On the log home front: the foundation was inspected and approved, therefore backfilled. Geothermal drilling is finished. We contracted with our snowplower in Huntsville, just in time for all the snow that fell this past week. Huntsville was to get up to 20 cm of snow this week. Can't wait to live there! We need to keep our driveway clear for Matt and the crew over the coming months. All is tracking fine for the house and we expect to go to Matt's Yard and Huntsville one more time before Christmas.
This was a very good week for all of us. Cooper kept busy with lots of walks, lots of training and he is "getting it". I have to say that Russell is doing an amazing job at training Cooper and it is very noticeable, even by complete strangers - one fellow with a Weimaraner even said he'd trade dogs with us. When we walk, the leash is loose and he constantly "checks in" with Russell. We don't overdo the training but we keep at it. We used our 30 feet leash a number of times so that Cooper just could "run like hell", a Havenese trait, and boy did he! I tried to get a video but he was too fast for me. I will try again this week. Russell and I had our monthly haircut appointments in Toronto this past Saturday. We took Cooper with us, although we were debating on Friday night if one of us should cancel and stay home with him. We didn't know how he would behave, especially since the hair salon is in the Commerce Court building, below ground level. In the end, we decided to bring him with us. What a good dog he was! We took him in his sherpa bag since dogs are not allowed in the Toronto buildings, but he was on a leash at the salon. We were there for almost two hours and he sat/slept on either of one of us almost the whole time - while stealing kisses from almost everyone who walked by. We each took him to the street level once for a bio break. As an aside, if you wonder why it took two hours for both of us to get a hair cut, it is because Russell's hair cut takes as long as mine, if not longer.....I know, it's hard to believe but it's true! Our hairdresser was over the moon with Cooper and so were other clients. We were very proud of him. But we did something very important: when we take Cooper to a new place, we now ask people not to make a big production about meeting him, so that he doesn't get all "jacked up". This may sound like we are taking the fun away from him and the people he meets, but it is a good way to make sure that he behaves properly and doesn't get too excited. It is a win win win for us, for the people we meet and for Cooper.
I want to add that the downtown Toronto experience was a very good one for Cooper. He came to us 4 weeks ago and his socialization process had been very well begun by our breeders, and I will say that they did a super job at it. One would think that being in the downtown core, with traffic, sirens, streetcars, and all, that he would be somewhat scared. Not at all. For Cooper, downtown is no different than living outside the city...romping in the park. We had to take an elevator and he loved the ride. The only time where he felt a little funny was when we stepped on the lobby floor of the Commerce Court building. That floor is super shinny and he was afraid to walk on it. He also barked at the large elephant sculptures in the Court yard....once I kicked them...he figured oh, these are nothing!
Today, we took Cooper to another play session at Doggie Central. This time, there were about 15 dogs and he had a great time. The dogs were his size or smaller. Cooper was by far the most behaved, and I am not saying this because he is ours. It was obvious to other dog owners that he was well trained. Some people could not believe that he is only 7 months old. Also, I have to add that everyone that meets Cooper cannot get over his majestic looks. If you know about Havanese dogs, you will know what I mean. We will keep going to the play session every week as this is very good for him to meet and play with other dogs. This coming Wednesday, we will also take Cooper to daycare for a few hours, which is also at Doggie Central. This will be the first time that we are away from him but it is very important to start working on the separation process, to avoid separation anxiety down the road (both for Cooper and us). Not that we intend to leave him, but it is inevitable that there will be times where we will have to leave him either alone at home or in daycare for whatever reason. This will also give Russell and I a chance to have a few hours alone, and perhaps enjoy lunch out somewhere or run errands. I already know that the first time we leave Cooper at daycare, we will be totally thinking about him, but we must do this. I will report on this next week.
Russell's arm is doing much better and he probably needs only one or two more treatments. All is good with me, I haven't slept this well in months. I used to think that I probably had insomnia but if I did, I no longer have it.
This week, we start Obedience training with Cooper. It will be every Thursday afternoon, for 8 weeks, with a break between Christmas and New Year. The training will take place at Scholars in Collars in Burlington.
I have to end this blog by saying, again, that we just love Cooper so much. He is everything we had hoped for in a dog, and more. He is truly a delight and brings us so much joy. He will be meeting our families for the first time at Christmas. They are looking forward to meeting him.
Have a great week everyone and I hope that your Christmas preparations are doing well.
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