Pickle begins to grow up...?

Changes, as with most things in life, happen imperceptibly. So it was with some astonishment that we noticed the following developments in our little Pickle recently.
1. She has lost her puppy teeth!  Those razor sharp little nippers have been replaced by proper  Big Dog teeth. She still mouths us, but with, generally, less effect. Where did those baby teeth go?  Judging by the amount of gnawing and chewing going on, I would have expected to find at least one or two scattered around the house.
2.  She has filled out, becoming less weasel-like and chunkier.  She feels heavier, more solid, more.... more....more... DOG-like. Puppy fat never came into the question with this slim little  lady - more like puppy thinness. Anyway, she looks - and feels - much more like a Real Dog now. The nickname 'Weasel' is no longer quite so appropriate, though Jonny will probably still be calling her that the next time he comes home.
3. Her coat is no longer puppy-smooth and soft, but thicker, more rough-haired.  The whiskers are still pronounced but now there are ruffles appearing on her back -which sound more fashionable than they look.
4. She seems 'taller' when she stretches up on her hind legs. Stop right there, Pickle - we don't need you any bigger than this.
5.  Puppy chewing has turned into adolescent destruction.  All her soft toys have now been completely disembowelled. The ferocity and dedication with which she has done this has been quite alarming - teenage angst and determination.  (I don't want to use the S word - as in stubborn.)
6. She now has her first (boy) friend. Howie, a Boston Terrier who is just a month older, comes round to play regularly. After an inauspicious start (Pickle's response to a canine intruder on 'her' turf was to try to take him out) the two now enjoy each other's company. 'Play' consists of non-stop wrestling in one black and white messy ball of fur, teeth and paws, interspersed with brief panting rests and top-speed chases round the garden. They keep this up for HOURS.

Some things, however, don't change.
She is still incredibly feisty, especially in the mornings. Dancing for attention, racing around the garden, trying to nip - the vinegar-and-water spray is so effective in deterring her from doing this that we only have to glance meaningfully at the bottle.
She still sits very nicely on command.
She still objects to the 'halti' which encourages her to walk properly.
She is still intrigued by new things and is still afraid of sudden noises.
She is still beautifully calm and soft in the evenings, being quite happy to curl up companionably next to us.
Still delightful.

Pickle is a pickle

It's been quite hard becoming a puppy parent again.  Actually, I'm not sure I've ever been a real puppy parent: most of the dogs I've had have arrived at the ripe age of 8 months or older. Whatever, it's a) time-consuming and b) wearing on the nerves.

I'm sure there are c) d) and e) points as well.

So we've been reading up on puppy training quite assiduously.  Pickle's report card might look like this:

Response to name:

Attainment: A*

Effort: Superb

Pickle enjoys attention and responds immediately when her name is called. 

Come here!

Attainment: B

Effort: Satisfactory

So far, so good. This command has not yet been thoroughly tested in situations of high interest ie in wide open spaces where there are unlimited opportunities for interesting smells.

Digging holes.

Attainment: A

Effort: Excellent

Pickle has demonstrated tremendous energy in acquiring this skill. She has excelled in creating holes of both width and depth. She now needs to learn where is an appropriate place to dig, as the middle of the lawn is definitely NOT suitable.  Willingness to fill in a hole once it has been finished with would also be appreciated.

Jumping up.

Attainment: D

Effort: Sometimes satisfactory

Pickle is being trained in the art of greeting. This should consist of sitting politely in front of the family member or guest, then waiting to be stroked or hugged. Unfortunately, although Pickle is able to sit quite beautifully, she has not so far proved herself willing to accede to requests to 'sit' in situations where she would rather leap about in a hysterical manner. We look forward to seeing her develop greater self-control.

Sitting.

Attainment: A*

Effort: Excellent

Pickle's sitting is absolutely exemplary and is a joy to behold. Well done, Pickle!

Fetch 

Attainment: A

Effort: Excellent

Although she does not yet 'give' on command, Pickle readily retrieves a ball thrown for her. She is beginning to learn that releasing the ball to the handler results in further pleasurable games of 'fetch'.

Phew.

News from the Pickle front

It's been quiet on here about Pickle lately.
She hasn't. Been quiet, that is. Except that she does seem to be quietly growing.
I think. She still looks quite tiny to me.
Her days are filled with wondrous things.
Flies are especially fascinating. She found a bluebottle the other day. By the time I noticed, she had the bluebottle gently between her front paws, batting it backwards and forwards or alternately nosing it.
Presumably it died, eventually. I don't know if it was eaten, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Latest obsession is crane flies. She spends hours tracking their progress round the room. Statue still, her eyes never wander.
As for other things - we dissuade her from trying to chew the furniture, or catching at trouser legs for attention as we walk past. She demolishes fir cones on a regular basis.
But learning is going well.
She fetches a ball with alacrity and knows how to 'give' it for another go.  (Not that she 'gives' very often - she loves to tease.  But she's learning.)
She is beginning to walk nicely on the lead. Usually.
House training - getting there. Slowly.
She still falls in the pond - occasionally. We realise she has done it when she starts tearing round the house, rolling on the sofa, wriggling on the carpet in an effort to dry off quickly.  Subtle.
After all that activity, evenings are spent limp and relaxed until bedtime. A scarily quick change of personality from completely feisty to totally chilled.
Or Pickled.

Pickle training?

A busy day...

Lilla Pickle - who thought an invitation to sit on my lap meant that SHE could type this post - is proving to be a fascinating addition to our hitherto quiet and calm household.
She RARELY sits still.
We had forgotten that a puppy is like a super-active toddler. You can't take your eyes off her for a minute.  The garden is well dog-proofed, so she is safe to wander around outside, but the list of attractive Objects For Chewing grows longer by the day.  So far, we have had to remove socks (from our feet), rugs from the floor (fringes just beg to be tasted) and washing from clothes airers (far too tempting). A small stool suffered from leg chewing, her soft toy has already been stitched up in the operating theatre and the waste paper basket is living on borrowed time.
She has a special bone we bought her to exercise her sharp little teeth on. She ignores it. We have had to take serious measures to step up the intensity of No Nipping training.
The most popular toy - even better than fir cones - is a small terracotta flower pot. She has growled at it, buried her nose in it, rolled it around and tossed it in the air.

HOURS of entertainment.

And she's still thinking about the pond - she has fallen in 4 times so far. And counting.

 It IS very beautiful and fascinating.

Add to all this, several frantic games round the garden at top speed...early night tonight!  (For me, that is: Pickle still seems to have LOTS of energy...)
PS I haven't even mentioned noise - an endless source of curiosity. Aeroplanes are interesting, low-flying wood pigeons scary. The noise a radiator makes when you paw it is intriguing; a vacuum cleaner is quite frightening... it won't be long before footsteps and car engines become recognisable...