One more week!

Ok, so Tonka is very strong, smart and stubborn. He is, after all, a Presa Canario. After much work and patience on our part to keep his ear bandages in place, at least they lasted a week. So, back to the vet we went for the last time. The doctor was so patient and happy to see Tonka again. Not because he had to redo the bandages, but because he has a soft spot in his heart for Tonka. 🙂

We went for a short walk to explore the rugged terrain near Barceloneta after seeing the vet.

Ah… fresh ocean air… seamist splashing on your face… the sun shining down… relax…

It looks like they’re kissing but they’re actullay tugging on a rope!

The rope is tied to the window bars… I hope they don’t pull them off!

Of course, we stopped by the beach near Barceloneta to explore a new area. We love adventure! There’s this spot that looks like it came right out of a Sci-Fi movie – a crater like formation right on the water! We took a slow, easy walk on the rugged terrain and took in the fresh, salty ocean breeze and wonderful sunshine.

Then we went home for some yummy dinner and playtime!

Another dog day in paradise!

Tonka and Lola are 18 weeks old in these photos.

Recovery Time

Tonka’s recovery was not easy… The poor little guy went through a lot of pain, Lola was lonely and nobody got any sleep. His ears drooped a bit during the second week of recovery. The vet said it was normal and placed the bandages on again. This time a bit more securely and they lasted a little longer. The hard-headed guy kept trying to find ways to take them off…

Presa Mama has too much fun on the iPhone waiting for Tonka’s vet appointment to wrap up.

Tonka’s surgery looks nice…at a price…

No matter where we go, Tonka and Lola are happy to hang out!

Moral of the story: provide plenty of toys!!!

At 17 weeks old, they still fit on the bench together… kind of!

Recuperating from surgery, Tonka enjoys the view from the old fortress.

Once Tonka felt well enough we headed out to Old San Juan to wander around Fort El Morro and rest in the shade of Plaza Colon. It’s always so nice to spend time with my Presa Babies! 🙂

Tonka and Lola are 17 weeks old in these photos.

Tonka’s New Friends

Tonka and Lola took turns going to the park with PresaMama one afternoon. The idea was to bond with a leisurely stroll but….. the energetic kids at the playground had a different idea:

PLAY! PLAY! PLAY!

Three-year-old Neni liked to pet and sit next to her huge, gentle friend.

At only 10 years old, *** asked a lot of good questions about Tonka, including how to take care of him and how he compares to other breeds.

This is Tonka’s fave place to jump! Only twice though – I didn’t want to deal with any injuries!

Eight-year-old *** became and expert dog walker by the time we left the park!

Tonka greets his friend on the way to the park almost every day.

 

I was so impressed with how gentle they were with the little ones. It’s as if they know the difference between adults and kids! We played chase all around the park and through the basketball court… climbed on the jungle gym… Tonka even jumped off a couple of times! He only went down the slide once, though. Not his cup of tea, I imagine.

Two of the kids even learned how to properly walk Tonka on leash. Wow, they learn so fast – both doggie and kiddo!

The Perro de Presa Canario is truly a noble breed.

Tonka is 16 weeks old in these photos.

Reunited and It Feels So Good!

Time to take those bandages off and BE FREEEEEEEE!!!!!

Tonka and Lola were finally reunited and inseparable!

They truly did everything together this week!

This is how we climb piles of debris in the park together.

This is how we “down and relax” after our walk.

This is how we sit before coming inside. 🙂

This is how we eat together.

This is how we play on the beach.

This is how we explore all those smells on the beach.

This is how we nap in our crate after we explore and play on the beach.

Tonka and Lola are 16 weeks old in these photos.

Big Boy Tonka is Home!

The surgery went well and we were happy to have Tonka back home!

Bedtime is so lonely without her little brother…

Lola chews on the coveted prize, but there’s no Tonka to share it with… 😦

Poor little guy just wanted to be around us all the time… Even if just at our feet…

Tonka and Lola finally see each other! … But only through the gate… 😦

Tonka anxiously chews on his toy as he recuperates.

Presa Mama and Lola walked alone everyday to enjoy the park.

However, Tonka and Lola had to be kept apart for fear that she’d hurt his tender, healing ears. Not on purpose, of course. They just play so brutally harsh we didn’t want to take any chances. She might easily chew on the bandages, bite his ears, knock him over, etc. etc.

Just in case there’s ever any doubt as to whether or not animals have feelings: Tonka and Lola were miserable, lonely, forlorn, grumpy and irritable while they were apart. They lost their appetite a bit, too, so we had to be vigilant that they ate. 

The hardest part was watching Tonka suffer and being completely helpless to ease his pain and anxiety. We gave him all the meds the vet prescribed, including painkillers. Sleepless nights ensued for eveybody, furry-four-footers and humans. Tonka and Presa Dad stayed in the back room with quiet, mini fridge, TV and air conditioning. Presa Mama and Lola had the rest of the house with only each other for entertainment – and the park!

It was an incredible bonding experience for both pairs: Tonka and Presa Dad, Lola and Presa Mama. However, it’s not one we’d like to repeat!

Tonka and Lola are 15 weeks old in these photos.

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.

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!