Liam Graduates from Puppy 2 class - 8 mth old update

I just received an update on Liam.  Erin has shared so much good information about training, the Schnoodle coat and grooming.  Here is the note!

        "Just wanted to send you a note, the litter is now 8 months old!  Crazy!   Liam graduated from his puppy 2 class today.  He's so smart:)   We are going to have him do the Good Citizen training, but he has to be 1 year old to take the test, so we have to hold off for now.

Oh my goodness!  Liam sure appears to be enjoying his puppy class!  How adorable!

In terms of size, Liam has grown in every area:

Liam's Measurement                     5 months              8 months
Weight (lbs)                                                 14.8                           17.4
Chest                                                          17.25                         18
Shoulder to beginning of tail                           16.5                          17    
Floor to the top of shoulder                            15                             16
Floor to the top of head                                 18                             19
waist                                                           15                             15
leg space                                                     8.5 b                           9
neck                                                            10.75                        13 

         
Liam has not gotten a haircut since the summer and his hair is definitely fluffy but coarse.  Like Pukah's mom said, his coat has definitely changed over time, being light and thin when he was tiny, to thicker, darker and more curly now.  His hair is definitely straighter than his brothers and now we're noticing it's growing in lighter at the roots.  So who know what his 'adult color' will be! 

             I do all Liam's grooming which is not perfect, but does the job and will definitely save us money in the long run.  I bought the Andis clippers in your shop which comes with a 10 blade (very close cut) and then I bought a 4FC blade for his body, but that was still a pretty close cut (like a Schnauzer).  I'm going to purchase the 3/4" blade because I like the longer look on Liam, and his hair doesn't grow that fast.  It's a large initial cost, but at $50 per cut arround Boston, the clippers pay for themselves after a few cuts.

Liam LOVES to run.  So I try to take him to places where he can safely do so off leash.  We walk 1-3 miles a day, 2-3 days a week he goes to doggie daycare, and on Saturdays we go to puppy playtime and training.  He has so much energy, I wish he would give me some!   Initially, Liam really liked the snow, but I think even he is starting to tire of it:) 

The only issue that we continue to work on is his barking.  From the time he was little, he has been a vocal puppy.  He is a very good guard dog and protective of me in particular.  We have tried the citronella bark collar which works great (when he wears it) and then additional commands in training.  It is definitely a work in progress.

Liam is such a great dog, happy, smart, loving, affectionate and obedient.  Even my mom, who is not a 'dog person' has a soft spot in her heart for Liam."

---Erin

Thanks for your informative note, Erin!   I am so glad you have been able to give Liam so much exercise and training.  I am also glad to hear you are taking care of the grooming.  It's so much more convenient!  

You have given me a good idea to do a series of posts on all the different grooming tools that I find useful. 

Thanks again for the fun photos and news!  I am sure I can speak for everyone who reads the blog....We love it!