[Schnauzaluv]

I bought all sorts of toys in anticipation for Ozzy's arrival, it was long time on the wait lists. I found this one stashed in his toy box. It's a wooden rattle for toddlers. But honestly it's greatest toy right now. Tbh so far it ends up being his chew that puts him sleep lol, he loves to chew on wood and the rings move as he chews.

It rattles, it rolls, he can carry and grab it easily, it's a win 🤘

Started with the leash this afternoon in the area he's used to being in the backyard. He doesn't seem to care too much with having a lead attached. Also I thought he'd view the leash as a toy, but he didn't seem to grab at it much even loose leash walking. I was trying to make a point of when the leash was attached and he was going for a walk because without reward and following my hand at this point, he tends to take off running, getting at the end of the leash and flipping. But then I coaxed him beside my left side in position to start walking with me. He gets no reward for running off. Only when he walks with me. Man, takes lots of patience! But I also know it was session #1, so he did really well! When I take off the leash, I say "free" and he is released to run as he pleases.

 

[JoanneF]

Haha, it's like a toddler playing with the boxes and wrapping paper on Christmas morning!

Rotating toys so he only has access to a few different ones at any time helps keep them special. And let me share our best. toy. ever. Ball in a sock.

 

[Schnauzaluv]

That is awesome! I actually did the same thing and stuffed a ball with a bell in it, but I didn't give it to him yet because I thought he was a little too small. But he is growing so fast and he'll be ready soon! Oh and that's a great suggestion to rotate toys, it's like a new toy all over again haha! Admittedly he really has too many haha!

Tbh, I do struggle with getting him to entertain himself (or maybe it's me worrying too much about it and entertaining too much) 😕🙃

It makes me feel anxious to leave him alone (particularly in his pen) although I am reading and working in it and we're both making subtle improvement, it is something i'm struggling with.

I mean at first he whined when I passed the barricade to go to the bathroom 😖😳

 

[JoanneF]

Have you tried the Flitting Game?

Its described about ⅔ of the way down this link.

Separation Anxiety - Fact vs Fiction

Separation anxiety is something of a hot topic, something many trainers and behaviourists avoid like the plague and something widely misunderstood by the majority! So what IS it, and what ISN’T it. Separation Anxiety is used as an umbrella term to cover any anxiety based issues regarding...

www.thecanineconsultants.co.uk

 

[Schnauzaluv]

Have you tried the Flitting Game?

Its described about ⅔ of the way down this link.

Separation Anxiety - Fact vs Fiction

Separation anxiety is something of a hot topic, something many trainers and behaviourists avoid like the plague and something widely misunderstood by the majority! So what IS it, and what ISN’T it. Separation Anxiety is used as an umbrella term to cover any anxiety based issues regarding...

www.thecanineconsultants.co.uk

Oh thanks reading now, looks like just what I need! I just skimmed, but yes, if he's up (not sleeping/resting), he is following me everywhere in the house he can. Honestly I have to fix my own anxiety about it before I expect him not to whine when I disappear. He just whines a bit, not outright crying, and it is getting better, but something we are working on.

I starting playing the Flitting game and it's helping i'm sure. He already was pretty ok with me in the kitchen, especially if my OH is home too, but the best time to leave him is when he's resting. I will continue to play the game with the barrier to the hallway cuz that's a bigger issue for him.

 

[Schnauzaluv]

He's 11 weeks already! Where has the time gone? They grow so fast 😭

We gave him an ice cube today 😂

He now has learned some impulse control, sit, down, stand and 1st level stay. Mini schnauzers are an intelligent breed, but it must be because he is so young, idk, he seems to understand what to do right away.

We are working on barrier control. He has figured out he can get through the barrier to the hallway lol. I laugh because it looks so funny when he just bust through. It's only a sofa cushion jammed between the walls, but he just didn't think to jump against it yet. So we are trying to teach him that whatever is going on in the bathroom and bedrooms is super boring. We're keeping the bedroom doors closed anyway, so nothing to see. But I can't see him around the corner, so he only has free access to the livingroom and kitchen until he's potty trained.

 

[Schnauzaluv]

Btw i've been self learning to hand strip. So far, i've worked on his head, tops of ears, neck, shoulders, down the right side and tail/back end/hind legs.

Can you tell a difference?
Before and after

I don't really know if i'm doing it right, but he seems to like it and i'm pulling the longest hairs on the jacket. The cheeks and belly i'm scisorring.

If anyone knows, I could use the tips 😉

 

[Animals45]

Hi!
Welcome to the dog forum it's so great to have u here!

 

[Schnauzaluv]

We went to the vet today to get our second shots. OMG he needs socialization! He flipped if he thought I was passing him off wailing! Luckily the vet took it really slow and was very nice and calming and he finally was ok in her arms where she kept him to deliver his shots. We just fore went the table altogether because he started wailing and almost fell off Oof! I feel pretty stressed about it, but by the end he was almost falling asleep in the vet's arms and they said that's what he'll remember, so i'm hoping!

The vet is seeing this a lot with Covid puppies, understandably, so she recommended a puppy class and I'll probably take that advice.

We also have to work on the car. He whined the whole way there. I was giving him treats, but he was whining if he wasn't chewing. I even made him a car seat out of boxes, a blanket and cushion, but he's still not a fan of the car.

 

[JoanneF]

If the car is going to feature in his life, it really is worthwhile investing the time to get him used to it now.

 

[Schnauzaluv]

So so proud our big boy!!! 🤗

He got his 2nd round of shots on Tues and I tried to take him out for the 1st time yesterday. It did not go well......
He was terrified (shaking) at cars going by, I had to retreat back and didn't even get him on the ground, he was so scared. I was pretty discouraged, knowing this is something we'd have to take super slow to get him used to it and feeling a bit overwhelmed because he just turned 12 weeks and I limited time with the imprinting period.

Today my OH had to get his tires changed. So we drove to the car dealership about 5 mins away and brought Ozzy. I made him a little car seat which he uses when we are driving alone (no passenger). To make a long story short, he was not so comfortable on the way there, calming in my OH's arms by the way back home. We stopped at a coffee shop where he was able to observe cars at the drive thru and ppl getting in and out their cars, so that was a good place for him to become accustomed to the car, a passenger leaving and coming back, ect.

My OH's car was ready in about 1hr, so we took Ozzy again and this time he was so relaxed, not shaking, lying down in my OH's arms. On the way back home, he was in on his car seat, lying down in a little lamby ball 😍

He even went for a little walk in the front yard when he got back the first time! Then we actually went half way up the street and back the 2nd time coming home!!! So proud of Ozzy! He even wagged his tail a bit the second time while I was fastening his leash 👻 Honestly he seemed to really have fun and was even giving more distance outside in the backyard after. It was like he felt like a big boy too! Our baby is growing up mentally as fast as he is growing physically ☺

This is GREAT news because i'm trying to enroll him in a puppy class starting Nov 3rd. I was feeling a lot of anxiety because I needed to get him used to the car and new places by then (just the 2 of us). But i'm so relieved now I had to share!!!

 

[Schnauzaluv]

We are working on barrier control. He has figured out he can get through the barrier to the hallway lol. I laugh because it looks so funny when he just bust through. It's only a sofa cushion jammed between the walls, but he just didn't think to jump against it yet. So we are trying to teach him that whatever is going on in the bathroom and bedrooms is super boring. We're keeping the bedroom doors closed anyway, so nothing to see. But I can't see him around the corner, so he only has free access to the livingroom and kitchen until he's potty trained.

I'm quoting this because things have changed. He pretty much has free access to the hallway now as long as we can watch him. A big reason for that is because he seems to feel a lot more satisfied knowing where we are going and what we are doing. It's helping with his anxiety with me leaving him to go to the loo and I can close the door behind me to a room without him reacting. He actually spends most of his time with us anyway. The other reason is he's doing very well with potty training and we can use the hallway for exercise when it's rainy. He loves to rip around in the house too, he's such a cutie 😍

So the barrier is now a game, my OH hides behind it, calls Ozzy, and when Ozzy is engaged, he pops UP! Ozzy charges and busts the barrier down to get to my OH. It's so fun! I genuinely laugh at my OHs face when he PoPs up 🤣

He still respects the barrier when we can't watch him.

 

[Schnauzaluv]

12 weeks yesterday 🤗
8.4 pounds

His 1st squeak toy ever!!!

He was playing longer than that, but I got the tail end. He's still ADHD tho!

Always chewing on a piece of wood

 

[Schnauzaluv]

Ozzy turned 13 weeks old on Thursday and weighs in at 10lbs! He is absolutely growing so quickly i'm almost shocked. To think back how tiny and baby like he was 6 weeks ago!

We have made a lot of progress with the cars and sitting in his car seat ect 👍 He still gets a bit shaky at first, but seems to calm down. I have noticed he barks and tries to wiggle (tensing up) out your arms because he's excited to get out, not scared. So now I just have to work some more on impulse control (like sitting before exiting the house) but at least I have more of a plan. Just to explain, he was so small to go down all the stairs on his own, so I was carrying him to the lawn.

We were also able to introduce him to some family (strangers) and feel we made some progress there as well, so things are looking good, feeling optimistic 😊

On a fun note, this HAS to be his favorite toy 🤣
Squeaky cow

 

[JoanneF]

He is adorable! And I love your carpet and radiator

 

[Watson]

He’s adorable! Go, Ozzy. Keep on exploring the big world around you.

 

[Schnauzaluv]

He is adorable! And I love your carpet and radiator

Oh I didn't see this until now. Thanks for the compliment on my runner rug. Thanks wayfair lol. It's Ozzy's run way hahaha!

He’s adorable! Go, Ozzy. Keep on exploring the big world around you.

Awwwww tx, so much fun watching them grow up!

 

[Schnauzaluv]

So we did it! Our 1st puppy class last night. The longest time I had to wear a mask...
Must be so weird for Ozzy, he loves to give me kisses, and he was definitely weirded out by the mask, but overall it went ok 🙂

Car ride was 40 mins and he was such a good boy this time. Barely even whined and comfortable in his car seat. I'm relived he feels better about the car and I know it will just get better the more fun places we go.

I was so worried about him meeting other dogs/puppies for the 1st time, and he was a bit scared, barking and hiding a bit, but he also approached some and even attempted a play. It was night and day than our vet visit 2 weeks ago where he was shaking and wailing to be passed off to strangers (the vet). He even sat and took a treat from the trainer and also got to meet a lot of strangers. I'm so happy i'm able to socialize him at this point even with Covid.

So our homework is 'look at me', 'touch' my hand and sit with the universal hand gesture. Easy stuff 😉

 

[JoanneF]

Sounds good!

 

[Schnauzaluv]

Was snapping some shots yesterday, caught him mid-chew and laughed my head off, looks like he's surprised or screaming or something.....
Would make a great meme!

🤣😂🤣😂