Truman on the balcony, on a sunny SoCal day:
Truman in his Happy Place, near said balcony:
And Truman in his toy basket, looking a bit like a catalog model:
Saturday, March 31, 2007
The First Few Days
Because I've been so remiss in blogging -- and because puppies grow so quickly -- I'll catch you up with some photos from our first few days together.
Truman on the balcony, on a sunny SoCal day:
Truman in his Happy Place, near said balcony:
And Truman in his toy basket, looking a bit like a catalog model:
Truman on the balcony, on a sunny SoCal day:
Truman in his Happy Place, near said balcony:
And Truman in his toy basket, looking a bit like a catalog model:
Friday, March 30, 2007
Catching Up Is Hard to Do
As if the new puppy weren't enough of a time filler, I've also been experiencing technical difficulties that have precluded me from regular blogging. Technical difficulties of the "re-installation of operating system" kind. And while it's been a fine opportunity to re-organize the ol' hard drive, the systematic re-installations of said OS and the rest of my software have proven time-consuming to the point of...well, I'm tired.
The sleep deprivation that comes with a whiny infant pee machine is also unhelpful in this regard.
That having been said, I have finally been able to download a few more photos and find a few moments to blog (special thanks to Wrio's people, who are hosting wee Truman at their home for an overnight visit, that I may sleep in past the unholy hour of 5:30 A.M. tomorrow). Watch this space over the next few days for some catch-up posts.
Meanwhile, I leave you with this:
The sleep deprivation that comes with a whiny infant pee machine is also unhelpful in this regard.
That having been said, I have finally been able to download a few more photos and find a few moments to blog (special thanks to Wrio's people, who are hosting wee Truman at their home for an overnight visit, that I may sleep in past the unholy hour of 5:30 A.M. tomorrow). Watch this space over the next few days for some catch-up posts.
Meanwhile, I leave you with this:
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Otherwise Known As
I love my little Truman. He's a great dog, truly he is. Smart, aware, terrific with kenneling and cradling and all sorts of things, as if he'd been preprogrammed to do them. But there are a couple of areas that have proven...challenging.
And those challenging areas have inspired nicknames.
The Piddler (It's like he's a Batman villain!)
Piddler on the Roof
Stinky PiddlePaws
The Trumanator
Devil Dog
Bitey McBiteBite
My Little Snapping Turtle
OW, DAMMIT! &*$%!!!
Lockjaw
Pierce
Amazing photo courtesy of Tina and Ron, who were kind enough to puppysit the little man while I was away at a fancy gala. Thanks, guys!
And those challenging areas have inspired nicknames.
The Piddler (It's like he's a Batman villain!)
Piddler on the Roof
Stinky PiddlePaws
The Trumanator
Devil Dog
Bitey McBiteBite
My Little Snapping Turtle
OW, DAMMIT! &*$%!!!
Lockjaw
Pierce
Amazing photo courtesy of Tina and Ron, who were kind enough to puppysit the little man while I was away at a fancy gala. Thanks, guys!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
A Truman Sing-Along
(To the tune of "My Favorite Things")
Pebbles and asphalt chunks when I "get busy"
Dead leaves and bird poop and slugs gross and fizzy
Rusty old hardware like screws, nails and springs
These are a few of my favorite things
Crunchy wood products like baskets and paper
Clamping my mouth shut to save them for later
Chewing your fingers and denting your rings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites
When the bee...bites
When I'm feeling like biting
I simply remember my favorite things
That I want to biiiiiiite so baaaaaaaaad
Pebbles and asphalt chunks when I "get busy"
Dead leaves and bird poop and slugs gross and fizzy
Rusty old hardware like screws, nails and springs
These are a few of my favorite things
Crunchy wood products like baskets and paper
Clamping my mouth shut to save them for later
Chewing your fingers and denting your rings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites
When the bee...bites
When I'm feeling like biting
I simply remember my favorite things
That I want to biiiiiiite so baaaaaaaaad
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Happy St. Patrick's Day
Too young to drink beer, and he won't be having any of the corned beef that's currently in the crock pot, but Truman gets in the spirit nonetheless.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Tru-ru-roo-ROOOOOOO-man
Looks like I got myself a howler.
He's definitely...how did Amy put it? "Opinionated." Truman is a vocal little guy, which is apparently a trait (like many others) he and his brother Tai share. When Truman has to piddle, he whines, which is helpful. When he's dissatisfied with something, like the amount of attention I'm paying to him, he whines, which is less helpful. Then, when he's truly upset, he'll throw back his tiny head and let out the silliest little howl...it sounds like a rooster.
Tempting as it is to try to get a picture of it, I know it's behavior I'm *supposed* to be correcting....
He's definitely...how did Amy put it? "Opinionated." Truman is a vocal little guy, which is apparently a trait (like many others) he and his brother Tai share. When Truman has to piddle, he whines, which is helpful. When he's dissatisfied with something, like the amount of attention I'm paying to him, he whines, which is less helpful. Then, when he's truly upset, he'll throw back his tiny head and let out the silliest little howl...it sounds like a rooster.
Tempting as it is to try to get a picture of it, I know it's behavior I'm *supposed* to be correcting....
Saturday, March 10, 2007
So Far, So Cute
The day went more quickly than I thought it would. After meeting Matt & Amy for lunch at Denny's -- where we were seated at the same table where we ate breakfast before our boys' graduation a month ago, by the way -- we headed to the school for puppy pickup. Because I had received Lomax as a year-old re-homed dog, this was my first pickup day. I was anticipating the works: an hour of fidgeting through Louise's orientation, drumming my fingers and thumbs on my lap as I stared at the "puppy kits" full of leash/collar/food/bowl/brush and fuzzy comfort toys.
Since everyone picking up a puppy this time was an experienced puppy raiser, however, Louise cut things short. Mercifully short? Perhaps, for most people. I suppose there was a part of me that wanted to go through the whole painful process this time, just for the ceremony, if nothing else. Still, whatever brings the puppies out faster....
Then suddenly someone was handing me the little man, whose tiny tail was already wagging. It didn't stop.
After putting some littermate scent on the blanket I brought for him, and taking some photos, and trying unsuccessfully to get him to "get busy" on the grass before our 30-mile trip home in Friday afternoon Los Angeles traffic, Amy and I put little Truman in the car for his first ride. He seemed up for the adventure:
After about five minutes, he stopped squirming and settled in for the trip. No car sickness, no piddling... good stuff.
The only thing that was a little rough the rest of the day was potty time. Poor Truman, who had had quite a big day, was a bit lost on the concept of peeing *outside*. Or, at first, peeing at all. For a few hours after we got home, he'd squat and leave a drop or two before I grabbed him and took him out, then he'd refuse to go. Then, when I assume he could stand it no longer, I managed to get him to go on the busy command and he let loose a torrent. As I write this, not quite 48 hours into our association, little Truman is totally down with the concept that going out that particular door, and hearing those particular words, means it's go time. Good dog!
Of course, he has also decided that peeing in the soft crate in the living room, right on top of the towel/blanket/toy/leash/what-have-you, is also perfectly acceptable (so much for the theory that they won't soil their beds). I could hardly give him less room in there, so I don't know what he's up to, but it's not about being trapped in a crate that's too big when you have to go potty. He loves that crate and will willingly trot right in there whenever he feels like it...including when he has to pee. But we're working on that.
He was pretty tired Friday night, but still eager to play and explore and play the "name game" back and forth between Amy and me, to great comic effect. He wanted to chase his tail and chew his leash and scratch at his collar and eat every molecule of inappropriate material off the surface of the floor, like most puppies do. And by bedtime, we were both ready to crash.
Since everyone picking up a puppy this time was an experienced puppy raiser, however, Louise cut things short. Mercifully short? Perhaps, for most people. I suppose there was a part of me that wanted to go through the whole painful process this time, just for the ceremony, if nothing else. Still, whatever brings the puppies out faster....
Then suddenly someone was handing me the little man, whose tiny tail was already wagging. It didn't stop.
After putting some littermate scent on the blanket I brought for him, and taking some photos, and trying unsuccessfully to get him to "get busy" on the grass before our 30-mile trip home in Friday afternoon Los Angeles traffic, Amy and I put little Truman in the car for his first ride. He seemed up for the adventure:
After about five minutes, he stopped squirming and settled in for the trip. No car sickness, no piddling... good stuff.
The only thing that was a little rough the rest of the day was potty time. Poor Truman, who had had quite a big day, was a bit lost on the concept of peeing *outside*. Or, at first, peeing at all. For a few hours after we got home, he'd squat and leave a drop or two before I grabbed him and took him out, then he'd refuse to go. Then, when I assume he could stand it no longer, I managed to get him to go on the busy command and he let loose a torrent. As I write this, not quite 48 hours into our association, little Truman is totally down with the concept that going out that particular door, and hearing those particular words, means it's go time. Good dog!
Of course, he has also decided that peeing in the soft crate in the living room, right on top of the towel/blanket/toy/leash/what-have-you, is also perfectly acceptable (so much for the theory that they won't soil their beds). I could hardly give him less room in there, so I don't know what he's up to, but it's not about being trapped in a crate that's too big when you have to go potty. He loves that crate and will willingly trot right in there whenever he feels like it...including when he has to pee. But we're working on that.
He was pretty tired Friday night, but still eager to play and explore and play the "name game" back and forth between Amy and me, to great comic effect. He wanted to chase his tail and chew his leash and scratch at his collar and eat every molecule of inappropriate material off the surface of the floor, like most puppies do. And by bedtime, we were both ready to crash.
Friday, March 09, 2007
The Truman Show Begins
The Truman Show begins, that is, with an ensemble cast. I know you're all dying to see a picture, so without further ado...ladies and gentlemen, meet the "T" litter:
From left to right: Thatcher, Trooper, Tia, Tori, Tai, and Truman (that's right, this is a very important litter, containing both a president and a prime minister)
A closer view of the South Bay T-Dogs (Tai, Truman and Tia):
And then one of the man himself, beloved Truman:
Of course there are stories to tell, but they'll have to wait for tomorrow, because I'm tired. Truman is sleeping in the crate right next to me, and if I expect to get in some shut-eye before he emits his first "take me to pee!" noises, I'd better jump into bed now.
From left to right: Thatcher, Trooper, Tia, Tori, Tai, and Truman (that's right, this is a very important litter, containing both a president and a prime minister)
A closer view of the South Bay T-Dogs (Tai, Truman and Tia):
And then one of the man himself, beloved Truman:
Of course there are stories to tell, but they'll have to wait for tomorrow, because I'm tired. Truman is sleeping in the crate right next to me, and if I expect to get in some shut-eye before he emits his first "take me to pee!" noises, I'd better jump into bed now.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
"T" Minus 24 Hours and Counting
This time tomorrow, I will be sitting through my first official "puppy orientation" speech at GDA, squirming and fidgeting in anticipation of the appearance of Truman.
And his brother Tai, being raised by Matt & Amy.
And his sister Tia, being raised by the family who raised Guide Dog Harvey.
And his brother Tai, being raised by Matt & Amy.
And his sister Tia, being raised by the family who raised Guide Dog Harvey.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Homework
The countdown continues! In just three days, I'll once again hear the patter of little...toenails and ID tags?...in my apartment.
I've been attending puppy kindergarten and finishing up the last of my "puppy preparedness plan," which could be more accurately described as my "good reason to clean the apartment and get rid of unnecessary crap."
Meanwhile, since there's not much I can write about a dog I don't yet have, I thought you might enjoy learning a little about another famous Truman.
I've been attending puppy kindergarten and finishing up the last of my "puppy preparedness plan," which could be more accurately described as my "good reason to clean the apartment and get rid of unnecessary crap."
Meanwhile, since there's not much I can write about a dog I don't yet have, I thought you might enjoy learning a little about another famous Truman.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Raya Sunshine
I was having yellow dog hair withdrawals, so when Dave and Lydia put the call out for someone to watch Raya for the weekend, I jumped at the chance.Beautiful Raya is a special dog, because she's a GDA breeder. She's 3-and-a-half years old, and quite the spunky girl! When my roommate came home from work on Friday night, she was met with the most enthusiastic yellow Lab she'd seen in our apartment since last August. Raya wiggled and ran back and forth and vocalized profusely, in an impressive display of friendliness toward this person she didn't really know.
And Amy exclaimed it in the perfect phrase: "She has the Spirit of The Moof!"
Indeed, she does. Playful and fun, silly and sweet, the sunny Miss Raya was an absolute joy.
Also, I'll have you know, just because Raya is a breeder (and therefore no longer required to adhere to the strict guidelines imposed upon guide dog puppies-in-training), that doesn't mean she has lost her touch. Raya's obedience is still stellar; she has the most perfect "formal come" I've seen, as a matter of fact. Amy and I spent a good amount of time on opposite sides of the living room, calling her to come back and forth and laughing with delight as Raya practically reared up to charge full-speed to the giver of the command and fling her backside around to park in a perfect little sit.
Raya, may all your puppies be as smart and full of life as you are!
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