Furry Toddler

Puppy's been sick (he's determined to fill his stomach with every inedible object in the house), so I'm behind on updates.

Week 12 - 34lbsMy puppy has finally started to settle in and check his temper tantrums. He's still in trouble more than he's not, but at least its good-natured and not angsty trouble. I have to just shake my head at how childlike he is; you can practically see the wheels in his brain turning at times. The other night I was washing my face and glanced around to check on him - Kilo was sitting right beside me, head cocked and staring as I got ready for bed. It was a little creepy, what with how intently he was watching. So intently in fact, it was quite easy to get the impression that he was observing me like a science experiment. Like that cartoon, Pinky & the Brain, where the mice are always plotting something. Only, he's both. Sometimes he's Pinky, sometimes he's Brain, but most of the time he's Pinky.

Week 13 - still 34lbsHis back is level with the coffee table now.

When my little sister was small the poison control center knew my mom by name, because of all the things she stuck in her mouth. That's relatively normal for children, to get into trouble. The other day I went to the vets office to pick up Kilo's file (I had called and asked them to copy it) and the instant I walk in, the receptionist looks up, smiles, hands me the paperwork and says 'Good luck!' Most dog places can recognize your dog before they recognize you, but I didn't have Kilo with me, and I didn't even give her my name. I had to mentally pause and reassess my life with my canine baby. That moment seemed like it belonged on one of those lists. You know, the ones that start like, "How you know. . . " and then it lists a bunch of signs that indicate you need a serious life change.

Week 11

A little late uploading. But he was 31 lbs this week.

I should have named him Mischief, since everyday he seems to find something new to explore and get in trouble with. On cleaning day he decided it would be fun to treat his water bowl like the swimming pool and make a big mess all over the hardwood. It was both cute and irritating at the same time. I've discovered that doing anything takes a remarkably long time when trying to babysit a big puppy.

Besides his fondness for inedible foliage he's also discovered a love of socks. He grabbed a pair the other day and when dad went to take it from him he went galumphing off across the hardwood as fast as his wobbly legs could carry him. The first time he's taken something and then run off with it. Again, it would cute if it also weren't bad. It's amazing how many of his behaviors are like that. Cute, but undesirable. Like putting his paws on top of the counter to see my mom over it. Or jumping up to try and work the ice cube machine on his own (he hit the water button on accident and got sprayed).


Poor puppy still has a bladder infection though. Hopefully the doctors will figure out what medication will work soon. In the meantime he's still being his mischievous self, even if he does have to go out every hour.

Week 10

We survived another week! 26lbs

This week we discovered an unusually strong attraction to artificial plants. Oh joy, oh rapture. Seriously, he'd actually sneak off to go pilfer a colorful but definitely inorganic flower. I was half convinced that by the time we got the vase rearranged and back where it belonged, Kilo would have a stomach full of indigestible flowers. And then I'd have to take him back to the vet and try to explain that. I've never seen a dog that can grab things so quickly. One head bob and I'm on him instantaneously, because that's all it takes for him to steal something. He's a kleptomaniac! Doesn't matter what it is. Smells bad? Tastes awful? Why not? Down the hatch it goes! Luckily the decoration is now back where it belongs, safely out of the puppies reach.

Also this week, at some point, we learned that those little, shiny doorknobs are the answer to opening closed doors. Would you like to know how I found out Kilo had had a doorway epiphany? Well, it all started at 5:30 am. Much too early an hour to learn your dog had discovered yet another way to create mischief. As I'm peacefully sleeping a very loud 'bang!' startles me awake. Immediately I look for Kilo to find him quietly sitting in front of the door (he'd already been out, he gets wanderlust in the morning). I assume someone else in the house is up. After ten minutes of blissful sleep I'm startled awake again. Kilo is still sitting quietly in front of the door. This time I fake sleep to make sure he's as innocent as his face says he is. Silently I watch as my sweet little puppy stands, takes two steps away from the door and then promptly leaps forward, mouth aimed for the doorknob. Disbelief was my first reaction. In fact, I waited until he tried it again just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Nope, same behavior, and his mouth still trying it's best to latch onto the doorknob. I have a feeling when he gets bigger and can actually reach it, I may have a problem. Hopefully his mouth will be too slobbery to actually grip and turn it. Please oh please let him just forget about it!

A Big New World

Here's a post of Kilo's conquests so far.

The Stairs.

Dreaded by ungainly puppies everywhere, these confounding steps have been properly mastered. (Well, the going up part anyway. Coming down . . . not so much.)




The Pool.

He's still not too sure what he's supposed to be doing, but it's cool and wet - what's not to like?






The Sit.

Sit. Sit. and after that, some more Sit! Check! Moving on to Roll Over.