....and here is a short video, so we're not the greatest film makers---no oscar for us :o(
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Abbey 9-10 weeks
Well, we've had Abbey (Xandria) two weeks now and, goodness, have our lives changed! Today she is 10 weeks old.
Abbey is a blessing in a very small package. She is filled with love and good humor combined with a very stubborn streak showing all her Deckel characteristics in a 3 pound package. She is growing and each day I see changes in her.
She sleeps in her crate at night and goes in without a whimper or a cry. She takes naps during the day, usually lying on my shoulder where we both benefit from the love that flows between us. She plays with her toys like it is a battle to the death (usually the toy dies!) and runs and jumps outside with delight. Of course, true to her breed, everything goes into her mouth - rocks, leaves, sticks, worms and dirt. I spend my days saying "No Abbey, no Abbey" until I believe she thinks her name is "No Abbey". Does she listen to me, usually not! But I keep trying.
I feel like the mother of a newborn child where my day is focused on the baby, playing with Abbey, walking Abbey, napping with Abbey! We have taken her out to town and she adapts to it beautifully. She is too small to walk the sidewalks yet with all the crowds so I carry her in a doggie sling. She has played in the beautiful grass beside the capital building and lunched at a sidewalk cafe. She is admired by all who see her and many strangers have stopped us to have their picture taken with Abbey. She goes right to them and gives them a friendly lick, just in time for the photo. Of course, they don't want Bill or I in the photo, just the adorable puppy. Our town is very dog friendly and shop keepers usually have a supply of dog treats for the visiting pet. Abbey was fussed over in a lovely jewelery store we stopped in, given a doggie treat and her own bottle of water. (No jewelery was offered, but who knows what can happen!) Again she was passed from arm to arm and took it all in her stride.
We have signed up for Puppy Kindergarten classes that we will start in May.
Abbey and our cat, Patty, are still coming to terms with each other. Abbey wants to be friends and play, the cat tolerates her but isn't sure yet just how far she wants to get to know Abbey. But, unlike her usual behavoir, the cat stays in the kitchen with us all day in her own bed instead of taking off to her usual napping spots. That says a lot for the future relationship!
The housetraining is going as well as anyone could expect at 10 weeks old. I think she is picking it up very quickly.
There is no doubt Abbey is extremely smart and knows just what she wants. When we go for walks it is usually where Abbey wants to walk, not where I wanted to go. We are getting to know our neighborhood and the other dogs in it. Abbey is always pleased to see them and never barks, just wags her tails and wait to see what happens. Yesterday we met a 10 month old Collie and Abbey handled it all like a champion.
I could never have guessed Abbey would be mine, Bill did a wonderful job keeping the surprise. Thank you for your help in all of the planning!
Well, time for a walk!
Abbey is a blessing in a very small package. She is filled with love and good humor combined with a very stubborn streak showing all her Deckel characteristics in a 3 pound package. She is growing and each day I see changes in her.
She sleeps in her crate at night and goes in without a whimper or a cry. She takes naps during the day, usually lying on my shoulder where we both benefit from the love that flows between us. She plays with her toys like it is a battle to the death (usually the toy dies!) and runs and jumps outside with delight. Of course, true to her breed, everything goes into her mouth - rocks, leaves, sticks, worms and dirt. I spend my days saying "No Abbey, no Abbey" until I believe she thinks her name is "No Abbey". Does she listen to me, usually not! But I keep trying.
I feel like the mother of a newborn child where my day is focused on the baby, playing with Abbey, walking Abbey, napping with Abbey! We have taken her out to town and she adapts to it beautifully. She is too small to walk the sidewalks yet with all the crowds so I carry her in a doggie sling. She has played in the beautiful grass beside the capital building and lunched at a sidewalk cafe. She is admired by all who see her and many strangers have stopped us to have their picture taken with Abbey. She goes right to them and gives them a friendly lick, just in time for the photo. Of course, they don't want Bill or I in the photo, just the adorable puppy. Our town is very dog friendly and shop keepers usually have a supply of dog treats for the visiting pet. Abbey was fussed over in a lovely jewelery store we stopped in, given a doggie treat and her own bottle of water. (No jewelery was offered, but who knows what can happen!) Again she was passed from arm to arm and took it all in her stride.
We have signed up for Puppy Kindergarten classes that we will start in May.
Abbey and our cat, Patty, are still coming to terms with each other. Abbey wants to be friends and play, the cat tolerates her but isn't sure yet just how far she wants to get to know Abbey. But, unlike her usual behavoir, the cat stays in the kitchen with us all day in her own bed instead of taking off to her usual napping spots. That says a lot for the future relationship!
The housetraining is going as well as anyone could expect at 10 weeks old. I think she is picking it up very quickly.
There is no doubt Abbey is extremely smart and knows just what she wants. When we go for walks it is usually where Abbey wants to walk, not where I wanted to go. We are getting to know our neighborhood and the other dogs in it. Abbey is always pleased to see them and never barks, just wags her tails and wait to see what happens. Yesterday we met a 10 month old Collie and Abbey handled it all like a champion.
I could never have guessed Abbey would be mine, Bill did a wonderful job keeping the surprise. Thank you for your help in all of the planning!
Well, time for a walk!
New Puppy
Hi Folks-----Hi Everyone! We'd like you to meet Abbey - the biggest surprise Bill ever pulled off! She is an 8 week old 2 lb 8oz miniature German longhaired Daschund who is the newest Blanding as of this morning.There is a breeder of these true German daschunds in Pennsylvania that I had found on the Internet this past winter. After contacting her, she let us know she had a litter due in Feb. After much deliberation I thought we had decided to not get a puppy at this time since we had a lot of traveling planned this year. I recently received an email from the breeder informing me that they were having an open house for future prospective parents today, before all the new litter went to their new homes. When we got there today they gave me the cutesy puppy to hold and Bill gives me a lovely printed book he had published telling me all about my new puppy with photos from her first 8 weeks of life. Turns out there was NO open house, they have never, ever had an open house, and this was all a way to get me to come pick up the new puppy! Bill's brother Wayne was with us since he only lived about an hour away so we came up to stay with him last night. What a total surprise- Bill never gave anything away in all the days since the litter arrived and he had reserved Xandria that very day!We think Xandria is a big name for a tiny little cutie and Abbey seems to fit her well, so she will be Abbey Xandria.She has had a great first day at Wayne's house, playing, sleepingand covering us in puppy kisses. Tomorrow we bring her home and introduce her to Patty the cat - God help us all!We look forward to introducing her to many of you soon and you KNOW there will be lots more photos coming!
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