So we've decided on a name for the puppy.
Mika
Pronounced Mee=kah
She is, by the way, heavier and bigger already than she was when she showed up. That's not an exaggeration, she's visibly grown in the last 48 hours.
She also hung out with lots of dogs and did wonderfully well with that, though she prefers just hanging out along with her chew toys and a person near by.
Our doggie the iconoclast loner... makes sense really.
Mika
Pronounced Mee=kah
She is, by the way, heavier and bigger already than she was when she showed up. That's not an exaggeration, she's visibly grown in the last 48 hours.
She also hung out with lots of dogs and did wonderfully well with that, though she prefers just hanging out along with her chew toys and a person near by.
Our doggie the iconoclast loner... makes sense really.
- Current Mood:soooo happy
Comments
I help teach a puppy socialization class at the vet school. If you have questions, please ask. And I'd highly recommend trying to find a puppy class for Mika. A well-trained and well-socialized dog is a happy dog.
we have a poorly socialized dog that we rescued when she was about 7 months old. she had apparently had been owned by homeless people and now has fear aggression issues and gets WAY overstimulated.
we've been in nonstop training since we got her in july, and it gets really really exhausting sometimes. but, she's a loving and wonderful dog, and we love her. still, i wish like hell she'd been rescued when she was much younger, because to a degree, there are things she will never get over, and that makes me sad.
so uhm, my point is, HELL YES, socialize now, while it's easy.
My comment about her being a loner was a joke.
I make those sometimes. ::nods::
Just saying it was a joke. She's *very* social, loves people, fears nothing (except the sound that the monkey squeezy toy that someone got for her makes, but she likes the cow).
We live in a house with three cats.. and while they aren't thrilled with her, it's been four days and already one has decided that it's okay to be on the same floor of the house with her and okay to walk very close to her while she sleeps... so I expcect the other two will follow Margie's lead soon.
We'll be going to puppy classes for basic 'sit, here, stay, drop, give' sort of things as well.
I myself have never had a dog. But Karl has had a few (from puppy) and several friends of ours have raised great, healthy happy dogs from puppy and are all more than happy to help whereever they can.
The thing is... and this isn't directed at you... just something I've noticed... aren't these things common sense? I'm really suprised at the number of people who've told me that I should make sure she's around other animals and how she should be touched on the ears and paws to get her used to that and all sorts of other things. The first night we had her I was talking to Alicia about all this and I thought she was just being helpful with some of her experiences, and it *was*... but then random strangers are telling me these things while she's running up to them all wiggly to be petted. It never occured to me *not* to play with her ears... hell.. I play with the Kittie's ears and they don't seem to mind.
I dunno.. I guess it's a good example of why many people should not be pet owners. I still know people who seem to think that cats that remain aloof and haughty are like.. the only way that cats can be which is just alien to me.
I think I have a fairly atypical approach to pets.
It's been pretty heartbreaking the last few days when Maryanne won't let me touch her at all and actually retreats because I spell like puppy. She's not just 'this cat we have'. She's Maryanne.
I duno.. I'm babbling.
I wasn't trying to offend you and I wasn't being sarcastic... just jokey. Lack of tone of voice can be a bitch sometimes.
Either way, you'd be STUNNED at how much stuff apparently is not common sense. Especially when it comes to animals. Between working in a veterinary clinic, volunteering at a humane society, and going to vet school, I've seen animal-related stupidity that would amaze, astound, and sadden you.
Knowing that I will likely someday be asked to euthanize a cat because he pees on the floor, or a puppy because she's just too darn active - I think it makes me weird about animal-related issues. And no, I wasn't making up those stories just to use as exaggerated examples. Both have happened in hospitals where my classmates used to work.
So yeah, no offense. In either party, I hope.
No, I don't think.
what would yours be?
Because honestly, I don't think anyone has told me anything yet that I didn't already know or hadn't already done... bowl me over. I dare ya
I do, however, know a guy who got a boxer puppy a few months back. Still damn cute, but definitely getting LARGE. And he's not training him all that well, so that should get real fun real soon now.
Still. Puppy!
The need to have her learn "stay" is pretty intense too, as well as the need for a kennel to start getting her used to being in it for periods of time so that we'll ever be able to go somewhere without her.
It's been four days... but it's been enlightening.
Oh... and this lil girl here will probably end up being bigger than your average very large Lab. She's got that boxy head and her paws HUGE for her body stance.
And we will be expecting many pictures of the cuteness. :-)