Finding Our Next New Normal!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

After we lost Sophie in March we began the task of figuring out what our "new normal" was going to be.  We quickly decided that our new normal should not include just one doodle so we went on the wait list for a puppy to come home at the end of August. (They were actually born yesterday).   Then along came HoneyBear, quickly followed by our meant to be Miss AnnaBelle!  Our new normal became what some (including me) might term a little crazy.  A 10 month old puppy along with a 10 week old puppy and a 5 year old Grumpy Doodle was a full time job.  We quickly found ways to deal with it and The Grump quickly decided that she and Honey could be friends, but she was holding out judgement on being friends with AnnaBelle.  AnnaBelle and Honey became quick friends, so much so that they had to be monitored when out loose, which meant AnnaBelle got lots of time in her little playpen.  As AnnaBelle grew Lucy started to play with her more and more.  First outside, then in the house.  She and AnnaBelle didn't play as rough as AnnaBelle and Honey did but she also didn't always want to play when AnnaBelle did.   We all managed to co-exist for 8 weeks, learning what worked and what didn't.  Then yesterday, we found ourselves saying good-bye to HoneyBear and coming inside to a really quiet house.  Wow ... what do we do now.  We sort of felt that after Honey left that we would be able to leave AnnaBelle out loose in the house a lot more, so the first thing we did was let her out.  She and Lucy were co-existing peacefully.  AnnaBelle has learned what Lucy's warnings to her mean (for the most part) and she seems to respect her!  However, about an hour later, here is what I found:

After a little nap and some lunch we decided to take a little ride with both girls over to Mamaw's house.  Lucy usually stayed home with Honey while she was here except for some special outings because taking 3 dogs anywhere requires preparation and patience.  Lucy had not allowed AnnaBelle in the backseat with her previously, but I decided yesterday that maybe they had made enough progress to give it another try:

It was AnnaBelle's first time buckled in and Lucy did just fine with her laying up there with her.  No growling so I think we are making some progress.

The remainder of yesterday and so far today things are going really well.  AnnaBelle even gave me a little "woof" awhile ago at the back door to let me know she wanted out.  She hasn't had too many opportunities to go to the door to ask to be let out because she is normally just taken out when she came out of her playpen.  She is doing really well with her potty training and we have had no accidents so far since she has been given more freedom in the last 2 days.  She is so cute in that she has learned she gets a treat when she comes in from potty and she now knows sit as well.  So, she runs in the back door and immediately turns around sits and looks up at me for her treat!  I'm pretty sure that one "woof" to go out was just so she would get another treat, but I made her stay out until she pottied or at least went through the motions. 

It is pretty much Monkey see Monkey do as she does all the things that Lucy does.  She loves to be under the desk when we are in the Den:

She knows to respect Lucy's wishes and knows how to hide behind something bigger than Lucy when she wants to mess with her:  Dad, I'm going in for that toy, so cover me if she explodes, ok!

So, things are getting back to our "new normal" which today included a haircut for Lucy and she (and I) are both exhausted.

AnnaBelle was 15 weeks old yesterday and tipped the scales at a whopping 20.5 lbs.  She is going to be a wonderful little Sister to Lucy and together they will be our new normal!  I can already tell part of that new normal is going to be picking up toys.  She loves toys.  L&S were never really that interested in them as they had each other.  AnnaBelle will drag out 15 toys and if you pick them up and put them back she drags them out again! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

You know, I'm not sure how things would have been different.   It was nice to see Lucy playing again with Honey (up until we had to shut it down as they played to hard).  Lucy seemed happy again.  I think it was the size of AnnaBelle that threw her.  She was the same way with my Brother's Maltese when we baby sat her.  She is about 5 lbs.  Lucy never warmed up to her very much.  She learned to exist, but never played with her too much.  Now that AnnaBelle is bigger they are playing much better.  So possibly Honey was a good distraction for her.  Obviously we originally thought it was Honey that was going to be in the crate for 8 weeks, but as it turned out it was AnnaBelle that spent the most time there.  In the end though it seems like a win win all the way around so we will take it.  Honey got what she needed, Lucy and AnnaBelle look like they are going to be great friends and AnnaBelle seems to be doing well with her new found freedom.  I was a little afraid we would be reverting back to stage one of house breaking, but she is doing very well so far.  Like we said when AnnaBelle arrived in our lives earlier than planned ... everything happens for a reason. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LIKE!!!!!!!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

I wish DK had a like/love button:)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Like

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

like

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

LIKE!

[Camilla and Darwin]

She is so cute! I can't wait to hear more about these two!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Wonderful blog, Sheri and 2 beautiful doodles!  I think the new normal sounds pretty nice.  Not only did you do a wonderful thing for Honey, but you have such a lovely approach to life.  "The new normal" and "good enough" are two of the best mantras I've picked up on DK. Thank you. We're all going to enjoy watching Annabelle grow up. She's a smart one for sure :)

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Good to know that your new normal is looking like a good normal, best wishes to you all. AnnaBelle is growing up so fast, a beauty indeed.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you so much for sharing.  I have been thinking about your family a lot lately and wondering how it was going.  I think everything is going to work out perfectly between the girls. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

Happy, Happy, Happy pup!! So glad it is all settling out and Lucy will just love her little sister someday!

[Pat and Traveler]

That's a pretty nice new normal!  Thanks again for all you did for HoneyBear.