CHICKENS!! Come hither and tell us about your puppy. NOW!!!

[Inthepotty]

Kept that one quiet you sly fox.

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

Heh. Yeah I've been considering it for a while, but wanted to make sure that it was the right step. Had a chat with my behaviourist a few weeks ago, and she gave Jas another assessment and gave me the go ahead to introduce another dog carefully. DH wouldn't contemplate an adult dog, so after some soul searching and flashbacks to Jas's puppyhood which had me rocking in a corner, we decided to take the plunge. New pup is a cross (cocker/poodle) and we collect him tomorrow. I am both excited enough to wee myself and scared enough to consider a one way ticket to Bermuda. Jasper is eyeing the crate and new equipment with suspicion. Wish me luck Oh, and send

[Inthepotty]

How exciting!
Please return as soon as the little fuckers pissed on your floor and asleep with pictures!!

Has he got a name??

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

Stanley. DH wanted to call him Slash, or Axl, or Zog. I put my foot down.

[topbannana]

Ooh chickens we are picking up our new pup tomorrow too. At the moment I am swinging between excitement, sadness (whichever way you look at it, the pup would not be coming if my beloved BlackDog was still alive :() and pure terror as it is a long time since I had a pup.
DS is counting down the hours and driving us mad, and DH is pretending to be unfazed by it all liar
Perhaps we should hook up tomorrow evening to share and tales of inappropriate peeing :o

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

It's a date!

[Floralnomad]

Good luck with him chickens ,I hope Jas likes him !

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

I think Jas will be most unimpressed at first, and I'll make sure he has space and that the pup doesn't harass him. It's going to be...interesting.

[Karbea]

Good luck. I've had my new pup for a week and a half, the 4 cats are still unsure/confused/freaked out. He thinks they're great even tho they growl/run away.

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

I'm prepared for the first few weeks to be a bit hairy (in every respect) until the pup learns some dog etiquette and Jasper learns not to eat him/run away squealing. The stair gate is in situ between the kitchen and hallway, so that Jas can escape to the living room. Not quite sure what to do about bedtime yet, but it may involve me sleeping on the sofa in the living room with the pup in his crate. Jas sleeps in the kitchen.

[Judyandherdreamofhorses]

Wow. Another one! Good luck.

(Name changer here - I have a springer the same age as Jasper).

[Floralnomad]

Would that not risk making Jas jealous of the puppy ?

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

Not sure. I was thinking more that Jasper might be upset by having the pup in the kitchen with him crying. I'll see how it goes

[lotsofdogshere]

Exciting news chickens, bet you will love your poodle/cocka cross. I had a moment last summer, and came home with a cocker/poodle cross - he is a total delight, well....... he is full on, reactive, jolly, thinks he is cock of the north, swaggers about now he's reached 12 months. He discovered recently that the chickens in our garden are not actually as terrifying as he first thought. Big brown hen did her usual turning, waving her wings and expecting him to race back into the house, tail between his legs - but no, he is no longer feared, and chased her back into the hen run. The other dogs are totally chilled around the hens, and he has avoided them, but now has tuned in to his inner cocker and discovered the joy of flushing ducks when out around local reservoirs. Work in progress to convince him the wickedness of this, and that including hens is Very Bad. What colour is your new pup? Stanley a great name choice, as is the poodle/spaniel cross choice.

[LadyTurmoil]

Ummm, we realise you're busy with picking up new pup today but you do realise we're all waiting for pictures, don't you?!

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

There might be a picture on my profile of a sleepy pup having a kip on my wellies

[ditavonteesed]

one two three, awwwwwwwwwwwwwww, and I had forgotten just how much jas looks like eric. :) good lcuk tonight

[Floralnomad]

Absolutely gorgeous !

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

He is adorable. He is also farting like a trooper, and he snores Jasper is swinging between sniffing him, grrrrring if he touches...well, anything, and pretending he doesn't exist at all. I'm presuming that this is all normal. I'm going to shut Stanley in his crate to eat so that Jasper doesn't mug him

[topbannana]

Ah chickens same here :)
GingerDog is wandering about looking sour and disinterested but growling and snapping when the puppy comes close. The cat is mesmerised with his new toy :)
So far it has not been too bad but he is quite clearly the most independent of puppies and has seemingly no fear
Good luck for tonight, if it all goes horribly wrong we could meet up for 3am and sympathy :o

[idirdog]

How exciting and what a cutie

(Do some counter conditioning with Jasper, everytime the puppy appears or comes close give Jasper some yummy treats, Soon puppy will mean great things to Jasper).

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

Thanks idirdog. I wondered if I should be treating Jas for every non aggressive interaction and ignoring the bad ones? He really is being a star, and has even allowed the pup to have a chew on one of his less favourite toys. He watched him closely the whole time, but did allow it. Pup made a beeline for Jas's bed, though, and I removed him before he gained access. I think that would be a step too far tonight.

[LadyTurmoil]

Awww, he's so tiny and gorgeous! Best of luck for your first night

[poorpaws]

I want him. I want to kiss his nose awww gorgeous.

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

First night report: Put dogs to bed at 11.30, puppy in his crate, both in the kitchen. Didn't hear a peep Woke up at 6, came down to the inevitable accidents and a ravenous puppy. Jasper keeps staring at him and sniffing him a bit, but is generally being very good. The odd grrr and one snarl/snap when the pup chewed my finger through the bars of his crate, but mostly just interest and vague suspicion. Now, to hold my nerve

[HoneyDragon]