Bringing up Baby

Meet McKenzie or should I say "Nikitazkya's Lucky McKenzie Mystique" as her papers will eventually read.  She is our newest addition.  McKenzie will hopefully be my next service dog, a vacancy left open far too long by the passing of Starr and the over exuberance of my Cody.   McKenzie has been a wonderful puppy for the past two weeks that she has lived with us.  Each day, however, I notice that she is a little more bold and mischievous than the day before.  I am sure I am in for some clever puppy antics before too long. 

So far there have been two casualties as a result of puppy free time, 1 piano adapter cord and 1 DVD car plug.   I realize, even if my kids will not admit it, that both of these losses are the result of human error in judgement and not the fault of an innocent, though mouthy, little pup.   We are finding it challenging to live the words I hear myself saying to my clients all the time, "puppies need to be contained or supervised at all times."   It is sage advise and I am determined to make it work, and not just by containing the pup 100% of the time.   My kids on the other hand are a different story.  "Sure we'll watch the puppy"  then within 15 minutes the puppy is chewing up something or peeing or worse.  What happened to watching the puppy?  

I have now begun the tether policy.  Whoever is in charge of the puppy must have said puppy tethered to their person.   That way the puppy is at least very close by and could be heard chewing, peeing or worse.   We will see how this new policy works out in the long run.   Meanwhile we take her outside every hour or so during the day unless she is asleep.  She pees when she wakes, before she sleeps, before she plays, after she plays and every few minutes in between.  Peeing has become like a hobby.    She still does not really care where she is when she's got to go, she goes.    The only time McKenzie is in a crate is when we are all asleep, or when we are not home and I cannot take her with me.  (her service dog scarf has not arrived)  She is slowly becoming accustomed to her crate and the screaming fits are getting fewer and fewer.  I am thinking that eventually she will go quietly and sleep the night.  

Having said all this, she sounds like a nightmare,  or like an average puppy at least.  She is actually quite wonderful.  McKenzie seems to pick up on what I want her to do rather quickly (with the exception if the whole peeing thing.) She is actually quite calm for a puppy and has learned to ride in the van nicely.  She is going to be a big girl and I can't wait to begin her real service dog training.  Look for updates soon.