Hound dog
Nana's are Beautiful
Maggie has been missing Rowdy and Molly something fierce. I've waited and waited hoping it would improve.............
Only it hasn't improved, she's been so very lonely with no other dogs around. I thought having Nichole's beagle pup Baily come visit would help as they're great friends. Only when Baily leaves, it's worse than ever. When easy child rescued her 6 month old lab mix Ammo from the pound and they hit it off, I thought oh that would do the trick because so far she has seen and spent time with Ammo every day either playing in the yard or going on a walk together. Uh, no. That also seemed to make it much worse. It's like she's on cloud nine when they're here but when they leave she comes crashing down further than she was before.
Sooo I found myself with the opportunity to adopt a 6 wk old lab puppy. Something clicked inside me. (I dunno maybe it was the insanity button) Next thing I know this morning I'm bringing said puppy home. I'm not the only insane one, though, as Nichole adopted one from the litter too as Baily is having issues adjusting after the loss of Betsy as well. The previous owner told me that if for any reason.........whether I just decide in a few days that I temporarily lost my mind or if for some reason Maggie and the new baby didn't quite fit together to give her a call and she would be happy to take him back. That made me feel a little better.
Maggie, however, was thrilled to death the moment she laid eyes on him. Well, them as Nichole brought her pup inside too for the introduction prior to going out and getting puppy food. lol Immediately I noticed Maggie was mothering........and was much calmer. She was thrilled and excited, but not that wild out of my mind excited she's been doing since Molly and Rowdy passed away. She seems to have taken immediately to the pup I chose, although she likes them both, and dotes on him more. lol She kept bringing him all her favorite "baby" toys. Cracked me up.
So Rufus the lab has joined our family. Maggie is no longer alone except for an autistic bro and a boring Mom.
After coming home from getting puppy food..........easy child brought Ammo and the boys over too and everyone went into the yard. OMG There were toddlers and puppies everywhere. Maggie and Ammo went off to play bigger doggie games while stopping to play lil puppy games for a few mins here and there or to check on toddlers and get petted and told how good they were. Grandsons Brandon, Connor, and Oliver were surrounded by dogs and in heaven. Ammo and Maggie played until collapse. lol
Rufus is napping in Maggie's crate. (Nichole needs to bring me back the puppy size crate) and Maggie is sleeping next to it. I've nearly gotten Maggie weaned from the crate anyway except at night. Later there will be another play session with Ammo in the yard (to tire Maggie to the point where she won't drag me down the street) and then a 2 mile walk.
A problem has resurfaced with the warmer weather, however. Last year from the time I brought her home Maggie had issues with over heating........or I assume it's over heating as she will not only drink tons of water but will go bonkers trying to get wet. This starts with her at 60 degrees. If she runs/plays she can't get enough to drink and then starts digging frantically in her water dish trying to soak herself. She does have a longish coat but I wouldn't say it's that thick. Certainly no where near as thick or dense as Rowdy's coat was or even Betsy's and I never had a issue with either of them doing this or over heating. Rowdy would stick his head in the water dish to cool off on a hot day.......but trust me, it's not the same thing. Over the winter she was fine no matter how long she played. Just at 60 degrees (I've been watching the outside temp when it happens) the behavior shows up again. Today she was playing with a black lab......he didn't seem hot at all while she couldn't get away from the water dish for very long.
Anyone have experience with such a thing? She's got to go back for her ears again. And now I will take Rufus in to be checked and get his shots........so I will discuss it with the vet again.....last year he thought it might just be due to her being so little and the weather so hot. But obviously that is not the case. I was wondering if she could be having problems with body temp regulation??
Sooo, while I might have had a moment of insanity, I don't really think so. It feels "right" having Rufus here. I'll post pics when the girls upload them online so I can copy them to my computer.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Only it hasn't improved, she's been so very lonely with no other dogs around. I thought having Nichole's beagle pup Baily come visit would help as they're great friends. Only when Baily leaves, it's worse than ever. When easy child rescued her 6 month old lab mix Ammo from the pound and they hit it off, I thought oh that would do the trick because so far she has seen and spent time with Ammo every day either playing in the yard or going on a walk together. Uh, no. That also seemed to make it much worse. It's like she's on cloud nine when they're here but when they leave she comes crashing down further than she was before.
Sooo I found myself with the opportunity to adopt a 6 wk old lab puppy. Something clicked inside me. (I dunno maybe it was the insanity button) Next thing I know this morning I'm bringing said puppy home. I'm not the only insane one, though, as Nichole adopted one from the litter too as Baily is having issues adjusting after the loss of Betsy as well. The previous owner told me that if for any reason.........whether I just decide in a few days that I temporarily lost my mind or if for some reason Maggie and the new baby didn't quite fit together to give her a call and she would be happy to take him back. That made me feel a little better.
Maggie, however, was thrilled to death the moment she laid eyes on him. Well, them as Nichole brought her pup inside too for the introduction prior to going out and getting puppy food. lol Immediately I noticed Maggie was mothering........and was much calmer. She was thrilled and excited, but not that wild out of my mind excited she's been doing since Molly and Rowdy passed away. She seems to have taken immediately to the pup I chose, although she likes them both, and dotes on him more. lol She kept bringing him all her favorite "baby" toys. Cracked me up.
So Rufus the lab has joined our family. Maggie is no longer alone except for an autistic bro and a boring Mom.
After coming home from getting puppy food..........easy child brought Ammo and the boys over too and everyone went into the yard. OMG There were toddlers and puppies everywhere. Maggie and Ammo went off to play bigger doggie games while stopping to play lil puppy games for a few mins here and there or to check on toddlers and get petted and told how good they were. Grandsons Brandon, Connor, and Oliver were surrounded by dogs and in heaven. Ammo and Maggie played until collapse. lol
Rufus is napping in Maggie's crate. (Nichole needs to bring me back the puppy size crate) and Maggie is sleeping next to it. I've nearly gotten Maggie weaned from the crate anyway except at night. Later there will be another play session with Ammo in the yard (to tire Maggie to the point where she won't drag me down the street) and then a 2 mile walk.
A problem has resurfaced with the warmer weather, however. Last year from the time I brought her home Maggie had issues with over heating........or I assume it's over heating as she will not only drink tons of water but will go bonkers trying to get wet. This starts with her at 60 degrees. If she runs/plays she can't get enough to drink and then starts digging frantically in her water dish trying to soak herself. She does have a longish coat but I wouldn't say it's that thick. Certainly no where near as thick or dense as Rowdy's coat was or even Betsy's and I never had a issue with either of them doing this or over heating. Rowdy would stick his head in the water dish to cool off on a hot day.......but trust me, it's not the same thing. Over the winter she was fine no matter how long she played. Just at 60 degrees (I've been watching the outside temp when it happens) the behavior shows up again. Today she was playing with a black lab......he didn't seem hot at all while she couldn't get away from the water dish for very long.
Anyone have experience with such a thing? She's got to go back for her ears again. And now I will take Rufus in to be checked and get his shots........so I will discuss it with the vet again.....last year he thought it might just be due to her being so little and the weather so hot. But obviously that is not the case. I was wondering if she could be having problems with body temp regulation??
Sooo, while I might have had a moment of insanity, I don't really think so. It feels "right" having Rufus here. I'll post pics when the girls upload them online so I can copy them to my computer.