Zoey turned six months old two weeks ago and it’s hard to believe that she’s gone from this on her first night home…
To this…
…at six months old.
The number one question I get is “How are Sullie and Zoey getting along?” I’ve been promising a post on adding a second dog for a while and it feels like we’re finally all settled in and I’m ready to share.
In short, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I don’t know if I’ll ever go back to having one dog again. (You can read all about how I decided to get a second dog in this post.)
I have to admit that on the first night Zoey came home, I was an emotional wreck. I didn’t know how Sullie would react and I knew this would change things for her forever. I did research on how to introduce an older dog to a new pup. A lot of it seemed overly complicated and involved keeping them separated, introducing them outside, etc. Most said the older dog would likely ignore the puppy for anywhere from a few days to a few months. I could totally see where all of this could be necessary and true but I just knew somehow that wouldn’t be the case for us.
Sullie was immediately very interested in this little fluffy creature. She was nothing but sweet and welcoming and my eyes filled with tears.
Sullie and Zoey bonded quickly and they’ve been inseparable ever since. I wondered if the novelty would wear off but it totally hasn’t. Sullie has made life with a puppy SO MUCH easier. She’s literally been a babysitter. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said, “Sullie…take care of your sister.” (You know what I mean.) My heart would break a little every time Zoey would run outside behind Sullie and squat and pee right next to Sullie while she was peeing. Zoey has definitely mimicked a lot of her behavior.
From day one of bringing Zoey home, I promised myself that I would always make sure that Sullie felt like she was my #1 girl. I always make sure to give her just as much love and attention as I give her sister. I probably praise, pat and cuddle her more now than I even did before.
I was worried that having two big dogs might be a little overwhelming but it’s been totally manageable. I swear, it’s easier to have two instead of one because they keep each other company and play all the time. I don’t feel as guilty when I am busy and can’t give them as much attention as I would like to.
One downside would be the mess in my house. Between the dirt they track in from outside and the hair, I vacuum pretty much every single day. They are also just big and my house is pretty small so it’s a lot of dog running around.
The trainer recommends not leaving the toys out for the pups to have access to all the time so they don’t think the house is a playground but I think I get equal enjoyment out of seeing them play and just can’t take them away. Sullie has been about 1,000x more active since Zoey joined the fam and given that she’s turning 9 this summer, I am grateful for that. I think Zoey is definitely keeping Sullie young!
Let’s talk a little more about Zoey at six months…
Hitting the six month mark was a little like magic. She’s done teething and is finally starting to settle down. And I’m confident saying she’s finally 100% housebroken…so confident that I threw out the old living room rug and bought a new one. (It was past the point of return.)
She’s not biting and chewing as much now that she’s got her big girl teeth. She’s a bit of a thief and loves to steal my stuff. I’ve lost a few pairs of shoes. I’d say the biggest issue we’re working on right now is counter surfing. She’s nabbed everything from a stick of butter to a whole portobello mushroom cap. Speaking of food…we’ve cut back to two meals a day instead of three and switched her to the same food Sullie eats instead of puppy food. Girl LOVES to eat. Her funniest eating quirk is that she loves fruits and veggies, especially when they’re crunchy and raw. Frozen fruit and frozen peanut butter bones and kongs have been life savers. Training is going well and I’ll write another post about that experience later.
She’s at a really fun age right now and I’m soaking up the last bit of her puppyness while it lasts. She’s growing the most beautiful coat that’s light golden and wavy down her back.
I love both of my beautiful girls! I know I’m bordering on crazy dog lady status but I don’t care. These two are just awesome. As I posted last week, we have a nightly cuddle party on the floor before bed. We’re all really, really happy!
What has your experience been with having two dogs and introducing a new pup? I’m sure that some have had different experiences and I’d love to start a conversation.
