Good morning everyone! It’s snowy and cold here – it hasn’t been winter for long and I’m already tired of it. Not much going on today except for getting the tree decorated which should be interesting since it’s sitting on top of an end table. Other than that I really hope to catch up on some more reading if the little guy will let me.
Sammy has now mastered the outside steps to the backdoor and the one into the house. He’s been scared of that one but the other day he just jumped right on over and has been since. The same with the house stairs – all of a sudden he just seemed to know what to do to get up them. It’s kind of cute how he goes up though – kinda sideways. He still hasn’t attempted going down but I hope he does soon so I can quit carting him around although that will give him even more opportunities to sneak off and destroy things without me knowing. Otherwise he’s just been raining havoc on the house as usual. I put his toys away each night and each morning he proceeds to scatter them across the living room. I’ll get a video of that mess next week.
On a different note Sammy is quite destructive. He destroys every toy I give him. I bought him a nice fleece blanket with a cute little paw sewn into it. Well it now has a very big hole because he’s trying his hardest to eat the paw. Yet another thing on my list to try to repair. Those rope toys – he pulls the strings out within minutes. Buddy had those for years without mishap. It’s just unreal – I have no words for the damage this one can do if he feels like it. I will say though right now I think he’s teething really bad because when he chews on my hand he’s chewing extra hard.
I think the most fun is that he doesn’t know stop or stay so as he thinks everything is a game it’s often quite impossible to catch him. On top of it he’s not really fond of treats so I’m not sure how I’m going to go about training him. Of course I praise him when he does something right but still I need some way of rewarding him. He’s really smart so I know he can learn – he’s also very stubborn and only does what he wants most of the time. I know I’ve said this a million times already but he is a handful and a half. I’m just amazed that one little fellow can get into so much trouble. Stop watching him for one second and he’s found something to get into or destroy. lol.
On the reading front I’m still working on The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick. It’s a chunkster and I fit reading in between chasing the dog. I should have it finished in the next day or so though. That’s the only book I’m concentrating on — I have several others to catch up though and I hope by the end of January I’m at least caught up on the ones I recently had committed to like in August and September.
The video I’m going to share with you today is how much fun I have with Sammy outside (please ignore the doggie do piles). In this video you’ll see that Sammy is learning to bark and bark quite well and loudly. He also hates my big white boots which you can’t see but which he is barking up a storm at and trying to attack.
So, what has everyone else been up to this weekend? Are you all ready for Christmas? Did you manage any reading this weekend? I hope you all have a fantastic week ahead!
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Dar, Sammy is quite the cutie pie! What fun you must be having! Sorry for the destructive part of Sammy, but does sound like teething may be playing a big role in that!
Haha, it sounds like Buddy needs some puppy boot camp 🙂 We have a terrier (JRT) and she used to rip up every toy as well. I think you may be right about teething playing a part. Good luck!
PS I'm tired of winter already too – and it's not truly winter yet!!
Sammy is one adorable puppy! But sounds a bit frustrating at times.
If you really need to be able to catch him fast, leave a leash on him so you can grab that.
Mine get "selective hearing" sometimes. Sophie will do almost anything for any kind of food treat but Darcy won't if she's on the hunt.
The video is great!
Oh, the joys of a puppy! Sammy sure sounds like a handful… love the video, too. We got dumped with snow this week, so I didn't make much progress with Christmas shopping. This week, for sure! Later tonight I'll have some time to read more of Freedom.
We're in the middle of a huge snow storm right now. Coop had fun, before the temp dropped and the winds picked up. 🙂 He was just trying to figure out where the puppy was when I played your video!
I think it's funny that he hates your boots! When our dog was a puppy she chewed everything to bits, but settled down progressively over the course of the first year. Now she doesn't chew anything she's not supposed to (unless she finds something chocolate – even a wrapper with a tiny bit on it is enough to drive her crazy – and we don't let her eat chocolate).
I was laughing so hard when I played your little video clip. My six year old, giant of a cat was asleep next to me at the time. He cracked open one eye and just stared at me like, "What the heck are you doing listening to a dog bark?" I thought he'd get riled up, but no. He then proceeded to sigh, close his eyes and go right back to sleep. It just made me laugh! Pets can be so fun. As you mentioned, they can be super destructive (my cat has clawed a three inch hole out of the carpet by my garage door because he knows when he does that I'll get up and let him out there), and yet we love them anyway! 🙂 Have fun, and keep those finger safe.
Pets 🙂 They are wild but you gotta love them. We gave this mouse toy to our cat and she did tear it apart, plastic and all
He is something else!! I love his coat and booties!!!
Dar he is the cutest thing!!! lol about him barking at your boots!! Arent they funny that way? I wonder what these pups are thinking sometimes. Enjoy yoru Sunday.
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You make me feel very homesick for Googly who is back at home! three weeks more!
Sammy looks so cuddly!
Sammy sounds like our dogs. We can't keep a toy intact for more than a few minutes, and those rope toys devolve into dental floss faster than you can blink. I do have to admit that Sammy does sound like he's a handful, but I know he will settle down sooner or later, and hopefully for you, sooner! Have a great week, Dar!
Sammie is so cute, it'd be hard to be mad at him when he chews something up.
Sammie sounds like a wonderful puppy and a ball of energy!!! I'm sure you are having fun trying to keep up with him. I hope you have a great week of reading and I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on Helen Hollick's book as I read a book by her last year and really enjoyed it!
Sammy is such a little ball of energy!
I am always amazed when friends of mine are successful at training their pups. The one time we had a dog, I quickly realized that I am not good at training a dog. I don't think the way they do.
Good luck with training Sammy. He's such a doll.
Love the video! My furball, BJ, listened to the video and shares a happy woof with Sammy too!
Sammy's adorable. I think I say that every time you post about him but it's true. Good luck with the training; I've never had a dog and training a cat seems sooo different! So cute!
Sammy is so cute! Good luck with training him. I have no advice on that, considering that our dog barely knows how to sit or lay down, and stay if definitely iffy.
Aw, Sammy is absolutely adorable! I'm sorry I haven't been here in a while and didn't realize you'd lost Buddy. I knew he'd been awfully sick for a while. I hope Sammy's helping you heal. My two new kitties really helped me move on, although there are still times I find myself missing our Spooky and I've accidentally called Fiona by one of Spooky's nicknames, a time or two.
We're still working on training our Isabel. Fiona's pretty well behaved, apart from occasionally jumping on the piano (big no-no). Isabel needs work. LOTS of it. LOL Good luck training Sammy!!
Sammy is adorable but my goodness is he keeping you busy!
He's still a little baby and needs all of his momma's love and attention. Play with me don't read Mom! You sound like you are doing much better as well, and I'm glad for that. Thanks for sharing and give Sammy pets from me.
He's so adorable, despite his "warts". Have you tried non-dog treats. How about hot dog pieces? I use tofu dogs for D.J. He loves them.
Robbie use to do the same thing to rope toys. We had threads everywhere! LOL!
Have you tried giving him real bones to chew on? Pet stores have a large variety. Some of them are hollow inside and you can put treats in them. I put a dab of peanut butter in and it keeps D.J. busy for quite awhile. Which is great when I bring him with me to the office.
Oh Darlene–Sammy is such a little doll! And what a funny video of him attacking your boots. Though I have to admit I'm a titch glad our dog doesn't bark–not even when we have someone come to the door. Every once in a while she'll let out a bark and it scares the snot out of me, but otherwise she's so quiet.
Yes, the puppy stage is rough but hopefully Sammy will grow out of all that chewing. 😉 But seriously, he is just precious!!
Sammy is such a cutie pie Dar!! I'm so very happy for you and glad he is helping your heart to heal. Buddy will never be forgotten and will always have a special place in your life (and ours!). We have the capacity to love so much and are lucky when we get that chance. I don't think I could ever be without a pet even though the pain of losing them is horrible. The joy they bring is greater. 🙂
The video is adorable and my dogs had to bark when they heard Sammy. His little jacket and booties are so darn cute! I don't envy you the puppy stage but it sounds like you are getting through it. We can't keep any toys around without them being destroyed either and my two dogs are 6 years old! They ate another one tonight – an early present that was a tennis ball on a knotted rope. They love to play tug of war then they eat the knots off the rope and pull it apart. It didn't last 3 hours. *sigh*
Keep posting photos of the little guy and protect those fingers! Have a very merry Christmas and the happiest of new years!