Planet Wilder

Kato, my good old and super sweet (dead) cocker spaniel, had a sensitive stomach. He’d puke if the food isn’t right or he got into the trash or human food in general. He was always like this and so since he was a wee one he was on Sensible Choice (a trainer recommended it). The ingredients were good and the price was right but it was a pain to get it. In Boise, I could buy it at an Ace Hardware. But not all carried it. When we got to Missouri, we had to go to Petco to get it.
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Has he improved as an adopted dog? Definitely! He’s not so afraid anymore and piddles left and right. He actually got a lot of exposure last weekend. Between going to the city and homecoming parade, that boy had a lot of new, and sometimes scary things, happening to him. But Max made it through with flying colors! He was soooo scared at the parade, peeing on me and trying to run away, but after four big booms or so, he was fine. He was even sniffing close to the road trying to check things out. Hopefully he’ll remember this experience and will not be terrified of parades.

In the city we went to a holistic pet food store, Brookside Barkery, and Max loved that (which dog wouldn’t right?). Then we went to the park and Westport. Max was not sure of Westport… cars and trucks passing through but he loved the walk through the residential area.

We didn’t go to doggy school this week. The weather’s been bad and the instructor teaches outside. So we’ll catch up next time. But despite the missing class, Max can sit and lay down really well now. I love him :D

[thumb:1556:l]At the end of week three Max could sit and lay down on command. Yeahhh!!!! But, he still can’t pee for Drew. Need a puppy psychologist ya think?

Max is getting his last set of shots this Friday and Shady’s getting her teeth cleaned. Then Max is going to spend a day with me shopping at the doggy store :D I was scheduled to go to a scrapbook expo that day in KC. But with Max’s peepee issue, I just can’t leave him with Drew. So until he can pee with Drew supervising, I guess I can’t do any extended leaves.

You’re thinking I’m nuts, huh? Naaah, just being a responsible human to my pup. Max also went to puppy class. He had such a great time playing and learning new tricks. We’re going again and can’t wait to see what Max learns next.

On the house subject, we got it clean!!!! Yeah!!!! Clothes put away, most everything dusted, everything else put away, and now just little touch ups like bathroom routine, picking up every time, etc. It’s nice. Glad I have a neat freak of a husband.

Well, that’s what Max is currently. His adoption papers said Lhasa but I think I wrote previously that I did some snooping around and found a breeder’s site with a picture of a pup that looks like Max. The site said that Max is a Shih Tzu Bichon mix. A “designer” (aka a fancy way for some breeders to sell mutts to make a buck) type of dog that is also known as a Zhucon.

When I saw Max the first time, he didn’t quite seem like a Lhasa. Purebred they said. When I took him to puppy school, many said that he doesn’t look too Lhasa-ish. He’s got some but there’s something else. The instructor, he said that he’s almost sure Max isn’t a purebred.

I’m not too worry if he’s pure or not. I just thought that knowing makes it easier for me to learn about him kind. I have read books on Lhasas since I got him and maybe all the obvious articles online. I also read a few training books and stuff online and have been training Max as if he’s a Lhasa. He seems to take to the method so maybe the whatever Lhasa in him is ok with my choice :D

[thumb:1541:l] [thumb:1537:l] The adoption service had a two weeks trial for each animal they adopted out. Last Saturday was Max’s two weeks and obviously we still have him. He’s too adorable to return and doing so well with training. These pictures showed his first fancy treats. We purchased them from a dog bakery at the Plaza in KC. I missed Kato when I bought those treats. I just remembered all the days we would get fancy treats from the Boise market, the special drive through in Boise that had a dog’s menu, Petsmart (and how his ears would cock up at the mention of the store), and the Plaza. He’ll always be my special dog :(
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