Update #2 on my life with Auggie

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Auggie turned 4 months old last Saturday and I found myself smiling while watching his antics and feeling all cozy, happy, and warm inside. Just two months ago I thought I would go insane and I secretly  cursed people who encouraged me to get a second dog, with my DH being at the top of the list. So what changed?

First of all, 2 months make a huge difference in the life of a puppy. Puppies mature and learn fast. That's really good news.

Auggie is doing well ringing the bells when he needs to go potty. We are not 100% solid, he gets distracted when playing with Monty too far away from the backyard door. But I've seen him run from the front door, through the dining room, all the way through the kitchen to the backyard door to ring the bell. So we are getting there. Thanks to Karen's advice he had his first firm poop in weeks. He is allowed in all the rooms of the house when supervised and I just love how he brings his bully stick from his kitchen area into the living room in the evening and plops down right next to us.

I'm also happy to report that as of last Sunday, Auggie feels more comfortable during car rides and I don't have to clean the car (and the dog) after each ride. Perhaps he stopped being nauseous in the car after he stole his homeopathic drops bottle off the kitchen table and chewed it all up. He was supposed to get 10 drops before each car ride, but that did not really work. I guess he's decided he needed to empty the whole little bottle to get rid of his car sickness.

Auggie's first obedience class started last Saturday. The trainer forgot to mention to me that the first session is for humans only. So Auggie got a private lesson from a second trainer while I was being educated on responsibilities of owning a puppy. When I went to pick up Auggie from the back training room, the trainer announced "I'm in love with your puppy. He is so mellow." She obviously has not seen him in the house with Monty. But it made me feel good. I have myself noticed that when away from house, or even separated from his older brother, Auggie is very calm and attentive. A totally different puppy. Our homework this week to tether the puppy to us for an hour a day. Well, it's kind of hard when the pup follows you around the house anyways. Another homework was to make the puppy sit if he wants anything. Well, he already does that. Also, we were supposed to work on the "leave it" command, which I found really challenging since once I have a treat in my hand, Auggie sits down as he is supposed to. I then toss another treat on the floor and I'm supposed to block him from getting to it. He never gets up from the sit and just keeps looking at me without any attempts to get to the treat on the floor. 

And finally, what really prompted me to write this was what happened this morning. My DH gets up at 5:45 and before he leaves for work, he takes Auggie out to go potty, plays with him, feeds him and puts him back in the crate at 6:30 as he leaves. I'm always upstairs sleeping with Monty on our bed. I heard my DH leaving this morning as usual and it was quiet downstairs in the kitchen where Auggie's crate is. 10 minutes later Monty jumps off the bed and whines by the bedroom door asking to go out. He needed to go potty. So I walked him downstairs and let him out, which of course, woke Auggie up. I tried to ignore that and Monty and I went back to bed. The little guy was not happy and kept barking in his crate downstairs. Since I'm a sleepy-head and was not ready to get up at 6:45, I got up and went downstairs to get Auggie out of his crate. He was happy as a clam to see me. I picked him up and carried him upstairs into the bedroom and got under the covers. He settled between my legs and fell asleep. So I had Monty sleeping on my DH's side of the bed and a little bugger sleeping peacefully between my legs for another hour, placing his chin on my leg few times. I only dozed off a little bit, trying to stay awake to keep an eye on him and also absorb all the love. It felt great.

Monty was 5 months old when he decided he no longer wants to sleep in his crate downstairs. I'm wondering when Auggie realizes that everyone else is upstairs at night and will want to ditch the crate. I don't think he is nowhere near as ready as Monty was at that age, but who knows. A month in puppy's life can make such a huge difference.

Auggie, I'm sorry I was so negative about you at the beginning. You are a sweet boy and I love you, my Itty-Bitty-Buddy-Boo.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, what a great update! Auggie, my friend, I think you are a keeper after all! Your mom is smitten!

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Auggie, I knew you had it in you!  What a good boy... its' amazing how our doods mature so quickly.  :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Aw, you sound like a new woman. Congratulations to you and Auggie on getting to this new stage.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I am so glad you posted an update, Jarka. I have been so worried that Auggie was such a disappointment to you. It sounds as though he is going to be a wonderful member of the family albeit not the same dog as Monty but a love-bug anyway! Congratulations for making it this far. It will continue to get better. Big hugs and doodle kisses for all of you.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

That is the right word: disappointment. You are right. I just feel so bad that I was so unhappy and judgmental about a puppy. I kept comparing him to Monty; I did not like his hair, I just did not like all his craziness. How come Auggie does not ring the potty bell on his third day being home? Monty did. How come he surfs the counter and pulls the table cloth off of the kitchen table? Monty never did. How come he does not get he's supposed to go potty only in one place in the backyard? Monty got it right away. That's just wrong! He's just a little puppy. I'm sure Monty made me insane as a puppy as well, I just don't remember it. All I remember is all the nipping Monty did (I still have the old clothes with holes to remind me of it). But with Monty being my first puppy and his fluffy looks, I was in love with him from the first meeting. Raising a puppy is a lot of work and there is no place for judgment and disappointment. They have their own personalities, but it's US who teach them right from wrong and create a balanced little creature that just adores us not paying any attention to the fact that we are not perfect.

Thank you all, my DK friends, for your support.

[Candice & Bailey]

Oh he's a darling! It sounds like all things are going well in Auggie-world!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

This is sooo good to hear. That first 4-6 months are so trying. But you are seeing more of the positive of two doodle ownership.....double the love!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jarka, I have been worried about you, so I was thrilled to read this update. I love Auggie's look :) I love one on one time with my dogs. I try and schedule grooming appointments separately, so I have time with the other dog. They really are very different without the other and it is good to give them attention individually. You will find there will be things about Monty you prefer and vice versa as they grow older. I did not crate Vern very long at all in the beginning and I always brought my dogs into bed with me in the early morning. I love that time of day when they are both beside me.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Laurie, don't worry about me. Based on your advice, I started drinking heavily and things got better immediately. Just kidding. Getting my 8-9 hours of sleep helped as well. Just like you, I LOVE mornings when Monty gets on the bed after my DH leaves for work and I just can't wait till I have two fuzzy bodies up there every morning kicking me as they dream about running on a huge meadow.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

LOL....drinking always helps :) I really do LOVE his look. Reminds me of Stuart and I think he is just adorable. He looks like a stinker! LOL

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

He DOES look like a stinker, that's the thing. His eyes are very dark so you can't see the pupils (although I think they are getting lighter), and they seem always so tiny, half closed, like he is thinking about bad things to do. Then there are those old-man eyebrows. I can't wait for him to turn into Stuart. LOL

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

He is the one who is going to make you laugh :) The hard ones always do!!