Yukon - Goes to Mukilteo Lighthouse Park

Yukon went to the Puget Sound today!  He really liked the walk along the beach and we sat on a bench for a while as well.  He got to meet another puppy and a lot of seagulls!  The ferry gave him a bit of a fright as well as a BSNF train.  But he got used to them.  New sights and sounds for Yukon to digest.

Really warm day today, 54 degrees,not much wind and no rain.  Pretty nice day really and we both enjoyed our time at the park with very few people around - yeah.

The Last time I weighed Yukon, a week ago, he was 47.3 pounds and still growing!  December 9th Yukon is 5 months old.  He is still a very happy puppy and still learning all kinds of new things in his training. 

On Monday Yukon went to Seattle and up the the 12th floor to see Dr. Lindsay.  First time in an elevator  and the big city really, we walked around the block a couple of times so he could experience more people on the walk in Seattle.  He wore his Service Dog vest with pride and behaved really well as usual.  Even with the vest he and I still get stopped with comments like "He is such a beautiful dog!"  Yukon loves the attention - me not so much! 

Yukon's First Snow!!!

Well it has been a little while since my last post.  Yukon is now 18 weeks old tomorrow.  He has finally had his last set of shots and next Tuesday he has the green light for going out  and meeting other dogs in the park!  Yukon now weighs over 40 pounds and is getting bigger every day.  His training is going very well - he is in Adult Level I training at the moment.

The picture on the left is Yukon's first real romp in the snow and he loved it.  Nose is covered and he had a roll in it as well.  He really loved being in the snow, I guess you could say he felt right at home.

A couple of days ago Yukon made a new friend, Riley, a black lab rescued by Tiffany and Darren.  Riley is still setting in to his new home, with a great set of parents and  I am sure that Yukon and Riley will be the best of friends.

We have had an arctic blast here in Washington with temperatures as low as 9 degrees.  The house is pretty cold - I still haven't turned on the heat.  Today I built a fire though and Yukon and I are sat in front of it at the moment all nice and toasty.

Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving from Yukon and me!

Yukon gets neutered...

What have you done to me?

Well it has been a little while since my last post but today was a pretty big day for Yukon; he got micro-chipped and neutered!  Double ouch!!  Needless to say he isn't very happy at the moment.  He had a little bit of food and water after he figured out how to get the Elizabethan Collar over his bowl, poor little fellow.  Ten days of the collar and he is on sedatives and pain killers.

Oh Dear!!

Yukon has been doing really well, one more week of puppy school to go. He was evaluated yesterday; he passed with flying colours, good job Yukon.  He has Sit, Lay, Come, Leave, Down, Off commands down and walks very well on the lead.  He is working on Stand and for fun Shake, he is getting them down pretty much already.  He now weighs over 30lbs and is still looking really good, the mask looks like it is going to stay and that make me happy.  Yesterday he jumped out of the Jeep on his own, a little hesitant but he finally made the leap.  He was very pleased with himself after that accomplishment.   I hope he has a quite night tonight and a restful day tomorrow; I am hoping he will be back to his playful self very soon.

Yukon - 21.5 Pounds and climbing...

Just a short one today.  Yukon has started on the Down command and is doing very good!  His Sit, Stay and Leave are working well for him as well.  Still walking nicely on the lead as well.  Way to go Yukon!  Weight today 21.5 lbs.

Yukon - Learns to garden...

 OK I did not set this up...  Yukon went outside to go to the toilet, I was on the deck waiting for him to do his business.  He did his business and went under the deck where I couldn't see him from above; he came out very slowly with the flower pot in his mouth.  I about passed out from laughing so hard, luckily I thought, camera, it was on the counter inside the house.  As you can see I go the camera and the shots.  Yukon wanted to play with me and the flower pot it was so funny, he kept following me around the garden with the flower pot.  The flower pot is one of the heavy terracotta ones not plastic!

It seems that Yukon's personality is really starting to grow, he is as a Malamute should be full of playing tricks on me and being really funny.   I have started taking him for walks in the morning and evening, not long ones just down the street but it seems to wear him out pretty quick - he sleeps a lot.

Yukon is 10 weeks 2 days old and weighs over 20lbs already; at least I know he is getting enough food.

I don't see how I got on without him in my life - he is a great pal and always by my side.

Yukon - Have bone will travel!

Yukon had a couple of firsts yesterday, he has started to go down stairs and in one day he has really got pretty fast and good at it.  He can now really move going up the steps as well.  We went for two walks yesterday one just down the street and another later on in the afternoon  around the block.  I think it is because Yukon is still a little guy he goes slow and stops and has a rest every once and a while.  At least he doesn't pull, I am sure being a Malamute that is to come!  We went for another walk this morning but he wasn't in the mood for a walk - sigh.  Yukon has started to go to the door to be let out for the toilet and his stools are solid - yeah.  Also if I leave the door open he just moseys out, down the stairs and goes in the garden - he is learning.  The little guy stays in his crate all night now without needing the toilet every two hours; I learned something in his puppy training.  I was told by the breeder to leave the food out all the time as well as water - that is not wrong but it means the dog will need the toilet at all times day and night.  Yukon now gets feed three times a day and watered when needed.  This way I know when he will need the toilet - lesson learned - it works!

Yukon got me really laughing when I gave him his bone (picture) he really likes it and it helps with his teething; it was classic seeing him carry that big old bone around with him.

Yukon goes to school...

Today was a busy day for Yukon, two providers followed by puppy training school.  Lucky for me there was only one other dog in training - a small terrier 11 months old.  Funny Yukon was 9 1/2 weeks and towered over the little terrier.  They played well together and Yukon put up with a lot of jumping and mouthing from the terrier; Yukon could have had that little dog for a snack - but he played nicely.

We worked on Sit/Stay, Look and leash walking all of which Yukon has already got pretty much down.  The little terrier on the other hand was a handful and he is 11 months old!  Yukon did the commands with the trainer as well as me; I was really proud of my little (big?) guy.  We will continue working on these commands ready for next week.

I bought Yukon a large bone so he can gnaw on with his little teeth while teething.  I also bought a clicker for clicker training.  The instructor was really nice and I spoke with her after the class about where Yukon and I need to go.  She said that Yukon and I were already well on the way and we were both doing a great job.  Thanks to Cheri, Marianne and Wokini's for the advice on good books for training dogs!

Needless to say Yukon is totally wiped out and is fast asleep....  good job Yukon!  

Yukon - gets his second round of shots!

Well Yukon was 9 weeks old yesterday!  For his birthday he got jabbed in the back and a syringe full of stuff squirted up his nose - NICE.  In this picture he is waiting for the vet - you can tell he is really nervous - LOL.  He was really good getting the shot and the worming no fuss at all - good boy!  His weight was 15.38 pounds, he is growing really fast! Again I was swamped at the vets by all the people that wanted to say hello to him, he loves people!

Today we stopped at PetCo and signed him up for puppy school  which starts on Monday evening; I took him in with me and he caused a stir yet again. They even called a couple of staff over the intercom to come see him.  And he cause a serious traffic jam at the front doors! The little guy is a real attention getter!  Hope the schooling goes well.  Although it is not a legal requirement we are going to go all the way to Certified Canine Good Citizen - this is for his Service Dog training.  My pal is really special and I am really glad he is part of my life.  We have a long road ahead of us and it's going to be fun!

Yukon - Goes to Paine Field

Yukon and I went to N7NKO's place on Friday 17 Sept 2010 and visited with Sheila, Dean and Corky, Turbo was no where to be found - there was a dog in the house!  We stayed for a little bit while Dean got the radio setup for the Washington State Salmon Run Radio Contest.

The following day (Saturday) we went to Paine Field to listen to the radio contest and play.  While we were there Sean showed up and we sat out in the grass and played with Yukon and talked for about five hours. Sean took a great picture of me with Yukon but he hasn't e-mailed it to me yet.
  
Sunday Yukon and I went to Paine Field again but it was raining pretty hard.  Yukon got pretty wet and I didn't have a towel to dry him off so I decided we had better go home so Yukon wouldn't catch cold; he is still just a little guy.  Once the rain stopped we went out into the garden and played some ball.  Yukon is fast asleep.  He is growing really fast and his character is really taking shape!

 

Yukon doubles in size!

Yukon had to go back to the vet today, still has runny stools.  He is OK and has gained five pounds in one week so it isn't hampering his growth.  The vet said he has doubled in size since last week.  He is now 11lbs and change.  He needed to be extended on his medications and the vet believes that he grew so fast that the dose wasn't strong enough.  She adjusted the medication so that it increases over time to take into account his growth speed.  He is still in really good shape and is a happy puppy that plays and sleeps; it's a dog's life!   Today I bought him a couple of balls and he loves them, really funny watching him chase it around the floor.  I also got him some water bottles for when he is in his crate.  This will keep him from spilling his water in the crate - like I said I will soon be trained!  I need to take some more pictures of him as he is growing really fast and we want to keep a record.

Yukon meets his cousin

Picture by Vickie Bennett

Yukon is climbing the stairs on the back deck!  He climbs them now without any encouragement from me.  If I go up the steps he will soon follow me up them.  We took a trip to Kirkland to visit Buddy, my cousins dog.  There was another dog there as well, can't remember her name but Yukon really liked her.  They all had a good old romp and play.  At first Yukon was a bit unsure but soon found his feet and was running around the garden having a blast with his new friends.  When I got home Yukon crashed in his crate, he was very tired.
Good fun all around and a good lesson for Yukon in socialization.

Another couple of firsts for Yukon.

Meghan meets Yukon!

A good day for Yukon today, he is feeling much better and acting more like the puppy that he is.  Stools are still a  bit runny but that should go away in the next couple days.  This morning Yukon climbed the stairs on the back deck!  He is only seven weeks one day old.  I saw him trying to go up so I followed him to make sure he didn't fall, he was slow but didn't stop, he made it to the top and was very pleased - treat was given!  Two appointments today Cheri and Tiffany.  Yukon was great at Cheri's, the waiting room was full but he ignored everyone and just stuck next to me not making a sound.  Then we were off to Tiffany's where Meghan got to meet Yukon for the first time - they hit it off really well; Meghan watched Yukon during my appointment, thanks Meghan!  After getting home I took Yukon out to the back garden for a potty break after the long drive home.  I went to work on his doggy septic tank at the bottom of the garden, I turned around to see if Yukon was OK and saw him half way up the deck stairs!  Confident little guy and ever so proud of himself at the top of the stairs.  Tomorrow Yukon has been home one week; in my opinion he is doing super!  Keep up the good work Yukon.

Sean babysits Yukon...

I had NOAA Storm Watcher training last night and Sean was kind enough to step into the breach and watch Yukon for me.  Sean and Yukon had a great time together and from what Sean said no miss behavior!  Sean said Yukon was going mad with the root beer bottle; he would spin it and Yukon would go nuts after it.  It seems that Yukon is on the mend from his tummy upset; he took his medicine this morning with no trouble at all.  We have had a day together at the house today but did take a trip to the vets, in the Jeep, to get some of the treats the vet gave to Yukon during his visit.  He really liked them so I will use them for training, we have already started on the biggie, Sit, he is getting it albeit slowly.  A big first today, I was working on the Jeep outside, Yukon with me, and decided to go in.  Yukon was on the lead and he made it up the porch steps and half way up the stairs in the house!  Not bad, he is exactly seven weeks old today. I have been showing him how to do it for the past couple days but today he wanted to give it a go himself and he did a really good job - glad I had those treats!  I took him out on the deck this afternoon and we sat, Yukon slept, out there for about a hour.  The convergence zone had set up over the house and we had a hole of clear blue sky and clouds all around us.  Ya gotta love the convergence zone!   I haven't been on my deck like that in a long time and now with Yukon right beside me.

Yukon - Went to another provider today.. and a visit to the Vet!

Marianne meets Yukon

Today wasn't a really good day; last night Yukon developed very bad diarrhea and was just not himself in the morning.  We had to go to Bellevue today so Yukon got to meet Marianne!  Even though he wasn't feeling well, Yukon did super in Marianne's office.  He was admired by all he came into contact with and was very well behaved.  On the way home I stopped at the Vets to get him checked out.  He received a full physical and then had some tests run to determine why he was in a bad way.  Poor little guy had three sticks shoved up his backside, he let out a good yelp on two  of them but by the third time he just let them poke him.  Good news is no bad parvo virus or trouble just an intestinal parasite to get rid of.  Yukon is on medication for the next five days and should improve in a couple of days; back to his playful self.  Sean is babysitting tonight because I have a NOAA Weather Spotting class I have to attend - Thanks Sean!  Get well quick Yukon!

Yukon at the Vets after the exam and test gathering!

Yukon - Went to another provider today..

Cheri meets Yukon

Another big day for Yukon; he got to meet another provider, Cheri.  We started the day as usual with a playful morning after a night of potty breaks in the rain.  Yukon really had me laughing today, he started to jump at his Kong and Rope toys growling and woo woo'ing, it was really funny.  He rode in the Jeep again today from Everett to Bellevue and back and did a good job both ways; he fell asleep!  I parked some distance away from Cheri's building and thought I would try to get Yukon to walk on the leash to the door.  The little guy did a good job and only got spooked by a man that came around a corner and the front door to Cheri's building.  I will have to work on correcting that behavior but he is only 6 weeks 5 days old! Yukon again attracted attention in the waiting room but handled it very well, better than I did.  He met Cheri and did pretty well in her office, after investigating and trying to munch on her plants he crawled under the chair and fell asleep.  He was admired again on the way out of the building - little guy attracts a lot of attention.  We arrived home and had a little play and started limited puppy training of sit and fetch;Yukon has been asleep for most of the evening.  Tomorrow he gets to meet Marianne and have yet another ride in the Jeep.  One thing is for sure he is going to get used to riding in the Jeep and office buildings should become second nature to him as he grows.  Hope it doesn't rain tonight so we can do potty breaks in the dry!

Yukon - Went to one of my providers today..

Tiffany and Yukon

Today was a pretty good day for Yukon and me, up at 6:00am went outside and had a potty break and playtime.  Knowing that I had to go to Bellevue today with Yukon I decide it would be a good idea to keep active to wear him out a bit.  He rode really well in the Jeep, fell asleep, and was an absolute treasure at Tiffany's office.  In total he was cuddled by five people and took it all in stride.  During my appointment he fell asleep the little guy was totally wiped out especially with all the excitement of meeting new people.  He rode pretty good in the Jeep back to Everett; only cried out a couple of times while I was on the radio to KC7QYR, W7WPR and KE7ZEM.  We stopped at PetSmart on the way home to get some more doggy stuff; I carried him in the store and again was swamped with people wanting to give him a cuddle.  Yukon is so sweet he just takes it all in and passes out puppy kisses.  We just had a play session and potty break outside in the rain - we both got soaked - Yukon got a good towel dry followed by chasing my bare feet around trying to get at my toes.  Now he has done his "I'm tired so I am going to plop down right here and go to sleep!"  Never too far from me though.  Tomorrow is another outing to see Cheri, bigger building an a lot more people to wade through.  I am sure Yukon will do great, me in the other hand will just let Yukon work his magic and stay in the background!

Yukon - My new pal...

Yukon - Alaskan Malamute 4 Sept 2010

Well Yukon is now home!  The little (big) guy was born on 22 July 2010.  His dad is Wokini's Blackjack Kid (120lbs) and mum is Wokini's Nanuk of Blaze (115lbs).  Yukon is a pure bread Alaskan Malamute and a very sweet boy.  He is really smart and is potty trained already, he woo woo's to be let out for the toilet, amazing!

Picking him up from Wokini's in Ravensdale WA was a blast and he rode in his crate home with very little fuss.  Upon arriving home we immediately went to the back garden for potty and playtime.  We had a blast and then went inside to investigate the house.  We looked around and found the food and water bowls, his crate and had another play.  Yukon then promptly crawled under my bed and fell asleep!  I took him outside once he woke up, potty and play; I continued this cycle all through the night.  It seemed to work very well and no accidents in the house!

Today he is eating on and off which is a good thing!  He passed his first three stools today and thankfully they were solid.  He had runny stools last week and the breeder gave him meds, looks like they worked, a relief.  We took a trip in the Jeep again to the Everett Animal Shelter to get his dog license.  He was awed and cooed by everyone in the shelter, workers and visitors alike.  His behavior was excellent, no shyness, no hyper puppy just a good puppy!  He even went nose to nose with a lab puppy four times his size, no problems.  We were gone about an hour and he rode really well to the shelter and only limited woo wooing on the way home.

Welcome Home Yukon!