Allison's Winter Wonderland

So much has been happening at Allison Wonderland! There was Thanksgiving and we gave Rhodie his first taste of turkey - needless to say it was a hit. The Christmas decorations went up prior to Thanksgiving because that day is just an excuse to eat a big meal and a free day off work. In other words, we don't care about Thanksgiving. We pretty much go from Halloween to Christmas here :D

Rhodie continued his puppy level 1 classes through PetCo. He was the tiniest puppy there (see pic). He graduated on December 3. He's learning hand signals and speech commands, along with some cute tricks like spin, jumping through a hoop, and finding things under cups. He can sit, wait, and stay fairly well but struggles with "down." This command is used to have him lay down but he's far too interested in walking around, sniffing, and playing.

 Puppies L to R: Phantom (standard Poodle), Rhodie (Boston Terrier), and Riley (Great Pyrenees)

I've switched Rhodie's food to Merrick's Puppy Chow. They kibbles are very tiny - perfect for his little mouth and teeth and the ingredients are very good. When I work with him on training, I use boiled chicken. I've learned that you don't want to actually give them a treat to eat every time they do good. Just licking the treat is also a treat to them and they don't fill up as fast thus you can work with them longer. Rhodie is still very much puppy so his attention span is limited right now. After 30 minutes or so, he's done. 

As far as growth for Rhodie, he seems to be quite the late bloomer. His ears haven't come in - or at least that's what I like to call it. Boston's ears are suppose to stand upright and alert when they hear something or are doing anything other than casual roaming about. Rhodie's ears still aren't able to do this but they're perkier than they used to be.

Rhodie is 16 weeks on December 12, 2017. Also, he isn't able to jump well. When jumping through the hoop in class, his back feet would frequently drag the hoop which I held roughly 2-3 inches off the ground. This isn't uncommon as he's small, short, and still a puppy. He doesn't even attempt to jump up on the couch to be with me, just stands up by putting his front paws on the couch and whines to be picked up. I'm guilty of just picking him up - today it stops. Not that I don't want to snuggle him, but he needs the motivation. At 16 weeks, he should be attempting to jump more than he is so the extra motivation is needed.

Rhodie currently eats separately than my big dogs because he eats like a pig. He will quickly go from one bowl to the other and my big dogs just allow him because they are very good with small dogs/puppies. However, this behavior throws my big dogs off and they end up just walking away from their food altogether.

Once Rhodie gets about another month older, I will be feeding him alongside them & work more on this behavior as it's not acceptable. They need to give him his pecking order but not harm him and he needs to obey.

Vivi is her usual sassy, sweet self. She's slowly preparing for her next heat cycle: swollen nipples, less playful but still playful, humping our spayed female mutt Sookie constantly, etc. Vivi's heat cycles have not been regular (this will be her 3rd heat) so they are hard to predict. I just have to watch her closely for the signs. Obviously there won't be any breeding going on now. Rhodie still has to mature and I'll evaluate him when he's ready. 

I have managed to train Rhodie to ring jumbo size jingle bells, hung low by the back door, when he has to go potty. However he's so smart, he rings them often just to go outside and play. This can get very annoying but over time it will work itself out.

The dogs (BTs and mutts) will be the primary focus of our Christmas card this year - they usually are. This is the first year I haven't sent Christmas cards out by December 1. I'm old fashioned and there's nothing like receiving (and sending) cards and letters in the mail. It's much more precious than a text or phone call in m opinion. Someone actually took time to write it, prepare the envelope, put a stamp, and walk it to the post. <3

Here are some Christmas-y pictures I took of the dogs (mainly my BTs). However, Vivi being the Diva - and probably feeling bloated or fat or whatever PMS symptom a dog may feel - was not into pictures. Egon and Sookie (brother/sister rescue mutts) don't know how to act when a camera is pointed at them. Anyway, enjoy the chaos....

It was too cold for Rhodie to sit in the snow. In fact, it was too cold for him to even look at me.

But it was NOT to cold  to play ball!

Especially when you have a playmate!

Perfection! Rhodie looking too adorable!

Vivi totally not feeling in the Christmas spirit. Yes, that's a pearl dog necklace she's wearing.

While Tayten was working with Vivi, I snapped this picture of Rhodie while holding a treat above my camera.

Klaus...my "fat, old man" and my best friend.

Our oldest Tayten, requested this picturesque moment from our first snowfall of the season.