Long ovedue Scorch update

It's been a while since my last Scorch update. My card reader has gone missing (probably in the no-man's-land known as my car), so I didn't upload any photos for a while.

He's 11 weeks old now, and his ears stood up at about 9 1/2 weeks.

Here is what he looks like now:


Here's a flashback to dropped ears:




Here's a general assortment of cuteness, from my parents' house:






Training is going very well, although I'm impatient for advanced things. Still, everyone is quite impressed with his "down" (no lure, good response to verbal signal), and of course his "sit" (great response to hand and verbal signal). His backing-up is exquisite as long as I'm backing up with him, but I'm happy that he's learning hind-end awareness so early.

I'm anxious because of the raw diet. I love what it's done for Wolfie, but this is my first puppy on raw, so I'm constantly monitoring his growth, comparing him to his brother or other puppies, obsessing about his size and fur... I need to relax.

Overall, he's doing fantastic. I have pictures from the Border Collie party we went to at the Southeast BC Rescue, but I'll get those set up later.

Diet woes

No new pictures today. I'll work on that tomorrow.

Scorch has been having loose stools since I brought him home. This is the first puppy I'm trying to raise on raw, and it hasn't been going well. I've only been feeding chicken, trying not to have any variety, and it hasn't gone over well.

I went to pick up Innova Puppy, and the store that sells the holistic kibble is gone. The other sources are closed on Sundays or farther away. So we're trying raw ground turkey mixed with pumpkin and FortiFlora (probiotics from work). So far, so good, no more gurgling noises from Scorch's gut.

He's still amazing. I've been trying to free shape the "down", which is somewhat challenging but he's really making the connection now. He's also learned how to have an "off switch", and is currently relaxing under the desk. Every day has been a socializing experiment and he's already been exposed to many kinds of people and animals.

He fell in the pool while at my parents' house (walked backwards into it!). Of course I was right there to rescue him, but I was so proud of him for bouncing back quickly. I wrapped him up in a towel and he wagged his tail happily at being picked up, even though he had just been dunked. I've been careful not to coddle him and he's coming along nicely. I love this confident little pup.

He's definitely filling Jack's shoes well. He's a talker like Jack, and likes to test the boundaries... and some of his little quirks are so... Jack. It warms my heart.

Demo dog

One of Scorch's Very Important Jobs is to demonstrate behaviors and exercises during my training classes. This job usually takes lots of preparation and training to be reliable, but I start puppies and foster dogs on it right away.

I think Scorch is up to the challenge.

Here I am explaining the game 101 Things To Do With a Box (erm, in this case a traffic cone). Look how tiny Scorchie is!


Scorch just offered me a nose touch on the cone and has heard the click.


Click is followed by a treat! I have a bad back, so I look ridiculous reaching down to him.


And a demo of attention. Not too bad for 8 weeks old (and 6 pounds, 6 ounces)!

(Why don't jeans ever fit me properly?)

I went to bed early last night because it had been a very long day at work. So that meant I had to wake up several times in the middle of the night to take puppy out. And now this morning, he is a bundle of energy while I'm not quite awake yet.

Yesterday, he went to Baby Puppy Daycare at work. The only other puppy there was a tiny Labrador who looks exactly like the Cottonelle Toilet Paper dog (that's a compliment, trust me). I'll try to get pictures of her. But not only did he have a great day playing with the baby Lab, he also got LOTS of socialization with the kids that were in and out of the building all day. He was quiet, sweet, and well behaved while he was inside, but apparently has a penchant for mud puddles and tossing around the water bowl while outside.

He's lucky that he's so charming. :)

Clicker training, session 1

No new pictures today, because I can't find my memory card reader and Chuck (my coworker) still has pictures to send me.

During the Cowboys game, I decided to introduce Scorch to the clicker. I'd been using "good" as my marker word, and I'd done some preliminary clicker loading, but this would be our first working session.

This is the first dog I am seriously free-shaping.

Sit is no problem, of course. I've been free-shaping that for the most part, but luring as well to get a tuck-sit instead of a rock-sit. I started luring into the down, and clicking for elbows touching the ground to get him started. Then I lured back up into a sit, click.

Then I started clicking when he looked down. It took a few reps for him to start deliberately offering the behavior, but then the lightbulb went on. I lured every few tries, just to keep giving him the idea. I'd already been marking any laying down he did during classes, so he "guessed right" a few times.

I want to free shape the weaves (and lots of other behaviors), so I'd like Scorch to be proficient at it. So far, I'd say our first session went well. :) He sits for his raw meals like a champ, and sits with great attention any time he wants love.

I'm being extremely careful to make his stealing objects not a big deal, knowing BCs' tendencies towards stealing items and making off with them, plus resource guarding. So far, I've been letting him have socks for a few minutes, then repeatedly trade other items back and forth, so the sock does not become a big deal.

He's a smart little bugger. Only one accident, on day 1 when I took a nap while he was uncrated (my fault). He actually ASKED to go out today, which I praised heavily and I hope he will repeat. He urinates in small amounts quite often, so I'm going to have a urinalysis done, just in case.

First bath at 5am this morning, when he decided to roll in godknowswhat outside. He didn't appreciate it, but it wasn't awful.

I'm smitten with the little pooch.

Be still my beating heart

I. Am. In. Love.

Scorch is HOME!

My little firecracker has made it home, finally. I picked him up last night, rushing to get him the millisecond I got off of work. Already, I've learned a lot.

1. My original method of getting new dogs used to the car was working just fine. Usually I just wear the pup out and leave them loose in the backseat. I build up to crating/seat belting later. This time I started with the crate... the result: carsick! After two bouts of sick, I learned my lesson and Scorch was crate-free and puke-free on the ride home from the vet.

2. I forgot what puppies were like, and I forgot what BORDER COLLIE puppies are like. Wolfie wasn't quite this active, although he was close. Scorchie is finally passed out under the desk right now and it took a lot to get him to that point.

3. Having a new puppy and all these big plans ahead of us makes me flustered!

We saw Dr. Jeff (my boss) today for shots and Scorch did beautifully. He charmed everyone like an expert, and did his best to portray a calm, docile demeanor. Little liar. Dr. J said that Scorch is in great shape, appears healthy, and is going to be a beautiful dog. Everyone likes Scorchie's ears.

He's decided that he looooves Wolfie. The size difference is still a problem when they play, but Scorch is trying real hard. He humped Wolfie twice, and a low growl was enough to back him off. The Wolfman seems to like Scorch, but isn't quite enamored with him yet. I think he'll be happier when Scorch is big enough to wrestle with.

We went to bed last night at 10. Scorch woke me up at 12:30, we went outside to potty, and then he slept until I woke him up at 7am. Not too shabby. No accidents yet (fingers crossed!), and my goal is to maintain as close to zero as possible.

I was only able to get two decent pictures during this freezing morning. Once he wakes up again, I'll get some sunnier pictures to post.

The way we were

Time for a trip down memory lane. It helps when I'm missing Jack.

Baby Wolfie






Blurry but I love looking at this series. One of my students took this while I still worked at Petsmart as a trainer and it documents nicely Wolfie growing up next to a very nervous, but sweet Bedlington puppy.






He's changed colors so many times! Wolfie recently, with foster dog Delilah:


And at training class, with BeeJay the Maltese and Norman the Cairn (the terrier belongs to my parents, more on him later):


I like the dark sabling a lot better than the "plain" brown... but I love Wolfie no matter what. He keeps me going.

The players in Scorch's life

There are 3 puppy siblings in Scorch's life right now. Going to visit the pupster is like going to puppy heaven. Basically I get to roll around in the dirt with puppies and take pictures of them for as long as I please.

So without further ado, here are the very willing hams:

Socks used to be a gentle, cuddly soul.


Now he has discovered uses for his teeth.






Sage is Scorch's twin, except with more white on his feet and no white on the tip of his tail.
See? White feet:


Black tail:


Dirty face:




Scorch and Sage share nicely.


This would have been an "S" litter if not for the only female, Dottie, AKA Miss Piggy since she is the largest pup.


Mmmm plant!


Dottie likes to show off her tootsies.


Mad teeth™ at such an early age!




And my little boy, just because he's adorable.




Fuzzbutt comes home on Thursday night!

Scorch

Introducing: Scorch! This delightful little Border Collie puppy hails from Deland, Florida. His parents, while excellent sheepherding and agility dogs with good hips, were not meant to be bred together. So my check was written to Southeast Border Collie Rescue, and Scorch will go through a wonderful testicle removal sometime before a year of age.

He is already the dog I've dreamed of. He's got it all! Looks:


Personality:


Naughtiness:


Some of you remember how I fall for naughtiness:

(For those of you with poor memories, that's my favorite of my foster litter from a year ago, Gemma).

Yeah, I'm in trouble with this one. I think Scorch is going to live up to his name. An AKC Obedience judge came by to see the litter... and he was her #1 pick.

Needless to say, I am excited.

Dreaming of trialing again

Well, Jack and Wolfie are on a break from showing, and I miss it. The only titles we ever got were CGCs for them. Wolfie's weak rear end makes it near impossible for him to hold a "sit" for very long and has caused him to lack hind-end awareness (he's unsure where to place his bottom in order to be straight or not tripping over obstacles).

Jack, on the other hand... well, Jack has turned into an asshole. My loving, sweet dog who used to go to dog parks and manage doggie playtimes at training school is no longer trustworthy around other dogs, and even some people.

Here is proof that he used to be friendly, swimming with Wolfie and his friend Cosette.


I don't know what to do. He was my trialing dog and I want my old Jack back. Hopefully the thyroid medication will help. But last night was EXTREMELY frustrating. I took him to my training class, hoping to see some improvement. He acted like he did when I first got him... we've spent 3 years desensitizing him to strange dogs, and last night he was exploding at them, even while at safe distances. It feels like we haven't made any progress at all. :(


I just want my old boy back.