V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

Victory is a clean crate (and puppy) when you arrive home from a long day at work!

The Cure, Birthday Party, and Major Progress

Saturday was the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Indianapolis. My family is always involved in this walk since we have been affected first hand by Breast Cancer. Fortunately, our story has an incredibly happy ending! We are so blessed! Myself and my family enjoy participating in this event to help raise money in the hopes that one day, there will be a cure for this, and all cancers.




My mom, my two brothers, and I walked the 3.1 miles together through the downtown streets of Indianapolis. (My favorite part is passing the Zoo....I love that elephant with the pink ribbons in his ears!) It is always emotional to see just how many people participate in this event. It's so eye-opening to see just how many people are affected by breast cancer. According to the local news station, there were over 41,000 people involved in the race resulting in $2.5 million dollars raised!!!! Unbelievable.

After the race, we returned to my house where Jeff, my dad, and my grandpa were waiting for us. We celebrated my mom's birthday while eating sandwiches from Jimmy John's and then a delicious M&M blizzard cake from Dairy Queen. Then, to add to the excitement of the day, my Aunt and 2 cousins from Chicago stopped by as a birthday surprise for my mom. She had no idea and was totally shocked when they walked in the door!



Unfortunately, my family isn't able to get together all that often because of work schedules and distance, but when we do, we have a great time! What a great way to spend a Saturday!

UPDATE: Progress has been made with the Cooper vs The Crate Battle of 2010. I have had people give me dog training books and have sent me links that deal with "How to Crate Train Your Puppy" over the past week. After reading all of the literature, we decided to make a few changes to our approach. First, we moved the crate from our bedroom to the living room downstairs. We hang out all the time on the main level, so the crate is constantly in Cooper's line of sight. Second, we are continuing to feed him his meals in the crate, but are keeping the door open, allowing him to exit at his own will. Third, we are giving him little pieces of hot dog when he enters the crate so he associates "yummy" with the crate instead of anxiety and dread.

Last night, Cooper and I were upstairs. I turned around and realized he was no longer following me around. I looked everywhere and he was nowhere to be found. Finally, I happened to glace over to the crate and I saw this....



Oh. My. God! Are you kidding me?!? Then, today, Cooper and I were working on him entering the crate by command (with a little hot dog enticement) and 3 times in a row, when I said, "Crate," he walked his little self right into that crate and sat down. Progress! Progress!! Progress!!! Now, let's see just how much progress we have made when Jeff and I return to work tomorrow and Cooper spends the day in the crate. So far, it looks like Jeff and I are winning....

The Hardest Lesson

Jeff and I tend to believe that Cooper may be the smartest dog alive (kind of bias, I know). He learned how to sit on day 2, how to "lay" (lay down) on day 3, and today, on day 5, he is able to independently walk up and down the stairs. Needless to say, he is a quick learner. That is, except for one little task....the dreaded crate training.

People told me how much work a puppy was, how much time and effort was going to be needed, and how to keep a puppy safe. I read 2 books and numerous internet articles about Golden Retrievers (lame, I know!) and they all made crate training seem like a breeze. "Puppies love their crates. It gives them a sense of security...they look at their crate as if it is their den." Really? Really? Well, not our dog.

I will say one thing, he does pretty well at night in the crate. There is a little whining initially, but as long as Jeff or I are there, he will quickly fall back to sleep. He wakes up after 1.5-2 hours, but just to check if we are still there. Once he realizes we are, he falls right back to sleep. He wakes up again a little later to go outside. Repeat the "check in" one more time, and then sleeps until about 7am. Not too bad. But, God forbid you even think about putting him in that crate during the day! That is when the real action happens!

He will gladly walk into the crate when being enticed by a treat, he will lay down and fall asleep if you are in the room with him, but the moment you walk out of the room and he notices you are no longer there, that is where the howling, and the growling, and the barking, and the digging, and the whining, and the strangest noises I have ever heard begins. I've tried talking to him, I've tried ignoring him, I tried tough love. Each time, the same result. A puppy who completely melts down and only calms when it's time to get out. I left the house for 15 minutes (15 MINUTES!!!) today and when I came back the crate was covered in poo and God knows what else. Seriously Cooper?!?!?

One thing I know for sure, is we WILL NOT give in and let him sleep with us. He needs to learn that he is a dog and he can survive in a crate alone for an extended period of time. We will keep trying. We will get our dog crate trained. We will succeed.

Welcome Home Cooper!

The big day finally happened! Cooper is officially home and learning what it is like to be an "only child" instead of one of 10. We have had a very fun, yet interesting couple of days.....

It started with Jeff and I both taking a 1/2 day from work on Thursday. He picked me up at the hospital where I work and we were off to make the long 2 1/2 drive up to Columbia City, IN. (Sidenote: I had many people ask me if I brought clothes to change into after working my half day. Those of you who really know me, already know the answer to that question....Of course I brought an extra change of clothes!! Do you really think I would go work with a bunch of sick patients and then have my brand new puppy cuddle into my God-knows-what-is-all-over-me scrubs? No way, not even a chance!) Once we got to the breeder's house, she gave us all his paperwork, provided us with some last minute advice, gave us a toy with his siblings scent on it, and then sent us on our way.

The ride home was tough on poor little Cooper. It was his first car ride and he was riding with 2 people he barely knew. There was lots of whining and lots of treats given to convince him that we were pretty OK people. By the end of the drive, he settled on Jeff's lap as he drove...kind of....



Once we got home, we introduced him to our yard, to our house, and to all his new toys. He picked up were the backdoor was really quickly. So quickly, that with each new toy we gave him, he would carry them to the back door while whimpering like he was hoping his siblings were all out there so he could show them his new found treasures! He whimpered the entire night...it wasn't like he was sad, just like he was talking. I should clarify...the whimpering lasted until it was bedtime. Once it was officially lights out, that is when the real crying began!





Overall, he is doing remarkably well! He has learned how to sit on command and he is beginning to recognize his name. He has that wonderful personality that is true to the Golden Retriever breed. And oh, that puppy breath...if I could only bottle it up!

Spring is in the Air!

We have been totally spoiled this week. It is the beginning of April and we had not 1, but 2, 80 degree days in a row! How can sunshine, warm weather, open sunroofs, and sunglasses not make you think of spring?!?!

We have begun our "spring thinking" by beginning to plan, purchase, and plant our first garden. I wouldn't say I have much of a green thumb. I was able to grow herbs (legal ones like basil and cilantro) in my old apartment for a short time, but then I would leave for an extended weekend, not water them, keep the blinds closed, and they would quickly die off. But not this time! Not this garden! And not with my husband in charge! He is pretty serious about this and it inspires me to take it seriously as well. So far, Jeff has the starts of 2 regular tomatoes, 2 cherry tomatoes, 2 jalapeno peppers, and 4 red/green peppers. Today, he bought the starts of red raspberries and blueberries.



The backyard garden is going to be filled with all kinds of delicious veggies....too many to name them all. We both love to cook, so having that type of variety right outside our backdoor will be perfect!



I will also be starting another herb garden (I promise I won't neglect this one) as well as planting Tulips, Morning Glories, the Orchid Jeff gave me for Valentine's day, and Zinnias in the front of the house. I have never really planted or taken care of flowers, but it can't be all that hard.....right?!?!