Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Barking Barbarian

At least that is what the entire Bliss Team thinks of Tara. They think she is noisy, messy, smelly, dirty and totally stoooooooopid because she is 10 weeks old today and still not completely house trained. The Bliss Team is deeply shocked as the average kitten is potty trained at 4 weeks of age.
It's probably because they think she is too stupid for words, not to mention without any manners whatsoever, that the Bliss Team has, so far, been very kind to Tara. Not a hair on her widdle head has been hurt and her widdle nosy remains firmly unscratched.
They like her best in the evenings when she is fast asleep, she is deemed quite tolerable then..
I've enrolled her in puppy school and tomorrow will be the second lesson we both will attend. Tara likes school very much, not in the least because her sister Aukje is there too. They are in the same group which is fun. Tara knows come and sit now, quite good for such a little baby doggy, and we are practising heel and fetch.
One of her favourite indoor toys is this big ball that she proudly carries in her mouth. Too funny as it is such a ginormous ball carried by such a very tiny doggy.
Another favourite plaything is this tunnel. It's actually a cat tunnel but she doesn't know that.
I enjoy having Tara around, the only thing I'm not that keen on is her biting. I'm now trying to teach her, slowly but surely, that there are things she is allowed to sink her teeth in, such as dog biscuits, bones, toys and chewing sticks, and things that are NOT to be chewed like my hands and clothes.
Here she is merrily chewing a dog biccy
and here a special chewing stick. Chewing on anything and everything is normal behaviour for puppies, it's how they explore the world around them. They have no hands so everything is checked out with their mouths. Now Tara has to learn what to and what not to bite.
Potty training and learning so many other things is hard work, so in the evenings Tara is very tired and she sleeps a lot. Here she is holding the toy that Margo, her breeder, gave her with the scent of what had been until then her whole world, the smells of her mother, her litter mates and the home she was born in. Sleeping is something she is quite good at, even during her first night here she slept for most of the night. Who's a good widdle doggy then?

35 comments:

Piondröm said...

Tara is so sweet, I like the photo when one of your cats is resting beside Tara.
Ken

Tira said...

Very adorable pics and Tara is growing fast! Pretty soon the tables will be turned on the Bliss Team!

Sheila said...

Our puppy is five months old, almost completely potty-trained and is getting 'smarter and smarter'. Still have to keep an eye on him though because I am running out of favorite pairs of shoes!

Cheryl said...

As you probably realise now Yolanda cats and dogs are so different......my best friend is a cat person (six) and me I am doggie, as you know.......but we always laugh at the different natures of the two species......

Tara will turn around overnight....until you go through the teenage stage...aaaahhhhhh......one you are past that you will have such a perfect companion.......

I am enjoying watching her grow....do post regularly about her, it is a delight for me to see a puppy fitting in......

And oh...tell those lovely puddi cats they are so well behaved.......

Robin's Nesting Place said...

I'm very happy to hear that the Bliss team is tolerating the pretty puppy.

Very cute post!

Gail said...

The Bliss Team is to be commended...they need a very nice Kitty treat for tolerance and sharing!

Gail

Anonymous said...

Sweet pictures. I look forward to the time when Tara starts throwing her weight around - and the response of the Bliss team!

Anonymous said...

Oh YE, this is the sweetest thing, the cats and the puppy. And her toy that holds that precious scent. It makes me almost cry it is so touching. And I am a cat person, but Tara is irresistable.
Frances

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

For a very small puppy, Tara is doing so well! I'm very impressed. And don't tell Hubby, but everytime I see a Tara post it makes me tempted to get a doggie. Yikes! Did I really say that? ;)

Cindy

Anonymous said...

Too cute for words! I love the sleeping profile of Tara the Puppy. Think she can teach the cats how to heel and fetch when she finishes school?

Anonymous said...

So lovely
:)
K

Anonymous said...

What a cute puppy! A crate helped our once puppy to potty train faster.

Carol Michel said...

I would never have guessed that you would be so smitten with a little puppy. But she is very cute, and soon, after enough classes, you'll be trained in her ways!

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Glo said...

That first photo is a winner! It won my heart, anyway ~ I loved reading how Tara and the Bliss Team are getting along together. Great idea about puppy school ~ I think that is a very responsible move on your part :)

Anonymous said...

Lovely! I like that first peek-a-boo photo. xx

Anonymous said...

Wat een enige pup is Tara- kan ook zo schuldbewust kijken....terecht begrijp ik..;-))huhhuh ff opscheppen: Bus was met 4 weken potty trained..:-)maar da's heel verschillend per hond....Lekker scherp zijn die melktandjes hè- vast allemaal krasjes op je hand, alsof je de rozen hebt gesnoeid..:-))

Viooltje said...

Dangerous overload of cuteness again! The members of the Collective, pardon me, The Bliss Team, are indeed well mannered, but they are constantly keeping an eye on the little cuteball. Amazing photos!

gintoino said...

She is a cutie Yolanda! Dogs and cats are so diferent, but they both make wonderful companions (once they past the puppy stage hehehe). Nice to see the cats have accepted her.

Karin said...

She is adorable but I can imagine there are many new things to learn - both for her and the cats. :) Sweet pics!

Kram Karin

Libbys Blog said...

What an adorable puppy and I think your right to start puppy classes early, good for socialisation as well as training the owner to train the puppy! lol!

Rhonda said...

Oh she is just absoloutely adorable..I just want to scoop her up and give her a big hug! I love puppies..alas..it never lasts long enough for me...fortunately the love never stops. congrats on the new baby

Kylee Baumle said...

Tara is just adorable and her coat looks so soft!

Green thumb said...

Tara's are the eyes with an expression after seeing which you feel like thanking God for having created such a beautiful life, for enabling us to appreciate it, and to Bliss which is responsible for triggering these feelings in the beholder. Tara is amazing, and she has added that wonderful touch of diversity to the tolerant Bliss team.

Rusty in Miami said...

She’ll come around, the chewing that takes time and in my opinion training won’t stop her. She is quite adorable.

Anonymous said...

Yolanda, I just love the way Tara is looking at the Bliss team - so innocent. She is just adoring! Have lots of fun with her. Andre

Matron said...

Yolanda, what a wonderful start you are giving to that pup! Have you found her any 'men with beards' yet? She needs to be socialised with all sorts of strange things!!

Ewa said...

this will be such a fun to watch cats approach to tara.
:)

Naturegirl said...

Yoland a truly precious member of the Bliss team...soon Tara shall lead them all! I don't know which image is my favorite they are all sweet! You are enjoying them all I can see!

Curmudgeon said...

How can you stand all that cuteness??? She has the most beautiful eyes. --Curmudgeon

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Tara may not know she's enjoying a cat's tunnel, but I bet the cats know it's theirs! ;)
~ Monica

Anonymous said...

mijn glimlach blijft :-) Vita is nog niet helemaal overtuigt, maar wie kan Tara weerstaan ;-)
Gerti

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Tara is just the cutest little thing! But I remember how sharp puppy teeth are. I still have the T shirt with the holes in the shoulder from when my Borzoi jumped up & took a nip at me. I'm glad Tara's making good progress at puppy class & that everybody is making nice at your house.

marga said...

Wat is het toch een dotje!!!!!
Eigenlijk moesten ze zo klein blijven hé.

Anonymous said...

She's cute!
Wat een schatje, en wat leuk, jouw fotoserie van hoe de pluizenbollen reageren op dit nieuwe leven in jullie huis!!

Anonymous said...

Hello lovely blog .
Best regard from Belgium
louisette with 2 miss golden Zitablue du Bosquet Mignon+ primrose s dream Cerise