It's been a long time since I updated, but with so many things going on, it's been crazy.
As of today, Keeper is 14 weeks old and we've had him 4 weeks. It's hard to think we've had him that long???? It seems like it's been maybe 2. LOL. I guess time has flown. He has been an absolute joy. He is much more of a velcro dog than Denver, he loves to snuggle, and he has a temper that we have to keep him in check for. He thinks that if he snarks at us or throws a puppy tantrum he can have his way, crazy puppy. He is slowly learning that it doesn't work.
Denver has adjusted extremely well to having a brother around. They have a few really good play sessions of the day and once in a while they'll seek each other out to snuggle with - though those times are far between.
We still keep them separated when we aren't able to actively monitor them or when one is awake and one is napping, etc. There have been only minor scuffles over bully sticks but they are working it out (really, Denver lets Keeper take his, and then Keeper won't let Denver have one back...) so sometimes we intervene and either separate them for chew time or put them on opposite ends of the room with a bully and that seems to keep the peace. Scuffle is even probably a strong term.. just a little sniping. There is no issues over food (we do training sessions both apart and together), and it's been great.
However, it's not all positive! Denver has become a MONSTER with marking again. We thought we had it licked, but nope. So we are back to belly bands, both dogs go out every 30 minutes (but he always keeps a little in his tank for marking sigh), and all that jazz. Before with the belly band, he didn't even try to mark - over the weekend he's decided to try to mark even with the band on. So that took a giant leap back. Can't have everything good though, right? (Some of it I understand.. Keeper pees on the peepad, Denver wants to mark overtop of it.. ok.. but not randomly marking the furniture.. sigh.. and the weekend was at the cabin, so it's a new place to him and we all know dogs don't generalize). Also, he's managed to mark Keeper a few times - usually first thing in the morning. Keeper goes out to pee and Denver can't wait to pee in that same spot, so just pees ontop of Keeper. Nothing like bathing a puppy at 6am!
The other weird thing is that Denver is suddenly not very toy-motivated. Before he would play for a long time with toys - both with us and tossing them around himself to play with. He would play fetch with us until we were worn out, etc. Now, he has ZERO interest. It's like bringing in a puppy turned him into an old man at 11 months of age. It's crazy. Keeper is now in daycare 2 days a week, so we have more time to bond, work on training one-on-one etc.. but he just doesn't want to play even then. I'm hoping this attitude doesn't follow us into his agility classes that will be starting (hopefully) in September.
I dug out all my daughter's old clothes to donate (ages 0-6yrs) as second hand stores are open again to accepting clothing .. so I'm pulling a bunch of onesies out while going through them for Denver to wear post-neuter since that will happen in about 2 weeks. Hard to believe he will be a year old shortly!!!
As of today, Keeper is 14 weeks old and we've had him 4 weeks. It's hard to think we've had him that long???? It seems like it's been maybe 2. LOL. I guess time has flown. He has been an absolute joy. He is much more of a velcro dog than Denver, he loves to snuggle, and he has a temper that we have to keep him in check for. He thinks that if he snarks at us or throws a puppy tantrum he can have his way, crazy puppy. He is slowly learning that it doesn't work.
Denver has adjusted extremely well to having a brother around. They have a few really good play sessions of the day and once in a while they'll seek each other out to snuggle with - though those times are far between.
We still keep them separated when we aren't able to actively monitor them or when one is awake and one is napping, etc. There have been only minor scuffles over bully sticks but they are working it out (really, Denver lets Keeper take his, and then Keeper won't let Denver have one back...) so sometimes we intervene and either separate them for chew time or put them on opposite ends of the room with a bully and that seems to keep the peace. Scuffle is even probably a strong term.. just a little sniping. There is no issues over food (we do training sessions both apart and together), and it's been great.
However, it's not all positive! Denver has become a MONSTER with marking again. We thought we had it licked, but nope. So we are back to belly bands, both dogs go out every 30 minutes (but he always keeps a little in his tank for marking sigh), and all that jazz. Before with the belly band, he didn't even try to mark - over the weekend he's decided to try to mark even with the band on. So that took a giant leap back. Can't have everything good though, right? (Some of it I understand.. Keeper pees on the peepad, Denver wants to mark overtop of it.. ok.. but not randomly marking the furniture.. sigh.. and the weekend was at the cabin, so it's a new place to him and we all know dogs don't generalize). Also, he's managed to mark Keeper a few times - usually first thing in the morning. Keeper goes out to pee and Denver can't wait to pee in that same spot, so just pees ontop of Keeper. Nothing like bathing a puppy at 6am!
The other weird thing is that Denver is suddenly not very toy-motivated. Before he would play for a long time with toys - both with us and tossing them around himself to play with. He would play fetch with us until we were worn out, etc. Now, he has ZERO interest. It's like bringing in a puppy turned him into an old man at 11 months of age. It's crazy. Keeper is now in daycare 2 days a week, so we have more time to bond, work on training one-on-one etc.. but he just doesn't want to play even then. I'm hoping this attitude doesn't follow us into his agility classes that will be starting (hopefully) in September.
I dug out all my daughter's old clothes to donate (ages 0-6yrs) as second hand stores are open again to accepting clothing .. so I'm pulling a bunch of onesies out while going through them for Denver to wear post-neuter since that will happen in about 2 weeks. Hard to believe he will be a year old shortly!!!