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!!

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?

Kai, the imp!

Kai is at that age where everything is interesting and must be explored. This has ended up with him falling in the pond twice recently. Thank goodness for a hairdryer and a puppy who rather likes being dried that way!! Unfortunately no pictures, we were more bothered about getting him dry as soon as we could.

This afternoon he was wandering around in the kitchen, exploring as usual. He disappeared under one of the kitchen units and look how he came out..

Here are the car keys - Let's go!

Putting his coat on has become an absolute battle of wills. He thinks it's a huge game, being totally unhelpful. Trying to get his head though the hole, whilst trying to stop him grabbing at the coat at every opportunity is somewhat of a challenge. Of course he is wriggling like an eel at the same time which makes it even harder. We get there in the end, Getting the coat off isn't as difficult thank goodness!

This photo sums it up really. He looks really miffed because he didn't win!! Stupid really because once it's on he doesn't bother about it at all.



And finally the latest photo we have of Kai. aged 14 and a 1/2 weeks old.

He seems to become scruffier by the day. I brush him, yet moments later he is as scruffy as he was before. Still absolutely gorgeous though, and only adds to his impish nature.

The best dressed pup in town?

We bought this coat for Kai a couple of weeks after we got him. Dog coats seem to have evolved since the last time we bought one. This one has elastic loops which the back legs go through - stops the coat turning apparently! Once you've put his head through the hole there is a section that goes between the front paws and then is secured with a belt that goes around his waist.
(See the picture to the left)



Trying it on him was absolutely hilarious. We had bought the smallest one (10") but it was still really big on him. Anyway managed to get a very wriggly puppy into the coat and put him down on the sofa. Every time he walked he toppled over to the right. Somehow he'd managed to get his leg back through the hole... hence the falling over!! He'd also managed to get his lower jaw stuck inside, presumably trying to chew it. An unmitigated disaster!

Three weeks on, not only does the coat fit but he manages to wear it properly as well. Have to say he does look very nifty in it, even though I'm biased. What do you think?

Climbing stairs? No problemo!

Our stairs

Well Kai decided he was fed up with being left behind at the bottom of the stairs crying about two weeks ago, when he made it all the way up both parts of the stairs by himself. I was amazed watching him motor up them. Seeing as he's really only tall enough to reach the next step it's amazing that he can do it at all!! It's even more impressive because our stairs are open ones so he can see the floor all the time. Eric had sort of showed him what to do putting his front paws up on the next step.

We hadn't pushed it with him because we don't really want him going upstairs whilst we're still working on his toilet-training.

Kai, three steps down

onto the lower set of steps

Of course coming down is a different matter entirely, but he has gradually plucked up the courage and is now starting to get himself down regularly. He lost confidence after the first time he managed it and went back to crying at the top until Eric went and got him. That was a week or more ago, but in the last couple of days he has got back into it again.
It is really tricky for him because he's so small. Just another example of how brave and bold he is.


Even though he couldn't get himself down he would insist on going up at every opportunity. So we bought a baby gate. This was rested across the bottom of the stairs as a temporary measure until Eric fitted it properly..

Done i

Of course he tried to climb it and ended up with it falling on him. We then put a large box in front of the propped up baby gate so it wouldn't fall over. The clever little blighter got round this by going round the back of the chair, underneath the stairs and then hopped onto the first step from the back, turned round and then carried on going up the stairs!  I watched in disbelief as he worked out how to get past the obstruction. It seems as we have another intelligent problem solver on our hands.


All things considered it is probably best that he can now get himself back down the stairs whenever he goes up..... not sure what we'd try next!

Click here for a video of Kai coming down the stairs.

Kai's first walk

Today was the day. The day that Kai went for his first walk. It is too difficult for me to go with Eric to walk the dogs at the best of times because of my CRPS, let alone in the Winter which makes it flare even more. There was no way I was going to miss it, so this morning 'Operation Dog Walking' rolled into action. Eric has to help me do everything so going out is a military operation at the best of time.

our little man taking a breather

'hello, I'm Kayla, who are you?'

Suitably dressed and safely seated in my electric wheelchair with Kai on my lap off we went down the road. Eric took the other two down in the car as normal. It takes a good 10 minutes for me to get to the playing fields but Kai was as good as gold, sat quietly, didn't fidget, just gazed around taking everything in. He was a little worried by the traffic noise when we got as far as the row of shops, especially the double decker buses but didn't try to get off or get away. Over the pedestrian crossing and then Eric took him so that he could have his first taste of walking on a lead. Just across the car park to the car where the girls were waiting, probably miffed because their walk hadn't started!!

He was really good on the lead, needed a bit of encouragement at first but then happily toddled along next to Eric. Then we were on to the fields where the real fun began. He loved it, and everybody loved him! Lots of cuddles, meeting other dogs and most importantly lots of chasing after Bella and Kayla!

He is such a bold little chap that he took it all in his stride, wasn't scared, wagged his tail at people and dogs alike, having a really positive first experience.

'The Girls' - Kayla and Bella

The girls chased off a big fluffy German Shepherd that started to come bounding over so it is clear that they will look out for him. He responds to his name and comes back well. But to be honest he didn't stray far from us, and just followed the girls.

For a tiny puppy he certainly has lots of energy. He kept running after them long after I thought he would be tired. I fully expected to have to have him on my lap on the way back to the car but no he went the whole distance, albeit a far shorter walk than the girls' normal length.

ready to run after the ball again

The girls have a tennis ball each so there is lots of throwing and fetching to be done. I suspect it won't be long before he has a ball of his own. He did try to pick Kayla's up at one point, but he couldn't get his jaws round it. Bless him. Thoroughly soggy and wet he took the trip home in the warmth of the car.

As an aside I have to say that it was absolutely wonderful to see Bella running round, enjoying her walk. I really miss walking them so it was a double delight for me. She seemed really pleased to have me out with her as well. 

You would think that Kai would have crashed out when we got him home. Not a chance. He seems to have been even more energetic than normal for the rest of the day. We really do have a Duracell puppy!!

All in all a very satisfactory walk I'd say....

Click here to watch the videos we took of their walk 

It's the wrong.... beds!

Why do dogs like to sleep in the most uncomfortable way they can?

Perfect example shown in this photo. Bella has somehow managed to squeeze herself onto Kai's tiny bed. Meanwhile Kai is hogging the huge dog bed we have for the girls. I just had to take a photeo and put it on here!

Velociraptor!

Ah, a finger.. Think I'll bite that!!

Oh boy, is Kai teething or what?!?

He has teeth and he knows how to use them. Namely sinking them into us at every available moment given half a chance. He prefers to bite Eric, going for sleeves, shoes, wrist, hand, fingers. He has also become very adept at pulling his hankie out of his pocket.

He has teething dummies which he is starting to gnaw at but irritatingly Kayla seems to get hold of them at every opportunity. She got through two whole sets of teething keys when she was a pup, plus what was left of Bella's.

Haven't I grown?

It's amazing how quickly Kai is growing. You don't notice the change when you're with him every day but you do when you compare photos. His facial hair is rapidly developing into the beard, eyebrows etc which are so characteristic of the Mini Schnauzer. He is becoming more handsome every day!

Kai today, aged just under 9 weeks

Kai aged 7 weeks and a day

His character is coming out as well. He is brave, bold and inquisitive. He's really playful, loves tugging things and of course chewing! He loves pouncing at Kayla, biting her tail and generally being a pest! 

He's a really good puppy, already doing most of hi 'business' outside, taking himself to the back door. He comes when he's called, happily following Eric up and down the garden.

It's hard work looking after a puppy....

... says Kayla!

When we first got Kai, she was very nervous about him. He was tiny (and still is) but there was curling of her lips and general hostility towards him. Kayla the nutter soon mellowed into Kayla the doting 'big sister'. She has always wanted our other dogs to love her, but she has always gone about it the wrong way and never really succeeded. Of course nothing was different with Kai. She started to love him, but would then clump him with her paw in the usual way when she doesn't get the immediate reaction she wants.

Just checking Kai's alright

The transformation in Kayla's demeanor and behaviour has been amazing. It's as if she has suddenly grown up. No more the constant demands for us to throw her toys, the dashing around the living room, leaping around the furniture like a mad thing. She has become careful (most of the time) and now doesn't clump him, rather gently touches him with her paw. She rarely strays far from him, watching him to make sure he's ok. This even extends to when he's asleep. She watches him, as if concerned that he is too still. He of course has responded to her affection and it is clear that he adores her just as much as does him.

It is lovely to watch them play, Kayla lying down so that he can climb on her or pounce at her. Lots of play poses, pouncing at each other, playing with toys. She has become unbelievably tolerant. He is teething like crazy but in the main she is lets him bite and pull her tail, grab at her leg etc. Of course the constant attention has taken it's toll and she looks exhausted bless her. He's hanging onto her tail and she does little more than look at Eric as if to say 'I wish he'd stop that'. She certainly takes her role seriously devoting all her time to him. She won't even get on the bed at night until she's happy that he's alright. It has been the absolute making of Kayla. She would have made an outstanding mother. If he does something he shouldn't she will dance around with a toy in her mouth, woofing.

In the last day or so she has finally started to take herself up the stairs or get onto the sofa where he can't follow for some quiet time. She is also starting to discipline him gently if he becomes too boisterous such as tugging and biting her tail too hard. It does take a long time for her to get to this point. Lots of magical moments between the two of them. Kayla being as clever as she is, has already learned the command 'Wher'es Kai, go and find him'. Off she goes to find him, and will bring him back inside gently.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad,

Kai, the tea drinker

I'm sure there's tea in here somewhere!

From the moment we got  him, Kai has been obsessed with tea. He gets a whiff and he's there. To the point that at first he would be trying to get into the mug with you as you were drinking it!!
We've never known a dog like drinking tea at such a young age. You'd think it would be too strong a flavour. No, he loves it!!

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.

About Kai

Kayla, the `nutter` of the family

Kai is our Miniature Schnauzer, born on 17th August 2011. He is a beautiful black and silver colour. Kennel Club name Hawkwellpark Plumridge,

We have never had a 'Mini Schnauzer' before, but we have always been a three dog family going right back to our first dogs, Tawr, Badger and Sage. The mix has always been two large and one small, be they rescue dogs (usually Oldies - something I would recommend wholeheartedly by the way. All they want is love, food and walks, but what they give back is
love in spades) or puppies.

Bella, my wonderful girl

 
We went down to two dogs because we lost the wonderful Brunty. Our current two, Bella & Kayla were both puppies when we got them. Both are extremely intelligent Border Collies who we are devoted to. Bella is thoroughly bonded to me, whilst Kayla is the same with my husband Eric.

Kai, taken the evening we got him. 6/10/2011

So why a Mini Schnauzer? 'The Girls' don`t take any nonsense where other dogs are concerned, but they tend to get on well with small dogs. There are a couple they see on their walk and played with. Eric thought they were lovely. He suggested we might like one, I looked them up, a friend brought her`s round and we were both smitten.




All that was left was to find a good breeder and go for it! As you can see from the photo above we found one! Having no prior experience of the breed we chose a local Kennel Club Accredited Breeder. Our little man came from a family run breeder, meaning the litter was born and grew up indoors and so gained valuable socialisation in those early weeks of life. 

This is Peggy, Kai`s mother

This is Oscar, Kai`s father

Here are Kai's parents, Peggy and  Oscar. They were due to be clipped when went the first time but were gorgeous. The next time they had been and Oscar in particular was incredibly handsome.

We chose Kai at 2 weeks old from a litter of 5 (2 Dogs, 3 Bitches). We were able to visit Kai again when he was 4 weeks old, then 5 and a half weeks, before bringing him home just after he was 7 weeks. It was amazing how much he changed in such a small time, with his head and fur changing dramatically each time.

Kai, 2 weeks old, 31/8/2011

At 2 weeks Kai was absolutely tiny. His eyes were just about open. He was already inquisitive. Beautiful markings and fur so soft and jet black. An absolute little cracker!

Kai, 4 weeks old, 14/8/2011

Kai, just under 6 weeks old, 26/9/2011

By 4 weeks he had changed loads. He was bigger and his eyes were fully open. His fur had grown a little longer and was coarser. Seemed really comfortable being held by us. Constantly looking around taking things in. You could see the start of his beard and those beautiful silver eyebrows.

Big changes by the next time we next saw him. He was beginning to look like a Mini Schnauzer. His fur was longer and his facial hair developing nicely. He was also developing a gorgeous `scruffy` look. Much more active he was licking and nibbling at us. He was also running around, albeit clumsily. Not very co-ordinated!! Really steady, not frightened by anything. Really excited about getting him!



We picked him up on 6/10/2011. The beginning of our lives together had finally arrived. our little man was home.