Penny the Puppy Update

[minnesotaCorgi]

Hi All:

I had asked a crate training question back in June and wanted to update everyone with pictures and such. My puppy’s name is still Penny and she’s 11 weeks old now.

The crate training is going well—a few “excitement pizzles� here and there. The first two nights were exhausting, but we’ve gotten into a routine with each other. It helps that her crate is always with me in the living room and at bedtime. When she’s not in her crate, she’s in a supervisable play area along my hallway that I created with a few baby gates.

We go on walks; work on “sit�, “come�, and the “wait� and “take it� game with her chew toys. We’ll start puppy kindergarten after she gets her rabies shots. I’m looking forward to that.

When I take her out walks, everyone wants to say “hi� to her. I’ve had complete strangers honk at me, get out of their cars, and call down to me from their apartment balcony. Being a longtime cat owner, the sudden rush of socialization is more of a shocker for ME than it is for her.

Penny is absolutely fearless! She didn’t twitch a muscle at the July 4th fireworks, didn’t bat an eyelash at the coffee grinder, and when we walked by someone firing off a nail gun in our apartment lobby, she just looked around and kept walking. I try not to make a big deal about these things either, so maybe she picks up on that.

She did the classic Corgi ankle biting thing a few times—especially when walking with me on grass. One day I decided to buy a little plant sprayer and spritz her the next time she did it. That seemed to work. It hasn’t been a big deal since—although she tries to get away with it with my Dad. When she does play-biting I don’t like, saying “no bite� while holding her muzzle has worked. She’s now started to understand what “no bite� means without the muzzle holding part.

She goes ape when she sees people or dogs, which makes potty time in an apartment complex a little challenging, unless of course it’s one of those early morning potty outings (then the lawn sprinklers get us). It’s also hard to avoid other dogs at the apartment. Dogs are supposed to have all their shots where I live, so I guess it’s a calculated risk I’m taking by starting the outdoor potty training right away. I’m not taking her to more public places, like parks and lakes, until she’s had all her vaccinations. Maybe others have had to make that choice.

She had ear mites, a yeast infection in her ear, and runny stool with little traces of blood when she first arrived. We’re treating her for roundworms (which didn’t show up in the first exam) and spirochetes. I apply ointment to her ears a couple times a day and clean them every other day with some stuff the vet gave me. The treatments have helped firm up her stool and keep her ears pink, so good news there. The breeder at carrollcountrycorgis.com was helpful when I emailed her to ask if she had noticed this in Penny or her other siblings.

Right now we’re just trying to stay cool in our third bedroom apartment. It’s pretty warm here in Minnesota right now. On really warm days, I stick a thin ice pack under one side of her crate. That way she can lie down on the cool side of the crate when she feels like it. I also share the fan with her.

That’s probably enough for one person to read. My heart goes out to newcorgiowner. Being a new corgi owner and first time puppy owner myself, I can REALLY sympathize.

A video of Penny on day two in her new home is at:

http://www.artweb.org/family/movies/pennypuppy.AVI

Take care everyone!

[corgimom]

Glad that everything is going well.

Unfortunately, my computer would not play the video for me. I bet it was
cute.

linda

[CorgiMum]

Oh my yes, your little darling is so very cute!

Thanks so much for sharing that update and the video. All I can say now is I want a Tri Pembi puppy!

[Michael Romanos]

Isn't it lovely that people gravitate towards Penny. It's times likes these that makes a Corgi owner appreciate just what they have with them every day.
It is wonderful that Penny is not easily scared - and this is the generally what Corgis are - plenty of curiosity and courage.
I see, she has had a few hiccups along the way but thankfully, nothing too bad.

[lricch565]

Penny is adorable! Keep us updated with new pictures.

Lisa

[Jeni D]

Penny is a cutie! Glad to see things are going well for you and Penny is keeping you on your toes. Keep us posted and she grows!

[Fluffypants]

OOOOOH . . . she is precious! Sounds like you had a bit of a rough start, but good for you for sticking with it! You won't be sorry!

[Jhemphill]

Penny is adorable, I kept playing the video over again, because it was so cute to see Penny running to you and then rolling over on her back. So very cute.

[ChloeLouise]

I just played the Penny Puppy video!! Oh my - WHAT A CUTIE!!! She is PRECIOUS! I know Chloe was little like that not too long ago because we have photos - but even tho she is just over a year old, it seems like she has always been a "Big Girl"! Those puppy days go so fast - enjoy every minute of them!

Your long post was very interesting and fun to read, also. I like the idea of putting an ice pack in/under the crate to keep her cool! If we have any more of the beastly hot weather like we had over the weekend, I will be trying that suggestion!

When Chloe was just little she had a short bout of bloody/runny stools that we finally attributed to her eating sticks and (believe it or not) crunchy bugs! I had called the vet in a panic and then proceeded to clear her play area of ALL twigs! I still don't let her chew on sticks (I am such a mean Momma!)...

It sounds like you are having a wonderful time with your little Penny and also working on training her to be a very good canine citizen! Welcome to this caring community of gocorgi!
Margo