The fun in raising a puppy...

[Gypsy Wolf]

Yes, she had to pee in the middle of her bitework session. Silly girl. She also went swimming today for the first time - initially she fell in, went all the way under, and after she bobbed to the surface, began swimming quite well. I fished her out, praising all the time. She shook herself, and then surprised me by jumping into the pool herself another 4 times! By the last leap in, she'd figured out how to get to the steps to get out on her own. I was pretty impressed by her toughness. A lot of other dogs would've been traumatized for life...

[soniakanavle]

Goodness she's getting so big!!! Such a beautiful little lady she's turning into.
Awesome to see her such a motivated worker and glad she took to swimming well!
First time my boy saw water he ran right in *splash!* no hesitation at all! Funny they're such a water breed, you wouldn't really guess it!!
Glad you guys having fun and are loving your pup.
Really making me want to get another lil' monster soon though!!!

It's so cute watching Luna learn. You can tell she's just having so much fun! It's hard to tell from the video, too, but it looks like she's getting a nice, strong grip. I'm glad you're keeping us updated on her progress!

[Gypsy Wolf]

I wish I had caught her swimming lesson on video - it was really hilarious. I also didn't catch her second bitework session - it was sort of unexpected... there was an adolescent GSD that just wasn't "getting it" in regards to the bitework tuggie, so the helpers asked me to bring Luna out to "show" the other pup what to do - often another dog can model it's behavior off of the other... anyway, it was the first time our male helper had worked Luna. I have to say I was a little surprised at her reaction. She was taken aback by the more masculine dominant body language from the male helper, and initially backed up in between my legs, staring at him. With my verbal and physical encouragement, and the helper's excellent toy-taunting, she came out and gripped quite well. She was quite "serious" though - tensed, not "playful" like when the female helper works her. To me, this is a sign of civil/defense drive coming out not far off in the future. Her grip was just as full and hard on the male helper as the female helper - if not more so.
Her grip is quite natural, calm and VERY deep. In fact, she will JAM the tug deeper into her mouth at every opportunity.
I can't wait to see how this all plays out... If you all are bored with our chronicling her development, I can zip it...

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Lunas Mom

If you all are bored with our chronicling her development, I can zip it...

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Vicky

I'm glad you're keeping us updated on her progress!

You don't listen at all, do you...



I'm especially finding all of this interesting because I've never actually seen all the steps that go into Schutzhund training like this. I've always thought of getting involved with the sport in the future, so now I can see if it's something I'd really be interested in. Plus, I love seeing Luna grow up! I wish the other owners of the Galomy litter would do the same.

[Gypsy Wolf]

I do listen, I just don't want to assume anything!
I am happy to continue to post our successes as well as pitfalls (I don't think of anything as a failures - note my hobbling around in that ridiculous orthopedic brace that is supposed to keep my left hip from dislocating).
Luna is just a force of nature - I almost feel like one of those storm chasers sometimes.
She really tests all my skills and challenges me to learn more. And she impresses me with her tenacity and fearlessness. My SchH club friends call her "the wolf" but in reality, she is a really hard DOG. A REAL wolf would quail and run off when faced with the things that she sails into fearlessly.

[draggar]

It's official, my wife has now spoiled Luna more than any other dog we've had. She went out and bought her a new toy today, and she loves it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYz5Gru24C4

Don't worry, we quickly changed the water afterward but she does have a habit of doing that...

[Gypsy Wolf]

She isn't spoiled, I am ENRICHING her environment. She needs the intellectual stimulation. She is too smart!
Oh, yes, and that was her PEEING in her pool at the end...

[Gypsy Wolf]

Puppy meets sheep!
http://www.youtube.com/draggardevir#p/a/u/2/Zcqo6XHzpRI

[Mikael]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Lunas Mom

Oh, yes, and that was her PEEING in her pool at the end...

Poor girl the water was of course to cold

My dog did try the same as a puppy, but it did not help, as the water was to hard... ( sorry I deleted all peeing photos a long time ago )

But I think you can understand way it did not help



Best regards / Mikael

[soniakanavle]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Lunas Mom

Puppy meets sheep!

Awesome!! Though it looked like German Shepherd turned into Wolf about halfway through. Good luck!!!

[Gypsy Wolf]

Yes, once she learned that she had "power" over the sheep, it excited her. And there is certainly some predatory instinct as she tried to bite them.

[Gypsy Wolf]

Mikael - has your girl peed in other bodies of water? Apparently Marcy says Luna's mom Anthea pees in the ocean!
I am wondering if this is a dominant dog-thing or a wolf-thing (if you pee in water, your scent disappears)? I know some species of animal (a giant guinea-pig like critter in South America used for fur - can't remember the name of it) HAVE to pee in water, and I know it often stimulates infant humans to pee...

[draggar]

"Luna's Mom" took some pictures of our growing puppy. Enjoy.

[yukidomari]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Lunas Mom

know some species of animal (a giant guinea-pig like critter in South America used for fur - can't remember the name of it) HAVE to pee in water

Capybara? I am admittedly a huge fan of them. So cute.

[Gypsy Wolf]

Yup. Capybara is it! Their need to pee in water is one reason they were not terribly successful as production animals - their environmental needs are very specific.
Of course, so are Luna's!

[soniakanavle]

Flint pooped in a creek once....

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Lunas Mom

I am wondering if this is a dominant dog-thing or a wolf-thing

When we met the wolves at Wolf Park, we got to visit the old alpha of their main pack who got taken down, injured, and had to be removed from the others. He had a pen all to himself away from their lake, so he had a big trough of water. While we were visiting, he decided to go over to it, pee in it, then climbed in & laid down! It was too funny!

[yukidomari]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door soniakanavle

Flint pooped in a creek once....

.. well, at least then you don't have to pick up after him?

and the peeing in water thing.. no more damaged lawns! Perfect.

But in seriousness, I think it may be a dog by dog thing. A friend's English Mastiff always does number 2 whenever they go to the beach in the ocean and she's always wondering what she should do??? Cause there are other people using the water too.. :T

[Gypsy Wolf]

I have a girlfriend whose Newfie poos in the ocean. She fishes it out because people are swimming around and no one wants to come in contact with a dog pile floating around!