If Big Brother Can Do It ...

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

Declan, as many of you know, hasn't been with me for very long. He's four months old and has had absolutely no socialization. He's afraid of everything new and different because he has no frame of reference for anything at all, so my job is to help him learn and grow and experience life so that he can meet new experiences with interest and curiosity instead of fear. His saving grace is that he's an extremely good-natured and naturally social little fella, so if I do my job he'll be fine.

Lachlan, on the other hand, is my furry social butterfly. Of course I've had Lach since he was nine weeks old and we've had many adventures together, and I've been careful to keep his experiences fun and positive, so when we go someplace new he's all "woo-hoo, COOL!"

Declan's just learning about things like leashes and collars so that we CAN go places, but the recent ice and snow hasn't helped AT ALL (it's pretty counter-productive to fall ON the puppy), so when he started puppy class yesterday it was his first time out of the house (other than the vet) since I brought him home. He had fun in the end, but it was pretty overwhelming for the wee tyke.

Today I thought "well, I'll take him for a short trip down to the pet store about 10 blocks from my house." Yeah, no. He wouldn't walk through the front door and he's too big for me to pick up and carry. I already had Lachlan crated 'cause I wasn't ready to try to walk both of them together ... but I leaned back against the door and thought about that, then took a deep breath and let Lach out of his crate. Declan looks to Lachlan constantly, and has since day one, for cues to what he should be doing and how he should be responding, so I wondered if he would follow Lach's lead in this as well although I was extremely nervous about trying to handle both of them at once.

It was a bit of a circus trying to keep their leashes untangled, but it worked perfectly! Lach trotted through the front door and Declan took a deep breath and charged after him, then they both pranced to the car with me. It was like watching my big dude and a little mini-me, emulating everything his big brother did at each step. Got them out of the car and across the parking lot at the pet store while a very nice lady held the door for us ... then laughed hysterically as the scene unfolded: Declan stopped dead at the door with his eyes huge, ears and tail down, obviously thinking "oh no, scary place", but Lachlan charged right in going "Woo-hoo! I love this place!" Suddenly Dec lit up all over. His ears and tail came up, his eyes brightened, and he charged right in after Lach going "Woo-hoo, Lachlan loves this place!"

Yeah, okay, I'd better learn how to walk them together QUICK, huh?!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Well Declan is so lucky to have a big brother to teach him things and it is funny how they actually do.  So much of Stuart I believe is due to his learning from Rooney.  Now at our house the newspaper gets fetched twice every morning.  They each take a turn running out to fetch the paper and inbetween I have to re-throw it out to the driveway for the next one to fetch.  Rooney taught himself to fetch it when he was tiny and Stuart learning to fetch it buy just watching Rooney.  You are in for a great time having two.  1 tip for the walking - I have a fanny pack (ick I know) style treat bag that I wear - I can get poo bags (empty or full) some treats, my cellphone all in there.  This REALLY helps while walking 2 dogs - it allows me to keep both hands free for 2 leashes.  I tried the splitter thing to be able to use only 1 leash for 2 dogs but Rooney hated it.  He prefers to walk on my right side and Stuart (my stronger hand) on the left.  We look forward to more "brother" stories!!!!!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

That's amazing. I'll be reading up on you stories of big brother, little brother in preparation of getting Monty's little sister. Keep the stories coming. :-)

[F, Calla & Luca]

You'll be fine and so will they. I take my two all over together. And they are not all that well trained in small matters like walking but we have no real problems.

[Camilla and Darwin]

That is SO sweet. I think Lachlan will be so good for him!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

That's awesome! To walk my two together I use a coupler. It works because Winston is so easy. But if I had to young active dogs I doubt it would work as well. so yea, good luck with that! lol

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

aw hes so lucky to have such a great big brother!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jen, I LOVE this story!! I could picture it all happening. I am so glad you have both of them!! Just remember, they also learn the bad stuff, too, from the older one....LOL!! Just ask Vern :)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Lach is going to make such a huge difference in Declan's experience of the world! It's wonderful that you have both of them!  Good boy Lach!!!

[Leslie and Halas]

That's so sweet. Lach is such a great brother!