The Dalmatian Diaries Blog

Just a quick FYI for our dedicated daily viewers, puppy updates might slow down some this week with the holiday quickly approaching. Thanksgiving traffic usually keeps me pretty occupied but please note I do have the camera charged and ready to snap pics so I will get photos uploaded eventually.

On a side note, I just ordered a wi-fi memory card for my camera. One of my biggest challenges with taking all these pics is remembering to bring the camera or memory card up to my office to download the photos. The wi-fi card will actually call home to my computer and automatically download the photos from downstairs. Now, let's hope it actually works as billed!

Widget lost a tooth today. A baby molar by the looks of it. She was eating her food and got a funny look on her face. She spit out the tooth. Baby is growing up!

She also washed Browser's ears tonight. That is a first. They hadn't groomed each other at all until now.

They were a handful today. It was very cold and damp out so I really wasn't up to sitting outside all day, which meant having the beasts indoors most the time. As of this post, only one accident inside today too - which for the amount of time they were indoors is fairly impressive. And when I'm talking about accidents these days, it's all Browser. Widget hasn't had an accident since the first full day Browser was here (and that was no accident, she peed VERY deliberately!)

Oh for PETE'S SAKE! He didn't even let me hit the submit button... Edit the above paragraph to be only TWO accidents indoors today. Sigh. Well, he's still better than Widget was at this age!

The dogs needed to go out around 4am this morning. I had put them to bed just before 9pm and they had really been playing hard up until then, so I'm guessing extra water had been consumed.

At 4am, the sleepy duo is even more adorable than when fully awake. First, whoever lets them out of their crates is showered with puppy love. It can actually be overwhelming if Widget is trying to jump INTO your arms with her full 4 month old puppy springs-for-legs.

When you finally usher the squirrely pups out the door they are all about business. However, once the important stuff is out of the way, they often sit on the patio or grass for a minute surveying the yard, sniffing the air. This morning they sat on the grass calmly next to each other, then Browser looked up and started giving Widget kisses. I don't know if it was puppy morning breath that he was interested in, or merely was enjoying her presence, either way it was pretty cute.

As soon as the love-fest was over, I said "ok, Back to Bed!" and back inside they went without any complaint. Good babies!

I don't know what happens in there. But I've seen it more than once. You put a dog in at night, and in the morning they come out.... changed.

Browser didn't waddle out of his crate this morning, he bounded out. Seems he grew legs overnight! Long legs! Strong legs!! He's following Widget with great agility today - hardly any tumbling and stumbling.

He's going to be one active teenager!

The dotted duo have issued a statement that they will now choose the majority of their toys from recycled or natural sources. The duo is concerned about their environment and want to do their share to preserve it.

They have not yet issued a statement on whether or not these sources will also include shoes or not.

See the puppy while you can, he won't be a puppy for long!

Both dogs checked out great at the vet's office. Widget weighed 30.5 lbs and Browser was 17.5 lbs.

Browser does a couple of adorable things. I know one he'll grow out of just because he'll GROW, but I kinda hope the other he keeps as a habit.

1) When you carry him if he has a free arm he'll "walk" in the air. It's like he thinks he is walking while you are carrying him. If he's in a hurry (like trying to catch up to Widget) he'll paddle faster and faster. Granted, this is one dog I won't be carrying for long, so this trait most likely won't stick around for long.

2) Yawns. This dog has the loudest, most expressive yawns I think I have ever heard. They are so cute! So far he hasn't been a very vocal dog, except for his yawns. They are very loud and long and drawn out.

I take that back... he is a complainer when we put him in his crate. Not for long usually, but he goes through a few stages - "let me out", "woe is me", "I'm getting sleepy, but not liking it", "almost asleep but feel compelled to let you know I'm not YET asleep". I think at the beginning stage he's actually louder than Widget (who only complains now if she's put away and he's not).

Speaking of Widget... I know I say this constantly, but I can't believe how grown up she is! She's so beautiful and smart and loving. What an incredible dog she is. I hope we can get her over her insecurities.

Well, of course, Browser was awesome in class his first night. We had been working on "sit" already so he got that, and even though he never did focus on me when we did name recognition at home, he did so like a champ in class - for both of us. He also loved every person who he met and even gave kisses. At first he was quite ambivalent about playing with the other dogs. He was busy looking for treats that had dropped on the floor. But, by the second play session he was actually playing with a few of the dogs. He didn't much care for the aggressive bulldog puppy, but he did tackle the adorable husky puppy.

He impressed me with the quickness with which he learned things tonight. At home, he has so many distractions and won't focus on us much - but in class he was really good.

Needless to say, he is now sacked out in bed.

Tomorrow he goes for his second puppy shots. That, too, will wear him out. Nothing like an hour at the vet's office to exhaust a puppy!

I've been trying to get a few spare moments to upload photos for the past 2 days. If I'm not chasing the dotted duo around pulling plants out of their mouths or having to race them outside before an accident occurs, then I'm frantically trying to get a few minutes of work squeezed in.

Even though they wear each other out pretty well I thought today I would make sure they were good and tired. Widget and I went for the long walk around the neighborhood. She got to meet some new people and she did great! She sniffed their hands and everything. She did bark a little but not too bad. She also didn't pull as much on her leash. She's realizing that she doesn't get there any faster that way. Except on the last leg of the walk - then she pulls because Momma is clearly slowing down and that water dish looks SO far away.

After Widget's walk I took Browser out. This was his first walk on the street. We've walked the driveway but haven't left the yard. He actually did quite well. We only went down a few houses and back, but for a little guy that was enough to sack him out. For those of you who don't know, houses out here are pretty spread out so it was a good effort on his part.

Both dogs are napping on my office floor now. Eyes shut tight. Finally.

Last night Widget had doggy school. She was really wound up so she didn't sit still very well. She did, however, show off by learning "drop" after only 2 tries. She is so incredibly smart. Training her has really been quite easy so far. Well, except for the housebreaking thing - but we finally got that under control.

Browser starts school tomorrow. Widget is coming with for some extra socialization. Browser finally figured out "sit" today. I think he's going to be a little tougher to train because he's not as focused on me as Widget is. For that reason, we've been working/playing with the dogs separately as much as possible. It's really helping things. Browser needs more time away from Widget so he doesn't pine after her (he whimpered the whole time she was away at class last night - perfect example). And Widget responds better to Browser when she's not constantly around him. She needs to feel she has her own space and then when she does hang out with Browser she plays nicer.