Luna and Maggie

[Sofie, Maggie, and Luna]

On January 8th we got a new Labradoodle puppy, Luna, to join our household of Eric (my boyfriend), myself, Maggie our 17 month Labradoodle, and Loki, our cat. We got Luna at 7 weeks old and she is 75% standard poodle, and 25% lab. Maggie is a 50-50 mix. We were both nervous and wondering what we were getting ourselves into. Why get another puppy when Maggie is truly the most perfect dog either of us had ever owned? But we were excited about the possibility of having two wonderful dogs.
They look like twins, they both love water and snow...and as of now, that's about where the similarities end.
Now, I already love Luna like crazy but she is sure a challenge, where as Maggie was about the easiest puppy ever.
Whatever Maggie accepted without concern Luna fights with all her might. The following list is some differences:
*Food: Maggie-food...whatever...it will be there later...take it or leave it. Luna-FOOD!!! FOOD!!! NOW...MORE...what? it's gone already? Where'd you put it? Up there...on the crate...ok, I'll climb the side of the crate for it...no problem.
*Crate Training: Maggie-okay, this is fine, I'll just curl up and take a nap or chew on my toy. Luna-barking, crying, whimpering, whining, howling like a little wolf puppy, digging furiously at the door of the crate. (She has improved greatly at this in the past few weeks though, but she's still not crazy about her crate)
*Combing: Maggie-I'm not too crazy about this...but if I cooperate it will be over sooner. Luna-ooh a brush, let me chew on it, the wire bristles don't faze me...I'm super doodle...wiggle wiggle...it's great to be so small they can't hold on to me.
*Grooming with Scissors: Maggie-really couldn't care less, she just lays there with her eyes closed and lets me trim around her ears, eyes, nose, mouth, feet, legs, backside, wherever, she just doesn't care. Luna-AHHH!!! Scissors... she's trying to cut my tail off, or my head...Oh No!! Run!!!!
*The word "NO": Maggie-Ok...no big deal, I can easily leave that alone, I've got dozens of toys anyways, I'll just go play with one of those. Luna-must have that remote/wall/boot/glove....has to try and be told no at least 3 times for everything before she leaves it alone...and then it all starts over the next day. When she was younger the word no caused her to throw temper tantrums where she'd bark and jump around and growl at the item she couldn't have.

Since it's still early in the morning I can't think of anymore crazy differences right now. Maggie has a pink nose and Luna has a black nose. I think when they are older that might be the only way people who don't know them really well will be able to tell them apart. In Luna's defense...she is doing better with the house breaking than Maggie did, and she doesn't seem to have as much as a biting problem. Maggie was never a cuddler as a puppy, but Luna loves to be in contact and curl up by my feet when I'm on the couch or even when I'm cooking supper she'll come and rest her head on my feet and when I pick her up she cuddles up and licks my cheek. I just keep reminding myself that Luna is only 10 weeks old. She's still tiny, and she's obviously different than Maggie, but it's hard to remember all that when Maggie was 10 weeks when we got her and learned really quickly. For example, the other day Eric and I were talking and were all concerned that Luna absolutely wasn't coming when she was called...then realized she was only 8 weeks old...not only is she super young and probably doesn't even know what we want, but also, she's super young and we have plenty of time to teach her so we probably shouldn't stress about it yet. She is really smart though and is learning quickly. She already knows sit, down, and she knows come...but just doesn't always do it. The thing is she won't do much of anything unless we have a treat. Maggie on the other hand, would do anything asked of her because she wanted your affection and attention...she never cared about treats or food. Luna will sit 40 times in a row for me when I have treats, then I take her outside and come back in and I don't have a treat and ask her to sit and she just walks away and ignores me...
I think she'll be a good pup when she gets a bit older though, she's definitely smart and learns quickly, but she does like to push the limits a bit. If the remote is missing, instead of checking the couch cushions, I now check the toy pile.
When Maggie met her at 4 weeks old Maggie was actually scared of her, but at 7 weeks when we picked her up, Maggie wasn't too crazy about her, she kept taking her toys back away from Luna and not letting her play with any. Maggie avoided her and didn't much care to have her around. However after about 2 days they are playing like crazy inside, and outside Luna tries to chase Maggie but Maggie's too fast for now. Maggie still runs with me most days and they get out to the snow in the fairgrounds every day. Maggie won't wrestle outside so Luna is kinda on her own out there. Maggie gets irritated sometimes when Luna keeps jumping on her and won't leave her alone, but then when Luna is being good laying on the floor chewing on her own minding her own business Maggie can't leave her be, she will go and take the toy away from Luna. And when Luna is sleeping, Maggie drops toys on her head until she wakes up. Ugh...they keep me busy that's for sure. I don't know why I care where the remote has gone...it's not like I've sat down and watched TV in 3 weeks...haha. They are special pups though, and they are starting to cuddle up to each other when they sleep.
Luna has no fear and she challenges everyone and everything, she's independent and dominant. If we can just reel her personality in a little bit she'll be a great girl. By the way she has HUGE feet!
Maggie was a nervous pup, scared of many things, submissive, passive. We spent more time introducing her to new stuff and new people and pulling her out of her shell.
Well, I suppose I'd better wrap this up and get something done for the day.
Thanks for reading my long puppy description. I could talk about my girls forever...however, they don't really give me that option. :)

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Oh I love this post!! I was like Nancy and Ned, my first daughter perfect, smart and obedient (she is now a vet), my second daughter was deaf and absolutely all over, under, around, and through things (her crib mattress was lowered and the crib put in the middle of the room because of climbing, grabbing and general mayhem). She is now studying to be an industrial engineer. I also think tha the more lab or golden the dog has, maybe the more laid back they are. My doodle is so much more jumpy, hoppy, will defy what I say, feisty. I swear she even talks back to me and just like Luna it takes 2 or 3 times to get her to "leave" things. .I was so glad you said these things. I felt like maybe something was wrong w/ Sheila!! Your two are like twins, so cute I just want to kiss them. Maybe big sister will become a bigger and bigger influence!!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Well said Nancy. Only my first born daughter wash the pip and my second born son the easy one. Same with my dogs, all easy except my husky Thor, and Roo my first doodle. Everyone is different. Isn't it great!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I so enjoyed reading this. We forget that dogs can be so different - like children! I was very smug as a parent when I had only my very precocious daughter who spoke in complete sentences at 14 months in back and forth conversations, and charmed the socks off everyone who saw her. THEN I had my son, the whirlwind, who climbed before he walked, picked the socket protectors out of the sockets, pushed all buttons, and even took the lower hinges off of the doors! Guess I wasn't so smug then..... He did grow up into a really fun teenager and so will Luna.

[Kathy Spyker]

I think in a couple of months Luna will be fine. Just smile whenever you can, they grow so fast. I can't even remember when my Lilly was a puppy.

[Ann Kendig]

Enjoyed your post! Thanks for taking the time to share it. It can be very trying at times having 2 but well worth it. I am so glad that my two have each other. Some members have 3 doods and I know of one member that has 4!! Good luck and enjoy! :)

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

That's so funny. My two are just like yours. Yankee is now over 2 yrs old and he was exactly like Maggie. Finn is 9 months old and exactly like Luna. I gave up on crate training him after 3 weeks. We call Finn a cleptomaniac...he steals everything in sight. Yankee listens, Finn ignores us but he is still like this at 9 months and Luna is still very young. Good luck. It gets better....a little.

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

Awww Love it! Thank you for sharing this with me! Can't wait to hear more adventures!!!

[Karen P]

Very funny post. It will get better with time and training !!

[GBK]

Just looked through your slide show and, wow, what adorable doodles you have :) I was laughing because before I got our second pup I used to tape the TV shows I liked and watch in my spare time.....then Kona came and I haven't bothered to tape anything in two years! Love your story, and look forward to more updates of your two, I adore having two and it does calm down once the puppy matures!

[Frannie & Callie]

Your post cracked me up! Sounds like you have diverse, adorable girls and I look forward to seeing lots of pictures of them. You're right...Luna is just a baby and she'll grow up all too soon!