Puppy Photo of the Week

Curious, little puppies like to investigate everything.  Milton found the dishwasher to be quite interesting.  He thought he would pre-lick the dishes just in case the dishwasher misses something.

Just being helpful.

Doggie Paddle

With our trip home to Owasco Lake, comes a lot of firsts.  What do doggies do on a lake?  Obviously, swim!  Milton was not thrilled with the idea of interacting with water again especially after that fated boat ride.  We were adamant though that our little goldendoodle get back up on that horse! 

As with everything, we fed Milton treats before, during, and after the water to associate the experience as something good and tasty.  My childhood dog, Brutus, was thrown off the dock when he was young and always hated the water after that incident.  I do not want a similar experience to occur with Milt, so we delicately approached the entire introduction.  Milt might not have loved the water, but on this trip we are going to keep on trying to cultivate at least some appreciation of it!


Milton down on the dock



Checking the water out

Milton clinging to his daddy



Motoring away.



Scrambling to get out








Milton looks like a wet rat every time.  It's uncanny!

 

All toweled off and trying to stay warm with Momma

Any thoughts on how to help a dog like the water?  Both poodles and retrievers supposedly enjoy swimming, so we would love for him to be a water dog!

Happy, Happy 4th of July!

The Fourth of July is a time for the "F" word - Fun!  My dad always made this little joke, and the 4th was his favorite holiday of all.  Since my dad passed away a year ago April, I always recall special memories of him, especially on the holidays. 

Once again that crazy Uncle Dave, decided to make our celebration one to remember by renting a gigantic waterslide.  It was steep, scary, and super FUN!  My dad would have loved it, and that is why Dave got it.

Milton is just an aside in this picture, but it will certainly be a monumental Fourth of July to remember for both us and him.  Happy Fourth to all and always remember the real "F" word - FUN!

Doggie Adventure with Uncle Dave

Let's just say, I should have known better!  On our first full vacation day in New York, Uncle Dave stopped by to eat lunch and say hello to Milton.  Since Uncle Dave owns Owasco Marine on Owasco Lake where we live, he drove a work barge over via the water instead of a car.  That is just one of the many perks of working on the lake all day!

Just a little plug for my big brother if you live in the Finger Lakes region and need anything boating related.

David did not seem too interested in petting or watching the tricks of my goldendoodle, but as he was returning to his barge, he surprisingly offered to take Milton on the boat ride back to the marine (about three miles).  All I had to do was simply drive down to pick Milton up after they had arrived.  To me, it sounded like the perfect adventure for an uncle and his new little nephew.

There they are!





Milton scared at Uncle Dave's feet



As soon as I wished the two boaters bon voyage, I began to have serious doubts that a boat ride was the best idea for the Milt.  In the beginning, little Milton shook with fright whenever in the car, so I don't know why I assumed he would automatically enjoy a boat ride.  My older sister, Heather, questioned if 12-week-old Milton was wearing a life jacket or even knew how to swim, which caused me to panic.  I grew up on Owasco Lake, swimming, water skiing, and boating, so the water never phases me, but it should always be taken seriously, especially with my new little pup.  I quickly called David to demand he turn around and bring Milton back, but David refused, over Milton's loud whines and cries in the background, because they were full speed ahead towing a jet ski back to the marina.

As I hopped in my car, I quietly berated myself for acting so frivolously with my new goldendoodle.  Milton could easily jump in or fall off the barge, especially because it has no guardrails, and either sink or somehow get caught in the motor.  Thank goodness Jeff was out for the day, or he would have majorly chastised me for my poor discretion.  I drove to the marina, hopped out, and rushed to the water silently praying that Milton was safe and sound.

Milton was running towards his Momma.

Milton was so excited to see me that he scurried out on the tip of the gangplank!

Did Milton survive?  Yes.  Could this little experience ruin his love of the water?  Yes.  Will it?  I certainly hope not.  The big takeaway for me is Milton is just 12-weeks-old.  He has only been on this planet for 12 weeks versus my 26 years.  I need to remember that each event and experience is new to him, so I must be extra special careful in how I approach and introduce him to things.  If not, it could definitely impact his temperament and overall health for years to come.  I guess I will just keep on keepin' on with the Milt and learn a lot from each and every mistake.

Puppy Photo of the Week!

The Milt is in New York - we made it!  The long, long drive went very smoothly.  We left Dallas at 9P.M. on Friday evening and drove all through the night, crossing East Texas and Arkansas, to arrive at our Tennessee destination at 8A.M. the following morning.  Jeff and I alternated turns driving, and I was very thankful that I decided not to make the trip on my own.  For the entire ride, Milton sat in one of our laps up front with his seatbelt harness securely fastened.  He was a very sweet boy - no crying/whining, accidents, or sickness...  We were extremely lucky.

We spent all day Saturday visiting with Jeff's brother and sister-in-law's family - two parents, three kids, and four dogs (three their own and one visiting for the week)!  Milton was introduced to each dog individually, and they were not overly fond of our playful, youthful puppy.  These dogs were a pact of little, old men and Milton quickly learned to mind his manners when he was bitten on the ear.  Well, it serves him right sometimes.

On Sunday morning, Jeff, Milton, and I awoke bright and early again and hit the road by 7A.M.  It was a long haul - 15 hours in one day traversing Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and finally New York.  We were on a bit of a time crunch, so we only stopped for our customary Dairy Queen and unfortunately nothing regional (I was hoping for some Tennessee BBQ or Kentucky pecan pie). I definitely enjoyed the scenery because I had only flown into some of the airports in these states and never visited for any length of time.
  
Milton dozed practically the entire way again.  It is phenomenal that he is capable of all that sleep!  We finally reached home in New York at 11P.M. last night.  Milton had a ton of energy to offload, so we were awake for a long while after that.  With an entire house, big yard, and a whole lake, we will need to drag Milton back down South to our little apartment...

On our road trip, I expected to take a whole montage of photos, but for some reason I was not in the mood to snap shots possibly due to the interminable 25-hours of driving.  I did however drag Milton out of the car to capture his arrival to his Momma's birth state!


We jumped out roadside to get the perfect "Welcome to New York!" photo




A close up - Milton was a little groggy when we crossed the border.



The Long, Long Car Ride

As some of you may know, our little family is embarking on a 25-hour journey today to New York.  We are making the pilgrimage home to introduce the Milt to the fam.  Last year I went home for the entire summer, but this year I didn't want to keep Milton away from his daddy too long, so it will just be a two week vacation.  This little jaunt is also to fulfill my own desire of a cross country road trip. All of the naysayers who spoke out against it actually encouraged me to do it! 

Leaving Milton at home while I flew to New York, was not an option for me.  These first few puppy months are integral to Milton's training (pottie, leash, chewing), and with Jeff working such long hours, I did not want Milt neglected at home.  The more we train the pup now, hopefully the better he will be in the fall when school starts up again.

I did consider flying with Milton as a carry on, but I thought that could easily develop into a traumatizing experience.  I didn't want to risk the little guy whining/barking or getting sick.  Plus I was a little nervous that he would keep on growing and not fit in a crate when the time came to return to Texas. 

Quite the trip

To prepare Milton for this trip, I have been taking him on little car rides around our neighborhood.  Milton and I look at all the pretty houses and daydream.  Milton sits in my lap, so I can pet him and keep him calm.  This is not the safest option, so we now have a puppy seatbelt along with a travel crate all prepared for the long ride.

Milton all ready to go.

On Milton's first car rides, he cried and shook for the majority of the drive.  I tried to encourage him to like the car by giving him pieces of milk bone or bits of dog food before, during, and after the ride.  By now, he is much more relaxed and will try to look out the windows and eventually just doze off.

What does a Milt need for such an incredible journey? Well, let's see:

1.  Dog food
2.  Portable dog bowls
3.  Dog treats
4.  Travel crate with sleeping blanket
5.  Puppy pads
6.  Resolve carpet cleaner
7.  Chew toys
8.  Bitter apple spray
9.  Heart worm pill
10.  Puppy shampoo

I am certain there are a few more odds and ends, bits and bobs, I am missing.  From now on, I'm packing for two.

Milton thought we were kicking him out.

Milt and his Monkey

The first leg of our trip is ten-hours from Dallas, Texas to Clarksville, Tennessee where Jeff's brother and his family live.  We will spend all day Saturday visiting with them and then depart very early Sunday morning for the remainder of the drive - 15 hours.  I have absolutely no idea how this whole escapade is going to turn out.  We will continuously blast the air conditioning, routinely pet Milton, and of course frequently stop for our favorite treat, Dairy Queen, or simply DQ.

Does anyone have any tips on how to keep a puppy happy in the car?  Let me know if you do!  On Monday, I will post a photo montage of our grand adventure...

Sweet Goldendoodle Dreams

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When we invited this goldendoodle beast to join us in our home, we needed to find a spot for him to sleep.  Jeff was adament that Milton would slumber in a big, lonely crate way downstairs far, far away from us.  Later we read a little doggie literature, and we learned that puppies need to sleep with the pact. Since we're the alpha female and male, we understand this philosophy -  we're Milton's dog pact, and he needs us.  So this cozy family of three bunks together.

Does Milton sleep in our bed?  No.  Do I kind of want him to?  Absolutely, but I think later on when he has reached 75 - 90 lbs we might regret it especially since we sleep in a double bed.  When I tell people the double is our bed of choice, everyone is shocked we do not own a king or at least a queen.  We never minded before, but now in proportion to Milton's crate, our bed is looking a little small...

Little pup in lockdown

 This is Milton the goldendoodle's EliteField 3-Door Folding Dog Crate Cage Kennel measuring in at 48".  Fancy, I know.  Even I fit in it.

Milton and Momma

Jeff too.

Daddy, Momma, & the Milt

Jeff and I vacillated for a long time on what type of crate to purchase.  You want your dog to regard the crate as a cave, so he or she feels safe and wants to hunker down to sleep.  Many people recommended the standard plastic crate, but due to our hot climate, we chose a wire crate because it is completely open and airy.  Crates can be expensive so after checking Wal-Mart and PetSmart, we ordered this one from EBAY at a bid of $70. 

 We place a black blanket over the crate to achieve the den feel, but we leave a little area open, so the pup can still keep us in view.  Milton is not happy resting in his crate throughout the day (he would rather be in the cool kitchen or bathroom), but he does not mind sleeping in there.  We always lure him to bed by dropping a few pieces of milkbone inside. Likewise, we make certain he has at least one toy and his baby blanket with him.  Milton loves his blanket because it was a gift from his breeder with his littermates' scent on it.  It is a sweet reminder of his early days.

 

Benefits of 48" wire crate:

1.  The large size allows for flexibility as your dog grows; however, there is a wire divider, so the crate can be made smaller.  Milton only sleeps in the first fourth of the crate, so hopefully this will prevent crate pottie.  Dogs are reluctant to go to the bathroom where they sleep, and thus far no accidents!

2.  The flooring is plastic, so spills can be easily cleaned up.

3.   3-doors allow for easy mess removal. 

4.  The thick metal wiring discourages chewing.

See the below link if you are in the market for one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EliteField-48-3-Door-Folding-Dog-Crate-Cage-Kennel-RUBBER-FEET-/360468986290?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53eda039b2 

Milton getting his bed ready

Nighttime has been an adventure.  When we first received Milton at 8-weeks old, he whined to get up at least once nightly.  With puppies, they tend to be able to hold their pottie for their age plus one, so at two months old, Milton could hold it for three hours.  That first week was tiresome with Milton waking in the middle of the night and then bright and early again by 6A.M.  When Milton cried to get up mid-night, we always made certain that he had slept for a good three - four hours so that we knew his whining was bathroom related and not just a petulant puppy.

 I'm not a night owl, and wandering outside in my hot pink bathrobe at odd hours is not my favorite.  Jeff had some interesting conversations with people returning from the bars, but I just got eaten up by mosquitoes.   We understand though how uncomfortable it must be for the Milt, so we don't mind letting him out, but it did certainly take a toll on our sleep sanity.  Thankfully now at 12-weeks, Milton is sleeping through the entire night.

 Milton is a ball full of energy in the morning, so gone our my peaceful days of lounging in bed and then leisurely waking to drink coffee and hunch over my computer screen.  Now, it is up and out the door for pottie, return and feed Milton, then get ready for a long walk to entertain and tire him out for the day.  Oh, the joys of owning a dog...  We wouldn't change it for the world.

Big belly man