Friday, February 22, 2008
Silly pictures n' stuff
So I uploaded a few "sillier" pictures. They are getting along great with the cat (or more like, the cat has finally decided the dogs are not such horrible creatures) and while they may not be cuddling, they can walk past each other without either party getting too freaked out.
We bought a baby gate awhile ago that used to be used to keep them off the back landing because Schroder would go down the stairs and kind of get stuck and then cry to be carried back up the stairs. He's realized that going down the stairs doesn't do him any good but now he's realized we feed the cat there. Once the baby-gate was not secured very well and we had some interesting results.
They've also taken to sleeping on things that smell like us - in our laundry baskets (no pictures there) on my coat, on our bedroom pillows that fall on to the floor, and so on. So I uploaded a picture of Schroder on my coat. They really are absolute cuties.
We bought a baby gate awhile ago that used to be used to keep them off the back landing because Schroder would go down the stairs and kind of get stuck and then cry to be carried back up the stairs. He's realized that going down the stairs doesn't do him any good but now he's realized we feed the cat there. Once the baby-gate was not secured very well and we had some interesting results.
They've also taken to sleeping on things that smell like us - in our laundry baskets (no pictures there) on my coat, on our bedroom pillows that fall on to the floor, and so on. So I uploaded a picture of Schroder on my coat. They really are absolute cuties.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Freezing Rain and Tripods Don't Mix
So we had a fun night/ day of freezing rain, which of course froze (!) and created sheets of ice on the driveway, sidewalks, and roads. The snow in our yard is piled so high that the dogs can't walk through it at all, and all the roads and sidewalks are too slick.
We went out for two super-quick walks yesterday, and they had a heck of a time. Tango largely did OK but spent a lot of time sliding around on her bum and skidding around corners. Schroder hit the ice pretty hard a few times and had much more difficulty staying balanced. We walked on the road, where the cars passing had sort of melted down the ice, but it was still quite slippery. The first walk, we went past two houses and then turned around to come home again. After one more extended slide, Schroder just gave up and laid down on the ice, refusing to try walking on the skating rink that was our road. I ended up carrying him home again. Tango seemed really worried by me carrying Schroder and stuck to my side like glue. She also kept rubbing her face up on Schroder's face to make sure he knew she was still there for him. I hit the ice pretty hard on our next evening walk, so Schroder and I both gave up on the idea of being outside at around the same time.
The ice has melted down a bit today, but Schroder gets outside and realizes it's too slippery and then gives up. We're just waiting for an accident in the house since he's refusing to do more than stand in the driveway stubbornly. He does great in snow storms, rain, hail, and high winds- but this ice is more than he can handle.
Poor wobbly pupsters!
We went out for two super-quick walks yesterday, and they had a heck of a time. Tango largely did OK but spent a lot of time sliding around on her bum and skidding around corners. Schroder hit the ice pretty hard a few times and had much more difficulty staying balanced. We walked on the road, where the cars passing had sort of melted down the ice, but it was still quite slippery. The first walk, we went past two houses and then turned around to come home again. After one more extended slide, Schroder just gave up and laid down on the ice, refusing to try walking on the skating rink that was our road. I ended up carrying him home again. Tango seemed really worried by me carrying Schroder and stuck to my side like glue. She also kept rubbing her face up on Schroder's face to make sure he knew she was still there for him. I hit the ice pretty hard on our next evening walk, so Schroder and I both gave up on the idea of being outside at around the same time.
The ice has melted down a bit today, but Schroder gets outside and realizes it's too slippery and then gives up. We're just waiting for an accident in the house since he's refusing to do more than stand in the driveway stubbornly. He does great in snow storms, rain, hail, and high winds- but this ice is more than he can handle.
Poor wobbly pupsters!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Getting happier every day
So Tango and Schroder are both doing fabulously. I was commenting to Dave (my roommate in the picture wearing his bathrobe!) that it's sad that so many people would not adopt these two because Schroder is older. Before I'd even finished my sentence, Schroder did a little "let's play!" bow in front of Dave, then rolled over onto his back and wiggled around on the floor, trying hard to get Dave to play with him. Dave said, "old? I think he's got a long time yet to go!" and played with Schroder for a while until Schroder decided dinner was better.
Tango has also started doing this- rolling in the floor, chasing a bit through the house and giving us playful over-the-shoulder looks hoping we'll come down and play too! This is totally new for both of them. They've done a bit of rolling when they're itchy but this is definitely new. They seem to be learning that they're dogs- and in order to be a dog you need to have fun! We've been working on their "play" skills with games of fetch, tug, running back and forth with wild abandon, scenting games, and so on.
We're also working on basic commands, such as sit (teaching with hand signals for Schroder's benefit), down, stand, and "which one" (pick the closed-hand the treat is in). They are great at sit when you have a treat but the rest of them are pretty shakey still. They hardly need them, being such perfectly behaved dogs, but I figured it couldn't hurt.
We also had our first nail-trimming session. I got 2 nails done on Tango, who does not like having her feet touched, let alone nails trimmed (she pulls her foot away and licks your hands). Schroder didn't care at all- after each nail he got a belly rub and he was happy as a clam!
Tango has also started doing this- rolling in the floor, chasing a bit through the house and giving us playful over-the-shoulder looks hoping we'll come down and play too! This is totally new for both of them. They've done a bit of rolling when they're itchy but this is definitely new. They seem to be learning that they're dogs- and in order to be a dog you need to have fun! We've been working on their "play" skills with games of fetch, tug, running back and forth with wild abandon, scenting games, and so on.
We're also working on basic commands, such as sit (teaching with hand signals for Schroder's benefit), down, stand, and "which one" (pick the closed-hand the treat is in). They are great at sit when you have a treat but the rest of them are pretty shakey still. They hardly need them, being such perfectly behaved dogs, but I figured it couldn't hurt.
We also had our first nail-trimming session. I got 2 nails done on Tango, who does not like having her feet touched, let alone nails trimmed (she pulls her foot away and licks your hands). Schroder didn't care at all- after each nail he got a belly rub and he was happy as a clam!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Who knew?
So Schroder apparently CAN go down the stairs. He gets a bit wobbly at the bottom as his momentum starts to get the better of him, but he does great! We found out by accident when we thought he was calmly sleeping upstairs with Tango, but then he was in the living room looking for love.
He still can't get up the stairs, of course. He's tried a few times and usually slides back down on his bum. Silly pup.
We bought each of the dogs a Kong. Schroder seems largely baffled by his and is perfectly happy playing with it when it's empty. Tango adores hers, although the peanut butter didn't go over well for some reason. Schroder has started trying to play with us- but he just gets so excited when we come in the room and are ready to play that he has to go chew on his toys. Tango likes playing "chase" and a weird version of fetch with her stuffies. Both are great at ONLY chewing on the toys you provide, and never touching anything that hasn't already been okayed.
He still can't get up the stairs, of course. He's tried a few times and usually slides back down on his bum. Silly pup.
We bought each of the dogs a Kong. Schroder seems largely baffled by his and is perfectly happy playing with it when it's empty. Tango adores hers, although the peanut butter didn't go over well for some reason. Schroder has started trying to play with us- but he just gets so excited when we come in the room and are ready to play that he has to go chew on his toys. Tango likes playing "chase" and a weird version of fetch with her stuffies. Both are great at ONLY chewing on the toys you provide, and never touching anything that hasn't already been okayed.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Visting my folks
We took Tango and Scrhoder on a long drive back to visit with my parents for the weekend. Tango does not like the turn signal for some reason- whenever you click it on she gets a bit shivery. Schroder sits calmly in the back, looking over your shoulder and breathing on you but he's happy as a clam.
My parents have a dog (german shepherd) and they got along great- he was a little bit tense with Schroder but was perfectly happy ignoring Tango. My parents dog is also older - he will be 12 in May- and not too big on playing.
Tango thought someone in the house should play with her- she thought at first the cats would be good playmates but after almost getting swiped across the face, she decided watching carefully was a better plan. They did great in a new environment with new people and animals. They settled right in with belly-rubs all around. It was a good visit, and good to see them in a new environment.
My parents have a dog (german shepherd) and they got along great- he was a little bit tense with Schroder but was perfectly happy ignoring Tango. My parents dog is also older - he will be 12 in May- and not too big on playing.
Tango thought someone in the house should play with her- she thought at first the cats would be good playmates but after almost getting swiped across the face, she decided watching carefully was a better plan. They did great in a new environment with new people and animals. They settled right in with belly-rubs all around. It was a good visit, and good to see them in a new environment.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
On the topic of mellow...
I was walking Schroder last night before bedtime (Tango was already out for the count), some little white terrier came dashing across the road and attacked him, full on! The little dog charged Schroder barking and yelping. I pulled the little dog off Schroder and then it decided to attack the snowplow instead - nearly getting flatted, poor pup. Schroder was fine- in fact his entire reaction to this was to look up at me as if to say- "What was that all about? Where are his manners?" and then continued sniffing in the snow.
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