It wasn't planned. Luna was on the deck doing her sunbathing. I didn't realize she was out there. Tucker was released from his puppy pen, did his "business" out on the lawn and allowed his freedom in the kitchen which has access to our deck on that side of our house. Tucker learned how the doggie door works and can let himself in and out, which he finds quite entertaining.
He goes out and begins his puppy play when I hear this kitty hiss. There is Luna walking as slow as possible (smart kitty!) trying to make her way to the doggie door to escape this creature she sees on her deck. (Any one with kitties knows that they think they own the home and we merely reside here to do as they bid).
Tucker is staring at this odd looking pup (to him) and doesn't jump, bark or move. Just stares. Waiting. The game of puppy pounce could be imminent! Luna is growling and looks back with warning to Tucker. Back off you...you...interloper! I am sure that between Luna and Stewie that they feel this little puff ball will be leaving and the sooner the better. They can't go into the kitchen or deck without passing through a gate.
Tucker just stares.
Luna manages to escape and dash off to safer zones where she knows brilliantly that the puff ball can not go. Yes, she knows. She, after all, is a kitty. Supreme thinker of her domain.
Stewie has found that he is fed up with the boarder. He huddles on the couch in the evening, observing inconspicuously with one eye, of the play going on below in his "Man Room", the room he always has couch time with his mom and dad. Now dad is on the floor with that puff ball yapper. Mom sits with Stewie, finding that sitting on the floor to watch TV straining on her neck. Stewie and I cuddle. He isn't buying it all yet. That we love him as much as we always have. That we are falling in love with little Tucker too and have room in our hearts for both of them. No, Stewie isn't there yet.
Tucker has had much to do this past week. He wants to be busy and active and that means Tim and I have to think of what we can offer Tucker to do. Chew toys are fine but outside he wants to run around and play. He can also get into trouble by pulling up the grass which we frown upon. He can find the smallest rocks or twigs and take off with them as well. So what to do?
Being a herding breed, a ball was perfect. We have this game of dog soccer where I kick the ball and Tucker follows it, stops it, and oddly enough, sometimes puts his paw on it. Most times the ball is faster than him but he always lays down when it "stops" and "waits" to see what happens. That means I come and kick it again and the game starts over. He can do this for quite awhile till I can tell he is "tuckered" out and we take a break.
Next I remembered we had a pop open tunnel that Ryan use to use and I brought that out. First agility game! He caught on to the going through the tunnel with ease. He also likes to roll it by standing against the side and walking on his back legs. Pretty funny to watch.
Sometimes he crawls inside and just lays there.
As for Stewie....he is little by little getting use to Tucker. He does quite a bit of the lip curl but less than he use to. Puppies have a lot of energy and an older dog can tolerate only so much, so I do often let Stewie have his own time away from Tucker. I do laugh at Stewie because when the puppy pen is open he does go in there and lays down on Tucker's bed. Often bringing the puppy toys in with him. I guess he is trying to let Tucker know it is not all his.
When I first brought Tucker home we right away went to our back lawn. It was clear he had never been on grass. He wobbled around like a little drunk, falling left and right, sitting on his wee little tush. Success he did a wee little tinkle and I scooped him up with much praise.
I brought him into our kitchen where we have our makeshift puppy pen. Stewie observed all this with one eye my way and one eye to Tucker. His look was "who is this?" Tucker came up to sniff through the pen at Stewie who stalked off. Okay....not exactly being hospitable.
I tried to keep the rest of the day quiet for our new family member to let him settle in. I took him outside to do "his business" and he was successful every time. Yeah!!! Stewie would come out with us and he got the big praise too, though he took it with confusion of why I was giving him the verbal high five for something he just does. Little Tucker would walk so slowly around the yard trying to figure out this green stuff under his feet. It was like he couldn't decide to like it our not.
Amazing how a puppy adapts. Within 24 hours he was walking around on the green grass with ease. The step up onto our deck was another story. He hadn't done steps either. He'd try to go up and sometimes roll over backwards. He'd get up and do it all over again and then he was up walking on the wood deck. More new stuff. Lot's to potentially chew on. I had to give him the "No" every time that happened.
Stewie still was giving him the "stink eye". The first night Stewie couldn't understand why we didn't hurry up to the "Man room" for TV time after dinner like we always do. Stewie loves TV, especially any animal shows. Don't you watch TV with your pooch? His look was "Hey what gives?" Here we were sitting on the kitchen floor getting to know Tucker, trying to get Stewie to come in too and he was just not interested.
I expected this. It's not going to happen right away. In fact, I don't expect much for even a month. Patience. Lot's of love and patience. Oh, and let a silly puppy mature and understand doggy boundaries helps.
