Archer has reached that inexorable time of Ridgeback growth when his body cues up to prepare for puberty. His sister Rio in Calgary is already in heat. This stage in Ridgeback growth means everyone in the litter will suddenly, and inexplicably, forget everything they have ever learned. Not only that, but they will also think that they know everything. Teenagers are a singular delight.
So Archer has become clingy, irritating and deaf. He wants to be close to me all the time, ingratiates himself at the most inopportune times(like squeezing himself in the not space between me and Leeloo) and whining for no apparent reason(like right now). He seems to think that it's dinner time a full hour before it's due and wanders around looking for ways to amuse himself if Leeloo is not prepared to entertain him.
He was shedding up a storm blowing out the last of his baby coat and yesterday got a bath to remove the worst of it. I cannot believe how much hair came out of him. The tub got clogged, I was covered in hair, and he seemed to think I was punishing him so he sulked for the rest of the day. >eyeroll<
Today I spent some time dividing the expen into two spaces now so that Archer has his own space. The three of them in the same pen was getting a bit crowded and now that Archer is leaving puppyhood and getting larger I don't want an unfortunate incident while I'm out. He seems to instigate little arguments (what? A teenager start arguments ...? NO!) and unsupervised these little tiffs can escalate. Since Raimi and Leeloo have always been best buds Archer gets his own pen.
So as we enter puberty I must exercise patience ... lots and lots of patience. And remember, puberty does pass eventually - you just have to ride it out and try not to strangle them.
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