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I don’t think I understand Jaws yet.  He does some pretty strange things.  Here are a few examples…

• He will try to grab and chew branches, leaves, grass even rocks as he goes for a walk.  But give him something edible, like a small piece of banana or apple and he doesn’t know what to do with them.  He plays with them.  Rolls on them. Stares at them.  Jumps at them.  Barks at them.  Chews them.  Spits them out.  Rolls on them some more.  And then MAYBE eats them.  Very odd. 

• He likes to dig.  His treasurer (remember I don’t use the word “litter” for puppies – I prefer a “treasury” of puppies – so his breeder would be his treasurer) DID tell my human that he likes to “garden” and she wasn’t kidding.  He is an expert hole digger.  Expert.  

•  He is like one of those “push-up” toys.  You know the kind I mean.  They are little figures on a base, and when you press the base, they collapse.  Release the base and they pop up again.  Just like Elroy.  He collapses on the lawn in the shade.  And goes totally limp.  And then BANG – he’s up again.  And going crazy.  Biting.  Barking. Spinning.   I think I like him better when the base is pressed.  

Monday marked his one week arrival.  I MAY be starting to warm up to him.  I don’t growl when he walks by and I am right there waiting when he comes out of his crate – with my tail wagging.   But then I leave him alone.  But I AM interested in him…and it IS nice to have someone else in the house whose alternate name is “No-no.”

The adventure continues!

You humans.  It is so interesting to see how you deal with us as puppies. You fret and worry about our “socialization” – because, as I understand it, if we don’t experience a whole lot of different things – including people, places, animals, sounds, and even textures during our “critical period” which goes up to around 16 weeks – we will grow up needing psychiatric help when we are older.  So you humans do your very best to make sure we are well-adapted, sociable beings.  

So to be sure that Jaws doesn’t turn out needing sessions on a psychiatrist’s couch (which he would no doubt chew), my human has been exposing him to all kinds of things, places and people.  This supreme effort to expose Elroy to the world, also serves to tire him out – which as we all know, a tired puppy is a happy puppy.  Or maybe it should be a tired puppy has a happy human.

So yesterday, our day began with a walk with all three of us on the trail. Socialization #1.  The Hulk walked with Velcro dog – who can actually be allowed off leash as he never runs away – even when he sees a bunny.  My human walked me and Jaws.  And all went well.  She didn’t need to carry him at all.  When we arrived home, she THOUGHT he might be tired.  Fat chance – the walk wasn’t 50 km.   After breakfast, Jaws had his first visit to the Vet – just for a puppy orientation.  Socialization #2. Everyone was happy to see him and most the staff had never met a Picard before.  They were Googling photos of adult dogs.  Jaws was quite well behaved, until the Vet trimmed his nails.  Now he behaved – but he exhibited a PERFECT PON imitation.  We told him to.  He screamed.  It’s not as if the Vet cut his nails too short – he just decided to be very vocal about how short they should be cut.

After the visit to the Vet, my human wasn’t done with him yet. Socialization #3.  She took him downtown to the Halifax waterfront – a mecca for tourists, cyclists, baby carriages, dogs, boats – you name it.  Socialization overload.  And Jaws had a blast.  My human had to keep telling people what breed he was.  And no one knew a Picard.  Go figure.  He was a happy, outgoing boy.

So when he got home, Jaws was POOPED.  

He slept for several hours.  And when he woke up, my human THOUGHT he might still be sleepy – so she tried to get a decent photo of the three of us.  Well THAT was a circus.  Velcro dog and I stayed in place, but the squirming worm with the needle teeth who has the attention span of a gnat was just a tad difficult to capture.  And we each took turns sticking out tongues out at the camera.  

The top photo you see was one of the best and happiest shots taken – and note Jaws is holding a stick.  That was the ONLY way to get him to stay in place.  And he has already caught on to the variety of weird and wonderful noises my human makes to get our attention while she acts as the puparazzi. He ignores her.  Total picnore.  I have taught him well!  But I doubt my human is finished with us yet…just wait until she brings out the holiday attire…

I’m not confessing anything.  Maybe it was me…and maybe it wasn’t…

Our house looks a bit like a tornado hit it.  Taking care of Elroy is a full time job!  There are dog crates set up in places where we never see them – there are chew toys scattered everywhere – including some new additions, the kitchen floor is so muddy we could grow a garden indoors and there is a pile of laundry sitting on the floor waiting to be loaded. Included in the laundry pile is that pair of dog sweat pant my human lives in.  The ones that are covered in dog hair and slobber.  But yesterday morning, my human grabbed that pair to take us on our morning walks.  This time, she took Jaws and Velcro dog for the walk – so they could have some “bonding time.”  And all was going great.  At one point, they came to a pond, and low and behold – two ducks were on the pond.  More socialization for Jaws.  One duck kept quacking – he was smallish so my human wonders if he was the offspring of the killer duck.  Jaws didn’t quite know what to make of them.  He stood and just stared at them.  So my human grabbed her iPhone out of her coat pocket to get a puparazzi shot.  But Jaws doesn’t stay still for very long – so she missed the shot.  And she went to put her phone in the pocket of her attractive sweat pants.  And she could feel the phone traveling down her leg into her rubber boots – or Wellies as they say in the UK!  She put her hand in her pocket and Ooopsie – there was no pocket. It is G-O-N-E and so were all the tiny pieces of kibble and kibble crumbs. 

I’m not pointing paws – but I DID see Velcro dog eyeing that laundry pile…

As I say…never a dull moment!

So how does one begin to train a dog with the attention span of a gnat?

As you know, we PONs LOVE our food.  So training us with treats is actually quite simple.  Now Elroy SEEMS to like food – although at dinner time he is not exactly like us PONs. He is pokey.  And he sometimes gets distracted while eating – so he stops and does something else.  Unlike us PONs.  We are like vacuum cleaners when it comes to food.  Put down food in our dishes – and it is G-O-N-E.  Elroy eats,  sees dust on the floor, checks it out, goes back to eating, hears a noise, checks it out, goes back to eating, stops to scratch, goes back to eating…it’s not a QUICK process.

So obviously Elroy’s attention to treats and training is very similar.  He starts off wanting the treats – and will do some things – but whatever you do, you can only make the session last less than 30 seconds – or his attention is gone!  So far, my human can get him to “down” by basically luring him with a treat.  But “sit” is not in his vocabulary.  She is trying to teach him NOT to maul her hand when she has a treat – and is trying to teach him “off”.  She had a handful of treats and would not give him any unless he backed off and stopped chewing at her hand.  Her hand took a real beating – BUT he did seem to get the idea.  We’ll see if he remembers today!

My human had him outside watching Frodo and I doing some obedience training.  She was hoping it would rub off.  We dogs DO learn from one another – and he WAS paying attention.  For short periods of time. 

Despite his lack of lasting attention, he IS observant.  He listens to every bird, and was QUITE interested in listening to a squirrel in a tree.  In this photo, there was no bird or squirrel.  Just branches moving in the wind.  Go figure.

He is also doing well with his house training.  Mind you, my human takes him outside 473 times a day.  And he has figured out that if you go to the door and squeak, she will take you out. Whether you need to go or not.  So he IS kinda clever – I’ll give him that.

I’m still pretty much ignoring him, but I realize the return period is probably quickly coming to a close.  So I guess he is staying – and one of these days, we MAY play together.  Once those teeth come out…

So there are advantages to a new puppy in the house.  New toys.

Jaws likes balls.  I mean REALLY likes balls.  He likes the treat ball – even when it isn’t  full of treats.  Now THAT I don’t understand.  

 But he can’t pick it up – so of course, my human had to go hunting for a ball he could pick up.  We used to have one of those Jolly Ball things years ago, but Bucket head ate the handle off.  That would have been perfect.  But not to worry – my human found a great option – a Chuck It ball that is a bit pliable – and it has indentations – so it can be carried.  Well not only did Jaws like it – but so did I.  And Velcro dog played with it as well.  He’s not as exuberant as me or Jaws – but he does bring it back.  Good times.

Yesterday Jaws met Jackson again.  We were all together.  And this time, he QUITE liked him.  Given the fact that those two enjoy the water so much, I think they will become good friends.

I do have a question though…what’s with those ears on Jaws?  They flop around and sometimes they stand up on his head. Apparently they will eventually stand straight up. But right now – well they look too big for his head.  Perhaps I should call him Babar instead of Jaws.  Nah – Jaws is really best.  Ask poor Hulk.  He is such a softy for us dogs – he lets us get away with murder.  So every time my human looks at him when he is with Jaws, the Hulk is bleeding.  His legs.  His hands.  My human says he has to be more firm with Jaws – not mean – but firm. Between killer ducks and now a killer puppy, the Hulk is really getting beat up during his visit.  We have him so well trained – dogs rule.  Good thing my human isn’t quite so soft.  This place would be utter chaos.  Even more than usual.

Have a great Saturday.  You KNOW I will!

OK.  So I was good yesterday.  I never growled at Jaws once.   I just pretty much ignore him – but I do watch his antics too.  He is QUITE the entertainer. And he keeps my human hopping.  He is into EVERYTHING.  So she bought what she THOUGHT would be the solution.  She bought this stuff called Fooey.  It is supposed to be like Bitter Apple. To a Picard, I guess Fooey is French for “tasty.”   My human doused the stuff on a table leg.  And Jaws continued to gnaw on the leg.  Nothing fazes him.

And talk about persistent – he is even more stubborn than a PON.  Which, I know is hard to believe.   He loves to lie in the shade.  He detests the sun.  And who can blame him – it’s hot in the sun.  But when he lies in the shade – well just TRY and move him.  GOOD luck.  If you want him to move – like to come in the house, he just goes limp.  Totally limp.  And no amount of enticing with treats will get him to move.  And he is not exactly a tiny guy.  The same thing happens if you take him on a walk.  He sits down and refuses to move. Yesterday on our morning walk, my human ended up carrying him for a good part of the walk.  Frodo and I just look at him.  And the BEST routine is what we call the pre-poop prance.  When he races and prances back and forth on the leash just before he poops.  I mean it is like some kind of circus show.  Fascinating.

My human has been sure to give Velcro dog and me some quality time too – she knows we are feeling a tad put out by our new arrival.  And I must say, I MIGHT warm up to him.  He tries so hard to get us to play.  He does the whole play bow thing and barks and growls.  It’s just those needle teeth…when do they all come out?  I think I would quite like him if they ALL came out at the same time….and he had NO teeth.  

The adventure continues.

Every day is a new adventure.  Night #2 Jaws slept right through.  It’s no wonder – he never stops all day long.

Several of the neighbors came by to meet him. And he was quite the social butterfly.  While Velcro dog barked.  Teaching him wonderful behaviors. He also met Jackson but surprisingly wasn’t too sure about the big black dog.  That’s OK – he has plenty of time to get used to the neighborhood.

I’m still not sure about him.  I mean he’s cute and all – but this really is an adjustment for me.  I grumble and growl at him – those teeth are like needles and I want NO part of them.  Right now he is steering clear of me.  But I do like to sniff him while he is sleeping. 

Jaws REALLY likes to get into things.  No electrical cord is safe.  So we are now living surrounded by toys.  In the dark.

And those needle teeth sure like to chew.  My human is buying stock in Bitter Apple.  She is buying one of those industrial paint sprayers and dousing the entire house.  Furniture.  Carpets.  Doors.  Walls.   We can move back in next week.

And yesterday he did something that neither Velcro dog or I would EVER, EVER do.  He walked in the lake.  Seriously.  First he stood and looked at it.  He then put a paw in.  And then he WALKED in. Frodo was absolutely mortified.  Check him out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnrnZiXwRIw

My human has been reading about dog adjustment times with new puppies.  It’s not like she hasn’t had new puppies and older dogs before.  But it has been some time – and she can’t recall how long it took others to adjust.  It’s not uncommon for it to take several weeks before we are all feeling comfortable.  Of course my human,  wants us to be one big happy family NOW.  Patience woman.  Patience.  My goodness – she is a challenge to train.

Phew.  Day two is over.  And I need a vacation.  I thought I had energy.  Holy moly. Elroy AKA Jaws is giving ME a run for my money.  And oh my – he is SMART.

He slept well his first night here.  He squeaked at 3:30 in the morning and my human took him out for a pee while Frodo and I guarded the door and welcomed him back in.  At which point he thought it was party time.  We did too.  But he was put back in his crate, the lights went out and the party was over.  Humans.  No sense of spontaneity.

Yesterday morning he had a walk around half the property and got his first view of the lake. I have a feeling he is going to love it.  

He clearly loves water.  In fact, this water bowl thing is QUITE a challenge.  The bowl is filled, and Jaws immediately empties it – by putting two paws in and splashing it all out.  Then Frodo has to tiptoe around the floor so he doesn’t get his feet wet.  

Oh and as for keeping him “sequestered” – well FORGET gates.  He is one clever guy.  My human had a gate propped against the front screen door.  It works for me and Frodo.  But not Jaws.  My human had it blocked off and the next thing she knew – she looked up and saw him standing OUTSIDE the screen door.  He managed to wiggle past the gate and push the screen door open.  He seemed pretty darn proud of himself – standing there wagging his tail.  A new system will have to be designed.

Frodo likes to try and play with him.  

I initially ignored him but yesterday gave him a sniff.  And THAT’S when we decided to play chase.  IN the dining room.  Around the dining room table.  And into the hall and around the table.  And again, because humans have no sense of spontaneity, the game was quickly stopped after two rounds as my human had visions of someone getting hurt. She needs to chill out.  Later in the day I decided to ignore him again.  In fact, I decided the whole concept of a puppy was just too much for me to take.  So the first chance I got to chase a rabbit – well – I took it.  I was gone for about 15 minutes.  But then I decided I SHOULD go back.  My human thinks I will adjust but it clearly may take more than 24 hours.  Here is a photo of me sitting alone and feeling sorry for myself that I am no longer the baby of the household. 

I must say, that crate is a good thing – which comes in handy at night – and when Jaws needs a little bit of down time.  Because Jaws has no “off” switch.  And the attention span of a gnat.  “Oh – I think I’ll have a drink.  Wait – what is that toy?  Look this carpet looks good enough to eat.  That PON has a cool shaggy tail.  I think I’ll have a drink.  What was that noise?”  And that’s in a 20 second span of time.  

It was yesterday that my human realized something.  Elroy is the reincarnation of one big fuzzy tri-colored dog.  Really.   She went back to read a story that she wrote 7 years ago – when Paxton was a puppy.  And there are remarkable similarities. I do not think it is coincidence.  He’s back.  And we’re glad he is. Well Frodo is.  And I must confess, I am too….or I will be soon enough…

Well he has arrived.  And by all reports, he is an excellent traveler.  My human said that when they would stop for a pee break, people would ask what kind of dog he is.  One woman thought he was an Irish Wolfhound.  Looks like she has lots of educating to do.  When she says “Berger Picard” most people look at her with a strange look.  Mind you, she gets that same look when she says PON!

So he arrived late yesterday afternoon after a second long day of travel.  We were SUPER excited to meet him – check out the signs the hulk put up on the garage door.  

My human knew we would be crazy to see her – so she came in to greet us first and left Elroy outside with the Hulk.  She gave us hugs and told us to wait in the other room – that she wanted us to be CAREFUL in meeting Elroy.  So she sequestered us in the bedroom and brought him in – and put him in his crate.  Then she let us in to meet him.  We were VERY, VERY curious – our tails just about wagged off.  And Frodo barked.  Incessantly.  

When we finally calmed down, she let Elroy out.  Well.  Let me tell you, I’m not sure what to call him.  Jaws or Brave Heart.  He came out of that crate like we were long lost friends.  He was totally unafraid and quickly tried to demonstrate how well his sharp teeth work!   He and Frodo IMMEDIATELY began playing.  I, on the other hand did not know what to make of him.  I mean I have wanted a puppy forever – and here he was.  But honestly, I was more interested in the toys that were in his crate.

My human decided to take us outside – with Jaws on a leash.  Frodo kept trying to play with him and it wasn’t 3 minutes before he had a mouthful of Frodo hair.  And that’s when I decided to show him how FAST I can run in circles.  Racing round him – just out of reach of those teeth.  

Within minutes, everyone was huffing and puffing – and my human didn’t want ANYONE getting overheated.  So back we went inside.  And that’s when Jaws did something that MORTIFIED us PONs.  He splashed all the water out of the water bowl.  It was like he wanted to swim in it.  Frodo and I just stared at him.  My human had to put him in his crate because he and Frodo would not leave each other alone.  And when he was in his crate – totally exhausted, he was squeaking for Frodo and Frodo was squeaking for him.  I swear Frodo was trying to figure out how to get him out of that crate.

Once I figure him out, I’m sure we are going to have a GREAT time together.  One thing I am happy about – he has already learned how to stick his tongue out at the puparazzi!

Stay tuned for more adventures.  I KNOW  they will be good!

Drum roll please….Introducing my new little “brother” …..Elroy!!!!! No, he is not a PON.   My human said that grooming three PONs would result in her demise.  She just could not fathom it.  She knows that some people do it – she worships the ground they walk on.  But she just couldn’t do it.

And no – Elroy is not a Berner.  That’s a long story – and a hard decision – but my human decided the longevity problem in Berners was just too hard.  So much as she adored the four she was owned by, she just couldn’t get another.

So WHAT is Elroy – some may be wondering. He is a Berger Picard. A herding breed that originated in France.  Here is a photo of Elroy’s mother – the one in the front and a boy Picard in the background.

My human and her friend Glenda picked up Elroy yesterday and they have started their journey home.  My human called and warned us that he is VERY cute and very sweet – but he has “sharknado” moments.  He likes to bite and chew – which puppies do. And he reportedly has very sharp teeth.  I cannot wait to meet him later today!!! Here are a few more photos.  The poor thing has already been exposed to the puparazzi routine.

Let the games begin!!!!! And we are starting a new chapter in our lives and a creating a new place in our hearts.