She Did It!

I was trying different sounds on the computer

to catch Roxie doing the infamous boxer head tilt.

She did it.

And she did it with flying colors.

The most extreme head tilt I have ever seen.

And of course, by far the cutest.

The sound is supposedly a "dog growling", although I realize it may come across as something along the lines of me and manly burps.

It's not.

I promise.

Apparently, she was scared the second time around after I hit replay.

Which, needless to say, was also cute.

You really can't help, but love her to pieces.

She is too stinkin' adorable.

I guess this should be a puppy blog now because I am pretty confident that, the rare times that I now post, it will be about her.

I am obsessed.

(I took this with my iPhone, so the quality isn't the best.)

Thanks for all your encouragement as far as the choke collar vs treat training!

She really a naturally amazingly well behaved puppy!! She has the best temperament!

The choke collar was something I didn't feel comfortable with and seemed to be making her aggressive - which is very unlike her personality. So I am done with that for now, I have been doing treat training and is so going so well!

Can't Do It.

I need help.

Roxie will be 10 weeks old on Thursday, I have tried to start training her with the whole "secret to training the perfect dog" thing.

It's so hard.

Originally I was for treat training.

Watched a bunch of episodes of the Dog Whisperer and some other videos online and decided I was against treat training.

I felt like the dog wasn't really being trained, but always looking for/constantly sniffing your hand for/following/wanting the treat and not really obtaining the command being taught.

I see this infomercial for the perfect dog, read the reviews and thought this was it.

At first Roxie was great. She was very calm, loved to sit, cuddle and follow you, never barked, or bit you....

Now she has about 3 "psycho" spells a day. I would much rather have just 3 than for her to be like this all the time, but it's 3 too many for this lady. She's pretty much bipolar and turns into a completely different puppy and it's a little scary. She gets into this big-I-need-to-bark-and-bit- everything-and-everyone. hard. and then two minutes later she is back to Snugglefest 2010.

I am thankful that she isn't like this all the time. I have no idea what I would do if she was. Lord knows I wouldn't survive if I had a dog like that.

When we first got her, we realized she was too little to understand what she was doing and how to be trained, but we also didn't want her think she could get away with certain things. But as the days go on she is learning more and more and we decided it's time to be serious.

So we pulled out the "command collar".

It breaks my heart.

I realize this is part of "parenting", you discipline out of love, but I am starting to feel uncomfortable with this whole mock choke collar situation.

It seems to be making her more aggressive. She doesn't obey like the dogs on the DVD. I am wondering if maybe she is too young. But either way she needs to learn these things now.

I'm thinking about getting my money back from the training DVD and doing the puppy classes, although the dogs that I know that have been don't seem to be the most obedient....but then again when you see me in the backyard dragging Roxie through the grass as she remains extremely stubborn and laying on her back- my dog doesn't look too obedient either.

So I am feeling a bit discouraged.

And sad.

I don't think this is something I want to stick out. It seems to be getting worse, not better.

Between her red neck, her cries, squeals, yelps and barks and feeling like she hates me..I am not sure this is the method for me.

So please tell me what has been successful for you!!

She is really good at sitting, being cute, potty outside, being cute, sleep through the night and being cute.

Still needs to learn all the other commands (including how to walk on a leash), tricks and when to stop biting.

Oh, that's another thing. I am having a hard time figuring out where the line is drawn between puppy play and the evil crazy puppy that has taken the biting too far. I tried spraying water on her face and of course..she loved it. I will try again with a little mouth wash in it and see what happens.

Please help.

Sincerely,

Ms. J and Mr. B

You know it's your first puppy when...

You freak out halfway through the 6 hour drive home because you realize she might be a boy dog.

Why would a girl dog have "something" sticking out between her legs?!?

You and your mom try to convince yourselves that a boy's thing isn't set as far back as a girl's.

You look an idiot and ask the vet....just to be sure.

You now call it a pe-jayjay.

{yes, I am very creative when it comes to making up unique names dealing with the private area}

When you're wondering if there should be any concern with the conjoined nipple on her belly....only to find out it's actually her belly button.

You take 1084876 pictures of her every move.

Even the creepy-eyes-rolled-back-dead-to-the-world-mouth-wide-open-look-at-my-little-baby-teeth-sleep.

You take a picture of her paws because you think it is so cool that they are black polka dots.

Only to have it eventually "click" that this is a sign of your precious little pup growing up and her once untainted-pink-smooth-as-a-babies-bum-pads are transforming into uncool black pads.

You are paranoid about every. little.thing. including dehydration.

You have the hardest time disciplining her because you think she is the most adorable thing and how could you ever yell at this sweet sweet face?!

You say something along the lines of "She is too cute!!!" 1098497592028750 times a day.

She's Here!!

She's so tiny.

She loves to cuddle,

She did great on the long 6 hour car ride,

And she's so adorable....

She slept pretty much the whole way...

totally candid & totally funny.

She slept through the Red Sox game with Mr. B

& she rested on my leg while I blogged about her

{my hand isn't that big in real life}

She's been sleeping all day and we are hoping that won't mean she will be up all night.

But it's ok if she is because she is so stinkin' a.dor.a.ble.

ONE WEEK

One

week from today Mama Grace, my sister and I are taking a mini road trip to pick up this little cutie!!!

I feel like time has gone by so slow.

Probably due to the fact that we have technically been waiting since March.

We are so excited that it is now only days away.

Isn't she adorable???

I am getting a little nervous as she approaches her last vet appointment because that is when we lost the other pup we were supposed to get. But we trust that God will work everything out! So far she is super healthy, cuddly when you want to cuddle and playful when you want to play.

The other night I was having trouble falling asleep so I was watching TV. There were other things on, but I chose to watch an infomercial. Because I am cool like that. They suck me in every.time. Such a talent they have- the ability to make you want need to buy it right now.

So Don Sullivan's How to Train the Perfect Dog sucked me in that night. How could I resist a trainer known as The Dogfather?? He must know what he is talking about.

{credit}

Ummm...Hello?!? With just 3 2 easy payments YOU can have the perfect dog.

Sold.

It took everything in my power not to wake up Mr.B {I am sure he is very thankful that I didn't} For some reason, I don't think we would've shared the same excitement.

I haven't heard many success stories from the puppy school, so I decided we could save a little money and try this out.

I finally bought it last night.

I haven't received a confirmation email or anything yet, which makes me a little nervous.

So now [if I ever receive it} it's a given- we will have the almost perfect dog. AND all with just two easy payments....how 'bout that :)

Roxie Take Two

We found a new puppy.

She was born April 15.

She looks just like the other pup we were supposed to get.

That's her on the bottom laying on her back.

The new breeder is a million times better.

We are bummed we have to wait another month.

We pick her up June 10.

I hope time flies.

She's really cute.

I feel weird calling her Roxie.

We never met the other puppy, but had some pictures and referred to her as Roxie.

We like that name so we are using it again.

Even though we never really got to use it in the first place so it's not really again.

Regardless, it feels like it's again.

I hope in a few days it will feel normal.

I also made a dog bed that says Roxie, so there is really no other choice.

We are excited and pray for no complications this time around.

Thanks for all your kind comments, it meant a lot to us.

38 days and counting.

Puppy Tips

We're Having a Puppy!!

Super creative title for a book huh?

First there was nesting and now it's time to highlight in

What to Expect When You're Expecting...

Puppy edition of course-no there's really no such thing , that I know of anyway, but these books are close enough. We are doing our research for the next 20 days so Roxie will be the best trained puppy in the world our house {don't want to set my expectations too high, but anything beyond our house would be a bonus}. We stalked up with a bunch of stuff from the library, we got our Dog Whisperer DVDs for the drive to and from Naples and plenty of books to keep me busy.

This is a totally new experience for us and we want to be as prepared as possible.

Some of you have already given me some helpful tips and they are so appreciated!

Today I dedicate this post to puppy/dog tips...

Any training techniques?

Did you find puppy school beneficial?

Did you crate train?

Best toys?

Best leash?

Has anyone used the Easy Walk harness?

Does your dog ring a bell to go outside?

What did you use when they chewed everything to teach them not to?

Best food?

Anything!

Any do's and don'ts would be helpful!

Thanks & Enjoy our weekend!!

Checking off the important things...

It's all about priorities.

We may be doing things out of order, but at least the major things are getting done. We are in the homestretch now and little pieces are s . l . o . w . l . y coming together. It is exciting, but also testing our faith and patience at the same time.

Shred Update: Completed Day 4!!! The soreness in every.single.part of my body is finally starting to go away. When I woke up this morning I couldn't believe it-- Oh my goodness I can almost walk like a normal person. I am already seeing a difference and I'm feeling good. Proud of Mama Grace for sticking with it and finishing Day 4 too!!

Random 1: So sad for Sandra. Seriously, Jesse??

It's so amazing/disgusting/heartbreaking that even men who have such famous, amazing, talented and beautiful wives are still looking for something more. I do not think it's right to cheat on anyone, but how in the world can you cheat on Sandra Bullock?! For that nasty tattoo girl, no less. I would assume his tears during her kind speeches where she called him "my rock" must've been tears of guilt. I hope none of these rumors are true, but it's not looking that way. Seriously????

Random 2: It's a nicer day in NH than in FL!! Is this a joke?! Today's high is 68 and in NH it's sunny and 70. It's 10 degrees below normal today. Where, oh where is the hot sunny Florida weather??

Random 3: Thanks for all your puppy names! We finally agreed on a name and have decided to name her Roxie- cute?? =)

Puppy Love

Meet the newest addition to our Smelly family.....

Our little fur baby.

How cute is she?!?

She is a boxer.

She was born March 1.

We are picking her up May 3rd on our move back to NH.

We are so in love with her and can't wait to meet this adorable furry little lady.

I can't stop smiling.

I might be a bit obsessed and already have her as the wallpaper to my phone and desktop.

There is one problem though...

Mr. B and I can not agree on a name.

Maybe even causing an argument that results in the silent treatment.

Very mature, I am aware.

I am so thankful our kids names are already chosen because

I do not like this game.

I won't even tell you the name I love because it has already been shot down. hard. and. fast. by multiple people. including my husband. regardless of that fact that I love it.

Please send me your suggestions! We need help.

I have looked at a bunch of websites, but nothing has really jumped out, except for the one unmentionable.

Some guidelines:

I like 2 syllable names.

Unique- not very popular.

Could be something Springish, like a flower or something (not Daisy), since we are getting her in May.

Can't be:

Anna, Maggie, Bella or Jasmine those are already family dog names.

Ella, Stella, Layla, Lilah anything close to my {future} daughters' names.

In the running:

Selah {Say-La}

Lola

Gracie (too weird because that's my maiden name??)

Not totally in love with any of those though and I know the perfect name is out there, I just haven't found it yet and maybe YOU know it. Please give us some ideas =)

Thank you!

PS- About to go conquer Day 3!!