Mars' DogBlog - Boot Camp
Chapter 31

July 8, 2010

"It's difficult to decide whether growing pains are something teenagers have - or are." ~Author Unknown

I'm a little over 9 months old now and I seem to have become something called a teenager.

Note to other CCI puppies: You've reached adolescence when your puppy raiser says "NO!" and "DON'T!" more often than "Good dog." I noticed that Marianne seemed to be gritting her teeth a lot and correcting me for EVERY LITTLE THING.

Really, she was being ridiculously picky. For instance, I just wanted to sniff another dog when we were at Yogurt Guru last week. I admit I might have bolted without warning to the end of my leash nearly causing Marianne to drop her dish of yogurt, but did she have to get nose-to-nose with me and lecture me, right there in the yogurt shop with all those cute girls and dogs watching? I was so embarrassed for her; I stared off into the middle distance and pretended I didn't know who she was.

And then a few days later we were going to tea and I got really excited when I saw my Auntie Jessica. I didn't realize Marianne was lollygagging behind me (humans walk so slowly!) and I ...um....kind of yanked the leash a tiny bit. OK, I yanked the leash pretty good but I was still quite surprised when I heard the crash behind me and saw Marianne in a heap with the contents of her purse all around her. Sooo undignified. "White pants!" she moaned. "New sandals!" I dunno why she was so upset - it was just a skinned knee and a banged up toe. The blood came out of the pants and you really can't see the blood splotches on her sandals any more.

And I honestly don't know why Marianne gets so irked with me when I open the door to the closet where the litter box is kept and help myself to a snack, but it really sends her over the edge. I've tried to explain that I'm a HELPER DOG and I'm helping clean the litter box, but the third time she caught me in the closet in the same afternoon, she ordered me into my crate "for my own good." Harumph. I was ready for a nap anyhow.

While I was in the crate napping I overheard Marianne calling Vanessa. I heard her say "Boot Camp" and "Chisum."

"What's up?" I asked later when she let me out of the crate. "You are going over to Vanessa and Kevin's for some Boot Camp with Chisum," and she laughed in a spooky way that gave me chills.

Uh-oh. I'd heard of The Legend of Chisum. See, Chiz was the first puppy Vanessa and Kevin raised. He was released from CCI for a medical condition. Because Vanessa and Kevin wanted to keep raising CCI puppies and because they had their keeper dog Theo, they decided that Chisum should go live with the family that had his mom.

Chisum had other plans, however. He told animal communicator Terri O'Hara that he wasn't leaving. Vanessa explained that while they adored him, they felt it would be best if he went to live with his mom. Chiz snorted and said "HA!" He told Terri he was going to say and help Vanessa and Kevin raise CCI puppies. Vanessa and Kevin recognized the futility of their plans and agreed that Chisum should stay with them as the official Assistant Puppy Raiser.

Chisum is serious about his life's work, and he's been very, very successful. How successful, you ask?

Vanessa and Kevin's second puppy, Phlox, graduated in November 2007.

Their third puppy, Tommy, graduated in May 2009.

Their fourth puppy, Denny, is set to rotate through Team Training next month. If all goes well and he makes a match, Denny will graduate in August.

True story. You have my paw of honor.

Word on the street is that Chiz doesn’t take any nonsense from puppies, so when Marianne said I was going to Chizzy's Boot Camp I gulped. I had a feeling I was in for some tough love.

I spent almost a week with Chisum and he was very strict with me. On walks I was not allowed to tug on the leash. He kept an eye on me in public and told me to behave. He reminded me to restrain myself when we saw other dogs. He made sure my "under" command was perfect. The list goes on and on! I was exhausted every night and was glad to collapse in the crate for R & R. But I must admit I learned lots and Marianne seems happier with me.

I'm home again and glad to have playtime with Meryl. But I am well aware that I'd better mind my manners or it's back to boot camp!

Chow for now!

Mars