Journey: Puppy to Adult

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#42
Sometimes I feel a bit redundant on Chaz since you all likely see every picture on Facebook too, but that's ok! Nobody seems to be complaining about an excess in puppy updates yet LOL.


Today Journey met a customer's year old Aussie boy. This dog has been coming to the store since he was a pup and I've gotten to know him and his owner really well, so I let Journey play with him. I'm pretty picky about which store dogs she actually gets to meet because most would not be a good experience, but I knew this guy would be awesome with her and he was.

Journey was so excited to see him! I'm pretty sure she thought he was a long lost friend or family member haha. I've never seen her get so excited to see another dog before. So much for her bath last night, but she had a great time playing with him!










Her face is starting to look grown-up already. She's really beautiful.
I know! Especially in pictures. In person she still looks pretty puppyish, but in some pictures you can definitely see what she's going to look like as an adult. And she's going to be very pretty, if I do say so myself! :D

She has the sweetest expression! And looks soooo soft!
She really is as soft as she looks! I love fluffy puppy coats. So cuddleable (is that even a word? lol).

She's adorable! She seems so photogenic. Good pictures as well.. definitely wishing that I could run and get myself an Aussie right now, but I'll have to wait. :)
She's the most photogenic puppy ever. She makes it so easy.

Journey!! I will never get sick of adorable indoor pictures of her and her sweet face. Ever.
Well I'm going to hold you to that! Already I have more pictures of her than I know what to do with and they're all just indoor ones haha. It's a little ridiculous.
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#43
No new pictures but I just wanted to brag about how awesome my puppy is, and here seemed the place to do that.

She just takes everything and anything in stride so well. I've never actually had the experience of raising such a bold puppy. The Dobermans were not by any means fearful, but they definitely had more moments of insecurity and being cautious than Journey has had so far. And Dance as we all know was not a very brave puppy by any means... not even close.

Literally nothing phases Journey. She had those few days where she thought maybe people were a little weird and scary, but that has long since passed and other than that, nothing ever bothers her. And if she does have a fleeting moment of "uh oh, I'm not sure if this is safe", she recovers in seconds and is ready to check whatever it is out. We walk a short distance to the train every morning and walk past and through the gazillions of high school and University students and all the people going to work without a care in the world. She hops on the escalator with very little encouragement on my part (too heavy to carry up the stairs now, so we take the escalator because I don't want her doing all those stairs), gets on the train and lies down or sits calmly by my feet and looks around at everyone or stares at me waiting for a treat, gets off the train into super busy downtown every morning and nothing catches her off guard. Not wheely carts, briefcases swinging, homeless people, construction workers and noise, squealing trains, noisy bus brakes, people yelling... nothing. She just walks with me like she's been doing this all her life.

This morning 7 people commented on how relaxed and easy going and attentive she was and complimented me on all of my hard work with her, and honestly I wish I could take the credit, but it's mostly just her. I reward and encourage her behaviour, but it really just comes naturally to her. One person thought she was my service dog and another thought she was a service dog in training and both thought that was why I required her to be so good and "not act like a puppy" haha. But she's just naturally good out and about, at work, everywhere. She's a wild bratty nutcase at home, but everywhere else she's really quite amazing for a puppy.

I've never had such a people magnet of a dog before. Sure makes socializing with all kinds of different people easy! There are still a lot who avoid her because they're not dog people I guess (they look disgusted), but on the whole I really can't go anywhere in a hurry haha. People always want us to stop for them.

I love how she is with people too. She likes to greet people, but she's so polite and calm about it. And if people ignore her, she's fine with that too. She doesn't have to meet everyone, but she likes attention from those that do want to say hello and snuggles into them for a few seconds before returning back to me. She's never super enthusiastic and excited about meeting people, which is nice. Just calm and happy. She saves the crazy for her three favourite people: me, my mom and my brother. Everyone else just gets a little bum wiggle and a snuggle. On occassion there have been a couple of people that weird her out a bit for whatever reason, but not enough not to investigate. There was a day that some guy just reached down and roughed her up without asking me, which was really annoying and I told him not to do that, but she didn't flinch at that either thankfully. Just looked at me like "um, this is weird, but ok..". Stupid person, but good puppy! No matter how much you try to make sure a puppy has nothing but good experiences, sometimes an idiot sneaks past your attempts.

She's wicked smart. I can't believe how quickly she catches onto things and it makes teaching her things so much fun. She just gets it and loves to learn, too. I've been keeping training sessions super short and she likes it that way. Makes her more eager and into it for the next time and keeps her from losing interest. I've overall been taking a much more laid back and non-serious approach to raising and teaching her than I have with past puppies and I love it. So while she may not solidly know as much as past puppies have by her age, that's ok, because we're having a lot of fun getting there while also just letting her be a puppy. We'll get there! Just not on a time limit. I used to try to make my puppies act like little adults quickly, because that was what I was taught I should do, but I much prefer being super relaxed about everything.

We're working on her toy drive. She likes toys, but she's not in love with them. She likes to chew on them alone and likes to tug with me, but isn't into fetch at all yet. Hopefully that'll come - I have a few ideas as to how to work on that.

She was developing some seperation anxiety but we seem to have gotten rid of that. She's fine now if I leave her with my other family members. She prefers to come with me, but if I hand her to them either leashed or block the stairs off so she can't follow me, she settles well with them. And I've also been blocking her off behind an ex pen where she can see me and where she can't, and she doesn't make a big deal about that at all anymore either. She might whine a bit for a couple seconds if she can see me, but then relaxes. She no longer carries on in her crate in my bedroom when I leave her in there. I hear her whine and cry for a few minutes and then she settles and goes to sleep after cleaning out her Kong.

Anyway, I could really go on and on forever and without pictures I don't actually expect anyone to get through that LOL. But that's ok! She's just such a wonderful puppy and I'm so in love with her. And so impressed with her. I adore all of my dogs, that goes without saying, but if things keep going as they are, I think Journey is going to grow into the "take anywhere, do anything" sidekick dog I've dreamed of.
 

SaraB

New Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2011
Messages
5,798
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
St. Louis, MO
#44
You have no idea how much I love hearing all that wonderful stuff about Journey! I am so happy for both of you, there is nothing like the feeling of enjoying raising a puppy when everything goes right. So, so glad you found each other.
 

Fran101

Resident fainting goat
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
12,546
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Boston
#45
Go Journey :D I love these updates! So glad to hear she is doing so well, they really are a pair of solid pups.. Merlin has no fear either! Lol I'm amazed.

PICTURES! LOL
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#46
Thanks, guys! I'll work on some new pictures to reward you for reading through all of that haha.

You have no idea how much I love hearing all that wonderful stuff about Journey! I am so happy for both of you, there is nothing like the feeling of enjoying raising a puppy when everything goes right. So, so glad you found each other.
There really isn't! I haven't had so much fun with a puppy since 2003. Dance was a lot of fun, but I was always worried about her and why she was so freaked out by things that she shouldn't have been that I forgot to just kind of enjoy her puppyhood. Ripley was a lot of fun too and I enjiyed his puppyhood a lot, and so was Keira for as frustrating as she could be, but it just feels different to raise a puppy of a breed/personality that really suits you and also a puppy who is just so bold and outgoing. There is no worry, and while I'm sure she'll have weird moments as most puppies do, raising her has really been nothing but enjoyable. She's brought so much joy into my home and my life. Just an amazing little pup. I'm so glad I decided to contact her breeder... eventhough I thought Fran might be upset about it for some reason haha. Me and my silly, useless worries...

Go Journey :D I love these updates! So glad to hear she is doing so well, they really are a pair of solid pups.. Merlin has no fear either! Lol I'm amazed.

PICTURES! LOL
No fear at all! Sometimes I think she needs a healthy dose of fear LOL. But it's awesome. It really amazes me how she goes through life like she's a mature, adult dog who has been doing all of these things forever and ever. I haven't been around many puppies like that, and certainly never raised one like that. And Merlin sounds just as perfect as Journey! I love his updates too. :D



And I forgot to add in my last post: she's huge! I measured and weighed her last night and she's 15" and 23.5lbs right now. That's almost Dance's size. I guess it makes sense as she probably has another 4 to 5 inches to go in the next few months or so, but she just seems ginormous to me haha. And yet other Aussie people meet her and tell me how little she is.
 

Upendi&Mina

Mainstreme Elitist
Joined
Jun 12, 2009
Messages
2,596
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Wonderland
#47
I'm so happy for you! :D She sounds like an absolutely fantastic puppy and she's absolutely gorgeous! I'm pretty sure I need to meet her. :p

And I forgot to add in my last post: she's huge! I measured and weighed her last night and she's 15" and 23.5lbs right now. That's almost Dance's size. I guess it makes sense as she probably has another 4 to 5 inches to go in the next few months or so, but she just seems ginormous to me haha. And yet other Aussie people meet her and tell me how little she is.
Haha, she's almost as big as Cara already at least weight wise. Just reminds me how tiny the little red dog is. :eek:
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#49
I'm so happy for you! :D She sounds like an absolutely fantastic puppy and she's absolutely gorgeous! I'm pretty sure I need to meet her. :p



Haha, she's almost as big as Cara already at least weight wise. Just reminds me how tiny the little red dog is. :eek:
Thanks!

And yeah, that's the terrible thing about Chaz is that everyone is so far! It'd be so much fun if we all lived near eachother haha.

Neither of her parents seemed big to me nor did any of the other adult dogs at her breeder's house (well, except her grandpa - he was bigger than everyone lol), so at least I know she probably won't be a giant. And she really doesn't look like she should weigh that much. It's all gotta be just bone. But still, she's definitely not going to be a teeny tiny Aussie girl like Cara.

I'm positive no one would complain. Puppy is oozing with cuteness!!
Thank you!




And crappy pictures, I know, but here are a few from work today! I want to try and get her out with my real camera next week as it seems I get a few extra days off work and I plan on taking her on a couple adventures. She doesn't know how to wait or stay yet, so who knows if I'll be successful at pictures, but I'll try haha.

On the bus almost at work this morning...



Bouncing at me for a treat...



Chewing a delicious lamb femur..





[^ excuse the chewed blanket - it's a hand me down. Ripley chewed it.]

And just hanging out...





 

Upendi&Mina

Mainstreme Elitist
Joined
Jun 12, 2009
Messages
2,596
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Wonderland
#51
Thanks!

And yeah, that's the terrible thing about Chaz is that everyone is so far! It'd be so much fun if we all lived near eachother haha.

Neither of her parents seemed big to me nor did any of the other adult dogs at her breeder's house (well, except her grandpa - he was bigger than everyone lol), so at least I know she probably won't be a giant. And she really doesn't look like she should weigh that much. It's all gotta be just bone. But still, she's definitely not going to be a teeny tiny Aussie girl like Cara.
We just need to start a compound!

Yeah, Cara is just a really tiny girl. She quite literally just stopped growing at six months. :doh: She ended up being smaller than both of her parents, and honestly she could use more bone. I love her dainty little self either way. lol

And I swear the more pictures you post of Nina the more I fall in love, I absolutely adore her expression! AND THAT PUPPY BELLY YOU'RE KILLING ME!
 
Joined
Apr 13, 2011
Messages
3,557
Likes
1
Points
36
Location
Hudson Valley
#52
And I forgot to add in my last post: she's huge! I measured and weighed her last night and she's 15" and 23.5lbs right now. That's almost Dance's size. I guess it makes sense as she probably has another 4 to 5 inches to go in the next few months or so, but she just seems ginormous to me haha. And yet other Aussie people meet her and tell me how little she is.
man, Journey weighs as much as Hudson does! Well, actually more than he weighed on Tuesday when we set him on the scale.


Love her
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#53
I've had a few extra days off of work this week and today I took Journey downtown around lunch time for some socializing and other new experiences. We go downtown to get to work too, but don't spend a lot of time down there as I basically get off the train, get on a bus, and head to work. So I wanted to walk her around and get her used to all the different, weird things one finds downtown. She was super, as usual. So many people asked to meet her and she happily greeted them all and took treats from them. It's the one place in the winter here that people still ride their bikes, and she didn't care about them at all. No weird noises bothered her, although I didn't expect them to. The one thing she was a little weirded out by was her reflection in one of the store windows haha. But she went and checked it out and decided everything was ok after all. We practiced some waits and she did pretty good with those. We haven't spent a lot of time on waits or stays, but she did well. I put her on a little bench and a round ball statue just because and she didn't care about that either. She was concentrating hard on the ball, but otherwise was not bothered. It was a very good afternoon! She was pretty tired by the time we got home. :)

On Sunday I also took her to Dance's Flyball practice. Journey is too young to participate in anything of course, but we did some recalls and she also just got to be around a lot of excited dogs and their owners so it was a good experience for her.

Tomorrow we'll probably just stay home and relax and then it's off to work again starting Thursday. :-(


Here are a few from before our adventure....



She likes to squeeze herself in the tiniest of places while I'm getting ready/blow drying my hair in the morning haha. She's going to be so sad when she can't fit there anymore. She used to lay under step stools and was sad she can't fit under those now.



Her right ear wants to sit higher than the left now. Personally, I think it's pretty cute!



"Hello, Chaz!" - Wave is her most reliable trick. Hard to get pictures of though still.





I received some advice from a stranger telling me my dog has a staring problem today haha. She was taken aback when I rewarded her for staring at me and was sure I was encouraging Journey to challenge me. Oh, unsolicited advice from strangers...





On the train...





She likes to lay on my feet. Fine by me, as it keeps her out of the way of other peoples' feet.



More!
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#54










Staring at her reflection..



"I know you have treats!"





Concentrating on the ball...



More treats made it worth it!



More!
 

MandyPug

Sport Model Pug
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
5,332
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
32
Location
Southern Alberta
#55
I have a feeling Izzie would love to meet her next week when we come up lol. She was raised in a Tail Blazers too! And I want to snuggle a puppeh!
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#56


Tired, pondering...







Riding the escalator. It's not her favourite thing, I think because of the movement (must make her feel funny), but she hops on willingly and it's better than taking all the stairs right now.





Playing for a few minutes at a field near our house..









Still some more!
 

Toller_08

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
8,359
Likes
1
Points
36
#57




















Done!


I have a feeling Izzie would love to meet her next week when we come up lol. She was raised in a Tail Blazers too! And I want to snuggle a puppeh!
I still have to check my schedule, but I'm pretty sure we'll be there and Journey would love to meet Izzie and you! Just don't be offended if she acts like she couldn't be bothered haha. She gets to a point every day at work where customers/people aren't worth getting up for anymore. So you might not get the cute happy wiggly greeting and more of an "another one? Ok, if I must say hello..." greeting.
 

Equinox

Active Member
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
3,046
Likes
2
Points
38
Location
Oregon
#59
She is so, so pretty. Tri-colors and bi-colors are my favorite markings on Australian Shepherds and Border Collies. You look like you're doing a fantastic job with her, and she seems to be a beautiful, well adjusted puppy.

And your photos are incredible.
 

Fran101

Resident fainting goat
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
12,546
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Boston
#60
She is such a pretty girl! and Merlin has a red easy walk :D Lol they are so cute!

That turquoise color looks so great on her! She really is growing up too fast..
 

Members online

Top