Diana M. Davis Watercolor

Diana M. Davis Watercolor

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Need Some Advise on Puppy and What I'm painting today!


HI, I've been painting this watercolor of corn for a commission. A pour first then the drawing.. It will be a pig too. I finished the little hummingbird and hope to have that framed for my class this weekend. The class is on painting hummingbirds. We now have 2 males and a female Ruby Throated Hummingbirds visiting. Sadie ,the puppy,saw them last night for the first time. I don't think she was impressed like I was.

 Now Sadie is napping.:) Seems like it's the only time I have to get any painting done. Ha ha..but she is so much fun.except.. Anybody have any tips on how to get her to stop biting?? She's a sweetheart but thinks I"m her ma or sister and when she plays she chomps down on my hand.. yowl. As you know I'm a softy about hard discipline,so what am I to do... please-- advise would be great!

 love to you,Diana 
We've been having rain.. and it's chilly too.. I'm hoping for sunshine soon!

20 comments:

  1. Lovely hummingbird--and I like the dogwood blossoms too!
    (Sorry: no advice to give on the chomping!)

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    1. Thanks so much Laura, love your work, so very glad you are back..love,Diana

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  2. Your hummer looks great, Diana! As for the biting, try tapping her on the bridge of her nose lightly. This sounds like something that you have to stop now. :(

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    1. Thank you Kathlyn, I 'm trying.. Thanks so much about the hummer. I love them. take care,love to you,Diana

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  3. Chew toys, set limits, and read everything you can find. What works for some puppies, might work for others. Good luck puppy chew proofing

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    1. Thanks Maywyn, you are right. and keep painting too.. ha ha. I"m spending so much time outside now!! love to you,Diana

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  4. Diana,
    I used something called Grannick's Bitter Apple spray with Poppy. Whenever I played with her, I sprayed it on my hands to prevent her from biting. I sprayed it on pant legs, shoes, chair legs and pillows, even lightly on books and electrical cords to keep Pops from chewing. It worked great on her. I still use it sometimes now she's 1 year on shoes. Just remember to wash your hands because the stuff tastes terrible. Hope this helps.

    Nanina

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    1. Nanina, thank you, It makes me feel better to hear Poppy had some chewing issues too. She is so cute!!! I love your blog,and her Blog. Thank you I will get some if the water doesn't work. love to you,Diana

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  5. Oh you've reminded me that it is almost time to put out the hummingbird feeder! Must get food.

    I gently clamp the mouth closed and say, "No bite!" Consistency is key though. Can't say that it is working well with the youngest of our dogs. I think it is the terrier in him. Not lack of consistency. Yes, that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

    Anyway, it has always worked for us in the past.

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    1. HI Sherry, You are right I have to work on being consistent.. I'm trying. Yes we have lots of hummingbirds now! love to you,Diana

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  6. Diana, I don't know if you've ever watched the Dog Whisperer, Ceaser Milan.
    He is the best. You must let Sadie know who is the Alpha (you) not her. Or she will have the upper hand.
    The biting? When she does that , put YOUR fingers in the shape of a claw, and touch her on the neck area where another dog would grab her. You won't hurt her. That will let her know that you are in charge.. Every time she bites you ,, do that same thing. This is what her mother would do... . Let me know how it goes.
    BJ

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    1. hi BJ, I'm trying that too. We are doing better I think,, well she did cut my hand again today. I look like I have leprosy. ha ha.. it'll get better.. she adorable really and such a soft sweet girl when she wants to be. love to you,Diana

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  7. Dear Diane - the hummingbird painting is the best and the corn one sounds like it will be so beautiful as well. I love the colors you choose to pour - I have tried this but not with always good success. You do it so well. As for Sadie - there is bitter apple spray you can get and put on your hands (I have never tried it but my friend has and it really works). My trainer told me to put my thumb nail up in the roof of their mouth but that never has worked for me. Thank goodness Sarge gets the chewing on - he is able to correct her (maybe that is what you need another puppy!! LOL) Good luck.

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    1. Thank you Debbie, I haven't gotten any of the spray yet but her mother's owner told me to try a water spray in her face so today John's going to get that. I know your puppy is adorable.. no we can only have one. ha ha. love to you,Diana

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  8. Oh Diana I COMPLETELY empathize! We are going through the exact same thing with Sherlock at the moment! He 'play' bites but it really hurts - so I did some research on the internet and it's completely normal for this age. (I found a really great site by the way - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/)
    Anyway, I tried yelping, but that just seems to make him more excited, then I taught him the word 'drop' in exchange for a treat, but then he quickly worked out that if he gets a treat when I tell him to drop, he first of all needs to have something in his mouth, so it made the situation worse. So, now, following the advise of the site I mentioned, if he bites hard, I say 'ouch' firmly, I fold my arms, turn around and walk away. If necessary when he gets too excited, I put him in his sleeping pen for some time out. I'm hoping he will soon associate hard biting with the loss of a playmate.
    Last night when he was really calm having just woken up, I put my clothes and hands near his mouth until he began to lick them. I kept praising him really gently for not biting and I kept giving him treats. As soon as he used his teeth I put the treats away and ignored him. I did the same again a little later and it really seems to be working because he didn't bite at all. He very quickly realized that by not biting, he gets a treat, rather than by dropping.
    Now I just need to work on the clothes. I daren't wear anything that hangs down, lol!
    Oh - and we also found some milk based rawhide chews which last for ages and he LOVES! Anyway - aside from the biting he is adorable :0)
    Oh and by the way, your painting is gorgeous! :0)

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    1. thank you Sandra, ha ha.. I tried the treat with "Come" and she decided if I didn't have it in my hand she didn't have to come.. ha ha.. I've tried the ouch and the turning away that seems to help the most.. thank you Yes she was more gentle but if she gets excited.. all rules are out the window.. They are so adorable aren't they! Oh me too about the closes.. She loves the sweet potato kind and so did Maverick.. thanks so much. love to you Sandra, Diana

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  9. Hi, Diana,
    I enjoyed the art show and seeing you on Saturday so much! Your paintings are all so beautiful - I love your watermelon painting, and also this one of the hummingbird. You are very blessed with a special talent! You also have a talent for raising puppies - Daisy turned out great and so will Sadie. We always did the tap on the nose and a firm "no", but reading the comments, I remembered that we also did the gentle clamping of his mouth and a "no bite". Lots of good advice here - I liked what Barbra Joan said about being the alpha dog and doing what a mother dog would do - makes sense. Good luck! Looking forward to seeing you and Sadie tomorrow!

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    1. Thank you Beth, I'm not so sure about the training dogs but I love her. I've tried those,it seems if I ignore her she doesn't like it, I'm trying them all. thank you so much for yesterday. We had so much fun. love to you,Diana

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  10. PS... I gave Sherlock an ice-cube to chew on earlier. He LOVED it! He was skidding it around the floor and chasing it like a cat - then he chewed on it for a bit before chasing it again. It was so amusing! You should try it with Sadie :0)

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    1. I tried that!! She loved it! Thank you Sandra!love,Diana

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