They're no less mischievous than they always have been. Just as impulsive, compulsively drawn to driving us up the wall, and invariably rescuing the situation by their visages of absolute innocence, wondering, as their large eyes view us gravely and with puzzlement, what all the fuss is about.

On the positive side of the ledger, however, they're infinitely more responsive to what we say, so that if they are doing something we find disturbing, alarming, wreaking havoc somewhere and we tell them firmly to cease and desist, they do. At the very least, they pause, trying to gauge what our reaction to whatever they're doing is all about.

There are some things they do so often and are rebuked for, that they understand quite well that they shouldn't be doing whatever it is -- like, for example, grabbing a ballpoint pen and deconstructing it with gusto -- but they indulge nevertheless, for they are, after all, puppies. Puppies driven to disport themselves, amuse themselves, discover their place in the world that so intrigues them.

We're not averse any longer to welcoming them to sniff about with their usual curiosity in the front of the house, fearful they may dash onto the road if anything happens to arouse their curiosity. When we speak to them, they respond; a 'wait' command, or 'stay here' does the trick. As does 'this way' when they stray beyond our property, bringing them back to where they belong.

And when we decide they've had enough of the freedom they have earned around the front garden, we will invite them back to the backyard by saying 'let's go' or 'let's go to the backyard' and they immediately dog our footsteps back around to the back of the house. When we invite them to 'go back into the house', they're agreeable and move with alacrity to achieve that, as well.

Their habit of finding vegetation irresistible persists, however. Doesn't matter where we are with them, in the backyard or out on the trail somewhere there will be growing things that excite the herbivore in them and they swiftly pick up fallen flora bits to devour from the trail. If it's something like a twig we remove it, if it's say, a haw fallen from a hawthorn, we allow them to indulge usually. Jilly in particular has grown adept at digging up violets, enjoying their roots in particular.

If Jilly finds a treat Jackie is certain to join her and a friendly tug ensues, each challenging the other for ownership, just as when each is given a rawhide strip in the house so that one of the strips is dropped and the strip remaining in one of their mouths becomes the desired one, with a competition ensuing as to who will take final possession of it. Of the two Jillie is the more avaricious and aware whenever opportunity arises, with Jackie coming in a close second.

Some of these traits, we hope, will diminish with time, as they mature. My slippers are of particular interest to them and they would make quick work of destroying them given the opportunity. The usual puppy stuff on steroids since there are two of those cunning little monsters conspiring collegially to pull off their daily, moment-by-moment conquests.