Sometimes One Ball is Just Not Enough...

Two at once!

Play Ball!

Charlie likes to play ball, especially in the house. In addition to 'Retrieve the ball', he is learning 'Retrieve one ball and dribble another' and 'Catch the ball'.

I almost didn't believe 'Catch the ball' when I first saw it - - I half expected the ball to bounce off his nose. But he catches it! Well... he tries. And sometimes succeeds, as you can see (no, this was not staged; this is Charlie in action).


Eye on the ball...


Got it!

Thank Goodness for Chews!

The inventor of the braided chew is our hero! It is the perfect size for big puppy mouths. It has the right give and squeak to keep little puppies interested. And it's strong enough to last a while, yet not so hard that a puppy can't get somewhere with it. From the moment he first saw one, Charlie was taken with the braided chew.


Charlie & chew

The retriever roll didn't do it for him - too hard. The knotted chew was somewhat interesting, but he couldn't really get his mouth around the knot for chewing. He thought the pressed chew was great - but he's such a strong chewer it hardly lasted a day. And anything small was likely to just go 'down the hatch' with no chewing at all.

Often we can distract Charlie from more vulnerable targets (like Harley, cat or human) with a braided chew. Sometimes when he's being impossibly bitey and all teeth, we even stuff it in.

Chew stuffed in

What's your favorite chew?

Charlie Say's 'No'

Charlie had to go to the vet's this week for his puppy booster shots. He's been there before - - a few times for puppy shots and once for the mouse extraction. Everyone's always very nice to him, there are other dogs to see and bark at (if not nose around yet), and there's always a treat at the end.

This time, however, Charlie decided that enough was enough, and he refused to go in. Flat out refused. And no amount of leash tugging or cajoling or commanding made a bit of difference. So the 38 lb. pup had to be carried in.

I can't wait till he grows out of this, because at his 2 lbs a week rate of growth, there isn't going to be much more Charlie-carrying!


Charlie Angel

Charlie the Wild Dingo

Deep in the outback
Where things run wild
Lives little Charlie
The dingo child

Charlie in the out back

With teeth so sharp
And dingo growl
And eyes so wild
As he chews a towel

Chewing and redecorating

Over his family
Watches dingo Charlie
Over humans and cats
And his best bud Harley

Let's go in here, Jessie...

As fast as a 'roo
Charlie hunts his prey
And knocks it down
On the ground to lay

Down and pinned!

And chew its tail
And bite its feet
And never its food
To let it eat

Leave that kitty alone!

I can only hope
We survive these years
With dingo Charlie
And all our ears

Rrrrrrr!!!

Sixteen Candles

Charlie is sixteen weeks old today and getting sooooo big! It's hard to call him a puppy anymore; in many ways he's become a little dog.

Charlie at 16 weeks


Charlie and Bear at 8 weeks

He couldn't begin to fit under an airplane seat today, as we pondered doing 8 weeks ago. Now he would need the whole row! No more to worry about a person or dog rolling over on him in their sleep and hurting him. To the contrary - - it's getting pretty crowded on Harley's dog bed, and if he should lie on Harley's face...

Charley and Harley - now



Charlie & Harley - 8 weeks ago

Puppy breath is gone, having disappeared suddenly sometime in the last 2 weeks. Chewing is still Charlie's passion though, and he practices it on dog and human and toy alike; sometimes even on himself!

He can chew his own ears, as well as his tail...

Charlie's legs have grown long, and he's able to jump on a human bed. He doesn't even need a running start; just a little sit and a spring will do it.

Long-legged pup!

He's learning words, and we're learning to spell. Charlie knows 'let's go for a walk' and 'no' and 'sit' and can sometimes follow these commands... if he wants to and especially if a treat's involved. In fact, he'll always sit to catch treats, focusing oh so intently on the activity.

Catching treats (click on the image to view a movie)

"Happy Birthweek, sweet sixteen! We've known you half your life, now, and can't imagine a world without your little hurricane self. Sit and Stay awhile, and we'll have lots more fun together!"

Don't Fence Me In...

When no human's home to watch him, Charlie stays in the bathroom, babygated. He doesn't like it, though, and makes his feelings known. Barking pointedly at first - then less and less as he becomes resigned and accustomed to the situation. And as he's gotten older, he's seemed to quiet more quickly.

The moment you set foot in the house, however, he explodes. "Let me out! Let me OUT!!," he barks!


I know you can do it, get me OUT of here!

And then he's soooo happy and grateful! Jumping for joy and ear nuzzling - all past sins and incarcerations forgotten.


Yippee!

Back to Normal

There is balance in the universe. After 2 extra-special good dinner days, Charlie the Wild Dingo Dog emerged to test all the boundaries.

Cornering Jessie in the bathroom and doing who knows what to make her hiss and scream. Knocking down Harley and sitting on his head, then trying to drag him by his paw. And chewing on the humans who try to restrain or quiet him!

Charlie has more energy than the rest of the household combined. What a little hurricane!


Who me?