Phoenix Quirks

Phoenix is similar to Caleb when he was a puppy in several ways. He gets the hiccups about twice a day-- usually after eating breakfast and when we get home at night. Also, he has the energy of a vizsla pup and is super affectionate. He already can outrun me at 14 weeks old! When he sleeps in bed at night (I know.. lots of dog trainers say you shouldn't let them in your bed-- whatever!), he snuggles up so tight that he'll wake us up, usually when he drapes his neck across ours.

One thing I used to love about Caleb's appearance was how his fur curled around in little swirls on each of his hind legs. We called them "butt swirls". I almost started crying when I saw that baby Phoenix didn't have them. (I noticed a week into his life with us). Then a few weeks ago, I noticed... they had grown in! I guess butt swirls grow in with more adult fur? I wonder if Cody has them? Cody is our friend's vizsla who lives in CA and also has a blog.

Things that are different than Caleb:

• Phoenix isn't afraid of loud noises (vacuum, thunder, fireworks, lightning strike across the street...)


• Phoenix loves to chew on rawhides (He demolished one that Caleb had had since he was a pup)


• We've done a better job at crate training so Phoenix rides in the crate in the car.


• Phoenix's ears are so long that he *chews* on them!


• Phoenix sits so far back on his rump (instead of his haunches) that he sometimes falls over!

Here are pictures of my two beloved vizslas at approximately the same age, 3 months old, (Caleb on the left and Phoenix on the right):

Training

Here's a report on how training is going and a little video clip of learning "leave it":

Commands he really knows:

• sit


• come


• lay


• leave it


• up (get up on the couch)

Commands he's pretty much knows, but may not choose to do them when asked:

• drop it


• wait (stop where you are on the trail and wait for us)


• stay


• hurry up (eliminate)


• find alex


• crate


• off (get off the couch)


• jump (jump up and get this treat I'm dangling in front of you)


• over (jump over this obstacle)

Huh?

• heel


• pay attention (unwrap your leash from the pole you just walked around)


• where's your toy? (go find your toy)


• shake

As for housetraining-- he's learned that when he pees on the floor he gets in trouble, but that is also attention. So, if he's upset with us for ignoring him, he pees. But, he's also learned that he can ask to go outside by sitting at the door, and he gets lots of "good boy"s when he then goes outside to the bathroom. Also- sitting by the door gets you outside if you just want to go outside and play.

The joys of "motherhood"

So my husband is out of town and I am a single parent for a couple of days. For the most part this isn't a big deal. Last night, Phoenix got up at about 230AM and start vomiting. He vomited on the sheets, so I had to change them. After we got all settled again and I just started to doze off... I heard the tell-tale heaving noise. Fortunately, I was able to grab some doggie diaper pads just in time to save my second set of sheets. The poor little guy kept heaving and upchucking on and off for another hour! At about 330AM (1.5 hrs before the alarm went off), we both drifted off to sleep. Needless to say, neither of us was very perky when the alarm did go off.

Phoenix the Firebird.

Several people have asked us if the name Phoenix has special meaning to us. It does.

According to wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_%28mythology%29):

"In ancient Egyptian mythology and in myths derived from it, the phoenix is a mythical sacred firebird. Said to live for 500 or 1461 years (depending on the source), the phoenix is a male bird with beautiful gold and red plumage. At the end of its life-cycle the phoenix builds itself a nest of cinnamon twigs that it then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arises. The new phoenix embalms the ashes of the old phoenix in an egg made of myrrh and deposits it in Heliopolis ("the city of the sun" in Greek), located in Egypt. The bird was also said to regenerate when hurt or wounded by a foe, thus being almost immortal and invincible — a symbol of fire and divinity.

Although descriptions (and life-span) vary, the phoenix (Bennu bird) became popular in early Christian art, literature and Christian symbolism, as a symbol of Christ, and further, represented the resurrection, immortality, and the life-after-death of Jesus Christ."

Our Phoenix came into our lives out of the ashes of our grief for Caleb. When Caleb was with us, he reminded us every day of the joy of Christ's creation: in chasing a leaf blowing by, meeting new people on the street, sleeping next to his people. Now Phoenix has taken on this role. If only we could find the same joy in God's creation as dogs do.

And... he's red colored like fire.

Here's a photo of Phoenix meeting two little girls on the streets of downtown Boston. The constant giggles and tail wags brought smiles to all the adults too!

My new puppy, Phoenix

In February, we lost our dear dog Caleb very suddenly to an unknown illness. It's been a really tough road without him. For those of you who have ever known a really special dog, you know how much joy and companionship they can bring. Caleb was a fantastic companion who always saw the best in the situation. He showed us how to find joy in the simplest things. He never let anything get him down.

Our new puppy Phoenix is doing his best to remind us to find the joy in everything. On the first day we got him, he experienced grass for the first time. He rolled end over end through the dew. Laid down and tasted it. Ran crazy circles round and round. What a glorious creation!

He's also found it very exciting to tear through our hostas along the front walk way. He loves ducking through them. Of course, the hostas have taken a bit of a beating, but how can you say no to this?