Yesterday was a busy day and so our Wildflower Updates got interrupted— oops!
One of the many things we did was a veterinarian appointment for Harper B for Best Senior. Her ninth birthday is coming up soon and so it was just a routine check-up — all bloodwork is perfect, as is Harper. YAY!
And now we resume our regularly scheduled Wildflower Updates with a check-in from Bridget and Kitsap:
“Kitsap spent his 4 mo birthday doing his favorite things, eating, playing and sleeping. We started with our weekly play date with Hasley, an English Springer Spaniel Field type, who is great about only playing as hard as his play partner. Chase, tug with a toy, checking out the frogs in the frog pond, digging together in the dirt, and just laying next to one another catching their breath were part of the activities of the hour. After such hard work a solid nap was in order until it was time for second breakfasts and more naps before a late afternoon walk.
Earlier this week was one of those moments as an owner that you love. I came home from teaching, Bob had just given Kitsap a meal and he was eating voraciously as I walked in the door. He came running over to the edge of the x-pen tail wagging so hard that his entire backend was wiggling, whimpering with excitement to greet me. You know you have bonded with your puppy when you are more important than food.
Kitsap continues to grow like a weed. At his appointment Thursday at 17 weeks and 2 days, he weighed in at 42.2 lbs, either he is going to be a big boy or he is an early grower. Still Dr. Scamahorn and I think he looks great, one can easily feel every rib and when we look at him from the top, there is a clear waist line. He’s quite tall, like Posy, long lean legs. It is fun to watch him grow, one day his back legs grow and the butt seems high, then a day or two later the front legs catch up and the back line is perfectly flat. Another few days go by and I notice the torso has lengthened and everything looks in proportion again. It is a bit hard to measure because he wants to checkout the tape measure by putting it in his mouth, I think he measures about 18” at the front shoulder.
He loves the come between his two humans game. With treat rewards on offer, sit, down, stay, turn and switch, come front, tunnel, circle, spin, figure eight around my legs, touch, and crate are all reasonably consistent. Nearby we have two flag polls conveniently positioned and we have started working on the obedience figure eight in small bits, we go around one pole with Kitsap on the inside, treat, then do the other pole with Kitsap on the outside, and treat again. He naturally loves to walk along side me in a wonderfully attentive heel position. We aren’t naming it particularly just encouraging and praising the presence when he chooses it.
Many students and colleagues ask to see how he is growing and so he often gets up on my lap for part of a Zoom meeting. Many have commented about how big his paws are. My hands are perhaps slightly smaller than the average adult but not much, still his front paw fills my palm.
He has an entire yoga routine that he performs as he goes down the stairs in the morning on our way out for the first time. He continues to keep his lungs and vocal cords in good shape for the Montana puppy choir, singing in excitement, demanding with strong woofs if one isn’t responding quickly enough to suit him.”
Thank you so much Bridget — for everything. I am glad (sort of) to hear that Kitsap is also practicing to be a soloist in the Montana Puppy Choir — this litter likes to sing.