Posers

Sammy is quite the little poser. And I don't mean this in that mean insult way. In fact it's a good way, mostly. Sammy has learned, over his fourteen months with us (almost), that the camera is a necessary evil. Maybe not even evil. I'm not entirely sure how he feels about it, just that it is necessary. And once he hears the noise of the camera, all things hault and he becames, Sammy, picture perfect dog. He is still gorgeous and sweet and an all around amazing dog when the camera is off, but once that sound is made, he may as well jump into a phone booth (if there were any left) and show off his "S."
Sammy sits with the smile on his face looking at (usually me) whoever has that camera. Often right at my feet, he knows that's his slimming angle:



And this is immediate. He just gets right into poser mode. This makes my job really easy alot of times. Except when I'm trying to caputre a more free spirited Sammy. I can't get him and Norman FRAPPING on the video cam, since he hears the noise and comes right to me. I also have a terrible time getting any pictures of the two boys curled up together, or near each other since that noise goes and Sammy goes right to attention, often between Norman and me. Not entirely sure if this is because he wants the attention, or is protecting Norman.

The great thing about having two dogs, is the older dog is so much more efficent in training the little guy than any human could ever be. Sorry Ceaser, It's Me or the Dog lady, and the rest of the career dog trainers. And lets face it, Sammy was a freak accident for the almighty dog maker. He never chewed on anything he wasn't supposed to (except the occassional platic bottle if it was left out), only once got into Erik's backpack and made himself sick from trail mix, was a sinch to potty train, slept through the night starting night one, liked to sleep in during the day, likes baths, eats to his own hunger (doesn't gobble down everything, skips meals if he isn't hungry), intuitively knew to never beg from the table, plays with all dogs at the dogpark (& super sweet and protecting with puppies), loves carrides, let me dress him up for holidays, lets me hold him on his back like a baby, dance with him, & give little kids high fives with his paw as well as hugs, never snipped at ankles, ...just an all around amazing dog. Our battles are cats, barking and not letting us get too high (stand on chairs) or work out! Seriously, we were so lucky. Sammy didn't have to rely on being the world's cutest and sweetest dog to cover up chewing the couch or coffee table (NORMAN!) or make us put our shoes away everytime. Nope, just got to be a bonus for him! And now that is Norman's teacher!
If Sammy hadn't been such an easy puppy, and wonderful, we probably wouldn't be on number two yet. But since he was, we felt confident in bringing home Norman. Which has been just amazing. Norman, however, is that silly puppy. He has had a number of accidents. We have our good days and our bad days. Mostly good though. He is learning how to tell us he has to potty right now. Norman sleeps through the night for the most part, but has gotten up twice in the middle of the night. Norman, unlike Sammy, is a morning dog. Mostly because his normal day routine is to eat no later than 630am. I have to work at 600am most days, so I am up 445-515am. He gets to potty and run around with me while Sammy stays in bed with Erik (still not a morning dog). Erik usually gets up between 6 and 7 depending on his classes for the day. First thing he does, feed the pups. This is a wonderful system until we have a day to sleep in (Saturday) in which case Norman can hardly make it til 700am. If we are lucky. Sammy always took this opportunity to catch up on his z's ('cause he was missing so many day to day, lol) and just eat whenever he got up. No biggie. Breakfast was becoming more and more of a lunch or late lunch meal for him anyway. Norman wasn't an instant people dog either. Well, he was, just not like Sammy. We were Sammy's whole world. He waited in that pet shop 3 months for a family, and he wasn't gonna let it go. He loved us, and wanted to be with us and please us from the moment we got in that little room to meet him. Instant family. Norman was blessed to be in a happy home with lots of dogs and other animals not at all sad or alone. Norman loved us, and would give us our proper attention, but took more of an affection to Sammy. He wanted Sammy to love him. He wanted to have Sammy take care of him. Which is only natural for any puppy. Norman has grown to understand how the family works in the last three weeks, and becomes more and more loving toward us. Wanting to please us more and more, and still Sammy, too.
Sammy has been able to help us train Norman in so many ways. Sammy herds Norman to what he is supposed to do. Norman sees Sammy's reaction to a word or phrase and tries to do the same thing. Norman now understands "potty," "dinner," "hungry?" "sit," "dance" and is learning what car ride entails. Right now he knows to be excited. More to the point of this blog, Norman is learning to be a little poser. Norman would NOT stay still for photos. He was making photographing him quite difficult. Norman is learning how to sit for them, and looks toward Sammy to then look at the camera like Sammy is. Norman is also catching on to go right to attention when Sammy does, when the camera makes it's start up click and tone. Soon he will be doing it on his own, I bet.

Two little posers!

But we were able to get a couple photos out of this new revelation of Norman's.

Brothers:









The boys with my mom






Family Shots:





I'm excited for when Sammy can teach Norman how to smile!! Those will be beautiful pictures!