Oscar Update

That puppy! He doesn’t feel so much like a puppy any more. He’s getting big! I would be happy if he didn’t get any bigger at all. He’s about 5-1/2 months old. Some websites say they’re mostly fully grown by about 6 months, some say 8 months and some say at about a year. I guess a lot depends on the dog. Our vet says he isn’t overweight . . “He’s solid!” He is so muscular. When I’m trying to hold him and he wants down and he starts shoving off with those little short, muscular legs, I have a hard time holding onto him. Rita is so docile and meek. When I’m with her, I gently tug on her leash which ever way I want her to go and I say “This way!” and she immediately responds. When I do that with Oscar, he immediately pulls with all his might in the opposite direction. Last night we were talking to a man outside and he also thought Oscar was a Beagle. When we told him no, he’s a dachshund, he laughed and said “No wonder he’s a bit determined!”

He can jump and grab things that you would think are way beyond his reach. He grabbed a roll of paper towels the other day that were sitting on a shelf almost 4′ off the floor. I guess one towel was hanging down just a bit and he managed to get it.

Just when I think I’m going to get to sit down and stitch or read, he has something else. The leashes hang just outside his area and I have no idea how he reached this one.

Look at those eyes! How can you fuss at such a sweet baby dog?

I was googling to see how long before he’s fully grown and came across this page where people had given advice on training dachshunds. I thought this statement was hilarious!

“In the Dachshund world, if you do something twice, it becomes the rule of law. It’s great for training but if you let something slide one time, they’ll try it 1,000 more times.”

So true!

Last night Vince was taking a bath. Oscar is blocked from going up the stairs. I was sitting downstairs cross stitching and I thought I heard someone upstairs. I didn’t think Vince would be out of the tub already. I listened and yes, I heard feet upstairs. I never thought about it being Oscar but assumed Vince was out and would be downstairs in a minute. Then Vince yelled “Where’s Oscar?” I got up to make sure he hadn’t escaped. Yes, he had escaped. Our upstairs living area is like a big donut with the hole being the stairs so Oscar can run through the kitchen, breakfast room, family room and dining room non-stop. I cannot catch him! Finally I went into the bathroom, Vince called him and Oscar came in to see Vince. I quickly closed the bathroom door so we were all in there. So much for Vince’s relaxing bath! I was able to grab him and get him back downstairs.

I kept telling Vince when I was begging for a dachshund . . I want a dog I can play with; a dog that has a personality. Rita is a sweet girl but she has no spunk and she just isn’t a fun dog. She doesn’t play (even when she could see); she doesn’t want to be held; she doesn’t want to be petted. We definitely got a puppy with personality.

The guy who was talking to us last night wanted to pet him and I said “You’d better not — he isn’t terribly friendly!” He said he had some dog biscuits in his truck so he got one and Oscar was still too scared to go close enough to get it so he tossed it to Oscar and he gladly ate it then but never would go close to the man. I’m surprised at how afraid he is of strangers.

We have to take him to get his nails cut this week so I’m a bit nervous to see how he does at the vet. So far, the tech has just taken him from me. I think I’ll put him on the floor and hand them his leash this time.