Doing the Walking Dog

Elway likes to walk. Actually he loves to walk. He likes it so much that it has been a major chore to get him to view walking as something other than a sprint. Sure, he'll go the general direction you want to go, he just wants to go that way about twice as fast as you want to go. However, his puppy manners class, from which he will graduate soon, has managed to instill in him some basic respect for the leash.

Elway's problem with the leash began early in class when they had him learn the phrase "Let's go!" with beginning a controlled walk. During this exercise all dogs walked around the room in a large circle as if on a pleasant stroll down a boardwalk or park trail. Not Elway. With a competitive nature like his hall of fame namesake, Elway assumed that the circular walk was not a park stroll but rather the Daytona 500. His mission: pass the other dogs. While all the other dogs were content to walk around the guiding cones, Elway insisted on cutting the corners and working the inside line to set up the perfect pass. Away from the other dogs he's a great walker (see the photo), but with other dogs he's sure that the green flag is out and paydirt is just another lap away.

Puppy Kindergarden

First day of school!

Elway made sure none of the other puppy's though he was a momma's boy. Oh no. He didn't do ANYTHING he was supposed to do. He could barely walk he was trying so hard to ignore Michele. With all his ignoring and attempts at mouthing his parents he still was at the top of his class. (Golden Retriever Puppy had been given catnip before class...)

We're practicing extra hard this week so we'll have some sembelence of control on Monday. He's coming quite well now and we've set up bells to train him to ring to go outside. One of the problems we had in class was his treats. He likes to chew his food VERY completely, and if given a treat needed a good 2-5 mins to completely chew it up before moving on to the next task. Luckly we found some tiny, almost invisible cat treats at the doggy health food store for him.

I really think next week he might obey us! (at least once....maybe...hopefully...sigh)

Rude Awakening

He was sleeping in the living room, and started quietly barking in his sleep. Its something he does quite often, so I watched in amusement. He was really getting into it though, and let out a couple real barks. Thats what woke up him, his own bark. Then he was sleepy and out of it, so he wandered over to the glass door and proceeded to let out some of his best barks to date. He finally decided it was his reflection that caused the problem and he's still over there wolfing away.


I wish Garrett was here to see this, its just too funny.

If you can't run with the big dogs...

Elway loves big dogs. Seriously. No, not labs or other mid sized dogs... BIG dogs. Today Elway attended the Des Moins Pet Festival as an unofficial as an attache to Michele and unofficial representative of McMonigle Veterinarian Hospital. During his eventful morning he got to greet and catch up with three of his big buddies from work.

It's only natural that Elway should like St. Bernard dogs. After all, his breeder also raises these large dogs. (Not the specific ones in this encounter though)

After greeting such large animals, and showing an amount of interest proportionate to his large companions (Can't have them figuring out that he's just a Lhasa Apso now can he?) Elway needed a nap. Good thing he had Michele around to sleep on. And yes, he prefers to sleep on his back.

Garrett has taken to calling Elway the "Allen barkless". Allen after the town Elway was born in and "barkless" because he rarely woofs. For a breed which generally barks to excess, this little guy is quite silent. No bark, all nibble.

Elway on the move

Once he was done sleeping away his first weekend at his new home, he decided to spend the rest of the time pretending to be a bunny rabbit.

It was hard to take him out in public, he attracted such a crowd.

Elway moves to Kent!

We wondered if I would be able to sleep the night before we took Elway home. I somehow fell asleep, little puppies dancing in my dreams. Allyn never seemed so far away as that morning, it seemed like we would never get there. When we were finally on our way home with our new furry bundle of joy it seemed so scary, all this waiting and planning, and now it was time to start living with him! He slept most of the way to Kent, and when we stopped at an ATM for Toll money Garrett didn't want to give him back to me. It was definatly love at first sight for both of us. Being the puppy planner I am, we had a kennel, food, toys, and all we needed was a little collar to fit him.

My parents visited us that weekend and took some pictures, which I am so greatful for. Looking back, I can not believe how tiny and fluffy he was!

He ran around a bit that first weekend, showing some of the puppy energy we would come to know very well. Most of the time he just adjusted to his new home and slept. He was only 3.1 pounds when we brought him home.

Visiting Elway: take two

At four weeks, the breeder let us visit him again. This time I dragged my parents along for the drive (Allyn is a drive. Best done by motorcycle).
He was bigger, but still not fluffy yet! I loved him (of course) and I think my parents tolerated my craziness. Garrett was starting to really like the little guy, mostly in deference to my obsession with him. Halfway through our time with him he and the rest of the litter ate breakfast from mom, and we found out how messy a puppy can get.


How could Garrett not love something that looked as cute as Elway did?