11-13-13 Dolly's Adventure to the Farm

Yesterday, we went out to visit Julie and see her father, Diesel.  Hershey and Diesel had 8 weeks puppies out there for her to play with, but she wasn't too excited to see them.  It was fun to see the size difference between 8 weeks and 17 weeks (Dolly)!

We went down to the Party Barn to see the miniature horses and donkeys.  She really didn't want to have anything to go with them which Julie says isn't unusual.  When we arrived a little piggy was outside and playing, but Julie got him back in before we walked up.

After returning from the farm, Dolly had her first shower!  I tried out my new shower head to spray the dogs.  Guess what?  It didn't reach all the way to the puppy.  It still worked, but it is easier to attach the puppy to the wall with a suction cup so they don't move around.  If you get a shower head to wash the puppy, make sure to measure!  I never dreamed it wouldn't be long enough!

Dolly with half-sibling!

Dolly with half-siblings (litter of 4 from Hershey and Diesel).

Diesel Dog - Dad!

Have you seen twin pigs?  Pigs for sale!

My Doll!

Dolly - Soon to be Darcy!

Hello Dolly!

11-12-13 Dolly

Well, Dolly has developed a huge growth spurt this week.  She has also developed very expressive yawns too!

Yesterday, she was in my bedroom.  She picked up Tazz's sheep with the long arms and pranced into the kitchen like it was an every day occurance!  She was just too cute!

Her hair has grown longer and thicker in the last week.  I took the small grooming comb which I would use on their legs as adults to strip her.

I also caught her trying to pull my table cloth off the kitchen table.  Actually, it is a cover because CoCo destroyed the table cloth when she was a puppy!

She still likes to pull on my skirt or pants from time to time to get attention.  I just grunt at her, and she stops!

11-06-13 Things are Being Shredded and Stolen and Misplaced

Something strange has been happening in my bathroom the last few days.  I continue to  find my towels on the floor.  Now, I know I put them on the towel bar each day after my shower.  I have a funny feeling someone in my bathroom has been playing with them when I leave her alone!

What leads me to this conclusion?

On Monday, I saw Steve's shirt draped over on outdoor chair.  He had worked on the sprinkler system until dark, and I guess he forgot to get it into the house.  Before I could go out and get it for him, I found it on the ground with a hole in the near the cuff of his shirt.

I had a Kleenex on the sofa on Tuesday while loving and sitting by someone.  I was up for a minute and the Kleenex had been shredded.

We have been finding socks which were placed up high in someone's mouth lately.

I had a pillowcase which hadn't dried fully in the dryer last night.  I didn't want to disturb CoCo and Belles in the utility room again, so I just put it over something to dry last night.  She saw it as she was going out the door this morning.

I have even found someone inside Chase'e bed having a grand time trying to rip it to shreds.

When we are on the sofa, she loves sinking her teeth into the blankets!

Tazz's white rabbit has gone outside.  By itself?  I think not!

11-3-13 Pictures of Zoey

09-09-13 Cindy wrote Amanda, "Zoey was asleep in my lap just awhile ago.  She likes to snuggle!.  She is so sweet.  They just start getting tired of their siblings at this stage - she just moved it up about a week."

09-14-13 Zoey leaves for her new home with Amanda and Grant.

09-15-13 Mom writes, "Poor little girl cried for hours last night, and had a few accidents right next to the potty pad!  But she is doing much better today."

09-15-13  Amanda and her mom picked up Zoey.  This is the first time he is seeing Zoey at their apartment.

09-18-13  Mom writes, "She gets sit, but down is a little more patchy, haha."

09-23-13

Zoey went on a trip to help family at this time.   Her mom writes, "Zoey was so great with the crate - she didn't whine too much and always waited until we gave her a break to potty.  When we got back last night, she had so much pent-up energy from being in the car that she chased her tail in circles over and over again and darted back and forth across the puppy pen!"

"And we got to make use of our travel water bottle that made it way easier than having to stop at a restaurant for a cup like we always did before with Fergus."

09-24-13 Zoey and Amanda in the car at HEB - waiting on Grant.

09-26-13  They ran her around the apartment first, then worked on her commands!  Hence, the tongue hanging out!

09-28-13  Some accidents, but getting better!  And she is so sweet, can't help but love her.  Still having trouble with down - she pops down and then back up immediately, but we will get there.

[This sounds like Belles when she was a puppy.  She still pops up and down between SIT and DOWN.]

09-30-13 Amanda and Zoey

09-30-13  Zoey meets one of Amanda's friends!

09-30-13 Zoey - Isn't that face too cute!

10-01-13 Mom writes, "She is getting really good at sitting".  Look at the focus on her mom in those eyes!  Great job!

10-03-13  Zoey getting shots at the doctor's office!  6.06 lbs!  No problem with shots with Zoey.  The vet gave her a treat, and she ate her way through the whole ordeal!  Sounds like Zoey!

10-08-13  Zoey in the box!  Pop goes the Zoey!  "It is the box you gave her!  She loves it.  She turns it on its side and runs in and out over and over.  And then she pops out the top.  Then, it tips over and it is hilarious.  She just runs out like nothing happened."

10-14-13 Congrats Grant!  LOL!

10-20-13 Following pictures are of her hair color changing - getting lighter!

10-21-13 Zoey jumped out of her puppy pen today!  She did it last night and proceeded to chew Amanda's clothes.  "She can get out even without jumping on the box you gave her."  This girl has Belle's legs (springs) for jumping!

10-22-13  Zoey gets her own room in the apartment!  The wires have been secured!

10-26-13 Trying on her Halloween Costume.  She looks so innocent!

10-26-13  Mom writes, "All ready for Halloween!"  Zoey writes, "Grrrr, I'm a pirate!"  

[For future reference, she was wearing a Small at __ weeks.]

10-26-13 Curiosity starts - Looking for trouble!  Dolly was looking into things at the same time!

11-03-13 Zoey has outgrown her carrier!  She seems to like to "pop out" of things!  Zoey has this lighter patch of cream on her leg (from her father) and some silver on her tail (like her Grandma CoCo).

11-01-13

Dolly wet on the floor today.  I asked her why she hadn't used her potty pad.  I saw.  It was all crumpled up in a wad with a wire basket against it.  When I tried to unfold it, I noticed the problem.  She has done a #1 on the pad at some time, but hide it from me.  This is a good sign.  It means she doesn't want to potty in the house unless she has to now.  She prefers the grass like the adult dogs!

Dolly has always been polite - unlike Belles - regarding the gate.  Belles has just pushed through since she was a puppy.  Dolly never has.  She knows to STAY behind the gate unless I let her out!

Belles never learned to ROLLOVER.  It is much harder to teach her now, but we will get there.  Then, we will work on our gate manners!  Something was going on in our lives at that time, and she didn't get much instruction.  It is so much easier to teach them when they are pups!

11-02-13 Happy 16 Week Birthday Kids!

What was the experiment?  How long would it take a puppy (not being trained) to want to go potty outside by themselves?

About 4:30 or 5:00AM, Dolly woke up, and whined.  She is in my bathroom now, so I didn't acknowledge her.  Then, I heard Steve.  So, I waited.  At 7:30AM, a very sharp bark came from the bathroom.  I immediately took Dolly outside, and she did her #1 in the grass.  I let her follow me in the house to get a treat, then we went back outside.  She did her #2.  This was the first day of her wanting to do everything outside by herself and on her terms.

She is 16 weeks today!

I just saw her streak through the shrubs for her first Cairn Run!  Too funny!

10-29-13

Today, Dolly finally accomplished a rollover (wasn't sure it was actually going to happen)!  I say finally - we had only worked on it once before.  I roll them over and over after they open their eyes.  I'm just hoping this would help them orient quickly.  I have probably waited too late to make it easier on myself with Dolly.  She is stubborn and doesn't want to ROLLOVER.  We also work on SHAKE PAWS and BEG.

Some of the dogs will naturally gravitate toward a command and probably do it on their own.  Flopsie just begged on her own.  I tried to get Chase to show Dolly how to ROLLOVER.  She never took her eyes off the treat to watch Chase, so I gave up that idea.  Tazz watched CoCo act and PLAY DEAD.  Tazz became very stubborn and only learned SIT, DOWN, and SHAKE.  Of course, I had medical problems with her and didn't push her much.  But one day, Tazz just PLAYED DEAD.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  They say dogs learn from each other - I thought it only applied to BARKING!  But Tazz had incentive.  She wanted a treat!  She saw what CoCo did for a treat, and she decided to try to on me.  It worked because I gave her all kinds of treats!  I was so proud of her learning a new command!

Looks like Dolly is going to have good concentration like Grandma CoCo!  After a hard 10 minutes of commands, Dolly finally accomplished a ROLLOVER!  Yeah!  The next ones were so much easier !!

DOWN is the hardest command for a dog to submit themselves to do.  This is the reason I teach them early - before they go to their permanent homes !

10-30-13 Dolly

I  believe the Dolly alarm went off at 5AM today.

She loves going out with the BIG DOGS and being a BIG DOG.  She can hold her own against them.  We are approaching the magical 16th week when Dolly will get her BIG DOG shots and be fully immunized!  Yeah!  Finally it is here!

For the last two weeks, the poop in the pen has decreased.  She is growing up and doesn't like to see poop in her living space!  Dolly still lives in her pen which is moved to various rooms.  After the weekend, I have moved her back into the master bedroom.  Maybe that was a mistake due to the early Dolly alarm.  Of course, I don't think I can win because Steve gets up early anyway, and she will want breakfast by 5:30AM.

At this time, she loves sinking her teeth into anything soft.  She is trying to destroy the pillows I have made for the dogs.  No way!  She has started to play with the soft toys more at this point, but still loves to destroy a plastic water bottle!

I have sent Belles into the bathroom to wear her down - if it can be done!  Belles just loves torturing Dolly and Dolly loves torturing Belles.  Actually, it helps wear down Belles.  Belles has so much new energy after giving birth - very strange.

It is raining today and those are the worst days when they "pups" cannot get out to play.  Of course, it is a nice down to love, snuggle, and train!

I look at Dolly, and I think in by December she will be 6 months old.  This means she would have reached her mature size.  It is interesting to see her and Belles together at this stage.

She has decided to try out an antler bone.  I like to get these larger than the dog - like rest of the bones I purchase.  I think this helps prevent swallowing accidents.

Went to the gym.  When we came back, Dolly had redecorated her pen!

10-23-13

Very, very early this morning, Dolly went into a barking fit.  Since Steve was up, I just let her bark until she couldn't bark anymore.  It worked!

After she was quiet, I snuck into the kitchen.  I was very surprised.  Steve had told me CoCo had gone under the kitchen table (her usual trick to get a treat).   It is almost Halloween, but her Halloween lasts 365 days!  He told me he was leaving her there and didn't have the time to get her out.  He still doesn't get the game.  In CoCo's mind, the game is:  I go under the table, and you give me a treat to get me out!  Imagine my surprise when I found her back in the kitchen on her pillow.  She had climbed back into bed after he left!  I had to call him and tell him - she is such a mess!

Then, I go into the utility room to see Belles and Dolly.  As usual, Belles darts out the gate the moment it is open (another thing to work on).  Belles is a free spirit and wants the run of the house!  As I thought, Dolly was calling me to clean up her pen.  They will call when they figure out your job title is DOLLY'S MAID.   First, we have to hug.  We hug on the left side, then the right side.  Usually, I get a bite on the left ear.  The right side is the best.  She gets up to my neck and gets so close.  I'm afraid she is going to go over my shoulder.  Lily Sweetpea and I did this too!  They are so limber at this stage and so warm against your body.  It is so hard to put her down, but I do and she parades around the floor with the little puppy walk and scamper while I pick up the papers in the pen.   Then, she finds the small knee-hi on the crate and starts tugging.  This doesn't hold her interest long.  Next, she has decided to tackle the wire basket sitting on top of a carton.  It holds all kinds of treasures.  Today, she decides to pick her own toy from the crate, and she chooses a football!  She takes it to the mat near the door and spreads out (legs flat on the ground in the frog position) and squeeks it a bit.  Now, she decides to eat the flexi-glass protecting the drying rack corner.  Then, she is off again to find another toy (while I continue to clean her pen).

After my cleaning is complete, I  put her back in the pen for awhile.  Steve has already let her run in the backyard before he left.

As I get into my bedroom, I start to wonder.  Yes, Belles is on top of my bed!  The most cherished spot in the house!

Chase is let outside while Tazz stays in bed.  Of course, Belles has to go out again with him, just to check out the outdoor status!  In a few seconds, I hear Belles knocking at the door to get back into the house.  There she goes - back to the bed!  Chase finally gets back and the house settles down for awhile (only a minute).

Oops, I forgot to feed Dolly and hear a strange noise coming from her pen.  She has a grip on her plastic bottle!  As soon as the food bits rattle in Dolly's food sack, I feel someone down at my feet.  It is Belles who is always ready to eat!

And I have to say, Dolly has gate manners at 14 weeks (unlike her mother)!

Now, Tazz is talking to me and ready to get up!  Every morning, she gets up and does her yoga stretches!  This morning she is determined to break into Dolly's crate beside me to steal her bone!  Her nose is working overtime this morning around the crate.  Finally, she determines that bone has been moved (dogs never forgot).  She goes over to the carpet, turns on her back, and wiggles all over the carpet.  Her morning routine before going outside.  Oops, I forgot the rest of the routine.  I go and stand behind her thinking this will get her moving.  She flops onto her side to get her tummy rubbed before heading out.  Chase is at the door waiting.  I let him out (again) and finally Tazz goes into the cool, brisk, morning air!  Chase never misses a chance to go outside and lift his leg, but he is a house dog and comes back in very quickly!

It is 7:45AM, so I might was well let Belles and Dolly out now.  The construction workers are starting to show up to finish a house in the cul-de-sac.  After the Armadillo the other day, I want to make sure everyone is already up and going before letting too many dogs out.

As I let Dolly out, I noticed her coat was changing.  She has more silver coming into her dark body!

7:56AM - I hear Tazz with the rest of her morning routine.  She is screaming at the pine tree.  Not really, but at the squirrels who drive her crazy.  Belles is starting to fall into this pattern, but she doesn't really scream yet.  She just jumps up and down like a pogo stick.

10-22-13

Well, you never know what is going to happen.  Just saw Tazz and CoCo in the garden.  I knew something was happening due to their body language!

Then, I saw CoCo emerge with something in her mouth.  I thought it was a snake.  She took it into the yard and just sat by it - protecting it.

I knew I would need the shovel, so out I go to the garage.  When I reached CoCo, I was surprised.  It was a huge frog!  She tried to take it away, but I grunted at her and put the shovel down to block her.

FYI - I try and take a picture of all their kills!  I'm sure you don't want to see it.  But you don't want them to eat their kill because they can get sick from eating it.

Dolly is so good!  I call her, and she comes to the door.  She surprised me today.  She walked right into the utility room and looked up to the place where I keep her treats!  When you call the dogs, call them in a happy voice.  First, you will want to meet them at the door with a treat.  Then, they will know where you keep the treats and go right to them!

Before this, Belles was tackling Dolly.  I opened the door and asked Dolly if she wanted to come into the house.  She just looked at me and went back to wrestling!

Last week, I noticed Dolly looking at my shoes on the porch.  She has tried to put them in her mouth.  I just grunt at her, and she backs off.  I have decided to start putting my shoes up because I think it is a great temptation for her, and I don't want her to start chewing socks or shoes.

Video:  I'm going to post the video of Dolly helping me dust the house.

10-19-13 Stopped By to See Lily Sweetpea

Lilly's mom says she is pulling on pants.  Guess what?  Dolly started last week jumping up and trying to get my attention by catching my cropped pants in her mouth.  With long pants, she just sinks her teeth into my pants.

I have noticed more teeth activity lately.  I have been giving her more "popsicles" because her new teeth are probably starting to come into her beautiful mouth!

Trying to get the pictures ready to publish.

10-13-13 Hello Dolly - Watch My Lips!

10-12-13 Dolly

Well, I looked away for a second and Dolly was out the fence again on the driveway.  Then, I had her reenact the escape when I ran the camcorder.  Called her and she came back into the fence - the way she had left the yard.

In the humidity, I started erecting a small plastic fence for her.  Then, I let her out again.  I wasn't finished, but wanted to see what she would do.  She just found another point of escape.  Just as I thought -- very smart girl!

I wasn't able to finish due to thunder and lightening, and she wasn't able to get out to play.

I did start teaching her how to SHAKE today!  I hope by tomorrow she knows the command!

She likes to wonder around my bathroom, but I have caught her in my closet (chip off the old block).  Belles will just push the door with her nose

10-11-13

Well, Dolly and I have had an interesting morning.

After my walk, I went out to play ball with the Cairns.  Actually, CoCo is the only one who wants to chase down the ball.  Belles likes to jump for the ball.  Tazz likes to tackle CoCo when she gets the ball.  Dolly wants to strut with the felt of the ball, and Chase ignores us!

I hadn't groomed Chase before everyone picked up their puppy thinking I might need to demonstrate different grooming techniques.  It didn't happen, and now he hasn't been able to see.  Or we haven't been able to see his eyes - which is the first rule of training!

I picked up a new grooming apron and was taking out of the package.  Before I had finished, part of the apron was moving across the porch in Dolly's mouth - the apron ties!  On this apron you couldn't just throw the loop over your neck, so while I was trying to tie it the whole apron was leaving me.

Next, Dolly decided she needed to turn over the trash can and take the trash out!

Dolly was great for about 30 minutes while working on Chase.  I kept calling her, and she kept coming to me.  Then, she didn't come.  Where was she?  Then, Belles starts barking at the driveway, and I saw a black blog running around the driveway.  She I rush to the garage doors.  By the time, the doors are up, there she is climbing back into the fence!  See they don't want to be away from their family, and Belles was a very watchful Mother.  Dolly is back in the house - in her pen - until I can put more fencing up!

Oh, the other thing Dolly was doing this morning was tugging on my pants when she wanted to get my attention!

10-10-13 Dolly Status

Yesterday was manual labor day!

I was finally able to cut the shrubs by the curb in the front yard cut.  Then, I pulled everything out of my closet to  clean the floor from the closet to my bathroom.

I finally finished putting everything back into the closet around 11PM last night.  Before that, I moved Dolly from the utility room to the master bathroom.  If I'm not outside, I spend my time learning this new computer (in my bedroom).  So, I moved her into the bathroom, so I could talk to her and she could see me when we aren't outside.

Today, she is so funny.  I held her up, and she squeezes next to my neck and rests on my shoulder.  She has done this for awhile.  Yesterday, it was cool, and it was so nice to have her warm little body next to me.

She was really still this morning.  Then, I thought about what she was doing.  She could see herself in the mirror.  She was mesmerized!

Last night,  she slept alone for the first time.  When Sweetpea (Lily) left, Belles slept with her in the utility room for 4 nights (on her own pillow).  Dolly did great after she settled down.  I thought she might be hungry.  I had taken her off most food.  So, I fed her some Hill's I/D for the digestive tract.  Then, the teeth came out!  Those teeth are still sharp!  They love to get your hands on their molars where they can bite down.  I'm pretty experienced with puppies and their teeth, so they aren't able to do that to me.  But last night, she was wild.  Maybe, this is what lead to the pumpkin fiasco!  So, I gave her some ice cubes.  After she finished, she went to sleep.  Now, we have broken the bond of someone has to sleep with her!

We played on the bathroom floor the other night.  When I leave her in their by herself with another dog, she knows to go to her potty pad.  She doesn't torture the potty pad either because she has her space and isn't mad at the world!

It can be really tough growing up!  They are cute, but can have tempers and be a little messy!

On Sunday, she ate a pumpkin stem and got sick (3 days of diarrhea).  She was well all day Wednesday!  Everything goes into their mouths!

Well, the dogs have found their morning squirrel to tell it to go back home, so I need to get out there and calm them down!  It seems to be a ritual with this squirrel every morning!

Even though Belles is very well trained to come into the house when called, I still have to call her several times when a squirrel is involved!  Tazz won't come because we lived in an apartment and didn't learn to COME on commmand (she is very stubborn).  The first thing I teach the puppies at a house is COME!

This is great.  I can get to my washer and dryer so much easier now!

Dolly and I are going to try and get pictures of her in the white azaleas this week or weekend (or may need Steve's help)!

Dolly has two new toys.  She found a treasure in the backyard called a Pine Cone, and it was just the right size for her little mouth.  She was just strutting around with it hanging to one side of her mouth.

Now, she is running around with one of CoCo's tennis balls hanging out her mouth.  You see - it is much easier to carry around because CoCo ripped the felt off the ball.  Dolly only has to hold onto the felt which is much easier!  She is so smart and funny!

I don't know how she got wet again, but within a few minutes of going outside she was.  Yesterday, she went through the sprinkler!  Of course, it doesn't take long to dry out again!

Gardening - It looks like I have finally won against the paws!  I have figured out how to defeat them from tearing up my gardens and digging!  Lets see - how many years did that take and how many tries! New products always help - don't get up - ever!

This week she has figured out how to move her water bowl without dumping the water!  I have used the water bowls to hold down the rug in her pen.  I have realized the way to defeat them now, but will have to save it for the next litter!

I'm finally started today making Dolly sit for her meals.  I should have done this earlier, but she has had a lot to go through with everyone leaving before she finds her new home.

Dolly went to the vet today.  She was a brave girl again!

She is getting a little silver on her nose which is lightening her face up a bit.

New But Old - Dolly has a good time playing with an old towel.  Then, we tried the laser pointer, but she hasn't figured that out yet.

10-01-13 The Girls

Belles still goes and counts the kids in the pens each morning!

I was talking to Amanda last night about Zoey.  Zoey is tearing up her potty pad, but manages to potty/poop on the part which isn't torn up!

This morning, I forgot (again) to remove my partition between their pens.  I noticed someone had carefully placed their poop on their flat animal!  These kids are so smart!

When I removed the partition, both girls went over to the other side and did their potties!  They are holding it and know not to go in their pens.  They really haven't since the other kids left (less laundry), but actually watching them several times now affirms they know what they are doing at 11 weeks!

I just love watching them and seeing them make decisions!

Seems construction has hit the cup-de-sac.  It seems three houses are doing something at their places.  This is great because the girls can be exposed to loud noises.  Nothing bothers Dolly.  It is great for Sweet pea to have her around because when Sweet pea becomes fixated on the noise, Dolly is there to tackle her and draw her out.  Sweet pea's tail is down and Dolly's is up!

It has been really great to still have the two girls.  They entertain each other in the backyard and never try to get out of the fence.  I'll have to watch Dolly more when Sweet pea lives after this weekend.

Just had an update on Zoey.  Mom says, "She's getting really good at sitting!!"

09-30-13 Pictures of Zoey with Amanda and Grant

09-15-13

Mom says,"Poor little girl cried for hours last night, and had a few accidents right next to the potty pad! But she is doing much better today."

09-15-13

 Amanda and her mother picked Zoey up from Tyler.  Grant gets to see Zoey at home after returning from a trip. 

09-18-13

Zoey gets sit, but down is a little more patchy!

09-24-13

Zoey and Amanda in the car waiting on Grant!

09-18-13

09-18-13

Look at that cute little profile!

09-30-13

09-30-13

09-30-13

Amanda and Zoey

09-30-13 Cairn Tails

None of my puppies have done this before, but it was so cute.

Sweetpea was pulling on Dolly's tail.  She knows the Cairn Tail Secret!  Too funny!

I hope she does it again.  I think I got a snippet on video!

With all the rain in Saturday and Sunday, I have two puppies who are eager to get outside and run, run, and run!

When they are bored, we have a ton of paper shredding going on in the house - especially with two puppies!  They are double the mess!

09-27-13 The Wizard of Oz

Sweetpea really surprised me this morning.

After completing the list of supplies and training links for everyone, I let the puppies out.  It was later than usual when they would go out.  They just worn themselves out streaking through the yard.

Sweetpea has really grown since staying later with us and the dogs.  She would bark at anything new.  Today, she went outside and went through my agility equipment like it wasn't even there!

I knew she had BRAINS because she does her SIT and DOWN so well - just like the Scarecrow.
I knew she had a HEART because she loves us to pick her up and love on her - just like the TIN MAN.
Now, she is BRAVE - just like the LION!

No wonder they used a Cairn Terrier in the movie!

Video to follow.

09-26-13 Sweet pea Pictures

Click for:  Older Puppy Pictures

09-25-13 Dolly Pictures

Please click on pictures to enlarge.

CoCo and Dolly

09-23-13

 I was away from the house from 8:00 to 3:30.  I was so glad I had the pens for the kids and didn't have to worry about getting back to them.  They were a little hungry since they didn't have lunch at 12.  I just adjusted their schedule this particular day.  They were still served three meals.

After playing with them and getting dinner, I was finally able to have enough time to start walking again from 8:00PM to 9:00PM.  The eight weeks with the puppies seem to get shorter and shorter, but it doesn't leave much time for anything else.

09-22-13

We hope to make it through Sunday with enough paper for the pens!  It rained so hard on Friday that I was not able to get to the other side of town to buy more paper.

Going to church today - everything seems under control with our Cairns!

09-24-13 The Four Paws

Today, we have been outside.  The trash trucks were to arrive at 9AM, and they are late.  I'm still waiting at 10.   I'm watching the puppies from my bedroom window.  They have such a great time playing together.  They are listening to the train come through blowing its horn.  This only happens twice a week.  I thought I wouldn't like it, but love listening to the hum of the engine and the whistle blowing!

The kids are streaking through the yard playing and having fun.  They are able to get really tired from all the play.  But guess what, you can hardly ever wear out a Cairn.

I remember two times.  We took Tazz to a festival in Atlanta to get her use to people.  By the time we left, we were carrying her.  We also took Flopsie on the trail in Tyler.  Steve had to carry her.  They were much older than the pups, but these were the only two times we have truely worn out a Cairn.  Both Tazz and Flospie weren't a year old yet when this happened!

We also donned our leashes this morning and drug them through the garden.  Sweetpee felt the need (like so many Cairns) to walk Dolly with her leash!

I could tell the kids were getting tired.  It is still to the point that I can carry both of them into the house at the same time.  I now let them walk from the utility room to the outside by themselves - now that Sweetpea isn't afraid to go over the door threshold.

So, I pick them up and just was I get into the utility room when I slip and hit my left knee.  But the kids are fine - they just had another experience!  Next, I go and check to see if the trash trucks came and CoCo didn't make me aware of the fact (which would be a miracle - that does happen from time to time).  No, the trash is still in the trash can!  Just as I get down there, I hear the trucks again!  I quickly run into the house and grab the kids to put them outside on the grass.  Now, I am very calm around them like nothing is going to happen.

Sweetpea hears them and runs for shelter under the porch.  Guess what??  She knows the word COOKIE already - just found that out!  I call - Sweetpea COOKIE.  Here she comes from the porch to the yard!  She stayed there beside me, but she is getting exposed to the sounds now.

Hello Dolly on the other hand.  Nothing bothered her!!  She has the true Cairn attitude!  I was looking at pictures of her from the birth day.  She was lighter.  She has actually become darker.  She has a little silver in her.  I would keep her for breeding if I could.   I love her color and always wanted a Cairn as black as she is.  I think she would be a great mom, but she is going to make someone a great pet!

Before heading out to the great outdoors, the four paws demolished a potty pad (I thought was held down by a brick).  I layer their pens, and didn't think they would be able to get to the pad.  I was wrong again!  They had too much fun together.  There was cotton flying everywhere!  This is when they went outside for the first time this morning.

The four paws also have a great time digging in my flower beds.  Now, they have discovered they can go down the trench I dug for new sprinklers.  They have a great time digging in the trench which is great because Steve will probably want it deeper!

At 10:45AM, they are taking a nap!

I was just loving them.  Their heads are still so small.  They still fit in the palm of my hand.  Plus, they are small enough, I can still carry two of them at one time!

2:31PM - Dolly and Sweetpea woke from their naps.  Both went out to the grass to potty!  Yeah!  Then, Dolly even pooped!

Sweetpea was sitting on the ledge of our garden.  I went into the house to get my camera.  She was still there, so I was able to get a great picture.  Dolly saw me with the camera.  She got under Sweetpea and just sat down.  Perfect shot of the two of them!  It was so amazing!

2:43PM - Dolly understands when I call her in the house she doesn't want to come and give up playing outside!  Sweetpea will come in, but reluctantly.  Tomorrow, we will work on the COME command going into the house.  I will call them over and over into the house giving them different types of treats!

09-21-13

This has been a busy week.  I have been trying to catch up on my yard work!  On Thursday, I was clipping shrubs from 8AM to 1PM.  Of course, I planned it this way.  The mowers came and I could get them to do the hard work - getting rid of all the mess!  I had them take down limbs on trees also!  It was a very big mess.  Hopefully, I will be able to finish this week.   Then, our sprinkler control box messed up last week and had to price them.  It could cost $500 just to replace it.  It was on sale on Friday at Lowe's for under $100.  Steve will install and I will be his assistant to learn!  I also dug trenches to put in sprinklers in the flower beds.  With more new houses coming into the neighborhood, the sprinkler system has to be run at a different time than all the other neighbors due to water pressure.  Guess I am going to have to go down and speak with the city next!  I had my cabinets and shelving repaired about Flopsie and Belles decided on their own to redesign my cabinets!  I have repainted the utility cabinets plus my kitchen cabinets.  Now, I have to repaint the red paint (usually 6 layers) around the cabinets and places on the wall.  I guess this will have to wait until all the puppies are out of the house!

So, Sweetpea and Dolly have now been playing in the yard and entertaining themselves!  It is so great to have your Heartworm pills, so you can get out ant play.  It is great for them to have each other and wear themselves out.  I had to go and actually put water on their tongues, at the water bowl, to show them where to go and find water.  Strange - they found it in the house without a problem!

Friday was spent cleaning the kitchen floor and utility room floor.  Now, I just have the breakfast nook and the master bathroom to finish!  The floors look so much better.  I put a  3 coats of sealer on them to shine them up, but couldn't do this when the puppies were learning to walk.  It would have been too slick for them.

Went to Debra's Sip and See party for Maggie on Thursday night!  Maggie is doing well.

Hope I will have time to get more cute pictures of the girls!  This is a good reason to teach them to SIT , DOWN, STAY - pictures go so much better!  They are so fast and moving so quickly - even my "fast" camera has problems getting them.  I have plenty of action packed blurry pictures!

Sweetpea has figured out she cannot out run Dolly.  So, she just lays in the grass and watches for her to pounce.  My Tazz does this.  It reminds us of the Pink Panther movies!

Sweetpea gets tangled in the vines and does this little bunny hop to get through the vines.  They both are acting like my adults.  Just running through all the shrubs - here - there - everywhere!

While cleaning the floors, I put them in separate crates in the study.  They did very well!  I have moved their pen back into the utility room, so I will be putting them in their crates to eat.  Then, I will be able to control both of them more and take them outside.  I will give them a treat and say potty immediately - giving them a treat!  This is the only way I can work on outdoor training - two at a time.  These kids are too sneaky in the house.  I turn my back and it is done!  Very hard to catch them and reward immediately.  When I'm not with them, they go back to their pen to be together.  They need to learn to have their own space now!

I have my crates on wheels, so I can take them to the rooms where I am to be able to watch them.  They will sleep in the crate.  It is so sweet to watch them.  They are precious!

Now, I'm listening to Kim Kommando and sorting my pictures of the puppies.  At least, it is easier these days to sort the individual pictures of the puppies - just light and dark now!

It is so interesting to see them roam the yard!  The first day was rough for all the puppies, but it only took one spill!  They learn so quickly.  It is so fun to watch them on the steps.  If only I could get them to stand still.  it makes the best shot!  Dolly and Sweetpea are very aware where they are at all times.  Dolly is faster and stops herself before anything bad happened - just like Grandma CoCo!  Dolly reminds me of CoCo so much!

Strange how Sweetpea is so similar to Flopsie and Dolly like Coco!

I wonder how many videos and pictures I have taken of this litter.  It takes a ton of time to sort and look through the video to post.  When viewing the video, I have to do in MUTE mode.  My adults are in the room and go bonkers if they hear the puppies - especially the mom - this time Belles!

I still have some baby pictures to sort because they look so much alike.  I have to put them in a collage to sort and look at their features!  I really try and get the color collars on them ASAP - saves me time with the pictures!  I did found out that I need smaller ones for the first borns!  Their necks are so, so small!

Going to have to go back and put together pictures in a collage when they were born to now!  What a difference!

Puppies have been out 3 or 4 times today with Aunt Tazz, Grandma CoCo, and Mama Belles.  It seems I just create more work by photographing the puppies.  Think I was able to get some cute pictures today.

Hello Dolly is going to be a great Cairn!  She is so fun, but a sprinter!  She is going to need a very active family!  She is so alert.  I was trying to get her picture by the ferns.  After just one time of telling her to SIT, she kept sitting to get more treats for more pictures!  What a girl!

Sweetpea is so funny!  It takes her a little longer to get someplace compared to Dolly, but she shows up!  It is so great to be able to see both personalities emerge and develop.  They stayed out while the neighbor was mowing.  It doesn't both Sweetpea anymore!

09-14-13 Puppies Going Home

09-17-13

Puppies are in the back yard playing again!  While they were out there, I was trying to fill in the holes where grass should be.  I'll be using my mess again to put over the holes after I find more dirt to patch them.

The puppies loved falling into the holes and hiding!  Dolly would fall in on purpose to lose Belles.  Belles has really taken to Dolly.  She loves to play with her, but warts her to death.  Grandma CoCo liked playing a little.  We hope she will become more playful with them.  They love to follow her around.

I'm going to spray the shrubs for mosquitos today.  Heart worm pills probably need time to build up in their system, so we want to be careful with them.  Most mosquitos are usually out at night - not as many during the day.

Debra says Maggie's ear finally went up!  Good going Maggie!  We didn't have to resort to tape!

Sweet pea and Dolly love to romp through the grass and dirt - very Cairn!

Funny - The washing and drying has slowed down a ton.

Belles is going wild.  She feels good!

Hope all the little puppies are doing well!

Will try and post pictures soon!

09-16-13

Today, the 2 went outside more.  They were already experts from going outside the last several days climbing the steps.  Now, they know the path and yard playing by themselves or with the other dogs.

I worked outside all day to get my dying plants back into the ground and fix the flower beds, so the dogs wouldn't dig them up all day.  I also dug three trenches for new sprinklers.  I hope this helps Steve, and he can get them put in this weekend.  Then, I covered the trenches and flower beds with my fencing mesh to protect my work from my kids!

I won't be able to defeat the mole, but maybe I can prevent all this sand from coming into my house!

About 4pm, I had to get a quick shower and go to town to run errands!  We needed food in the house or it would be a problem to get dinner!

09-15-13

09-14-13 The Big Day

Happy Birthday my little litter of 5!  This is a happy and sad day for us.  3 of the 5 are going home.  We will be busy clipping 80 toe nails, giving 5 baths, cutting 10 ears, clipping 5 tails, and around 20 paws!

They are all up and active.

Little Joe finally ate his heartworm pill (the pills are too large)!  Sweet pea ate 1/2 of her pill.  Dolly is absolutely not interested!

We had a visitor this morning.  I met her in her lamp shop in Tyler. Guess what I saw in the lamp shop?  Her Cairn Terrier.  She came to visit the puppies this morning before they left!

By 12:00, I was finally able to start washing the puppies.  Thank goodness, they dry quickly!

We visited with Little Joe's parents from about 1:30pm to past 3pm.  As they were leaving, our husbands found they had the same major in college.  So that started another conversation.  Mary and I could have talked all day!  This was there first visit to our house.

Amanda and her mom came for Zoey!  This was Amanda's second visit to the house.  We took a ton of pictures especially of Maggie and Zoey!

I went over my 20 items to share with each family.  Each had Cairns previously.  From the past experience, every one forgets in 13 or more years what it is like to have a Cairn puppy.  So, we go through many categories as quickly as we can!

Showed everyone how to make their puppies SIT, DOWN, COME, and FOLLOW!  They only had 4 training sessions on SIT and DOWN.  They all learned really fast and remember everything!  Very smart puppies!

Then, there were two!

09-13-13

It is Sept 13, 2013.  The puppies were born on July 13, 2013.  Sometimes, it feels like it has been such a short period of time to watch them grow and develop their personalities.  At this moment, they have worn me out this morning, and they still have more energy to play!

This is our last full day together with the puppies and Belles.

We were up at 5:30AM.  I put them in the utility room to clean up their pen.  They played and played!  Belles came to see them.  I let her into the room.  I thought she won't stay long, but she go them lined out and continued to play with them.  When she left, she stole their new pink ball!  I put her in the kitchen with the three puppies leaving tomorrow.  Not much happened.  Then, I put Tazz in their for more socialization.  She growled.  I'm going to be posting the video of her growling because it will give you an idea of how to growl at your puppy when it needs correction.  Don't say NO- NO-NO to them. In their world, it doesn't mean much.  They speak another language.  They understand happy tones and deep tones.  Make your growl deep and your fun times with them use your happy voice!  If you want them to learn, make it fun and light hearted.  They will shutdown if you don't, then you and the puppy become frustrated.

After Tazz, I came up with a new game for them because I couldn't get them going!  See video.  I have been trying to find more of the toy I used because the last litters loved it.  Koa was the alpha and would lead her pack around the island playing with it.  Not this group.

I have also used the gas can on correcting their tearing up their potty pads today.  For awhile, they seemed to get the message.  They have periods where you don't want to do anything to scare them or they could become shaky dogs.  You can use it to your advantage.  We were at my parent's house and Flopsie tried to dart after a car.  She was in one of her fear periods.  I reacted to keep her safe.  She became scared of cars.  This was great because I don't think she would chase a car, but she didn't like getting into a car.  She became car sick due to her fear.  Flopsie went to live with Amy in January.  Just before she went, I tried a thundershirt on her.  And it worked!  Amy took it from there and took her places.  Flopsie had an association of bad things with the car and me.  Amy says she is great in the car now.  So, this shows you had behaviors develop, and they can be changed.  It just takes work!

I put their new collars on them this morning.  You will have to watch the clasp.  I think they are making them cheaper and cheaper.  This brand is ZACK and ZOEY.  I wouldn't recommend them.  I also don't think these will last as long as they should because they will out grown them.  Let me know what you think later.  It says it adjusts from 6 inches to 10 inches.  Maggie and Zoey should end up with a size 14" collar.  The others are smaller and will probably be a little less and maybe harder to fit.

It is funny.  I just realized I call Belles - Sweet pea when she comes in the door!

I will be emailing your receipts to you today.  Just bring cash for the small balance for the shots.  I went ahead and got purchased a heart worm pill.  I will show you how I give it to them when you pick them up.  They will be getting a puppy gift and a box to play with at home!  When you visit you vet, you will need to get another pill for next month.  The third month they take their heart worm pill  - you should be able to buy a whole package for a 6 month supply.  The pills go on weight.

Your puppy will need to be fixed around 6 months before their hormones develop.  You will find the vet charges by weight when they have surgery and getting their teeth cleaned.   This is a good incentive to keep them trim.  I suggest getting a measuring cup and placing it in their food, so you don't over feed them or anyone who feeds them for you.

The puppy manual is almost complete.  I will get your contracts ready today, then work on the manual more - if I have time.  I am going to try and get good pictures of them today out in the yard.  Consider the manual in rough draft form, but it gave me a deadline to get it written.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  I will try and to continually improve it for the next litter!

If you have any questions in the puppy manual, don't hesitate to text, email, or call me!  Nearly everyone has questions during their first year - especially when you are getting use to them and their personality!

We went for our shots yesterday.  Both times, no one had a problem with the shots.  Make sure your vet uses a small needle behind their neck - not in their rump.  I was told vets who use less expensive vaccines will place the shot in their rump.  This happened to Flopsie.  She was so sore.  These puppies just came home and played both times.  You never knew they had shots at all!

8:30AM - I had their pen all cleaned up.  While I was on the computer, I heard what I didn't want to hear.  They had a grand time in their pen tearing up all the paper I just put in the pen!!  It is trash day.  I had already put the trash down, but I have another small can to take out there now!

Maybe, I can get my breakfast now!  Everyone else is fed.  Chase and Belles were telling me the neighbor's moving van showed up, so they had to come in the house.

It is a sad week for me because the puppies are leaving and my great neighbor is moving to Galveston today.

2:40PM Cheryl came over with her husband.  He has been wanting to see Cairn puppies for awhile.  They helped me take pictures, then I tried to get more pictures after they left.  I love to take cute pictures of them.  It seems I haven't had the time.  This was our first summer litter, and it may be the last!  Anyway, the puppies seem to be worn out because they are very quite!

When I was getting things together for tomorrow, I noticed the heart worm pills were different.  They are large pills which need to be chewed.  I tried to give Hello Dolly and Sweetpa their pills, but they wouldn't eat them.

So, I tried Maggie.  She ate hers - of course!  LOL!

09-12-13

5:30AM - Up and going!


7:00AM - Finally had to put Maggie and Zoey back in the pen (after the cabinet problem).  The other 3 didn't want to stay in the utility room. by themselves.  Belles came in and played with Dolly and Sweetpea.  She really loves playing with Dolly.  The others will get chances to play by themselves before they leave with Belles.

Little Joe - Going to have to watch him with doors.  He has loved going behind the utility room door for a couple of weeks.  I place a small plastic container by between the door and my hanging rods.  This seems to have kept him from going back there.  He may get that honestly.  Belles loves opening my closet door and checking it out.  CoCo will open the partial closed study door and walk right into it.

Zoey - Going to have to watch her with the cabinets.  CoCo loved climbing in my open cabinets and so does Zoey!  Zoey is taking it to the Flopsie stage.  She was trying to chew on my refurnished cabinets!  Then, Zoey went to the sink and tried to get the baseboards to play with her!  Then, Maggie joined her!

While I"m sitting here writing this, CoCo is beside me and Tazz at my feet on my bed.  CoCo chewed
up Tazz's brand new football.  Tazz loves a football and use to play football with my sister's Schnauzer.    Tazz would run with the football in her mouth and Lucas would chase her!  And they would tackle!  It was too funny!  It is really hard to find soft footballs anymore.  I found some really cheap ones for about a dollar and purchased several for Tazz.

The kids have been their pens chewing on plastic bottles.  Suddenly, there is silence.  I left Belles in there to eat breakfast and puppy sit.  Need to go check on them.  Too quiet!

7:30AM - Working on the puppy manual, so I can make copies tomorrow for you of the First Edition!

2:30PM - Debra met me at the vet's office.  The puppies were great!  No one cried again!  This is the first litter no one has cried at all - both times!

We worked on our SITS and DOWNS tonight.  Everyone is so smart!  I only had problems with Dolly - she just wouldn't down.  I try to start this early because DOWN is the hardest command for them since it requires them to be submissive.