Doodle All Day Long

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Bitter cold in New York and not at all conducive to our usual morning walk to the beach yesterday.  Opted instead for some fetch in the yard and while getting ready, Quincy somehow backed up and managed to fall down the entire flight of stairs with me standing helplessly watching him roll over and over.  Fortunately, he was fine.  I was not, but recovered shortly.  So we headed out to the 15 degree weather and he ran up the hill a few times to fetch his Kong and blow off some steam.  Since it is sooooo cold, I decided to throw a container of seed out for the birds.  Quick as a wink he got the plastic container and was off for the races, streaking back and forth, baiting me to chase him (we don't do chase as we are trying to teach a strong "come".) Ha! he would stop and chew the plastic which was no so brittle from the cold it was shattering and he absolutely would not give it up or come anywhere near me.  You all know that look!  The devil in the doodle. Now it is cold, I am late for work and Quince- a -Wince is being a naughty boy.  So frustrating.  Tried sweet voice and bending down with an outstretched hand full of treats, tried walking away, tried stern voice.  Finally went in the house and he got the idea that he might be spending the day out there (not really).  He did come inside and did settle nicely in his crate.  Later that day, his dog walker sent me a video with them practicing "fetch" with (modest) success.  However, when I got home, it was to my husband stating:  "Show her what you did!"  Quincy managed to unzip his very large dog bed in his new very large crate and had stuffing from one end to the next.  DD said he was covered in it as well.  I guess I should be glad he apparently did not eat the stuffing -  but now I am afraid to leave any stuffed pillow type pad in his crate. He also chewed open a new stuffed dog toy-which I also had to throw out. He used to be more gentle and his toys lasted weeks before they kind of wore out and lost stuffing.  Is this the dreaded Teenage period?  He's 8 month old.  Well, this morning he got a plain blanket in his crate- wonder what he will do to that!   He needs a really long walk and I plan on bundling up and doing just that  - probably in the snow we expect to come tonight.  Happy weekend everyone! 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Quincy gets a Kong-but I think he is done with that in short order, plus his antler,  a bully stick and a rope tie.  I am going to try to freeze the Kong.  I will definitely look into Orvis cover this weekend too!  Thanks for the tips. 

[Lynda Kamrath]

My suggestion for beds is the canvas covered beds from Sierra Trading Post.  When they are on sale we get them for about $50 each (large).  We have tried many dog beds and the dogs usually get them torn up one way or another.  These are just super durable and last forever.  We have them in the laundry room and on the deck with hangers by the door for when it is wet outside.  Great outdoor beds.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Haley was about 8 months old when he started unstuffing his stuffed toys so we quite giving them and gave him skineez toys (no stuffing) which he disected.  A couple of months ago he started consuming some of the pieces so now no skineez toys either.  He gets marrow bones and West Paw Design Zogoflex toys which seem to be indestructible.  (Haley is four years old.)  He also loved/loves to destroy plastic like soda bottles and plant pots.

[F, Calla & Luca]

They do out grow the pull the stuffing out of bed stage but mine have never gotten the idea that stuffed toys have any purpose other that to be destuffed. Enjoy your doodle.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It's really tough to get the the exercise they need in this frigid weather.....the only thing saving Murphy is Daycare and the treadmill.  It sounds like just a few more days of this.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I have a treadmill and want to do that-just need more hours in the day.  maybe this weekend.  I am thinking there is probably a thread on here somewhere with helpful hints for treadmills that I will try to find.  

[Traz, Karen & Dale]

Yes, Lori...you have a teenager, like us.  Ugh!  My husband and I are both retired so we thought it would be a great time to get a dog.  We have had Traz for 4 1/2 months (he is 8 1/2 months now).  It has been fun, but if Traz doesn't get enough exercise, he drives us crazy.  He'll go after items that he never touched before.  Yesterday my husband and I were trying to have a conversation and Traz was bored.  He climbed up on the couch, several times, to go after a Christmas decoration that I have yet to put way, and tried to drag it down.  He persisted until we stopped talking and paid attention to him.  His most recent challenge is humping my husband's leg and his coat that is hanging on the chair.  He is an intact male (part of a service dog breeding program) and the hormones are starting to rage.  Traz is now lifting his leg to pee (luckily not inside the house) and stopping at every tree & bush to see who has been there.  I am hoping all the training that we've done with him will help keep things under control.  Good luck with Quincy.  It sounds like we are going through similar things with our doodles.  Take care.   

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Well- I guess I should have waited for retirement, but I missed having a dog so much that I would have to resist the urge to pull the car over to pet a random dog being walked!  I don't like leaving him all day, but when the weather cooperates and he gets a good workout before I go, he seems fine.  When I do work from home, he sleeps at my feet all day, which also makes me think he dreams the day away.  It's just when he does not get exercise that, as all seem to agree, he gets into (extra) mischief.  Glad it's Friday! 

[DJ & Chance]

What an awkward teenager day for Quincy.  My pup has clearly entered the early teen stage as well.  This morning, he "helped" me "unpack" the laundry from its bag.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Poor Quincy. I am glad he wasn't hurt. Oh I do know that Devil in the Doodle look, it's hard not to laugh. Yeah, I once thought Daisy was not a stuffie killer but then one day she killed her favorite lamb - she was 9 months old and she used to carry that thing around with her every where.

Here is the lamband just one short month later, the demise of the lamb.

I have to admit I was really upset...picked up all the pieces to stuff and sew but then never did. I realized once she tasted  their blood stuffing, it would never change, and it hasn't - haha

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Oh no, that is sad.  Lily Grace has a teddy she carries everywhere.  I think I will hide it once she turns 8 months. LOL

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

oh poor lamb.  ever since i watched Toy Story I relate to inanimate objects almost as much as the real thing.