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Welcome to The Levi and Cooper Chronicles. I'm the 'Cooper' and my baby brother is the 'Levi.' We're not siblings in the literal sense of the word. He's a miniature schnauzer and I'm a miniature poodle but our differences go far beyond our breed. You see, I'm the famous angel dog who blogs from the Rainbow Bridge. Well, not famous down on earth but up here in doggie heaven all canines get to do whatever we like and I like blogging. We dogaroons up here can also gaze down through the magic water under the bridge and keep tabs on our humans. Isn't that cool! After I discovered the magic water, I decided that little Levi---who got adopted into the family shortly after my departure from earth---could use a guardian angel. When he blogs he types in pink and when I put my two cents worth in I type in blue.
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Friday, May 9, 2008

Puppy Socialization

Man, I've got to quit watching Mom with Levi in the mornings or I'm going to get diabetes from the sweetest of it. At nap time he was laying on his back in her lap and she was holding his Kong puppy pacifier like a baby bottle for him to chew on. If that wasn't "cutesy" enough she was rocking him as well. If my uncle Jerry had seen that, he would have teased her with, "He's JUST a dog. He needs to go live under the porch like a REAL dog." Uncle Jerry likes to sound tough but he secretly has a soft spot for canines.

Little Levi went to his first puppy socialization class last night. He wasn't too sure he was going to like puppy kindergarten the first six-seven minutes. He hid under Dad's wheelchair when they let all the puppies off the leash but the instructor told Mom to let him stay there until he was ready to come out on his own. One other puppy---a tiny white Pekingese that came to class in a prissy pink carrying case and wearing a matching dress---hide from the action. The white puppy never did come out from her behind her mom's legs but once Levi ventured out of hiding, he had a great time playing. And as play time wound into full gear, under Dad's wheelchair became the 'time out' place for all the puppies. Some of the bigger breed dogs managed to get themselves soaking wet in the water bucket so Dad got slobbered good between happy kisses and wet paws in his lap.

Mom's not sure she likes the training method the instructor endorses of using food as incentives and only giving Levi three feeding times a day, picking up the dish a half hour later if he doesn't eat right away. Levi is doing well learning to fetch, sit, come, down and heel without using food incentives. Plus all of us furry kids' of Mom's up here at the Rainbow Bridge have been free feeders and she's not sure she wants to change that with Levi. He pretty much eats most of his food just before the roosters metaphorically crow and is ready to poop and pee when Mom gets up at eight. The rest of the day he lightly grazes a kibble bit here and there.

Mom forgot to bring her camera to puppy class. Like I've said before, she is an airhead sometimes. I wish she'd also remember to take some pictures of Levi pooping. He does it with his back to Mom and his little head hanging out between the white pickets of the fence. ©

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9 comments:

Scruffy, Lacie and Stanley's Place said...

Hey Sweet Levi and Cooper!!!

Wahoo...puppy socialization...another really big word for FUN!!!!!

Sounds like ur makin' great progress Levi!!! Have have you been to the blog with the 2 schnauzers from New England?? They are in the links on our bloggie...they're sorta new bloggers...really cute doggies!!! If ya can't find the link, let us know...

And Cooper...Mumsie has always rocked us as puppers...it's good for the rocker and the rockee...all that skin/fur touchin'...makes everyone feel loved...isn't that what we all want??? Bet she rocked you as a little one, didn't she??!!!

Barkies at ya doggies!!!

Scruffy, Lacie and Babystan

parlance said...

Cooper, you have to remind your mum to take that camera! I really, really want to see Levi pooping with head out of the fence. It's alright for you up there beyond the rainbow bridge, you can see everything. But we down here need the help of technology.

Molly the Airedale said...

Can we come and live at your house?! We've never heard of this free feeder stuff but it sure sounds good to us!
We can't wait to see this picture of you pooping, Levi!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Willow the Black Dale said...

Hi Levi and Cooper! I saw you 2 over at T-Bone Beasely's blog. You have great stuffies.....I need to get more.
We can't free feed here at our house because of Pilar (our Cavalier). She eats WAY to much. If you can free feed in your house how cool that must be.
Come on over and say hi and maybe we can link up and be friends!! We live in Michigan too!!!

Willow the Black Dale said...

Hi Cooper and Levi! We saw you over on T-Bone Beasely's blog. We loved all your stuffies. They were really cool, especially the Energizer Bunny!!!
Free feeding! That is sooo cool. We can't do that at our house due to Pilar (our Cavalier) she eats WAY to much. My mom used to free feed Sadie (who is at the Rainbow Bridge) and she loved it! Like my mawmie always says....what mawm says goes!!!
Come on by and say hi!!
nose pokes,
Willow the Black Dale

the many Bs said...

hi Cooper & Levi,

it sounds like Levi is doing really well, with all of his sweetness training and treats. hee hee. our mom trained us without treats and it works just fine. we want to please her and do what she asks without food incentives. don't get us wrong though, we get plenty of treats. we have her trained for that.

woofs

BenTheRotti said...

Hi Cooper and Levi,

wow puppy class sounds like a blast and it sounds like you are really coming on in leaps and bounds Levi.
aaaawww the image of your Mom rocking Levi is just too cute!! Someone should get a snapshot of that for the family album.. and the blog of course hehehe... and speaking of snapshots, I agree with you copper, someone needs to get a picture of levi taking a poop.. thats one interesting style he has hehehe

love, licks and tailwags,

Ben xxx

Anonymous said...

Well done Levi for coming out from hiding in the puppy socialization class. It sure does sound like you had fun and not forget your dad lol.

Don't worry about pooping... you don't need to be shy we all do it.


Cooper thats for the report.

lots of licks

xox

Emma the Golden Girl said...

and the Canine Kids said,
Thanks for sharing your experiences at puppy class. Our Mom used to train other people's dogs and she used the method your puppy instructor uses. Lots of treats and praise. Don't worry, soon you can do everything without so many treats.
Leaving the food out for a certain amount of time and picking it up helps lots in housebreaking.
And, we think it's great your Mom is cuddling Levi with his pacifier.
Hugs from the Canine Kids to you both!