Aug 31, 2011: Thurmon's Activities

So what is Thurmon up to these days?

He enjoys playing under the bed - seems to like pushing himself around under it, scrabbling away in the constrained space. Tonight he realized he could tear at the fabric lining the underside of the boxspring. Not good. It's been sprayed with bitter apple and now he leaves it alone, but he still likes spending time under the bed. You can often find him naping next to the bed, with just his head under the bedskirt.

Speaking of naps, he has many favoured locations: by the water dish (he has ended up with the tip of his tail lying in the water), under the bench in the entryway (that's a new spot, starting just a few days ago), by the dining room table up against the wall, on his towel in the living room, on either side of the bed (but usually on Mark's side), and against Julie's feet under the computer desk (so far that's just the once, today, but it would be nice if it continues).

I've been training him to eat dandelion flowers - it seems like the gardening task he's best suited to at this point (but I like to imagine that he'll find some other useful gardening tasks to take on as he gets older). He doesn't notice them on his own, but if I point to a flower he'll come over and tear it off with relish.

And he's learning to "drop it" - seems to be catching on very fast. So fast that it's hard to get him to hang onto his toys as I walk toward him. We'll have to try it at a distance. Or with more delectable items - like dirty socks! And without a treat directly on hand to swap for the dropped item.

Aug 27, 2011: Showered With Gifts

Two more visitors and two more gifts - Jane brought a squeaky unstuffed beaver, and Clarissa brought a squeaky rubber monkey. At one point he seemed to be trying to play with them both simultaneously - no easy feat.

Below: Thurmon tries to sleep under toy mountain.

Aug 26, 2011: A Thurmon Scare

Today Thurmon caught his collar on the kitchen cupboard door handle (as he kept determinedly trying to jump up while I was working at the counter).

He screamed and thrashed about wildly trying to get loose - it only lasted a second before I had him off, but it was one of those moments that seem to last forever, as you feel like you're moving in slow motion. Yikes.

What a vindication for not leaving him unattended - confinement in the crate is definitely needed at this stage if I'm not home to watch him. And that collar is coming off in any situation where it could prove a liability.

It was a harsher lesson than I would have dealt, but it does seem to have cured Thurmon of jumping up at the counter!

Aug 25, 2011: Thurmon Gets the Hiccups

A few times now we've noticed that Thurmon has hiccups. He had them this afternoon as he was lying down; I rolled him back and forth a few times and it seemed to cure them - or at least he forgot that he was having them!

Aug 24, 2011: Escargot, Shelter in the Storm

Today Thurmon discovered a love of snails - there are lots to be found behind the fence surrounding the raspberry bushes, and Thurmon realized he could easily poke his head in to get them.

It turns out that Thumron has no fear of thunder or lightning, during a storm strong enough to shut down the CNE. Must be his namesake Thor - god of thunder!

Below: Thurmon sleeping with his squeaky rabbit. Not actually during the storm, but it's about how peaceful he was!

Aug 23, 2011: Exciting Walks

Thurmon had some exciting walks today. Before supper he met one of the neighbourhood dogs for the first time, a little bichon frise mix. Thurmon excitedly twirled about while the bichon frise mostly tried to keep his distance. Then Thurmon met four young children who were playing on their front lawn - they rushed up to meet him and let him have his fill of licking them all over - he was delighted and kept his cool quite well under the onslaught of affection.

Then later in the evening when I had to go out, Mark walked him to say good-bye as I left for the subway, then took him along the hydro corridor through the long grass. He met a huge Australian Shepherd - Mark said he nudged Thurmon with his nose and Thurmon immediately rolled over - he knew who was the dominant dog there!

Below: Thurmon gets in a good stretch.

Aug 22, 2011: The Gifts Keep Coming

Lucky Thurmon had two more young visitors today, and two more gifts - it's like Christmas every day! Toddler Chloe and older sister Emily brought Thurmon a flat three-legged pig (he sort of looks like he could be a frisbee) with five squeakers(!) and a braided rope with tennis balls at either end. He squeaked, he chased the rope toy when tossed, and he was quite well-behaved during the visit - eager to lick but staying quiet and with all feet on the ground, which made me proud.

We continue to work on "Come" and have started "Stay". Walks continue to get longer, with more exposure to traffic and large vehicles. In fact, Thurmon stopped traffic in our subdivision - as I had him sit to wait for a van to turn the corner the driver rolled down her window to shout out a compliment.

Aug 20, 2011: Thurmon Gets a Gift or Two

This morning Thurmon had a visit from Nadia, Phil and their toddler Danica, and Danica presented him with a gift - a bone. It has lots of rubbery protuberances and textures, and is a big hit.

Thurmon also had his first off-leash lesson in the park on "Come", running between me and Mark as he got treats of cheese. Hard to say if the lesson was really soaking in, but he loved the cheese. And the chance to run fast.

And then in the evening Thurmon got another gift - a squeaky rabbit (almost more of a disembodied rabbit "skin") from Aaron and Sabreena. It has two squeakers in it, and he's loved chewing on both ends. I like it because if I can hear him squeaking in the other room I know that he's not up to any trouble.

Aug 18, 2011: Tonight's Report

This morning we walked Mark to the subway (or at least to the top of the stairs at the end of the subdivision), a longer walk than last night. Thurmon was excited to see people, particularly children. One passerby stopped to pet him and ask questions - he sat calmly while being greeted. He's starting to get the knack of walking alongside, in tandem with us, although he's still got some work to do.

Thurmon also discovered the joys of digging. The first hole was inconveniently located in the midst of the lawn, so I kept warding him off. The second hole was more conveniently located in an empty mulch-covered spot in the flower bed, so I let him work away at that one - might as well have an approved digging area.

Thurmon's kong has gone missing. I suspect that its residual treat smell was irresistible to a raccoon, who made off with it. Poor Thurmon - he needs a new outdoor toy. All he's got now is a rotten old piece of stick that he found - he loves it, but I can tell it won't last long. (Update: Thurmon trotted out of the bushes at the back of the yard a few days later with the kong - reunited!)

While I was out in the evening, Mark found that Thurmon is able to delicately extract a tissue from a Kleenex box on the side table. Not necessarily a skill we want to develop.

Below: Thurmon relaxing in a shady spot in the back yard. The lilies of the valley are starting to look a bit trampled. Happily Thurmon just likes lying in them, and not eating them, since they can be toxic to dogs - but we keep an eye on him whenever he's in them just in case...

Aug 17, 2011: A Visit and More Thurmon Firsts

First visitors: two women (my friends Becky and Anne) and one small boy (Becky's son). Thurmon greeted everyone calmly (no barking, no jumping) although he really wanted to lick little William (there was some wriggling as I held him back). Later in the morning he very neatly picked out one crayon from his container, as if it was a fine hors d'oeuvre, and then proceeded to chew on it (happily I got it away before he swallowed). Later William explored Thurmon's crate ("I'm in Thurmon's house!") and put the cast iron doorstop that's shaped like a cat in the crate ("I'm putting the kitty in Thurmon's house!"). Very funny.

First walk: on the leash, around the block. Cars were slightly alarming yet fascinating. Children on wheels were definitely fascinating. People were nice to greet if they came up to meet him. Thurmon smelled everything. And then he came inside and fell asleep.

First time spent in his pen. We've had this set up indoors to get him used to having an "area", and have experimented with closing the door for short periods. Today I used it outside, so that he could be with me while I worked in the front yard (which is not otherwise fenced). There were a couple of periods of barking, but then he settled down for a good half hour. Very useful.

Aug 15, 2011: Thurmon Firsts

First time chasing the fast end of a bamboo stick in circles around the yard (very fast and persistent). Good game for the human who gets to stay still in the middle.

First time chasing a moving arc of water from the water barrel hose (also fast and persistent with this game; didn't mind getting face wet).

First time seen jumping up after cabbage moths (a dog after Mark's own heart - get those moths before they eat holes in our vegetables!).

Aug 14, 2011: More About Thurmon

We chose Thurmon's name because it means "protected by Thor", and we wanted something that suggested his Norwegian heritage.

Who is our other favourite Thurmon (or Thurman, which would be the usual spelling)?

Thurman Merman, the strange and silent kid in the movie "Bad Santa"!

Here's Thurmon, hanging out with his meerkat.

Aug 13, 2011: Thurmon Comes Home

Today we picked up Thurmon and brought him home!

Thurmon was born April 30, so he's a reasonably mature pup already. He was noticeably bigger from when we saw him two weeks ago, and his floppy ears are starting to perk up (although the right one still tends to flop over at the top). He had a decent trip home, sitting on Mark's lap, looking a bit stressed but staying calm (although he did get a bit droolly at the end).

He perked right up when we got home, romping around in the backyard, having a big drink of water and eating a bowl of food. After an hour or so outside we decided to go in, which is when we discovered that he's not a fan of stairs - we ended up having to carry him in. We'll have to work on that!

Thurmon settled in well, chewing on a bully stick and carrying around his new stuffed meerkat toy. At the end of the night he fell asleep in his crate so easily that we decided we'd go ahead and try him in it for the night - only once did he waked up distressed to find that he was shut in, and after a few minutes he settled down then slept right through the night.