Pup Profile: Stuart

Official Name: Stuart
Alias:  Stuart Little, Stu (He was named after Stuart Little from the E.B. White story.)
Alleged Breed(s):  beagle mix
Suspected Breeds(s):  beagle, terrier, dachshund, hound.  We can guess all we want, but there is no telling how big or small he'll be.
Color:  light and dark brown
Approximate Age:  10-16 weeks (born probably in March or April, 2013)
Background:  found abandoned with his sister as a puppy in rural southern Ohio
Our Foster Since:  June 30, 2013
Temperament/Personality:  Sweet and calm! Stuart is a playful, happy puppy who can hold his own in a wrestling match with his crazy, energetic sister, but when he's away from her he is content to sit on your lap and take a nap. He is a sweet, short-legged, tumbly pup who is just about as sweet and cute as they come.
Level of House-training:  Stuart is learning quickly to sit at the door when it's time to go out, but he is a puppy so his house-training is still a work in progress.
Behavior Challenges:  I think this guy is destined to hear the words "good boy" an awful lot in his future.
Known Health Issues:  He has been vaccinated and received all worming medication. He is waiting on his full vet check and neutering (and will not be adopted out until these happen), but he appears to be a healthy, happy puppy.

Considerations:  Stuart loves other dogs and is naturally social.  He has obviously high emotional intelligence and adores people.  He is going to grow up to be laid-back and well-behaved given proper training and a safe, enriching environment in which to grow.

To Adopt, Contact:  Luv4K9s
For More Info:  Stuart Little on Petfinder

Pup Profile : Margalo Louise

Official Name: Margalo
Alias:  Louise (we originally named her Margalo after a Stuart Little character, since her brother is named Stuart.  But Louise suits her so much better.  Unfortunately the rescue has already had a Louise and can't repeat names, so her official name is Margalo.)
Alleged Breed(s):  beagle mix
Suspected Breeds(s):  beagle, wire-haired terrier, other terriers, hound.  Absolutely no idea, really, so no guarantees. Your guess is as good as mine!
Color:  white and brown
Approximate Age:  10-16 weeks (born probably in March or April, 2013)
Background:  found abandoned with her brother as a puppy in rural southern Ohio
Our Foster Since:  June 30, 2013
Temperament/Personality:  Energetic! She is a smart, bold, curious puppy.  She is friendly and affectionate, loves to lick.  All puppies love to play, but I don't see her growing out of that any time soon.  She especially loves playing outside and exploring.  She loves to learn, and she learns so quickly!
Level of House-training:  Louise prefers to go potty outside.  She is a puppy and is still learning housetraining, like any puppy, but she's on the right track.
Behavior Challenges:  Remember how I said she learns quickly?  Super smart dogs pose unique challenges, meaning you do not want to let them get bored.  Louise can be an impressive escape artist.  She figured out how to climb out of the 3ft tall puppy playpen, and was quick at learning how to climb stairs.  She will need good training and discipline to stay occupied, happy, and safe.
Known Health Issues:  She has been vaccinated and received all worming medication. She is waiting on her full vet check and spaying (and will not be adopted out until these happen), but she appears to be a healthy, happy puppy.

Considerations:  Louise is athletic, with long legs and tons of energy.  She is not as naturally calm and socially relaxed as her brother, but with good socialization and training she will be an amazing dog.  She is not a laid back dog who will sit at your feet or on your lap all evening; she is an active dog for an active person who wants to spend time training and building a trust-filled relationship with a very loving, adorable, intelligent dog.

To Adopt, Contact:  Luv4K9s
For More Info:  Margalo Louise on Petfinder

The puppies have landed.

The puppies are here.  They are underfed.  They are covered in fleas, though not as many fleas as before we gave them a mini, baby-safe flea bath.  (We also found a tick on one of them where the sun don't shine.)  They are probably full of internal parasites.  But that's how it goes with puppies. That's why they're here: to get all dewormed and bug free and non-reproductive before they get adopted.  This is like their spa, you know?

It's also puppy boot camp.  I started training them this evening.  We had a little 5-10 minute session of learning to not be grabby with treats.  They learn quickly.  So excited to see these little guys grow.

The one on the left is Stuart.  The one on the right is Margalo.  (Both named for E.B. White characters in the book Stuart Little.)

Formal Training Begins

Yesterday I began documenting formal daily training sessions with Toby to track his progress.  We are doing short 10 minutes sessions.  We began by working on the beginnings of "leave it" (where he is rewarded for not fixating on the treats in my hand) and on the "sit" command.  Filming the sessions allows me to go back and watch my own techniques so I can improve, and make is easy to see and appreciate his quick progress, making training more rewarding.