Stew is 1 year old!!

[Jess & Stewart]

GAH! I've tried to post this discussion THREE times but DK didn't load it!

I can't believe its already been a year! It's gone by so quickly! I think Stew's doing well for 1 year but I wish he was better with obedience. It feels like he'll never earn his CGC!

In honor of Stew's first year, here are milestones/things he can do!

-Only 3 pee accidents in my apartment
-NEVER pooped in my apartment
-NEVER pooped/peed in his crate
-Housebroken at 3 months
-Rings potty bells to go out
-Walks well on a loose leash for no formal heel training
-Sits before harness is put on/taken off
-Sits and waits for food/water
-Sits and waits at threshold of doors to be released before walking through
-Sits at crosswalks/red lights
-Can do sit/down stay (under minimal distraction) for almost 10 minutes
-Can sit/down stay in busy places (UPenn campus, store parking lots) for almost 5 minutes
-Will sit on walks if he sees people walking towards/past us (if they approach closer, all bets are off!)
-Go into crate on command if he's close enough to it

-Can sit, down, watch me both verbally and with hand signals
-Can high five with both paws
-Can give left and right paws (anatomically correct!)
-Can speak on command
-Can wave goodbye
-Will drop and leave things once (sometimes swoops in to get it again when I approach to get it)
-Will drop a fetch toy (squeaky, ball) everytime and let me pick it up
-Will sit/down before I let him "take" toys/treats
-Can do many other things but only 75% of the time: crawl, rollover, play bow, sit up on back legs, respond to name, come, get on/off things.

He also has EVERY SINGLE TOY I've ever bought him, hasn't destroyed any where they needed to be thrown out. Only a few given to him have gotten grimy and thrown out.

Stewart was named for my mom (her maiden name) and his red color which complimented the Scottish surname. Stewart means "guardian" which I always thought was cool because he was "man of the house" but it's ironic because boy can he GUARD. (anything and everything sometimes without warning)

Overall, every though it may seem like I'm overwhelmed, it's only because I live alone without a car and don't have anyone to share responsibilities with or get "me" time until he's asleep or chewing on bones.

Happy Birthday Stewby Doo!! Maybe someday if I snag a man, you'll get a buddy to play with!

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Happy birthday smart boy!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Happy 1st Birthday Stew! We know it was rough for you, training a new mom, but you did a great job, lol! Hope you get lots of treats on your special day! 

[Jennifer & Truffle]

Happy birthday, Stew! Hope you have a great 2nd year.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Happy Birthday! I cannot believe it has been one year. You did a great job!!

[BG and Gavin]

Happy Birthday Stew!  I think you are doing awesome.  I feel like we have been right along with you for the ride.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Stewart, a year old already?! How can that be! Happy Birthday to you! Your Mama has done a great job! Jess, keep us posted on your man status! : ))

[Jess & Stewart]

LOL Stew will only be getting a brother or sister if I ever find someone/live with a roommate so we can share responsibilities! But my breeder just had a wave of births with her females and I'm jealous of the puppy pictures! I think I want another one because I know what to do now having worked out kinks with Stew!

[Deborah Brown]

Happy Birthday!  I am loving your positive and uplifting post.  You have had a year that I'm sure you won't forget.  :)

[Gail and Bailey]

Happy Birthday, Stewart!  Sounds like you have done a great job learning all sorts of new things from your awesome mom!

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

Happy Birthday Stew!
You got your pup about the same time as I got Georgia (she is almost a year) so I have followed all the stuff you have dealt with.
But Stew is so much better trained. I am jealous. I have to assume that he is much smarter than my Georgia. Otherwise it could only be my fault for getting lazy and neglecting her training.

[Jess & Stewart]

Honestly Nancy, Stew isn't totally reliable and is very stubborn. I feel lazy for not keeping up with classes. I tried to teach him a lot of tricks between 6-9 months since I didn't have him in training classes. I used to take him after hours to a grassy lot next to my apt but I got yelled at so I stopped but I've seen other dogs there recently so I've started taking him out on a 60 ft line at night to run & fetch. It seems to really take the edge off the "crazies" at night. I also walk him more around UPenn and the city now that I'm unemployed so I think that's helped too. All the sights, sounds, smells and analyzing tire him out!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Happy Bithday Stew, what progress!