caveninit

My Callie...who I think is a ACD/BC mix..was about 12 lbs at 10 weeks too. She is now 5 months old and weighs 27 pounds! The funny thing is...she isn't very tall. She has been growing mostly longer and wider, but she is still pretty short. I can't wait for her height to catch up with her length cuz she looks funny with her tiny head and long wide barrel body. Your baby is just so adorable!!! She has alot of black ticking just like my Callie. Janet

Thanks..I actually have done that. The other day she was playing with a small teacup Yorkie that had a balance problem...every time that dog went down on her back she had trouble getting back up. The owner said it was ok for her to play and that it was a neurological problem the dog had...poor thing...stupid pet stores..another topic altogether...lol.. anyway, I was nervous letting my pup wrestle with her because she kept standing over this little dog and the dog couldn't really get up ...so I separated her from the dog, but the other dog (slowly) got up and kept hopping around us trying to get Callie to play some more. lol Janet

Thanks Kristine...thinking about what you said, I think she definately feels more secure on all fours...something I hadn't thought about as a possible connection until reading your post.. even as a tiny puppy, she never really liked to be picked up "baby style" and cuddled by me or anyone else. She loves to be petted and snuggled with, but not cradled in my arms. When I try to cuddle with her cradled in my arms on the couch, she has always squirmed away, especially if she is on her back. Yet, she does not mind if I pick her up and carry her upright against my shoulder. I noticed that when she plays and wrestles with other dogs, if she does wind up on her back on the floor, she immediately squirms to get right back up. The only time she stays on her back for any length of time is when I am giving her belly rubs. She does love that, though it must be a funny spot for her because as soon as you rub her belly, her left leg starts kicking. I will definately keep her in her comfort zone with the pups she enjoys playing with. I want her to like going to the park and I know if she is uncomfortable or overwhelmed, that certainly isn't fun for her. Thanks for your insights! Much appreciated. Maggiedog...thanks for your advice too. I always keep a close eye on Callie when she is playing, and I will definately keep watching for any signs of bullying on her part. I just wasn't sure if her straddling or standing over the dogs is what could be considered bratty or bullying behavior, if none of the dogs she does it to seems to get upset. Janet

Hi...my sweet adorable little Callie is almost 5 months old. There is a new dog park that opened nearby that I have been bringing her to for the past few weeks now. They have a section where the larger dogs play, and she was very uncomfortable there the couple of times I let her in that area.....walks around with her tail down and acts a little nervous when approached, though she does allow the dogs to sniff her and she never raises her hackles or growls or barks at them...she just looks scared. In obedience class and at the ON LEASH park we also go to, she rarely acts scared with other dogs, even the large ones. On leash she isn't as fearful about approaching other dogs..big or small. Of course when I saw how uncomfortable she was in the big section of the off leash run, I brought her to the "smaller dog" area. There were a few very small and toy sized dogs there, and her tail immediately started wagging and off she went to wrestle with them. My concern is that even though she is playing...no biting, no growling, she is actually very quiet, tail wagging the whole time..she has a habit of towering over the tiny dogs...she straddles them, sometimes standing directly over them, and sometimes she lays on top of them and pins them! None of the dogs she does this to seems to mind, but to me it looks like she only wants to play with these tiny dogs that she is able to dominate. In class, there is an adorable Pit mix that is pretty evenly matched in size with her, and she does love to wrestle him too...but he usually winds up on his back too, even though he is taller than her. He has pinned her maybe once or twice...but she is usually the one that is on top of him. All the dogs she plays with in this way seem to enjoy the play and so far no one has gotten upset with her or acted as if she was being too dominating, but I am wondering if this could lead to a problem if she continues to play this way...always having that upper hand. If this is something that needs to be corrected, how do I do that? Or is this acceptable play for a pup her age? Also, do you think she will become more comfortable around the bigger dogs at the park given time? We do have another dog, Buster, who is a 70 lb BC mix and pretty tall...and she has no fear of him at all...even tries to wrestle with him..but he isn't interested in letting her do that...he loves to wrestle but I think he is waiting for her to get bigger before he plays that way with her...he just chases her around sometimes right now. He's very paternal towards her..so cute! He's an angel too! Thanks! Janet

I made meatloaf tonight and potatos and broccoli...for us. The dogs had Canidae kibble...with a little of the meatloaf on top. They appreciated my cooking far more than my kids did, who whined throughout the whole meal. Janet

My puppy like carrots, and since I started giving them to her, my other dog Buster steals them and eats them. I also put a little pumpkin in their food sometimes when they are having "looser than I like to clean up" stools...lol...and they like that. Both of my dogs also like potatoes. My puppy will eat any and everything...edible or not...lol Janet

I'm sorry your baby is sick...I don't know about either illness. I was just wondering what the heck is wrong with your vet? 10 days you have been trying to get someone to call, even if for no other reason than to ease your mind..and no one calls back? My vet calls me back within minutes whenever I have had to call there. Is there another vet you could use? Your dog is sick and you have questions...the Vet should be answering your concerns. Period. I am so sorry you are having a tough time getting answers. That is so unfair. Hope your baby feels better soon..and that you are able to find a vet that takes the time to return calls! Janet

My puppy, who is 4 months old..sits like that...I call it her "sloppy sit". I asked her trainer in puppy class about it because I wanted to work on correcting it with her, and she told me not to worry about that right now, as long as she "sits" on command. I wasn't too thrilled with that advice and have been correcting her because it's harder for her to do a "high five" with me or "give paw" when her weight is shifted to one side. She get's no reward for that sloppy sit...but when she shifts her position and sits up nice and tall, I reward her. Lately she has been correcting herself with no prompt from me, but she does revert back to that posture sometimes. Janet

Gary...I'm so sorry for what you are going through with her...I sure hope she is ok and that it is nothing too serious or difficult to correct. I keep checking back here for updates..and keeping her in my thoughts and prayers. Janet

I am so happy you have your baby home safe and sound!!!! Janet

You have been giving her kindness, affection, love...these are things she needed most of all. How lucky she is to have you spending time with her and genuinely caring for her. Glad to hear she is making some improvements! Hope she has a quick recovery from the spay. Janet

I think he is just the cutest ball of fluff!!! Janet

I am really so sorry to hear this. Keeping you all in my thoughts. Janet

He's so gorgeous! How exciting that you are reconnecting with him! Would love to hear some updates when you get him home! Janet

Glad she is feeling better! Please keep us posted! Janet