Batman sleeping on a rainy day

This weekend was still rainy therefore batman has not been able to get much exercise. I also was looking after Rusko my friends puppy and Batman's best friend. So it was hard to organize my schedule to make sure Batman and Rusko were walked and fed though out the day. The first day I took care of Rusko there was a time in which it wasn't raining so I got Batman and Rusko together to play. Although, after playing they got muddy and smelt bad.

This week is expected to be sunny and beautiful so I will be making sure Batman is able to run around outside. Also, Batman will be spending this coming weekend with my sister and her great dane, Zeus. they have spent a good amount of time together so they should be fine for the weekend and Batman is going to love seeing Zeus.

This weekend I was away for all of Saturday and Sunday, therefore Batman started acting up and always trying to get attention and wanting to play. Times such as this when Batman has not been able to be off his leash and run around with other dogs he tends to get in a mood. Luckily it wasn't raining on monday and he was able to run around with his good friend, Rusko. Althoughit has been raining today and yesterday, and predicted to tomorrow as well. So I am starting to see Batman getting irritated that he has to be inside all day.

I was able to clam him down for a
picture after his bath

Yesterday I gave Batman a bath. It was long overdue and now he is soft and smell much better. Although, I feel bad giving baths to him he doesn't like them and puts his tail between his legs and seems very nervous. Therefore I try and give him quick baths and dry him off as fast as possible. After his bath and I let him out of the bathroom he goes crazy and runs around my entire place, doing laps in and out of every room.

Batman has been very good, he has gotten a lot of exercise and socialization with other dogs. Yesterday was beautiful and sunny out,  Batman was able to play with five other dogs, including his good friends Rusko and Milo. As well as, other dogs that live in the area, who are Bear, Sasha, and Marley. Batman had a great time and always love to see friends and meet new ones. He especially likes bear, who is a year and a half old black lab.


Now that the weather is heating up and the sun is out, Batman gets very tired easily. Batman's black coat absorbs a lot of sunlight and gets him very tired, which is nice because he gets even more tired and will sleep in longer the next morning. This morning i woke up at 12 and was surprised to wake up and see Batman asleep at the foot of my bed. Usually Batman wakes up around 8a.m and will cry and beg for me to wake up, as well as trying to take my blankets off of me.

I have come to realize that I have been slacking in teaching Batman new commands and tricks. I still practice the commands he knows when giving him food and treats, but he has gotten very good at them and now needs a challenge. Therefore, for the next week my goal is to tech Batman new commands/tricks, such as rollover and learning to fetch.

Batman has had a great week we went to visit his cousin Zeus again and they seemed a lot more comfortable with each other now. Zeus still gets annoyed if batman doesn't let him rest after a while of playing, but he is gentle when playing with Batman.

Nala

Milo and Batman chasing Nala

Almost everyday I try to organize a puppy playdate for batman so that he is able to socialize with other dogs, as well as getting  a great exercise in. Especially on Fridays and Saturdays when I stay out late at night I try to let him get a few hours to play outside. This past weekend Batman was able to play with his friends, Milo and Nala. They have a great time playing with the frisbee, tennis balls, and sticks.
Letting batman play and get tired before I go out at night not only is great for him but it also puts my mind to ease. When I do not have time to let Batman exercise a lot I feel bad and he is usually awake and ready to play when I get home late at night and I just want to sleep.

Milo

Batman

One thing I plan on doing his next puppy playdate is to work on his command, "Come". He is great at responding when alone in my room but when he is outside and with other dogs he has trouble hearing and responding to me. Therefore, his next playdate I will bring treats with me and every once in a while I will call for Batman and give him a treat (reward).

Batman got to spend the weekend with his cousin, Zeus. I was away for the weekend so my sister looked after him. He had a great time and was able to get to know Zeus more. Zeus is usually not a vocal dog, being a great dane he is very calm and lazy, but with Batman he is constantly rolling around and barking at him. Batman seemed like he had a great time and he wore out Zeus.

From what my sister has told me Batman behaved well and didn't go to the bathroom indoors. Although, a few hours before I picked him up while my sister was walking Zeus batman got into the pantry where Zeus' food is kept. When my sister walked in the door Batman was inside the food bin.

This week I have started to train batman to fetch a frisbee. I play Ultimate Frisbee for HPU and would like Batman to learn to catch and return a frisbee. In the past playing fetch has been a struggle for Batman but he seems to enjoy the frisbee. It is very entertaining watch him bring the frisbee back because it is slightly too big for him. So when he brings the disc back to me it covers his face so he can't see where he is going or he trips over it with his front paws.

enjoying a car ride
with my aunt

This past week for Batman has been an exciting week as well as a learning experience. This past week was spring break and luckily my aunt was able look after him. My Aunt is an animal conservationist and has been working with animals for over a couple of decades including wild animals, as well as trained/owned/rescued seven border collies in her life thus far. Therefore she is a very trusting person to leave batman with. My cousins and uncle would also help. My cousins already have a dog walking business with the people in their neighborhood, so Batman was easily able to be added to their schedule and get walks regularly, as well as times to train and people to keep him company. While with my aunt, batman was able to get a lot of socialization with other dogs of all ages. He was able to meet all the dogs in the neighborhood, as well as occasionally being brought to a friend's doggy daycare.

One of batman's new friends

All during spring break I was missing him and wishing he could be with me at the beach. But he had a great time with my family. I went to pick him up this past friday, my aunt and everyone were out of the house so I was able to let batman out of his crate and surprise him. When he saw me he went crazy and started jumping up and down is his crate and barking. When I let him out he made this mix of a cry and grunting sound, while circling around and through my legs.

Tired after daycare

Enjoying sunny NC

Now back at school Batman is back to my schedule and sadly won't get as much attention because I have classes and at my aunts there is always someone in the house. Although, the past few days have been beautiful and batman and I have been able to enjoy this past few days outside in this nice 70 degrees and sunny weather.

With midterms and other work piling up, I haven't been able to organize a puppy playdate for Batman. Although we have taken several walks and I have played fetch with him and let him run around in the backyards of HPU's North college town homes.

Yesterday was a beautiful day, it was in the 50s therefore, even though I had work I brought batman outside and let him play we tried to play fetch although batman has yet to understand how to play fetch with a tennis ball. He will chase after it then once he gets to the ball he sprints around it and comes back to me with out it, and his face looks as if he thinks he did the right thing. After attempting to play fetch with the tennis ball for a while Batman found a stick and I decided to see if he would play fetch with that, oddly enough Batman brought the stick back and dropped it at my feet.

While playing outside yesterday I also worked with Batman on his command, "Come". I've been wanting to work on this because whenever Batman is outside and/or playing with other pups he has a hard time listening.  Therefore, I brought treats with me and would let Batman roam around, then say the "Come!" and if we would I would give him a treat. After, awhile of being outside and practicing the command I saw major improvement. I will now continue to do this and then hopefully the next time Batman has a puppy playdate he will listen.

Caught batman with a drool bubble

At the end of this week HPU's Spring break will start and I will be traveling to my aunts to have her look after Batman for the week. This will be the longest I will be without Batman and it will be a test/learning opportunity for Batman. This next week without me will help him learn to respond to others as well as being comfortable with others without me being there.