Anna and I finally have a dog. We adopted six-month-old Pippi, a liver-and-white-spotted Dalmatian/pointer mix (we think), from a New Jersey rescue service called Cuddly Creatures. She landed in their foster program through the good graces of a construction worker who saved her from the pound after a carpenter with whom he worked adopted her for his own family, but for some reason decided that they could not keep her.
We spent about two hours meeting Pippi, much of it in a soggy yard under a gray December rain, before signing on the dotted line. She's very wiggly and prone to jumping, which gave me pause. But she hardly ever barks; she clearly is very bright; and, probably the deal-clincher, she's unbelievably cute. Almost every time we walk we're stopped by people fawning over her.
It's been less than a week since we brought Pippi home to our tiny Hoboken apartment, and we're still learning our way around each other. We let Pippi sleep with us the first night, but she tried taking over my half of the bed at 3 a.m., flipping around and wagging her tail in my face. Since then, she bunks on the love seat, and seems perfectly content with the arrangement.
It seems that Pippi has not been properly housebroken yet. The morning after we brought her home, she peed all over our bed. I ended up rushing around with piles of linen in my arms, washing them in the sink and tub while Anna coached me over the phone. Later, Pippi peed on the rug, and most recently on the hardwood floor.
So we have some intense training ahead of us. We've pledged to take Pippi outside every 3–4 hours; we're going to help her walk on the leash correctly instead of darting after birds and eating trash off the street; and we're going to teach her to stop jumping on us, passersby, the bed and the furniture.
But owning a dog is a blast. I love that Pippi always is glad to see me, always wants to play and, for all her shortcomings, is demonstrably willing to learn. That's more than anyone could say about me when I was her age.
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I too recently got a 12 week old puppy a blue nosed pit,that was 3 weeks ago and within a week I have potty trained him, taught him to sit, shake, give you five with differnt paws and lay down and fetch a toy and bring it back to you oh and he doesn't chew on shoes or furniture, it's all work and lots of love he sleeps with me and my hubby, mostly next to me, and you also have to have a feeding schedule same time every day and take them out often, mine now goes to the door and is holding it all night now which is a blessing at first it was twice a night, he is growing like a weed and what a joy a puppy or dog can be, there easier to train when there puppies, Good luck with yours !!! and Merry Christmas
Good for you!! So glad you rescued Pippi. Rescued dogs are the best! They seem to know that you saved them. I have 2.
Thanks, Rosey, for your comments. I totally agree. As a self-identified "dog person," I completely dominate my significant other. He has no voice in any dog decision I make. Thanks for sharing how we pack leaders think.
Ben, your new puppy is so adorable. I can't wait to hear more about the exciting dog journey you and Anna are sure to enjoy. Mazel tov!
Three different dogs. One thing I learned very early on was not to play when I took them out to do their business. I assigned a duty name, "time for chores." Out we'd go, "chores" taken care of, right back in the house with lots of praise and a treat. We could take our dogs anywhere and they would do their "chores" on command, sure made it nice when we traveled. Each of them learned to understand when I asked if that was all the chores they had to do. If it was, they'd head back to the house, if not, sometimes like a little kid they'd stand for a moment and look at me... then take care of the rest of the chores and run for the house. That got extra prase. It wasn't long before I could turn to them and say time for nite-nite chores and they'd go out by themselves.
Glad you got a rescue dog - we have two. Each time we rescued my spouse and I discussed the pros and cons. The last one we took - a 3 month red nose pit - was very, very sick. She is now 7 months and healthy as a horse (and almost as big). They add joy to our lives, I don't know what we would do without them and the rescued cat. Enjoy your dog - she will give you more than you can ever give you!
Pippi is adorable. She looks very much like our Greda, a rescued German Shorthair-Great Dane. The face and ticking are identical. Only Greda is black and white. We got her at 6 months and as an adult, she weighs 100 lbs. Enjoy your new puppy!
I have a 9 month old Gsp/Dalmatian mix, looks very similar