Miles Graduated From Puppy Class, and the Effects of Neutering

Yay! Watch this video:




We finally made it! I have to say, puppy class had its moments of being totally frustrating, but all in all, totally worth it. It was just as much a class for me as it was for him - I learned that consistency is key, and that focus on me as his owner (particularly with leash walking) was the most important part. And she was right - if I could get him to focus on me, I could pretty much get him to do anything.

What's next? Either Obedience I (which might wait a little while so that we can do some work with him first), or clicker training. I'm thinking the latter might be more effective, but we'll see.

Also, his neuter surgery went very well, or so I thought. He endured the 10 days with a cone (which, we found out, only about 5% of dogs need...lucky Miles!) and all was well.

Then, one of his sutures came outside of his body. I'm not even really sure how that happens
(they're supposed to be dissolvable), but it did, and it got infected. In the research that I've done, it says that it can take weeks for stitches to dissolve. Another stitch has come out, so I am hoping that with the antibiotics and healing, we'll just be able to pull this new one right out eventually.

Anywho, that's about the only change. He's still the happy, energetic boy that we love, and maybe a little more mellow, but not much. :) Which is exactly how I like it. Does he feel like hell on wheels sometimes? Are you kidding? Of course. When I bring him to work with me, I'm absolutely exhausted by the time I get in my seat to actually, you know, do work. But he makes me laugh pretty much constantly, so it's a good tradeoff. :)

He's such a good boy. :)