Monday
Dec. 4, 2006
Okay, okay, I'm sorry it's taken so long to update the blog. Things have been busy at home and work. We had a very nice Thanksgiving visit from Cody and my parents. At first Cody wasn't so sure about Enzo, but they ended up getting along fine. We took them to the dog park, my neighborhood park (below, right), and Mt. Tabor (right). They got pretty muddy with all the rain, but both had fun.
We're looking forward to Christmas when Enzo will meet his other cousin, Fiona. Hopefully he won't hide too much. I just bought a travel crate at Green Dog that we'll take with us. Speaking of Green Dog, I have learned from Christine and Mike (the owners) that there is another black poodle in the area named Enzo. What a small world. I had actually first heard about this from someone at the dog park. The other Enzo is a puppy. Christine and Mike gave them this blog address. Hopefully some day we will all meet.
Obedience training is going well. We're now working on "stay" and just started recall ("come"). He's learning stay, but is not so good at come, except inside the house when he knows a treat is involved. At the dog park he often walks the other way when I call him, afraid that I'll put the leash on and make him go home. So, I'm trying to make him come to me several times during our visits, get petted, then he gets to go back and play -- so "come" doesn't necessarily mean "leave the park." The dog park is one of his favorite places. He runs pretty fast, chasing other dogs all over the park, or being chased himself.
This one's out of focus, but I couldn't resist posting it
because of Enzo's ears up and overall position.
He looks like a rabbit.
Enzo had his first week of obedience class this week. I was not sure how he would do in the new environment. The trainer recommended trying string cheese as a treat. He liked it at home, so I gave it a try. As expected, he slinked into the class with his tail between his legs and quickly just sat with his back to the rest of the dogs. That's his default move when he's nervous -- sit and maybe it will go away. While we were waiting for class to start I gave him a string cheese bit and that perked him right up. He was anxious for more, sniffing at my pocket. When the trainer had us walk around the room he kept trying to sit, expecting me to give him another. Towards the end of class the trainer demonstrated "watch" with Enzo and he did it almost perfectly. But, as he got more comfortable he seemed to me more easily distracted and not as obedient. We're working on what we learned at home.
Earlier in the week Enzo picked up one of his toys ("cow dog" that Nina and Art gave Murphy a few years ago) and took it into his crate. This was a first. He's also been playing with a squeeky tennis ball that Denise brought for him. Since he seemed to like toys in the crate, I put the pink flamingo that Doranne sent him in there. I was hoping this would get him to be more comfortable with that toy. It makes an odd noise that he seemed nervous about. He left it the crate -- see picture at right.
Just a few things to report of note. Last Sunday I took Enzo to the dog park and he had a great time. He spent about 90% of the time chasing any dog that he could find running. He was the most relaxed I've seen him there. I think the few days with Bailey really loosened him up. When I picked him up at No Bonz on Friday, they called it a "break through day" for Enzo. Apparently he interacted a lot more with both the staff and dogs. Yesterday during a brief rain break we (really, I) worked in the yard, raking leaves, etc. For the first time Enzo showed interest in the dogs walking by with their humans. A new dog in the neighborhood, Rosie, a white Westie, came by. I didn't have my camera, but the picture at right is from the web, so you know what a Westie looks like. Her owner let her off leash in our yard. She was very cute. Enzo kept trying to engage her in play and she did play a bit. It was quite amusing seeing little Rosie (about half Enzo's size), all excited on her short legs, with Enzo bouncing about.
I've been leaving Enzo in the closed crate for a few hours while I'm gone and he seems to be fine. He's still not completely housetrained, though.
Enzo has spent the past four days getting to know his new best friend, Bailey. Bailey is Denise's dog and they came to visit. The minute Bailey jumped out of the car they started running and chasing each other. They played a lot in the yard and at the dog park. We took lots of pictures and even a couple movies. Here's a movie of Enzo and Bailey playing. Here's one of Enzo eating a pansy.
Not too clear, but Enzo as Superman!
We took the dogs to Green Dog and for the first time Enzo took and ate a treat given to him by the owners. He's so much more comfortable and relaxed now. It's been two months since I adopted him.
It's a rare sunny day in Portland for the fall, and we took Enzo to the dog park. He ran around quite a bit, and played with a 4-month-old bassett hound puppy (right).
I left him in his crate with the door closed while at breakfast this morning and he seemed to do just fine. He did, however, throw up in the car later.
Enzo went to the groomer on Wednesday. He did okay there, but the groomer said he really hated getting the "clean feet" (shaved) and recommended against doing that next time. I'm not sure what he did to make her say that, but she seemed quite adamant, and I'll follow her direction. He looks so much smaller and skinny without all that hair! But, he is soooo soft, like velour.
Enzo has continued to be quite playful at night. He's playing more with a tennis ball and toys inside, along with finding the ball outside and playing with it.
