Monday, May 25, 2015

Bucky the new pup - 2 weeks in

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Bucky the giant Schnauzer came home with me on Friday afternoon of May 8.
The critter was born on Jan. 28, 2015 as part of a 9 pup litter to Lance (dad) and Eva (if memory serves), through breeder/dog groomer Richard Lalonde in the Donovan.


I chose Bucky from the 3 available pups. He seemed the most lively, and was a little more independent and less clingy than his brothers.

In the intervening 2 weeks we have had quite a time together.
Here are some reflexions about that time.

I knew going in this would be a lifestyle changer.
And it has been.
I have given over a very big chunk of time and mental energy to this mutt.
In part I consider it an investment of my time that will return dividends over time.
We'll see, but early indications are positive.

Relatively speaking I'm satisfied Buckminster is a clever canine.
He responds well to treats.
He remembers places and patterns (B.'s pattern recognition is strong for a dog).
He'll retrieve a disc or a ball on most occasions, but after a dozen times, he begins to lose interest.
I'm so happy that he has a natural off switch, unlike some born retrievers.

He is mostly toilet trained.
Of course this requires that I accommodate his schedule.
Which means I am almost fully trained.
Is there something wrong with this picture?

I am constantly trying to peer into that brain of his.
I am eager to understand what he's thinking, and why he does what he does.
His behaviour is for the most part uncomplicated.
His behaviour of course is a window into his head.

It is not a human brain - to say what is obvious.
But there are many similarities.
He seeks to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. How human is that?

Bucky gets pleasure from food.
It seems he is on a constant search for food.
He will inhale a bowl of deluxe kibble in seconds, but is not sated.
It seems he is never sated.
He will sniff out possible food sources during every waking moment - save for when he is otherwise distracted. And heaven forbid that I should eat within his view. That is an open invitation to harass and bug me for some.
Perhaps I am not feeding him enough, though I think I am following the food suppliers guidelines.
About 3 cups of kibble a day.

Limbs - marionette like...
They flop about, not always fully controlled.
It seems as if the development of limb control is a little delayed, but I'm assured it is normal.

Sleeep - in cage - good
2x on bed - good but not good.

 No pushback when I heave him, sliding, 10 feet, out of the kitchen - where he does not belong.

On occasion, Mischievous , or curious, partly to search for food, partly perhaps?  to explore his territory?
And he is fairly persistent when he's got a scent. He don't let go easy, and sometimes he (chooses to) forget where he is allowed and where not.

And then there's his puppy clumsiness - but the B-minster improves every day (scratching ear or collar - a hilarious development.) Clumsy as in slip slidin' on the hardwood floors, and smashing ino stuff without apparent injury.

And most hilarious for me is the struggle he undertakes in retrieving a disc. About half the time (it seems) he'll get the edge of the disc in his teeth, have one foot sitting flat on the disc, and he can't lift the darn thing up. Cuz he's standing on it. And so he'll try and wrestle it out from under his foot, all the while applying more pressure with his foot. Inside I'm screaming .

And I call to mind his plaintiff whines - sometimes from his cage, sometimes at my feet...
They seem to be almost a language, however primitive.

How profound the ol saying that " even a dog knows the difference between a kick and a stumble."
I'm always wondering if B knows when i am deliberate or random ish.

i hold No brief for the canine species.
If there is to be a competition, i'm pulling for humans.
I'd rather eat a dog than have a dog eat me.
I wonder if we could reach a consensus on that.

I realize I gotta stay patient.
And that ain't so easy.
I do better after I have exercise.
But once I get in the wind down stage of the day,
attending to the circadian patterns worn deep,
food prep, eat, drink, clean, dessert, pee, smoke,
then Bucky seems more restless, while getting less attention,
and the stand-offs begin, and will occasionally result
in a bit of a raised voice cussing spree.

Bucky does not understand what was said.
(Mindful he is a German breed and I only know English)
but he sure understands how it was said.
It is but a crude way of asserting my alpha male dominance,
but it suits me for the time being.

more as developments occur and the inclination to report arises.






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