Sometime around my birthday I got the bug to get another dog and somehow convinced the family it was a good idea. My online search was for a female black and white dog and while I printed out pictures for the family to look at, I made the decision who to apply for. The first dog I applied for is named a Amelia and is a beautiful girl who at the time was going to a board and train program for manners and obedience. It was so much fun watching her learn on the trainer's videos. She is around two and would be close to Jake's age. But the trainer did not think she would be good with cats and there were other families interested in her so I sadly moved on.
I moved on to a girl named Roxie. Her online bio said she was five months old, good with kids, dogs, cats and everything else she had met. She was being fostered in TN and would come up on a transport. So I applied for her and was put in contact with her foster mom, Kate, in TN. We emailed with questions, answers, and pictures and started texting. That was on Monday. I told Kate about my family and our dog history, Eddy and Crazy Jake. She told me how she looks for free dogs on craigslist because that can mean trouble and she fosters them until they get their forever home. She sent me a screen shot of the ad for a free puppy found as a stray. She was about seven weeks old and no Mama dog would let a baby that young stray!
and a current picture of her.
I did ask if anyone else was looking at Roxie because I had gotten attached to Amelia and it was hard to lose her even before I got her. She said yes but the other family did not have any other dogs at home. Later on Tuesday the woman at the rescue group emailed me if I was still interested in Roxie and I said yes and the family was also. Her next email was that we were chosen to get her and I was so excited!! So we made it Facebook official that evening.
Kate was fostering another dog, Ellen, who was going to come up and live in the next county over. The next transport was scheduled for February 3 and we were put on the schedule for them to deliver Roxie to us. The girls went to their last vet appointment the Saturday before coming up. Roxie weighed in at 30.5 lbs.
I made a side by side of Jake on the day we got him at 11 months and 36 lbs. And Roxie at five months and 30 lbs. She is a little brusier and of course we will get her DNA done as well!
Kate sent me a photo of her trying to sleep in a too small bed when I asked if she likes dog beds. Jake is a bed destroyer so ours have been put away. She is not a bed destroyer!
So she got two! And a pink leash, treat jar and a toy, because she does not destroy those either.
And I got her name tag too.
And her overnight bag came as well before she did. Jake has one too but his is in red.
Saturday morning we had to be at the pick up place and the transport group stressed being on time or early. And checking their automated messages to make sure they were not running early or late. We had time to eat but I was so nervous about missing them that I could not sit and eat. And it was freezing outside so I stood in the doorway of the rest stop at watched. I saw a group of people all waiting at the back of the parking lot and not leaving so I figured they were waiting for the transport as well. I meet Ellen's new Mom and talked to a few other families waiting. One family drove down from Rochester, NY for their pick up and were about 3 hours early!!!
The transport was about 25 minutes late and we all rushed towards them as they pulled in, wanting to meet our dogs and get out of the cold.
Baylor finally was able to get physically excited about getting Roxie. He had told me earlier in the week he was mentally excited but was not able to physically show it. Where as I was busting out of my skin in excitement for the last week and a half!
The transport people take photos of each person with their new dog and posts them to their FB page at the end of their long day.
For the long day she went through, leaving TN 22 hours ago and riding in a trailer with a ton of other dogs in a travel crate, and being handed over to a stranger, she did really well taking to us. I took her out to see if she needed to go potty but she just looked around so we got out of the cold and into the car.
Baylor and I sat in the back to get to bond with her. She was giving kisses and handling it all really well.
We sent Kate our first selfie so she would know we had her finally. Kate was glad to hear she made it safe to us and loved the photo.
Gloria was trading in her car after the dog pick up so Baylor and I played with the dog and the phone.
We put a sweatshirt on her because it was really cold! She was just happy as can be sitting in the car with Baylor while we did the paperwork on the new vehicle.
She even took a nap. I took her for a little walk and she still did not have the go. But I don't know how much access they have to water while on the transport so I was not too surprised.
When we got home Gloria and Baylor took Roxie out behind the tress and I got Jake. Everything said to introduce them in neutral places.
Initially Jake did OK with her but then his hair went up and I pulled them apart. Jake is usually a fairly friendly dog so I was a bit surprised.
I took Jake for a walk and they took Roxie inside. Not thinking they feed her in the middle of the living room. not in her crate or another room. Jake walked in the house and attacked. I had him on his leash so he could not get to her but he was full on dog aggressive! I was in shock at the intensity of his reaction. We kept them separate and tried to figure out what to do. At one point we had Roxie in her crate and Jake was with me on his leash. She was sitting in the crate giving him some side eye, growling! She had spunk and was not going to just cower down to him. But I did not need my old dog wounding my new dog in the first hour. I took Jake upstairs and messaged an dog park friend. She told me I need to remind Jake I was the boss and I decide who gets to come into the house.
So Jake got his collar on and I had to use the vibrate on him twice when he reacted. Twice is all it took and he did a 180 and was like, "wanna play?" They have been playing ever since. It has not been all sunshine and roses but it has not been a killing field either. Roxie has moxie and is a perfect playmate for Jake. He does not give her any leeway!
At times we had peace but it was mostly playing. Outside I kept her on a leash because I was not sure how they would do out there and she was not familiar with our yard.
In the afternoon Gloria took Baylor to a birthday party and I stayed with the kids.
They shared couch space for a little nap.
And went back to playing, Jake is a$$ up on his head playing.
Sunday we had snow and it was her first PA snow. She liked it well enough.
By the afternoon I had to let her off the leash because all they wanted to do was play and run.
She meet Grimm and both were OK with each other.
Grimm was enjoying the bed too.
Working on sit together.
She is a pretty girl!
And loves chewing on Jake!
She is a pretty girl and the whole family is glad we decided to get her. I think Jake is now as well!
I worked from home one day due to the school closing and Baylor being home. Roxie stayed in the dining room with me in her bed for most of the day.
And Jake slept in the living room.
Most of the time these two are playing under the bench. This was a rare moment of peace between the two.
Wednesday was her first day at daycare and she did great. They loved her and we loved the quiet evening of day care coma.
Like all older siblings Jake wants whatever Roxie has and right now it is her bed. He used to have beds, but he chewed them up. He does like this snugly bed though and has not tried to destroy it.
She made the photo dump from Canine Clubhouse and I sent it to Kate. She loved it so much she said she shared it with her co-workers. Roxie used to go to work with her so they all know her. It is such a cute photo I had it made into a magnet when Shutterfly had their free magnet offer.
All three kids sleeping in the kitchen area with me after another day care day.
Our dog park is closed due to mud so we have been going to one in Dillsburg. Mostly our park people though but good to see them. Roxie did good, a bit toy possessive but willing to play with the other dogs once they were in the park. A barker when they were outside the fence though.
Jake and Bean playing tug.
Tired puppies.
Jake did not want to sleep upstairs and Gloria left him in the living room instead of putting him in the crate. He had a little party destroying three DVDs.
I caught them trying to share the bed. Or Jake trying to muscle his way in! Another magnet in the making!
Another run in the snowy dog park!
Another another kid in love with the dog bed.
Coming home to these two waiting for me is awesome!
For Valentine's Day they got Ginger Apple Bacon treats with yogurt coating and sprinkles.
And a quiet evening because they were at CC all day playing! And they actually slept close to each other on the couch instead of separate ends.
Since she does not destroy soft toys I bought Roxie her own Barkbox and it was a NY theme with a soft pigeon, taxi and Statue of Liberty head ball.
All dressed up in a pretty scarf. She is a good girl so far!
The only time we have issues now is with bones and Jake's toys. We usually keep them separate because Jake puts her in a headlock when she makes a move if he has something, even if she has the same thing. But he was sleeping in and she was chewing a bone right behind him. He let her go for a while but when he woke up and she went to move, he jumped on her. She is learning to avoid him when he has something though you can tell she wants it as well.
Later they each had a bone and he went to where she was and chewed on his right behind her.
They don't usually play together but when it is just the two of them, they work it out. She is playing tug with him and he was not giving her any slack.
And it was super muddy! But they were having a good time with the other dogs all getting muddy. She was not really into walking through the mud and gingerly stepped though it or would jump over it if she could. Jake did not care and loves water and mud!
I brought her a ball she could not destroy. She is like her brother and tennis balls must be shredded upon first sight.
We had a nice hour of playing and then went home to get a bath. She is not fond of them at all. All sparkly and white in the face again.
While Jake looks like he is not, he does not mind them and will jump in when I ask him to.
And my tub after two dirty dogs!
Shiny dog!
The first two weeks were an adjustment for all of us but it has gone really well considering the rough start we had. I am so glad we decided to get a second dog, she is a great addition to our family!
