dezandpups

Uzi & Sassa taking a break at the "summit"

{DezandNick apologize if you have Julie Andrews in your head now. We do, too, if it’s any consolation.}  The pups have learned to climb stairs. Sassa is a self-taught expert. He was showing off over the weekend: bounding up the steep stairs into [Human] Grandpa’s kitchen to eat cat food.  At home, we must be vigilant about keeping the hall doors closed unless we can monitor his climbing.  Ouzo is more reluctant about the stairs.  He prefers sitting at the bottom of the stairs and barking up at his brother.  But [Human] Grandpa gave him a lesson by putting Uzi’s front paws on the stair tread, then lifting his bottom.  Uzi caught on pretty quick.  Still, he’d much rather be carried up.  Is Sassa smarter because he learned on his own? Or is Uzi smarter because he understands and fears gravity??

Sassa with his leash... and Ouzo's

The pups have been living with collars for about 5 days now.  They seemed moderately annoyed by the collars the first day, but have quickly gotten accustomed to wearing them. Over the weekend, DezandNick started adding a leash for short excursions in the yard.  The pups let the leash drag behind them and are getting used to them — sort of. When one pup sits on the other pup’s leash and the second pup tries to take off running only to find himself hindered, there is a great commotion.  Sassa appears to be the more adaptable pup; he doesn’t mind putting on/taking of the leash.  Uzi on the other hand — you’d think we were amputating something vital when we reach for his collar.  No amount of calm pack-leader energy prevents this freak-out (sorry Cesar, we tried).

Sassa rubbing his eyes and showing his belly

Surprised? Trying to startle the hiccups out of a pup (Sassa) works about as well as it does in human: not at all.  Have you ever seen a dog or puppy hiccup? It is amusing…(we’re laughing WITH him, I promise). Little Sassafra’s hiccups don’t last for too long and don’t seem to be related to anything (they can occur after a nap, or after eating or after playing — no pattern to it).  The Internets tell DezandNick not to worry, that this is common in pups.  It’s not slowing him down any, that’s for sure.

The boys handled the massive thunderstorms last week with grace.  Frankly, they didn’t seem to notice the lightening, thunder, dark skies or rattling gusts of wind. And they have no objections to being wet.  As comfortable as they were with Mother Nature’s noise and wind, they’re not so sure about the Hair Dryer.  Getting comfortable around the Hair Dryer will be important before their “dreadlock” cords start to form, so this weekend we introduced the pups to the Hair Dryer.  They are [now] okay with the noise, but not so sure about the “wind” that comes out of it.  Ouzo was less concerned and walked into the blast of warm air, but didn’t linger.  Sassa was skittish about  it.  We’ll stick to towel drying  for now, but will continue to work with the Hair Dryer until they’re more confident about it.

Pulik in the tall grass

This is Sassafras.  Named because… well, honestly, just because Nick likes to say “sassafras” aloud.  Dez may spin this tale in the future (ground sassafras is filé, a key ingredient to good Cajun gumbo — there must be a story there!), so don’t blow up her spot when she does.  Nickname will be “Sassa” (like Nadal is Rafa);  “Sassy” is just too femme. 

Likes: squeaky toys (although he cannot make them squeak on his own yet), licking DezandNick, running into his bigger brother broadside to knock him down. 

Dislikes: being rushed to pee.

Sassafras

Accomplishments:  Performed “shake” by offering a paw on command several times when a guest came to visit him (granted, he hasn’t really done it since…)

This is Ouzo.  Named in honor of his great-grandpa, Sambuca.  Nick-named “Uzi”, because he’s already started to exhibit his destructive side.  He’s bigger and fluffier than his little brother. 

Likes: walking on his brother’s head, nibbling on DezandNick’s toes, and pouncing  on everything (even just air).  

Dislikes:  being stopped from chewing on power cords & wires (all doggie-proofed now, don’t worry, dear reader).  

Accomplishments: just today, Ouzo started cocking his leg up whilst he pees.

Ouzo

Starting a blog to share our puppies with our friends… Stay tuned for photos and updates!