Wednesday, April 30, 2008
April 30th - Lookin' sharp!
Auntie Andrea picked up a doggy bandanna for Kodo, so he got to wear it for a bit tonight. Perfect color- it sets off his coat and eyes perfectly I think!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
April 28th - Fence finished
The contractors made it back today and finished everything except the gates and the post caps. Those have to wait till the concrete holding the fence posts in place in the ground cures- hopefully by this weekend we will have a complete fence and be able to let the puppy run!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
April 27th - New fence... almost
Kodo's new fence started going up today. They are about two-thirds of the way done as of this evening, though I don't know when they will be back to finish since the weather looks like it is due to be messy over the next week. We can't wait for Kodo to get a chance to run free with no leashes on- he will love it!!!
April 26th - Kodo's party
We invited a small group of people over to meet Kodo, hang out, and play video games.. :) Kodo had a great time- ended up wearing himself out so much greeting people that he stretched out on the tiles and slept for most of the rest of the evening.
Kodo loves his Auntie Teresa!!!
Auntie Zita and Uncle CJ also got Kodo a fun new toy that he has been spending a lot of time with the last couple days. It is a green rubber bone-shaped teeth-cleaning chew-toy with rope tied ends.
Kodo loves his Auntie Teresa!!!
Auntie Zita and Uncle CJ also got Kodo a fun new toy that he has been spending a lot of time with the last couple days. It is a green rubber bone-shaped teeth-cleaning chew-toy with rope tied ends.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
April 18th - Busy day
Today was a packed day for the puppy. He seems to be getting better from his tummy upset, so I decided to take him for a little walk in the park this morning. He loved the park- all the smells and all the people telling him how beautiful he was.. He tried to make friends with a big frog that was sitting on the path, but when he came close and started sniffing it hopped into the water and left him staring disconsolately after it.. He was also fascinated by the geese- he seemed to think they were trying to talk to him with their honking. Needless to say, the geese were not nearly as pleased by his proximity.
Next we went to PetSmart- it seems as if his rawhide chews may be causing his tummy problems, so we needed to find him some other things to chew. Brian called me around lunchtime, so we met him at Dairy Queen for lunch. They have a patio that is dog-friendly, so Kodo got lots of practice with people coming by and asking to pet him, as well as REALLY loud motorcycle backfires not too far away. We have been trying to work on his meeting-people manners since he tends to get too excited and jump and paw (and when you get pawed with a paw the size of a dinner plate, you KNOW you've been pawed!), so today was a really good practice day. It seems as if the more people he meets in a short time frame, the calmer he gets- tho he still loves each new petting and compliment.
After lunch we came home and he had a nice long nap, then it was time for Friday volleyball. I won't usually take him along to this, but since Brian's back was hurt and I was still sick I figured at least one of us would be able to hold and watch him the whole time. He loved the park again- started eating big mouthfuls of sand as soon as we got there... I am thinking no beach hikes for him for the time being! We had a great turnout, and most of the people there like puppies, so Kodo got a bunch of new fans. He was so worn out from the day that by the time we went to Dairy Queen with the group for after-volleyball food he was sleepy enough to just zonk out under the table.
The next day he was still sooo tired that he slept pretty much the entire day...
Too Lazy to Drink
Next we went to PetSmart- it seems as if his rawhide chews may be causing his tummy problems, so we needed to find him some other things to chew. Brian called me around lunchtime, so we met him at Dairy Queen for lunch. They have a patio that is dog-friendly, so Kodo got lots of practice with people coming by and asking to pet him, as well as REALLY loud motorcycle backfires not too far away. We have been trying to work on his meeting-people manners since he tends to get too excited and jump and paw (and when you get pawed with a paw the size of a dinner plate, you KNOW you've been pawed!), so today was a really good practice day. It seems as if the more people he meets in a short time frame, the calmer he gets- tho he still loves each new petting and compliment.
After lunch we came home and he had a nice long nap, then it was time for Friday volleyball. I won't usually take him along to this, but since Brian's back was hurt and I was still sick I figured at least one of us would be able to hold and watch him the whole time. He loved the park again- started eating big mouthfuls of sand as soon as we got there... I am thinking no beach hikes for him for the time being! We had a great turnout, and most of the people there like puppies, so Kodo got a bunch of new fans. He was so worn out from the day that by the time we went to Dairy Queen with the group for after-volleyball food he was sleepy enough to just zonk out under the table.
The next day he was still sooo tired that he slept pretty much the entire day...
Too Lazy to Drink
Sunday, April 13, 2008
April 9th - Interspecies relations
The cats have been getting more and more comfortable around Kodo as time goes on. Pippin is the most comfortable- he will walk right up to Kodo, trill at him, then head-butt and rub his face on him. In return Kodo will snuffle Pip's head and try to sniff his rear. I think he may have even given him a tiny lick on the head once. Sometimes Kodo has just finished drinking when Pip comes up to him, so the Kodo snuffling ends up cascading quite a bit of puppy-slobber and water onto poor Pip's head. And Pip tried to eat from Kodo's food dish once too- Kodo just kinda nosed him away and kept eating instead of getting upset.
Weeble will usually walk a circle around Kodo instead of getting too close, but he actually came and sat on my chest and purred when I was lying next to a napping Kodo one time. Another day Kodo was in play mode and came bouncing at Weeble. Weebs made his siren mew noise and picked a paw up as a warning. Kodo though this was a play invitation so he picked his paw up and pawed back.. which of course Weebs didn't appreciate much. The trials of translating different languages I guess!
Poor Kimi has the hardest time of it. One evening she was on the couch and Kodo was standing right next to the couch looking at her. She leaned forward to sniff at him, and he very slowly leaned forward too until their noses were almost touching. Then Kim jumped back, hissed, and thumped him on the nose with her paw. No claws, but it was a pretty hard thump. I figure she all of a sudden realized "Holy $%!#!!! That's not a cat!!!" :) I felt the worst for Kodo though- he jumped back with a hurt look on his face and ran to the opposite side of the room. He was just trying to get acquainted, and he really didn't do anything wrong. Since then he has been really wary of Kim, though the other two he seems fairly comfortable with.
Weeble will usually walk a circle around Kodo instead of getting too close, but he actually came and sat on my chest and purred when I was lying next to a napping Kodo one time. Another day Kodo was in play mode and came bouncing at Weeble. Weebs made his siren mew noise and picked a paw up as a warning. Kodo though this was a play invitation so he picked his paw up and pawed back.. which of course Weebs didn't appreciate much. The trials of translating different languages I guess!
Poor Kimi has the hardest time of it. One evening she was on the couch and Kodo was standing right next to the couch looking at her. She leaned forward to sniff at him, and he very slowly leaned forward too until their noses were almost touching. Then Kim jumped back, hissed, and thumped him on the nose with her paw. No claws, but it was a pretty hard thump. I figure she all of a sudden realized "Holy $%!#!!! That's not a cat!!!" :) I felt the worst for Kodo though- he jumped back with a hurt look on his face and ran to the opposite side of the room. He was just trying to get acquainted, and he really didn't do anything wrong. Since then he has been really wary of Kim, though the other two he seems fairly comfortable with.
April 6th - They grow up so fast!
Kodo has been teething practically since he came home- we figure this explains the obsessive rawhide-chewing.. Anyway, when he smiles at me I keep noticing little red holes in his gums where puppy teeth used to be. Then a few days later a big dog tooth is growing in its place. I would say he has probably lost at least 5 or 6 of the ones near the front that I can see easily.
And then the other day Brian and I noticed that he has a band of big-dog fur on his tail too! Most of his coat is soft fuzz, but this is shiny and coarser and definitely stands out. And it has been spreading- the band is now nearly 2 inches wide. I am torn- part of me is excited that he is growing up, but part of me doesn't want to lose that adorable coat of soft puppy fuzz.. :)
And then the other day Brian and I noticed that he has a band of big-dog fur on his tail too! Most of his coat is soft fuzz, but this is shiny and coarser and definitely stands out. And it has been spreading- the band is now nearly 2 inches wide. I am torn- part of me is excited that he is growing up, but part of me doesn't want to lose that adorable coat of soft puppy fuzz.. :)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
April 5th - Family visit
Teresa and Jamie came over tonight and brought Kodo a special new toy as a dog-warming gift. It looks like a golden retriever, and it is stretchy with a spring through its middle. Its head has a squeaker and its tail has a rattle. And Kodo thinks it is just the best thing EVER!! He has taken to carrying it around and shaking it and chewing on its head... He can even pick up the head and tail in his mouth at the same time so it doesn't drag on the ground while he is walking.. :)
Kodo and his new favorite stuffie
Kodo and his new favorite stuffie
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
April 4th - Puppy learning
We had decided to register Kodo for a beginning Puppy training class at Cleveland All-Breed, but they called us to tell us the class was full. In fact, most of their classes for the rest of the spring were full. We finally managed to get him signed up for a Foundations class (which is the beginning-level training for dogs 5 months old and older) starting early May, so he will just make the age cut-off. The great thing is that is the same class Teresa and Jamie are taking Chief and Lily to, so it will be a family get-together!
So with that in mind, here is an updated list of the commands Kodo knows: Sit, Stay, Down (usually), Come, Here (a less urgent form for Come), Up, Leave it, Take it, Easy, Gentle, Gentle paw (as opposed to flailing around with those big old feet when he gets excited), Belly (sometimes), and Roll over (new one- just started this). He is pretty consistent with all the basics as long as there are no distraction- otherwise he sometimes 'forgets'.. As long as there aren't a ton of distractions and he isn't overflowing with energy, he is a VERY good walker too. I can take him on a 15-minute walk and the leash will stay slack almost the entire time. Such a good boy!!!
So with that in mind, here is an updated list of the commands Kodo knows: Sit, Stay, Down (usually), Come, Here (a less urgent form for Come), Up, Leave it, Take it, Easy, Gentle, Gentle paw (as opposed to flailing around with those big old feet when he gets excited), Belly (sometimes), and Roll over (new one- just started this). He is pretty consistent with all the basics as long as there are no distraction- otherwise he sometimes 'forgets'.. As long as there aren't a ton of distractions and he isn't overflowing with energy, he is a VERY good walker too. I can take him on a 15-minute walk and the leash will stay slack almost the entire time. Such a good boy!!!
April 3rd - Recovery
He was feeling MUCH better today. We had more problems keeping him from going crazy and running and bouncing than anything else. I took a half-day of vacation since we were going to the Cavs game in the evening and I didn't want him to be in the crate all day and all night, so we spent the afternoon together. The weather was nice enough that we spent some time sitting on the back patio just enjoying the outside. We have a group of trees along the back line of our property, so there are always a ton of birds, squirrels, and the occasional groundhog for him to watch.. Kodo is a big fan of birds, airplanes, you name it- any time anything flies by overhead he will stare at it intently as it passes. When he gets this intense look on his face you can almost see the big Berner he is becoming..
April 2nd - Puppy surgery
Wednesday was the day scheduled for Kodo's neuter surgery. I had gotten the OK to work from home so I could drop him off and pick him up at the right times. I set up my work stuff in the 'playpen'/morning room and worked until it was time to go then dropped him off at the vet around 7:45. He got a bunch of admiration and petting from the people who were in the office that early, and he went with the vet tech like a champ when she came to take him- not even a backward glance at me. So I went home (a little sniffly and worried about him I have to admit) and settled back to work. It is amazing how quiet and empty the house felt without him bouncing around- in less than 2 weeks he has made himself such a part of the household.
I got a call from his vet around midday, and she told me everything was great, he had come through the surgery fine, and I could pick him up around 2. She recommended Bactine to spray on his stitches so he didn't chew or lick at them (apparently it tastes nasty- who knew!).
I got to the clinic around 2:30. When they brought him out he was acting normal at first- trying to climb into the laps of complete strangers and make friends with all the other dogs in the waiting room. Then I coaxed him out to the parking lot, and he started doing his 'donkey' act of sitting and pulling back against the leash.. He did this every couple feet, and finally refused to move. Right in the middle of the traffic lane of the parking lot. So I eventually picked him up (very carefully) and carried him to the car and put him on his seat.
At home, I had some trouble getting him to come across the seat to me so I could lift him down again, but eventually we got back into the house and I settled him in the playpen with his freshly-washed blanket bed and his favorite rawhide chewie and started working again. I was a bit worried at this point because he wouldn't drink any water even when I brought it to him, and he was whimpering softly as he chewed his rawhide. Still not sure if that was leftover from the anesthetic, discomfort from the incision and stitches, or teething.... But once I gave him his food he ate like a horse.
By the evening he seemed to be feeling better, though still not quite his usual self.
I got a call from his vet around midday, and she told me everything was great, he had come through the surgery fine, and I could pick him up around 2. She recommended Bactine to spray on his stitches so he didn't chew or lick at them (apparently it tastes nasty- who knew!).
I got to the clinic around 2:30. When they brought him out he was acting normal at first- trying to climb into the laps of complete strangers and make friends with all the other dogs in the waiting room. Then I coaxed him out to the parking lot, and he started doing his 'donkey' act of sitting and pulling back against the leash.. He did this every couple feet, and finally refused to move. Right in the middle of the traffic lane of the parking lot. So I eventually picked him up (very carefully) and carried him to the car and put him on his seat.
At home, I had some trouble getting him to come across the seat to me so I could lift him down again, but eventually we got back into the house and I settled him in the playpen with his freshly-washed blanket bed and his favorite rawhide chewie and started working again. I was a bit worried at this point because he wouldn't drink any water even when I brought it to him, and he was whimpering softly as he chewed his rawhide. Still not sure if that was leftover from the anesthetic, discomfort from the incision and stitches, or teething.... But once I gave him his food he ate like a horse.
By the evening he seemed to be feeling better, though still not quite his usual self.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
March 30th - Scary Chair
Well, Kodo seems to be acclimating pretty well... Poor guy had a little scare this morning. For some reason, he loves to lie down and sleep underneath furniture. Well, this particular morning he decided to rest underneath a chair. He started to wake up, and as he was getting up he toppled the chair over and it made a loud crashing sound next to him. It really scared him, but he ran to both of us who gave him comforts. We checked to make sure that he didn't get bumped or anything...He was good and before long he was back to his old ways of lying under furniture again.
Weeble Helps Kodo Get Over His Temporary Fear of Furniture
March 29th - New Friends
Today we had one of Becky's friends, Andrea, come over with Jay and the kids to meet the new pup. Kodo was so well behaved and LOVED the pets and attention that he was getting. Andrea gave him a new present...a bully stick. Kodo took to it quickly and had been working on it all day without making much of a dent. A perfect gift for both pup and parents. :)
Kodo Greets Andrea
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
March 28th - First vet visit
Today was Kodo's first vet trip. The clinic I go to is really close to us and has a huge office. We walked in and signed in with the receptionist- and the first group of people stopped us, asked what breed of dog he was and gave him love, which of course he just soaked up. He particularly seems to like kids petting him- maybe cuz they are closer to his height.. :)
So I sat down and got another 3 or 4 groups of people coming up to me and commenting on how cute and sweet he was (and what BIG paws he had!) before we got called into the back for our appointment. First off we got a weigh-in- we didn't know how much he weighed when we brought him home, so we were excited to find out. He was 43 pounds!!! So he outweighs his Auntie Daphne and cousin Lily, and is fast approaching cousin Chiefers!
We waited in the exam room for the vet to come in, and when she did the first things she said were about how handsome he was too!! That always helps me warm up to a new vet faster.. :) She apparently is a big Berner fan, and is really familiar with the orthopedic and health problems of the breed, which is also a big reassurance. She did a basic exam on him while I asked all my stupid-new-puppy-mom questions about his hiccuping and eating grass, etc... He did have a bit of conjunctivitis in his eyes, so she gave me an ointment for him (and boy does he LOVE having us put THAT in!), and finished off his booster shots and gave him his rabies and bordatella vaccines so he will be all ready for puppy classes starting beginning of May. I was holding one of his favorite yummy treats in front of him while he got his shots, and he didn't even blink. He really wasn't a big fan of the nose spray for bordatella tho.. The vet did say other than the eyes he seemed to be in good shape and good weight.
On the way out he made a bunch more friends.. and I got a call from the reception desk later saying that someone there wanted the contact info for the breeder that we got him from. So he is being a great ambassador for his breed! :)
After the vet visit we made a quick trip to visit my mom and dad and let Kodo and Daphne play together for a bit- Daph seemed to be quite a bit bouncier and Kodo wasn't so sure about all the hyper energy though he seemed to enjoy the playing too. Until he got sleepy.. :)
I was getting a little worried since he didn't seem to be interested much in any toys other than his rawhides and I didn't want him to get bored, so I picked him up a BusterCube maze ball at PetSmart in the morning. This is a great interactive toy where you put pieces of food inside and the dog has to keep turning and rolling the ball to make the food fall out..
So I sat down and got another 3 or 4 groups of people coming up to me and commenting on how cute and sweet he was (and what BIG paws he had!) before we got called into the back for our appointment. First off we got a weigh-in- we didn't know how much he weighed when we brought him home, so we were excited to find out. He was 43 pounds!!! So he outweighs his Auntie Daphne and cousin Lily, and is fast approaching cousin Chiefers!
We waited in the exam room for the vet to come in, and when she did the first things she said were about how handsome he was too!! That always helps me warm up to a new vet faster.. :) She apparently is a big Berner fan, and is really familiar with the orthopedic and health problems of the breed, which is also a big reassurance. She did a basic exam on him while I asked all my stupid-new-puppy-mom questions about his hiccuping and eating grass, etc... He did have a bit of conjunctivitis in his eyes, so she gave me an ointment for him (and boy does he LOVE having us put THAT in!), and finished off his booster shots and gave him his rabies and bordatella vaccines so he will be all ready for puppy classes starting beginning of May. I was holding one of his favorite yummy treats in front of him while he got his shots, and he didn't even blink. He really wasn't a big fan of the nose spray for bordatella tho.. The vet did say other than the eyes he seemed to be in good shape and good weight.
On the way out he made a bunch more friends.. and I got a call from the reception desk later saying that someone there wanted the contact info for the breeder that we got him from. So he is being a great ambassador for his breed! :)
After the vet visit we made a quick trip to visit my mom and dad and let Kodo and Daphne play together for a bit- Daph seemed to be quite a bit bouncier and Kodo wasn't so sure about all the hyper energy though he seemed to enjoy the playing too. Until he got sleepy.. :)
I was getting a little worried since he didn't seem to be interested much in any toys other than his rawhides and I didn't want him to get bored, so I picked him up a BusterCube maze ball at PetSmart in the morning. This is a great interactive toy where you put pieces of food inside and the dog has to keep turning and rolling the ball to make the food fall out..
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