Kai the Magnificent!

Thursday 5th January 2012, the date the Kai was clipped for the first time. It proved to be a roller coaster ride of emotions with bizarre behaviour we could never have anticipated.

 Took him over to Rochford and left him with the groomer. We then spent the next hour like anxious parents munching chicken burgers and coffee at the nearest McDonald's. Drove back to collect him, I caught a glimpse of his head as she carried him out, and was absolutely blown away. He looked incredible and so handsome. I could tell that Eric was as blown away as me, he had been transformed into the classic Schnauzer look. Our little man looked all grown up! Apparently he was a good boy, a bit scared of the clippers but did very well. She complimented me on his ears, I'm doing a really good job with them. Huge relief because I hadn't been sure whether I was doing them right or not.

All good so far. Then all the good feelings we had evaporated because of the Girls' response to him, Kayla in particular.They clearly didn't recognise him, with Kayla being actively hostile. Every time he went near her she bared her teeth, growled and even had a real go at him. He was frightened of her and literally ran if she came near him.

He has never behaved like that ever so it was really upsetting to see. Eric got really annoyed with Kayla, but apart from that what could we do? Things remained difficult for much of the rest of the day, with Kai very subdued, no doubt partly because of the clipping as well as not understanding why Kayla wouldn't. love him. She slowly showed signs of mellowing and realising that he was Kai after all. The major breakthrough coming at bedtime when she not only tolerated him being on the bed but was wagging her tail at him.

Thankfully normal service was truly resumed today. Kayla was absolutely fine with him on their walk, and they were back to playing etc as normal after that at home all day. For his part, Kai seems to have regained his 'bounce' and is back to his normal self. They had a really great rough and tumble session this afternoon, something that would never have been possible yesterday.

 With the benefit of hindsight I suppose it stands to reason that if we thought the change in him was huge, then the Girls would as well. Probably didn't help that he smelt of shampoo. We'd better not have this every time he goes to be groomed. I don't think I could stand it!!

Fetch!

Kai is now 20 weeks old and continues to soak everything up like a sponge and is a smart little chap. He still managed to surprise me completely the night before last.

Kai playing with my hair!

He came to the side of my chair with his new fabric toy. He asks to play or come up for a cuddle by jumping up and putting his front paws on the arm of my chair. We played tug for a bit and then I decided to throw the toy for him to see if he'd go to it. I expected him to either ignore it completely or at best go over to it and grab it.

Imagine the shock when not only did he go to the toy, but he picked it up and brought it back to me. Paws back up on the arm of the chair with the toy in his mouth ready to do it again. A quick 'drop' command and I had the toy and threw it again accompanied by 'fetch'. Not that the commands were needed because he does fetch like a Pro. We carried on for ages, each time, him bringing the toy back to me, ready for it to be thrown again. And to prove it wasn't a fluke we played fetch again last night, and again this afternoon. This time he started playing with Eric and then came back to one or other of us.

It was completely spontaneous, I haven't tried fetch with him at all, so can only assume that he's watched the girls on their walk and at home doing it and decided that he fancied playing that game as well. Makes training easy when your puppy learns stuff by himself!!

A very Merry Christmas

They say Christmas is for children. Well in this house it's all about our dogs. We had wrapped all their toys and treats individually. Taking each of them in turn we opened their presents. Didn't actually get very far because they all got so excited that they  wanted to see what was in the next package rather than concentrate on the toy we'd just opened  for them! Couldn't get them to come to either of us for their next one, they just milled around whichever of us happened to be holding a present. Utter chaos!

It ended up as a free for all, with them all swapping toys, squeaking them as much as they could manage. Kayla and Bella squabbled over one toy whilst Kai played with another. Kayla demanded that I throw a toy for her repeatedly (as is the norm for her) to fetch with Bella in hot pursuit, trying to tug the toy away from her. Kai also did his best to get in on the act, running and jumping at the Girls as they went backwards and forwards. They didn't know which toy to play with next! We decided not to open any more of their toys, so instead opened one of their edible presents, rawhide chews. These went down well with Kayla as always being the first to finish in record time. It was Kai's first, and he loved it!

Toys played with, and chews finished off, all three dogs proceeded to crash out for the next few hours. Rallied round when it was time for their Christmas Dinner unsurprisingly. Family tradition, the dogs always get a share of the roast dinner added to their kibble. This year it was beef and all the trimmings.

With more presents still to be opened we can do it all over again. It gave me such pleasure to see them so excited. Kai's first Christmas.... a real cracker!!

Getting older.... and even more fantastic!!

Our little man, surrounded  by his toys

Kai was four months old on Saturday (17th). Not posted anything about him for a while, largely because there hasn't been a lot to write. It seems like a good time to take stock of where Kai is in his development. We're starting to see the dog he will become, his temperament, his reactions to things, his relationship with other dogs.

Where to start? Well let's look at the physical stuff first. He has had several big growth spurts, now standing a lot taller, with longer legs and a longer body. His tail must be at least twice as long as when we got him. It is held erect and has a wonderful 'windscreen wiper' action when it wags it. He's outgrown his first coat and now comfortably fills his new 12" one.

He still has to be lifted on and off the settee etc, but is noticeably taller. He can ask to get up by placing his paws on the arm of the chair or the seat of the sofa. He doesn't help himself though, backing away repeatedly when you go to lift him up. This rather sums Kai up to be honest.

What is he doing?

Everything is a game at the moment, or something to be explored, chewed or run off with. He somehow manages to drag items that are far bigger than him away from where he finds them. Eric's large walking boots are a classic example. Or the very large dog cuddly toy which is a current favourite. Initially he barked at it, presumably thinking it was a real dog. Now it is dragged around, chewed, jumped on and I hate to say it 'humped'. Not the only thing getting that treatment. Canada goose toy and my elbow whilst playing with him springs to mind...
Well we are four months old now!!

His facial fur is absolutely gorgeous. All fluffy and scruffy, with a beautiful contrast between the jet black and the white. His head seems to have widened and the classic Schnauzer beard is coming along well. I brush him and within five minutes he looks as scruffy as he did before. It won't be too long now until he goes to the grooming parlour. I wish them luck, he could wriggle for England!!

Yet more grot he's found!!

Kai is lovely. The word sums him up completely. If I ask Eric why he is lovely, his response is that he 'just is'. He's right. He has a wonderful nature, not a malicious bone in his body. Bright as a button, very playful and mischievous, yet more than happy to snuggle up and have a cuddle or sleep in my arms. He and Kayla absolutely adore each other, to the point that both are upset if the other is away. There are even signs that Bella is mellowing, especially when he's lying on me. Scary stuff indeed!

His recall is excellent, he understands no and drop, well most of the time. Sleeps on the bed with Eric and Kayla (only Bella lies on me in my chair at night, otherwise my life wouldn't be worth living). Incredibly good when we go out, he chews nothing, doesn't generally have an accident and gives us a fantastic welcome when we come home. He stretches up as high as he can manage, desperately trying to lick us.

Three banana shaped dogs to come home to, what could be better?

Oops, there goes another toy!

Kayla has always had the habit of dropping toys in the pond.  She is incredibly dexterous, leaning precariously over the  edge to grab them back. How she doesn't fall in is mystery.

Eric captured this lovely moment of the two of them gazing down at the latest victim.

Kayla teaching Kai to play

Kayla is learning to be gentle with him. After the first couple of days where she was her usual dysfunctional self, clumping him with her paw to get a reaction, making him yelp, she has taken a different approach. She started doing play poses at him, then pounced back and forth. Initially he sat and watched her but after a few attempts he started to respond. Tentative steps towards them starting to play. He has started to do the same back. Some lovely moments upstairs when I was having a bath.

Kai is so brilliantly sure of himself, he sits and watches, taking everything in before going further. Even when she was too rough with him, he went straight back in for more. He isn't frightened of her or Bella, and has started playing with Kayla's toys. They are huge but he manages to lift them and carry them around.

Magical moment this morning. Kai was holding black sheep. Kayla pounced with her paw, got the toy. Kai jumped backwards. Kayla then put the toy on the ground a little in front of her. As if giving the toy back to him. She then picked it up and placed it closer still. He was watching her but didn't move. Finally she nosed the toy towards him. This time he grabbed it. A lovely moment showing just how caring she is.

Similar thing happened this afternoon. Kayla went and got her yellow rugby ball. She rolled it to Kai from further away and hadn't got his attention. She rolled it a second time. This time he grabbed at it.

I think Kayla and Kai are going to become very close. Kayla is constantly looking out for him, she is such a caring girl and now she has someone that she can love and be a playmate to. She is constantly looking for him and checking he is alright.