What's Up, Doc? or Has The Ball Dropped?

 It's February 4th in New England, sunny and cold with patches of snow and ice crusting the ground. It feels like it's still Groundhog Day, that gnawing period when winter begins to outwear it's welcome.

Brady is nearly 11 weeks old, it's time for his veterinarian checkup and 2nd set of shots. He got his 1st set when he and his littermates were 7 weeks old on a visit to Em's vet. At that time, I found out one of is testicles hadn't descended yet. This can be a concern when the pup is neutered as the surgeon must cut into the abdomen to remove the undescended testicle.

Dr. Shepherd puts him on the examining table and checks him from head to toe.

She notices he's a little slim and suggests I try a new puppy food, which he gobbles right up when she gives him a handful. Luckily, there's a bag included in his "puppy kit" so I can get him started on it when we get home.

Who wouldn't be charmed by that face and gregarious disposition?! Doesn't he look like one of those baby harbor seals? 

Hooray, Dr. Shepherd found the missing testicle! 

Ladies and Gentlemen, the ball has dropped-

Happy New Year, Brady!

To ensure that it is a healthy new year, Brady gets a shot right between the shoulders... 

What a trooper- he didn't even cry. 

Brady has so impressed Dr. Shepherd that she sits down on the floor to give him a little t.l.c after the distemper shot. 

She gives me some advice on housetraining: 

Puppies must be monitored at all times, so if he isn't being watched, he must go in the crate. 

(I must admit, there've been times when I left him in the kitchen unattended for a few minutes here and there while he napped in the corner with Sophie who is hardly a puppysitter).

Dr. Shepherd also suggests a new way to stop him from biting my fingers during play. She said if you "Yip" as another dog would, it will stop him short. Then, praise him with a treat when he licks after the nipping stops. 

Finally, she told me it's important to socialize him with other people and familiar dogs who've had all their shots.

Until he's gotten his final set of puppy shots at 16 weeks, he can walk with me on roadways and sidewalks that are free of pet or wild animal stools. 

I tried walking him down our street when we got home. The mail truck was the only vehicle moving on the street and Brady seemed a bit spooked by even that.

Hmmm, this street training might take a while....