(Click on photos to enlarge them; click on the upper right X to return.)
People often ask me if Icelandics like water. Yes and yes. They are, of course, more likely to like it if introduced to it early in their puppy-hood. In Iceland they regularly cross and swim in glacial run-off streams, creeks, rivers, etc. where the water is very cold. Miss Timber is doing the dog paddle as if it came naturally - snicker, snicker.
It's probably more than just a coincidence that many of the photos people send me show our dogs in the 'wilds' and in or near water.
Please remember that as adult-hood approaches a surge of adult hormones may turn our puppies into blithering idiots, just like human teens, who seem to forget everything they ever knew. That, too, will pass and they will emerge on the other side more sensible and tractable. The passage may take several weeks. In humans it lasts from about the age of twelve until the late twenties! Ha. We can be grateful that puppies navigate that difficult period in a much, much shorter time. Very grateful!
At this age their adult teeth have probably already started to erupt, probably not the best word to describe that process as the new adult teeth just gradually push the old puppy teeth out and do not erupt like the Iceland volcano Eyjafjallajokul. [A-yah-fiat (like the car)-la-yo (as in Yo, what's up!)-koot (like the bird, Coot)-l, don't forget the "l".]
Now try it: - A-yah-fiat-la-yo-koot-l You sound like a native Icelander!
(To learn how to pronounce that name, cut and paste this site: -
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/pronounce-eyjafjallajokull-10392613 )
Usually most teeth are swallowed by puppies soon after they are pushed out. Maybe that's nature's way of re-using the calcium. You may find spots of blood on the floor, on toys, on fur, etc. Some chewies, or bones, or kongs seem to make the transition from puppy to adult teeth easier. (Putting those chew-things in the refrigerator or the freezer before giving them to the puppy may possibly reduce the pain.) I would never leave those chew-things out when I'm not home - but maybe now I'm overly cautious. My dogs have had pieces of chewers get stuck in their throats. That has happened only very rarely. (I've inserted my fingers as far as I could down their throats and pushed the piece further. I don't know if that's a good idea but it's what I've done. Desperate measures - - - - - .)
That's maybe another reason to teach your puppy early on that you own it. You pay all the bills. You ought to be able to touch any part of your puppy without having a negative reaction from the pup. Relax your puppy. Lay it on its side and soothe it with calming words (easy, relax, it's OK, etc.) and a calm voice. Examine everything on its body: - teeth, tongue, lips, ears, eyes, feet, toe-pads, nails, webbing between the toes, tail, anus, stomach, male or female parts, top of head, etc. If there is a part that your pup does not want you to touch, give it treats while you are touching that part to desensitize it to your handling. Your vet will thank you. Your groomer will thank you. You should be able to extract a rusty nail or a piece of glass from its mouth or from between its toes if necessary.
Puppies often loose their teeth while playing with other puppies or adults. Please don't stress over it. That's a normal part of growing up. We sometimes find puppy teeth on the floor after puppy class is over.
Dogs and puppies seem to accept most pain as part of life. About six months ago my dogs raced around a corner altogether as a herd in my house and the next thing I knew ten year old Kata had an upper left canine tooth sticking out at a right angle pushing her upper lip aside. One of her pack-mates must have pushed her into the wall - was my best guess as to how that happened. It didn't seem to bother her but it sure upset me. "Old Snaggle Tooth", which sounded very Viking, I called her for a couple of days. She would NOT let me touch the tooth so I knew it hurt. Of course that happened on a Saturday night.
She was perfectly fine until Monday morning when Gasow, my vet clinic, officially opened. Her tooth was removed under anesthesia and she is fine - a toothless old great-great-granny now. (Well a one-toothless old granny.)
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