Leading Edge Dogs

Yesterday after-noon, I took the remaining puppies on their first walk in the farmer’s fields with the big dogs (sorry, no pictures since I wanted to keep my eyes on them). They were very good and kept close the whole time. They had fun running around and watching the big dogs go crazy! The pups were pooped after that and slept for most of the evening… but they manage to have lots of energy for a good tugging session right before bed time.

This morning, the pups got to play with a new toy and test their thinking skills. I gave them an Aïkiou loaded with good stuff. It didn’t take too long for them to figure out what to do and were really into it. It was a big hit!! Check out their products (http://www.aikiou.com/)… lots of fun times dog the dogs!

Again, I’ve been late on my updates! Lots of things happened in the past week!

On September 17, the pups attended the Club Canin Chomedey’s big annual competition in Terrebonne. It combines agility, conformation, obedience, rally-o and CGN competitions. But our goal was to attend the CERF and BAER clinics. The pups got all tested and passed with flying colors!! We also hung out in the crowd and took advantage of socializations opportunities. We had VERY quiet puppies on the 2-hour drive back home!

The following Monday, the pups had their visit to the vet for their first set of shots. They were a BIG hit with the staff who have been following their progress since they were in Vi’s belly. They were extremely well behaved and all got the thumbs up.

And then the hardest part started... the pups started to move on to their new lives. Rogue and Trick were the first one to leave and are now living in sunny Nevada to play on Touch n Go. Monkey followed and now lives in Alberta and will play on Synergetic Surge. Then Cheat who lives in British-Columbia to play on Matsqui and Prank who lives in Ontario to play on High Flyers. Rascal and Joker will soon follow to go to Georgia and Tennessee to play on Double Dog Dare and Fetchin’ Frenzy respectively. This leaves only... Gimmick! Yes, she will be staying here at Leading Edge and is now named Leading Edge Speed Overdose aka TooMuch. And she definitely lives up to her name!

But before Prank and Cheat left, we all went to a whippet race practice. All the pups showed awesome drive for the lure, chased it, bit it, shook it, and all ran through the boxes with no problem. Here are a few pictures of our fun day:

TooMuch

Rascal (now named Oh Boy!)

Cheat (now named Marseille)

Joker

Prank

And some pictures of Monkey (now named Now) in his new home:

These pictures speak for themselves... fun times!!!

Joker and Gimmick

Prank and Joker

Prank, Rascal and Monkey

Gimmick and Trick

Prank

Rogue and Joker

Prank and Gimmick

Whippets or cats??

Rascal

How can you not be happy when you wake up each morning to these wonderful little beings...?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sMBh-XG1m4

There is only about 2 weeks before they leave... I will miss them so much!!

Time does fly! Wow! The pups turned 5 weeks and I realized how behind I am on my puppy updates. I’ve been so busy!!

So this is what the puppies have been up to… They joined me to a flyball tournament August 29th. They met lots of new people and got handled a lot. Then they came along for a ride to flyball open practice on Wednesday night and flyball practice Saturday evening. They will again be coming to open practice tonight and practice Saturday evening and we have another tournament (and this one is 2h away) Sunday. So we got flyball covered!

They have been meeting lots of kids too. I will get the x-pen out in the front yard right when school ends and the kids are walking back home. They also get to hear cars and big trucks go by, see strollers and bikes. Next Saturday is our annual neighbourhood celebration and there is always TONS of people and kids going around including the very popular noise parade. This will be a perfect opportunity for puppy socialization!!

Things have also been changing in the puppy area… no more puppy pads!!! Instead, they have trays with wood pellets. They are being perfect puppies and go do their business in the trays. I’m extremely impressed! Yes, there are pellets all over the area and I need to vacuum often but I would rather do that than clean pee and poop all over the place. Plus these pups will be well accustomed to the vacuum!

I’ve also hidden the feather duster now since they are pulling 5 feathers or more each time they tug with it! So it’s time for them to use more solid toys. The plastic bags are a BIG hit, same with the cat toys (the one that make a plastic noise). They are also crazy about their Shum Tug fun fur tug. I’ll need to take a video of that!

But in the mean time, here are some recent pictures…

Food time

Crazy Gimmick

Joker and Rascal

Prank

Trick

Gimmick

Rogue

Prank

Save us!!

At this point, the puppies are changing almost daily! They are like little sponges and absorb any new experience. The first change was to get rid of the good old puppy pool. So the pups are now in a bigger area where they have rags and toys to stimulate them and puppy pads for housebreaking. They now eat twice a day their chicken mush as Vitesse is less and less keen to feed them (those evil little teeth!).

Wednesday, they went on their first car ride. We stopped and said Hi to Dr. Miki who had only seen them on the x-ray. Needless to say they were a big hit at the vet clinic! Then we continued our route to flyball open practice where they got to see their daddy in action (and they all made sure to watch carefully and learn…!). Reach was way more interested in me as he still remembers the little sugar momma I introduced him to! (and he was definitely looking for her too!) Going back to the puppies, they got to hear some of those crazy flyball noises and meet new people.

Then yesterday, the weather finally permitted some lounging time in the sun. The pups spent a few hours outside. You would think they were exhausted after all this but last night, they were wired!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGYB8nMtCLo

We have a big and busy week-end coming up… puppies are coming along to a local flyball tournament. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous and this should be the ultimate socialization for them! Can’t wait!!

The pups had their second meal of real food and I figured I would give it to them outside (less cleaning for me!). It was quite the new experience for them to walk in the grass and feel the nice wind. Now, they are all exhausted with a belly full!

Prank

Trick

Gimmick & Cheat

Prank

Rogue

Rascal

Cheat, Prank & Rascal

Joker

Rascal

Cheat

The pups had quite the busy week-end with lots of new things to see and sink in. First, two good friends came over on Friday and pups had their 3rd nail trim. Again, Rogue and Rascal were the least cooperative. And again, all pups still have all their little toes! After that, I did a little photo shoot with them. It was their first time outside of the puppy pool. The boys were quite intrigue by their new environment. Prank was trying to get out (which seems to be her favourite activity lately...). Gimmick and Trick were also curious and Cheat was sleepy (which is also her favourite activity). Each pup’s best picture can be seen below.

The Saturday morning was their biggest change ever... the puppy pool moved from our bedroom to the kitchen. The pups will be exposed to more noises, smells and will get a glance at the other dogs. In addition, they now have the choice to go on a puppy pad which has had a mild success. We’re getting there!

And finally, the last big change happened Sunday night... the pups ate their first meal! I can’t say “solid” meal because it was a big mush of raw chicken, water, some vitamins and cod liver oil. Joker was the first one to dig in, feet first! The others followed but had a bit more class than him.

I can now see a glance of the pups’ personalities. Rascal, Rogue, Trick and Prank are the first one to get up and to come towards me when I’m by the puppy pool. Joker, Gimmick and Monkey have their moments between “I prefer humans” and “I prefer my brothers and sisters” and Cheat always seems to be sleeping. But this will definitely change and each pup will go through phases of bonding and independence. I’ve introduced a new element to their environment called... the feather duster! Yep, a real duster made out of ostrich feathers. A friend of mine from far far away told me to introduce the pups to that in order to build lots of bite and tug drive. So far, Rascal, Joker and Prank LOVE it! I even saw some head shaking! It is very cute!!

So here are the pics from the photo shoot... first the boys:

Joker

Rascal

Monkey

Then the girls...

Gimmick

Prank

Rogue

Trick

Cheat

The puppies are starting to open their eyes! So cool! The first one to “see” is Trick but Monkey, Cheat and Rascal and not far behind. And they are starting to hear too!! I’ve gotten into the habit to saying pretty loudly “HELLO PUPPIIIIIIIIEEEEEES!” (using my very high pitch voice!) every time I walk in the room. Of course, I never got a reaction from them... but for the past days, a couple of them actually wake up! Rascal and Prank are the first one up and Rascal is the first one screaming! It’s very exciting to finally get a reaction from them. They are also up on their feet and are actually walking (wobbling a bit but no more crawling).

So the ENS has pretty much come to an end... but the exciting part starts! I can’t wait to set up the puppy room!! These pups will be well stimulated and socialized... can’t wait!!!

Here are some precious shots taken last week-end...

Cheat

Prank and Trick

Rascal and Monkey

I finally came around to take a video of the pups. It’s not the best but I wanted you guys to be able to hear their little squirms. It’s so cute! And then, of course, Rebelle had to give this video a twist! Lol You see, one of Rebelle’s favourite activities is to roll on her back on the leather couch making those crazy horrible growling sounds. You would think she is attacking another dog but no, she’s simply entertaining herself. So you get to hear a bit of the bull terrier’s craziness mid way in the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gJW7RRBvuk

Tonight was nail trimming night. Rascal and Trick were the worst... screaming and wiggling the hole time!! Bad puppies! Puppies were also weighted:

• Rogue – 1lb 3oz
• Prank – 1lb 4oz
• Rascal – 1lb 6oz
• Gimmick – 1lb 4oz
• Cheat – 15oz
• Trick – 1lb 2oz
• Joker – 1lb 8oz (!!!)
• Monkey – 1lb 2oz

And we ended the night with the usual ENS session. “Most vocal” title goes to... Rascal!!! He did not want to have anything to do with it! Monkey, Joker and Cheat slept through the whole thing. Gimmick was a bit squirmy but calmed down when put up side down and for Rogue, it was on her back. Prank and Trick were a bit squirmy but nothing too bad.

It was a big night for the pups! Now, they have a belly full of milk and they are all passed out in the puppy pool.