Click to listen while reading! :)
What is this thing here? A blog? I sort of remember that I have a blog. Clearly I’m not a good blogger. I do much better at short snippets of info than long ones i.e. Facebook status updates, but the drawback there is that I can’t easily go back and re-read them to recap what I think I’ve learned or said over time. I can’t promise I’ll blog more often but I’ve had some thoughts fluttering around in my head that I want to put down so here goes at least 1 blog entry for 2012. I suspect with having a new pup in the house I might manage to blog a few more times this year. We shall see…
A new puppy? Yep – a new puppy! I imagine anyone who reads this is also my Facebook friend and thus already knows about Ziggy. Quick recap in case you’ve missed it somehow… Ziggy is an ASCA registered Aussie from Terri Carver of Maximum Aussies in Brenham, TX. He is out of Mojo (Slash V Midnight Cowboy) and Maggie (Maximum’s Steel Magnolia). http://onedropaussies.com/
So with the addition of Ziggy we now have 7 dogs. “That’s a lot of dogs” is pretty much what everyone says when they find out we have 7 and they are right, it is a lot of dogs, especially when management is required within the pack and one is a pee pot! We are adjusting and managing it all pretty well though Jack is complaining that he can't remember dog's names anymore. I must admit I've had a few of those moments myself! To add to the fun we’ll be dog sitting for a friend for much of August so that will make things interesting but luckily Kicker is well liked by all but 2 of the dogs in my house so it shouldn’t be too bad.
Some folks have asked how Ruckus is handling the stress of the new puppy. For those that don’t know Ruckus is in congestive heart failure and doesn’t have too much longer to live. Most things I’ve read state that most dogs live 6-12 months once they go on the meds he is on. We truly thought we were losing him a few months ago but the meds have done wonders for him and he’s living quite comfortably right now. We took several weeks to decide whether we wanted another puppy right now. I had been on a list for a Spice sibling and that litter was planned for this spring but it didn’t happen and the Maggie x Mojo litter happened instead. Other than size there were a lot of reasons to go with this litter over waiting for another Fly x Mojo cross however we weren’t sure it was a good idea to bring the pup in with Ruckus doing so poorly. But it became apparent that Ruckus was going to do rather well on the meds and we decided to go ahead and get a pup from this litter. How’s Ruckus handling it? Pretty darn well actually. Probably the best he’s handled any new addition. He’s more focused on stealing Kongs and chew bones out of Ziggy’s ex-pen than he is on Ziggy, to the point that when I let Ziggy out Ruckus is right there to go in the ex-pen. In the past he’d have stayed far away. They’ve even been loose together in the front yard once or twice and Ruckus just ignores him and Ziggy seems to get that Ruckus isn’t a dog you approach. Kudos to Ziggy on that! Ziggy is very respectful of Mickie too! His Uncle Max and Aunt Sadie taught him well!
How is everyone else adjusting? Groovy likes him though is only allowed to interact through the ex-pen. She’s funny – she tries to guard his ex-pen from the other dogs but Ziggy is allowed to have all the stuff in there. Mickie appreciates that he is respectful of her and she’s even been spotted play bowing to him when outside. Inside she lets him know she needs her space and he complies. Spice… well Spice doesn’t like him. The little queen feels like she’s been dethroned but to be honest she probably needed to be. J She hasn’t been allowed loose with him much at all. She isn’t aggressive with him but definitely tells him she doesn’t want him near her or her stuff. Hopefully they’ll eventually become good friends, time will tell. Jam is very tolerant of him and occasionally likes him. She hasn’t taken to him like she has to other puppies that have visited. Maybe because he’s staying… I’m not sure. She does play with him on occasion but isn’t in love with him. And then there is Tali. What a fantastic dog she is! She loves the puppy and plays well with him and he loves her! They are so fun to watch. She is always a good big sister/momma dog to our new additions.
So overall everyone is adjusting pretty well. More to come on Ziggy and what he's like. Look at that... already the promise of 2 blog posts in 2012! Till then here is the new addition!
Ziggy at 8 weeks in Texas
Ziggy at 14 weeks at the Wiregrass Mall
Ziggy and his brother Moses at Wiregrass Mall - 14 weeks
No comments:
Post a Comment