December & Puppy Class

December went by really fast!  My first puppy classes started last month but were mostly in December.  We went once a week for six weeks.  My mommy didn't find them all that helpful but I got to meet and play with some other puppies.  I had a hard time focusing during the class because I just wanted to play the whole time.  I was also the biggest and youngest dog in my class so while the other dogs were looking attentively I was pulling my mom all over the place on the leash.  She was really embarrassed!  Sorry mom!  At home I do really well with training though and have learned quite a few commands.  I know sit, lay down (or lie down as my daddy says because it's grammatically correct), stay, watch, come, drop it.  The last couple I'm working on though.  I'll always do anything for a treat.  It's the phasing out the treats that is a challenge with some of the commands.  I know hand motions for sit and down though!  

I will post some videos of my training soon...

Other than my puppy classes, I've been stuck inside all day because of the snow and cold.  None of us were ready for the cabin fever we would be experiencing through January and February... Yikes!  

Finally warm enough to go for a walk! 

Where's my stocking guys??

It might be cold but it does look pretty!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was my first time visiting La Salle-Peru, where my mommy and daddy grew up!  First, I went with my daddy to his parent's house.  I stayed there for a couple of days and was a very good boy!  I definitely stole the hearts of my grandparents when they first met me here in Madison, but I sealed the deal during this visit!  Ben never had a dog growing up so I was the first one in their home!  There were some challenges because I like to sleep on the furniture and they didn't want me on the nice furniture upstairs in the living room, but I was able to sleep on the couch downstairs where everyone watches TV so it was OK.  I tried to hump my grandma a few times though--I hear she's popular among other dogs, too. 

Daddy and his parents go to Ohio for Thanksgiving so Ben dropped me off at my mommy's parents house before he left on Wednesday.  Mommy had to work that day so she met me there later that night.  I met my doggy "aunt" Chloe.  Obviously I was overly excited at first, but I quickly grew comfortable and lounged around with Chloe when I wasn't trying to get her to play with me.  I really loved getting to run around in my grammy and papa's fenced in yard!  

On Thanksgiving night I met lots of new family!  It was pretty crazy with all the kids and one puppy, but I had a blast!  I tried to hump a few select kids--I just can't help it when they're running around and screaming!  Eventually, my mommy kept treats in her hand so that I'd stay by her side.  Surprisingly, I was really good with all the food that was out; I didn't try to eat anything at all!  While I was at my grammy and papa's, mommy let me sleep in the bed with her instead of my kennel and I always slept the whole night!  

Here are some pictures of the week in L-P! 

Playing tug-of-war with Chloe.  She liked this game because she didn't have to do much since I was so little at the time.  Now I can pull her around though :)

Getting yelled at by my Great Aunt Kathy on Thanksgiving night.  Look how well I'm listening though!

A quick picture before getting to go play outside.

Getting spoiled at my grammy and papa's house :)

Four Month Check-up

Hello everyone,

Can you believe that it's already January?!  We have a lot of catching up to do!  I haven't JUST been doing this for the last couple of months...

I had my four month check-up in early December.  I got my booster shots in the butt and had my poop re-checked for Giardia.... It came back positive again :(  So the vet ordered a different antibiotic that came in powder form.  We had to mix it with a small amount of canned dog food once a day.  The people thought it was gross, but I loved it!  

A couple weeks passed but my poop was still runny at times and very stinky (but who's poop doesn't stink??) So we brought another sample to the vet and they had to send it to Milwaukee for further testing.  Turns out if came back positive for Camplyobacter, a bacteria that's a fairly common cause of GI bacterial infections.  I most likely got it because I'm a puppy and have had recurring Giardia infections... bummer!  So I had to take another antibiotic twice a day.  The vet had to call it into a pharmacy and when my daddy went to pick it up it was under the name "Edwin Dog Swanson".  Not sure where they got the name "Edwin" but I kind of like it :)  The medicine was a suspension that I had to take through a syringe.  It tasted like bubblegum or cherries--either way I had no trouble taking it!  

My poop has been better since the antibiotic.  I still have some runny ones, but they are becoming few and far between.  We tried changing my food during all of this at some point, too, but it didn't seem to be the food so we switched back.  I have to schedule an appointment for February to get neutered (eek!) so we will ask the vet if we need to send another sample to make sure the infection is all gone. 

The good news is that I still eat and tolerate all my food without any trouble and am just as playful as ever (to my parent's dismay at times...) There is a certain lamb bone that my daddy bought me that I can't seem to tolerate and puked up.  Other than that though I'm great if you ask me!

November Adventures

In November I had lots of new adventures and met lots of family!

First, we went for a walk around our neighborhood that turned into quite the adventure!  My daddy (I mean, Ben... he doesn't like when I call him my daddy) likes to take me for walks through these random fields nearby.  Mommy came with us this time and took some pictures.  The memory card lots a lot of the pictures though and mommy was very upset!  Here are some of the ones that she recovered though! 

Then we had some visitors!  It was the first time they'd been to Madison since my mommy moved here so it was exciting for everyone!  I think my favorites were these three... 

They were just my size and so easy to get food from... I was still very hyper and easily excitable back then so I apologize for running after them and knocking them down.  We've met a couple times since then and they seem to really love the thought of me.  Luke likes to play with me, Paige likes to run away from me, and Fiona likes to say my name but also runs away from me at times.  I know I get annoying though... we're still in the early stages of our relationship. 

I also met Nala.  All I wanted to do was play with her but she wasn't crazy about me either.  Here we are being civil... 

And here's one more picture from their visit.

It was so fun to finally meet more of my family!  I hope they had fun! 

Keeping Warm

The weather has been getting colder up here in Wisconsin!  We already had our first snowfall! I don't care much for the rain, but I didn't mind the snow at all.  

It was fun to play in and I kept getting it on my nose. Burrrr!

I like playing in the snow, but I LOVE laying by the warm fire!  My mommy said that I am obsessed with it.  If I am being bad then my people turn the fire on and I immediately play with a toy or lay down in front of it.  

As I've said before I really love to snuggle--but my people figured out that I probably just like to be warm because I would choose sleeping in front of the fire over lying on top of them.  Sometimes I get really close to the screen of the fireplace and my people get nervous that I'm going to singe my hair off.  

My daddy read that a dog's fur can get too hot to the human touch but not hurt the dog because of our extra "insulation" skin (you'll have to ask him for his references...)  I could lay in front of the fire all day; however, sometimes I lay in front of the fire for so long that I start panting and drink lots of water.  When that happens my people turn the fireplace off!  

At least they finally turned the heat on!  So here's to my first Wisconsin winter!

Three Month Check-up

Hi everyone!  No worries I'm still here... I've just been busy these past weeks. 

During my time away I had my three month vet appointment.  I was really brave!  Everyone at the vet was really nice and they gave me lots of treats!  

First, I had my weight checked and I was 26lbs!  Then we waited in a small room for the vet.  While we were waiting, I was a little nervous and kept farting... I just didn't want my mommy to forget to ask about my stinky gas.  The vet smelled it as soon as she came into the room (how's that for a first impression??)

I had also been having some occasional loose stools, too, so the vet wanted to check my stool for giardia.  Giardia is a parasite that both humans and animals can get from the environment and it is passed through stool, causing diarrhea and sometimes vomiting

The vet did her exam and gave my my three month vaccinations--she said that I appeared very healthy!  Then as we were about to leave she came back and said that the stool sample just became positive.  She was concerned it may be a false positive but said it wouldn't hurt to treat me with some antibiotics just in case.  So I had to take Flagyl for 5 days (my people just threw it in with my food and I never even noticed it).  

We think it might have helped some.  My gas is not as frequent but it's still quite potent if you ask my people (or any of my recent visitors--sorry!)  My stool is more formed sometimes but other times it is still loose to liquid-y.  I will go back to the vet in a couple weeks for my final booster shots so we will follow-up about my pooping issues then.  

In the meantime, everything else checked out just fine and I tolerated my vaccines great, too!  I was very tired for most of the night after my appointment, but otherwise the shots didn't effect me at all!

My mommy didn't take any pictures of me while I was at the vet but I sure am getting to be a big boy!  The vet said I am right on track though!  I can't wait to find out how much I weigh next month!

Fall Ya'll

Hey everyone!

I've been really busy with lots of visitors these past few weeks!  I was very well-behaved.....except for when I'd get really excited and jump on people then start humping them.  Mommy and daddy hate when I do that!  They think I'm too young to start that already, but I can't help it!  I've heard them mentioning the word "neutered"...I'm not sure what it means, but it sounds scary. Apparently, I'll have more self-control after that happens though.  

I go to visit the vet tomorrow! I'll be getting my 12 week vaccinations and check-up.  Mommy and daddy have lots of questions.  I hope it's not too scary!  I'll let you know how it goes...

Here are some pictures mommy took of me next to our pumpkins.  I was scared of them at first, but now I like to smell and lick them. 

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!  We didn't get any trick-or-treaters :( I wish the rain would have stayed away--but that just means we get to extend the fun for one more day!