Growing Pains with Maude

Maude recently followed a ball down a cliff bank that she couldn't quite get herself out of, so mama had to help rescue her.  In that process she sliced one of her front paw pads.  (hence the front sock)

Then, when mama was cutting Maude's nails, she cut one too short and it started to bleed.  (hence the back sock)

Poor Maudie

A big part of our evenings is getting the ball from under the couch for Maude.  Brian likes to remind her that the technical definition of insanity is doing the same behavior but expecting different results!

We had Maude weighed yesterday and at nearly 9 months old, she is 68.5 pounds.  Growing like a champ!

Maude, 9 weeks

Maude, 9 months

Maude's Manners Class Graduation

Maude recently graduated from her Manners Class!  

This class was more for Brian and me than it was for Maude, but all three of us had a good time.  It met every Wednesday evening for six weeks and we covered topics like sit, down, stay, no jumping, loose-leash walking, leave it, come when called, etc.  Maude has gotten much better at all of these, and we now know how to continue training her as she grows through her puppy-hood.  She's almost 8 months old already!  It's a good thing she has her manners in place, because we had our first bear encounter the other morning and she thankfully found her ball to be much more interesting than the bear. 

Congratulations, Maudie!

The class was taught by these two women, Sue & Hazel.  Hazel (white hair) is from Whitehall, Ohio.

Hazel spent three hours baking homemade doggie treats for gifts bags for all the dogs in the class.  We also got dog biscuit-shaped cookie cutters and recipes to make our own.  I've already made some pumpkin biscuits that Maude ate right up. 

This was from a photo shoot Maude and I did to send to Brian while he was away. 

Brian was gone for 10 days for work and play and had to miss Maude's graduation.  He was actually pretty bummed about it, and was happy to come home to our furry, little light!