Bye Bye Ears!

Just a couple more pictures before Tonkas’ ears are lopped off… I couldn’t imagine what he would look like with “big boy” ears!

Presa Dad, your water looks tastier than mine!

Ah, a dog’s life…

This is the last photo we have showcasing Tonka’s natural ears…

Where my little brother? Well, I’ll sleep with Presa Mama and Presa Dad tonight, but I miss my Tonka…

Lola will take after her mom Avva de Presas del Caribe and keep her ears long and natural. There’s just something so sweet about them. We didn’t get her to show her, so why put her throught unnecessary pain? Tonka will be a strong candidate for showmanship, plus taking care of one recuperating puppy will be easier than two, right?

Tonka’s vet was very good and explained the procedure, step by step.  Presa Dad got to see him after the surgery. Poor guy was still groggy. He stayed overnight so that the vet tech could keep a close eye on him until the next day.

I knew we would miss him, but I didn’t realize just how much! Little Lola had never been alone at night, always having her littermates and mom to snuggle with. So, we inflated the air mattress and had a slumber party! Just Presa Mama, Presa Dad and Lola.

Now I understand why Tonka and Lola sleep all day: they are up all night long! Guard dogs… 🙂 I wouldn’t have slept very well anyway, thinking about Tonka and anxious to bring him back home.

Tonka and Lola are 14 weeks old in these photos.

Inseparable Siblings

Having a twin must be amazing. Can you imagine being with someone every day of your existence from conception? From birth to potty training? Eating and drinking from the same bowls? Sleeping and using each other as pillows? Playing and playfighting? Learning to walk on leash and how to sit, competing for treats?

Presa Dad’s laces were no match for their fast moves!

They even hang out under their minivan! 🙂

If only they knew how easy it would be to knock it down with thier big puppy paws… 🙂

Just enjoying the sunshine and soft grass.

Tonka and Lola must be having a wonderful time sharing everything together, learning, growing… So as we made Tonka’s appointment for ear cropping surgery in a week, I couldn’t help to think: Wow, they’re really going to miss each other while he recuperates…

Until then, let just keep having fun! After all, don’t we just love the way canines “live in the moment”? 

Tonka and Lola are 14 weeks old in these photos.

Coconut Toy

 Tonka and Lola love to explore and make toys out of anything they find! Coconuts are ubiquitous in Puerto Rico and once the puppies found one, they went nuts! 🙂 (Heh, heh, pun intended)

She *loves* napping in the crate. She’s such an angel while she sleeps…

So scrumptious! Now maybe he’ll leave my plants alone? 😀

Tonka and Lola in a rare moment of sharing nicely. 🙂

Tonka keeps on munching, but Lola loves the camera… What a diva! 😉

Coconuts make great toys because there’s so much to chew and tear off. The puppies love to hear the water inside slosh around as they shake them from side to side. Some dogs have been known to crack the inside shell and eat the meat too! Tonka and Lola aren’t interested in that. They just want to take it apart and move on… 🙂  

As with any toy, natural or manmade, puppies must be supervised for safety.

Tonka and Lola are 13 weeks in these photos.

Boat Ride!

Lago Dos Bocas is inland from the city of Arecibo on the island of Puerto Rico. One of my favorite pastimes is exploring. So, when given the chance to take a boat ride on the man-made lake we scooped up the puppies and boarded the free ferry. We even stopped for a relaxing bite to eat at El Fogon de Abuela.

Tonka and Lola wanted to run for their lives when the engine roared to a start!

The noise and movement made Lola want to stay safe – right in Presa Mama’s lap!

Tonka just wouldn’t move from the safety and security of Presa Dad’s arms.

Just one of many breathtaking places on the island.

It’s a man-made lake, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful!

Beautiful and peaceful, here you can see the dam that created the lake.

Tonka and Lola loved sniffing around the grassy area by the dock, but were not too sure about that floaty thingy that makes strange noises with their nails at every step. It moved up and down and sideways, too! Walking quickly from sturdy ground, onto the floating dock, and to the boat the puppies kept their noses low and their eyes wide open.

Once on board, they sniffed around like crazy. What in the world is this thing? It looks like a floor and chairs, but it moves so much…and then the engine started. Varooommmmm! Tonka and Lola made a beeline for Presa Dad. Ahhhhh!

Not wanting them to miss anything, we each held one on our laps so they could see the sights: graceful birds, serene water, fluffy clouds… Oh, but they did not budge from our laps! 🙂

Once on solid ground again, we enjoyed a tasty lunch in the open, fresh air. Luckily for us, the weekend rush hadn’t started yet, so there was plenty of room. Tonka and Lola were so well behaved! We said, “Tonka Lola down and relax. Mama Daddy eat.” I swear they speak Human. Save for the few times the resident chicken came by to cluck at them, Tonka and Lola laid down at our feet until we finished. Now, that’s the value of training and repetition!

Of course, dogs must always be praised for good behavior and walked to explore new places. So we walked and played in the yard (the restaurant is someone’s home!) and chased after birds and frolicked among the giant fallen leaves. Ah, puppyhood! 

Tonka and Lola are 12 weeks old in these photos.

Let’s go to the BEACH!

One of our favorite places is the beach. So naturally, we had to take the puppies as soon as we had the chance!

Such a simple contraption produces so much fun!

Tonka and Lola just can’t let it go!

Different rope, same good fun!

Tonka Truck blends in so well… Keep trying Lolinski!

Lola wants some of Daddy’s “water”! 🙂

They sit so well anywhere we go!

It’s so important to take puppies out on a variety of field trips. This helps socialize them, experience new things and build confidence. The more experiences they have in different settings around different people, vehicles, nature and other animals, the more balanced and tolerant they will be. Field trips also offer great opportunities to reinforce good behaviors and practice training exercises.

Tonka and Lola’s first time to the beach was a blast! We took them toIsla Verde, Puerto Rico where doggies of all kinds are welcome. We walked them on leash up and down the shore. The waves were so loud that the puppies were a bit apprehensive about getting too close to the water. We did get our feet wet, though, when one sneaky wave swooped up behind us! “Ah, you see? It’s not so bad, right?” Yeah right! Tonka wasn’t having it, and walked as far from the water as the leash would allow him. But Lola just kept on frolicking, that happy-go-lucky girl! 

A tired puppy is a happy puppy. So after our walk we let them play with a rope, explore the shrubs and grassy area, say hello to other dogs and interact with all the people who came by to check them out. (They’re rock stars!)

As you can see in the photos above, they were tuckered out! No, Lola did not drink anything from the green bottle – we always have delicious water on hand for them!

Tonka and Lola are 12 weeks old in these photos.

Growing and Learning to Sit

The pups are finally fully vaccinated and the weather is cooperating (kind of), so we went to the PARK! They learned that word *fast*! 🙂

Our first trip to the park was exhausting. Time for a break!

They love to drink running water – especially from Daddy’s hands!

They are so good when they know that food is involved!

When I said “sit”, Tonka chose the best seat in the house! 😀

Ooof! Don’t push them too far! Look at those scary baby teeth! 🙂

Tonka has the same eyes as his dad, Indio. Aw…

Tonka and Lola learned a very useful command at a very young age: SIT. Since puppies are sponges soaking up all the stimuli and information around them, it was quite easy teaching them to sit. Treats help a lot, of course! Here’s how we did it:

1. One puppy at a time, hold a treat close to the puppy’s nose so he can smell it. Let him taste it too, if you’re sure you won’t let go too soon.

2. In a loud, clear voice say the puppy’s name and the command: “Tonka, sit.” At the same time, hold the treat above his head and move it back. Puppy will try to reach the treat looking up and back and will naturally land on his hind quarters into the “sit” position. You may use your free hand to guide the puppy’s bum down.

3. Praise a lot: “Good sit, Tonka! Good boy SIT!”

4. Give puppy the treat.

5. Repeat over and over and over.

Practice makes perfect, so make sure to dedicate time for this activity a few minutes every day. It helps to “work” (practice) when the puppy is hungry, so right before mealtime is great. Although, Tonka and Lola are always ready for a treat, no matter what time of day it is! 🙂

Tonka and Lola started to “work” as soon as they came home at 8 weeks old.

So by 11 weeks of age, as seen in these photos, they are pros!

Friendly Sibling Rivalry

Sibling rivalry is universal. No matter what your species or ethnicity or culture, fact is…if you have a sibling then you have a rivalry. Tonka and Lola are no different! They compete for everything!

– Who can sit the fastest to get their treat first…

– Who gets to greet Mama and Daddy first as we come through the door…

– Who gets to sit on the bench (King of the Hill!)…

– Who can run to the end of the minigarden to chew on the yummy plants first…

– Who gets the most praise for going “pee-pee and poo-poo on the paper”!

You name it, they compete for it.

She loves to jump up onto the ledge and run for her life from Tonka!

If she can’t see us, we can’t see her! 🙂 Right?

Look at that pose…

Remember watching tiger cubs playfight on the Discovery Channel? That’s Tonka and Lola!

I always lose, compelled to smother him with kisses!

Many times, jealousy takes over: Tonka and Lola end up chewing on each others’ ears and legs… or pouncing “Nacho Libre” style! Then a boisterous bout of playfighting ensues. What a great way to settle disagreements and get tired enough to nap! Playfight!!!

Of course, at the end of the day…

…they lick each others’ wounds…

…make tiger cub noises as they lovingly gnaw each others’ faces…

…and fall fast asleep.

In these photos, Tonka and Lola are 10 weeks old.

Baby Presa Life

It must be so much fun to have a twin to play with… Think of all the trouble you can get into, especially with such cool parents 😉 !  Anything can be a toy… Tie up an old bra for tug-of-war… Toss an empty plastic bottle on the floor for exciting noises…Play hide-and-seek under chairs and tables… Tell secrets in your very own twin language… And use each other as pillows…

Time for some tug-o-war!

Tonka loves to be chased with his toy!

Lola was so cute trying to hide under daddy!

It must be so fun to have a twin!

They love to use each other as a pillow!

Ah, the life of a baby presa… 🙂

In these photos, Tonka and Lola are 9 weeks old.

Too Much Fun

Being a Presa Mama is just too much fun! I never thought I’d fall so much in love with these little furballs…

Tonka and Lola have loads of personality and they’re so smart. I know, I know, everybody thinks their kids/dogs are the smartest, but mine really are amazing! 🙂 How many 2-month-olds do you know of are potty trained / housebroken?  How many can sit on command (with treats in plain view, heh-heh)? How many can play “lookout” while her brother sneaks under the kitchen cupboards?! 🙂

Good Lola Poopoo on the Paper!

Good Sit for Mama!

Hurry Before Mama Catches Us!

Something tells me I’m in for a lot more fun!

There’s Always Room For One More

We made multiple trips to see the puppies at Cano’s place until they were of age to go to their new homes. One by one, the puppies were leaving, but the two we had our eyes on stayed behind. Cano wanted to make sure that we got the pick of the litter! Why are we so lucky? I guess he sensed our passion for four-legged furry friends and knew that whoever went home with us would have a most wonderful life.

The puppies got bigger and bigger with every visit! My, how fast they grow! And how beautiful they are! Big, square heads, roly-poly, heavy paws and great personalities!

Tonka’s Pose @ 8 Weeks Old

Tonka’s Side Pose @ 8 Weeks Old

Lola’s Pose @ 8 Weeks Old

Lola’s Side Pose @ 8 Weeks Old

Sharing Delicious Water

Play! Play! Play!

Big sigh… As my Nana always says, “Donde come uno, comen dos.” There’s always room for one more… Having fallen in love with both puppies, and even secretly having named them both, we looked at each other and knew: we’re taking both of them home! Cano wasn’t surprised. He saw it coming. 🙂  After so many visits and questions and taking notes he know we wouldn’t be able to choose just one. Besides, isn’t it better to have a sibling playmate than to grow up alone? Sure, it’s double the work, but it’s also double the fun! From the start, these two were inseparable! Drinking, eating, playing, sleeping together…

We spent the next two days “puppy-proofing” the house and shopping for essentials (bowls, beds, food) and gathered plenty of newspapers. We just couldn’t wait to take our Tonka and Lola home!

So, here’s to adventure!