When my daughter returned to college two weeks ago, I told her that I would need to be reminded at some point how cute I thought the pups were when we first decided to keep them. That time has arrived.
Yes, they are still cute, but reality has sunk in. Puppies are a LOT of work, especially when you have more than one AND when you’re acclimating them to life with two older dogs.
They are nowhere near housebroken yet, but things have definitely improved. We only have a few accidents a day now and most occur near the outside door. Then again, they have me trained to whisk them out every time they wake from a nap or finish a meal.
Esther still likes them, but I have to watch her carefully when the pups rough house. Also, she is very greedy with her toys and doesn’t like to share. (Poor Betty learned that years ago) Betty now gets along with them quite well. She still prefers to be in another part of the house when they’re inside, but has no problems going out with them and even playing with them some.
I was warned by several people that often puppies from the same litter, especially females, won’t get along. Betty & Veronica got along fine (though they were only five months old when Veronica died) as did Esther & JJ. Still….I’ve been on the alert for any signs of trouble. Puppies naturally play-fight. It’s how they learn to establish dominance between themselves. Alice and Mabel have been no exception. They love to wrestle, nip, and chase each other. Maybe I read too much into it, but there were a couple of times it seemed a little too serious and I’ve pulled Mabel off of Alice. A friend who has years of experience with dogs told me I needed to monitor this closely, especially when Esther and Betty are around. (I won’t go into the reasoning behind that!) She also told me it was time to put them in separate crates at bedtime. I knew that, but just hadn’t had the opportunity to buy another one. That problem was remedied yesterday.
The pups have been very good about going to bed at night and sleeping well. They’ve already learned they get a treat when they kennel up. I’ve had to switch back to an “early to bed and early to rise” routine since they tend to wake with the sun and secretly hoped putting them in separate boxes would eliminate their early morning playtime that obligated me to start my day so early. Of course I also knew in the back of my mind that separate boxes might instead cause problems at first. Last night was the first with the new arrangement. Alice cried and cried when I put them to bed, then rose long before dawn with more crying. She wet in her crate since she got up so early (which had not been a problem before). I know this will pass, but it hurts my heart to hear her crying!
I’m taking all this one day at a time. I hope and pray for the best, but am keeping in mind that I may have to eventually place one of these girls somewhere else. I’ve already let myself get quite attached, so I hope it doesn’t come down to that.
As an aside… it was a year ago today that we lost our Daisy Mae.
Yes, they are still cute, but reality has sunk in. Puppies are a LOT of work, especially when you have more than one AND when you’re acclimating them to life with two older dogs.
They are nowhere near housebroken yet, but things have definitely improved. We only have a few accidents a day now and most occur near the outside door. Then again, they have me trained to whisk them out every time they wake from a nap or finish a meal.
Esther still likes them, but I have to watch her carefully when the pups rough house. Also, she is very greedy with her toys and doesn’t like to share. (Poor Betty learned that years ago) Betty now gets along with them quite well. She still prefers to be in another part of the house when they’re inside, but has no problems going out with them and even playing with them some.
I was warned by several people that often puppies from the same litter, especially females, won’t get along. Betty & Veronica got along fine (though they were only five months old when Veronica died) as did Esther & JJ. Still….I’ve been on the alert for any signs of trouble. Puppies naturally play-fight. It’s how they learn to establish dominance between themselves. Alice and Mabel have been no exception. They love to wrestle, nip, and chase each other. Maybe I read too much into it, but there were a couple of times it seemed a little too serious and I’ve pulled Mabel off of Alice. A friend who has years of experience with dogs told me I needed to monitor this closely, especially when Esther and Betty are around. (I won’t go into the reasoning behind that!) She also told me it was time to put them in separate crates at bedtime. I knew that, but just hadn’t had the opportunity to buy another one. That problem was remedied yesterday.
The pups have been very good about going to bed at night and sleeping well. They’ve already learned they get a treat when they kennel up. I’ve had to switch back to an “early to bed and early to rise” routine since they tend to wake with the sun and secretly hoped putting them in separate boxes would eliminate their early morning playtime that obligated me to start my day so early. Of course I also knew in the back of my mind that separate boxes might instead cause problems at first. Last night was the first with the new arrangement. Alice cried and cried when I put them to bed, then rose long before dawn with more crying. She wet in her crate since she got up so early (which had not been a problem before). I know this will pass, but it hurts my heart to hear her crying!
I’m taking all this one day at a time. I hope and pray for the best, but am keeping in mind that I may have to eventually place one of these girls somewhere else. I’ve already let myself get quite attached, so I hope it doesn’t come down to that.
As an aside… it was a year ago today that we lost our Daisy Mae.
6 comments:
Yep, puppies are much like having babies around again. LOTS of work at first!
Having 2 might be akin to having twinkies. Makes me tired(er).
They sure look cute, tho'. :)
I do remember Miss Daisy. :(
I never ceased to be impressed with your resiliency! They are so darn cute, but I'm sure it has been trying.
I probably won't have a dog again (sigh) but I know I don't have the tolerance level for pups, so if I do decide to cross that bridge, it'll have to be a rescue dog.
It doesn't seem like a year since Daisy Mae...but then I stop to think that I'm renewing the lease on my place, and it just seems like I moved in (and I still have a few packing boxes to prove it!)
quid
Oh, puppies are so much work. Thank goodness my dear dog was a stray, full grown, completely trained.
I have never heard about dogs from the same litter not getting along. I also can point out lots of cases to disprove it.
Good luck!
They are adorable. I hope you don't have to separate them.
Kelly,
I, too hope that they don't have to be separated.
My cousin told me how the puppy which she got in September of last year, even when she crosses the room, follows her around the room and everywhere else. I think that she just wants to be a part of everything.
I, too remember Daisy Mae from your posts. And I understand how you still miss her.
Raven
I still wished you could have shipped one to France;.. **sigh**
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