Introducing A New Puppy To The Pack

Whenever a new puppy is brought into the family, it's important to make sure you remember to give the other pets lots of attention and love also.  Dogs are very much into "Fair" and become jealous if too much attention is paid more to one than another.  A new puppy always creates excitement for existing family animals as well as the humans.  But, like having additional children, once you've trained a puppy, it's not as difficult to train another.  That being said, each dog is unique, comes from different backgrounds, and will most assuredly put forth a few new challenges to test your training techniques and patience.  It is helpful to take your new puppy to class to get him socialized early and used to getting along with other pets and strange places.  Training your pets properly will ensure that everyone will be much happier in your home environment.  Remember...you're the Alpha dog in the pack, so don't let your pets boss you around!
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Having lost old Cinders, our Mini Schnauzer, we were all very sad for quite what seemed like a long time.  Star carried around Cinders old shirt and I cuddled Star every chance I got.  She was really sad.

Jessie with Star

It was very odd having the big bed all to myself as Star wasn't allowed on the bed cause she was too big.  I was only allowed up there now and then, mostly when Jodi wasn't there.  I think Star sheds more than me, although I have overheard Jodi saying that she could build 3 dogs with those fur balls that tumble down through the hall even though it was frequently vacuumed!  Still, it was lonely being on that big old bed without Cinders.  (Note: Mini Schnauzers do not shed.)

Jessie

Then, Jodi got a phone call and had to leave us for a family emergency.  We were happy to be with Smokey, but now we missed Jodi too.  While Jodi was gone, Smokey had a surprise for all of us. One morning, he seemed very happy and was whistling a tune as he left in the car.  It had been nine months since we had seen Smokey so happy.  Star noticed immediately that something was different in Smokey's demeanor and her mood seemed to lift a bit also in anticipation.  I had no idea what was going on, but even Coco cat was sitting at the window watching for Smokey to return.  Something big was up, I was sure!

A little while later, we heard Smokey's car drive in the driveway.  The door to the garage slowly opened and in walked Smokey with a black and silver fluff ball with a face.  We were all excited to see exactly what that thing was.  A new toy, I wondered?  Smokey sat down on the sofa, and we all came over for a good sniff.  It was a puppy!  But even though he was young, he was still bigger than me.  I let out a very big snort and sneeze to make sure that thing new I was there and I wasn't going to take any nonsense from him.

Captain and Jessie

Star came over, gently sniffed him from head to tail and began licking him all over.  She had accepted him, and so I would too.  Actually, he was kind of fun.  A very curious guy who seemed unafraid and very bold.  He was a Standard Poodle, he was 12 weeks old, and Smokey named him Captain - Cappy for short.

Jodi had always crate trained all of us as puppies, and I was sure that Captain would be in Star's crate that evening.  At bed time, Smokey put Captain in Star's crate, gave him a soft toy, and went to bed.  The crate was always kept in the bedroom with Smokey and Jodi.  But Captain missed his Mom and his brothers and sisters, and began to whine a little.  At first, Smokey ignored it, but the whining got louder and seemed so sorrowful.  Then it became a howl!  Even I, who was laying at the coveted place right next to Smokey (while Jodi was gone), started to worry about the little guy.  I looked up at Smokey who was reading and wondered what he was going to do.  If he didn't do something pretty soon, none of us would get any sleep.

Smokey got up and picked up Captain, took him outside for a potty break one more time, then brought him back to the bedroom whereupon he nestled Captain right between the two of us.  Oh Lord!  If Jodi knew about that, she would be having a real fit for sure.  No dogs were supposed to sleep on the bed.  She had made it abundantly clear to Smokey on a few occasions.  Just then, the phone rang.  It was Jodi calling to check in with Smokey to see how we were all doing.  Just then, Captain started fussing a little bit again.  "Shhhh, I nudged Captain.  You'll get us all in trouble!"

Jodi asked, "Smokey, what is that noise I hear in the background?"  Captain was supposed to be a surprise and a gift for Jodi.  "Sounds just like a puppy!  You didn't get a puppy, did you?"

"Well, ahhhhh, kind of, " replied Smokey.  We were all so sad over the loss of Cinders, I thought it would be good for all of us if we got another puppy."

"Hmmm....What kind of puppy did you get?" asked Jodi

Relaxing a little bit now, Smoky answered, "He's a Standard Poodle.  You know, the ones that are the big dogs.  I got him from our friends Henry and Jean who run our boarding kennel .  Remember the ones we saw at their house?  They raise, train and show them."

Jodi groaned a little and said, "Yes, they're nice, but they're too foo, foo, fa, fa with sauce.  If we were going to have another big dog, I favor German Shepherds like Star."

"But I got him for you," Smokey replied, "As a surprise."

"Well, he can be your dog.  What did you name him?" Jodi asked.

"His name is Captain, but you can change it if you want," he said.

"No, Captain is fine.  You don't have him on the bed with you, do you?" Jodi inquired.

"Well, sort of, kind of.... yes he is.  He was crying in the crate, and I felt so bad for him, so I brought him up with Jessie and me," Smokey replied.

"Jessie's up on the bed too?" she asked in a tone that told Smokey she wasn't too happy.

"Yes, just for tonight.  Everyone seemed to need a little extra love tonight, and even Star came over and rested her head on the bed.  But she's not up here too! Smokey quickly said.

"OK." said Jodi.  "I'll call you tomorrow night.  I will have to be gone for a week.  Can you manage with everything and a new puppy?" she asked.

"Oh, yes," Smokey replied.  "We'll all be just fine."

And we were.  The new addition to our family had immediately lifted all our spirits, and I could sense that there was a lot more to come ahead.

Star-Jessie-Captain

Watching Captain interact with Smokey and the other pets, I had a feeling he would win over Jodi's heart too.  How could you not like this guy?  He was such a ball of fire and now I would have someone to play with again.  I really looked forward to Jodi coming home....

Potty Training the New Puppy

Puppies should be fed 3 times a day until they are 6 months old, and then 2 times a day for the rest of their life. Vets generally agree that the old once a day feeding for adult dogs is much harder on their stomach, whereas as twice a day which consists of 2 smaller meals works better. 

Young puppies don't have a sense about "holding it".  When they have to go, they just stop right in the middle of what they are doing and let 'er rip!  Therefore, it's important to take them out often.

I was having a jolly old time playing with Star climbing all over her and biting her ears and tail.  I even stuck my little head in that big mouth and she didn't even bite me.  I have no idea why I did that except I wanted to see what it looked like up close and personal.  She was very patient and gentle with me.

Right in the middle of our playing, I had to pee, so I just stopped and went.  Star didn't like that at all and got up and walked over to a contraption called the doggie door.  She disappeared right through the door and I could see her outside.  So I thought, well if she can go through it, so could I and off I went.  Wow, was that fun! 

I could see Smokey Joe through the glass in the door and for some reason, he didn't look very happy.  He came out, picked me up and brought me back to the spot where I had left a puddle on the floor.  He started talking very loud and I just couldn't imagine what was wrong with him.  He just kept saying, "Bad dog!"  I didn't know what he was saying, but somehow I knew I was in trouble.  Just then, Jodi came into the room, and saw what the commotion was all about.  She picked me up and held me close.  Ahhhh, this was much better.  Then we all went outside where she put me down.  How did she know I wasn't done yet?  This time when I did number 2, everyone was happy and I got lots of love and nice sounding voices from Smokey and Jodi. 

Tip:  Right after you feed your puppy, take him outside to a designated spot and tell him to "Go pee", "Get busy", or whatever you want to call it.  Just be consistent.  Because he is young, and his bladder isn't fully developed yet, he will go right away.  When he does, praise him and tell him what a good dog he is.  When we are training, we usually take our puppies out every 2-3 hours.  They housetrain very quickly using this method.  If that's not possible, put him in his crate until you can take him out.  Most dogs don't like to soil the area where they sleep.  But, don't make him wait too long, he's still a baby.  Have a heart - he can only hold it so long.

I enjoyed being outside in the garden.  So many new scents and little places to explore.  After my next feeding at noon, Jodi took me back outside and put me down.  Of course, I followed Star around everywhere.  When Jodi said, "Get busy", Star immediately found her spot and went, so I did too.  I was so cool!  Jodi was smiling, and out came Smokey Joe.  I looked at him, and he picked me up and told me what a good boy I was too.  I am such a cool dog - I can tell!  Jodi calls me Smush face and I think I like that.

After my dinner, Star went out through the doggie door over to our spot, and I followed her.  Guess she was making sure I didn't screw up this time.  OK, so I get the idea.

Cinders came out after us, and went to a totally different place in the garden.  She can be so disagreeable - such a prissy girl.  And I would find out later that Coco cat had a littler box for her "business".  I made a mental note to find it one of these days when I am allowed to go into other parts of the house.  Right now, I am confined to the kitchen.  That's fine with me.  It's a big room from my point of view, and I have lots of toys to play with.

It's evening now.  Both Smokey Joe and Jodi hold me in their laps and talk to me a lot.  I don't know what they're talking about, but I know it's good stuff because I get lots of hugs and kisses.  And I hear my name, Jessie, mentioned a lot in nice, soft tones.

I think I'll go to sleep now right in Smokey's lap.  Life is good.

How Much Should I Feed My New Puppy

Generally speaking, most dog food comes with the age and weight of the dog separated from small to large.  But you do have to consider the type of dog you have also.  For example, a Pug will eat as many times as you offer food which will cause the dog to be obese and unhealthy.  If still in doubt, you can check with your vet.

FYI - Please take your new puppy to the veterinarian shortly after you bring it home.  To keep a healthy puppy, you want to be sure to have your vet check for any parasites, worms, etc. that the puppy may have.  It is not uncommon for a new puppy to have some type of parasite, so it is very important to take it to the vets as soon as possible.
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My first night in my new home was fine after Star stayed by my crate.  What a ginormous dog she was.  But, she seemed to care about me and we became fast friends.

What's the hub-bub going on in the kitchen?  Jodi is calling us asking us if we want to eat.  Sounds super to me - Breakfast!  And I'm really starved.  Why is everyone sitting there so patiently waiting?  Did Jodi say it was time to EAT?  Oh, I just love the sound of that word.

Since the other dogs are both bigger than me, I figured I should start jumping up and down next to Jodi and bark so she would be sure to see me.  Well, just look at that!  Cinders got her bowl first!  So I thought I would go over and share with her.  After all, that's what my siblings and I did - we all ate out of one big bowl.

Bad idea....Cinders not only growled at me, she snapped at me and scared the daylights right out of me.  Such a bossy girl.  I learned that she got her food first since she was the oldest dog.  When Star got her food next, I thought about going over there and sharing hers, but then I looked at that big mouth again, and didn't think it would be a good idea.  So I continued to jump and bark at Jodi-Mom.  She took me over to another place away from the other two dogs, and made me sit quietly for just a short moment.  Ugh!  All this waiting when I was starving to death!  I received my breakfast as soon as I quieted down.  Hope I don't have to do this every time for Pete's sake.  I could have finished my breakfast already.  As it turned out, I was still done before the other two.  Jodi said that I inhaled my food.  Wonder what she meant by that?

After I was finished with my breakfast, Jodi took all of us outside for a potty break and to play.

Note - Pugs eat very fast and sound like little pigs in the process.  Do not overfeed your puppy.  By the same token, if your puppy doesn't finish his food in 15 minutes, pick up what is left.  If you allow your puppy to free feed (eat all day long at his leisure), it will be very difficult to house train him.