The little @#*!@!**

So friday I had a going away thing for work and brought Pico cause I knew it would be good for him.
of course he got lots of love and some playtime :)
so everyone was saying how calm and well behaved he was for 5 1/2 months old.
which he was...but that's only because most other people apparently don't spend the time to raise a sweet happy well behaved puppy.
There are a few other puppies that co-workers have gotten recently, but I sense that they aren't putting in the time to help their pup.
In fact one said she liked big dogs (rottie/mastiff mix) because they are lazy and easier.
A well behaved puppy shouldn't be unexpected, even if it means mine are fabulous by comparison.

Gavin was welcome just about everywhere and I want Pico to be, too.
maybe in a few months he will be.
 
Agreed, I think many of Spitfire's issues are I got him at 6 months old. The breeder had two litters instead of the expected one. A husband with Alzheimer's which was getting worse. And then got ill herself. So the attention was not there that would have normally occurred. Love him but he can be a handful even at 12.
 
As much as I complain about how much work Pico has been (potty training was awful until about 4 and a half months....diapers are amazing!), even with Gavin I basically spent about 6 months with EVERYTHING revolving around him. walks, playtime, enrichment trips. I am sure some dogs turn out great without all that, but I know it helps. I also know having another older dog helps teach the puppy what to do. maybe some day I'll try that, but then this way Pico is attached all to me and not split between me and another dog.
 
I have learned that as I have aged and my personal mobility slows down, that Teddy keeps a closer eye on me. I have modified his routine by adding a dog walker and my wife to give him the long walks that he really enjoys while going out for playtime and short walks myself. I feel he deserves all of that and more.
I know l love him and want him to have the best life that I can provide. I also know he keeps me more active than if he wasn't here, which improves my health and well-being. I hope that he feels the same way.
 
It really says a lot about your devotion to him that you take such care in making sure his needs are met (even if you can't do it yourself).

to me and most people here, dogs are not just an accessory to liven up the house.
cause I don't think making sure my dog is as bombproof as possible (kids, cars, bikes, other dogs, noises, hotels, etc.) should be considered unusual. But I know it is.
 
As much as I complain about how much work Pico has been (potty training was awful until about 4 and a half months....diapers are amazing!), even with Gavin I basically spent about 6 months with EVERYTHING revolving around him. walks, playtime, enrichment trips. I am sure some dogs turn out great without all that, but I know it helps. I also know having another older dog helps teach the puppy what to do. maybe some day I'll try that, but then this way Pico is attached all to me and not split between me and another dog.
going to have to say that would depend on the individual dog. Destin came into a house of 3 other shelties and he's the biggest momma's boy out there- he much prefers me to the other shelties. Jocu came into a house of 2 other shelties and he's very dog oriented- loves playing with other dogs but he wants his mommy time too. He got lots of one on one time as a puppy but is just a lover of everyone. Destin had a very unsupervised puppyhood as I was working with the others in dog sports but he pretty much came as a people oriented puppy and has stayed that way. Davy is kind of in between but he and Jocu play a lot together.
 
All six of mine want their "mom" time. Checkers is the most independent of the group although she always needs to know where I am, but she's always been that way. Misty, who was number 6, is totally devoted to me and very in tune with my feelings. Maybe because mine are all girls, none of them are bonded to each other, even Lacey and Ruffles who are mother/daughter. Misty and Flurry play chase together, and Sprite and Ruffles do too occasionally. Overall I'd say they are all individuals bonded to us who vie for our attention. If you try to pat one, you'll get six!
 
Oreo realized the moment I picked him up the first time that he was my dog -- even before I came to that realization. While Oberon and I have always been close Oreo redefines closeness; his favorite place to lay down is on my lap, he wants to be picked up at night time even though he's fully capable of jumping on the bed. He loves Lee (hubby) but I'm still Number One. As far as Oberon goes the two of them are just now figuring out their relationship. We're hopeful it'll advance from where it is now as now it consists mainly of Oreo antagonizing Oberon by pretending to bite Oberon's tail and barking continuously while Oberon barks back and both of them show their teeth. This happens mainly when one of them is on the bed (usually Oberon) and the other is on the floor. Then Oreo runs like crazy under the bed, only to pop up and start all over again.

So it's fair to say that Oreo is far more of a "his person" dog than he is a "that's my bro-dog" dog.
 
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