Outing Update

On Monday Dante came to a doctor's appointment with me.  He was a little confused as to why my mom was working him while I was there, and kept looking to make sure I was still with him.  It really is a good thing that he gets used to being worked by someone else while "his person" is with him.  

Dante is a barker.  When he would go out in public, he was fine as long as you kept moving, but as soon as you stop he would start barking.  We had a really hard time figuring out why he was barking.  He is comfortable when going out, and nothing really seems to phase him.  We finally realized that it was because he didn't know what he was supposed to do.  He didn't understand that he could just sit or lay down and do nothing.  My mom worked really hard on this while I was gone the last couple weeks, and it finally just clicked for him.  He still will let out a (very) occasional bark, but he has made tons of progress!

We were at the doctors WAY longer then we expected to be (3 hours), which was the longest he has ever been out. I was kind of nervous about it, but Dante was an angel!  We were in the waiting room for 2 hours and he was perfect like in the picture above the whole time.  I kept saying "I cannot believe he is this good!"  

My mom did take him walking around after a while where he got to do his first elevator.  She told me that Dante barked when they first started moving, but did really well for the most part.  
 
I am so happy with all the progress Dante has made these last couple weeks! 

Oops!  I just realized that I never did Dante's 6 month post last week, so this will have to suffice:

Happy 6 months Dante!

Wordless Wednesdays: Do you think he likes cradling?

(Not Quite) Up and Running

The good news: I got home on Thursday!  When my mom pulled up to the curb at the airport, Dante bounded out of the car and was very, very excited to see me.  

Dante has changed so much since I had last seen him three weeks ago.  First of all, he was a good 2 inches taller.  His manners have also improved by leaps and bounds (thank you, Mom!), and he is finally catching on that he is just supposed to hang out when in public.

The first day he was a little confused about who his "master" was and would look to both my mom and I before he would listen to one of us.  but he settled back into our normal routine quickly.


The not-so-good news: On Friday night, my mom, Dante and I went for a walk to the elementary school (5 minutes away) and were going to do some work around the playground.  It was almost dark, but Dante was doing a great job going on everything I asked.  I had climbed up one of those spiral poles (the name escapes me), and jumped off about three feet.  I landed wrong and broke my ankle.  So.... we are not quite up and running again...


Dante has been so cute though.  He comes over to me every ten minutes or so to put his head in my lap and get pet.  He did catch on well to walking with me with crutches.

The last two days for Dante have consisted of a LOT of hanging around the house, and a couple errands with my mom.   I don't want to sound complaining, but creativity with things to do with Dante this summer just got a little bit harder!

Wordless Wednesdays: Skype

I will be home tomorrow, and I think the feeling is mutual that Dante and I miss each other!

Catching Up

I have lots to catch up on.  First off, I have not posted because my family has been out of town for the last week.  We traveled 14 hours by car back where we moved from in December to attend my sister's graduation and visit friends.

It was a bit too much to take Dante with us, so we dropped him off on our way at another raiser's house about 4 hours from ours.  This was actually a good thing as Dante has not been in the car that long since I have had him.  

Dante got to spend a week with nine month old puppy, Margo.  When we arrived Dante and Margo hit it off right away, and were off playing before Dante even knew we slipped out.  

Margo and Dante are both LGX, but couldn't look more opposite.

Margo's raiser said that Dante did really well with his walking and commands, especially the "speak" and "quiet" commands.  But that he was trying to steal socks and shoes off the floor.  I am glad that he didn't have any issues I was not aware of come up.  They also got to go swimming at the lake together.  Dante LOVES to swim and as you can see, wanted to go back in:

Dante got to go to work with Margo's raiser for three days, and being home schooled, that was new to him.  


Margo's raiser is also a veterinarian.  Dante was scheduled to get neutered in about 10 days, but she offered to do it for us.  So this morning  he was neutered.  My family picked him up around 3:00pm and he was pretty out of it, but still recognized them and was really excited.  He even got excited when he recognized he was home.

He is doing really well now, and was playing (quietly), and even started acting up.  ;-) 


I will not fly home until the 21st, so there will be few, if any, post on here for the next 2 weeks.  I am really starting to miss him, and can't wait to see my not-so-little buddy!

Pouty Face

Dante is NOT happy about not being allowed to pick up this shoe.  I tried to redirect him, but he just sat here and tried to look pitiful.  a minute before, he had his nose about 2 inches away from it and was just staring.  His house manners are still not the best, hence he has to drag a leash.  50% of the time though, the leash is in his mouth... 

In this picture, Dante had been free in the house, and I had to put something together on the floor that I knew he would get into.  So, I put him on a tie down just far enough that he couldn't reach me.  Even with all his toys, he pouted like this for 45 minutes until I was done, and let him free.

One word that would describe Dante at this stage in his puppy-hood: Drama!