For the past week, Phelix has been either “walking” on his leash, playing in the dog park, sleeping in his crate, struggling in our arms or hanging out in his “pen”.
THankfully, I am no longer feeling like I’m about to have a nervous breakdown. The pen truly has saved my sanity. And perhaps Phelix’s as well. Like a toddler, maybe having firm limits for toddler dogs is beneficial. I think when he had too much freedom, he had no idea what to do with it, no idea how to behave.
Phelix spends the night in the crate and sleeps all night. He does stir when Gazoo walks by, but some mornings when I get him up at 5:30, I have to CARRY him down the hall — “Too early for a walk, mommy!”
He does well in the pen. We’re down to walking him on short walks before he goes into the crate and right when he wakes up, and a few longer walks, such as taking Chloe to the bus or meeting it when she gets back home. He also loves to play at the dog park.
Keep away with the tennis ball is fun. Rob brought home a basketball that he found on the river; Phelix loves playing “soccer” with his new big basketball at the dog park.
He is slowly learning to walk on the leash; he still pulls a lot, but has learned “sit”. Unfortunately, he put every single thing that he finds into his mouth. I fear what he has swallowed that I have not caught in time — cigarette butts, gum, pieces of plastic, cat poop, and all kinds of other crap. Blech.
