Dog, Cat and a Pigs Ear

Age: 30 weeks
Weight: 83 pounds

I gave Piston a pigs ear tonight to chew on and Boosh decided that it was far too interesting to not stick her nose in there and check it out.

Minxi even steps in to give things a little sniff. Tho she quickly decided she had no interest in such things...well, at least not enough interest to want to stick around that close to the dog!

7 Months Old

Boy time sure does fly!

Trunk Bed

Age: 29 weeks
Weight: 81 pounds

Riding in the trunk on the way down to Port Allegany to visit with Gramp for David's birthday. He looked really comfortable....but then I got out the camera and he suddenly started looking quite pouty. I still thought it was cute enough to share...


The bed is from Costco (we "won" it from the SSDCA Ontario Chapter Meet) and it fits perfectly into the trunk space!

On the way home, with the back seat back up, he was more inclined to give smiles for the camera :)

Power Steering

Age: 29 weeks
Weight: 81 pounds

We haven't really mentioned on here the difficulty we've had trying to get Piston to walk in a heel - but those on the Shiloh Forums or those who talk to us regularly have heard about it.  He is independent and has a lot of drive to go explore.  He wouldn't take treats or a toy either. No interest in them compared to all the fun he "could" be having.

It was difficult when we go out to keep his focus - he was too busy with his nose to the ground or watching everything else to get any guidance from us. He is never nervous about anything, he just thinks he is a kid in a candy store, or at Disney World!!  We would try "loose leash walking", but he was always walking too far ahead and would take up all of the slack in the leash. He just was not getting where he was supposed to be.

Several other Shiloh owners on the forums told us to buy a prong collar. It was Sarah who said it was like power steering with her Nero. I had heard her talk about the wonders of the prong before...but to hear from other owners too was a great sign.

So we did it....we bought a prong collar....and you know what....THEY WERE RIGHT!!!

What a difference! He actually pays attention to the guides and corrections. He notices when he is getting near the end of the lead and he slows down a touch to prevent the collar from tightening! Its wonderful!! He has a really high pain tolerance so most corrections don't even phase him, but this seems to work on a different level. Its not pain, its more of a surprise because its different. The prong now gets his attention without having to yank him first! (The martingale collar we were using before just didn't phase him.)

We still aren't in a good heel position, but we are worlds better! This collar has really helped give us hope for gettin Piston to walk politely all the time!

Doggie Play at Bechtel

Age: 28 weeks
Weight: 81 pounds

Rompin with some other dogs at the park...

Loaded up in the car to head home...good thing he tends to lay down in the car! Otherwise, we might outgrow the Magnum!

We got back to the house, he didn't even want go in...just wanted to flop in the snow out front. Our silly "little" snow puppy!

Teaching To Tug

Age: 28 weeks
Weight: 81 pounds

After reading this great article on how to play tug with your dog, we thought we should really give it a try. We figured it would be a good way to tire him out on days when he's got that little bit of extra energy.

So here's our first attempt...

Seems it was more effort for him than we thought...didn't take long to tire him out at all!

We'll keep working on it!

It's The Little Things...

Age: 28 weeks
Weight: 81 pounds

Piston's got all of his big dog teeth now so we figured he was bound to start destroying toys. So....we bought him this octopus made by Tuffy's. It's cute! Its durable! Its got a squeeker in each leg and it's head! Plus...it's purple! ;)

He seems pretty interested, and starts chewing on one of the legs....

But then! GASP! The real fun happens when he realizes there's a tiny little tab of nylon webbing between two of the legs!

It's the little things that keep Piston happy

Just Chillin'

Age: 27 weeks
Weight: 77 pounds

Just hanging out in the snow chewin a stick. This dog loves being outside in the snow! He'd do it all day long if we'd let him!

I can't help but include the goofy shot ;) Wouldn't be a Shiloh if his tongue wasn't sticking out for at least one photo!

Trotting at the Park

Age: 27 weeks
Weight: 77 pounds

We were at the park by ourselves, so David thought he'd show off Piston's little trot. He can go at that pace forever! Now if only we could too! The second half of the video is just them goofin' off.

Ohhhh Sooo Tired!

Age: 26 weeks
Weight: 75 pounds

After a good romp this afternoon - Piston was just pooped! He's lookin a little cramped in his favourite spot in front of the door these days. I couldn't help but laugh at the forehead against the cabinet tho! He was so tired, he didn't even notice me standing there over him!


Then, later that night at my parents place, as I'm coming down stairs....this is the funny sight I see. So tired he got confused on which end goes where! LOL! Or is that a butt pillow, not a bed? In his defense...it was well past his bedtime!

6 Months Old

Boy he's getting big!!

Not A Little Dog Anymore!

Age: 26 weeks
Weight: 74 pounds

This is what our puppy looked like in the trunk of our magnum when we first brought him home....


This is what he looks like now if he tries to stand up in the trunk of the magnum.....


Where did our little puppy go?? and why did he leave so soon??

Yoda Impressions

Age: 25 weeks
Weight: 72 pounds

Whenever Piston is concentrating really hard on something he drops his ears really low and wide. In this photo he's even got the wise "use the force" look on this face.... Or at least I think that's the look he was going for. Really tho, he could have just been thinking about the frozen piece of fruit he had in his mouth!


In this photo he was using his Jedi mind trick to try to convince David to give him another piece of fruit.


When that didn't work....he tried this face instead...

Welcome to the Dark Side?

Age: 25 weeks
Weight: 71 pounds

Sheesh, we don't have a camera for a week and a half and Piston chooses then to go through huge changes in his colour! Look at that coat!!

Piston Tugs Daisy

Age: 22 weeks
Weight: 63 pounds

During this visit with the cousins, Piston was feeling a little more sure of himself and decided to take on Daisy playing tug. She hangs on and shakes with the usual JRT gusto! You can actually hear Piston kind of play growl back at her - that's a first for him! I was really impressed with how he'd just pull a little bit. He obviously had the size advantage but matched his play with her very well.

Merry Christmas!

Age: 22 weeks
Weight: 63 pounds

Okay, so we have no cute Christmas pictures with Piston in front of the tree, or with decorations or anything.....but, we thought we should share with you what Piston found for Christmas. It wasn't wrapped or anything, but he was sure it had his name on it!




Yes that's right....another dead pigeon part! See our November "Foul!" post to see his previous treasure!

Turkey Call??

Age: 22 weeks
Weight: 63 pounds

After our walk through PA State Game Lands we think Piston might have really liked the smell of those turkeys! So after getting the squeaker out of one of his toys, he thought he better practice that turkey call!

Fetch in the Snow....Storm?

Age: 21 weeks
Weight: 62 pounds

Piston LOVES the snow....so of course, we had to go out in the SNOW STORM to play fetch! Oh well, at least it was a warm snow and we should hopefully have a white Christmas! :)

I'd like to add that *I* was the one out in the snow while David took photos and video from the comfort of the house!

Click on any of the photos in the slide show above to be taken to the full web gallery.

PS...Today is Piston's 5 Month Birthday! :)

Catch!

Age: 21 weeks
Weight: 62 pounds

Didn't take Piston very long to decide that catch was his new favourite game! Started out with just snowballs - but now he'll jump to try catch anything you throw!

Click on any of the photos in the slide show above to be taken to the full web gallery.

Do Not Disturb!

Age: 21 weeks
Weight: 62 pounds

On top of this just being a silly place to sleep....wanted to show you his colour! Look at his side!! Is that dark grey I see growing through the puppy fuzz??

Not so long ago....he used to be able to fit his whole body back there....but now, only his head!