Laser Time?

"I wanna play more!!!! LASER? Pllleaseee?"

Duke knows we keep the laser in that little green dish on the table next to the couch. He likes to sit on the arm of the couch and whine when he wants to play.

Puppy Training

At the beginning of September, Fiance and I signed the Dukester up for puppy training classes at PETCO. I think we have two more classes to go before we're done with the Puppy Class.


So far, trick wise, we've learned:

• Name recognition
• Sit
• Stay
• Walk nicely on a leash!
• Down (as in lay down)
• Off
• Leave it
• Take it
• Drop it

I want to take him all the way! This little pup is so food motivated that he can learn a trick in an afternoon. Mostly. We're having a problem with "down." He doesn't understand the word when we speak it, but if we put the treat on the ground he will lay down. From this position, we've also taught him "crawl," which is funny because he likes to climb under the couches, coffee table, bed, and end tables.

The problem I'm having with this class is it isn't helping at all with his behavior. Duke still doesn't listen very well to me (even though I swear I'm following the directions too!). Fiance says that Duke thinks he owns me, which sucks because I've tried a lot of things to get dominance over him. It also has not addressed his separation anxiety. Not one bit, like maybe even made it worse (well probably not, but it's still bad). The trainer has tried to help, but she really hasn't said much about it accept, "This is what happens when you get him SO young!" Well, I can't help the fact that the breeder was going to charge us a boarding fee per week if we left Duke there after seven weeks.

Well, he graduates from Puppy class in 2 weeks. I'm thinking I want to sign him up for the Intermediate class because he really enjoys the training. Fiance wants to sign him up for the Clicker Training which would be cool too. This dog will do anything for food.

Separaton Anxiety

Duke does not like to be away from my fiance or myself. He just completely freaks out. Everyone tells me it will calm down when he gets older, but it seems to just be getting worse. He whines like someone is beating him, then he is so excited to see you that he pees all over you.

We've managed to figure out the "kong trick" which works when we are leaving him home by himself. You fill his Kong full of peanut butter and dog food, chuck it in his house and duck for cover. God forbid you forget something in the apartment. If you time it right, he is content enough to not notice you've gone missing. I don't know about the long term effects of this method. I suppose when he's done licking all the yummy out of the Kong he might break down then, but then again maybe he falls asleep. I'm tempted to set a camera up one of these days while I go to work and tape his daily routine, but I haven't gotten up the nerve to set the camera up. One of these days.

On a side note: Are the elections and/or Halloween over yet? This is getting ridiculous.

We made Duke into a Monkey!!!

Oh Duke! My college roommate came to visit this weekend and we couldn't resist!!!!!

Duke is a purple monkey! He didn't mind the costume itself, he just continued to play with his ball.

Halloweeen & Duke

So I'd like to mention that I work next to a costume store. Okay, so I've never lived in a city before, but I didn't know how BIG Halloween could be. There is no parking in the parking lot here! AND to top that, my co-worker just informed me that starting this weekend there will be VALET parking available for people shopping there.

Um. Our parking lot isn't really all that big so I'm not sure valet parking is really justified that way. So I didn't believe him when he told me. So last Saturday when I was working I peeked outside to see 3 people standing there in yellow jackets parking cars for people!

I have to admit I have never actually gone into the Halloween store, but I've tried to peer in. They've darkened the windows because apparently according to my co-worker there is an adult section upstairs at the store. I really don't have the money to spend on a Halloween costume so I figured I'd stay out of there until at least next year when I have no good reason to go in there and see what's up.

It's just like the temptation of spending money. My finance and I are just passing candy out this year, it's not like we're going trick-or-treating (hello, tacky for anyone 9th grade+) or to any Halloween parties considering I don't know anyone in the area! But I went to their websites anyway and they have super cute dog costumes. Dog costumes?! Fiance would kill me if I dressed up Duke. He's told me on numerous occations that there would be no dressing up of the dog if he bought me a small dog. I agreed then, but... but they make a JOKER costume! and BATMAN! and... and... well, they have alot of clothes for dogs.

Not that Duke really needs a costume either, it's not like he's going to any parties or going trick-or-treating either. He can't eat candy though I'm sure he'd like it if he tried it. He can't even pick between the Joker or Batman, so does it really matter? He'd probably chew it anyway. He doesn't chew the sweatshirt I bought him (not that he didn't try for an hour the first time I put it on).

I guess Halloween is still like 10 days away, I still have time to sneak over and get him something. Maybe they'll have a last minute sale or something.

I Used to Blog When I was in High School

I used to blog when I was in high school. I'd try to write a post every night, but it was weird because people I knew read my blog and I really really cared what they thought and how they would judge me. I guess this is my attempt to start over and observe some other things in my life that don't matter much.

Or I can just write about my dog because well, as much as I love him, he can't read so he can't get mad at me (unless I don't feed him, than he can judge me all he wants)!