Wednesday, 22 September 2010

Puppy Class madness (and just general madness around the house)

Grrrr, I have not updated my blog for a week now! Very silly of me, but never mind, I have plently of news for you. Jacob has had his second puppy class two nights ago, and did very well, or very badly, depending on your opinion. He definately found his confidence, and made new friends in the Labrador Brad and big puppy Dixie. The little meriugue dog was there again, just as small and cuddly.
We were outside today for the first half, then we went inside for a while. Jacob had great fun, running around with other dogs, and eating moss. They put the big dogs on their leads, and just let the little ones run around at first. Jacob instantly seemed to feel more comfortable, and started to hide between other peoples legs, rather than just mine. He did his sits and downs very well, even having time to get Dixie into trouble by barking at him. Some dogs just dont change.
Retrieving did not go so well. Jacob did not have his own toy, so he didnt want to chase it. He did very well though, especially at recalls.

Jacob is growing up very fast; I feel like such a proud adopted mother! He has lost a tooth, and is now teething. Unfortunately this means he will chew anything, including my GCSE art sketchbook, and my laptop cable is looking a little chewed. And he stole my toast! Im still annoyed about that. Got to go kno, bye! Grrrr, my toast
Beth x

Monday, 13 September 2010

Bottom of the class...

Well, the good news is Jacob survived his first puppy class, but the really good news is he gave me something interesting the write about! Do you want to hear about cowering between my legs the entire time, running around the back of the hall to eat moss twice, or being the worst in the whole class at recalls?
The dogs in the class are funny. We were outside a village hall, and some weeks we will go inside.The dogs I remember most are Stanley-huge ginger German Sheppard puppy, Meringue dog-too small for even Jacob to be scared of, and the naugtiest Golden Retriever puppy ever, Dixie. There was also a Sky Terrier called Rosie, a weird mongrel thingy, and 600 black labradors, all still going to puppy classes. First thing we did was let the dogs off their leads, at which point 5 huge dogs came and cornered Jacob, leaving him only with a hiding place of between my legs. Not particually funny, especially when Jacob started squealing.
Then we put them back on their leads to walk them around a bit, but naurally Jacob would not move. The leader told me to take him off his lead, and just walk him round. But Jacob strangely found his confidence as I took his lead off, and ran away round the back of the hall to eat some moss. I got him back, and surprise surprsie he ran off again, even quicker this time. I put him back on his lead, and walked him round.
Sitting and lying down went very welll, as did the vetinary check(when you look at their teeth, eyes, legs and ribs to check health), but when we got in a circle to do recalls, Jacob decided he had lost his confidence. He cowered next to my leg until it was out go, when he fell over because I moved my legs. I went to the opposite side of the circle, and called "Jacob!" alot. But Jacob was now cowering against the teachers legs, and did not want to move. In the end, she had to drag him halfway, then get me to come meet him and run off so he followed. Ooops! I dont think he knowws his name.
Class finished with us joint bottom place with the a beagle, Maisie. She ran the wrong way when she was called. Dixie just ran off, but at least they moved. Anyway, must go, school soon! Bye
Beth x

Saturday, 11 September 2010

The World of Puppies and Sunday Morning Football



Jacob has been for a nice walk with Murray this morning, and seemed to enjoy going out onto the playing fields and watching the Sunday morning football. He just lay down in the (wet) grass and rolled around, getting a bit wet. Then, on the way back, he found The Puddle. It is a huge puddle on the side of my road, that is always there, no matter what the weather. He was jut having a splash around, when suddenly he lay down in it, much to my amusement. Murray didnt find it so funny when Jacob shook all over him. A very funny morning.


Jacob really needs a bath now, but I will just add a photo of when my friend Emma was over, and we took some pictures of the puppy out on the patio. Here you go, enjoy! Beth x






Thursday, 9 September 2010

Juggling Life, Schoolwork, and The Ultimate Naughty Puppy!

Argh, school is harder than I remembered! Jacob has woken me up at 5:50am every morning this week, and has normally left something smelly for me to clean in his bed. His prefered method of waking me up is barking, but howling works well just as well. I let him out with Murray, then while they are charging around, I settle down for a little nap on the couch, normally to be woken up by Jacob curling up on my lap with a huge tuft of Murray hair in his mouth. Dad shoves me off to get dresses around 6:30, when I go and walk Jacob to the corner of my road, and back again.
Then he has breakfast, a sleep and a run around with Murray before I go to school. When I get back, I have a fat happy puppy shoved into my arms, usually accompanied with a shriek "Take it! I cant handle him anymore!" from my mother. I think she has more trouble looking after him than I do. I jut accept naughtiness, she tries to clear it up, much to Jacobs amusement.
He is going to puppy socialising classes as of Monday, which should be a whole new adventure. He has only met 2 dogs apart from Murray, the dog across the road, and the one that takes its owner for a run every morning, which we see most days. He normally barks at them. Mum is going to come with us to the classes, and as I am the only teenage handler, she will tak over if I need her to. Which I probably will, as he can be more than a bit naughty when he wants to be.
I have to go now, Jacob is trying to add my laptop cable to list of destroyed items.
Beth x

Sunday, 5 September 2010

The Summer of Jacob...

School tomorrow. Which to me, only means one thing. The Summer of Jacob has come to an end. I have had fun with him this summer, but now schools starts again, and I have to balance coursework and GCSES's along with the worlds naughtiest puppy! I will still be getting up at 6 to see to him and letting him out, but I will go to sleep at 10:30 now, and someone else will put him to bed instead. He is fed 3 times a day now he is 12 weeks; 7am, 12noon and 6pm. I dont want to have to leeave him, but Mum will be able to look after him (I hope!).
Jacob has taken Worlds Worst Puppy to a whole new level. Althought he is obviously completely adorable and has an air of pick-me-up-and-hug-me, he just eats ANYTHING! Murray's fur, clothes, cat litter, plants, carrots, hair, anything. Oh, and he tore apart one of my Dads sports socks this morning. I hid the evidence in Jacobs bed, where absoutely no one ventures, so it should be safe. Poor Murray is looking a little frayed at the moment, due to Jaocb literally hanging off him.
We took them on a walk together on Thurday when the weather was quite nice.
Jacob doesnt quite understand the concept of walking. A lot of the time he sits down and stares at you, until you produce a piece of puppy kibble and throw it about 2 metres in front of him. Then he goes to it, eats it and sits down. Nothing works. If you pull him, he pretends to choke. If you pick him up, he just licks you until you put him down.But he walked very well with Murray, apart from having to be carried a little bit on the way back because he was tired. Murray is very protectiv of him, and barks at other dogs. Sweet, but a bad habit that must be broken.
Anyway, school tomorrow (yawn). Leaving Jacob for 7 hours with only Murray and Mum to wear him out. That doesnt sound bad to you, but I can imagine the wreckage I will come back to tomorrow. Hehe
Beth x