Rosie, Mocha, Benji, and Junie B.

Another delayed post...this time because I spent the weekend sick.  :-(  Just a bad cold I think.  I woke up today feeling like nothing was wrong!  I'm a little annoyed by that, because I had things I really wanted to get done this weekend.  Anyway...on to the dogs!  They were extremely accommodating this weekend with me.  There were really minimal accidents in the house, and I will say that they were all my fault because I did hear them try to tell me they needed to go out, I just wasn't feeling up to open the door.  The rest of the time, they were all very good.  I spent most of the time napping on the couch (so that they could run around instead of being cooped up in their crates while I napped in bed), and I woke up several times with 5 dogs laying on top of me.  It was so cute, and they kept me warm!  I wish I could have taken a picture, unfortunately I couldn't get a good angle while I was laying under them.

All the pups being good while mommy is sick.

As far as housebreaking, I have updated Rosie, Benji, and Mocha's definitive guides to say they are.  I'm just a smidge away from saying Junie is too. 

Rosie was such a motherly figure for me while I was sick.  I think I've said in the past how if the other dogs are coughing, she will run over to check on them.  She did that once when I coughed too.  Well this weekend I was laying on the couch being mopey, and she jumped up next to me and put her paw on my shoulder!  It was the sweetest gesture.  Other than that, Rosie really is progressing.  I had visitors on Friday, and she wasn't shy at all!  And like I said above, she is housetrained.  I've known for awhile that she is, but every time a new dog came in, she'd regress a bit.  Well, she was much better when Junie came around, so I'm more than comfortable saying she's housebroken now.  She's also getting really good at coming back inside when called.  Well, called might not be the right word...she comes in when I whistle for her.  And as the leader of the house, if she comes, they all come.  It's really wonderful!

Mr. Mocha is improving all around too.  Remember when I first got him, how he wouldn't let me touch his face?  Well, we've almost completely stopped that behavior.  He now lets me pet his face, and even lets me clean out his eye boogers (as long as I do it quickly and don't pull his hair).  He also tolerates short time spans of hair cutting, which is good, because he's in need of a face trim again.  Mocha is also housebroken.  It took a long time with him, I think just because he's a small dog and in my experience they take the longest.  Anyway, he does pace by the door when he wants to go out. 

Mocha got a tennis ball!

Benji is just a little sweetheart.  He tries and tries to play with everybody, and he usually succeeds!  He even got Hardy to play the other day, and Hardy doesn't play with anybody!  I've also marked Benji as housebroken, which I should have done a while ago, but just didn't get around to it.  Like Mocha, he paces by the door when he wants to go out.

Junie B. is still the perfect dog.  She has an adult attitude with a cute puppy face.  She is such a good listener, and will always come when called.  She has recognized the door that will get her outside, but only goes to it about 75% of the time when she wants to go out.  So I'm thinking another week of practice and she'll have it.  She's another pacer.  I don't know why all these pups don't want to use my beautiful bells!  Oh well, whatever works for them will have to work for me.  Junie is opening up more with the other dogs.  She's starting to initiate play with Benji and Rosie.  They all play at pretty much the same energy level, so it works out.  I have noticed that she tends to growl when she plays.  But it's never in a way that makes me concerned that she's getting aggressive.  It's always a soft, playful growl.  And she's also getting more comfortable with me, taking naps in my lap on occasion.

Junie B. cuddling with mommy.