A Dog Day of Summer

   Today was the day . . . . we brought Cocoa home from the animal shelter.  We picked out this perky, curious, kid-friendly chocolate lab mix the other day, had her spayed, and here she is!  Our dog Misty, a 7 year old lab mix, is definitely my husband's baby -- he raised her from a pup before he met me.  So I've always wanted a second dog, and we also wanted Misty, who is so good, to help teach the new puppy how to behave right.

   Little Cocoa did not like the car ride home, whimpering and crying all the way.  When she got home and the door opened to big ole Misty, neither dog was quite sure what to think!  Misty has been around plenty of other dogs and does great, and Cocoa didn't seem intimidated by the ruckus of all the dogs at the shelter.  They are still getting to know each other but seem to be off to a good start.  Already, Cocoa sees Misty do something and get a fuss made over her, and wants to copy it.  I think it's funny that while I'm training Cocoa to go potty outside, Misty will do her thing and then wait patiently outside but by the door while Cocoa takes her sweet time!

   She's a smart little thing, already catching on to commands like "Sit" and "No Bite!"  She is not real thrilled about "Stay".  Cocoa has tasted our toes, Misty's tail, the bed quilt, a few stray bits of popcorn the kids dropped on the floor, some of Misty's food, all of her own food, and even the portable phone (which I think she liked best).  She saw her reflection in the oven window and scared herself!

   She is testing the waters with Misty, trying to figure out whether she is friend or foe.  Misty is keeping a watchful eye on the newcomer, giving a warning glance if the puppy oversteps her boundaries.  She is pretty tolerant, though, letting Cocoa play with her toys.  Cocoa will get hyper and spring at her a little, then remember this doggie is about four times her size!  Then she cries out and bolts back about five feet in case Misty was to pounce back, which she doesn't.

   The kids are loving the new doggy, but we made sure they knew to keep giving Misty the same amount of lovin' as always, too.  I think everyone is adjusting to the new family dynamic pretty well.  Right now both furry ladies are gnawing happily on a little rawhide bone, so all is quiet on our homefront.