puppies2018 | Dangerous Common Sense

Day 65 — Another Day with a Babysitter

Both yesterday and today, Aurora and the pack were taken care of midday by their friend Tony as I continued to sit in a jury pool at the Hall of Justice from 9 – 4:30. This schedule made for hectic play sessions.

Unfortunately, the lack of time also meant that some sub-optimal photographs were still the best ones taken that day.

Actually, this one of the evening play session isn’t really out of focus as much as it suffers from motion blur!

A cavorting puppy needs a quicker shutter speed!

Aurora with a ball in her mouth racing past Apex

Day 65 — It’s Motion Blur Time

By Galen|2018-12-06T16:51:08-08:00November 27, 2018|dachshunds|0 Comments

Day 64 — Expanding Her Territory

Aurora’s adventure today was deciding that the back yard — all of it — is part of her domain.

She’s been pretty bold for a while about wandering all over the bricks and going back to the lemon tree to sniff and chew.

Day 64 — Exploring the Backyard

This evening, Aurora took the path between the bushes and went out to the Outback!

Day 64 — Aurora In the Way Outback

Of course I went with her, looked ahead to make sure that there were no evil predators lurking around, and generally did nervous parental things. For her part, Aurora was fearless and happy.

By Galen|2018-12-06T16:33:57-08:00November 26, 2018|dachshunds|1 Comment

Day 62 — Home Life

After yesterday’s visits and excitement, this Saturday was a low-key, at-home affair.

The camera didn’t get taken out until almost dinner time.

I recorded Aurora’s source of chronic puzzlement: how to operate the stairs!

Aurora with her front paws on the bottom stair

Day 62 — Contemplating the Stairs AGAIN

Then I asked Geoffrey to pose with Aurora, because it had been a while. Geoffrey did his best to make me wonder if he was a fit parent!

Geoffrey Holding Aurora with Only a Slightly Demonic Look on his face... and a look of resignation on hers

Day 62 — Only a Slightly Demonic Look

By Galen|2018-12-01T14:58:32-08:00November 24, 2018|dachshunds|0 Comments

Day 60 — Early Childhood Training

There are a few things puppies have to learn at an early age. Aurora isn’t housetrained and cannot do any tricks, but we have taught her some behaviors for social and safety reasons.

Puppies need to be held stomach up, getting cradled. This reinforces that the humans are the pack alphas… we get to have access to the soft spots.
Puppies need to open their mouths wide when we say ,”Awwww!” This means if they put something dangerous in their mouths we can get it out without a struggle.

Day 60 - Geoffrey getting Aurora to Say "Awww!"

Day 60 – Say “Awww!”

Humans need to repeatedly touch the puppy paws and hold whatever part of the pup we want. Besides showing who is in charge, we want the dogs to be accustomed to being touched and petted. We want Aurora to like it when visitors touch her!

Soon we will need to move on to upper-division commands like “Come!”, “Stay”, and “Off!’

But, enough for today. Happy Thanksgiving!

By Galen|2018-12-01T11:10:07-08:00November 22, 2018|dachshunds|0 Comments

Day 59 — Kitchen Confidential

Aurora’s favorite spot for napping has definitely moved from the whelping box to the adult pack’s den in the hide-a-pet underneath the butcher block.

Day 59 — Under the Butcher Block

This photo above, taken by Geoffrey on his iPhone, shows Aurora nestled in the den. The wire in the photo is the exercise pen which surrounds the whelping box… which our girl is out of.

Day 59 –Ready for Parboiling?

Aurora is quite comfortable snuggled in with the rest of the pack in the too-small space!

The humans were in the living room, so what else was there for a puppy to do?

Of course, she participated in the pack’s illicit licking of the pizza pan at the end of the evening… much to Geoffrey’s dismay at the breakdown of civilization.

Day 59 – Why We Get Half-Baked Deep Dish Pizza

By Galen|2018-11-29T19:25:56-08:00November 21, 2018|dachshunds|1 Comment