Our new pup! (Follow up to post about the loss of our dog...)

[RevolutionStartsNow]

We lost our beautiful black Lab, Joey, to kidney failure a couple of weeks ago. I posted about her on DU and had so much wonderful outpouring of sympathy and love...You helped me through such a difficult time, thank you...

Our kids were terribly sad about Joey but, being kids, pretty quickly changed the subject to WhenDoWeGetaNewPuppy? We have another dog -- he's my best friend -- and I would've been content to just enjoy him alone for awhile, but we are dog people and two dogs seems about right for us.

I started looking, slowly, if nothing else it gave me somewhere to channel my grief about Joey. It made me smile again to think about puppies. I knew we didn't want a pure bred or purchased pup, so I started scouring the shelter sites and Craiglist. I have to be careful because I want to save all of the dogs! But we had a pretty good idea of what kind of dog we wanted -- female, medium sized, maybe a Lab mix -- and we also knew that the right dog would come into our lives when it was time.

I filled out a form on an animal rescue site, just told them a little about us and the kind of dog we were hoping for, and just two days later I had an email from a woman there saying that fate had intervened: She had just finished reading our form when a little pup was brought in from a local shelter, and she knew it was the dog for us. She sent me some beautiful pictures, and we all fell in love immediately!

She is some kind of Lab/Terrier mix, and maybe about 3 months old. She gets her operation and her shots and microchip tomorrow, then we can bring her home! I'm totally ready with a crate, food, toys, and all the love she will be able to handle!

Check out the pictures!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38020384@N07/

We've trained a puppy before, and did well, but it's been awhile, and I'll take any advice!

[imdjh]

1. What a sweetie. n/t

[EFerrari]

2. She's beautiful! Just remember to put up anything you don't want her to eat

iPods, bicycles, your tax forms.

:hi:

[LittleOne]

14. Now you tell me....

... my puppy chewed the tax forms.

[EFerrari]

20. LOL! I speak from experience -- ask my chewed up video iPod!

:)

[tblue37]

39. My daughter's puppy ate her med school diploma. It will

cost about $150 to get it replaced!

My daughter had worried that she might do something like that, so she hid the diploma behind the dresser. But the dog is mostly Australian Shepherd, a herding breed, and when she was left in the house alone, she would move the furniture around and collect it all in one place (satisfying her herding dog instinct to contain and control). When she managed to moved the dresser away from the wall, she found the diploma behind the dresser and chewed it up.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

46. Wow, that's funny...

The dog moved the furniture around?

We are puppy-proofing, but no doubt she will find and destroy something that we didn't want her to! When our other dog was a pup, he liked to eat DVDs! That was expensive...

[tblue37]

55. Yes. It was hilarious. They got her at nine months old from a shelter. In fact, the

shelter fee was my Xmas gift to them last year.

She was a really well-behaved puppy, so at first they let her roam loose while they were out of the apartment. But they would come home each time to find that all their furniture in the living room had been rearranged. She would have pulled the chairs to the center of the room and pushed the couch to be closer to the chairs. Anything else she could move--pillows, throws, etc.--would also be collected in one place near the furniture. But then she chewed the corner of a rug, so they started keeping her shut up in the bedroom. Thats when she pushed the dresser out from the wall and chewed up the diploma.

When I described the furniture rearranging routine to a friend who has done a lot of research on different breeds of dogs, the friend immediately asked, "Is she a herding breed?" Apparently, this is not an uncommon behavior with herding dogs, since they are specifically bred to contain and control. She was rearranging the furniture the same way a herding dog would collect sheep in one place, to make them easier to control.

She isn't a purebred Australian Shepherd, but she is mostly Aussie.

I call her their feng shui puppy and tell them she is just trying to improve the energy flow in the apartment.

[mod mom]

62. I predict some new shoes in your future....

to replace chewed up ones :)

very cute pup and a mixture of two of my all time favorite dogs (I formerly was mom to a terrier mix (who we still believe to be the missing link from canine to man) and am now mom to a lab mix)

[hobbit709]

3. AAWW!! She's precious!

Patience is the keyword.

[robinlynne]

4. She's beautiful!! Put a huge smile on my face. so expressive.

Good for you.
As for puppy training, I can't help, just wanted to say thanks for sharing your pics with us!

[pnwmom]

5. Sounds like you're the one who should be giving out the advice.

We will be adding a new puppy to our home, too, and we already have a 7 year old dog. What's your plan for introducing your puppy into your family?

Congratulations!

[RevolutionStartsNow]

19. Our dog is also 7, and here's what we think...

He's been through this once before, when Joey was brought home. But she wasn't a puppy -- she was probably 4 or 5 at the time. Our vet said that she would probably be the dominant dog, even though he was there first, because Joey was larger and a female, but it didn't really happen that way -- Joey was very timid and never quite assumed the "dominant" role.

With a puppy, I'm not quite sure what to expect. I read that we should introduce them on neutral territory, rather than at home, to give our dog a chance to get used to the puppy first. I don't know if we'll do that or not. I think he will be initially annoyed by the pup, but having a crate for the pup to retreat to will probably help. I do plan to give him lots of extra and private attention, so he doesn't feel like the pup is replacing him.

When I went out to get the "supplies" for the new pup, I got him a few new toys, too. I think he will just need to be reassured that the new puppy isn't a replacement; I'm not sure if dogs think like that or not, but I'm very close to him and don't want him to be sad at all. :)

What kind of pup are you getting?

[Beacool]

6. She's sooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy her for years to come.

:D

[spanone]

7. what a beaut!

[NV Whino]

8. She looks like a winner!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. One of the cutest puppies evah!

She has one of "those" faces - one radiating intelligence and being engaged. Nice puppy yenta action too!

[SpookyCat]

10. I am in love!

Such smart little eyes too...she'll keep you on your toes! :)

[annabanana]

11. A Lab Terrier mix!! Hold onto your hats. . She's

gonna be one lively pup!

[elleng]

12. lively and SMART!

.

[MADem]

13. Looks like a cross between a westhighland and a golden retriever!!

If she has that mix, hopefully she'll have the nature of the retriever and the smarts of the terrier. Both are great companions!

What a great looking dog! What will you be naming her?

If she were a boy, I'd say she looks a bit like...BRIAN, on Family Guy!

[RevolutionStartsNow]

25. They say Yellow Lab and some kind of terrier...

but who really knows?

Oh, and we can't name her Brian, that's my hubby's name! LOL!

We are looking for a name...it's a girl...but we can't agree. I liked Gracie but our daughter didn't like it, and it seems like so many names are already taken by someone they know...an old girlfriend, a girl at school they don't like...We need a name! We are going to wait and see her personality, but I don't want to wait too long.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

15. That is one perfect pup -----

Who could bear to give up that precious little angel?

Is that her name, "Beachdoggie"?

She's beautiful, and lucky, and you and your family are just wonderful.

Good luck, much happiness (as if you could avoid it), and thank you for this little piece of wonderfulness...........................

[KarenS]

16. Crate training,,,,

We have a new puppy too :) each member of the family should put an item of worn/unwashed clothing in the crate,,, that way the puppy is never alone. It worked for ours.

Someone told me about the Dog Whisperer show on National Geographic Channel,,,, I record it and always find something that I should be doing or not be doing !!

Enjoy her.

[uppityperson]

17. All I can say is awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Missy Vixen]

18. Congratulations!

I am so happy for you and your family! Do you have a name for your adorable girl yet?

We picked up our sweet rehomed six-month-old chocolate Lab, Moose, yesterday as well. He's a handful, but we're already completely besotted with him. He came from Craigslist.

We'll see you at the dog park! :woohoo:

[spindrifter]

21. Congratulations! Thank you for adopting a rescue

pup. She looks like she is going to be a lively addition to your family.

[flvegan]

22. Thank you for adopting!!!!

Cute looking dog, there.

[KathieG]

23. So adorable! Congrats!

[BanzaiBonnie]

24. 'The Loved Dog-

The Playful Non Aggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior'

by Tamar Geller


Best dog training book ever. I learned so much from her book. Training is totally through love and respect and in line with the way dogs think.

[BuyingThyme]

26. You're sure lucky.

[rainbow4321]

27. Ruh-roh..a Terrier mind in a Lab body??

I suggest putting any valuable items on lower shelves WAAAYYY out of reach.
Oh my gosh...I have a 12 pound Jack Russell Terrier (part dachshund) who tears around here, I can't imagine her being the size of a LAB. The tail wagging alone would have shelf items flying thru the air.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

32. Yeah, no kidding...

We've been puppy-proofing this weekend; I'm glad we've had some time to prepare! Wires are being wrapped, surfboards are being put away, my ridiculously large collection of Converse high tops are being safely stashed...and I'm sure she will still cause a lot more trouble than we've planned for!

[tabbycat31]

28. very cute

[Bozita]

29. Looks like a kissing machine to me

Congratulations on your adoption. That's a real cutie!

[RevolutionStartsNow]

30. Any advice on names? I know that's a personal thing, but we're stuck...

As I mentioned upthread, someone in the family has an objection to each name we think of...it's usually because they know a girl with the same name, so out went: Sammy, Holly, Molly, and Maggie...

Any ideas?

[BuyingThyme]

31. Mildred. (Millie.)

[Bozita]

33. Ivy

[MrsMatt]

34. sounds like you're looking for something ending in a "y" sound

Betty, Angie, Nomy

She's adorable, by the way!

[MrsMatt]

35. oops duplicate post n/t

[liberalmuse]

38. Names of girls they likely don't know...

Daisy, Sadie, Fanny, Dixie, Trixie, Cloe, Shnookie, Annie (Annabelle), Bertie...

[BuyingThyme]

42. Do you know a girl named Shnookie?

[RevolutionStartsNow]

44. Thanks, but you distracted me...

with that picture of Jeff Buckley! :)

[emmadoggy]

49. I'll raise you a Lucy and Ruby!

Also..... Betsy, Lily, Fifi, Maisie, Gertie, Izzie, Lizzie, Ivy, Jodie, Josie, Pixie, Piper, Polly, Posey, Rosie.......

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

40. She looks like "Goldie" to me. nt.

[cherokeeprogressive]

41. Diogi. (D. O. G.) n/t

[defendandprotect]

47. Angel, Flowerbelle, Cady, Sweetheart, Lily, Sweet-T-Pie, Adorable . . .

Happy, DU, Honey/Suckle . . . love flowers . . .

Sweet Adeline and, Pretty Girl, Pretty Baby, Daisy, Michelle from Beattles

. . . like names that lead you into song!

A treat just to see her picture -- have a lovely time!!!



some from the list below Biscuit, Buttercup, Bonnie

You'll probably have a better idea when you get to know her --

but ...


http://www.babydognames.com/popular.htm

Did you know that the dog name you choose says as much about you as it does about your dog or puppy. For one thing, the female puppy names you choose shows how you view your dog and your relationship with it.

http://www.pedigreedpups.com/femalepuppynames.html

[Dappleganger]

51. Mattie the Dog

MTD for short. :)

She is absolutely adorable--I hope you all enjoy her and the other dog gets used to her quickly. We have two dogs and they love each other to death.

[LWolf]

59. Sure:

Susie Q., Honey, Tilly, Lucy, Muffin, zippy...

[liberalmuse]

36. Oh my gwad!

Dat puppy's so adorwable! How wonderful! Even though you suffered a heartbreaking loss, you opened your heart to another soul who is no doubt going to a loving home to be spoiled rotten as she deserves.

[The_Casual_Observer]

37. It's a jr bear! All dogs are "junior bear" when I see them, including my own.

[SeattleGirl]

43. She's adorable!!

:loveya:

[havocmom]

45. Sometimes, I think the old dog soul sends the new dog to people who deserve the best

All the best to you and yours!

[Stinky The Clown]

48. we're dog people, too

yours will be very special. He has that look of unconditional love in his eyes.

[1]

50. if ever a picture of a puppy deserved a "lolpup" caption, that one does...

what a beautiful, bright, fun looking puppy!

i wish you and pup all of the best.

and my only suggestion for a name is to make it a two-syllable name that is always spoken in the same, distinct, hi-lo, sing-song-y-like manner.

a puppy's name should always be an attention getter and always be spoken all happy-like, since it is usually followed by a "come" or "sit" or "stay" kind of request. or an "i love you." the sing-song-y name gets their attention and the command or love is then easier for them to get.

their name then becomes a reward in itself.



i love puppies!

[MrsBrady]

52. so cute I can hardly stand it n/t

[Vidar]

53. She's adorable.

[renate]

54. she is utterly adorable!

Nobody could replace Joey... but this little sweetie is going to be such a joy!

[a kennedy]

56. she almost looks like a toy......

adorable.......good luck with the potty training. :thumbsup:

[Vinca]

57. Great dogs have a certain look in their eyes and your puppy's got it!

Very sweet.

[shadowknows69]

58. She's beautiful. lab/terrier ought to be a great mix for a kids' dog too

Just frisky enough with that mellow lab loving streak. If I missed your earlier thread my sympathies but it seems out of tragedy you were able to give another critter a loving home so I hope that is some comfort.

[malaise]

60. Too cute

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

[LeftHander]

61. A Labraterror....nt

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

63. She's gorgeous! Best of luck to you and your family. She looks like she has Jack Russell in her. So

cute!!!!