Janet's Blog

Baxter Pugsley Elkins came home Sunday and has been chewing on hands and shoelaces ever since. I have been frantically googling "puppy biting" for tips on how to curtail this annoying habit; I had forgotten how bitey puppies are.

He is very cute, though. He is a "stone fawn" pug (less desirable coloring, having black hairs mixed in with the tan and a dark saddle on his back, but the AKC can sit and spin). There were three puppies left from the litter when we got there to choose: two boys and a girl. I had read that boy pugs are a bit more affectionate than the females and of the two boys, Baxter was the most interested in hanging out with us while the other two puppies careened around the room. Their dad, Buddy, was very happy to crawl into my lap and demand ear scratches. He was very friendly and, uh, substantial.

Baxter does not yet enjoy going outside, nor has he quite figured out what it is for. Brian made excellent progress with him on Tuesday, but I think the training is going to be disrupted by our work schedules. Right now Baxter is at home in the upstairs bathroom, where he can be contained. The shower curtains are tucked into the tub and the floor is covered with "wee pads." We put his woolly bed up there, too, along with some food and water.

If he gets out, he'll have access to the contents of the master bedroom, which could bode ill for shoes and clothing.

The goal is to crate train Baxter so that he won't freak out if he needs to be transported, and also so that his location can be controlled at night and we'll know where he is. So far he hasn't liked it much and spends a lot of time crying at night. Brian has been turning the white noise wave sounds on his clock radio on at night. I can still hear Baxter carrying on which makes me feel a mix of guilt/annoyance/panic/why did we get a puppy/guilt for doubting this was the best decision ever.

He's so cute, though. They don't stay puppies forever; if Buddy is any indication, Baxter will make a great companion dog.

Labels: Baxter, Brian, pug

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