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Columns : The Pet Pages - Kim Aranha Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM


Buddy's Story continues...
By Kim Aranha
Jul 25, 2007 - 10:19:34 AM

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For those of you who read my article last month you will remember that we got a small male Labrador puppy named Buddy. He was born and bred in Nassau, and has a wonderfully sunny disposition.

 

Over the past weeks Buddy has not disappointed us and continues to delight us with his amusing antics. After the first few days in the house we decided to introduce Buddy to our 15 month old Potcake, who looks remarkably like a golden Labrador himself. After a few initial sniffs, and tentative “bounces” Buddy and Chief have formed a strong bond are if allowed would be virtually inseparable.

 

Chief thinks that Buddy belongs to him and is amazingly protective of him. If Chief is at his food bowl and Buddy comes over Chief will take a step back and allow Buddy to eat out of his bowl. I can tell you if the other two adult dogs tried that tack there would be a full scale row taking place on the Kitchen floor. Of course, Buddy is not allowed to eat Chief’s food because 1. It is adult food and Buddy is still on puppy food, and 2. It is not nice to let him take Chief’s food. I always praise Chief heaps for being such a good dog and not getting cross with Buddy and I firmly but nicely tell Buddy “No” and lead him back to his own food bowl. This system works very well. When we took Chief and Buddy to the vet, poor Chief was extremely concerned when he saw the vet. go to give Buddy his shot and we had to reassure Chief that Buddy was alright.

 

I don’t force Buddy on to the older dogs yet and for the most part I keep them separated. This is not to say that they are never in the same place at the same time, but not often and not for long. Spats and Abba are both old. Buddy knows instinctively to keep his distance and the older dogs just get up when they feel that Buddy is “closing in”.

 

On the house training side, Buddy is a quick learner and is really getting the idea. We take him out very frequently, as soon as his paws hit the soft grass he understands what he is outside to do. We heap praise on him and his tail wags wildly. As soon as he has eaten his food we take him out and keep him out for at lease five minutes. By sticking to this regime there are not too many messes to clean up and everybody stays happy, including me, who gets to do most of the cleaning up. Buddy goes out for a walk last thing at night and VERY first thing in the morning. I expect him to have this totally mastered before the summer is over.

 

Buddy sleeping habits are constant, he sleeps every night in his master’s bed, all curled up beside my son. He is still on the bed when I go in to wake them in the morning. He also sleeps lots during the day, this is part of being a baby, just like humans. The periods of sleeps are shorter now, but just as frequent.

 

On the chewing side, Buddy still has lots to learn. He has stacks of toys, but, nothing is as interesting as a book. Buddy is addicted to paper, he will empty waste paper baskets, eat newspapers, take books from the book case, you name it. It takes lots of patience and love to overcome this side of puppy up bringing. I walk into my study and show him the thing he should NOT chew and say NO very firmly, I then show him one of his okay to chew toys and say good boy and praise him when he takes it in his mouth. It will take a while for him to catch on, but that’s okay, Rome wasn’t built in a day!   The hard part is not getting cross with him when he has destroyed something precious to you. This morning I found that he had got hold of and chewed up a brand new photo frame I had bought. “Oh, Buddy”, I said… He looked at me with those beguiling brown eyes, tail wagging, “what a good boy I am’… “I just should not have left it on the sofa where he could get at it”! Silly me.! I really am a bit cross at myself for not being more careful.  

 

When we go out for long periods (anything over an hour), we are careful to leave Buddy where he can’t do any damage. We have several spots where is happy and comfortable. The puppy gate fits into my son’s bathroom door and Buddy is safe, and cool on the tiles, with a rug and water bowl and lots of toys. We also have a fenced in garden where he is totally contained, with plenty of shade and fresh water. When we go out we do NOT leave Buddy with any of the other dogs (not even his friend Chief), just in case there is a canine misunderstanding and tempers flair up.

 

Buddy has developed a HUGE affinity with the water and simply LOVES to swim in the pool. He likes to swim laps and join in all games. He is gradually learning how to jump into the pool and we went to great pains to teach him where the steps are. He also enjoys outings in the boat to the beach and swims into shore like a pro. Everybody at the beach loves him and he revels in all the attention that he receives.

 

In the last few days he has learnt to climb the stairs to the master bedroom, but is still terrified to go down them. This morning with lots of coaxing and squeaks he followed Chief down the entire flight but it took great courage and quite a few minutes to accomplish.

 

He has now had all his puppy shots, and his rabies shot. He takes his monthly heartworm pill, and a daily vitamin pill. He still eats three meals a day, and loves his puppy food. He has regular baths, always after being in the salt water. He is beginning to learn how to walk on a leash and has understood what the command “Sit” means and most of the time he obeys. He knows his name and responds when we call him. He still has not really learnt how to bark properly.

 

Over all Buddy is growing up like any happy and healthy puppy should. He lies at my feet, under my desk, as I write this, fast asleep dreaming dreams that only puppies know about. His unconditional love has brought lots of warmth and happiness into this house, and we are all grateful for his sweet, inquisitive, little face and fiercely wagging tail.

 

About the author: Kim Aranha grew up in the Berry Islands with her first dog, a beloved potcake named “Friendly” (who was anything but!).  First educated at home, and then in boarding school in Switzerland, Kim moved to Rome, Italy in 1974 to pursue a career in the dramatic arts and ended up working as an interpreter.  She moved back to The Bahamas in 1980, and now lives in Nassau with her husband Paul, and their two teenaged sons.  Kim has 3 dogs (soon to be 4), 5 fish (1 Beta, 4 Goldfish), 10 turtles (6 babies, 4 adolescents), 1 Asian box turtle and 4 Budgerigars. Her idea of relaxing is being home to take care of all her pets. Kim is a member of the board of the Bahamas Humane Society. Kim can be contacted at kimbva@coralwave.com

 

 


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