Dog Stories

We're just lovin' this doggie.

He is learning very quickly.  The bells thing, earlier reported, was a fluke.  He must have bumped it by accident the other night, because he doesn't ring them on purpose now.

But when I ring them, he comes running to the door.  So he's got that part figured out.

More interestingly, here's the kids' take on things:

J:

As Helen shared in the notes before, Josh watched Benziger challenge the giant BroJean, a 105 lb dog, with a bark and butt wag.  Josh's eyes were huge with admiration as he said about his puppy, "He's fierce."

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This morning, Joshua came down the stairs, saw Benziger already up and at 'em and said, "Mommy!  He still looks new!" 

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Yesterday Josh was running the loop in our home (you know: that kind of floor plan) with Benzig chasing him.  After a lap or two, the dog paused, waited for Josh to round the end and come back the other direction and then resumed pursuit.

Josh yelled, "What a smart little puppy!  I didn't even see him there!"


(Speaking of this: Border Collies and Corgis are both shepherding breeds, and we've already seen a few behaviors come out of this.  We took a walk to the park today and Benzig's eyes did not leave the children, even though I kept him on a leash.) 

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Border Collies are also famous for their extreme energy.  Which is kind of perfect, because in addition to the training I do with him, there is also a 5-year-old boy in the house with a lot of his own plans for this dog. 

So far, it's been very easy to say, "Josh, go in the backyard with Benzig to play."  And they're off.

I hope this lasts long enough to get through the puppy stage. . .

Trying to get a shot that shows his shortness. . .
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Speaking of "plans," I told the kids to keep an eye on him while I was upstairs for a few minutes.  I came down and saw no dog.

I heard no jingle of a tag.

I saw a pile of couch pillows on the floor.  "Where's Benziger?" I asked.

With great pride: "In that cave!" 

A cave, in fact, built around the puppy as he sat in his cushion-y dog bed.  Not sure why he didn't bust out...



G:

She started her cottage program this week, which involves an 8:15 AM drop-off.  We brought the dog with us.  She held him on her lap all the way there (because, of course, J would get his turn on the way home).  It was hard to tell which pleased her more: the puppy or the school.

And she knows how to hold him so that it ends up being a cuddle.  Something about it is natural for her.

Josh, on the other hand, wants to cuddle the puppy, but when he finds a good position, can't keep himself from moving in order to hug him, or squeeze him, or touch his ears. . .

On the way home, failing to find one happy, content, cuddling position, he exclaimed, "Mommy!  Are you ever going to teach him the command 'stay'?"

Did that turn into a story about Josh?  Sorry.  It's just that Gemma is so calm about it, so sensible in all things.  She loves this dog.  Delights in him. And proceeds as she always has. . .

For instance, this afternoon, she completing her preparations for tomorrow's co-op, where we will have the first business day of our pretend town.  She's a business owner (along with the other kids) and she needed to finalize the inventory she'd be buying wholesale.

There's a whole process for this.

She had her stuff on the floor, spread out.  Puppy trotted over, sniffed her index cards and Gemma tucked her hair behind her hair and said, "Oh, Hi, Benziger!  You cutie."  And continued on with her work.

It was like. . .out of an afterschool movie or something.

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A golden retriever lives next door.  Her name is Estes.  3 years old.  A very nice doggie.  I've been thinking for 3 years, "Why would we get a dog?  My kids can play with Estes." 

Mr. Colorado brought Estes over for a little meet n' greet.  The dogs played.  Benziger tail-tucked, I'm glad to say.  Submissive dogs are easier to train!  And for while, Estes definitely dominated.  She's about 50 lbs, first of all.  Longer legs, and all.

But Benzig got comfortable with her and started playing in earnest.  Here's the cute part:  When she went after him, he would dodge and then roll 360'.  He'd do 2, 3 rolls--As Bryan said, "Evasive maneuvers!" 

We're thinking it might be part of the Corgi thing--those little guys ducking out of the way of cattle hooves. 

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So.  Is my blogging going to be all about this puppy now?  No, no. . .  But still, these are moments the kids are going to read years from now.