I’m getting a Rhodesiand Ridgeback puppy later this summer. They were born on Sunday night/Monday morning. 3 girls, 2 boys. No pics yet. I already (arguably) have too many pets - a 12 year old Norwegian Elkhound named Gizmo, and two (almost) 16 year-old orange littermate alley cats named Pooka and Goblin ( UncleBeer calls 'em Puke-a and Vomit). So what’s one more?
Tentative names for the new pup - Otis if a boy, Bertha if a girl (though I’m still thinking about alternate girl-dog names). I’d prefer a male, but I’m going to get whichever pup the breeder thinks is the best match for me, i.e. an easy-going non-alpha lazy-ish pup.
Puppy will come home on July 8th. I’m taking 1 week of vacation, and planning on working from home for one week, and working a flexible schedule for a few weeks after that - a couple of hours from home at the end of the day, starting at 3 or so. I’ll have my dog-walker continue to come once a day as well (though a lot earlier in the day than she does now). Thank Og my manager is dog-person.
I’m ready: I’ve picked out a crate. I’ve already got a box full of toys that the current dog wasn’t too enthusiastic about. I need to get a collar or two, new ID tags. I think I have my old puppy-leash around here somewhere. Lessee… Bitter Apple, a couple gallons of Simple Solution…and a case of paper towels. Treats. A clicker. I know where I’m going for puppy class, but still need to sign up.
What am I forgetting?
I’m reading the new edition of “How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend.” Next, “The Art of Raising a Puppy.” Then “How to Survie Your Dog’s Adolescense.” I’ve got about 2 feet of dog books to read again. Plus a couple of clicker-training books on my Amazon list I need to get.
My dog Gizmo loooooooves doing obedience exercises, though we never got more than a CGC (Canine Good Citizen). I probably could have easily gotten a CD (Companion Dog) title on him, but we never took the time to go to trials. We did some agility classes, but it wasn’t his thing; he doesn’t particularly like to jump up on things, so the cat-walk was a disaster. Not too bad on the A-Frame or the table, but anything narrrow or that moved - no way. I’m probably going to try agility with the new pup. May he’ll be a little more interested.