Oscar goes CRAZY!

Is there anything more wonderful than the crazy antics of a young pup???

Oscar is doing fabulous at night now ... goes quietly into his crate bed at 10pm, and is still quiet at 6:30am when Ray lets him out (Hurray Oscar!! We get good sleeps!) But, then he goes crazy! All that pent-up energy just explodes inside him, and he races from one end of the kitchen to another, pouncing on every toy he sees in his path.

Luckily, we have a huge grassed property, and Ray takes him on his leash at this time for a good romp around - fighting off the pesky mosquitoes as he goes. Brings Oscar in for breakfast, and after gulping down his food and a lovely long drink, the little guy is ready for another romp (gotta poop again now!)

At 7:30am it's my turn, and off we go again - he sure is getting used to the leash this way. Suddenly we hit the magic time of 8:30am, and Oscar plops down exhausted - and so do we! (Once we are able to take him for a nice long early walk this should help expend his energy, but right now the short walk/runs around our property have to suffice.)

He saw the vet yesterday and has a clean bill of health, except for a slight under bite on his lower jaw.  (Vet says it's not uncommon in poodles - that's funny, because I have the same thing.)  Next week he gets his first booster shot.  We thought he seemed to have grown since we got him 6 days ago, and he sure has - he now weighs 14lbs, and his huge paws tell us he has a long way to go yet.

It's 10am ... his crazy time is over (for now), and as I write he is curled up sleeping quietly under my chair.  Reminds me of when I used to peek into my children's rooms at night, and think how angelic they looked - forgetting all their crazy antics of the day.

Life with Oscar ...

We are into Day Three of having Oscar in our home.

How to describe him ... he's extremely cuddly, very people oriented.  Learns very quickly - has not had any 'accidents' inside yet, and starts to whine by the door when he needs to go.  Loves to be wherever we are, will lie under our chair at the kitchen table.  Adores playing with his toys, especially if they squeak, and only cried for 10 minutes each night before sleeping peacefully until 6am ...!

How do I continue this?  It is such a boring blog ... it's one reason I've put off posting until Day 3 with Oscar.  Reading nothing but good reports is not the stuff of best sellers!

I'm under no misapprehension that Life with Oscar will continue this smoothly, I've had too many dogs to know that it won't.  But, right now, he's just so incredibly sweet, has bonded with us so quickly, and we are really enjoying his innocent young puppy days whilst they last!

However ... watch this space, for it can't possibly last! :-)

Oscar saying goodbye to mum

A very tired Oscar on his first day home

4 more sleeps ...

A very strange occurrence is taking place in our home. Ray and I are experiencing the same delight as we did over 30 years ago when we gave birth to our three children. It's true! The excitement is building daily, with the same stirring feeling that a huge life-change is about to happen (but thank goodness I don't have to go through childbirth again.)
Yes, Oscar arrives at the Field Home on Friday.

We've bought a new dog crate, a new little bed, assorted toys, new dog dishes (can't use Darcy's - it wouldn't be right) an assortment of things for him to chew on, treats, puppy leash and collar and balls.  Ray has created a small fenced grass area just off the back deck, and I am devouring Cesar Millan's book "How To Raise the Perfect Dog",  with Patricia McConnell's "The Other End of the Leash - Why we Do what we Do around Dogs" sitting beside my bed awaiting it's turn.

I think we're ready.

One would never believe that we have had dogs in our home continuously since 1984 ... but, this time it's different!  We have the time now to get excited, to savour the experience.  No half-grown children demanding our time (and money).  No full-time job to take us away from the home.

This little fellow will have our undivided attention ... hmmm, I wonder if that is a good thing?

The breeder is getting the pups gently used to a leash.

Oscar snoozing with his mighty dad.

Exploring with one of his brothers.

Oscar at 5 1/2 weeks

Here's the little bundle of energy which will be sharing our home for (we hope) the next 15 years. We bring him home on May 20th, and I don't know how I will wait until then!

I probably should be blogging about how excited I am to see the NDP do so well in our national election tonight ... but, somehow I can't focus on anything else at present. Here are a few other pics taken this morning of Oscar and his litter mates.

Oscar is the one on the bottom of this ...

Oscar (red collar) naps whilst the other two play ...

I didn't want to leave him ... we'll be back to get you in 2 1/2 weeks little guy!