MET the new DOOD... Picking him up next week! :)

[Jennifer Goaring]

I tried to post to my Guardian Families group but my computer froze up so this may be a double posting for a few (though that group is pretty small...)

 

I am SO EXCITED about this new dood.  I think when we got Sammy I was excited about a dog, excited about a new family member, getting a puppy and figuring it all out -- but I also really wasn't sure what I was getting into.  I found this site and another online forum and starting learning more right about the time we brought him home.  We have had Sam for just over 1 year now and it has been a fun ride!

 

I had a couple of moments (the lovely "teen" months when he was 7-9 months old) where I thought to myself "oh my, why did we do this?  He is so needy and crazy and keep destroying things... ARGH!"  But then he got over all that and settled down nicely... just like everyone said he would.

 

We are going to be guardian parents for this new guy.  He is a 1 year old mini ALD who weighs about 25 pounds, is about 16 inches tall, he is "carmel" officially but looks mostly cream to me with some brownish markings on his ears and paws (though the paws could be dirt -- hard to tell! :))

 

I took Sam and my 3 year old to go meet him yesterday.  The breeders leave exactly 1 hour away -- 48 miles to be exact.  I actually have friends and relatives that live out right near that area so I will use out trips out as an excuse to see some people that I haven't hard chance to see in awhile.  Meeting the breeder couple was so great!  We have lots in common (she and I are both L&D nurses though she is now pursuing the dog breeding full time).  She has 4 boys just like I do.  Her husband was very nice and he actually travels out near me regularly so some of the pick ups and drop offs could be done near my house too.

 

Ann (breeder -- sorry that sounds weird -- just trying to clarify who is who) brought Mojo (new pup) out to meet me first.  My 3 year old son had fallen asleep in the car and I left Sammy in the car too at first.  Mojo is very friendly... easily came over to me to say "hi" wagging his tail.  He jumps up a bit -- but I can work on that... given his smaller size I am sure it is just his way to try and see who he is greeting.  I will have the kids get down on his level some so we can encourage the jumping to stop.  We then brought Sammy out (and my 3 year old).  He nicely greeted Sam -- they both have no doggie manners and still act like pups and greeted each other head on... oops.  Then Mojo trotted off to see if he could get Sam to play chase and Sam checked in with me and then took off and then went to run around and play.

 

There was no tumbling/rough housing at all -- but I am sure that will change when they get to know each other more.  They were quite civilized actually.  Mojo was fine with my son as well.  He just seems to be this very cheerful, happy go luck dog.  That is what Ann said as well -- he just likes every to stay happy and nothing really gets him down.

 

He is used to sleeping in a crate at night, is house trained, and is working on sit & down... but he will definitely need some real training.  You could tell Sam was better trained -- his recall is almost prefect even with a new fun pup to visit with and he checks in with me often before wandering off... he comes to sit by me when I call him -- Mojo doesn't always seem to answer to his name!  Sounds like he was shuffled around a little bit though -- went from one breeder's home to a guardian home type arrangement (but the woman was 70 years old and couldn't keep up with him) then to Ann's home with all her dogs and puppies.  His name was changed twice in the process as well... poor guy.

 

Ann's dog set up seems nice -- all her dogs are in the house -- one mama has taken over an upstairs bedroom with her very new litter of pups and the older pups and mama were down in the gated off kitchen.  The have lots of land and a big yard also.  I think it will be fun coming to visit over the years as we bring Mojo by for breeding sessions.  I feel like it is a really goo arrangement all around.

 

Ann and I have very similar doggie parenting styles -- both feed raw with some high quality kibble, both don't like to over-vaccinate our dogs, both feel the dogs should be family members who live in the house -- but also use gates/crates appropriately to set limits.  I think we are all a good match.

 

They are breeding him this weekend and then I pick him up on Wednesday (I work Tuesday night so needed to wait until then as I want to be home the first few nights with him) -- so excited!  I have spent way too much money on a new crate, new toys for both dogs, new leads, car seat harness, new doggie bowls.... very much like bringing home a new baby!

 

OH -- and the funniest thing of all is that poor Mojo has just the WORST haircut you have ever seen... can't wait to grow that out some and let out groomer fix it!  I commented on it (trying to be nice... but really!) and Ann laughed and said that yes, her new groomer had only ever done poodles and hadn't quite figured out the doodle thing yet and she still has a lot of work to do...)  He has a poof of hair on top of his head (like a poodle!) and then is trimmed way to much on the legs and feet and the poor pretty tail got trimmed too... SIGH.  So he will be funny looking for a bit while I let it grow out.  I am pretty sure I will trim up that poof thing right away though.  Ann was fine with us figuring out how to "fix" it all... her other doodles look just fine -- so not sure how she let it happen... but oh well.  You can all laugh at pictures next week when I can post them!  Wish I had taken my camera yesterday!

 

Thanks for letting me ramble on and on!

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

Sounds like it all went really well.  Nice that he was so good with Sammy AND your little guy too. Are you going to keep "Mojo" or switch to another name?  I'm glad you will have a few days together so he can adjust to the new home.  My Dolly had 2 homes before she came to me and she adjusted very well.  Can' t imagine life without her now.   What is with the poofy heads?  You will have to fix that.  Time to get some trimmers and start grooming!!  Have fun next week.

[Jennifer Goaring]

Oh -- we will keep his name.  I think it is cute.  It is somehow short for Michelangelo which is his "official" name on his paperwork.  Sammy was the name our breeder had for him too since he was 14 weeks when we got him and I told my son that we could change it, but he thought that was weird changing a dog's name when he already had one... so we stuck with it.  So we have never really been through a "what should we name the new dog" phase.  Maybe next time! (though my thought is that will be a good 12-16 years from now!)

[Bev]

Congrats! Enjoy this special bonding time with your furry kids!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This sounds like a win-win situation.  Enjoy!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Picture?

[Jennifer Goaring]

All I have so far is the website pics... I didn't have my camera.

 

http://www.evergreenmanorlabradoodles.com/Mojopictures.html

 

He looks much sillier with his current haircut... so I will definitely take more pics.

 

Jen

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

Jennifer~ Mojo is adorable. Can't wait to see photos of him with his new "do". Wishing you much happiness and a smooth transition.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Mojo is an adorable doodle. Good luck with him.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I just looked at his pictures...he's very cute.  He's the same size as my Guinness....perfect for your "lap".

.

[Aimee Santa Monica]

Can't wait to see the pictures!   I wish i had taken more video of our 1st pup on his 1st week with us.  :)

[Lauria Orr]

This is fantastic!!!!!

[Jennifer Goaring]

We have to wait until tomorrow now... today was going to be the day to pick him up but they decided to breed him again before sending him with us and that is taking place tomorrow morning... SO... I am waiting until tomorrow afternoon to get him.  Empty new crate waiting for him... new dishes, new leads, new toys and treats... SIGH.  Was so hoping they would have working out the schedule and got it all done by today.  I am trying to be patient though.

 

I need to learn to be flexible and patient if I am going to be a guardian mom since I am sure there will be many times where I need to have him somewhere at a certain date and time and then whatever is planned doesn't go as quickly as planned and I will be left waiting.  So I will be good and get used to it.  My hubby leaves town EARLY tomorrow morning so my big wish about getting him today was just so DH could meet him before he left.  So now he will have to wait until next week to meet him... oh well.  Hopefully Mojo doesn't freak out too much when there is suddenly a new adult man in the house after a week without him here... especially given that the day DH comes back is the first night that I am back at work so I will be gone in the evening!

 

Can't wait to tell you all about how it goes and post lots of pictures!