she’s pretty barky in a lot of situations so we’ve been “chatting” about that and she’s being challenged to control her voice, which she is unfamiliar with.  The squirt bottle helps to stop the behavior in its tracks and then I can “teach” her the voice command.  Not easy, as she barks during chasing, 1:1 play and when another dog has a toy/Nylabone she wants.  But, practice will make perfect.  Isla jumped right into the wading pool and I’ve spotted her up there soaking on her own a couple of times this morning.  So....she’s a water girl!!  Isla also knows how to sit and make eye contact and hold her position until the reward comes.  Good stuff!!

So....it’s nearly noon and we are in the lower yard for some quiet time and chewing on Nylabones.  But...there are some stubborn dogs in the upper yard who wouldn’t come down when asked.  Cullen and Eden (Schnauzers are so independent!!) and Max are all up there.  Max wanted the pool to himself, I guess!

Cullen is still, understandably, displaying a lot of male-dominant behavior because he’s not neutered yet.  I believe I was told his neuter date is next week.  If not, I think it’s best to keep him out of school until after he recovers because he really wants to dominate all the males in the yard as well as boss everyone around.  Sometimes, he gets really intense and mean-spirited and it’s just not good to have him practicing these behaviors.  My rule about spay/neuter for the pups is that it needs to be done at first opportunity.  Sometimes, a pup will display behaviors that are related to hormones flowing (usually this involves incessant attempts to mate with the gals) that requires keeping them away from the other pups until after their operation.  We’ve reached this point with Cullen.  Hopefully I’m correct and next week is his neuter operation so he can return quickly.

Eden and Angus really like each other!  Gemma gets involved with them a lot too, but she’s been spending more time with Cullen today than Eden has, if you can believe it!  Gemma LOVES Cullen and seeks him out whenever she can.

Dexter and Fred have been a riot together today!  Stella and Emmie are with them a lot, as is Lily.  There is ALWAYS a game going on with this group, usually it’s Catch Me If You Can and involves a toy being held in the mouth of the front-runner.  Wow, are they quick!!  Dexter has been a bit barky today because he’s having so much fun and enjoying himself so much!

Stella thinks the new kids are neat and has been showing them the ropes and also showing them that she’s a nice pal but can also play roughly if they’d like her to.  LOL!  I have to keep Stella at bay with the squirt bottle when anyone drops of their dog, as she tries to get into the cage when the gate opens so she can jump all over the humans.  If that fails, she will then jump up all over the cage looking for attention.  So...nobody give her any, okay?  Stella is a cutie but she’s developed a real habit of jumping on people when she meets them and we all need to help her stop.  One thing you can do if your own pup is jumping on people is STEP ON THEIR LEASH to prevent them from getting their front paws off the ground.  Once you start practicing this immediately when you see a human approaching, you will see a big change in your pup’s learning.  If they are forced to have four paws on the ground for greetings and interaction with new folks, they will quickly give up the crazy jumping behavior, which NOBODY wants to see more of!

Cooper has been great today, but one new behavior he’s practicing today is humping Emmie.  Cooper is a Doodle who was neutered at 4 lbs before he even went home with his new family (many Doodle breeders do this), so it’s not about his hormones flowing.  It’s about the fact that Emmie is getting older and is beginning to “smell” delightful to him.  Neutering the males takes away their ability to father children, but not necessarily their appreciation of cute gals.  Lol!  Cooper is very obedient to voice commands and stops immediately when he’s caught in the act.  Otherwise, Emmie and he continue to have a fabulous play relationship.  Cooper is also building confidence in dealing with male dogs.  I saw him turn around and tell Cullen to knock it off after Cullen had been chasing him and nipping at him a bit roughly.  I praised Cooper for this show of boundary-setting with another dog.  Good work, Coop!

Max is such a good pup, despite his fast growth.  He goes onto his back easily if play requires him to “show” a playmate that he means no harm and has no desire to dominate.  This makes him super-popular and he’s always busy with a playmate.  Lily AS has been his BFF today.  Good choice, Lil!  I must say that the same is true for Lily...about being a fabulous pup despite growing fast.  She is simply a joy to have in the yard and is a great middle-of-the-pack sort of pup who is friendly to all and poses no issues around dominance, roughness, etc.  Good to have so many middle-of-the-pack pups in this class!  They are good teachers for all....and I imagine they are easier at home than some of the wilder ones, right?  You get what you get, I’ve found.  Most of you know about my dog, Casco, who is STILL hyper and crazy at almost 9!!!

Ok, I’ve now captured everyone and we’re all in the house for a true relax-break.  These pups have GOT to be tired after such a wild, active morning.  I know I am!!  Later on, I will clean everyone’s ears and spritz them with a nice fur-conditioning mist before you return for them.  Of course, dogs like Emmie and Lucy with their long curly coats will likely still be full of sand, but still...

Good to have all the new pups and to see everyone getting along well today.