6 Months Old!

Yep! On October 2, the 2009 P litter turned 6 months old!  Paz and the other puppies went back to Lackland for their 6 month evaluation on Sept. 26.  The birthday celebration had to wait until Paz came home : )  It was a very quiet week around our house without Paz!  Jed and Ding got a much needed and deserved break, which I know they appreciated.  Everything returned to our rather crazy normal when Paz returned on October 3. 

Paz now weighs twice as much as Jed and 3 times more than Ding, so those two have had to adjust to having a "big" dog in their lives! For the most part, they all get along great; Jed (14) and Ding (10) are in their "golden" years and really don't have the desire or energy to try to keep up with Paz and her antics.  Even so, they all find time to run around a little bit and bark at things together.  Jed and Paz share a common love of chasing squirrels, although Jed doesn't see them very well these days.  They both seem so disappointed when the squirrels get away.  I'm thrilled though... I don't know what I'd do if either of them every caught one!!! 

Paz had a decent 6 month evaluation.  The problems that were noted were more our fault than hers.  We're working daily to improve her toy drive; she really LOVES the new toy that she came home with!  We continue to take Paz everywhere with us to expose her to new situations and crowds.  The biggest problem we have here is finding places with actual crowds!  Paz has been to my school and to local foot ball games.  We've also taken her to our mall.  In the future, we're planning on taking Paz to the Houston airport and some larger malls in Houston or Dallas and hopefully this will help with any hesitations she may have. 

Paz has become a true road warrior lately!  She's been to Dallas several times and this past weekend to Belton an Brownwood, all to watch her beloved Kate play soccer.  She is such a great travel companion!  She sleeps or chews on a nylabone in the car; she doesn't mind the seatbelt we have her wear at all!  Paz is also a great hotel guest- never barks and sleeps peacefully in her crate.  My children should have been so well behaved!!!!  We use these trips as opportunities to get Paz out in the community.  She's very relaxed at the soccer/athletic complexes we visit.  She seems really comfortable climbing and exploring the stands and bathrooms; She pretty much ignores all of the people that are there as well, unless they come up to her.  We have a little trouble keeping people away from her, but when we explain she's working, most folks leave her alone. One thing we really enjoy doing while Paz is out is explaining the TSA puppy program to the people we meet!  Paz is a great rep for the program!!!

Paz has always loved exploring around our property and neighborhood. Since she was a small puppy, Paz has been intrigued by the long culvert under our rural driveway.  She routinely stuck her head in and would sometimes taken a step or two inside, but she always came right out. About a week ago, Paz's curiosity got the better of her and before I knew it, she'd gone all the way through!  It's amazing what Paz will do on her long lead!  Now, Paz wants to go into every culvert we pass by.  We have had to work hard with her to keep her from diving right in- you never know what creatures (snakes? possums? fireants?) could be lurking inside!  If the culverts have water in them, they become even more attractive to her!  Her love for water is sooooo powerful! If anybody ever needs to have their water filled culvert checked out, Paz is your dog!  We continue to take Paz to local parks to run through the tunnels at the playgrounds; however, now we also allow her to explore the culvert under our driveway, AFTER we've checked it out to make sure it's varmint and hazard free!