I much prefer dogs a little older. Dogs who have their own personality.
At four and a half months Mary is still half stupid puppy, half quick witted bitch
It's week one and she is doing very well indeed
She's almost house trained ( two hourly toileting)
She sleeps, quietly in her crate all night ( with George sleeping next to her on his own cushion)
And she's bright enough not to overplay her hand with the other dogs and Albert.
Winnie has come around somewhat and after three days of sulking, with her face pressed firmly against the living room wall, she has reluctantly accepted the mad galloping, goggle eyed baby with all the resigned exasperation of Walter Matthau from " Grumpy Old Men"
Friday morning I caught Mary tugging manfully at the fat folds on Winnie's face. She was having a hey ho time.....After a few minutes of chewing the puppy moved on to pastures new leaving a somewhat nonplussed Bulldog staring up at me with a clear " you've done this to me, you miserable fucker" expression on her face
Like I said, it's all going swimmingly.
The dynamics must be so interesting to observe.
ReplyDeleteI have said it before and I will say it again - there is nothing so tolerant, good natured and enduring as bulldog. My guess is that she loves her to bits already.
ReplyDeletePoor Winnie.
ReplyDeleteI prefer cats to kittens for similar reasons. Kittens are cute, but it is the cats of character which steal my heart.
At Christmas you should arrange a pet nativity play for the good people of Trelawnyd - perhaps in the village hall. You have already got your Mary. George can play Joseph the Carpenter. Albert will be Baby Jesus (The Messiah) and Winnie? Let me see. Winnie can take the part of The Angel Gabriel - descending from the ceiling on a wire, a heavy duty wire I suggest.
ReplyDeleteI think i have a block and tackle in the shed
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ReplyDeleteHi John! I've been stalking your blog but not commenting lately, and have enjoyed reading about Mary. It all reminds me (of course) of the antics of a Scottie that I brought home over 4 years ago who also pushed and challenged the limits of our most patient of dogs. The puppy-hood stuff doesn't last long, and some of it I'm glad about, other things I miss.
ReplyDeleteKim , you have been through the ringer too have you not......poor you
DeleteI've always preferred older dogs, a few grey hairs around the muzzle usually means they have mellowed.
ReplyDeletePoor Winnie, she looks somewhat fed up with Mary's attention, so I hope she will firmly put the little pup in her place.
ReplyDeleteOur last three dogs have all been older, retired, breeding females, and all have the most beautiful temperaments. Only the latest one, who is just six, has any puppyish ways about her, and the ten year old is already a calming influence. As "oldies" we are extremely glad that the dogs know when to take a nap !
To be fair winnie is incredibly placid when it comes to being baited in any way.....
Deletepoor winnie!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way when we have toddlers visiting.
ReplyDeleteEdo you face the wall and sulk too?
DeleteI'm with Winnie on this, Old Dogs Rock! Too bad youthful enthusiasm is wasted on the young.
ReplyDeleteI am only enjoying cat enthusiasm at the moment, which can be quite funny when the Other Cat is 11 years old and has poor eyesight.
ReplyDeleteBut I look forward to having a silly puppy. There is nothing like a puppy or a kitten to lighten your heart .. they don't do it on purpose, it is just part of their being.
Oh that Winnie face ... she must get a thousand kisses a day !
I love older dogs too. But am totally in love with my [now] five month old Lab. He gets belted by old Eddy, the Jack Russel on the yard. Other than that he's been a delight and will make the much needed [in South Africa] guard dog. xx
ReplyDeleteI have always adopted adult cats, not kittens. the adults are harder to place in a forever home.
ReplyDeleteMy first kitten was the baby, very tiny, abandoned and found in the snow ! But one day not long ago, I saw an 11 year old cat for adoption at a shelter. The idea that he was 11, no one would want an old cat, I went straight down there and got him. He is the biggest love , sweet and quiet and huge .. a blue eyed Himalayan .. I adore him. so does the kitten.
DeleteLove that Winnie. It will all calm down soon. The poor dear girl.
ReplyDeletePriceless!
ReplyDeleteI like children better than babies. I hate all the worry, work, continual tending and general fear of having a child under two in my house. I love children . . .
ReplyDeleteFour year old grand daughter eating roast dinner with myself and her mum.
" Why can't you marry people that are in your own family?" said grand daughter. My daughter went on at length about family was one thing and it was a different sort of love etc., Then grand daughter looked up from stuffing mashed potato in her Aunt Bessy Yorkshires.
" I think I will marry a cat then" I think I am with her there. Love Andie xxx
Out of the mouth of babes
DeletePuppies don't start calming down until they're 16 -17 months old, so be prepared.
ReplyDeleteAt least Winnie isn't 'chewing' back.
ReplyDeleteI bet Mary and Winnie become the best of friends.
ReplyDeleteThey both have such great expressive faces .. Poor Winnie .. lol
ReplyDeleteWe can certainly sympathize here at our house. Our collective bunch of almost 13, 8 and the new one at just 5 months - we tend to get those "you fucker" looks from the almost 13 year old Willow mostly. Fun. Or something. I for one can't wait for the silly, stupid puppy phase to be a thing of the past. I am sure our other 2 are thinking the exact same thing!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad someone else can understand
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ReplyDeleteMore Winnie & Mary videos would be nice.
ReplyDelete(You sitting outdoors in your check pyjamas there? Classy)
Im a classy bitch
DeleteGive Winnie some extra TLC to know that she's valued - that is, if you've got any left.
ReplyDeleteWinnie is very stoic. We saw some bulldog soft toys today in Ikea, my son said, ooo look Winnies !!!
ReplyDeleteI do believe she has an international following now
DeleteFunny. Good description. :)
ReplyDeletePoor Winnie. I do hope you're giving her some extra kisses.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jim, my orange tabby first came on the scene, he turned the house upside down. It'd been so long since we had a young one that all of us found his energy and antics draining us.
A friend from work came up today and made a big fuss of her
DeleteYou must be mistaken; Winnie would never use such language!
ReplyDeleteYou can post all the animal photos you like, by the way :)
Yes, please !
DeleteHoot!
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of an old saying " what can't be cured must be endured " ....
ReplyDeleteYep, I don't get those 'all puppy' calendars and such, or people who dump half grown dogs to get another 'cute puppy'. I find the puppy stage rather stressful because you are trying so hard to get it right and make sure they grow up into a great dog, and of course being alert enough to keep that silly pup alive long enough to become that great dog!
ReplyDeleteWhen thehamish was a tiny puppy he thought Watson was his Mum and he tried to nurse. Poor Watson just look somewhat baffled and let him try a few times. thehamish got the idea and just snuggled with him till the day Watson died.
ReplyDeleteWatson was just so understanding and took really good care of thehamish. Which is why I think thehamish is so lost without Watson around. .
All your dogs are very understanding to little Mary. And Winnie being the only Mum gud dug, is going to be the Mum for awhile.
Little puppies are so cute but I would rather have an older dog also.
cheers, parsnip
A delightful way to start a day, with updates on the goings on between your lovable canine companions. I never tire of seeing or hearing about them all and with pup Mary in the picture now, I look forward to these posts even more. She and Winnie are likely to become great friends, what with dear Winnie being so tolerant and Mary being so persistent.
ReplyDeleteReading the comments makes me want to have a dog even more :)
ReplyDeletePoor Winnie.
ReplyDeleteI'm never getting a puppy again ..... unless of course it's a Pug ;-)
This is delightful. I knew they would work it all out.
ReplyDeleteNow I wait on pins and needles for your synopsis of last night's The Walking Dead.
I've been so busy that this is the first I've heard of Mary. I'm glad Penelope is about 18 months old. She doesn't chew on stuff. She's pretty calm.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie