Sunday, July 22

Remus is 13 weeks old already!  Where has the last month gone?  The summer is flying by, especially since bringing Remus home.

I have been keeping up with Rem's ongoing socialization.  Yesterday we had Puppy Kindergarten, Rem was in a class by himself:  the other puppy couldn't make it :-(  It turned out to be very good for us, though.  We were able to try out the A-frame, walk across the dog walk and the teeter (see-saw).  After we explored those surfaces outside, we went into the basement to walk across an ex-pen that was laying on its side, walk across a round sled, a round balance circle with traction brushes, step onto an aluminum crate pan and on a foil and tarp shade cover- Rem had trouble offering a sit and down on the ex-pen and crate pan.  Next we were able to "play" with some motorized children's toys- the dinosaur was Remus' favorite, he was worried about the police car and thought the "spider" was interesting.  We practiced fetching a metal and a leather obedience dumbbell, he was initially resistant to picking up and carrying the metal one but was happy to after he had carried around the leather one.  Before we left, Katrin demonstrated with Remus how I can teach him to sit straight and not back into it.  We are practicing it and will be for a while...

Today, we had a busy day!  This morning we got up around 6:45, went to breakfast with Gary (my brother-in-law, my sister won't get up early to go for breakfast), then we drove to the Jenny Grist Mill and walked through Bradford Park and just past Plymouth Rock- Remus did great.  He needed to take a few "sniff breaks" then he would happily come back to work with me.  After we walked back to the car we drove to pick up coffees for Gary and me, then we went home and I put Remus in his crate for a nice nap.  (Ryan and I went back to Plymouth and walked the waterfront and to the end of the jetty and back, we stopped at Pebbles to get some water, then walked the rest of the way to the car.  We were soo hot!  I had to turn the a.c. on in the car when I would normally have had the windows open.)  After we got home I put Remus on the tie-down in the living room so that he can learn that he doesn't need to be at my feet all the time.  Initially Remus did not like being tethered, (I don't know that he ever really enjoyed it), but by the time I let him off of it Remus was laying on the dog bed chewing on a toy.  (He chewed on some of the door molding, I thought he was chewing on a toy, hmmn, I was wrong.  OOPS!  Gotta sand and repaint it.)  Tonight, Remus and I went to the elementary school to take a walk, play on the playground equipment and for me to feed him his dinner.  We were able to walk on the sidewalk without any fear of the cars or noises.  Then we walked past the gym where some men were playing basketball, I think Remus wanted to play with them (or the ball).  We finished playing on the playground- Remus walked across some benches, went up some stairs, through a tire a few times AND down the slide!  He walked up to a bouncy horse (supposed to be a rocking horse?), he walked right up to it,  (though, he was a little nervous) sniffed it and turned to walk away and did a whole body shake- Good Boy!

After we got home I let Rem and Ry out in the back yard to run for a minute when much to my shock and surprise the gate was wide open!!  I called Ryan with as little fear in my voice as I could manage since my heart was in my throat and I really wanted to scream "RYAN COME HERE NOW!!"  but called "Ryan Come :-)" and he immediately turned around and came running into the backyard with Remus happily on his heels.  PHEW!  That could have been  a disaster, no collars/ tags, it was completely dark out and our street has very few lights on it.  The boys have been reminded to make sure the gate is always closed.