It's Like Having A Baby Again!

Well, the new puppy, Rascal, has been here for a few days now, and it's been an adventure, to say the least. He's adorable, funny, naughty, and sweet. He spends his days playing with his toys, chasing the cats, rough-housing with our other dog bear, and napping in between.

It's been interesting getting used to having him here. He's so tiny that you really have to watch while just walking through the house. He's always under my feet, as I think I've become his surrogate mother. He follows me everywhere I go and lays at my feet when I sit, but most times, he's in my lap.

He cries and barks when he wants something. Usually it's to get my attention to pick him up. He doesn't like his crate at night, and cries for a few minutes when I put him to bed. He wakes up at around 2am to go outside, and then doesn't want to go back to bed. He'd rather run around and play. After all, he's been asleep for four hours!

Stairs are blocked, as he's too small to use them. He has his own water dish as the one for the older dogs is too big. He can't reach! His food is moistened before each meal, as his teeth are so tiny he has trouble crunching the hard food. He shivers when he goes outside, as his tiny body gets cold fast.

The one thing I am very thankful for, is that he has learned to go potty outside (for the most part!). He's on a schedule, and hardly ever goes in the house. Well, except for the day that I gave him worm medicine. I found out two things that day. Worm medicine causes diarrhea, and my puppy had worms. He's all better now, but I will re-worm him in two weeks just to be sure.

So, life hasn't been the same since Rascal came. It's like taking care of a baby all over again, only this one is smaller and covered with hair, and he bites. I'm constantly looking for him, making sure he's behaving and not into something dangerous. Just while writing this post, I've gotten up five times to check on him. I feed him, take him out, get up at night with him, and hold him. He's well on his way to being spoiled, but then again, all my dogs are.