Freighter turned 4 months old on Monday. For a little guy, he had a big week.
On Monday he made a trip to the vet for his DHLPP vaccine. He weighed in at 37 pounds. This was actually his second visit. His first visit was the previous Monday. That first visit was just an exam, (with a lot of treats), so that we could come up with his immunization schedule. One of his littermates had a reaction to the Lepto vaccine, so we decided to give a low dose of Benadryl before the vaccine. He was such a good boy getting a shot, well two shots. He will get another booster at 6 months, and we may not give the Benadryl at that time. Instead we will wait a bit at the vet after the vaccine just to make sure he has no reaction. Our vet usually breaks Rabies out from the other vaccines so Freighter will get that (and probably his micro chip) in two-three weeks.
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Tuesday Freighter went swimming for the first time, courtesy of our unseasonably warm weather. Whenever we get a pup, we hold our breath that it will have no problems swimming. (Believe it or not there are some retrievers who cannot swim properly.) Unfortunately there are no pictures to commemorate the event, but I am told that he started with a bit of a puppy swim, but quickly went right to real swimming and retrieved a couple of bumpers from the water. 🙂
Wednesday Freighter started learning the boundaries of our invisible fence. We will spend the next two weeks showing him the flags, and pulling him back into the yard with the command “back, back” as he hears the chime on his collar, (the prongs are covered so he only hears the chime and there is no actual correction).
Last night Freighter had his first puppy class. His sis Sunny is also in the class. We train obedience at Sportsmen’s Dog Training Club. This is an AKC Club which offers classes and puts on Obedience, Rally and Agility trials. They also offer CGC testing. The instructors are people who have many years of experience training dogs and have put many titles on their dogs. They have a lot of tricks of the trade so to speak and they definitely love to share their knowledge. This club also offers a drop in conformation class so that handlers can practice with their dogs. Thunder and Storm spent many an hour in this class helping their owner learn how to show a dog.
Our puppy class is nice and small with six dogs/handlers. Hopefully it stays small. The purpose of puppy class is really to help socialize the dogs by being around other dogs and working in that kind of environment. Although they teach some basic obedience in the puppy class, we anticipate taking more obedience classes. After the opening instructions the puppies did a little ramp climbing and went through the tunnel. I took a little video. Nothing cuter than puppies. I will have to take more video, (and I could use the practice :)).
Some photos…
Before class started there was a short meeting.
Finally class started.
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A correction on yesterday’s post thanks to Storm’s breeder. I wrote “solid colored” referring to dogs of all one color. Solid-colored means no white. I should have written “self-colored” which means one color with or without shadings. Thanks for the correction. 🙂
It is supposed to be in the 70’s this weekend…here’s hoping for some swimming for the big dawgs.
Have a nice weekend!
37 lbs! Wow! Freighter is growing up! Sounds like he had a pretty busy week and he enjoyed swimming! 🙂 I just loved the video. Freighter did awesome! Good gosh I found myself feeling proud of him while I watched! LOL! Have a great weekend!
Looks like a very successful class. Well done! I love how he went over the a-frame no problem. Lol that little golden looks to be quite the handful. Glad you all got to get some swimming in, I was tempted to take the dogs yesterday as it got up to 83, but had errands to run. But maybe this weekend or next week. Sure would be nice if the rivers stayed low enough to allow more swimming this year.
Anna
http://www.akginspiration.com
How great that Freighter is a natural swimmer – and instinctively loves retrieving too! He’s going to ace his training, I’m sure. 🙂
Wow he really had a big week.
I thought he behaved very well and neither he or Sunny had any fears surrounding the agility equipment. Plus they weren’t being lunatics (like some dogs I know) around the other dogs.
I don’t know the proper way to swim, but I would have to say Delilah doesn’t do it properly. There are lots of noises when Delilah swims. 🙂
Guess Freighter is a big boy now, at 37lbs! Have a great weekend guys!
Lovies, Miss Mindy
That really was a busy week. Vet, swimming, puppy school and boundary training. Busy, busy pup! Good idea using the Benedryl just in case with the Lepto vaccine – hopefully he won’t even have a reaction when you go for the booster.
Hey Freighter,
Great job buddy – you did so well on that ramp, it looked like a breeze for you Dude!!
You’re getting all grown up so fast!!
Have fun,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Oh, they get too big too fast! Sometimes I look at my 71 pound “monster” and wonder where the 16 pound puppy went!
Freighter has amazing attention going on! That video was great to watch. Of course, all the other adorable puppies helped as well.
Good job this week Freighter! You got a lot done! We think you are very handsome.
Bella and DiDi
Awww Freighter! Looks like he is thriving 🙂 I still can’t believe Freighter is already 37 pounds! Thanks for sharing this wonderful update, we are glad to hear he is doing so well! We loved the video of all the pups– they are so cute and the Mastiff mix is beautiful.
Have a great weekend!
Happy Birthday Freighter!!! Believe it or not, I just showed my doggie day care human that I know how to swim as well (at least in a kiddie pool). Last week it was extremely hot in Nashvegas and my doggie day care human put out a kiddy pool for us to swim in. I am such a follower so even though at home I pretend to hate the shower/bathtub I actually went into the pool and swam with my best-butt sniffs! It was pawsome!
Oh, we’re doing a very big catch-up…FINALLY!!
First of all, Belated Happy Birthday to Thunder!
Secondly, thank you for the great explanation of how to train a Sit at a Run! Also loved all the interesting info about Chessie colours.
Gosh, Freighter does sound like he had a packed week!! 😛 Loved the video of puppy class – Freighter was a star on the ramp! Went over it like a pro! And wow, you can really see that he’s starting to look more like a gangly teenager now rather than a roly-poly puppy.
Looking forward to more videos!
Hsin-Yi (& Honey the Great Dane)
You little boy really is growing up!! It really was a busy week, but one full of work AND play, and that shot is a distant memory, I just know it! 🙂
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Great job beautiful Freighter! We loved it when you went right over that ramp with no prompting…you are so smart! You are growing like a bad weed in a beautiful garden. Hugs and nose kisses Chancy, Mumsy and Crew
Hi Y’all!
We’re getting warm temps this week in the mountains. However, we’re getting lots and lots of rain.
We had to do away with actual treats with Hawk because when he was training he got overly exuberant and actually included my hand with the treat a few times. I still use them when teaching something new or when trying to refocus his attention, but I make sure my hand is FLAT like I’m giving a horse a sugar lump. 😉
I’m still trying to figure out video.
BrownDog’s Human
37 lbs. at 4 mos?? Wow. Dewi weighs 30 lbs. and I strain to pick him up sometimes.
Freighter is so handsome and seems like a wonderful not-so-little guy. I miss the days when we had JF, and later Dewi, in puppy obedience class. It was so much fun for all of us.
Oh, and Cardigans have a history of severe reactions to lepto, so breeders forbid their puppy people to get that vaccine. Thankfully, that ailment doesn’t seem to be a problem in my part of the country. (And I’m so glad Freighter’s littermate is okay now.)
Happy belated b-day to Thunder!
wow! freighter sure did have a busy week! i am very jealous of all your water-loving doggies. desmond’s not to keen on swimming. or standing in water. or walking through a puddle. le sigh…
What a great post! He sure is growing up and he is so handsome and that face is so full of expression and intelligence. We loves the captions….. the collies were going.. “yeah that dog is getting a treat!!!!” Then I had a bunch of eyes looking at me.. heheeh… Loved this post!
Your friends,
the collies and chuck 🙂
Boy, Freighter, you are doing great. And you are growing up too. WE are glad you got the video of the training class.
I just knew you would be a great swimmer and a fast learner.
Freighter is looking great – such long legs, i guess he’ll grow into those 🙂