There's a New Pup on the Block

The ride home in his new Papa's lap

1/12/13
Blind Louie is a Big Brother!
We are super excited to welcome a new addition to our gang... and I wish I could tell you his name! So far it's Buddy or Puppy, but something else might come up and stick. I've tried to talk my dad out of calling him 'Poncho' after his last dog. While I know how much my dad loved Poncho, this dog needs his own name for a fresh start. Poncho had some pretty big paws for this little pup to fill.

We drove early this morning to pick up the puppy.
Just my dad and I went. It was about a 45 minute drive to the home of my co-worker. We were greeted first by a gorgeous black lab with big saggy boobies. This must be mom! My co-worker's wife, Michelle led us out to the wood shed where the puppies were staying. Inside we found about 6 or 7 pups. One dark brown, one golden and the rest were black. My dad already was set on a male, and was hoping for black puppy. He scooped one up and held it close to him and said "Okay, let's go." I took the pup from him and looked at it. Checked in his mouth, his ears and held him on his back to see his reaction. He squirmed around a bit but quickly gave in and relaxed. I agreed this was a fine specimen.

Running full speed ahead!

Momma doggy didn't seem to care that we were poking around at her puppies. She seemed more than happy to get rid of one, she couldn't keep them off of her! She didn't seem to want them to nurse at all anymore.

Along with all the pups, there were two cats in the wood shed as well. The cats seem to like the puppies and had been staying in there with them. This is a great sign. The pups are already well socialized. Great! This is going to work out wonderfully.

After selecting his puppy my dad quickly got in the passenger seat of the car "You drive, I'll hold him." The ride home was quiet. Other than a couple of squeaks and whimpers, the new pup pup sat happily in my dads lap. My dad was in love! Huge red heart shapes jetted out of his eye balls and throbbed as his tongue hung out the side of his mouth, jaw dropped. His new pup and he melted in to the seat and became one.

Louie 'looks' at the new puppy sitting in my mom's lap.

When we arrived home, Snorp was outside to greet us.
He sniffed at me frantically inspecting my sweatshirt before heading around to the other side of the car, finding my dad with the source of the smell. I had expected barking and over-excitement, but Snorp was calm and curious.

We went into my parents house and Louie was asleep on Poncho's old dog bed. That dog bed has not moved since Poncho passed away a few weeks short of a year ago. Louie got up sleepily to come and greet us and it wasn't long before his nostrils were flapping like butterfly wings! Louie also, was calm. He did not bark, jump or run. Snorp, Louie and the new addition sniffed and mingled like three gentlemen. I was very proud.

The only thing a bit off was Louie and his uncontrollable drooling. I think he was just hungry for puppy! Pure, unfiltered, unprocessed, fresh organic puppy meat. mmm. The puppy was awash in Louie spit and he didn't seem to mind. Instead of puppy smell he stinks like bad Louie breath.

So they named him Budde.

Inspector Snorp Meets the Pup

It's official. My mom went to the store and bought him a collar with a name tag and everything. That's what we kept calling him anyway. "Hey buddy, come here buddy. Good boy." It's stuck. He's officially Budde P. Swift. The 'P' stand for Poncho, that's nice. In memory of. We loved that dog. So watch out world, here is Budde!

Budde follows the other dogs so well. He comes to you when you call him. All good signs. He is even starting to get out of the way when Louie is coming for him. It only took Louie tripping over him twice before he started to get it. I can't wait to get to know him better and write about his interaction with Blind Louie. Yet another chapter begins.

Destiny: Bringing Home Louie

Here comes baby!

Louie's first time at his new home.

I went back to my friends house to make the final decision: which puppy do I bring home with me? This would be the day I pick the dog that I will spend everyday for the next ten to twelve (hopefully) years with. I didn't think of that at the time. I just remembered the one with the white triangle on his neck that was so nice and relaxed. I couldn't tell apart any of the others from their litter-mates. No one else stood out. Just a pile of puppies.

When I arrived it was a completely different scene from the last time I was there just 2 weeks ago. There were no guinea pigs to be found, instead there were seven live puppies! All playing outside with their mother lying on the grass. Little dogs. Now how was I supposed to pick one?

I thought of the chapter I'd read in the Tao of puppies book. I stopped and took time to watch each puppy for a while and see how they behaved and interacted with me and the other puppies. The one with the white triangle on his neck was paying particular attention to me. He liked to follow me when I walked and called him and he played nice with the other puppies.

In contrast, there was one stupid dog. What? I can't say stupid now either? You already took retarded away. Words, sheesh. Anyway,  I can't describe his color, something like dirty blonde but somehow almost green. He was yucky looking. Fatter and slower moving than the others and cried for everything. All the other puppies tried to jump on or off something, this puppy barely tried sat whimpering. I named this puppy Puke. I almost wanted to take Puke home just because I felt so sorry for him, but I knew I shouldn't. Someone would want to take care of such a pathetic little thing, right?


So, I choose the black and tan puppy with the white chest.

The car ride home was seemingly uneventful. He sat on the lap of my roommate who came along to help me bring the puppy home. I think the pup cried a little. I got all teary-eyed and sad because I was taking him away from his family and he was so small.

We got home and I showed him around. He wasn't too shy, a little unsure about my cat Jack. Jack was such a confident cat that they became friends quickly. Jack was forgiving of Louie but still new how to tell him where his boundary was.

Clumsy little Louie runs into everything. As he's exploring, I'm spouting off names with my roommates. Willie I think, Willie Nelson. No. Okay, Louie? Louie Prima? I look at the puppy and say "Louie" and he tilts his head to one side smiling at me. Louie it is then. Louis.

Getting to know Jack, carefully. Louie showing his trademark triangle on his neck.

Here's Louie

I pick Louie up holding him in close to my chest. Looking closely at his adorable face, I notice he had a tiny white spot on one eye in the pupil. His eyes look like oil spills, gasoline rainbows, swirly blues and greys. I thought there may be something wrong. They didn't look right. Sometimes I would look at him and one pupil would be much larger than the other. They both always seemed larger than what I thought they would be, like he was stoned or there weren't any lights on. I'm a worrier for sure. The puppies only opened their eyes a couple weeks ago and I knew they were still developing. I thought his eyes would be blue. Cool black and tan dog with blue eyes. Pretty neat guy for sure. No big deal. I'll find out soon enough, he has his first vet appointment in just a couple of days. He seems perfectly normal and happy.

Jack lets Louie know his place, no claws necessary.

Night Time

The first night I slept on the floor next to the dog bed I had set up. It was in the bottom of a closet so I lie there in the opening like a gate. Anytime he woke up and moved around, I woke up and took him outside. "Outside." I'd say as we walked out the door and down the front steps. I would set him on the grass, "Go potty outside. Good boy" Yes, I said potty. Want to fight about it?

The second night I started having him follow me instead of being carried. He was fine except for the steps. The front steps on the porch were broken and he would fall through and get stuck under the porch. He couldn't skip a step, he was just too small. I would pick him up from the top step and skip one and let him finish it. He was catching on quickly. Just three nights of that he knew how to ask to go outside. He would always fall through the broken step out front. He just couldn't remember to stop or go around. Silly dog. 

 One on One Time 

Hunter and Louie's sock fight!

I had planned a short vacation around the time I would bring Louie home. I spent the days off playing with him in the yard or on the floor in the living room. I tied knots into an old gym stock, classic first dog toy. My brother, Hunter came over to play with him. Louie was hilarious to watch, so optimistic he just always kept trying. The little engine that could. Everything seems great but I can't help but notice how he bumps into things. I wince every time he cuts a corner too close and smashes into the wall or runs head on into one of the big trees in the hard. I just say "Careful Louie, Slowly." I drag out the word slowly "Sssllowwwlleeeeee." He picks that up right away. Just slowing down the tone which I spoke to him made him slow down physically, makes sense. Louie was very responsive and eager to learn. I thought this was just going to be the easiest puppy ever.

Next Installment: Louie Meets the Family

Louie meets Poncho, our family dog, for the first time while we mend those pesky steps.

The Litter

Mommy Rose with her litter (Louie top left)

Introducing, the Litter!

Now that we've learned more about Louie's parents and how I came to know them, we can move forward to the exciting part.
Rose had puppies! Seven puppies, poor girl. She was so young and had seven pups to care for.There could have been more, I know she lost a least one, maybe two, at birth.

Dog Pile: The whole bunch. About 4 or 5 weeks old. (Louie top left)

 

What is a Litter?

Merriam Webster Dictionary says: "material used to absorb the urine and feces of an animal". That's gross. I don't think we should be sopping up other animal's sick-mess with tiny, younger animals. Is this some kind of canine hazing ritual? 

Wait a second...

That seems wrong. It's always a good idea to read the whole definition before getting confused.

Here's one that seems a better fit: "the offspring at one birth of a multiparous animal".

Well then what is maltiparous? I also have no idea. I think it means 'a bunch of something'.

Like puppies? Yay! I love puppies! Good thing dogs have bunches at a time because they sure do love to snuggle! Look at this dog pile. I suppose this is where that term originated. Dog pile. Who would have thought. The more you know.


Meeting the Litter

It was summertime when the puppies were born. They lived in an apartment that had a nice backyard. My friends cleared out a closet and laid down towels and blankets for an impromptu nursery. It was hot and stuffy and Rose seemed tired with all those pups constantly suckling the sweet life nectar from her many teats.

The first time I went over to see the new litter, the puppies were only four or five weeks old. Their eyes had just opened a few days before and they were still getting their sea legs. I was not sure at the time that these were actually dogs. I was pretty confident Rose had just brought home some guinea pigs and fooled everybody. I was sure she and Rio were just planning to eat those piggies when everyone fell asleep.

Three litter-mates (Guinea Pigs?)

Honestly, these pups were pretty boring. Sure they were cute, but they didn't do much. Mostly just sleeping or crawling over each other to attach to their mother and drink. They slept most of the time I was there that day. Still, one puppy stood out to me. He looked like the most comfortable puppy, always sprawled out on his back, really neat color patterns on his chest and belly, floppy ears and soft pads on his paws.

Suddenly, Second Thoughts

It came about abruptly, but again I was filled with doubt about taking home a new pet. Sure I have a cat, but Jack pretty much takes care of himself. He's a tough dude. He goes out whenever he wants, grooms himself, and the only feeding requirements are to fill his bowl when it's empty.

I left those puppies that day driving home and thinking about all the reasons I couldn't be a doggy mom: I didn't have the best living situation at the time and had some pretty rude and messy roommates. I worked a lot, drank often, stayed up late, listened to loud music, smoked cigarettes and I didn't always brush my teeth. How in the heck was I going to be good for this dog? Oh, well. Nobody's perfect. I'll try my best and that's most people can say. I met him already, no turning back now.

Preparation

In about two weeks I would bring home a puppy, time to get ready. I turn to the housewarming section of the Taoist puppy book.

Shelter: My house. Check.
Food: Puppy kibble, water and bowls. Check.
Rest: Dog bed on the floor of my empty closet. Check.
Love: Well, we'll just have to see about that. I'm still not sure it's really a puppy and not something in the hamster family.

Clean up, puppy proof. No dangling cords, no dirty clothes on the floor, no precious memorabilia lying around on the floor waiting to be chewed to bits. Bought a leash, a collar and a chew toy. I think I'm about ready to bring home a new friend.



Upcoming Installment: Destiny

Meeting Louie

Louie 7 weeks old, 2006

Meeting Louie

That is Louie circa 2006. Little seven week old pup, bright tailed and bushy eyed, as they say. I picked him from a litter of mutts. It was an unplanned pregnancy. The mom Rose, black with a white spot, three quarters lab and a quarter pit. The father, Rio, tan and white, one quarter lab and three quarters pit. Rambling Rose and Rio Grande. Named after Greatful Dead songs. Louie's parents were hippies. Sorry, don't mention it around Louie. He's sensitive about the subject. You know, don't bring up global warming, organic farming or micro brews either. Just to be on the safe side.

Louie's parents weren't married. His mother was very young and his father was a bully but a sweetheart. There was, however, a distant relation between the two, causing me concern regarding the health and intelligence of their offspring. Realizing what would be of these pups was kind of sad. They were so precious, but no one really wanted them.


I got into this idea of raising a puppy head first. Once I heard about Rose being pregnant and decided I would give one a home when they were born regardless of the circumstances of their conception. I was set on putting full effort into training an amazing dog.

I pictured days lying in the sun at the park reading my book on Taoism and puppies, with my calm and trusty friend lying off leash on the grass next to me, catching a Frisbee mid-air, running beside my bicycle.

I quickly came to, remembering that I was a homebody with mild to moderate social anxiety. I don't like lying in the sun and I'm not very confident on a bike. Hey, but I do like taking walks and I'm gentle and can sometimes force patients, so what the heck, I'll try my hand at puppy rearing anyway. If I don't allow my pit-mix to attack and kill anything more adorable then him, then I call that a win!


So how do you pick out a puppy from a litter? It's like picking a M&M from a candy dish. They are all delicious and pretty much taste the same, who cares what color it is unless your some kind of obsessive freak. Am I right? Don't answer that.

Picking a Puppy

I read a few chapters on the subject and learned a few tricks. When the litter is at least six weeks old, stop in and observe.

Watch the Puppies Interact

The 'Eastern European Magic Sleeping Puppy' may not be as cool as it sounds

•  Is there one puppy that is ruthlessly attacking others or foaming at the mouth? This puppy may not be for you, unless you're really into dog fighting, which I don't condone myself.
  
• Is there a puppy hiding in the corner unable to figure out how to turn around and get to the other side where the food is? This puppy rides the short bus.
  
• Is there another puppy waiting in line, confused, behind the short bus puppy in the corner? This puppy is a follower, not a leader. This puppy may have a lot more going on there than just being a puppy, if you know what I mean.
• Is there a puppy that is asleep the entire visit? Has this puppy moved at all? Has the owner of the dogs told you, shifty eyed, that "This puppy is known as an Eastern European Magic Sleeping Puppy."? Is there flies starting to accumulate? This puppy may be deceased. Don't buy this puppy, the will be boring and quickly start to stink.
• Is there a puppy trapped under a heavy object, unable to free himself? You should probably help that puppy. What are you, some kind of sadist?
  
• Is there one puppy playing with others and letting others play with them? Enjoying a toy, interacting with the people around, exploring, following when you call them, running when you run? Now this may be the puppy for you!
   

Inspect the Puppies

Check List to Inspect:

• Teeth, mouth and gums: Make sure your puppy's been brushing and flossing regularly.
• Ears: Infested with insects and stuffed with goo? Does the puppy bite you when you touch their ears or yelp? That puppy might be a wimp.
• Eyes: Can you see the pupil. Do they look at you? Are they cloudy? Don't over think it.
• Paws: How many toes do they have? You don't want some kind of a mutant freak, now do you.
• No-No special private parts (don't let anyone catch you looking at this one, they may not allow you to adopt that puppy after all.)

 
The Final Decision

After short deliberation I realized the little black, tan and white male was for me. He had a white spot on his neck in the shape of a triangle, that's how I'll remember which one I will take home. He has a pleasant demeanor, plays well with others, seems attentive, normal amount of extremities and not viciously attacking anyone. His eyes seem off, different but cool. Since this young puppy is still developing, the best I can tell is that he will probably have blue eyes.

I think there were about seven or eight puppies, but I took home Louie. After trying to call him Turbo, Willie Nelson and politely declined the suggestions of Shark Tooth and Killer, I thought Louie would be nice. Louie Prima. Louie Anderson. My Louis Bernard.

Fast forward one more week:

Now I'm ready to take home my perfectly normal 7 week old puppy.