Our Little Dog Spike

[BlueBlazer]

Missy and Cricket are getting on well. Missy is so much bigger, she has trouble playing with Cricket. They like each other though and that's the main thing.

Here's a rare quiet moment as Missy teaches Cricket the fine art of looking out the window at the neighbors.

 

[BlueBlazer]

Here's a pic of Cricket with her sweater on. Had to pause before going outside to rip shit on a toy.

At 12 weeks, all they do is eat, eliminate, play, and sleep. Cricket sleeps a lot. Here she wore herself out so bad that she missed the bed.

Missy is teaching Cricket her limits. She is taking the playful biting fine, but if Cricket gets carried away, Missy lets her know it. I'm amazed at how well Missy is doing with Cricket. She even brought her favorite toy to Cricket to play with. She wouldn't even let Spike play with that toy. I think things are going to work out just fine. Cricket is a good little puppy and we're teaching her. Just takes patience. We're teaching her to be more gentle when she mouths. She's already responding, but she still gets carried away. We have rawhide bones, and she's trying to work on one. They're for Missy though so they are hopelessly too big for her. We're going to pick up some her size tomorrow.






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[Stoner4Life]

it's great breaking in a puppy w/a dog already knowing the habits you desire, Missy's gonna teach her all your rules plus pecking order

 

[southflorida]

wow...Blue Blazer...just found this thread...and hopefully the majority of the pain from the loss of Spike has passed, and you and your wife are feeling better.

Missy and Cricket seem to be really getting along well, and they are both so cute.

For the past 20 years I have had many dogs pass away, and it is so painful every time, but, this is simply a part of the life cycle, and since I currently have six dogs and a cat, obviously, with time, they will continue to pass away.

During the last couple of years, I have stopped resisting the thoughts that come to my mind once one of my pets passes away and let them pass through me without holding on to them or attaching myself to them in any way.

It is just as painful when they leave this world, but the pain goes away much faster, and all that is left are the memories of all the happiness that they brought to our lives (me, wife, kids, and our other pets) and how happy they were living with us and being a large part of our family.

Love all the pics you posted...btw....and keep us updated how Cricket's adaptation will unfold.

Peace.

 

[BlueBlazer]

Your right Stoner. If she's trying to go somewhere we don't want, she'll herd her. It's cute. She's really picking up house training well. A huge part of that is Missy's example. She still has a bunch of accidents, but we're used to that because Spike had poor control of his bladder near the end.

We were hopeful that a puppy would pull Missy out of her funk by working on her maternal instincts. So far it is working out just like our evil plan heh heh heh.

 

[BlueBlazer]

wow...Blue Blazer...just found this thread...and hopefully the majority of the pain from the loss of Spike has passed, and you and your wife are feeling better.

Thanks for your kind words. Yes most of our grief is spent. We didn't want a puppy this soon, but she sure takes up a large part of our attention and that has helped with the loss.

I have my moments still and I'm sure the missus does to. Hauling out Spike's puppy toys for Cricket to play with was both sad because of the memories with Spike and also happy because now Cricket was finding joy in them. Soon we'll be able to talk about him more without having to have a cry. The healing process is going along apace. All things in their time.

On a side note, Missy always coveted a mini version of one of her hedgehog toys that was for Spike. We wouldn't let her have it. When we brought out the toys for Cricket, Missy spotted that toy and nabbed it. (probably expecting to be yelled at) We let her keep it since it was such a moment of triumph for her. She was so happy. Then it did our heart good to see her holding that in her mouth as she played with the puppy, so she wouldn't bite too hard. She used to do the same thing with Spike using one of her bigger toys.

 

[southflorida]

Thanks for your kind words. Yes most of our grief is spent. We didn't want a puppy this soon, but she sure takes up a large part of our attention and that has helped with the loss.

I have my moments still and I'm sure the missus does to. Hauling out Spike's puppy toys for Cricket to play with was both sad because of the memories with Spike and also happy because now Cricket was finding joy in them. Soon we'll be able to talk about him more without having to have a cry. The healing process is going along apace. All things in their time.

On a side note, Missy always coveted a mini version of one of her hedgehog toys that was for Spike. We wouldn't let her have it. When we brought out the toys for Cricket, Missy spotted that toy and nabbed it. (probably expecting to be yelled at) We let her keep it since it was such a moment of triumph for her. She was so happy. Then it did our heart good to see her holding that in her mouth as she played with the puppy, so she wouldn't bite too hard. She used to do the same thing with Spike using one of her bigger toys.

It is really interesting observing the relationships that dogs have with each other. Since me and my wife have grown up children, the majority of our attention at home is focused on our 6 dogs and one cat. We didn't plan on having so many, but simply allowed life to bring them into our experience from the strangest places and circumstances.

The most interesting thing is to watch how the "pack" accepts the new member, and the relationship each animal builds as time goes by.

The way that Missy and Cricket are interacting shows that they will be very close, and I'm sure Cricket will love being a part of your family, just like I'm sure Spike did.

Keep us updated BlueBlazer

 

[Stoner4Life]

On a side note, Missy always coveted a mini version of one of her hedgehog toys that was for Spike. We wouldn't let her have it. When we brought out the toys for Cricket, Missy spotted that toy and nabbed it. (probably expecting to be yelled at) We let her keep it since it was such a moment of triumph for her. She was so happy. Then it did our heart good to see her holding that in her mouth as she played with the puppy, so she wouldn't bite too hard. She used to do the same thing with Spike using one of her bigger toys.

early '90s & some friends stopped by, I met them @ the door and they showed me a toy for Trixie (my 1st springer spaniel), it was a small hedgehog that grunted deeply instead of squeaking when chomped on. I laughed & told them it was gonna scare her shitless.

I got her all wound up by teasing her about a new toy and flashing the hedgehog by her nose, by the time I tossed it across the room it was no longer a toy but instead it was prey. She launched after it & I forget if she bit it or pounced on it but the moment that thing let out that grunt she disconnected from it as fast as she could, got vertical and then made tracks outta the den, we all had a laugh, Trixie loved it after that.

 

[BlueBlazer]

Now the dogs are completely comfortable with each other.

As a result, things have been rambunctious this morning.

Finally they calmed down for a recharge . . .

Missy has been teaching Cricket to chase her like Spike used to do. Cricket needs to develop Spike's sense of when to dodge though. Was coming to let them out for a pee and Missy ran like hell and doubled back (like she always does) to check where I am. Unfortunately for Cricket, she was right behind Missy and got bowled over. She was limping for a minute there. But she's ok now. Puppies are made out of rubber.






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[southflorida]

Great Pics BlueBlazer! That is great that they are getting along so well. Will be watching to see how everything keeps unfolding with your two wonderful pets!

 

[944s2]

great news that they are gettin on well together,,lovely pics..thanks for sharing,,944s2

 

[MJBadger]

BB , I have dug 5 graves under the redwood in the garden in the last 22yrs & I know it hurts like hell to lose your best buddy . Whenever you see a rainbow think of Spike coz he be there on the bridge .

And then . . . just like that, she's ours!

And now the fun begins , best of luck .

 

[BlueBlazer]

Unfortunately, this isn't my first rodeo either. They all hurt and they all still hurt. It's the curse of dog and cat lovers. They really do become part of the family.

Thanks for the kinds words all.

 

[Stoner4Life]

lookin' for some new pics & stories bro.......

 

[BlueBlazer]

The missus takes all the photos, so I'll have to have her send me more. I've used what I have available. I'll give you an update though.

Cricket had her vet appointment. She checks out very healthy, except some puppy worms. We have to give her medicine once a day for a couple of weeks. I take the half-pill and mold cheese around it. Cricket eats it right down. Spike would always eat everything, EXCEPT, the pill. So that's easier. Her poop smelled like a mustard gas attack on a sewage plant. The medicine has already improved that. That is good, because her farts were so bad that when she let one rip it smelled like someone just slid a pile of dogshit under my nose.

She is practically house trained already. She still has an occasional pee accident, but has only pooped in the house twice and that was the first couple of days. (one was the morning before her vet appointment, so I collected the fecal sample they wanted without getting cold)

We found out that she loves the snow. She didn't want to go outside the first time it snowed, but by yesterday she was running around shoveling snow with her face. It was cute as hell. We'll try to get a decent photo of it when she does it again.

Her mouthing is acceptable now. She was mouthing my hand yesterday and gave her head that "neck break" twist and never hurt me. She's pretty damn smart.

It's hard to believe she's only been here a week tomorrow.

 

[supermanlives]

think of the good times..... I was more affected by the death of my dog, than a few friends that croaked...all good things must come to an end...

 

[BlueBlazer]

think of the good times..... I was more affected by the death of my dog, than a few friends that croaked...all good things must come to an end...

I know what you mean.

When my shadow died (a Springer Spaniel mix named Bee Bee), it hit me harder than when my uncle died. Kind of concerned me. But it's not that the dog was more important than the loss of my uncle, I just felt it more because the dog was such a huge part of my everyday life. Still hurts too.

 

[BlueBlazer]

I forgot I had a couple of other photos to post.

We got a puppy play pen for Cricket to sleep in while we're sleeping.

We expected to maybe have to deal with whining, but . . .

She's a good puppy.






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[BlueBlazer]

This has kind of turned into the new puppy thread.

The missus sent me some more photos of Spike:

Treat time! Spike was so funny. When you'd go to give him a treat or table scrap, he'd always sniff it and check it out before he took it. Not like the beast, who eats everything without chewing.

You can tell he was a happy dog. Always smiling.

Here he is on the back of the couch, staring at the missus. That was his favorite pastime. This was pretty much her view most of the time when she was at her computer.

A quiet introspective Spike . . .

This was taken a couple of weeks before Spike died. He was declining and Missy wouldn't leave his side.

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[Stoner4Life]

I forgot I had a couple of other photos to post.

We got a puppy play pen for Cricket to sleep in while we're sleeping.

We expected to maybe have to deal with whining, but . . .

She's a good puppy.

what a character, she's digging that good life, fenced yard, big sister Missy to watch & teach her, uber loving mom & dad, way too cute.