Today we have the pleasure of Nikki from The Fashionable Wife writing for the PAWSH blog. She’s here to tell us all about her experiences bringing a second puppy into her family.
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My husband Charlie and I knew we wanted to get a second dog sometime in the future, but we had no idea it would happen so soon. Charlie found our first dog, Buddy, in the newspaper; a funny, slightly nervous and somewhat socially awkward blue heeler. Our newest edition, Scout, found us.
A coworker of mine accidentally hit a collarless puppy with her car and through a series of random events (or as we believe, fate), I ended up taking him in so he wouldn’t be sent to a shelter. I had every intention of finding the little six-week-old guy a nice home, but my husband fell in love with him and that was that.
I worried that our first “born” Buddy would not be pleased, because he typically prefers not to socialize with other dogs. Yet to our surprise Buddy quickly grew fond of our newest addition and for Scout it was love at first sight.
Adding a second pup to the family has most certainly been an adventure, especially since we were unprepared. I have likened the experience to an unplanned pregnancy; although even then you do get nine months to prepare. One morning I went to work with one dog and I came home with two.
To be honest, Buddy can be a handful on his own. And now with Scout, our lives have become a three ring circus. Scout quickly reacquainted me with the delight of house training and teething. I had also forgotten the adorable way that puppies run around like the Energizer Bunny and the adorable way they pass out after a good hard play.
I had a small fear that Scout would bring out the worst in Buddy – that the puppy’s wild behaviour would somehow revert Buddy back to his untrained boyhood antics. The result, however, has been quite positive. Scout has brought out in Buddy is his puppy side, but in all the right ways. Buddy’s playful soul has found a best mate and the two of them run around together all the time in game.
Although we fondly call Scout “Trouble,” he has definitely been a wonderful and unexpected change for us. He isn’t potty trained yet, but we are working on it. He likes to chew on electrical cords (especially phone chargers and my computer charger) so he has to be constantly monitored. Sometimes Scout irritates Buddy, but for the most part they get along well. We are about to move out of our apartment and into a house at the end of the month to accommodate our two boys. Life is definitely different than it was a little over a month ago, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
What have your experiences bringing a second puppy into the family been?
