Thursday, June 20, 2013

Cooper Babysitting



The boys were tired of their 100lbs Chihuahua jumping on them, so they crawled into his travel crate. I thought it was just too funny and cute to not take a picture. And on a positive note the house stayed clean longer... ~*giggles*~



I just recently figured out where the information on this site was (how to access). Many things have happened in the life of our "Furr-baby". His first birthday was good, instead of a birthday cake he got birthday steak. We teased him around Halloween when he hid behind our legs (he's not that little, and was peaking to see if we'd save him) because of a five-year-old girl who wore an alien mask (he should have been born with feathers not fur). He still loves his job to "wake the kids" (he flea bites, pulls off covers, and licks faces until they get out of bed). He's growing into a gentleman as we work on sitting when we see humans (to prevent excitement and jumping issues). Sometimes we forget he's the "dog" since he's become a huge part of our lives and family.

 

As of late, he's become my walking partner in the evening. I pop on my headphones (to prevent others from trying to stop me to talk)... and we walk laps where we live. It gives my husband time alone to bond with his boys while we try to keep in shape. Cooper is starting to learn how to behave and listen to my commands. I celebrate in his intelligence and ability to pick up on what you want him to do (even if it is a clearing of the throat, snapping your fingers, or whatever instead of the actual command). Lately, I've been making kissing sounds when I want him to keep up in walking instead of sniffing and holding me back in my power walk. I'm hoping that will go over on nature hikes in the future when he's behaved enough to be "off leash".

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

My Cooper





I am still working with Cooper, mainly with his manners, and to heel. I now make it a point to at least once a day, throw some treats in my left pocket, and take him out so he continues to retain what he’s learned this far. And with any luck, maybe he’ll become more rooted and behaved!!!

I want to get through our summer vacation before I look up and commit to any new training… thinking more about the few I learned about from the dog park. But I want to first work with him on my own.

  • Sit
  • Down
  • Leave It
  • Drop It
  • Heel (with “Side”)
  • Sit and Stay
  • Down and Stay
  • Cooper Come
  • On Your Bed
  • Shake
  • High Five

These are all the commands he actually knows… but he needs to get more rooted in them (with distractions).

I was excited to learn which place to look into so Cooper can do volunteer work!!! Maybe when both kids are in school fulltime, him and I can start making a positive impact?

Monday, June 25, 2012

Cooper the Scaredy Cat


Cooper is no “Guard Dog”… normally he is excited, and running around the front door smacking us with his tail when we get home, but this time hubby was sadistic? He rang the doorbell, than unlocked and opened the door, and the dog was hiding clear across the room behind the couch.

Didn’t know whether to laugh or cry for the lil’ guy…

He was literally scared, hiding, and once he realized it was his people he warmed back u to his normal self. But we all came to the realization that he is never going to be much of a guard dog or protector! Cooper thinks he is a Chihuahua, thinks he is smaller than he is, and he loves to leap into your lap and be loved (he has the mentality of a Purse Puppy)!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

I WIN


I now have the fixed ProCollar on him, his halter, and tied the normal collar that goes into the inflatable one tied back to his halter… I WIN… I WIN… I WIN


I needed to think of a way to keep the portion of this ProCollar that velcro shut on the back of his neck (and out of his mouth)… and keep him from pushing the whole thing forward enough to bite and chew off… I am crossing fingers that this works!


I actually think this one is better than a normal cone, because he can eat and drink, without me holding his bowls… but it truly should have a better rubber inside, and material outside (he managed to make a hole through both with adult teeth). I can’t leave him free while waiting for the glue to dry on the cone I got today (does work better if collar not the tie they put on it).

.-*- .-*- .-*- .-*- .-*- .-*- .-*-.

I texted hubby:

Me: I WIN… Fixed the inflatable than tied it back onto the halter to keep away from his mouth… I WIN

Hubby: We will see I wouldn’t bet against Cooper

I Will Win...


I glued the hole in the inflatable collar...


Gorilla Glue is a housewife's form of duct tape!!!


I found the receipt from hubby last night... collar lasted half a day!


Cooper is already working on chewing up the new collar I snagged at his doctor's today... s I plan to cut off the chewed part, glue the flap down with Gorilla Glue, and use the other in the mean time.


I will win... one way or another... and how pathetic is my life that I need to "win" against a dog. I don't know who has the thicker head... him or I???? Marley (the movie) has nothing on Cooper

Spoke too Soon (!!!)


Cooper managed to pop a hole in the inflatable collar (ProCollar), which is no surprise, and the pet store cones (hard plastic) were a joke to put it kindly. They do not attach to anything, and snap together, which is comical when dealing with a real dog. I wish they had dogs like mine when testing things.

Short of placing him in his night time crate, with various ropes coming off his collar to hold him in place, and becoming a horror movie (sick humor not a reality, just a thought)…

I ended up back at the veterinarian’s office, another cone, and this time instead of tying it on I looped his actual collar through! The problem the first time was he pulled it off and than chewed it to death so we couldn’t put it back on him. And this time he is chewing the inside, which I’ll do a simple fix tonight. In the mean time he is on a sedative to help calm him down. THANK GOD

$226 to fix (with that $20 cone)
$38 for inflatable cone
$42 for another cone and sedatives

I think if we were keeping score the dog is winning… and I still have 5-12 days of fighting with him, just he’ll heal… so forgive me if I am at a point of literally crying!!!

Cooper Ate the Collar


Well… Cooper ate his collar and now has to wear a doughnut around his neck!





This dog is bent on costing as much as he can, he ate the twenty dollar cone from the Vet, and now wears a doughnut that cost around forty. I was left at home, to hold the dog on his leash inside, fighting him basically, while hubby ran to the pet store (after hours so no option of his vet). I think I was more frustrated by having to fight the dog, to not lick and mess with his booboo…

I have to laugh, because this must be his way of getting me back, for him getting neutered?

I will say, I don’t know how durable a cone you must blow up, is going to last. More so the entertainment of who thought of this invention. But, for whatever reason, they were out of cones in his size. He’s my baby, and I’ll need to make this all up to him… so going to try that local doggie daycare, and not only treat him, but take the chance to check it out… so when we’re off doing our thing (where dogs are not allowed) I’m not worried about him being miserable.  

Had to call the Vet, because no where in the paperwork does it say... how long to wear this??? How long do I need to fight the fur-person??? 10-14 days... better not eat this new one, and I'm not feeling so sure since it is like a blow up tube