Too old to get a puppy? update #44 Puppy has been sold

Thanks for that suggestion. I hadn’t thought of that, will purchase a pair. He does have those nice dark Bouvier eyes which are hidden by his bangs.

@Cat_Tap it’s been a while since we had an update on your pup. He must be getting huge!
How are things going?

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Well, it is quite a journey. He certainly keeps me busy. Doggy school has been suspended until the fall. I will enroll him. Most of the time he is well behaved and obedient but he does have a stubborn streak, common to Bouvs. Fortunately he travels well in the car, jumps in on command and waits for the OK to exit.

Because the mosquitoes have been very bad this year I can’t walk him on my trails and have driven to various parking lots to walk him. Though previous dog Bentley was never off leash I have allowed this dog at home and so far so good. We walk in one of my pastures off leash which is working out. Fortunately he does not want to go near the road in front of my place so there is no fear of him getting hit by the occasional car that passes.

Grooming is working out and almost a daily routine as he has a long thick coat. So far I have not been able to find a groomer familiar with Bouviers. He is still very mouthy and though he doesn’t nip his teeth are strong and large indicated by all the marks on my arms.

He is very needy and spends time on my lap for back and tummy scratches. Right now he is locked in the kitchen as it is impossible to work on the computer with a huge dog on your lap.

Though sometimes he exasperates me and I have to be careful not to loose my temper purchasing has achieved its purpose. He keeps me busy and is, most of the time, good company.
B

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Great update ! Extra treats for C ~ for taking such grand care of his mom !

Dare we request a picture ?!? Pplleeaassee ?!

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I teach all my dogs the “goodbye” command. I use it primarily in the kitchen to get them out from underfoot if I’m cooking, but it works to get them off me if I am not in the mood for couch snuggles.

Say “goodbye” (I say it with a bit of a smartass tone, so it sounds unique), point to the door, and then walk into him until he backs his furry butt up and out the door. Be pretty abrupt with walking into his space so he moves. Block and adjust if he tries to just go around, so that you’re “herding” him out the door. Once through the door, return to whatever you were doing. If he approaches again, AH AH, point, “goodbye,” and herd him right back out the door. Rinse and repeat.

It’s such a handy command, and really easy to teach. That might make it where you don’t need to lock him up to get anything done.

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And, I agree with @Zu_Zu, we need pics! Take a selfie!

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Kolton, July 2023 004 Kolton, July 2023 003

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Thank you !! Mr.C is handsome & HUGE !!!

And a you have mastered the posting of pics !!! Canter on ~

  • is C bigger at this age than B and your other Bouvs. were ?
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He will definitely be bigger than Bentley. Also their coat is very different. Bentley’s coat was shiny and wavy where as Colton’s looks and feels like cotton batten. I think some of this puppy coat will shed and also seems to be turning grey.

I used to try to trim my previous dogs with scissors and clippers. Used to take me a week to get one done. My very first Bouv was 110 lbs. Bentley only 80 lbs. Can’t remember the rest. Have had 6 Bouvs, 1 miniture poodle, Bearded Collie and 1 Golden mix. The Golden was dumped at my mail box at 3 weeks. The Beardie needed a home away from people, rescued her at age 1. All the Bouvs were purchased.

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So handsome and huge!!!

I had to teach mine “place” for those moments when she’s all up in my space. It’s her command to find the closest dog bed available and plop down on it.

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He is magnificent!

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I taught my dogs the shoo command with my hands, I wave them at the dogs and they know to go somewhere else.

It’s great to move dogs out of my space when I’m trying to focus on something other than them!

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Funny how we all have our own commands. Mine is a ‘No thank you!’ and they wander off with a bit of a sigh to amuse themselves.

Lovely dog Cat_Tap :heart:

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Yup, mine is “go away!” First taught unintentionally to my mom’s dog, since then intentionally.

These are commands he understands; heel, sit, down, stay, OFF, HERE, OK, go find your chewy.These commands work well once he s settled. A big problem is jumping up on me or visitors. He LOVES people and we don’t see many of those. I of course use a knee in the chest and ask my visitors to do this also.

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I ask them to turn their back on them, only face the dog when quiet.

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How are things going with your puppy now, @Cat_Tap? He must be getting BIG!

We are both still alive. So far three watch bands needed repair, lost a total of 7 pairs of glasses, my wellies have scalloped edges, several decks of cards (I play solitaire a lot) have hit the dust, the boot tray in the mudroom works well as a toilet, sofas do not need skirts, no point in having a thermometer hanging on the deck, the list goes on.

Our vocabulary now includes a lot of foul language but he is great off leash in the back forty. His recall is great out there and I am now able to enjoy long walks in the woods and fields again which I could not do with Bentley. It is all private land so no worries about running into strangers.

Have almost finished our second session of doggie school. I would say our behavior there is “fair” he is busy surfing for any dropped cookies, but we are managing.

I will admit (not to IRL friends) that I have at times questioned my decision but there is no turning back. Just recently while having a play date in my arena he smashed into the back of my legs at full tilt and sent my flying. Injured my good knee but with the help of ice, heat and Voltaren gel it is on the mend. Also while playing tug of war with his chewy toy he managed to get my finger instead, down to the bone about half an inch long. It was Labor day weekend so I did not want to go to Urgent care but managed to tape it together and it healed.

Thank you for the interest in our saga it will continue.

Forgot to mention he likes to play fetch the pickle ball. We play this game in his dog run in order for him to like being in there which he did not initially. Out in the field we play with the frisby, he cannot catch it in the air yet but likes fetching it once it hits the ground.

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Colton, morning walk Oct.18, 2023 002 Colton, morning walk Oct.18, 2023 006 Colton, morning walk Oct.18, 2023 010

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This didn’t work out very well. Wanted to post pictures from my morning walk but the pictures with Colton in them disappeared. I will try again. The first picture above is Colton watching TV which he does if there are certain noises.

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