From: davids@c3.lanl.gov (David Simmons)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: NEW PUPPY IS HERE!
Date: 13 Apr 92 16:07:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: newshost.1992Apr13.160709.25930
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory

Well, it's finally here.  The new puppy arrived last Thursday on
a flight from St. Louis.  He was not quite sure whether he wanted
to come out of the crate at first, so he just sat there and looked
at me.  I talked soothingly to him and he came to the front of the 
crate and looked around.  Then he tested the grass with one paw,
making sure it was real grass, and not moving, I guess.  Then the
other front paw came out.  Then the whole puppy was out and all
over me, licking my face and crawling on my lap.  He hasn't stopped
yet!

He has slowly explored his new house, and has now decided that all
rooms are safe and HIS, except the bathroom.  He's still not sure
abou that one, although he did venture in there once or twice. The 
giant Geranium is still giving him problems, buta slong as he sneaks
up on it, and then runs past REALLY fast, he can get into the hall
without serious injury.  He protects me from it though by barking,
jumping and growling at it whenever I get near it.

By the time we were able to feed him the first time, he was so hungry
that he ate the whole meal in less than a minute. Then we took him
outside.  Then he threw it all up.  Then he ate it.

He is learning his name, which is Abraham Angus McDuff.  We call him
Mr. McDuff.  He comes when he is called, most of the time...no almost
every time.  He does pretty well with the housebreaking.  He askes to
go out when it's time--of course, you only have 30 seconds or less
to respond to his request before he just lets it fly.

What he wants to do most is just BE with us.  It drives him nuts if
my wife and I are at separate ends of the house.  After all, he IS a 
herding dog, and he wants his people HERDED.  If I would let him, I think
he would spend all his time in my lap, kissing me.  He's very affectionate.

I had to rake the back yard this weekend, to get rid of all the little
"things" he was finding that he shouldn't have had.  He was an enourmous
help, chasing the rake and barking for over an hour, stopping only to 
attack and mortally wound the sprinkler, which just wouldn't stop
spraying him, no matter how loudly he barked.

In fact, he is doing so well, and learning so quickly, that I'm
worried.  I've kept up with all the "puppy-problems-postings" for the
last few weeks, knowing that mine would be here, and a problem, soon enough.
But he's not a problem.  We tell him "No" and he stops what he was doing,
so he gets LOTS of praise.  I tried the treat reward, but it doesn't seem
to work with Mr. McDuff.  One of my puppy books suggested very small cubes
of cheese as rewards to teach a puppy to sit, etc.  Sounded like a good 
idea.  I cut up some cheese cubes.  Asked him to sit, and he did!  So I gave
him LOTS of praise, and a cheese cube.  Did he eat it? No.  He played with
it for almost 1/2 an hour!  I've never seen a dog get more mileage out
of 1/10 of an ounce of cheese! (Of course, I gave him a piece of chicken
skin yesterday, and that lasted all day.  For all I know, he may have hidden
it in the back yard for later!)

I just wanted the chance to brag about my bouncin' baby Beardie boy to
all of you that have been so helpful--and those who have been not-so-helpful;-)
Ahh, the adventure begins.

-- 


David G. Simmons
davids@lanl.gov

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*							   *
*	All I'm asking for is a chance to prove		   *
*      	      that money can't make me happy		   *
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"Any resemblance to real opinions is purely coincidental"