Graham - my first week with Elwood

Graham – my first week with Elwood

He seems to behave very well until the white truck comes up the driveway. Then he notices someone get out, and all his good behavior goes out the window. He reverts to Hellwood at the sound of “where’s my dog?” and the training begins again for both students.  The bigger one is definitely more work.

We’ve had a 90% success rate with doing “his business” outdoors consistently. However he still likes to sneak into the garage and steal a slipper and disappear somewhere with it. (Julie’s watched him tug an ugg boot attached to the entire shoe rack across the garage floor. He can be quite determined)

In his defiant moments – I deal with him with firm action, by picking him up by the scruff of the neck, and depositing him in his pen for some time out.

Our routine – we walk around the yard, and I’m introducing the lead, which he is resisting.  He is quite happy to walk beside me carrying the lead in his mouth, but doesn’t like it attached to the collar around his neck yet.

The neighbour’s grandchildren are excited to have a puppy to come and visit. We just have to make sure they too follow the no biting rules, and don’t let him get away with any monkey business.

He seems to be un-phased by the Parrots landing on the ground, and the Parrots don’t seem to be worried about him either. No threat here.

He’s grown about 1 cm in height in a week. Yikes!!

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Julie –  Elwood went through his first thunder and lightning storm yesterday. He was very uninterested or affected. We brought him into the house with us, and he just slept, or did what he normally does through the whole thing. Not like most dogs I’ve been around who tend to pant and hide. He really is a laid back dude when he wants to be.

We’ve moved his villa and outdoor pen around to the side of the house with the water view for his amusement. He loves his villa, and even when we just wander around the yard, pops in and out of it.

 

I love to watch him in his frisky puppy moments. He jumps in the air twisting like a gymnast as he tries to capture some imaginary flying foe.  He’s also very fond of the bottom lawns where the slope allows him to tumble easily down the hill. Is this most unusual for a dog?  He especially likes to have his belly rubbed then be nudged over to roll down the hill. He’s reluctant to take the steps down the hill on his own, preferring to sneak into the garage and get into mischief. 

Yesterday he was extremely good, we'll see how he does today!