We made it through week 1!

[Allison and Sprocket]

Wow, so much can change in a week!  Some for the better and others, well, less than better.  Sprocket is finally responding to her name and she'll come bounding towards you when you say "Sprocket, come!'  It's pretty adorable seeing as most of the time, when she runs, she trips over her big ol' puppy paws. She's going up and down the stairs when she wants to...usually quite fast if she wants to go out to potty or something makes a noise and scares her (geese, the lawnmower, low flying helicopters, which happen all the time - we're less than a mile from the Pentagon).  She's ringing the bells we hung by the door to let us know that she wants to go out.  I think she's super smart for learning this in less than a day, but also being super smart, she's starting to abuse her power.  She's also learned that crying doesn't get you out of your crate.  This particular lesson has been harder on me.  I can't believe she goes in (sometimes) by herself!  It's probably more for the treat she gets for doing it than for pleasing me, but I'll take it.

 

Yesterday, she got her shots, microchip and a nail clipping with little protest.  I'm not even sure she realized anything was happening other than the microchip which led to a half-hearted yelp.  Actually, yesterday was a big day for the Sprockasaurus.  She also began obedience training.  We hired a trainer to come to our home twice a week to work on the basics and she's already picking it up!  It's only been about 12 hours!  However, just because she is learning "off" (the couch, unless invited) and "sit," she is finding our hands, feet, legs, you name it, to be tastier.  Those puppy fangs HURT!  I look like I was in some sort of alternative street fight the way my forearms look!  Two seconds later, she's back to being my good little girl doling out kisses without a care in the world.  All I can think is how bad it would be without the bitter apple spray. 

 

Things Sprocket loves: human flesh (mostly kidding, but not completely), the taste of her leash, hopefully me and my boyfriend!, going outside but only when she wants to, grass/mulch/leaves, rolling in the grass/mulch/leaves to the point where she turns green from the pollen (thank goodness for grooming wipes!) and playing with two of my friends' toddlers.  They take turns chasing each other - she's on a leash - nobody catches anyone.

 

Things she hates: helicopters, harnesses, bitter apple spray, the dog who lives in the apartment upstairs who makes a lot of noise and isn't well behaved (okay, I may be projecting my feelings for that dog/owner, but seriously, he lets his dog tear up my garbage and doesn't clean up afterwards, doesn't bag the poop outside, and that dog barks and growls ALL day out the window when he isn't playing catch with what sounds like a lead ball upstairs on their wooden floor.)

 

Okay, she's sleeping again....that means it's naptime for me!  I love her, but can't wait until this teething thing is over...It's painful and exhausting for both of us.

[Allison and Sprocket]

I'll write more on the weekend, but we are continuing to do well.  We got the tag at dogids.com.  They have a fantastic selection and it was hard to pick our favorite!

[Christine & Shelby]

Sprocket is adorable.... random question - where did you get his name tag?

[Enzo]

Going through ALL of the same things with Enzo.. It is so nice to know we are not alone!!  I'm a teacher and one of my students asked if I got into a fight because my hands are all scratched up!  Can't wait till those puppy fangs fall out

[shelley knopf]

Sprocket is beautiful I love his markings. Sounds like your doing a great job and Sprocket is a lucky boy to have such a great forever home.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

What a cutie! Things will get better!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

The puppy teething part is hard but always make sure she has plenty of toys to chew.  Our big doodle Stuart was always a big chewer and at 1 year - still loves to chew.  He can destroy even the toughest toys but he never, ever chews up things that he shouldn't even when left alone.  We always make sure that there are bully sticks or shin bones (I wouldn't give one to a young puppy).  Just keep her in those chew toys.  Sounds like Sprocket is off to a great start!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sprocket sounds like a perfectly normal puppy. She is so cute.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job with Sprocket and everything about her sounds like pretty normal fare for a puppy. Great job, Allison! She could not be any cuter!