Update on the dog training! I definitley still practice dexter's tricks all the time to keep his brain stimulated and today we were sitting on the couch and he was just staring at me so I held up my hand and thought maybe he'll high 5 me (he's never done this). I started saying "high 5 dexter" and just as I was telling my husband that dexter probably thought I was telling him to stay (thats the same hand gesture) dexter actually gave me a high 5!! I freaked out and he freaked out he got SOOOOO excited. So I sat him on the ground and said "high 5" and he went for it again right away! He picked it up after doing it ONCE!
Seriously, it blows my mind how quickly a dog learns after he/she learns the signs of reward or praise from their owner. He didn't even need a treat to do it he just loved getting the attention.
He's much better in the crate still these days except for today. Brandon came home to find some of the stuffing tore out of the blanket in his crate. I know they reccomend giving him more to chew on in the crate if they do this but I'm afraid that with an agressive chewer it could just lead to unfortunate incidents like him eating a part of toy and choking on it or having it get stuck in his intestines.
I'd rather play safe than sorry and have him in their with just his kong.
I really wish we stuck with ignoring him more when people come over because he goes CRAZY when the doorbell rings or someone knocks. I think I'm going to try and get brandon to practice this with me. I think maybe when I come home from work I'll ring the bell and brandon won't open the door until dexter calms down and retreats from the door. Maybe it'll work.
Showing posts with label dexter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dexter. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
So you think you want a boxer pup?
Today is a two-fer!...or is it two-for....either way, you get TWO posts today!
Brandon and I (as most of you know) have gotten ourselves a boxer pup back in October, shortly after our wedding. After having the puppy for just a few short days we panicked and took him back. Thankfully, is original owner let us come back less than 24hrs later to pick him up again. :)
Going back there was the BEST decision for us!
I'll tell you, that at this moment Dexter (our pup) is laying down all cute and snuggly on my bed....this is not normal. He's only acting this way because he ran a muck from 11am until about 5 this afternoon.
I decided to maybe provide some personal reflections and opinions to other people out there looking to possibly get themselves a boxer pup or dog.
They say boxers are like three year old children that never grow up. VERY true! Dexter is super playful! He has his sleepy times but for the most part he is an attention seeker.
Let's give you some history!
Boxers were bread from a wild dog in Germany and a mastiff. They were originally bred to hunt wild animals. Their jaws helped them hold onto the game until their owner reached them.
Today's boxers are much more playful and friendly. They make great companion dogs, and are very protective over their family. I cannot agree enough with this when it comes to Dexter. If Brandon so much as looks at me funny, or talks to me in a tone (jokingly) that Dexter does not like, and especially if he pretends to hit me or even TAP me DEXTER GOES NUTS! He is CRAZY protective over me. If I pretend to hit Brandon Dexter actually jumps in to help ME! I'm sure Brandon doesn't find it as endearing as I do but it makes my heart melt to know he cares that much about me.
Boxers love to have something to work for or have a task to do, so obedience training is a GREAT idea! Dexter started at about 3 months and was the star of his class! He picked up all the tricks very easily and loves doing them to this day.
Separation anxiety...if you get this GET A TRAINER, read up on it. Start leaving your puppy alone (crated preferably) in small increments. Dexter picked up separation anxiety at about 6 months out of nowhere. It IS possible to overcome if you nip it in the bud early! If you need any helpful tips or advice, I'm not a professional but with the help of one we defeated our puppies poor anxiety problems. Just comment and I will get back to you!
Lastly....get a harness that hooks in the front! Walking a strong boxer can be very difficult. Practice heel (usually taught at obedience classes or puppy training), or try other techniques to train him to walk beside you not lead you. The harness really helped us. I can actually walk him by myself!
Getting any kind of puppy is a big decision. In our family it's just Brandon and I. I think having less people in the family makes having a puppy (particularly a boxer puppy) a LOT like having a kid. They need constant attention, affection, and discipline. I think having more people in a family might make having a puppy easier but its not impossible for a couple. You just have to be ready to sacrifice a little and be PATIENT.
It's worth it! <3
Brandon and I (as most of you know) have gotten ourselves a boxer pup back in October, shortly after our wedding. After having the puppy for just a few short days we panicked and took him back. Thankfully, is original owner let us come back less than 24hrs later to pick him up again. :)
Going back there was the BEST decision for us!
I'll tell you, that at this moment Dexter (our pup) is laying down all cute and snuggly on my bed....this is not normal. He's only acting this way because he ran a muck from 11am until about 5 this afternoon.
I decided to maybe provide some personal reflections and opinions to other people out there looking to possibly get themselves a boxer pup or dog.
They say boxers are like three year old children that never grow up. VERY true! Dexter is super playful! He has his sleepy times but for the most part he is an attention seeker.
Let's give you some history!
Boxers were bread from a wild dog in Germany and a mastiff. They were originally bred to hunt wild animals. Their jaws helped them hold onto the game until their owner reached them.
Today's boxers are much more playful and friendly. They make great companion dogs, and are very protective over their family. I cannot agree enough with this when it comes to Dexter. If Brandon so much as looks at me funny, or talks to me in a tone (jokingly) that Dexter does not like, and especially if he pretends to hit me or even TAP me DEXTER GOES NUTS! He is CRAZY protective over me. If I pretend to hit Brandon Dexter actually jumps in to help ME! I'm sure Brandon doesn't find it as endearing as I do but it makes my heart melt to know he cares that much about me.
Boxers love to have something to work for or have a task to do, so obedience training is a GREAT idea! Dexter started at about 3 months and was the star of his class! He picked up all the tricks very easily and loves doing them to this day.
Separation anxiety...if you get this GET A TRAINER, read up on it. Start leaving your puppy alone (crated preferably) in small increments. Dexter picked up separation anxiety at about 6 months out of nowhere. It IS possible to overcome if you nip it in the bud early! If you need any helpful tips or advice, I'm not a professional but with the help of one we defeated our puppies poor anxiety problems. Just comment and I will get back to you!
Lastly....get a harness that hooks in the front! Walking a strong boxer can be very difficult. Practice heel (usually taught at obedience classes or puppy training), or try other techniques to train him to walk beside you not lead you. The harness really helped us. I can actually walk him by myself!
Getting any kind of puppy is a big decision. In our family it's just Brandon and I. I think having less people in the family makes having a puppy (particularly a boxer puppy) a LOT like having a kid. They need constant attention, affection, and discipline. I think having more people in a family might make having a puppy easier but its not impossible for a couple. You just have to be ready to sacrifice a little and be PATIENT.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
know what you are worth and what you deserve
I was fortunate to spend some time with some great people last night. Self worth and self esteem became a topic on mind.
I think we all struggle with this a little bit and I found some good healthy tips on a website that I couldn't agree more with and I plan to live in action more. I think many of us could benefit from these.
And ...now!
I think we all struggle with this a little bit and I found some good healthy tips on a website that I couldn't agree more with and I plan to live in action more. I think many of us could benefit from these.
1. Set an intention. (DECIDE what kind of a day you're going to have and remind yourself of this all day...Today is beautiful and perfect!)
2. Be true to yourself, Being a people pleaser is a very frustrating way to live. Get in the habit of pleasing yourself. You are responsible for your own happiness. Your feelings are important. (AMEN!)
3. Change your mental diet. Avoid debby-downers. Don't let anyone bring you down
4. Be aware of what your monkey mind, the voice in your head, is saying. Keep focus on the great things and disregard or leave the negative.
5. Upgrade your physical diet. Bre will attest to this!!!
6. Stop comparing yourself to others. I think we all struggle with this one, and it can really be a detriment to your health mentally and physically. love what you have and are
7. Create an uplifting environment for yourself. 8. Celebrate your successes.
9. Be grateful.
10. Create a list of accomplishments and review it often. Give yourself credit!
11. Don’t take yourself, or life, too seriously. This one's easy for me!
12. Learn something new. Teach yourself somethign new! I always feel good after trying a new recipe.
13. Do things that stretch your comfort zone.
14. Do something nice for yourself. I'm feeling ice cream today!
15. Do something nice for someone else. (without expectation of getting anything back)
16. Spend time regularly doing things you find joyful.
17. Do something physical. Dog walks!
18. Spend time with supportive, uplifting people. <3
19. Create positive affirmations about yourself.
20. Allow yourself to be where you are. Meditation helps
21. Remind yourself often you are a miraculous, sacred, perfect expression of Life.
22. Spend some time just being. Nature!
My furnace wouldnt kick on this morning which wouldnt be a big deal but for some reason it's colder in my house than it is outside!
I missed yoga with my best friend and support bre So I need to make time to get in some yoga and help bre out with some planning for her upcoming big day!
Instead after the furnace got fixed, Dexter and I went for a walk, I vaccummed, did dishes, cleaned floors, I even vaccumed window wills haha.
I'm waiting for brandon to get home so I can finish raking the leaves the last owners left all over the place.
Dexter loves the sun, its the first time I saw him sit and lay on the grass just for fun.
Oh! and the update on my unplugged to facebook week. I haven't logged on since! It was actually easier than I thought it would be.
First I found tiny puppy pictures of dexter!! look how little he was!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
rich in love
I just want to say that yesterday was GORGEOUS!
it was almost 60 and sunny with just a bit of wind but it felt so good to walk and feel sun on your face!
So on my day off Brandon and I decided to take dexter for another walk.
He is SO good now on a leash! He never barks at any other dogs. I don't know if its because he's used to socializing with other dogs from the puppy classes and barking lot but he doesnt care to bark at another dog. He does sometimes get distracted and stops to look but doesnt put up a fuss.
He walks by people no problem its just...awesome!
Today I walked him again, and after our walk we did a couple minutes of "stay". We worked on noises. I left him at the bedroom walked down the hall and opened the door to the pantry/doggy treat door and closed it hard. He DID NOT move! after about 30 seconds i came down the hall to praise him.
I was able to get down the stairs in the kitchen today too NO problems at all! I even touched the bells on the door (for his potty) and then came up the stairs down the hall and he still STAYED! of course after i praised and released him he ran down the hall to the kitchen to the bells to see who was here hahah.
He seems to be retaining this info pretty good even though hes crated. Brandon says when he comes home it doenst appear to be as drooly and last time it did not look like he made any attemps to chew on his crate. Here's hoping today will be the same if not better. He's only going to be in there for less than 2 hrs.
thinking about starting a full on dog blog since thats what this has become haha. I'm not an expert by any means but its a day by day process of retraining yourself more so than your dog.
No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich- Louis Sabin
with that said...I'm out....theres a dog sleeping on my feet ha
it was almost 60 and sunny with just a bit of wind but it felt so good to walk and feel sun on your face!
So on my day off Brandon and I decided to take dexter for another walk.
He is SO good now on a leash! He never barks at any other dogs. I don't know if its because he's used to socializing with other dogs from the puppy classes and barking lot but he doesnt care to bark at another dog. He does sometimes get distracted and stops to look but doesnt put up a fuss.
He walks by people no problem its just...awesome!
Today I walked him again, and after our walk we did a couple minutes of "stay". We worked on noises. I left him at the bedroom walked down the hall and opened the door to the pantry/doggy treat door and closed it hard. He DID NOT move! after about 30 seconds i came down the hall to praise him.
I was able to get down the stairs in the kitchen today too NO problems at all! I even touched the bells on the door (for his potty) and then came up the stairs down the hall and he still STAYED! of course after i praised and released him he ran down the hall to the kitchen to the bells to see who was here hahah.
He seems to be retaining this info pretty good even though hes crated. Brandon says when he comes home it doenst appear to be as drooly and last time it did not look like he made any attemps to chew on his crate. Here's hoping today will be the same if not better. He's only going to be in there for less than 2 hrs.
thinking about starting a full on dog blog since thats what this has become haha. I'm not an expert by any means but its a day by day process of retraining yourself more so than your dog.
No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich- Louis Sabin
with that said...I'm out....theres a dog sleeping on my feet ha
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
home sweet home
So we finally closed on our house last monday! It's been crazy hectic ever since just working on all the different things in the house. We have spent a good chunk of change on paint, flooring, molding.
It was worth it! It's coming along great and once we officially move in (hopefully next week!) I'll have time to breathe again. So i'm not ignoring anyone, I promise! Just very very very busy. I hope you all understand <3
Here's some pictures of the progress so far :)
home owners!
I'm so happy :) and we havent done our taxes yet because we're waiting for brandons' w-2 but i started them and lets just say the amount i'm getting back alone is INSANE! stoked :)
It was worth it! It's coming along great and once we officially move in (hopefully next week!) I'll have time to breathe again. So i'm not ignoring anyone, I promise! Just very very very busy. I hope you all understand <3
Here's some pictures of the progress so far :)
home owners!
living room before
living room after. new paint, floors and railing
bathroom color!
and of course...it wouldn't be complete without dexter <3
I'm so happy :) and we havent done our taxes yet because we're waiting for brandons' w-2 but i started them and lets just say the amount i'm getting back alone is INSANE! stoked :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)