100.5

Porter broke 100 pounds this week. It's given me a new perspective on our leash walks. If he REALLY wants to go somewhere, we're probably going whether I like it or not. B has much less trouble, but this is still one very solid, very much in shape Lab.

Happy Puppiversary!

Yesterday was the anniversary of the day that we brought Porter home. We were so excited. I think we had an idea how much our lives were going to change, but in reality, there is no way to prepare for bringing 20 pounds of squirmy love, naughtiness, curiosity, energy, and barely-controlled chaos into your lives.

One year later, we are older, wiser, and in all fairness - happier. There is no real way to quantify the joyfulness, the sheer force of personality, the antics, the attitude, the unbridled enthusiasm and affection that is Porter. He is our protector, our companion, our playmate, and . . . our dog, and that all that title entails to two very loyal and thoughtful dog owners. There have been other dogs, but this one is ours. We love him so much, and I can honestly say that there haven't been many days when, even at his worst, he hasn't had us laughing. (Just scroll through the archives. There are so many memories. Like the time we took him to the beach and figured out he wasn't afraid to put his whole head under water, or the first time he saw a water hose, or how he reacted to snow, or the things he'll let me put on his head . . . )

We are proud of the dog that he is, we look forward to the one that he will be, and we are glad that the first year is behind us!

Happy Birthday Boy

Porter turned one year old yesterday. There have been many days along the way that I thought we might not make it to yesterday, but now I have concluded beyond a shadow of a doubt that Porter is made out of some sort of new-age polymer and has a digestive system like a wood chipper. Here he is, healthy and happy, in front of the Christmas tree. He weighed 93 pounds yesterday.


This is what Porter looked like one year and one day ago. He weighed about 4 pounds.

Big, big day for the little man

Porter's gone in to be neutered this morning. We know it's the right thing to do, but it was hard to drop him off. He's also getting his hips X-rayed, his nails clipped, and some spots checked out. The procedure will be done with a laser (supposedly much better than the old way) and he'll get a pain injection afterwards. We hope he can come home tonight, but he may stay overnight. He weighed in at 80.6 pounds this morning.

Be brave, little Portah!

UPDATE: Porter's out of surgery and doing fine. (That was fast!) His X-rays look good (no hip problems) and everything else seems normal. He can come home tonight. Whew.

A note about the crate

We started using Porter's crate again about a week ago due to some chewing/scratching issues he was having while we were gone. He hadn't been crated at ALL for several months. We were relying on baby gates to keep him confined to the kitchen area, which worked very well for awhile until we started having some chewing issues. He seems to really ENJOY his crate. He goes in without complaint (eagerly, in fact, because he knows he gets a treat) and comes out all sleepy and happy, looking calm and well-rested, and never anxious or stressed. It's been a big success.

We've started leaving him in the crate in the morning and then out in the kitchen area restricted by baby gates in the afternoon. So far, so good. He hasn't had any chewing/trash digging/chocolate chip cookie theiving episodes, even when left out, since we went back to the crate.

I'm glad he's back in practice with his crate, too, so that when we take him with us out of town or visit friends, we'll have a spot to stick him and not risk some Porter toofy marks on someone else's cabinets!

Thanks to Sandy for the suggestion (how great is it that Porter's breeder reads his blog and keeps in touch?!), and to B for the emotional support and co-puppy-parenting! (It was a little sad to stick the guy back in his "cage," but the results for everyone have been very positive.)

WOOF in the Night

Last night, Porter and I were all tucked in with lights off when he started raising a HORRIBLE racket, woofing and pacing and woofing some more in a very urgent way, which is totally unlike him.

Porter is a good alert woofer, often setting off the lab-alarm when someone comes to the door or a neighbor gets close to the back fence. He even sometimes has false lab-alarms, most often at night when something goes bump that shouldn't, but this was really serious woofing, and not false alarm woofing.

I let him out of my room and we went to investigate. He charged to the front door, which was standing OPEN. It turned out that my brother (who is living with us this summer) had gone to get something out of his truck and left the front door open. Porter knew that the front door opening at night was NOT OK, and made sure I knew about it and let him check it out. What a good puppy!

(He might also be on high lab alert (HLA) because B is in Florida. I'm glad he's looking out for me!)

PS - Porter went to the vet yesterday for "goopy eyes" (and yes, this is literally what they wrote on his chart) and his official weight is 77 pounds. (He got some eye goo for his eye goop. It was already better this morning.)

Urgent, Breaking Update

Porter hiked his leg and watered a bush this morning on our walk, matter-of-factly, as though he's been doing it all his life. His daddy will be so proud.

Free Range Labrador

Porter has been experimenting with staying in the kitchen and laundry room (now converted to a doggy den) during the day. After one afternoon and one morning, he has a flawless track record, and has been very careful to be good, as evidenced by his face upon my arrival home at lunch today. (Lookah, Mommy. I am being a good boy! Didn't gahm the cabinets or anything!)


If you can't see Porter's water bowl, it's because he shoves his entire head in it and slurpa slurpa slurpas until it's all empty. He always acts like he hasn't had anything to drink in several days. Also, he's totally over lunch. I can't pay him to eat in the middle of the day. The vet says this is fine, and he's clearly not losing weight...

Sunnin'

Porter went with us to a restaurant (with an outdoor deck) to eat dinner last night. He was SUPER great, sitting under daddy's chair and checkin' things out. Here he is, practicing, so that he can maybe sit at the table next time.

Pupdate

Porter went to the vet today. He is 12 weeks old, and weighs 35 pounds. He's gained five in the last WEEK. (While he's had a cold and been on antibiotics...) Oof.

His Grammy and Grampy visited this weekend and he had an excellent time with them. Pictures posted pending their approval.

Helping!

In an attempt to make sure we didn't forget any of his belongings, Porter helpfully drug them all into the living room just prior to departure...

Note on the trip: Porter spent three nights and two days at my parents' and grandmother's beach houses. He did not have a single accident inside, did not chew on a thing (other than his own toys), and actually asked us to go out by scratching on the appropriate doors at two totally new places. He had never been in the water before, and plunged right in to both the bay and the ocean the first times (in 40 degree weather). He met and charmed my parents' 100+ lb., somewhat anti-social German Shepherd, and willingly performed his best tricks (sit and an emphatic down) in front of a crowd of new people and two other dogs. He also rode 8 hours in the car there and 8 hours back, napping or quietly amusing himself in the backseat. He was a super, duper, absolutely perfect puppy (and he's not even 11 weeks yet!).

10 Week Check Up

Porter, post-vet. He weighs 26 pounds, and will be 10 weeks old tomorrow.

No, he has not been as good tonight as he looks in this picture. He is wound up, chased the neighborhood cat, barged into the neighbor's house, and got mommy locked out of OUR house in her excitement to rescue him (and the neighbors, and that damn cat).