Dog Paddle

Last weekend, Nana and I took the boys to an AZ Golden Retreiver Connection event, their annual Swim Fest. Chance was looking forward to belly-smacking into the pool with a few tennis balls in his mouth and Cody just wanted to doodle around in the water.

It didn't really turn out that way. There were over 100 people in attendance and 79 dogs! it seems that most of the dogs had Chance's idea and most of them were a lot less shy than he turned out to be!

That's Cody up front, sitting on the step. Chance is the three-legged one on the far side of the pool who waffles about getting in on the other side of the pool and eventually does, swimming across the pool, grabbing a pink tennis ball and getting out. That's my puppy! And he's gotten up and come to find me everytime I've played this video because he hears me calling him. He might be a goofball, but he's a good boy and he's ours!

Oh, and the voice you hear most of is moi. Yes, I know that I sound just like Papa Smurf! :(

Such Good Dogs!

We're trying to teach Chance that he doesn't always get his own way. Often, if you are ignoring him, he'll growl, arf, or just lean against you hard. Usually he starts out with holding a toy in his mouth, whining, and wiggling, all the while wagging his tail madly and getting so much in your way that you have to pay attention to him. (We don't.) He also barges in anytime you're petting or playing with Cody. That sure isn't fair to poor, sweet Cody. Cody's so accepting of everything and is just now really blossoming and showing us his own personality.

The other day, I threw a toy for Chance and then threw one for Cody. Chance came back, saw Cody's toy, and barged right in to scoop it up, dropping his own. Poor Cody just droops a little when Chance does that or takes the toy right out of Cody's mouth. Lots of times, Cody doesn't even bother to go after toys we throw because he knows he isn't as quick as somebody else is! Cody is a lover, not a fighter. But he really does like to play, if he gets the chance without Chance!

So I decided to throw Chance's toy, then once he'd brought it back and been praised, I'd make him sit and stay, hold his collar, and throw Cody's toy, holding Chance back (and praising him for being so good) so that Cody would have the opportunity to play too. Chance got pretty good at waiting for Cody to retrieve his toy and bring it back. And Cody was SOOO proud of himself for fetching! He trotted back so proudly holding his soft turtle toy and even wiggled just a little. He just loved being praised for fetching! Cody is such a little love bug! Chance is a sweet puppy but he can be overwhelming and it's our job to teach him to be a good boy.

It really makes me happy to see the boys settling in so well and becoming such good dogs!