Leia is growing

This is the view from our house on the island where we are spending out summer, It's almost unearly beautiful.


Leia is growing like a weed, and has got a new friend! I've been terrible at keeping the blog updated, I'll try to do better - promise =)

Anyway, we have extended out family with Filippa (or Lippa for short) who is an 19 month old Lhasa girl who has been in a puppy cut that is now growing out which makes her look a bit like a punk, just watch:


Leia and Lippa are the best of friends, and life on the island is Nirvana to them - and to us. Updates from leia will follow =)

Quick update

Its been pretty quiet in the CyberDog Blog for a few days - mainly because Daniel is out travelling this week and I'm alone with Leia and the cats. Busy busy and not a lot of time at the computer, either for me or Leia.

We've been out playing for hours on end in the day and I've had girl nights with my friends (and their dogs). Leia is developing in leaps and bounds. She can walk on a lead now, knows the commandos "wait" and "down" and "seek", had her first bath, and so on.

Leia tells me that her next post will be rather long and full of photos - so keep checking back, I think I'll let her at the computer tonight :)

Early teenager

Isn't 11 weeks old a bit early for a puppy to start teenage behaviour?

Leia has been absolutely IMPOSSIBLE today. Instead of staying close to us when we are out, she wasnt to run off as far as she can. Even when we run in the opposite direction she doesn't always come. Speaking of come, that's a command that she had started learning very well but completely "forgot" today.

Ah, and the biting! Soft mouth? I don't think so. I actually have puncture wounds on my hands from her freaking out today. We tried to stay calm and strong, and not get angry - but it's kind of hard not to feel some level of emtion when a pretty strong puppy jumps up and bites your throat - HARD - while she is in your arms.

Ah well, back a couple of squares. More training on contact and affirmation. NO more off-leash excercises. Lots of love and no attention at the wrong times. She's still our love-bunny, just a very feisty one today =)

Sleeping in the Park

This experience is AMAZING. Never did I know, through all my years of loving animals, just how soft and warm you can feel when looking at a sleeping puppy, and knowing that when she wakes the first thing she will look for is you.

Daniel and I went to the park today, in the sunny early afternoon. After about an hour of sniffing around, chewing yummy sticks and playing funny command learning games (mainly consisting of finding Daniel or me running off somewhere, setting chase, hearing "come Leia, COME!" and getting candy) Leia was exhausted. We brought water, of course, and after drinking a bit it was time to collapse in the sun.

We had a towel for her, but it was much nicer to sleep on Daniels jacket. Notice his reading material.

Having a relaxed moment in the spring sun.

After a while I sat down, and Leia decided that my lap was an ever comfier resting spot than Daniels jacket.

Ah, be still my heart! Leia slept like a baby (which she is) for almost an hour here.

We tried to wake her up (notice my hand on her tummy) because we needed to get back home and wanted her to wake up and preferably go to the bathroom again before we got back inside.

But the moment I stopped rubbing her belly, this happened:

I'm a novice at this, but I would say that this is not a puppy with trust issues :) It can be hard to see in the picture (click it for a bigger version) but Leia is fast asleep on my knees, again.

We carried her to the spot nearer our home which is her designated "quick potty" area and Daniel went home because he needed to "go potty" too :) Leia and I spent another 30 minutes or so there, but no sign of any need to go, so finally I gave up and brought her home.

This time around we walked the whole way home (well, its only about 100 yards) along the very well populated road. We live on one of Gothenburgs busiest streets (people, not so much traffic) and with a lot of patience, love and attention (and tiiiime!) Leia walked all the way home. That's another first! Go Leia!

When we were about to cross the street a tram came by, which scared her a LOT. She has never been on the ground when one passes before. I used a lot of calm energy and took the pack protector role by placing my body between her and the tram, paying her no attention at all but focusing on the tram, until it had passed. I'm hoping I'm sending the signals of "pack leader facing the danger and scaring it off" - but no way to know until the next tram comes by =)

Leia plays with Daddy and a friend of Mommys

But.. on this shorter distance, "come" seems to be a bit harder =)

Day 4 - Leia knows her name and "come"

Transcription of what is said (by me) in the video:

"Hi Leia, Hi girl! Hehehe, you're having fun, aren't you? "

"Yupp, there's candy in that pocket, you are quite right!"

"This is how fun one can have in the park!"

"Leia, come Leia! Come! Gooooood girl!"

Leia Day 2

She is doing VERY well, our little girl! Slept like the baby she is all through the first night in her crate. Exhausted from all that had happened, no doubt. Not a single accident the first evening or the first night.

She did her "Bizniz" (her words, not mine) right away when we went on a walk in the morning. Well, walk... She is NOT used to collar and leash so it was more of a "drag" and a "carry".

We started practicing basic commands, and kept it up through the day. Initially we are working the hardest on contact/affirmation (Take and hold eye contact upon hearing her name) and the "come" command. She is doing very well for a 10 week puppy! Her treats are simply pellets of puppy food, and she preforms well for them - although I suspect we will have to get something tastier for later.

In the afternoon my mother showed up, with her Jack Russel "Esther" and we went to the park together. Esther loves running after sticks, but Leia seemed more interested in running after Esther :)

The whole day went by without a SINGLE accident in the house! I am SO proud of our little girl, especially as we live in a fourth floor apartment and even have to cross a street to get to her bathroom area. In fact, I'm beginning to suspect Leia has better control of her bladder than we were led to believe. We take her out at all the suggested times (After waking, after eating, after playing hard) but she only seems to actually pee about 4 times per day.

As Leia, would say, STRANGE!

The CyberDog - Again

[From the Persian Pregnancy Blog, Written by Emma, the Human]

Ok, so I know I meant this blog to be only about our persian girls - but I just HAVE to share another picture of Leia.

Today we went to see her again - for the last time before bringing her home. She is now old enough to build a relationsship with (9 weeks) and she immediately fell in love with Daniel. I can live with that, since I immediately fell in love with him too =)

The CyberDog

[From the Persian Pregnancy Blog, Written by Emma, the Human]

In just one more week, Leia will come home. After more than a decade of breeding cats it's time to welcome to the first Cyberdog.

Meet Leia (or Xsanda Paint the Sky With Stars)

Leia at 8 weeks of age, on the table being trained to stand.

The two pictures above show Leia at 9 weeks. Goofing around in her breeders garden =)