Eight Months Old
Stony Creek Downtown Cowboy will be eight months old October 21st. It’s hard to believe how much our puppy has grown. His body is longer than Clementine’s (people ask if he’s part dachshund—he’s 100% Welsh Pembroke Corgi!) but he weighs less, most likely because he’s full of peanuts.
Now that he’s housebroken, we’ve opened more areas of the house for him. Allowing him into the dining room, office and front sunroom created more “play” space for him and Clementine. He races around and she tries to corral him. Not always in a good way. It’s as if they stalk each other.
She’s slow and strategic, yet she can put forth an occasional burst of speed that surprises him. She’s still the alpha and sometimes herds him into the corner, even though he occasionally talks back.
We have to keep an eye on Cowboy in these rooms, though, because he thinks it’s great fun to pull out threads from carpet. Unfortunately Clementine doesn’t help curb this bad behavior.
Clementine still rebuffs Cowboy’s attempts at physical play, but luckily he has a few friends in the neighborhood to romp around with: Gordy, the Lab next door, Lucky, a black Lab/terrier mix, and Fergus, a lively Scottish Terrier.
Progress, not perfection*
I take Cowboy to obedience classes at Canine Resolution. He enjoys it because it means treatos. “Obedience” is misleading— it is a constructive way to bond with your dog, and it gives them a job to do when you practice at home. Plus it’s good to get feedback, and to have someone to help with particular training issues.
He comes when called, and knows sit, down, stay, heel, shake, high-five, twirl, paws-up, roll over, place, and how to weave between my legs while I walk. He loves to play fetch, inside or outside. He is a joy to walk now, and I can handle both him and Clementine in the park together (without too much nonsense).
We are working on quiet. That command is a tough one for a corgi. *As my friend Amy Johnson says, what matters is “progress, not perfection.”
Then 
And now
A change in Clementine
We notice lately that Clementine has more bounce in her step. The vet told us that having a puppy around demands that she be a little faster on her feet, and now she’s much more active when typically she would be sleeping.
I think the same goes for Don and me, too. Cowboy keeps us hopping (and sometimes running).
Clementine loves our walks together in the city park through the woods and around Paint Creek. The park is only a 1/2 mile from our house, but I drive us there because a one mile total walk is about tops for her now that she’s over 10 years old. She wags her little tail in the back seat of my SUV when she sees where we are! It’s wonderful to see her get excited. We meet the loveliest people: elders, children and other doggos…so much to sniff and see.
Some of my favorite photos
If you’re interested in seeing more pictures of Cowboy and Clementine, visit us on Instagram @downtowncowboycorgi!
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Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
Learn more about her picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab.
Learn more about her poetry chapbook, Security