If you think about it, everything is a work in progress, isn’t it? So, this should be a challenge open to endless possibilities –Anne-Christine can’t wait to see what I think when I hear this phrase.
Warning super cute Golden Retriever alert! My In-laws had an antique sign up in their kitchen for the Original Elixir Moxie. This is how we decided on her name.
Moxie is a work in progress, and I am fully devoted to her. Each and every day I think about ways to keep her mind stimulated, and her body strong and relaxed. Moxie, my Golden Retriever is “Golden”.
We met at 5 weeks, and I was ready for puppy time. I had 3 weeks to get ready.
Moxie has outgrown her collar, but the tag now adorns another. My next purchase was her Snuggle Puppy with a heartbeat. Moxie loves this puppy, and to this day carries it from her crate in the morning, and returns to her crate after first locating and carrying Snuggles back every night.
Shark teeth. I wore these when playing with my pup.
Mom Phoebe and Dad Bailey live across the street, so there was no long car ride home. Now Phoebe and Bailey have Alfie, Moxie’s 10 month old brother. She visited them when I went to Pacific Grove a few weeks ago. She may have been surprised to encounter 9 four week old siblings, and 2 cats also. Moxie was gentle with the cats who are very used to Goldens, and accepted her as part of the pack.
Training Days
Up!BedDown. Leave It!Moxie Rings the bells when she needs (or wants) to go out! Good Girl!
Fun Time
At the dog park, Moxie is fully focused on retrieving. She selects the ball of the day, and won’t be deterred. If another dog gets to her ball first, she will bide her time until the dog gets bored. Then back to “her” ball. I catch her watching television, especially if there is dog action. Food is formost in her mind. Not a picky eater, but she does have a sensitive stomach. I carefully watch what she eats. She loves peanuts. A frozen Kong occupies her time.
Loves this ballMoxie watches Puppy BowlThis teddy bear didn’t last long
Moxie’s sleeping positions
After playing and trainiing hard, Moxie needs her rest time.
Moxie and I head out to explore the world
I am still working on Moxie remaining calm when we are out and about. This is a serious work in progress since I want to be able to have her with me when I travel. She is calm in the car, but trucks and motorcycles make her anxious.
First shopping trip. Pet store shoppingFirst long distance trip to So CalMom’s away, and I get to playFirst winter rainsSporting a new rain coatWaiting at Old Towne Animal HospitalMe and my shadowThe shadow follows
Photo Shoots for the holidays and celebrations
Spidery HalloweenGobble GobbleEight Days of CelebratingLove is in the airFirst BirthdayBirthday #2Forth of July. No problem!Summer is here
Moxie’s many facial expressions
Moxie thinks she is a lap dog, but this summer it is too hot to sit in my lap.
Me and My Moxie
I continue to have fun with my Moxie. I am always finding new ways to spend time together. We play “Find it”, a game where she sniffs out treats. Grooming takes place every other day on a grooming table. She learned to settle down in my room while I am on the computer, and she will tell me when it’s dinner time. Five o’clock! And later today I have arranged for Rosie, a Golden friend, to visit Moxie.
One thing you can learn from this post is that owning a dog is a lifetime commitment that gives me lots of pleasure. It does take a lot of effort and is always a “work in progress!”
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #185 Changes coincidently match my just posted subject about Moxie. John wants us to see what change means to me.
Moxie’s dramatic change from little pup to “almost” full grown.
I started this post over 4 months ago, and life got in the way. In August I expected my grandson to stay with us as he planned to relocate from Tennessee. He stayed with us two days, and he headed back to Knoxville, Tennessee. Refusal of CoVid vaccine, relationship issues, and youth.
Isaac enjoys a homemade waffle, meets Moxie, and leaves for Tennessee, again.
My daughter and family returned to Sacramento after a second try at living in Knoxville. They found an apartment, and as soon as their second house sold in Knoxville the hunt was on for house number three in Tennessee. Sometime in January they will head east. This time they left all their belongings in Tennessee. So that expense is eliminated. I’m not sure what draws them to the “Volunteer State”. Tomorrow I will again say goodbye.
Deja Vu. Or Groundhog Day. This photo was taken in June 2021. Moving to their new home in Tennessee.
Two month old Moxie
So what has kept me so busy that I haven’t posted in a while. Well, I look to my puppy Moxie. Time has a way of disappearing and moving at a snail’s pace. The other day I was making an appointment for a vet visit for Moxie and I kept saying she was almost nine months old. Wrong. She is now eight months old. I work with her daily, and sometimes I see the progress, and sometimes I feel defeat. I am told she is going through the teenage years. Training is ongoing. We go to training once every other week. Manners are being worked on. I am focusing on jumping up on people, and playing rough with me.
Moxie fits in her toy box at 10 weeksThree months old Moxie
For a Golden Retriever, Moxie is a petite pup. She weighs in at 34 lbs. at 8 months. She is about 20 pounds lighter than one of her sisters. I have been dealing with her sensitive stomach, and it seems we have a couple of good weeks, and then I am back to square one. I enrolled in a puppy care club, and when I last tried to make an appointment for her acute tummy issue, the first available time was over three weeks away. As with all things CoVid, I found out that the hours and staff have been reduced due to staffing shortage in veterinarians. This is not adequate care so I will be looking for a new vet. Luckily, I have Golden Retriever friends, and I sought their advice. The “great resignation” attributed to CoVid is shaping our life.
Most puppy owners are shocked by the sharp shark teeth their puppies have. Until Moxie lost her baby teeth (around 5-6 months) I only wore clothes with holes around my pup. These denims kind of look like ones people purchase at fashionable stores. I now do not have to change before I play with my puppy.
At 5 months Moxie has lost her shark teeth.
CoVid caused many supply glitches. I have a small backyard, and two fences were down. Lumber prices rose dramatically. By the beginning of November my yard was fully enclosed. Lucky thing because my next door neighbor just got an adorable black lab. Perhaps a future playmate for Moxie.
Fully fenced, but not entirely safe for my puppy to romp around without harm.
Moxie is always on the lookout for something to eat.
This fall my neighbor’s oak tree hand an abundance of acorns that are toxic for puppies to chew. This along with a pine tree that continues to shower my lawn with needles makes for an unsafe environment for a curious puppy. So each morning a pick up acorns and a variety of mushrooms that appear out of nowhere each morning. So I am always on the lookout. Unfortunately, on Thanksgiving Moxie was too fast and ate a mushroom.
Mushrooms come in such a variety, and none should be consumed by my puppy Moxie.
On the way to the emergency room most of the contents of her stomach ended up on my backseat. Thank goodness my seats were covered.
Moxie is safely harnessed in the back seat. Most of the time she is not interested in the surroundings. Go figure.
There was only one vet at the emergency hospital and the parking lot was filling up. Puppy is ok. And I did make it to Thanksgiving dinner hosted by my friend Anne.
Well at least Moxie ate her mushroom early, and we arrived at 9:00 am. We were able to avoid the crowd.
After her ordeal, all she wanted to do is sleep in my lap. We often get some quiet time and a nap on the Lazy Boy recliner.
CoVid has taken the spontaneity out of life. No quick decision to go to the zoo. Now you must go online to make a reservation. I am waiting at Kaiser because to visit the optical department an appointment is needed. I need new glasses because Moxie chewed up my glasses. To be CoVid safe I make an appointment and wait my turn.
Next week my girl will be 10 months old. When I see her mother Phoebe they look so much alike. Moxie is at her adult size, almost. Puppies grow so very fast. I am glad I took all these photos along the way.
4 month old4 month old6 month old MoxieFive month old Moxie
My husband and I quickly made the choice of Moxie for my puppy’s name. Many have asked the origin of the name. My in-laws had an advertisement for this drink in their kitchen. Recently, my husband brought home a bottle of Moxie.
Where we got the name “Moxie”
This is the second time around with puppy raising in the past two years, and I still am amazed at how quickly the tiny puppy grows to adult size. Glad I took all these photos. Change happens fast, and I am glad I grabbed some of these shots using my iPhone 8 instead of relying on my Fuji xt4. I plan to upgrade my iPhone since much has improved in the last couple of years. I’m looking at the iPhone 13 pro. I just need to make an appointment. The display on my Nixplay frame brings me a lot of joy. If you are thinking of getting one and have questions I’m happy to help.
This is my New Year’s Eve photograph. She has changed so much in these first 8 months.
Moxie at 8 months
I think things may calm down in 2022, or at least I hope so. Stay tuned for my continuing adventures with Moxie.
My puppy Moxie got her final parvo/distemper shots and can now leave our house. I am working on her potty training and her manners. The former is going pretty well. The latter needs work. When I am near Moxie I wear Moxie appropriate clothing. Clothes that have holes in them. I’m running out of clothes, and I really do not like to spend time shopping for new ones. I have purchased plenty of puppy toys: chews that are soft, hard, and able to freeze. But those tiny, super sharp shark teeth and sharp nails are problematic. We have been working on zoom classes, and we started in person puppy classes.
Moxie does the smooch face!
I decided to see how much Moxie responds to her training with outside distractions. So I head to Green Acres. Everyone was so welcoming, and Moxie enjoyed the attention. Her puppy soft fur, her wagging tail, and cute looks attracted employees and customers. She playfully bowed to a Great Pyrenees.The automatic doors opening didn’t phase her one bit. She did look twice at the garden art rooster sitting at her eye level. I wonder how she will react to the Fair Oaks roosters. That will wait for another day. For a first outing Moxie did great!
Next, I head to Orangevale Park in Orangevale, Ca. I used to take Charlie here to help him with his socialization. Walking with Moxie is a very different experience. Pre-schoolers on bicycles pass, people stop to greet her, and two Rhodesian Ridgebacks are taking advantage of the cooler morning temperatures. I did ask their owner to leash his dogs since I didn’t know how Moxie would do. So play bowing and quickly we continue our walk.
Notice that the leash is not pulled tight. This is loose leash walking!
I finally met the vet that treated my Charlie. Masks are now part of the protocol, but at least I get to go inside. Working with someone over the telephone when a pet is sick is difficult. Interestingly, Moxie needed another booster of parvo/distemper so I really shouldn’t have been taking her out yet. Oh well. Waited another 5 days, and we are now introducing Moxie to neighbors around the block.
Honestly, I don’t know where my September went. Puppy schedule keeps me very busy. Remember that when you see that cute puppy face coming towards you. I am in charge, but my Moxie has other ideas. Today, I was all ready to go out for some puppy socialization. Water bottle filled, check. Treats in pouch, check. Harness on Moxie, check. Ready to take the last potty break, oops. Moxie is asleep and won’t budge. Change of plans. It’s warm out, and I can now catch up on my blog.
Good news. The last of those sharp canine teeth fell out! Current choppers don’t slash clothes as fast. Training is making progress. She listens to sit, down, and down-stay, leave it, drop it, touch, let’s go, and side. This week in training we will be working on recall. Today when she was out, I called her, and she came running! That called for a “party”. Lot’s of treats!
Moxie is checking out a squirrel sitting on the fence.
Moxie with her ear flipped back!
It is hard to imagine that Moxie is just 22 weeks old. Time sure passes quickly. Check back and see how much Moxie changes over the coming months.
Life with a puppy starts, and all of a sudden I don’t know where the time has gone. It seems to fly by, and yet I can’t believe that Moxie has been in our lives less that two weeks. The good thing is that her transition was not as drastic as with most pups. I visited her in her home located across the street. She made a few short visits here as well.
I can’t tell who Moxie will look like. She was the second smallest of the litter of 9. Both parents welcome me when I arrive. I went over to take some photographs of the litter. It is not an easy task to take pics inside, by myself, and with some active 52 day old pups.
Phoebe is the mom of nine Golden Retriever puppies.
Bailey is Moxie’s Dad (Sire)
Four out of Nine pups. Moxie is not in this group.
Here is Moxie with her ball. She likes to chase and bring it back. A real retriever!
Puppyhood training is fresh in my mind, but Moxie is so very different a personality. She has taken to the crate, and goes in without a fuss. If she whines she settles down after a couple of minutes. When she falls asleep, she is so settled that I can pick her up and transfer her to her crate. I found her placing herself in her crate a couple of times. The only thing in her crate is her Snuggle Puppy. At night I turn on the heartbeat, and she uses the puppy as a pillow. I still have the one that Charlie used, and it is used in Moxie’s daytime crate. I was amazed that after the initial obligatory ear and tail amputation Charlie left the puppy alone. Moxie’s puppy has just had some ear licks applied.
Moxie’s Snuggle Puppy matches my girl
Moxie plays with all sorts of toys. Chew toys, balls to fetch, and an empty lemonade plastic bottle she uses to play soccer. She moves from one toy to another, and doesn’t persistently chew on one toy till it is destroyed.
A basket of toys. Unfortunately, Moxie thinks the basket is also there to chew on. Looking for something to hold her growing group of toys. Maybe I will get her to pick up her toys when she is done. One can always hope!
All puppies have shark teeth. So I am never far from a toy to replace my skin. I make it a point to have my fingers in her mouth to remove unwanted items, check her teeth, and look at her tongue. I started her on brushing her teeth though it is awkward. This will be part of her grooming routine. Golden Retriever’s are double coated, shedding dogs. Her grooming with be different. A Labradoodle is a single coated non shedding dog with more maintenance needed. This week I start showing Moxie what it takes to be a beautiful pup!
Potty training is coming along. Thinking back to my first puppy, Liberty I don’t remember as many paper towels being used. Small bladder = little piddles. But I am starting to recognize the signs. And Moxie is starting to catch on to the back door and ringing the bells.
June has been a hot month with temperatures into the 100 degrees plus. But we are vaccinated, and not under lockdown orders so Moxie has met most of my neighbors. She approaches new people with interest and a wag. I am trying to give her a new experience each day. New sights, new sounds, new tastes. Charlie’s first car ride was home from the Serenity Springs, a two hour drive. He was anxious and when we arrived he vomited. I want Moxie to be a good traveler so after a couple of days we drove out to Davis Ranch in Sloughhouse, California for fresh corn. I don’t have a harness for her yet, and so Moxie sat on my lap. Today, the vacuum cleaner came out. Fireworks are set to go off tonight.
I started working the Baxter & Bella online training program. I am glad I subscribed to this program with Charlie. At the time training could only be accomplished online. With one payment I have a lifetime membership. Moxie is taking to the training. First I reward the behavior through luring, then I name the behavior. Commands that she learned so far include: sit, down, touch, and sit to say please, go potty, and of course respond to her name. I notice when she starts to move into zone 3 or 4, and I am starting to get her to relax on her back with soothing cradling. This may allow me to cut her nails which I think will be a light color. Yes, easier!
So far Moxie has been quite a different puppy. I now see just how much anxiety my Charlie displayed. When he napped, he still was alert. He would get up if anything moved. I can leave the room, make noise, and Moxie remains asleep.
Moxie finds interesting places to fall asleep.
I swear that when she gets up from some of her naps she seems to have grown. I am enjoying the ability to sweep her up in my arms and get her out the door to potty. I know this will not last, but I am enjoying it while it does.
A Photo's Worth 