For starters, like parents of babies, we realized that (LESSON NUMBER 1) in order to be on time, we need to leave an extra 30 minutes earlier than planned. These days, we are CONSTANTLY running late, and when traveling with the boys, its 10x worse. By the time we actually got the boys in the car and left, we were already 10 minutes late. Immediately after turning out of our neighborhood, I realized we forgot the boys' immunization sheets. And in the process of driving back home, (out of fear) Pappy went #2 in the back seat. Sigh.
LESSON NUMBER 2: Pappy hates, hates, hates the car. I hope that the 6 weeks of puppy classes, and following with intermediate, advanced, agility, and so on will build up his confidence and he'll learn to love car rides. We plan on taking them on trips with us and to the dog park, and on the boat, and so on..... We definitely need him to get over his fear of riding in the car.
So Pappy pooped, and I immediately thought to myself "I need paper towels and disinfectant. And I have nothing!" So not only were we late, but I was completely unprepared. LESSON NUMBER 3: I need a puppy bag. Like a baby bag, but for the boys. I need to supply it with paper towels, treats, disinfectant, some chew toys, a towel, or blanket, their belly bands.... remember these?
So on and so forth.
This is the "puppy bag" I've added to my Christmas list. Click here.
So yes, I was a completely unprepared, late puppy mom. We finally got back home, cleaned up the poop, grabbed the immunization sheets, and were back on our way. Pappy and Wally freaked out the entire drive to class. Wally was so nervous he was soaked with drool - and Pappy was constantly moving around because he couldn't relax.
Enough is enough, I thought as I climbed into the back of the car. The boys curled up near my tummy, and that's how to drove to rest of the way.
Once we arrived at PetSmart, I sighed a huge sigh of relief and rushed in, so we weren't anymore late than we already were. Surprisingly enough, Pappy and Wally were curious and wanted to explore. Wally didn't do his typical halting of the breaks (where we have to drag him with the leash), but instead, he had a wagging tail and wanted to explore everything.
We finally got to the class and were happy to see that they hadn't started yet. There was a mom and daughter on the right with a little fluffy white dog and two girls on the left with a really big, adorable pitbull pup.
Nikki is our instructor. She is nice and seems very knowledgeable about training. Pappy and Wally enjoyed her fanny pack of treats and warmed up to her immediately. We went around a circle and introduced outselves, our pups, said their age, their breed (??), and what we wanted to get out of the class.
The little white fluffy dog's name was Leo (15 and a half weeks). The pitbull was Buster (six months). All boys. We don't remember the humans' names....
So, I introduced myself, Matt, and the boys. I said they were 16 weeks, and that we didn't know their breed. Then went into a little detail about how they never knew their mom, how they were rescued, and so on. Afterwards, Nikki said, "Thank you! And what would you like to get out of this class?"
Matt's response: "Have them not fail."
Ain't that the truth! We have realistic expectations.....
So, the first week's lesson plan included introducing the clicker (I love it!), teaching the "LOOK" command (where the pup has to stop what their doing and stay focused on you for an extended period of time), as well as "SIT".
Now prior to this, we totally thought Pappy and Wally had nailed sit............ We were wrong. There was so much going on at PetSmart. There was a rescue right behind the class with pups in crates (hoping to be adopted), Buster and Leo barking at Pappy and Wally, vice versa. People circled around our class, looking in. The sound of birds chirping, cats meowing, people talking, dogs barking, etc., etc., etc.
So yeah -- we definitely didn't have their focus. And they definitely didn't know the sit command. Nikki taught the class how to lure the boys to focus and sit, as well as how to use the clicker as a positive reinforcement. It was fun. And we really, really enjoyed it.
All four boys were able to meet each other, and got along fabulously.
My mixed emotions come in at the fact that Pappy and Wally both peed TWICE in the one hour long class. Understandably so, they're puppies. They're not potty trained yet. We all know that. BUT the fifteen and a half week old puppy, Leo, didn't pee once. It put things into perspective for us. LESSON NUMBER 4: Is that how far our boys are supposed to be?!?!
Pappy and Wally pee like every 20-30 minutes. And before our class, I thought this was completely normal - but we were the ONLY ones to have to pick up pee, and we had to do it twice for each puppy! Now we all know that Pappy was just diagnosed with a bladder infection. And our vet didn't test Wally's pee, because well, he didn't pee at the appointment. It was sort of this last minute, spur of the moment, "lets do a urine analysis since we already have his pee" type thing.
So, by pure chance, WE KNOW Pappy has an infection, and we guess that's WHY he was marking around the house so much. But what about Wally??? Does he have an infection, too!?
And IF SO, HOW LONG HAVE THEY HAD THIS????? My heart just breaks for them as I think back to past few months. Had we caught this in time, and medicated them immediately, would they have been much farther in the potty training process? Its almost like we hindered them. And scolded them, and got frustrated with them for not understanding. When in all reality, the boys most likely have had an infection this whole time, and it wasn't their fault at all.
So yes, mixed emotions. I'm just so sad for Pappy and Wally. And I feel like I should have caught it. Mind you, Wally hasn't been officially diagnosed YET, but he has the exact behavior as Pappy - and it just has to be, right??
So after class, Nikki came up to us and said, "How is the potty training going for them?" which was a polite way of saying: Um, you're puppies are not anywhere near potty trained.
Embarrassed, I explained the bladder infection thing, apologized, and thanked her after she offered "to sit down with us to discuss how to potty train"
I feel like a puppy mom failure.
We walked around PetSmart afterwards, bought some aloe and oatmeal shampoo for Pappy's skin infection, Pappy went pee AGAIN, we cleaned it up, and left quickly with our tails in between our legs....
The good news:
PAPPY AND WALLY WERE EXHAUSTED!!
They slept the entire way home, and for the remainder of the day. Poor Pappy threw up the second we got home (thank God, in our yard). I think the nerves from the car ride just got to him. Poor baby.....
Bath time:
Ernie comforting Pappy.
PUPPY CLASS HOMEWORK: Work on "LOOK" and "SIT"
I gave Wally one of Pappy's antibiotics this morning, and I am going to call the vet tomorrow morning to get him tested for a bladder infection, too.
Hopefully that will help, maybe........?
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