Maine Millers

After the Badminton game Scout just decided to take a break and watch the world go by. He is really becoming a great puppy! I hope that Scout keeps his green eyes they are so striking. His nose has filled in a little bit in the week and an half that he has been with us, so I suspect it will fill in further.

Today the kids and I went to the library to see a presentation on a wolf hybrid. It was very interesting to learn the differences between wolves and domestic dogs. This wolf, Saxon, was a Mexican wolf and looked more like a dog than any wolf I have ever seen in photos or the zoo. Did you know that they can only eat raw food? Processed or cooked food will make them ill. They also have webbed feet for running in the snow and not sinking, kind of a permanent snow shoe. There were other differences but those were just a couple.

He is just too funny pouncing on the birdie. That’s Emma giggling in the background. It’s all fun and games until the birdie dies .

enjoy.

Ok, so if you want to sleep to a semi-reasonable hour (after 5:30am) remember to put the dog out after 11:00pm. Last night I was tired and really wanted to crash so I put Scout and Taz out at about 10:20pm. Taz is fine with that timing and she really is good for 12-15 hours if need be, sometimes she would rather sleep in the morning instead of going out and we have to coax her outside. Scout on the other hand…Well you get it.

Early to bed,

early to rise,

makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

~Benjamin Franklin

Ok, Ben, where’s my fortune? If this were true all parents and puppy owners would be rich beyond their dreams.

Food is such a powerful motivator. Scout is willing to do pretty much anything for some food :).

Today before lunch (when he is good and hungry) I took Scout outside to play on a long line in the front yard. I started to work on come and left him in the yard at the end of the line and from the other end of the line called Scout to me. After about the third time he was rarin’ to go, remember anything for food. So I continued about half a dozen more times and ended on a great note. As we were leaving the yard he took off across the driveway towards the neighbor’s yard and I called him and he stopped dead in his tracks turned and bolted back to me for a treat (glad I had one in my hand at the moment). He got a jackpot (to him anyway:grin:) of three treats for that beautiful display. Then it was inside for the well deserved lunch and a nap. I’ll try to catch a video later today if it doesn’t rain and post that soon.

Today, while Taz was at the groomers Scout was introduced to the vacuum. He was interested when it was just sitting on the floor and even came over to investigate the hose. Then I turned it on and he was a little nervous but still pretty curious.  He got about a foot from the hose that was laying on the floor and I think that the rush of air was spooking him some. The best part was that he didn’t bark at it at all. Taz will bark incessantly to the point of needing to put in another room, and Patch would bark and attack the head to the point of chipping and scratching the plastic. This was a pleasure in comparison, next we will see what will happen when Taz is home and barking, will Scout follow? Monkey see, monkey do? Stay tuned…

Couldn’t help taking this picture. It’s tough to sneak up on them sleeping together but I got one here that I like.

Someone has an official name tag, brass with a beautiful reflective tape dot on the back! Unfortunately someone also can reach his new shiny tag and chew on it, so the beautiful tape dot and the nice brass finish are pock marked with little teeth marks. Taz won’t let him get hers any more so this is his fix.

Tomorrow should be a good day for Scout, Taz gets to go to the groomers to get bathed and trimmed and Scout will have a half day to himself. What to do, what to do… I wish there were beaches or parks that I could take them to (after the rest of Scout’s shots of course). I think Taz would like to spend time walking on beach sand or grass instead of the street and sidewalk (and occasional flowerbed that I didn’t see quick enough in the dark).

Last evening Taz and Scout finally seemed to make friends with each other. Taz had been in her usually spot sleeping and Scout just came up between her and the couch, because he likes to lean on things remember, and snuggled in right behind her for a long nap. They slept this way until everyone got home from the store. The only time he perked up was when I was cooking up hamburg, I guess he thought it might be for him.

I guess Scout doesn't think the extra 1/4 cup at each feeding is enough for him. He just climbs into his bowl to lick the silver off the stainless steel. He just cannot help himself. About 10 minutes after feeding he just picked up the bowl and brought it over to me asking for more by dropping it with a clank at my feet. I put the bowl back and he did it again. Nothing like a metal dog bowl dropped on ceramic tile to really get you going in the morning. Fortunately everyone but Emma slept through the racket. Wish I had the camera handy as he was prancing around the kitchen with the bowl in his mouth. It reminds me of Snoopy, although I'm NOT Charlie Brown, I can fly a kite and kick a football .

We made it through the night! WooHoo! Even if this is a fluke and it doesn't happen again for a while I feel better rested, I just wish Emma would sleep through the night
Today I am upping his food from 1/2 to 3/4 cup three times a day. He has seemed that he is always starving.  Trying to jump into the food bin and just being wild when Taz is fed thinking that there should be some for hi as well. 

We went for a short walk last night again and he got very rambunctious with the kids and started to herd them down the street.  He did nip Zach's ankle, Zach didn't like that at all and came home alone to get away.  We talked about herding dogs and running around them, he gets it but we'll see today.