Even without a Frisbee or the approval of Sir Artie, Shadow and his "cousin" Moose are vying for dominance... this time of the YouTube variety.
In response to Shadow's first swim on Independence Day weekend, Moose (with help from my cousin-in-law, Nick) put together a video of his own kayak adventure. It's extremely cute and funny and offers a challenge to his darker, younger cousin at the end.
Rest assured, we'll be accepting that challenge. Maybe we should start teaching Shadow to jump through hoops? ; )
Anyway, check out the video below. Double-click to see it larger (on YouTube rather than this blog) and to subscribe to Moose and Nick's YouTube "channel."
Showing posts with label Videos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Videos. Show all posts
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Video: Shadow Masters the Stairs
In the beginning of June, Shadow finally conquered his fear (the only one we've met so far) and made his way down the front stairs. Here is the long lost video detailing that treacherous journey. (Double-click to see it larger on YouTube)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Video: Shadow vs. Moose
Another acquisition from the long lost camcorder vault: Shadow and his non-biological cousin, Moose, vie for a tennis ball in Maine. (Double-click to see it larger on YouTube)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Video: First Swim
This happened a few weeks ago... but it's still fun to watch! Check out Shadow's first swim in a river in Maine. (Double-click to see it larger on YouTube)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Puppy Steps
On one hand, it's hard to believe Shadow -- or "Mr. Shadow" as some of his fans like to call him ;) -- is 15 weeks old today.
But then again, the extent to which he's changed -- in his understanding of us, his level of obedience, and even his sheer size -- makes it hard to believe we've only had him for seven weeks!
Just days ago, for example, I had to carry him down the stairs to get to the front door. They were too steep. If I tried to coax him down on his own, poor Mr. Shadow would just sit at the top, whine, paw at the edge, and look absolutely beside himself. It's the way I'd look if I ever attempted skydiving.
But today, with the help of treats and a blocking of his escape route, he's gone down those steps three times already! So what if he does it like a person with a limp and a fear of heights? It's a big achievement. (Come on, do you really think I'd be so cheesy as to put "It's a big step" there?)
Socially, while he hasn't mastered staying on four feet to greet people, he's already found himself a neighborhood girlfriend and (in my blatantly biased opinion) is one of the best puppies in his kindergarten class. (Watch the video to see how that all began.)
And finally, an update on two of the biggest problems we had in the beginning:
Sleeping: While I don't relish getting up at 6:30 every morning (goodbye Saturday sleep-ins), I've come to really appreciate the extra 3-4 hours of daylight. Plus, the middle-of-the-night barkfests have completely disappeared. The guidebooks nailed it when they advised having patience and letting him cry until he realizes it won't get him his way.
Biting: It's as good as a memory. He may have the occasional relapse, but it's fleeting and soft. The lesson to take away here is to never ignore biting, no matter how harmless or even cute it seems. Whether it's a yelp, a forfeit of attention, or a spray of water, do something when he nips and have patience.
Just like his weight, it's hard to notice progress when you're watching it every day, but some day you'll look back and go "Hey! Remember how he used to bite all the time?..." (or weigh 12 pounds?)
More videos:
Shadow the Silver Lab Comes Home
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Shadow Does His Chores
Now a whopping three months old and almost too heavy to be carried down the stairs, Shadow has all but taken over the house. A few days ago he also deemed my deck cleaning job subpar and decided he could do better... I think he might need the instruction manual though...
(Double click on video to watch larger version on YouTube.)
More videos:
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Drowsy Shadow
Shadow tries to get some shuteye but can't seem to find a comfortable position. I especially like his backwards ear here -- it's like my bed head in the morning ;)
More videos:
Monday, May 17, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Hit and Run (don't worry - he's fine, just clumsy)
Shadow the silver Lab puppy gets a bit dazed after a run-in with our couch. (Hint: Turn the volume up)
It's all that darn stuffed chicken's fault...
Follow LauraShadow on TwitterIt's all that darn stuffed chicken's fault...
Need more Shadow?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Video: Singin' in Shadow's Room
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say someone snuck into the house in the middle of the night last week and replaced our sweet-tempered Shadow with a crazy dog for a few days… but then early this week brought our easygoing guy back.
By Friday, Shadow’s separation anxiety, constant accidents, nipping, outright refusal to be guided by a leash, and inability to sleep more than an hour at a time had taken a toll on me and Chris. On Saturday, as I reported earlier this week, we began full-on crate training, meaning he would spend a majority of time in his “room.”
Since then, we’ve had TWO completely accident-free days, he still loves the crate, and I’ve been able to leave him for 45 minutes at a time without worry that he’ll cry his cute little head off. For me, it has made all the difference, allowing me to get things done without fear of a soiled floor and enabling him to rest or play safely and happily on his own.
Accidents still happen (one actually occurred as I was taking a break from typing this), but compared to last week (4-5 a day), but they are FAR less frequent.
For anyone interested in crate training – which is named everywhere but rarely explained in detail – this is what we do:
Shadow now sleeps in his crate in the living room (no longer in the bedroom). Last night, in an unprecedented achievement, he actually slept from 11:30-5:30 a.m. straight.
When he wakes up, he goes outside. About 10-15 minutes after he eats or drinks, he goes outside. After waking up from a nap, he goes outside. If he won’t go outside or he falls asleep but I know he just drank a half-bottle of water, I can either watch him like a chained up hawk like I did last week or I can carry him to the crate. (Guess which one I choose.) When he wakes up or decides he wants out, he goes outside. Crisis averted. It makes for a happy puppy and a happy owner.
When he’s out he’s either eating, playing under my or Chris’ supervision, resting after having emptied himself, or training. He’s been doing the latter (sit/stay, anti-nipping, leash etiquette, fetch) 3-4 times a day for 10-15 minutes, and has shown marked improvement in all categories.
A final note on crate training: By not always closing the door, Shadow has come to see the crate as his bed, often going in or staying there voluntarily. Almost daily, he simply plops down, chews his bully stick and hums to himself (see video on YouTube or below) while I write on the other side of the room, or even in another room. He is never placed in the crate as a punishment.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Video: Shadow Meets Kong
Now that he's nine weeks old, we started seriously crate training Shadow on Saturday. He's been great so far, and the accidents (which reached five on Friday) have plummeted. Plus, he seems to love his cozy little home.
In a while we'll give him his first bath since leaving the breeder. That should be interesting...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Progress Report: Day Five
Shadow naps on a sea of puppy training pads
.
.It’s 2:30 p.m. Wednesday (Day Five) and Shadow is conked out in his crate, snuggling with Leon the Lion and an old T-shirt bearing my scent. He’s been an angel all day, but I would have said that at this time yesterday too – before he had two accidents in a row, launched into a 25-minute fit while I was cleaning the first in another room, and became a berserk little devil each time Chris or I took him outside.
But it was a blip in an otherwise sweet and as-obedient-as-a-baby-can-be few days, and his sudden lack of eye contact told us he knew he had misbehaved.
Raising a dog from puppyhood is definitely shaping out to be a challenge, but the benefits (he just woke himself up by his own hiccups, looked at me with his sleepy blue eyes, and resettled himself with a tired sigh – so cute) far outweigh the frustrations.
Click here for a video of Shadow pouncing around his new home.
On the housebreaking front, the number of accidents has been decreasing each day. The main reason for that isn’t that we’ve trained him well (although today he’s been staring at me when he needs to go… maybe the beginnings of a signal?) but that Chris and I are getting better at recognizing when to take him out. According to the experts, puppies are too young to physically “hold it,” so it’s really up to us to be recognize the signs. From my observations, if his attention isn’t occupied by sleeping, playing, eating, or chewing… he needs to go out.
He just can't get enough of that coffee table!
As far as training goes, he already knows to “sit” on command! We accomplished this with tiny training treats (or sometimes bits of kibble so he doesn’t eat too much) and 5 to 10 minutes of repetition every day. Sometimes he doesn’t want to listen – he’s still very easily distracted – but generally he’ll plop down when we ask. Our next challenge is “down,” which is not coming as easily.
We’re also working on biting and nipping. He’s a puppy, so I wouldn’t expect any less, but it sometimes takes away the fun of playing with him. We started by responding with “No!” and yanking our hands away, but yesterday decided to start making a yelp or “ouch!” sound and shutting down for a few moments when he bit. At best, he’ll realize he hurt us and will stop. At worst, he’ll see that his plaything stops playing with him when he bites.
The biggest issue for Shadow, however, seems to be separation anxiety. This is extra frustrating considering I ACTUALLY AM WITH or near him 24/7 but occasionally want to shower, brush my teeth or get myself something to eat. (Selfish me.)
Until today, the second I left his sight and he couldn’t follow, Shadow went berserk. First there was the whimper, then the whine, then he’d try to test the pen by throwing his body against it. Soon he’d start to cry and bark. And after a few minutes, I would have a heartbreakingly hysterical puppy on my hands, sobbing the way human beings melt down and choke on their tears.
I knew from Cesar Millan’s book, “How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond
,” that returning during his whimpers would only convince him that crying is the way to make his people come back to him. So I waited behind the adjacent wall for what seemed like an eternity (the longest lasted 25 minutes, the shortest 8), struggling to ignore the pain and mentally willing him to calm down so I could go back to him.
,” that returning during his whimpers would only convince him that crying is the way to make his people come back to him. So I waited behind the adjacent wall for what seemed like an eternity (the longest lasted 25 minutes, the shortest 8), struggling to ignore the pain and mentally willing him to calm down so I could go back to him. 
For Shadow to break his separation anxiety, he must get comfortable with the crate.
It’s without a doubt the hardest part of this so far. I’d rather clean up 100 accidents than listen to the little guy cry himself numb. But as my father-in-law told Chris the other night: It hurts your ears and your heart, but you have to do it. (And yes, I know it is practice for a human child… eventually.)
So today I cancelled any appointments I had scheduled over the next week. I am devoting every minute (I would say “waking” minute, but there’s no other kind these days) to helping Shadow break his fear of being alone when I have to tend to other projects in the house or run out for an hour.
Today, my technique has been moving him to the crate
every time he falls asleep on me and relocating his meal spot from the kitchen to the side of the crate. He’s also gone into the crate on his own several times to sit or play – so far so good!
every time he falls asleep on me and relocating his meal spot from the kitchen to the side of the crate. He’s also gone into the crate on his own several times to sit or play – so far so good!Each day, I’ll increase the time he stays inside with the door open, as well as with the door closed while I’m in the room. Hopefully by next week he’ll be able to sleep there rather than the much smaller carrier on our bedroom floor.
Check back for updates on this progress. Anyone going through a similar predicament may find it useful – I certainly would have.
I was warned that getting an eight-week-old puppy would be like raising a baby – that he wouldn’t sleep through the night, he’d need constant attention, he’d cry when left alone, he’d make messes, and at times I’d be completely dumbfounded as to what he wanted. And so far, all that has proven true.
But as any mother would agree, it’s all worth it. When he nuzzles his face into my leg, cocks his head to the side in confusion, follows me around like a shadow, or pounces around excitedly (the canine equivalent of a baby laugh in my opinion), it doesn’t matter how little sleep I get or how many accidents I have to clean.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Video: Check out Shadow's Small Screen Debut
Barely eight weeks old, Shadow the silver Labrador puppy plays with his new owners in his new home. Watch it below:
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